Stardust

A philosopher once asked are we human because we gaze at the stars, or do we gaze at them because we are human?

Pointless really.

Do the stars gaze back?

Now thats a question.

But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Our story begins with a boy, as most unfortunately do. A boy who who lived in a village called Wall. For which it was named for the long standing wall it resides next too. A wall at which held extraordinary secrets. A wall of law in which the folk of modern earth set into place to keep two distinctly different realms apart.

And a wall keeper of many years, simply just trying to do his job.

“I simply do not think I will ever understand the fascination with what is behind the wall or what lies past it”

“What have you never had a sense of youthful curiosity, Sir Flich” Fleamont says.

It was an ordinary night as any. But a night in which Fleamont decided that he wanted to visit the Market town as it laid just past the wall.

What could he say, his sense of youthful curiosity got the best of him.

“Have you ever been told no before young Mr.Potter?”

“You know, not as often as you may think.”

With a rising volume and tone Filch stood as tall as his old frame could take him to put the boy in his place. “Oh I think plenty well about the amount you get told no. But let me make it clear to you. You by no chance are allowed through not only through this gap, but past the wall in general.”

“Do you get off on crushing the dreams of the youths that would like nothing more than to have a little fun, seeing as there is nothing to do in our village.”

“And what makes you think there is fun past the wall Fleamnot.”

Fleamont takes a few steps closer to the keeper of the gap in the wall and lowers his voice almost as if he was telling the man a secret.

“No one ever keeps things that are fun under such tight rules, do they?”

Filch scoffed and scornfully looked at the boy. This was not the first time a boy would try the hardest to allow them through, nor would it be the last. You would think that one day they would actually come up with a better argument. But alas they all remain the same.

Filch turns Fleamont around, guiding him with a hand on the boys shoulder.

“Go home Flea, I don't want to have to talk to your father about this, let alone the council.”

With an agreeable sigh, Fleamont takes steps forward back towards the wall village with the gap keeper. Seemingly as though his efforts have been extinguished.

As we learn through this story, it is that most things never come as they seem and they probably never will.

With a fast turn and letting his long legs take him he turns back around and starts a full sprint towards the gap in the wall.

As they walked a few meters away from the gap together the old keeper had no chance of catching up to the boy, instead did his best at running after him and yelling the best he could to get him to come back.

“Oi, boy get back here” “You will regret this you hear” “Nothing good lies past the wall”

These yells however are lost to the wind as Fleamont ran until he reached the woods edge. Certain at this point that the keeper had no chance of catching up with him. He slowed his pace and caught his breath.

Monty knew he would have to make it up to the keeper at some point. Word moves fast in the Wall village.

Right now was not about that however, that was another problem for another time when he returns back to his forsaken town. Right now was about the Market town.

There have only ever been a few people to return from past the wall and tell the story.

( Its not like they died or anything, just never told anyone what happened. Really quite useless of them if you ask me but I’m just the narrator. )

There were a few things Monty was able to find out about this mysterious realm.

a) That once past the woods there was a town called Market town.

b) Which laid in a kingdom called Stromhold

That was it.

Thats all the boy knew going into it. Typical.

Thankfully for Monty, the stars always shined bright enough to guide him through the woods without being completely tangled up.

It took Monty some time to traverse these woods. He never claimed to be a man of navigation or survival-ness. Never claimed to be a man at all really.

While many minds would succumb to the sounds around them fearing what may lie in this mysterious realm such as its creatures, or rather the boredom of walking without knowing the destination. Monty walked on with a strong goal with nothing, no thought of nothing on his mind except Market town.

After what was probably 2 hours of walking though thick woods with nothing but star light guiding him. Monty reached the top of a slight incline. That not until he reached the top showed what the woods have been hiding from his view the whole time. The Market town. Even from up in the mountains the lights, noises, and life reverberating from the town struck Monty with such great power. He wondered how anyone would ever want to leave this place, why the folk of his realm would want to keep any of this a secret.

It felt quicker this part of the journey. Getting down to the town from the hill which the woods were on was quick and thoughtless. As if monty simply moved from the woods to the outskirts of the town instantly. Almost as if it was magic.

But thats just silly right, magic doesn’t exist does it.

Does it?

Monty however does not think much of this. He is too enthralled by the town around him. Maybe its just being a new place that has him so fascinated with the people around him. Really market town is no different that wall village. Just people trying to sell their goods to make money. To then buy other peoples goods and round and round and round.

To Montys defense though even the most ordinary things are fun with a little change of scenery.

So with this new place to explore Monty walked and walked and walked around. Farmers selling produce, butchers selling meat, soldiers in armor walking around, and music playing from some place in the town square making its presence known to all the people.

All Monty could think about was the fact that this place was the place they have been trying to hide from his people for so long. Why its just the same as Wall.

He walked and pondered and looked at things that struck his eye. As he got further into the town square things progressively got more “fun” you could say. This is where they put the people that were a little more rambunctious than the rest. Keeping them together was always the way to go in markets for some reason.

He was stoped looking at a shops produce when something caught the corner of his eye. It was quick, a flash of something bright.

Following where he has seen it from, he ended up walking towards a yellow carriage. But not quite your regular carriage rather in a long round rectangular shape. Looked just about big enough to live in from Monty’s understanding.

As he gets closer to the stall he notices the shine that caught his eyes once again. This time able to make out the object. It was a sliver chain, light and dainty, that sparkled like it was encrusted with diamonds.

“Can I help you boy?”

Monty looked up in shock. The what seemed to be shop keeper stared him down. He was to busy staring at the chain to notice the women tending the stall at all, even more shocked when she addressed him, as everyone in the village up to this point allowed him to be a silent observer in a sense.
“Uh-“ He stuttered greatly. Let alone did he not know what to say to this women, nor could he play it off as he knew nothing of what the women sold. Sure he could have looked around, but why would he do that.

“What is it with young boys always standing here wasting my time” The shop keeper scoffed and turned around seemingly to walk back into her yellow carriage that he has now officially deciphered is where she lives and starts talking. Confused as there was no other person in or around the carriage, but a red bird perched on a beam at the front of the carriage, Monty stood and observed in silence.

“Im going to the pub, you deal with him and anyone else that comes along.”

Monty still ever so confused watches as the shop keeper turns back around towards him and marches past in him in the direction he assumes must be the pub. Looking back to the shop still as confused as ever Monty sees as the bird flutters it wings and flies off of their perch. This he sees is where the silver chain is attached too, the foot of this bird.

But this bird is not just any bird.

Right in front of his very eyes. The bird while in air was surrounded by a swirl of red air and dust. Transformed into a woman.

A woman.

An actual real life woman.

Two feet.

Both arms.

A head.

A face.

A beautiful face at that.

So it seems as though I might have to take back my previous statement. Magic does seem to exist. At least here, for these people it does. How neat is that.

Monty was left in shock. Not just because this red bird turned into a woman.

But also.

This was the most beautiful woman Monty has ever seen. Her hair was gorgeously curly and her face was one at which you could not help be drawn too. Not only because of its beauty but because of the warmth that radiated from the energy behind it. Despite only seeing this woman for a few short moments, for never speaking to her before. Monty could feel the kindness, the love radiating off of this woman. It was not lost on Monty, as he stared at this woman with no shame. That she was wearing a red dress, to match her as a bird, which came first, Monty wished he would get the chance to find out.

The beautiful woman smiles slightly, moving forward to stand closer to the table that held all of the good the shops keeper was selling.

“You see something you like love”

Again, not processing whats going on, and gawking with an open mouth, Monty simply stares back.

“You're not from around here are you?”

This took him out of the moment. Not entirely but it finally did make him close his stupid mouth.

“What- Um- What do you mean”

“Well often those from Stromhold do not act they way you do when I change.”

“Was I that obvious.” This comes out with a slight chuckle.

“No. But, if anyone would notice it would be me, seeing as that was an awful long time to stand staring now was it.” She says none of this with malice or judgment. But rather with kindness she so deeply radiated. And to Monty’s delight, seemingly to him, even a tone of flirtation.

“Well what would it be?” She asks again.

“Of yes, right, um..” Monty finally since the first time arriving to the shop looks down at the table and notices a bunch of different flowers. Again something Monty claims to have no real knowledge in despite him thinking of himself as a relatively knowledgable human. His brain locks in on one of the flowers, and it just so happened to be one of the only things at the forefront of his mind.

“Um- how about this— red one. How much are they?”

Again with her smile, he could tell she was laughing at him because he knew he was being stupid, but there was no judgment behind her small laugh, just warmth and enjoyment.

“Could be worth a lock of your hair or rather an eyeball or your deepest darkest secrets.”

Not knowing weather she was serious or not Monty simple chuckled, realizing for the first time in what felt like it could have been hours that he is no long in Wall. But rather in a Market town a place with magic, and suddenly he felt far far far away from home.

“Oh please” she says again with that ever so charming chuckle, “Im only joking love.”

A breath released itself from his lungs, a breath he did not remember even holding. In return Monty did his own small laugh back. When looking at the woman residing himself that he felt no sense of danger with her, rather his own mind was getting the best of him, as it so often does.

“Besides love you don’t want the red ones.”

“Oh? And why would that be?”

“You my dear should have this one” As she leaned over the table she gabbed the only white flower in the assortment. “This is a teardrop, it brings luck.”

“What are you saying I need some luck?”

“Everybody needs luck darling.”
“And what would the cost of the teardrop be?”

The woman ponders this for a moment. As if running though all the possibilities that may happen depending on what she says next.

“The cost of this…” She leans over the table closer and closer to Monty so now they are only inches apart “Is a kiss.”

Pondering the acquisition for a moment Monty flashes the same small smile they have both been returning back and forth to each other all night, and goes to kiss her cheek as any gentleman would. Moments before his lips connect with the what must be soft skin of her cheek, she turns ducking her head down and catching his lips in hers.

Done letting moments of shock control these moments he has with her, he instead in nothing but focused on the fact that is beautiful woman is kissing him. Letting her lead this moment between the two of them, it could have been years for all Monty cared before they broke apart, him gasping slightly for air and her looking rather pleased in herself, again with her cheeky smile.

Once his breath is caught they both stand their smiling at each other with quite soft smiles. The softness that now radiates off the both of them. With another passing of time long or short she looks around to make sure her shop keeper is gone.

“You don’t see her anywhere do you?”

“Not from what my eyes can see”

“Good”

She reaches across the table and grabs Montys arm leading around the table into the shop keepers booth, once past this threshold she lets go and makes her way towards the carriage doors. This is when Monty is finally reminded of what brought him here, the shiny silver chain. It was attached to the bird, and he is now noticing that it is attached to the woman, down on her ankle and seems as though it is tied down somewhere along the carriage. She stops as she gets to the top of the stairs to the carriage and looks back only to realize what Monty is too realizing in this moment. In a stark move of something thought to be helpful, Monty pulls out his cutting blade, bends down and attempts to cut the chain in half.

Things however, of course, are never as they seem. Monty is able to cut the chain in half. Only to watch it fuse itself back together a mere few seconds later. In disbelief he looks up at the prisoner at then end of the chain.

“Its enchanted and will only break when she dies.” Looking off into the distance where the shop keeper had wandered off too.

Standing Monty stares at the woman in confusion, “If I can not help you be free, what do you want from me?”

With the door to the carriage now open she extends he hand to him, as an invite to her.
Just as Monty is about to grab her hand, he remembers one important thing. Before reaching out he asks.

“What is your name.”

“Euphemia, and yours?”

Monty whispers the name to himself quietly before responding.

“Fleamont”

Shaking her hand out reminding him of the situation, “Well Fleamont, are you coming or not?”

This time his smile is nothing small or reserved but rather large and knowing. He takes Euphemia’s hand and allows himself to be taken into the carriage. With the door shutting behind them.

To Fleamont this is just when his exciting time in Stromhold begins.

For us, this is where this part of the story ends.

As the story may have started with Fleamont.

Rather.

The boy brought to Fleamont nine months later by Filch for which he was left at the gap in the wall for him.

That young boy had a name, and that name was James.

And with James.

That is where our story truly begins.