FaRoFeb 2025 Micro Story 1
EPIC FANTASY ROMANCE
Part 1
by Angela J. Ford
Milk-white moonlight lit Irina’s way as she walked among the brambles, the snap of dried twigs and the crackle of dead leaves the only sounds in the wood. The basket dragged on her arm; its weight made it uncomfortable to carry, but desperation drove her forward to the clearing.
An arcane altar rose surrounded by trees, and it was impossible to tell whether it was crafted out of branches or bone or stone. She stumbled to it and hefted the basket atop the altar. Her shoulders burned, but she hoped what she gained would be worth the pain.
Stepping back, Irina waited, giving space for what was about to happen. Personally, she’d never brought an offering to the Forest King, but she’d heard tales of the gifts he gave, the magic he wrought but always in exchange for something. Would her offering be enough?
Wind stirred the dead leaves into a vortex, moving like fingers, ripping at her hair, snatching at her dress.
It blinded her momentarily, followed by a deathlike stillness that sent shivers down her spine.
Where no one had been before, there he stood, the Forest King. He wore night like a shroud with a crown of moonlight upon his head. In his right hand he carried a rod with gems glowing on it and by his side trotted a green-eyed beast.
Black orbs of eyes flickered from her to the basket on the altar. He beckoned with one long finger, and despite her fear, Irina found herself compelled to draw near.
Find Angela’s books at angelajford.com.
Part 2
by Sirena Knighton
“Why are you here, mortal?”
His voice was the rustling of leaves, the snapping of dry twigs, and the chill of the woods on a moonless night.
Irina shivered. She’d brought everything she was supposed to bring, and now he was here.
She couldn’t lose focus.
“I beseech your protection, Forest King,” she said, bowing low before him.
The being before her stilled. His head tilted to the side. “And what will you offer me in return, mortal?”
His voice sounded almost…amused.
Irina took a deep breath. “Anything you wish, King.”
“Anything?”
Irina shuddered at the unholy glee in his words. But she nodded. “Yes. Anything.”
The echo of her words had died away when there was a rustling among the leaves, and suddenly a figure burst into the clearing.
Stephen.
“So this is where you’ve gone, Irina,” he said. “A fine chase you’ve led me on. Come along, now, it’s time to return home.”
She stepped away from his grasping hand and shook her head.
“And this is who you desire protection from?” The Forest King tilted his head again, as if in inquiry.
“Protection? I am her fiancé,” Stephen hissed.
“Only because you forced yourself on me,” Irina spat. And once the village elders had found out, they’d demanded Stephen ‘do the right thing’ and marry her, despite her protests that she’d die before she’d marry him.
The wind picked up again.
“I accept your bargain, mortal.”
Find Sirena’s books at Amazon.
Part 3
by Day Leitao
His voice echoed through her body, etching her skin, flowing through her veins.
Beside her, Stephen’s figure shrank to a shapeless blob, finally turning into a cockroach and scurrying away from her. The look suited him.
“He won’t bother you again,” the Forest King said, his tone so gentle that it flustered her. Then he slammed his staff on the ground, making it shake. “Now, onto our bargain. Anything. Bold, very bold, Irina. An irrefutable offer.”
He knew her name. Of course he did.
The wind picked up again, the kind that could uproot trees and revolve the ocean. When Irina feared she would fall, the air stilled, not even a breeze disturbing it. All she could hear was her heart.
Opposite her, she saw a huge dark wall, so high that it probably reached the clouds. Around her, nothing but desert. No altar, no trees, no—
“The basket!” she cried.
He waved his hand. “I have no interest in human trinkets.”
No. All her time, all her effort… “But Forest King—”
“Do not interrupt me.” Beside him, his green-eyed monster growled. The king raised a finger, then pointed at the wall. “You see there? That is the castle of the King of Death. Bring me the circlet he wears on his head. They say it’s made of sunshine, and that no man can touch it, but of course, all Ethereal Kings like to exaggerate.” His chuckle was light and amused.
It couldn’t be. Irina trembled. “You want me to steal the crown of the most powerful Ethereal King?”
“No! Of course not.” He touched his head. “My crown cannot be stolen. Now, get in there and bring me the circlet of the second most powerful Ethereal King.”
Find Day’s books at dayleitao.com.
Part 4
by Meredith Hart
“That’s impossible,” Irina whispered.
“I’ve done my part,” the Forest King replied. “And I expect my payment.”
He vanished in a cold gust of wind, leaving her alone on the featureless plains. Irina’s heart rattled inside her chest. This was impossible. But what choice did she have?
With a sigh, she started walking alongside the massive wall. The ground around her was covered with round white stones that bore an uncanny resemblance to skulls.
Something made her stop, like a whisper of wind across the back of her neck. She raised her hand to the wall and felt warm air billowing through a hidden split in the stone.
Irina closed her eyes and whispered a prayer from her childhood, the one to keep monsters at bay. And then she walked through the door.
She found a garden.
Water trickled softly from somewhere nearby, hidden by explosions of leaves and raucous rainbows of flowers. Irina pressed her hand to her mouth and crept forward. Her feet crunched on the gravel path. Birds sang as she passed.
In the center of the garden, she found something that looked almost like a gravestone, but larger, and made of rose-colored marble. On top of the stone, a gleaming golden circlet shone like a captive star.
“Made of sunshine,” Irina whispered.
With her heart pounding in the back of her throat, Irina approached the stone. She raised her hand; the warmth of the circlet kissed her palm.
“Oh, come now,” a man’s voice purred from behind her. “You didn’t think it would be that easy, did you?”
Find Meredith’s books at writermeredithhart.com.
Part 5
by Nisha J. Tuli
Irina spun around, her breath clogging in her chest. Before her stood a man crafted of midnight shadows. His dark hair shimmered like diamonds and flowed over his shoulders, practically melting into his shining armor.
The King of Death.
“I…” she stammered, completely at a loss for words.
He stepped closer, towering over her. “Why are you taking my crown?”
“I need it,” she whispered.
He peered at her and raised a dark eyebrow. “Why?”
She told the story of the Forest King and the favor he’d granted her in a rush. When she was done, she stared at the King of Death. She already knew it was no use. Why would he care that she needed his crown? She’d entered his kingdom and tried to rob him. She’d be lucky to escape with her life.
Unsurprisingly, he started to laugh. It was a bright sound, like the chiming of bells, but she heard the malice nestled in it. He might be the most beautiful being she’d ever seen, but kings were always evil.
“The Forest King thinks he is the most powerful?” the king sneered. “He is but a seed growing from dirt. I am literally the keeper of all life. He wouldn’t even exist without me.”
Irina backed up. She was aware of the crown behind her. So close.
The king approached, and she squeaked in fear as he raised a hand, probably to banish her from this world forever.
He opened his palm and a ball of pure silver light exploded towards her.
She ducked, feeling it singe her hair as it crashed into the tombstone. Dropping to her knees, she skirted around it, jumped up, and grabbed the crown.
She winced as it burned her skin…
And then she ran.
Find Nisha’s book at nishajtuli.com.
Part 6
by Juliette Caruso
Something pulled Irina forward through blurring landscapes. Running faster than her legs could carry her, she fell through desert, through snowy mountains; through an endless, star-studded field.
Then the dark woods.
She stumbled and stopped before the altar. It was silent but for the warble of a distant bird, whose life she could feel like candlefire. Water dripped from high canopy leaves to the decaying floor; a blanket of moss shone with a thousand individual lives. The crown of sunlight in her hand cast the moonlit forest into harsh relief: light and shadow, life and death.
The Forest King and his beast emerged into the ring of sunlight pooling from Irina’s hands. The light did not penetrate the shroud of night he wore, nor dull the silver moonlight of his crown.
“You live.” He sounded surprised… and relieved.
She stared in disbelief. The Forest King took a step closer, and Irina instinctively stepped back.
“You said it was an exaggeration–that I’d be able to touch it.” Had he sent her there expecting her to burn?
“I merely hoped. Very few are strong enough to become Ethereal.”
He advanced again; she retreated, confused. Become Ethereal? Something squished beneath Irina’s boot and she felt a life flicker out. Looking down, she saw the ruined carcass of a cockroach. Her stomach turned. The King stepped closer.
“A bargain is a bargain, Irina.” His voice was hungry. “You’ve fetched the crown; you have not asked why. But even the most powerful King cannot wear two crowns on a single head… and I have been alone for a very long time.”
Find Juliette’s books at juliettecaruso.com.
Part 7
by Vela Roth
“That’s what you really want?” Irina breathed. “Me?”
“I’ve sought a mate like you for centuries,” the Forest King rasped. “Many mortals died attempting the tasks I set them, and even more simply fled in terror. But not you, Irina.”
He halted, coming no closer. “What will you choose? Will you return to your mortal existence in the village that betrayed you? Or promise yourself to me for eternity?”
What was left for her in that wretched village? But what would her future be like, bound to the darkness with him?
She raised her chin, standing her ground. “Kings are always evil.”
“Of course.” There was a wicked smile in his voice. “Tell me, do you find my kind of evil tempting?”
Irina looked at the glowing circlet. So much power in her hand. Power the Forest King was offering to her.
With both hands, she placed the crown on her head. She gasped at the warmth and energy that shot through her limbs.
Reaching into the shadows at the king’s side, she found his cold hand. His skin began to warm at her touch. His fingers closed around hers, and the brush of his claws sent a delicious shiver through her.
He mounted his green-eyed beast, lifting her effortlessly to ride in front of him. His ethereal body felt solid and muscular behind her.
Together, they rode deeper into his forest, her crown lighting the night and his shadows embracing her.
Find Vela’s books at velaroth.com.