A New Task (Free Fantasy Short Story)

Beenie refused to raise her eyes to meet Peter's, but she could still feel his eyes, filmed with age but still sharp, resting on her.

"Do you have anything to say for yourself?" Peter asked, his voice gentling.

"No," she said softly.

"Good," Peter said with a sigh. "Now, is it too much to ask that you two listen to Troy's parents from this point onward?"

Troy shook his head emphatically, but Beenie continued staring at her feet, wishing this whole interview was over already. At least they didn't have a big audience. Everyone was far too busy working to pay them any mind.

"Beenie?" Peter asked, not unkindly.

"I can't seem to do anything right," she murmured. She thought she had said it quietly enough that he wouldn't hear, but she knew the instant the words left her lips that he had heard anyway.

"The reason," Peter said "that it seems as if you can do nothing right, is you have not thought anything through to it's finish, and you do not know everything that might affect your goals. In order for the things you do to make a difference, you must learn to listen to those in authority over you, and sometimes bend to their wishes."

Beenie scowled, but said nothing.

"Troy, I want you to go back to where you're supposed to be."

"Really?" Troy asked, glancing at Beenie.

"Yes," Peter said, a faint unicorn-smile on his slender face.

"What about Beenie?" Troy asked.

"I have another task for Beenie," said Peter.

Troy looked at Peter for a long moment before waving a quick goodbye to Beenie, and scampering off to do as he was told.

When Troy's gray, bushy tail had vanished from sight, Beenie turned back to Peter, biting her lip. What kind of task would he give her? Would it be hard? Would it be punishment for her disregard for authority?

When Peter spoke, she flinched involuntarily.

"You have friends in the filed, yes?"

"Yes...?" Beenie said. What did that have to do with anything?

"You will go back to the field," Peter said.

Beenie's jaw dropped. "But...why?"

"You are asking questions," Peter said approvingly. "Good. I need you to convince them to come help us. We are strong, but I fear we are not strong enough. We haven't had contact with the fairies for a long time, but there was once friendship between us. Hopefully there can be again."

"You want them to come help?" Beenie asked.

"Yes. And you are the only one who can convince them. I cannot spare anyone else at this time, and since you have a tendency to do whatever you please when here, perhaps a job of more importance than gathering food will keep you out of trouble."

Beenie's shoulders hunched in at the oblique rebuke in his words.

"Do you understand?" Peter asked.

She nodded, again refusing to meet his eyes. Gathering food was an important task. She had refused to do it in favor of something more...heroic. She felt a flush stain her cheeks once again. Regardless of why she had disobeyed, that was how it appeared to Peter.

"You are ashamed of yourself," Peter said. "This is good."

Beenie looked up, startled. "What? she asked.

"You are ashamed. It means that you understand what you have done. Am I right in thinking that you will not make the same mistakes again?"

"I'll try," she said, still unsettled by his declaration.

He nodded his acceptance of her answer, and then bowed his head. He suddenly looked even more tired than before. Had she caused that? Prickling guilt enveloped her.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I didn't mean..."

"I know," Peter said, raising his head again to look at her. "Just do what you may to help us. Go and get the fairies."

Beenie nodded, and then flew upward.

She turned and looked around when she reached the top of the trees. Peter was where she had left him, watching her ascent. He was a silver splotch on the green velvet of the grass.

She raised one hand in farewell, and then turned toward the field, a look of determination on her small face.