Author's Note: Wow, it's been forever since I've last updated this story. Err…if anyone's even still reading this, I'm sorry? Anyway, I'm going to finish this eventually. So…yeah. Sorry!

Chapter 7:

No amount of persuasion on my behalf could get Gavin to change his mind on the whole fairy-godparents-not-existing kick he was going through, although I can't say I didn't try. Oh well. It mattered not. He'd just have to find out the hard way and get the shock of his life.

As Brad's massive wings brought us higher and higher, we looked at the castle that was rapidly becoming the size of a dollhouse in awe. Who would've thought that Lihtorpa could appear so…small? From this high up, it seemed like the opposite of foreboding and looming. It seemed almost…welcoming?

Well, all we had to do now was make a home up in the sky. That way, we'd still be close to the evil castle, but it wouldn't be so-

"You're having strange thoughts again, aren't you?" Gavin asked me in a rather tired voice.

What was he talking about? Strange thoughts?!? I never had strange thoughts.

"Your face… You get a weird look on it when you start thinking weird things." He laughed at my expression and tucked a stray piece of hair behind my ear.

My eyes met his for the longest moment. We leaned toward each other…inch by inch….by…inch

Why was it taking so long, anyway?!?

A gust of wind suddenly picked up. Confused, Gavin turned his head in the direction of the source.

Perfect. Just…ruin the romantic moment…stupid wind!!!!

"We're here," Brad said, drifting lower and lower even as he spoke.

And sure enough, the fairy town was exactly the way I had left it so many weeks ago. It hadn't changed…at all? That made it seem so…boring.

"So," Gavin said, smirking a bit and placing an arm around my shoulder, "this is where the 'fairies' live."

Yes. It was. And why did he do the little quotation mark gesture when he said fairies?!? They really did exist! What, did he think I was lying to him?

He frowned as he gazed down at the town. "But…it's just trees. Do the fairies live in trees?"

No, the fairies didn't live in trees! What was he talking about? The town was right below us as well as the lake and the stupid unicorns. Those unicorns were evil, let me tell you. Don't even get me started. They were stubborn and bull-headed. They didn't care if a person was trying to escape and needed their help. They were adverse to anything that was helpful!

Brad laughed. "Nolan-Gavin never drank from the lake, then?"

I thought back and tried to remember. Had Gavin ever been to that lake? I was still pondering this question when Brad swooped upward and we found ourselves falling backward as he made a loop in the air.

Gavin began shouting as Brad grinned at us and waved as we continued to fall.

"You really can't see the town?" I asked Gavin, still confused.

He gave me an incredulous look. "Did it not dawn on you that we are currently falling toward the ground?"

No, we were falling toward the lake.

I grinned at him and told him this very thing.

"Well then, that just makes everything all sunny and wonderful, doesn't it?" he demanded, rolling his eyes.

I nodded, grinning. How wonderful that he agreed with me! And here I thought he would panic about falling eighty feet to his death because there was no way that a person could survive a drop that far down.

My glee suddenly vanished and I stared, wide-eyed at the water rushing up too quickly to meet us. "Brad!!!" I shrieked. "You stupid dragon!" My voice echoed as we continued to fall. I clutched onto Gavin. "Protect me!"

His arms went around me, and he tilted my face to look at him. "Rhian," he started.

I thought he was about to make a beautiful speech about our love, and how even though we might die, our love never would, but he shocked me.

"How could I possibly protect you from this height? Do you realize what will happen when we reach the water?"

Hey, that was what I was just thinking a few seconds ago.

"What are we going to do?" I asked.

He sighed and shook his head. "I don't know."

I nodded, expecting that very answer. "Then I guess there is only one thing I can do."

He frowned. "What's that?"

I closed my eyes. "Scream until I can't scream anymore." I promptly did just that, and I was surprised when Gavin's voice joined my cries.

We fell, clutching each other, eyes closed, screaming and bracing for impact. However, none came. Instead, the cool rush of water enveloped us, and we began choking on the water and fighting each other to reach the surface. When we broke through, coughing and gasping for breath, Brad stood on the water's edge. We stared at him in dumb shock as he shook his head, obviously laughing at us.

"Word to the wise," he said, grinning, "never forget where you are. There is a reason why this place is called enchanted."

I was going to kill him.

I raced for the shore, intent on doing that very thing, but Gavin stopped me. He was staring beyond Brad.

"Rhian…" he said softly.

I laughed. "Welcome to Fairy Town, Gavin."

He glared at me. "This is obviously an illusion," he grumbled, leading me to Brad.

I kicked the dragon before climbing onto his back. It was cruel what he had done to us, and I wasn't about to forgive…

A rabbit poked its head curiously from a bush nearby, and I screamed, jumping onto Gavin's lap. Confused, he looked to where I was pointing, still shrieking. Then, he laughed.

"Brad! Go! Now! Rabbit!"

The rabbit suddenly multiplied, as two more heads poked out of the bushes.

Oh dear God, it was an ambush!

"Brad," Gavin said in an exasperated voice. "Can we leave? I think I'm going deaf."

I grabbed my shoe and was about to hurl it at the bush when I was suddenly thrown off-balance as Brad once again ascended into the air. We were again flying above the trees and away from danger.

"You can stop screaming, now," Gavin shouted.

Had I still been screaming? I realized I had and quickly stopped, breathing a sigh of relief. It was over. The danger was gone.

Brad made a dramatic entrance, landing gracefully in the center of the road in Fairy Town, and getting curious stares as he did so.

Of course, Gavin and I received stares as well. Ah, the limelight. It reminded me of when I had first arrived here and that man had run into a pole! Good times, good times.

Gavin's hand hesitantly found mine as we stood beside Brad. "Rhian…" he started in a disbelieving voice. "These people are…."

"They're fairies," I replied and gave his hand a squeeze before leading him down the road to Dani and Ahanu's house.

Yes, I know I should've been more understanding since what he seemed to believe had just come undone. But you just had to see his face, so full of shock and awe, as if he was a child, watching a rainbow for the first time.

"Sweetheart, why are they staring at us?" he whispered as he slowly walked behind me, staring back at everyone.

I paused a moment and looked around. Sure enough, everyone was staring at us. Oh, how sweet! I just knew we made the perfect couple!

"What are you doing here?!?" a familiar voice demanded harshly.

Spinning around, we came face-to-face with none other than Dani and Ahanu! They were both staring at Gavin, who looked back at them, shock adorning his features.

"He can see us?" Dani asked, waving a hand in front of Gavin's face.

He shot her an annoyed look and brushed it aside. "Yes, I can."

She looked confused and turned her attention toward me. "What have you done?" she demanded. Fangs were jutting from her mouth, and it was meant to be scary, but somehow, knowing that she was a fairy and being put through torture before, not to mention her being my fairy godmother, she just didn't seem terrifying at all. In fact, she seemed fairly comical, being a beautiful fairy with ugly fangs suddenly jutting from her mouth.

So, what did I do? Nothing intelligent. I pointed at her and laughed, ignoring Gavin, who was putting his hand over my mouth and trying to shush me.

Ahanu groaned and waved a hand in the air.

My laughter was muted immediately. In fact, I found I couldn't make any sound at all. That was definitely not a good thing.

"I never liked her talking anyway," he said, crossing his arms and smirking.

"Who are you?" Gavin asked. He looked at me.

What, did he expect me to give him an answer when I had been muted?

Apparently, he did.

I did the best I could, making gestures with my hands and feet, falling over in the process.

Gavin groaned and stepped away from me. He grabbed Ahanu by the collar. "What did you do to her?" he demanded.

Ahanu glared back at him. "I silenced her. Does it not please you, your highness?" he asked mockingly.

I briefly wondered if a fairy godfather was allowed to talk to his godson in that manner, especially if his godson was the prince. That didn't really seem helpful at all. Then again, Ahanu probably never really did love Gavin at all, considering all that he allowed his godson to endure.

"Please stop that babble," Ahanu directed toward me.

Gavin gave him a curious look before he looked back toward me. "I don't understand…" he started.

"Her thoughts! I can't stand how her thoughts are so jumbled and random. They don't make sense at all. And they never stop."

Gavin started laughing.

Why was that so funny? Then again, I always prided myself in thinking before I spoke or acted, although Leah would tell everyone differently (don't believe her, she lies!). My thoughts were neither random nor jumbled. They definitely made plenty of sense! And I wasn't always thinking.

"I suppose I could understand that. I don't think I ever want to know what goes on in her head," Gavin replied.

I gaped at him and retorted, but no sounds left my lips.

This was coming from the man who loved me? I was supposed to find that endearing? Hah! No way. He was going to be sorry for saying that about me. I was an interesting person! My thoughts were interesting! How could he say such a thing?

"Why are you here?" Dani asked, waving a hand in front of my face.

Instantly, I was able to speak again. "Thank you!" I exclaimed and turned to Ahanu and Gavin. "Do either of you know how hard it is to be me?" I demanded. "Why would you say such things about me? For that, I won't speak to either of you!" I glared at them before crossing my arms and turning away.

"Hallelujah!" I heard Ahanu cry, clapping.

"Rhian!" Gavin said. "You know we were only kidding-"

"He is speaking for himself," Ahanu interjected.

"Fine!" Gavin replied. "I am speaking for myself. You know I love you. We were only teasing you a bit—I was only teasing you a bit."

I nodded. "Then all that is left is for you to kill that bear."

He groaned from behind me. "Rhian! I'm not going to kill some stupid bear just because-"

I spun and hugged him. "I know you love me, Gavin. I love you, too. And they are our fairy godparents: Ahanu and Dani. They are getting married."

He stopped, obviously at a loss of words and merely hugged me in return, stroking my back as he tried to come to terms with what I just said. He suddenly stiffened and drew away from me. Turning around, he pointed an accusatory finger at Ahanu.

"You!" he shouted. "You are my godparent?"

Ahanu nodded, dark hair falling into his face. He brushed it away in irritation. "Yes?" He stopped messing with his hair, realizing that he was losing his "cool" image. He immediately returned to stoic. "What of it?"

Gavin stepped toward him. "You allowed me to become cursed by an ugly, horrible wizard?"

Ahanu nodded, but the corner of his mouth twitched.

He was laughing because Dani was the ugly, horrible wizard. Of course, Gavin didn't know that, but I wondered how Dani would react. It didn't take long before she was by Gavin's side.

"Just who are you calling ugly and horrible?" she demanded.

My love glanced between the two. Then he looked at me helplessly.

Aw. How sweet. He wanted me to save him, but would I risk my safety to come to his rescue? Why would I do that when he wouldn't even kill the bear to get my ring back?

"The wizard," Gavin replied.

Dani glared at him. "That wizard was yours truly!" she exclaimed.

I sat on the ground and watched the events unfold.

"Why would you curse me?" Gavin demanded.

Ahanu sighed. "Obviously it was because she was so madly and desperately in love with me."

Gavin gave him a gaze of disbelief.

Dani groaned. "This is not how we wanted you to find out-"

"We didn't want him to find out at all-" Ahanu interjected.

"True, but that isn't the point." She fell silent.

All three were suddenly looking at me.

"She's gone quiet," Ahanu said in a daunted voice.

He was trying to get a rise out of me, but I was better than that.

"Is that a problem?"

See? Much better than that! No rise at all.

He laughed. "If only you would stay that way."

I glared at him. "I guess we can't all be thoughtless, like you."

Hah! That worked on two levels!

Dani raised her eyebrows. "Come, let's not argue. Why are you here, Rhian?"

Ahanu frowned at her and glanced away from us.

Was he sulking?

"I do not sulk, brat!" he roared, suddenly appearing next to me.

Gavin watched us in mild confusion. I felt slightly sympathetic for him. He wasn't used to Ahanu like I was, so he couldn't get used to the donkey!

"And I am not a donkey!"

Dani chuckled, but a glare from Ahanu forced her into silence.

"Listen here, brat! I only pretended to be a horse because I needed to-"

"The horse that almost killed us was you?" Gavin demanded.

Ahanu fell into silence, seemingly startled off-track of his verbal barrage. "Um…yes?" he asked stupidly.

"Do you realize what could have happened to us?"

"Yes."

"And you didn't care?"

"Well, something needed to be done."

Gavin shook his head. "I don't believe this…"

While they continued on, Gavin growing angrier and angrier, Dani decided that this was the best time to address me as to why we were in Fairy Town. I gathered as much when I was lifted into the air and thrown down beside her. I rubbed my aching side and frowned at her. Did she have to be so violent?

"Why are you here?" she demanded.

I frowned. Why was I there, again? I had momentarily forgotten. It had something to do with…oh yes, they were getting married.

"Why are you getting married?" I returned.

Her mouth fell open and she took a step back. "I—I never said—who? Where did you hear that from?"

"A little bird," I replied, smiling ruefully, "named Brad."

She hissed and shook her head. "That dragon was never good at keeping secrets."

I nodded. It was true. That dragon could talk so much, he'd talk off a listener's ear or drive them insane. Whichever came first: probably the latter, but I hoped for the former. Somebody getting their ears talked off sounded funny. I imagined a person's ears bouncing away, and the person chasing after them. Okay, that was strange…

"I know it is odd, not waiting until you and Gavin marry, but it must happen. There are more humans than there are fairies now, and fairies do not live forever, contrary to popular belief, so that rule was abolished yesterday."

I frowned at her. That didn't mean what I thought it meant, did it?

"You mean to tell me that you put me through all that trouble to marry a prince, and now you don't care and don't need it to happen?"

She nodded.

That was unfair! It was injustice! How could she justify what she did to me? How about what she did to Gavin? She made him miserable for most of his life. Well, he would've been miserable if he had that emotion, but that wasn't the point. Gavin and I suffered for nothing?

"You suffered," she said, breaking into my thoughts, "because you wanted to be together. Ultimately, the decision was yours whether you would return to him or not, and the decision was his on whether he was strong enough to break Mistrel's spell."

I nodded, paused, and glanced at her. "You knew about Mistrel?"

She nodded again. "Of course. She is a dear friend of ours, although I did have to apologize on your behalf. You are such a bothersome god-daughter."

"And Gavin broke free of her spell on his own? He didn't need me?"

"Yes. He was given a second chance, so to speak. He was given a new life to lead however he chose without the pressure of being in love with you against his will."

Why did I never know that? Why did he…wait, he lied to me? He said that the spell broke when we kissed, but I had nothing to do with that, did I? It was really him? He was the one who broke it all along.

"It is very romantic, I think," Dani replied.

I gave her a look. Was she insane? How was that romantic? He put me through unimaginable trouble and led me to believe that it was me who had broken the spell (not the curse), when he had broken it. That was confusing. I had broken the curse, but he had broken the spell.

"He does enjoy teasing you," my godmother noted.

I nodded. I wanted…to….kill…him. He deceived me yet again? How many times would he deceive me? Was I so very naïve that I couldn't see through things?

"Don't fret. Besides, I have something I want to give you."

I frowned, trying to remember if what she had last given me had been beneficial or detrimental.

A ring materialized in her hand. She smiled at me and placed it in mine. "This shall ensure your happiness," she said. "It is enchanted."

Somehow, that did not comfort me. I looked at the ring, noticing how the band was a pretty silver color, and there was a beautiful set of butterfly wings on the band. The butterfly wings were pretty pastel colors, transparent, and moved as if there was a real butterfly on my ring. I stared at it in fascination, enthralled with the beauty of it.

Gavin punched Ahanu, and a fight broke out between the two of them. Dani stopped it while I gaped in surprise. Gavin actually punched Ahanu? There had to be repercussions for that. I mean, there was no way a human could punch a fairy without paying for it. But Ahanu smiled and patted Gavin on the head in forgiveness.

"Definitely my godson," he said, massaging his chin, which had become a pretty purple color.

Gavin grinned at him in return.

"All is forgiven then?" Dani asked us, hugging Ahanu.

I nodded, but Gavin shifted uncomfortably. I elbowed him, and he gave me an irritated look. That was it. I had to take serious action. I stomped on his foot, and he yelped.

"Fine!" he shouted.

Dani smiled. "Then we bid you farewell. See us again whenever you wish." As she waved, the world around us seemed to cloud over and blur until it became so indistinguishable, I wasn't sure where we were. Finally, it cleared to reveal the sitting room at Lihtorpa.

Gavin shook his head. "I cannot believe…"

He was so cute when he was at a loss of words. I kissed him and wound my arms around him.

"I am sure that you'll handle it fine."

He grabbed my hands in his and noticed my ring. "That ring…"

"Dani gave it to me."

He laughed and hugged me close. "Of course! The ring!"

What?

He looked down at me. "Don't you see? This is the ring that old woman was speaking of."

Was he insane? That ring was in a bear.

"Rhian, your ring isn't inside a bear."

Wow! Did he know how to read minds as well? Did he know what I was thinking about now?

"This is the ring that was in the forest!" he exclaimed.

Obviously he didn't. I was thinking more about how those rabbits had known we would be at the lake. They had planned an ambush. Luckily, we had escaped with our lives intact.

"Are you even listening to me? This is the ring! We found it in the fairy forest! It makes perfect sense, and I can see why the lady claimed she had no ring for you! I mean, look at it."

We both looked at the ring in awe. The wings flapped, and we grinned. We were so entranced that we didn't even notice the other figure in the room until it tripped.