November

“Rules of entering Briware Timberland,” Redford repeated out loud under his breath as he stepped into the dense forest under the bright blue sky, “number one don’t let them know your name. Number two be wary but never show fear. Number three accept no gifts. Number four stay on the footpath or lose your way. Numb-”

A velvety voice interrupted him, “are you done counting?” 

“Who said that!?” Redford demanded spinning around in his tracks, trying to find the direction where the voice was coming from. He had his sword drawn and tried to hold it steady despite quivering hands. He grew up hearing the tales of Briware Timberland and what lurks in its shadows, the creatures that call it home.             

“Surely a pretty boy such as yourself has a name?” A different voice asked, soft and sweet as honey. Redford regripped his silver sword and he glanced around with his olive-green eyes trying to find the source of the voice. 

He was here for a reason and he couldn’t listen to the voices of the forest and mumbled, “number five don’t answer the forest,” to remind himself before continuing to walk down the dirt trail. 

“If you want to prove yourself then down the rabbit hole you must go. You do want to save Alice, no?” Another sing-song voice spoke, sounding appealing. 

It’s toying with you, Redford thought to himself. It was referring to his and his best friend’s favorite novel, the one they read together every day and acted out in their backyard. It was playing with his emotions, reading his mind and it made his hair stand on end. 

But she wasn’t Alice, her name was November, Redford bit his tongue to hold back any personal information that might lead to his demise. And he couldn’t save her, November was too far gone. After not giving the forest what it wanted, it seemed to stop trying. Redford was free to continue his way, but he couldn’t. He couldn’t complete his assignment. How was he supposed to face his best friend and take her life away? He ran out of the forest, well aware of how much trouble he was going to be in.

 Redford let out a sigh, knowing the disappointment he was going to be facing as he entered the immense stone castle. He made his way down the golden hallway to a gruff and heavy-set man lounging on a red plush throne. Redford kneeled before the king and bowed his head, his long chestnut hair falling into his face. 

“Did you do it?”

“No, sir.”

“Why not?

“Because she was my best friend, sir.”

“She’s a monster!” The king thundered, slamming a hand down on the armrest of his throne.

“She is just a girl!” Redford shouted back as he picked his head up to face the king, forgetting his manners.

“She was just a girl and now she is a monster who needs to be taken care of. What do you want, to keep her as a pet?”

“No, sir.” 

“If you want to be accepted into the Silver Fleet, then you must follow orders.”

“But sir-” 

“You can’t save her using your powers,” the king spat the word out like it tasted of rotten eggs, “magic is what got her into this predicament. It’s unpredictable and dangerous. If you take your oath and sign your name on the scroll, you will end up just like her. You can’t control it and you will become a monster too. Magic must die and so should she.”

The following day, Redford pushed through the forest, determined not to fail his king and become a member of his Silver Fleet. He ignored the voices calling to him and before he knew it, he was facing her…November. He tried to remind himself that she wasn’t November anymore; that she was just a nightmarish creature who was staring him down, snarling with a long trail of drool falling from its mouth. This wasn’t November.

“I’m so sorry.” Redford told the monster…told November. He rushed towards the creature and after a long and exhausting battle, he was left standing and she was in a permanent slumber. Redford had tears rolling down his cheeks as he stroked the soft fur of the monster before cutting some to bring to the king. It was done.

“You can’t go home.”  

Redford turned to find a petite boy dressed in tattered clothes.

“I did what I was ordered,” Redford said brushing past the boy. “I’m sorry to upset the balance of things in your forest.” 

“No, the king sent you to perish. The monster was meant to slay you and that wasn’t November. I can bring you to her.” 

“I can’t trust you…” Redford spoke, skeptical that the boy was messing with his mind.

“Because I’m a fairy,” the boy finished Redford’s sentence. “But know that everything the king told you about magic is wrong. Come with me, speak with the oracle and learn of the prophecy that the king is trying to prevent.” 

Against his better judgment, Redford followed the fairy to their village hidden deep in the forest because he hoped he didn’t just kill his best friend. The fairy led him to small hut and opened the door. 

“November!” Redford exclaimed when he saw her sitting with familiar faces of people thought to be lost in Briware Timberland. “The monster, it wasn’t you.”

“No, the king lied. He was going to sacrifice his best warrior, the supposed last person with magic, because he wanted to be the most formidable warlock. He was going to- “

“Warlock?” 

“The king has powerful magic running through his veins and it’s going to make him too dangerous of a ruler. He must be stopped. Are you willing to go down the rabbit hole?” November explained.

 Redford had so many questions but if the king’s daughter was telling him that her father was deceitful, then it must be true, “absolutely.”

“Welcome to the revolution, Redford.”