Orla's Creative Writing Assignment

Orla had a creative writing assignment in English to write a fairytale-style story and ended up writing a six thousand word masterpiece. Here it is...

------------------------------------------------------------

This story begins on a cold winter’s night. A chilled breeze drifted through the towering evergreens as pine needles danced and twirled through the air. All was calm in the deep dark wood – and the calmest of all was a dark-haired woman, nearly asleep in her rocking chair. She was covered from head to toe with a mismatch of thick woollen blankets and patchwork-tartan quilts. The chair sat on the rickety porch of a towering wooden house, which leaned and creaked in all the wrong places – though, it could never quite decide whether it wanted to collapse or not. Wind chimes sang a peaceful melody, and for a moment, all was tranquil.

The rare moment of peace was interrupted by the sound of soft paws padding on dirt. The stairs creaked, and a slobbered nose pressed into the hem of the woman’s dress.

She peeked open a single eye. “I’m open for curse-breaking weekdays only. Come back tomorrow morning.” The small wolf whined and pulled a blanket to the floor. It sat on the blanket and gave a resolute bark. 

That had gotten her attention. “Oh, you can’t speak?” Its tail thumped on the plundered blanket. “I suppose… well, it’s not every day I get a real wolf on my doorstep. Even if it does soil my blanket.” Resigned to her nap being thoroughly interrupted, the woman rose to her feet, and clapped her hands. 
For one short second, the breeze stopped. The air became heavy and a soft glow surrounded them both. The witch called, and the forest lent her its magic.

And then that moment ended. “Well, go on then. What do you want?”
The wolf barked again, a series of whines and growls, but the woman nodded along and hummed as it paused to take breaths. “I see,” she said, “That can be arranged.” She disappeared through the front door, and a series of crashes resounded through the house. She emerged a few minutes later, a silver chain dangling from her closed fist. From it hung a small charm with a cloudy green gem.

“You do realise this will change your life forever, yes?” The wolf barked, its tail flying madly behind it. “Well, you seem eager enough. But there is something important you must remember, so listen!” It stilled itself, if only to gain its treasure as early as possible. “Permanently changing your form is a tricky business. This charm will not last forever. Every full moon, you must take it off and leave it in the moon’s light to…recharge, to put it simply. You’ll be a wolf for one night each month. Apart from that,” She stood tall, and smiled down at the ecstatic wolf puppy, “Your wish is granted.”
 
___________________________________________________________________________
 
Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there was a great and mighty kingdom. This kingdom was ruled by a young king, who served with justice and wisdom, and maintained peace across the land. But being king is no easy feat – with every expedition came rogues, bandits and thieves determined to score a haul of treasure. And while the king was an experienced warrior, no-one compared to Sir Erwin, personal guard to the king himself, and finest knight in all the land. Together, they were unstoppable. Working in perfect tandem with one another, they sent criminals running home to their mothers and left dastardly villains stuck quivering in their lairs.

But Sir Erwin had a dark secret. Something he had never shared with anyone – not even the king, his closest friend. Around his neck hung a silver necklace with a cloudy green gem, which he never allowed anyone to touch. And on one night each and every month, he sneaked out into the woods to leave the gem resting beneath the moonlight – and transformed into a fearsome wolf. 

But his life was perfect. He achieved what he once believed was nothing but a wild fantasy. He had a best friend, a comfortable life, and spent every day fulfilling his dream.

And yet his heart still ached. Now, he wished for someone he could trust with his secret. Every time he snuck out into the woods, he wondered what it would be like if there was no need for stealth. Because despite his friendship, he was the loneliest man in the castle – for having no one to confide in, no one to share your true self with, is the loneliest thing of all. 
Some days, he felt as though his chest would burst and his secret would come tumbling right out. Other days, his mind wandered to what would become of him if his friend did not like his true self. If he would lose his dream, his life, his friend – if he would be exiled, or maybe even killed. The thought nearly broke him every time it entered his head. 

And one fateful day, his wish of revealing his true self came true.
A new face began appearing around the castle. A young woman with flowing blonde hair, blue eyes – and most strikingly of all, pointed ears. Rumours of a residing witch flooded the castle, some whispered in awe, and others in unease. To many, magic was a scourge of bad omens and evil sorcerers – but to one in particular, the news of a witch in the castle was nothing short of a miracle.

Erwin first met the witch as she carried a basket of herbs across the castle grounds, and she introduced herself as Freya. He began to find more and more excuses to bump into her, and soon they were chatting as though they were old friends. Whenever magic was mentioned, Freya threw herself into discussion of proper uses, spells, potions, artefacts – Erwin was proud he understood more than a quarter of what she said. At this, he was so overjoyed he thought he would burst into tears.  Finally, there was someone like him. Someone with magic. 

After many nights of long deliberation, he knocked on her door one morning. He told her all about himself – his true self, the charm around his neck, his monthly outings – and how much he admired her courage to be unashamed of her magic. He had spent years in the castle listening to the hushed whispers of people fearing sorcery, of big bad wolves and fairy-tale monsters, and how the pride she held in her magic inspired him to be proud of his own. She nodded along, only to ask him about his enchanted necklace. Once he mentioned the powerful witch that bestowed it to him, her eyes glinted as they came to rest on the gemstone charm. She had made no mention of any of Erwin’s confessions. 

Suddenly feeling uncomfortable, he excused himself and rushed to his own quarters. What if telling her had been the wrong decision? Hot shame built up in his chest, but he pushed it down, and busied himself with his duties. He tried to ignore the seeping panic at the possibility she would not keep it a secret at all, and that being a man-wolf was some kind of taboo even among sorcerers. 

But as the days passed, nothing of note happened. There were no rumours of a were-beast in the castle walls, no manhunts, no outrage, and things continued on as normal. 

Everything was normal, until the night of the full moon.
 
Moonlight cascaded through the canopy of evergreens, coming to rest on the moss-covered ground. A fine mist enveloped the forest that night – water dripped down from the treetops, and droplets sparkled like diamonds on spider’s silk. The ground squelched under a pair of heavy boots. The distinct clicks and clacks of knight’s armour resounded through the woods, marching through the mud, until stopping before a large slab of stone. A gloved hand reached up and lifted a delicate necklace from beneath a thick scarf. 

The gem twinkled as it lay beneath the moon. After a few seconds, it began to hum, bathing in an ethereal glow. Colours danced and swirled as the trees and moss and clouds came alive, all singing in harmony. 

The forest calmed. The light dimmed and returned to the undergrowth. The mud lifted; the weight forcing it down suddenly gone. In its place were four soft paws, which stumbled as they padded on the earth. There stood a large grey wolf, with husky fur and pale green eyes. It sniffed the air and peered up at the gemstone necklace. The gem still hummed, giving a soft glow as its magic took time to recuperate. Satisfied, the wolf dashed off into the trees, wild and unburdened by neither worry nor responsibility.

Hours flew by as the wolf raced through the trees, chasing rabbits and spooking birds, free from the tribulations of human life – if only for a single night. The stars drifted through the sky, and in no time at all, the horizon was a pale blue haze and only a few stars were dotted overhead. Disappointed its fun had come to an end, the wolf trudged through the trees, making its way back to the stone slab.

But there was something else standing amongst the evergreens.
At a distance, it could’ve been mistaken for a particularly tall sapling. But as the wolf caught the scent of oil and woodsmoke, uniquely human smells, and it set off at a sprint to avoid being seen. Humans weren’t supposed to be this deep in the woods so early – though perhaps the wolf had been careless keeping track of time. Finally reaching the familiar rocks, it slowed to a stop – only to find that the necklace had gone. 

Its scent was nowhere to be found. Without missing a beat, the wolf tore through the trees towards the human which had no doubt taken the only thing which granted it human form. Soon the shape in the distance became clearer and sharper, and with a single glance back, the human turned and ran. They didn’t scream or shout, but only ran, an enclosed fist tucked tightly to their chest. But a wolf would always be faster than a human, so the wolf continued in its pursuit. 

And just as the wolf was close enough to smell the faint scent of herbs and soaps, the human turned, standing on a circle on the ground, and uttered an incantation in a soft, yet resolved tone. 

There was a surge of golden hair, and the wolf met a pair of sharp blue eyes.

And just like that, the human was gone.
 
____________________________________________________________________________
 
King Aldrich had seen a great many things in his time as king. Considering that he had only been king for just two years, he often found himself shuddering at the thought of what was contained in the many decades to come. 

After facing beasts, monsters, bandits, rogues, and one too many pompous aristocrats, Aldrich had resolved himself to not be surprised by anything at all. That he would face every ridiculous magical creature, every lunatic wizard and every impossible situation with all the stoicism and dignity a king should possess. 

Unfortunately, this promise was broken the moment he awoke to find half a ton of wolf perched uncomfortably on his chest. He certainly hadn’t meant to scream like a little girl. But in his defence, awaking in a tent with a wet nose hovering above your head and the pungent smell of dog invading your senses was about as good a justification as you could possibly get. 

But instead of mauling him to death, the beast jumped back at his embarrassing outburst. Aldrich wasn’t going to take any chances – flooded by a primal fear, he fumbled for his crossbow, desperate to get away from the sharp teeth rapidly approaching his neck — his panic was cut off by something cold and damp dragging itself across his face. The wolf wagged its tail like a sheepdog eager for a walk. The great king sat across from it sat frozen with a look of utter bewilderment on his slobber-covered face. 

“Did…” he started, still processing what had just happened, “…did you just lick me?”

The giant mass of fur and muscle gave a chipper bark, spun around in a circle, then motioned its tooth-filled snout outside the tent. Grappling for some sense of rationality, Aldrich assumed he would find some druid or unusual dog breeder standing outside, awaiting an audience.

But there were no such guests. The only two standing in the smouldering campsite were himself and what appeared to be a remarkably overgrown puppy.

Finally regaining some sort of sense, Aldrich wiped his face with his sleeve. The wolf was sat on the crumpled brown leaves, upright and attentive, as though awaiting orders. Experimentally, Aldrich took a single step back. The wolf didn’t move. Slowly, one by one, he stepped back towards the trees. The wolf remained stationary – though it began to look particularly nervous. Deciding that abandoning his hunting equipment would be worth it just this once, Aldrich spun on his heel, preparing to run.

Only to freeze upon hearing a long, heart-breaking whine. He really wished that Erwin were here to talk some sense into him – he had always been the sensible one out of the two of them. Feeling his resolve cracking, his mind protested to just run you dolt, this isn’t your problem, and he almost managed to listen. But the wolf was now whimpering, and there was no possible way Aldrich could bring himself to leave.

With a long sigh, he turned to face the wolf. “Okay, fine, you got me. I admit defeat. I know I’m too soft-hearted for my own good, there’s no need to rub it in.”

The wolf, evidently, was very happy. It barrelled straight into his legs like a bull, before jumping up and attempting to lick his face once again. Despite the trouble Aldrich knew he was getting himself into, he could admit that it was indeed endearing. 

“Woah! Alright, alright,” he chuckled, and knelt down, a gloved hand resting on the wolf’s hide. “I won’t leave, don’t worry. Where’d you even come from, anyway?” The wolf wagged its tail and yapped. “Well, I’m not sure what else I expected.” Pausing for a moment, Aldrich considered his options. The wolf stilled in anticipation and awaited his next words. “I am king, so I’m technically allowed to do this…” He looked the wolf in the eyes. “Do you want to come back with me?”

The reaction was immediate. The enormous wolf charged straight into his chest, knocking the wind out of him and sending him crashing to the ground – and not a second later, licking the ever-loving daylights out of his face. As appreciated as the gesture was, it was rather disgusting – Aldrich pushed himself upright, laughing as he went. “I’ll take that as a yes then?” The wolf gave a cheerful bark and ran circles around him, continuing to bark excitedly. Aldrich laughed. Erwin was not going to be happy.
 
____________________________________________________________________________
 
But as the days passed, Erwin was nowhere to be seen around the castle. No matter where Aldrich searched, or how many guards he asked, there was no sign of him anywhere. Everyone believed he had accompanied Aldrich on his hunting trip – no one had seen him for days. Growing anxious, Aldrich sent search parties out to all the towns and villages of the kingdom, ordered to ask every citizen of Erwin’s whereabouts. But Erwin was nowhere to be found – he had disappeared without a single word.

Never once in all these days did Aldrich stop worrying. He failed to concentrate on his duties, though no one blamed him – his best friend had gone missing, after all. However, the guards and servants certainly found concern with the apparent newest member of the Royal Guard.  

The wolf was not exactly a welcome addition to the royal chambers. Visiting nobles screamed and ran at the sight of the horrid beast, the servants hurried by as they passed it, and that wasn’t to mention the nightmare it caused the maids. But no matter the protests, the king insisted it was there to stay. 

Not once did it leave the king’s side – wherever he went, it stood firmly at his heel, trotting along beside him as he paced the castle halls. And only a keen eye would notice the way he smiled as it bumped its nose into his leg, whenever Erwin’s disappearance weighed on him most. 

There was one other change to the castle’s residents. The strange witch, Freya, who had previously been the castle’s favourite rumour topic, had all but disappeared from conversation – as well as the castle itself. The wayward gossip would occasionally speculate that she and the missing guard had run off together – though they would be quickly shut down, as Sir Erwin putting a girl over his duty was about as likely as him sprouting wings to nest with the pigeons. 

But despite all the excitement of those few days, as the months passed, the castle eventually fell back into its normal rhythm. The nobles learned to reluctantly tolerate the wild beast, and the maids adjusted to following the king around with mops and cleaning rags everywhere he went. Aldrich missed his friend terribly, but even he fell back into routine after long enough. Sometimes, he felt as though the wolf was the only thing that could make him smile – a king did not have many friends, and losing his only one had taken its toll. He was immeasurably grateful for the friendship the wolf provided – without it, he wasn’t sure what he would do with himself.

This new peace lasted a long time. But it ended – as most times of peace do, in kingdoms like Aldrich’s – with something that would change his life forever. 
 
____________________________________________________________________________
 
The day began like any other. The Guard had been called to the outer reaches of the city to investigate reports of strange goings-on in an abandoned house near the edges of the woods, rumoured to be caused by magic. Naturally, the townsfolk panicked – they had no desire for an evil witch for a neighbour. A king would not ordinarily accompany his guard for a request so simple – but Aldrich was no ordinary king. His courage inspired trust and union within his knights, so he made it a habit to lead them into any potential battle, no matter how small.
But this instance, however, seemed a little too small. The shack was crooked and dishevelled, and stank of rotting wood. The weeds climbing up the rusted drainage pipes suggested it hadn’t been touched in years. Cringing slightly, Aldrich sent the knights away to gather information from the townspeople, as to spare them from dealing with the pungent stench. Dismounting from his horse, he walked hesitantly in the direction of the rotting pile of planks.

The wolf, however, showed no such hesitation. Despite its sensitive nose, it appeared unbothered by the stench – it drew nearer to the shack not in hesitation, but what appeared to be suspicion. Noticing this, Aldrich lay his hand on the hilt of his sword, prepared to be drawn. As his closest companion, he trusted the wolf’s instincts; if it thought there was danger here, he would do well to heed its warning.

Aldrich lay his gloved hand on the rusted door handle. The door gave a groaning creak as he pushed it slowly forward. The inside of the shack was not at all the decomposing mess it was on the outside. The stench of rot and decay vanished, giving way to wonderful smells of berries and herbs. The whole room looked warm and welcoming – just like a cosy woodland cottage. The walls were lined with shelves stuffed to the brim with leather-bound books, various brass instruments and crystals were spread about in a haphazard manner, and flowers and plants sat resting on the windowsills. Aldrich would’ve been enchanted by the place – if it weren’t for the wolf growling and snarling by his side.

He soothed the wolf by resting his hand against its hide. “Woah there, easy fella. This is a diplomatic mission, remember? We don’t want to be causing any trouble.” To his surprise, the wolf not only did not calm down, but snapped at him, tensing even further. “What—hey! That was rude,” he chastised, and the wolf did look apologetic – though it remained coiled up like a spring. “Alright, I get it, I’ll keep my guard up. But no pouncing, okay?” With a curt nod, the wolf finally relented.

With a hand wrapped firmly around the hilt of his sword, Aldrich edged further into the shack-cabin, wary of the comforting warmth being yet another illusion. The floorboards creaked beneath his boots as the wolf prowled by his side.

Footsteps sounded through the walls. Jumping to attention, Aldrich prepared to draw his sword as the wolf resumed its growling. The footsteps were light and airy, moving quickly towards them. A figure dashed around the corner. 

Aldrich’s eyes widened in recognition. Standing in the doorway was a blonde woman with pointed ears – the enchanted house made sense now, he supposed. It was Freya. 

But before he could say a word, the wolf leapt at her. With a crash, she was pinned to the ground, the wolf’s teeth bared inches from her face. “No! Bad wolf, what did I just tell you?!” The wolf ignored him. Aldrich was seriously worried now – not once had the wolf not listened to him like this, let alone attacked someone for no reason.

Freya didn’t say a word. She lay there, eyes darting from the wolf’s eyes to its teeth – but strangely, she didn’t look surprised in the slightest. In fact, Aldrich thought she even looked resigned. It was at this moment something occurred to him – why exactly was the wolf so aggressive towards her? The wolf had aided him time and time again, its judgement and instincts saving him from peril so many times that he had lost count. So instead of telling the wolf to back down, Aldrich drew his sword.
“I’ll make sure she doesn’t move. I need to know why she’s so dangerous, buddy. We can’t arrest her without evidence, so I’ll give you time to find whatever you need.  Don’t worry,” he smiled, and gave a determined nod. “I trust you.”

Aldrich stood above Freya, his sword held above her chest. She glared at him, her lips pursed, but Aldrich gave it no mind. The wolf looked up at him for a moment, nodded back, then dove into the clutter, sniffing wildly at the air. For a few minutes, Aldrich remained standing guard above Freya, locked in a stalemate as crashes echoed throughout the house. The wolf rummaged and ransacked every nook and cranny, turning over all the clutter and rugs it could find.

Aldrich’s fist clenched around his sword. He hadn’t said anything after he began holding Freya down with his blade. They held eye contact the whole time, neither of them daring to look away from the other’s stare. 
This silence was shattered by a bright light beaming through from another room. Startled, Aldrich’s head whipped around to see what had caused it – but then tipped forward as his arm was yanked to the ground. Taking advantage of his distraction, Freya wrenched the sword from his hands with a strength he had no idea she possessed. In one fluid movement, she had him collapsed on the ground, his knees searing with pain. She moved to run, but Aldrich grabbed her ankle as he struggled to his feet. She pulled and twisted, but he refused to let her escape. Eyes darting to the now fading light, Freya grew desperate, and unsheathed a dagger hidden within her belt. Before Aldrich could move to react, the dagger sliced down towards his wrist.

He closed his eyes, preparing for the agony he would soon experience – but no pain came. There was a crash, and sound of a struggle, and everything began blending together. In all the noise ringing in his ears, he vaguely recognised a voice shouting for the guards. Rising to his feet, he raised his arm to shield his eyes from the bright sunlight, only to stumble forwards – not to the ground, but straight into someone’s arms.
Someone was asking if he was alright. Finally opening his eyes, Aldrich beheld the sight before him.
It was Erwin.

“Al, are you alright? She didn’t hit you with a spell, did she?” Erwin stood right in front of him, holding him upright by the shoulders. His brow was creased with worry, and his hair was dirty and ruffled. 
Aldrich threw him into a bone crushing hug. “Erwin?! By the gods, you have no idea how worried I was about you! How are you even here—nevermind that, where were you?!” Aldrich clung to Erwin’s shoulders like a koala, and his voice wavered in a very un-kingly way. Snapping out of his stupor, Erwin let out a breathless laugh and wrapped his arms around Aldrich’s waist. “I’m glad to see you too, Al.” He relaxed into his friend’s arms.
Aldrich removed himself from the hug and gripped Erwin’s shoulders. “No, I mean it. You disappeared for months, Erwin. I thought you had died! Where were you?!”

At this, Erwin stilled. He kept his eyes firmly on the ground – there were wildflowers sprouting between the cobblestones. Feeling his friend’s hands tighten around his shoulders, he reluctantly spoke. “I didn’t…leave, exactly.” Aldrich’s brow furrowed in confusion, though he remained silent. Erwin took a shaky breath. “I was the wolf. It was me.”
Erwin cringed. The last time he had revealed his true self, they had stolen the only thing that made him human. He had no idea how Aldrich would react – so he prepared himself for the worst. His voice cracked. “I’m so sorry, Al, I know I should’ve told you—“

He was silenced by a bubbling chuckle. King Aldrich, the great symbol of justice and resilience, was giggling like a young schoolboy. Erwin stared. The giggling gave way to a jovial laughter, which chimed like church bells as he held his stitching sides.

“Of course it was you! Gods, how did I not see it before?” His eyes glowed with mirth. Erwin was utterly dumbfounded. “You’re not…angry?” Aldrich’s laughter ceased and gave way to a look of confusion. “Angry? You’ve saved my life, Erwin, more times than I can count – you saved me just then! How could I possibly be angry?” 

Despite Aldrich’s assurances, Erwin’s heart sank. “No…you don’t understand.” He muttered, and Aldrich’s grip on his shoulders softened. “I wasn’t cursed. I’m not human. At all. This…” He pulled a delicate silver chain from beneath his overcoat. “…is the only reason I look like one.”
The green gem glowed and hummed. The floodgates had finally opened, and Erwin’s chest lightened, the burden of his secret finally out in the open. But that relief was quickly overshadowed by dread. “I lied to you for years. A hero shouldn’t be friends with a magical beast – the people would be horrified. I understand if you don’t want to talk to me anymore.” 
There was a pause. Aldrich’s exasperated voice broke the silence.
“Erwin, for as smart as you are, you can be really dumb sometimes.” Erwin looked up, a glimmer of hope in his eyes, as Aldrich continued to speak. “Of course I still want to talk to you! You’re my best friend – you were there, as the wolf, the whole time I thought you were gone. You saw how miserable I was. Do you honestly think I’d just…get rid of you once I found out you were magic?”

Erwin stood, starry-eyed and lost for words. Realising the question was not rhetorical, he fumbled for a response. “I…I couldn’t be sure,” he excused, before being cut off by a fond, yet still exasperated laugh. “Erwin. I authorised Freya’s stay in the castle. While I realise in hindsight that was a mistake, yes, I knew she had magic. And I still let her stay. I wouldn’t have done that if I were against magic, Erwin, did you not realise?”
Realisation dawned on Erwin’s face. “I’m an idiot,” He deadpanned, and Aldrich broke out into stifled giggles. Erwin fondly smiled before speaking again. “I was…scared.” He began, and Aldrich paused to listen. “You have no idea how happy I am you’re okay with me, Al. For the longest time, I was terrified that people would hate me if they found out I was…what I am. I never knew for sure, but I just…couldn’t take that risk. No matter how much I wanted to.” 

Aldrich took Erwin’s gloved hand in his own and squeezed. “You’re amazing, Erwin. Whatever you want to be – human or wolf, that won’t change the fact that you’re kind, and brave, and the best friend I ever could’ve hoped for. So if you want to show people who you really are, and anyone gives you grief over it, then they’ll have me to deal with. I care about you more than anyone else in the whole world, and nothing is ever going to change that. Okay?”

Gripping his hand in return, Erwin’s breath shook. “Okay,” he breathed, blinking back tears. After a moment of deliberation, he threw his arms around Aldrich’s chest, and buried his misty eyes into his friend’s shoulder. The armour clicked and shifted, and the leather of Aldrich’s gloves rubbed circles into Erwin’s back. 

The hug was interrupted by a curt voice that echoed through a shining helmet. “Your Highness,” the knight addressed Aldrich, and he and Erwin hastily separated, faces slightly pink. “The witch has been apprehended, and the guard awaits your command.” He turned to face Erwin. “And welcome back, Sir Erwin. Your presence has been missed.” After a quick thanks from Erwin, the knight stood aside to reveal Freya, her hands bound behind her and two guards holding her still. There were townsfolk gathered around, whispering and murmuring, eager for gossip about the commotion. Everyone awaited the king’s next words. 

But instead of addressing his knights, the king turned to Erwin. He put a hand on his shoulder. “You should be the one to decide what happens to her,” Erwin opened his mouth to protest, but was quickly cut off. “It was you she wronged. You deserve to have a say in her fate.” He spoke with an infectious certainty. Steeling himself, Erwin stepped forward into the view of the crowd.

Freya was staring at the ground. Her whole body was tense, and her hair fell in front of her face, hiding her eyes. Erwin spoke quietly, as to address her alone. 

“Why did you do it?” His voice was calm, but the cold edge it possessed made it unrecognisable from the soft voice he used with Aldrich. A weighted pause extended between them both. “I wanted to be more,” she began, not tearing her eyes from the ground. “I wanted to prove that I was worthy of respect. I wanted to show them that magic was worthy of respect. You had power. And I thought I could use it.”

“And was that worth taking away my humanity?” Erwin’s voice was cold and sharp. Freya’s voice was barely more than a whisper. “I had hoped so,” she said.

Erwin stood back. “Take her back to the castle,” he ordered, “We will launch an investigation into any other crimes she may have committed. After the investigation is complete, she will be put on trial.” The guards leapt into action, and led her away through the town, their horses trotting along behind them.

Erwin turned to address the crowd. “As you may have heard, this criminal is indeed a witch.” A wave of whispers and murmurs spread across the street. They silenced as Erwin continued to speak. “The crime she committed, had it not been discovered, would have taken my own life away from me. However,” He paused, and gathered his words. “Do not allow this incident to reflect upon magic as a whole. Just as she would take away my life for magic, when I was young, it was magic that granted me that very same life. I owe everything I have to magic. It is neither inherently good, nor evil. Do not allow your fears to destroy innocent lives – it was the fear of magic that drove this witch to commit such a desperate crime in the first place. That fear will bring harm to thousands more than magic ever will.”
The silence remained. Aldrich stepped forward. “You are dismissed. You may all return to your day.” Like clockwork, the crowd dispersed and the day resumed as though nothing had ever happened. 

Aldrich turned to Erwin. “Do you think they’ll listen?” he asked, as they made their way through the town square. Erwin shook his head. “Not all of them, not yet. It will take much more than a public announcement to undo decades of prejudice. But the message is out now, and the gods know how fast gossip spreads. If even one budding witch hears that, and learns that they aren’t alone in the world, then that will be enough for me.”

A proud smile spread across Aldrich’s face. “You have no idea how glad I am you’re back, Erwin.”

A warmth bubbled up in Erwin’s chest. “I think I do,” he replied. 
___________________________________________________________________________
 
And from that day onwards, the kingdom began to change, little by little. The return of Sir Erwin was celebrated by the castle, not only for his leadership, but for the joy he so clearly brought the king. They were more inseparable than ever before – and together, they brought justice and kindness to the farthest reaches of the kingdom.  

The disappearance of the strange wolf brought much confusion to the inhabitants of the castle. Whenever someone gathered the courage to ask the king where it had gone, he would wave them away with a sly smile, denying that there ever was a wolf in the first place. Eventually, the wolf became one of the castle’s great mysteries – some believed it to have been a wayward spirit, and others speculated it to be a mass hallucination.  
(Privately, Erwin decided not to reveal his secret to the world just yet. They had much work to do first; he would be ready when the time came. After all, he wasn’t lonely anymore – he didn’t have to hide from the person who really mattered.)

The trial of the witch Freya was spoken of for weeks before its occurrence. To the surprise of many, it was not used as a way to prove the inherent vileness of magic – instead, the king and his royal ambassadors promoted messages of acceptance and support for magic as a whole, spreading the word of magic being used for good. Curiously, an unfamiliar dark-haired woman could be seen conversing with the king and his personal guard, greeting him as one would greet an old friend. As much as the guards and servants speculated her identity, they never did see her again – it was like she had simply disappeared.

Aldrich and Erwin’s bond endured the many years of labouring for change. In fact, it grew stronger every day, as did their efforts – and their results. Every day, one more person gave magic another chance; every day, one more aspiring witch decided to take their stand and show the world what they could do.

The kingdom became a beacon of hope for a brighter future. Aldrich’s and Erwin’s efforts would ripple across the centuries, changing the lives of millions of people for the better.

And they all lived happily ever after.

---------------------------
If you made it this far, thanks very much for reading!  Let me know what you think in the comments :)  - Orla