Plowing through the snow with my legs, I ventured deeper into the forest. The village had to be nearby. The merchant on the road had told me to follow the giant in the stars, and I would find the village quicker than on the road. The road, he said, went East far past the village before turning back on itself.

A waste of time in this weather if you didn’t have a horse and cart, he had said.

I lost feeling in my toes, but I kept going. I must be close, I thought. I had been walking for at least an hour.

Before me was a clearing, lit up by moonlight. As I got closer, I could smell flowers, and a warm breeze filled my body with the scent of hot bread.

Walking through the trees and onto the soft spring grass, I knelt and held my frozen toes.

Looking around, my jaw dropped. The entire clearing could’ve fit my house inside it. There was no snow, flowers bloomed brightly, and then I saw them.

Red and white mushrooms in a circle around the edge of the clearing.

Fairies.

My heart pounded as I looked around me to find I had already entered the circle. I got up and walked into the middle of the clearing, watching the trees nervously.

I had only heard tales of the fae people. They kidnapped healthy children to replace them with changelings that were sick and deathly. They stole food and played tricks on people lost in their woods. Some were found dead or never seen again.

Slowly, the edges of the trees filled with fae folk. Some smiling peacefully and others with sinister expressions.

“Welcome, child. To the mushroom grove. We have a feast of feasts close to here. Will you join us?” One fairy said. His voice was smooth and clear, and he entered the clearing and approached me.

“I am just trying to get through the forest to the village,” I replied, a shiver running down my spine.

“It is quite far from the village, and far too cold to be out at this time of night.” The fairy said, “we will fill your belly and give you a warm bed to rest, then you might be on your way tomorrow.” His smile warmed me like a comforting mug of tea.

“That sounds reasonable to me. Thank you.” I said, the part of me trying to warn me dwindling into a faint whisper.

They led me through the forest. The path was warm and dry; the moonlight lit our way. Deep into the woods, we went.

The trees grew taller and taller, or was I getting smaller and smaller? The mushrooms that lined our path grew and grew until they were as tall as the trees. As I got smaller and smaller, they towered above and soon replaced the trees of the forest. Now and again a mushroom had a door at the base of its stem, windows perched into them far up their towering bodies, and the name made more sense.

The mushroom grove was spectacular. Lanterns hung from mushroom to mushroom, giving the area a warm and friendly glow. In the breeze, I could smell the warm bread again. The fest must be nearby.

We entered another clearing and my heart beat faster, faster. There was an enormously long table filled with meats, various loaves of bread, vegetables, cakes, and fruits. Many faes sat, eating and chatting away. Some Fae danced together to the sides of the table, twirling around, their wings leaving fairy dust through the air.

At the head of the table sat the most beautiful fairy, a crown of ivy on her head. The fae lead me to her and bowed before speaking.

“We have a weary traveler, your highness.”

The Queen looked me up and down, nodding.

“Then may she feast with us and rest her head?” She moved her arm to gesture towards the seat at her side. I sat down, feeling heavy and tired.

The fae seated around me piled onto my plate of food, and I ate.

I took a sip of the wine in my goblet and my worries disappeared. I forgot about getting to the village. Forgot the horrible stories of the fae. I ate and drank deep into the night. Sometimes getting up to dance with a fae when they asked for my hand. They sprinkled fairy dust over me, and I hovered above the ground, twirling around and around.

As the sun appeared at the edge of the sky, the fae lead me to a mushroom near the feast. Inside a lounge room with soft-looking sofas, and stairs spiraled up around the walls. Upstairs was a bed with a delicate nightdress of periwinkle purple and a washbasin. It was warm and inviting.

After getting changed, I slipped under the soft covers of the bed and slept, unaware I would never leave the mushroom grove.