THE STRAY

[sidhe_faerie]

THE STRAY

Prompt: Stray

Word count: 877

Characters: Princess Endora, Dionne Draconis

Author’s note: These are original characters from The Faerie Fantasy of the Questing Princess. Shetland sheepdogs (Shelties) have been referred to as ‘faerie guardians’. This is dedicated to my Sheltie, Noah, who left this realm four years ago.

 

THE STRAY

Princess Endora wrinkled up her nose at the strange smell as she rounded the corner to her chambers. She had just come in from riding Sugar Plum and she really wanted a bath.

 “Dionne what do you have there?” Endora asked as she walked into her chambers. She dropped her riding gloves on the bed.

“I found a puppy in the village. He was hungry so I brought him here to feed him.” Dionne said as she offered the mud encrusted little creature scraps from the breakfast tray.

“You better get him out of here before the Queen sees. She’ll have us both in the stocks.” Princess Endora warned her. “Take him down to the stables. The stable boy may know who he belongs to.”

“The stables? Why can’t I keep him here?” Dionne frowned. “He’ll get stepped on.”

“The Queen doesn’t like dogs and the stables are the best place for him. You know, he may belong to someone who is very upset to find him gone. Tell the guards to ask around when they do their patrols.” Endora sat on the chair and pulled off her boots.   

“He is hungry and dirty. I doubt he has a master.” Dionne said. “I’m going to keep him.”

“Dionne, if he belongs to someone you must give him back.”

“I will not!” Dionne declared.

“Excuse me?” Endora raised her eyebrows and the way Dionne responded.

Dionne was suddenly ashamed of her outburst. “I apologize, My Lady. I’ll take him to the stables now.”

Endora sighed. “Give him a bath and feed him while you are there. Then prepare me a bath. Dionne, don’t forget to ask the guards to ask around.”

“Yes, My Lady. I’ll be right back.” Dionne picked up the small thing and carried him to the stables. She stopped to ask the guards in the courtyard to ask around to see if anyone had lost a puppy. They all agreed to help.  

In the meantime, Endora picked up a book and started to read as she sat by the fire.

“My Lady, I’m back.” Dionne said as she came in the room.

“Good. I need to change for supper. Did you remember my bath?” Endora put her book down on the table.

“Yes. The kitchen maids will be bringing up the hot water now.” Just as Dionne said that, three kitchen maids carrying buckets of hot water appeared. Dionne prepared the bath.

“It’s ready, My Lady.”

“Thank you, Dionne. What of the puppy?” Endora asked as she undressed behind the screen.

“I gave him a bath and feed him some scraps from the kitchen. He fell asleep after that.”

“Has there been any word from the guards?” Endora climbed into the tub, carefully easing into the hot water.   

“Nothing yet. When I got him clean, he was white and brown. He looks like the dogs in the painting at the end of the gallery.”

“A guardian? There hasn’t been a guardian here in a long time.”

“Why do you call him ‘a guardian’?” Dionne asked as she put towels by the fire to warm. She was thinking of calling him ‘Pudding’.

“The dogs in that painting are Sidhe Guardians. They protect faeries in the human world from harm. Aura calls them Shelties. They also herd sheep and other livestock.”   

“He’s very small. I don’t think he could herd sheep.”

“Never underestimate a creature because of their size. You’re a Faerie. You should understand that.” Endora stood and Dionne hands her a towel. “I better wear a gown. I’m having supper with the Queen and Crown Princess.”

Dionne took a gown out of the cupboard and laid it out on the bed.

Endora dressed quickly and went down to the Queen’s dining hall. Endora was afraid that she was late. She was always late according to her mother, the Crown Princess.

When Endora entered the room she was surprised by what she saw. Queen Taralen was holding the puppy Dionne had found. The puppy was licking her face and wagging his tail. The queen looked up and saw Endora in the doorway.

“Endora come see. He is a Sidhe Guardian. I understand your maid found him and took him to the stables.” The Queen said as she patted the small creature.

Yes Majesty, she did. I told her to take him there. I didn’t think you liked dogs.” Endora looked confused.

“Not the loud ones that the humans keep. I’ll never like those. I want you to thank her for taking care of him. He has obviously just arrived from the human’s realm.”

“She wanted to keep him, Majesty.”   

“I see. It is not permitted.” Queen Taralen told her. “Only a member of the Royal Family can keep a Sidhe Guardian. But if you keep him she can continue to care for him, if that is what she wishes.”

“I think that will be alright. I wonder what to name him.” Endora said as she stroked the little puppy’s head.

“Noah is a nice name.” Queen Taralen said. “The puppy looked up at the Queen as if he recognized his name.”

“That is perfect.” Endora smiled. “Guardian Noah of the Sidhe welcome to the Tuathan court.”

The little puppy barked and wiggled his tail in joy.