Prologue; I do?

"I'm sorry dear, I'm so, so sorry..." Were the final words that her mother gave to her. A voice strained and hoarse from many nights of weeping.

The day, which was as gloomy as a funeral - was her wedding day.

The hushed murmurs of her friends and neighbors were her only accompaniment, instead of the celebratory music as she made her way towards the lone black carriage.

"So, she's to be the bride?"

"Poor thing, she's so young…"

"There's nothing that can be done...If we don't offer someone then, then we will starve. All of us…"

"We have to calm him.."

By whatever good grace yet remained in the word did she find herself in the carriage with what remained of her closest friends. One of them adjusting her poor excuse of a white veil, giving the pitiful excuse of remaining hidden for her "groom". They couldn't bring themselves to look at her, not with what awaited her at the end of the carriage ride.

"Please don't hate us." One of them finally dared to speak. Yet somehow it made the small space quieter as they spoke. "We didn't want this to happen...none of us. But, I'm glad you're going."

"We're very grateful to you." Another spoke up.

"We can now all live because of you."

She wanted to scream.

How dare they. How dare they try and make her feel better. They were just glad it was her and not them. That it was not their daughter. It wasn't their fault she was unlucky enough to be chosen, there needed to be a sacrifice anyway. It may have been an old fairytale, but they didn't care so long as the crops and animals were blessed back to what they once were. As long as it wasn't them, it didn't matter.

Despite all that, her lips remained shut. As they had arrived at their destination did she remember as to why she should remain so. The wind was still, despite being so high up into the mountains. The horses nervously whinnied from behind, her heels crunching under the dirt and stone as she made her way towards the cliff's edge. The "bridesmaids" gave her a wide berth as she made her way towards a large steel birdcage, alongside an old iron crank. To which, many more dotted the edges of stone around them.

There were no final goodbyes, nor tears as she made her way inside. The veil and gown semi spilling out as she had begun to be lowered to the blanket of fog below. The air grew colder, her breath began to appear as from above one could hear the wedding party scrambling to leave. Leave behind all the memory and with time - all traces of her. In resignation she sat, not even a bubble of a sob surfaced from her throat.

What point would tears give her now? It didn't help Lettie; as she was torn away from her widowed mother and not given a chance to be a proper bride. Or how about Amilie whom had tried to run away with her lover, condemning them both.

'At least they died together.' She couldn't help but to muse. As for herself, she had no one besides her family back home, if one could even call it that anymore. They were just as much a part of this as any other. Yet any hatred she wanted to direct was cut short as a shiver ran through her. From her core to her fingertips. The cold had begun to set in.

Haphazardly was her wedding gown wrapped around her as best as she could, aiding her little for it was merely an old white lace veil resembling more of a doily and said gown was just a more layered and embroidered everyday dress. The birdcage swung back and forth at such movements, causing slight nausea to set in. Repeatedly like a prayer did she tell herself not to look down, though even if one did, nothing but fog would greet you. How she wished it had deigned to surround her as well, that way she wouldn't have had to see the other bird cages littered around. All human sized, rusted, frosted, some even broken while others still housed their "residents". Hanging like some macabre fruit.

She didn't consider herself fortunate in the least at seeing the skeletal remains. A corpse should be best left alone after all, at least that is what she wished for herself.

Would she freeze to death first? Or perhaps she would attempt one last daring escape and fall to her death? Which was quicker? Or maybe, she would wait for him? Whatever it was the village gave offering to for a plentiful harvest, that had decided to strain such a boon for many of the generations living there. Devil? Fae? It didn't matter so long as there was food at the table and all was well.

But obviously, not anymore. Not for a long, long time now.

"Having fun? Thinking of your final moments?"

She would have fallen to her death had the bars of the cage not been small enough, as she jumped in shock at the sudden voice. Wildly did her eyes shift this way and that, seeing no one - except of course for one lone blackbird at the opposite side of her. It was as big as a crow, maybe a raven? Though she had never seen one so large. It cocked its head, curious at her as it sat between the bars.

"You haven't lost your mind yet." It stated as to what she was thinking, its beak curving into the hints of a grin.

"I wish I was." She blurted in response, earning her a cawing of sudden laughter.

"Ooh, decided to give a clever one way did they? That's a pity for the arts." The bird continued to laugh.

The statement was enough for a small smile to tug at her lips, only a small one though as her mind had caught up to what was currently happening. "I'm sorry, you are -"

"Hmmm? Wish to know my name? I'll give you mine if you give me yours." Here the bird extended a wing, as if it were extending a hand.

Such an action caused her mind to reel. Memories of her grandmother teaching her the way of fairy tales rushing back. The cold caused her voice - now laced with caution - to crack out a lie. "Y-You may call me "Ainsel." "

The blackbird appeared to grin more and his eyes shifted from a shiny black, to twin almost glowing orbs. They were laced with the color of a harvest moon. "Ah, you are indeed a clever one."

With that there was suddenly a powerful gust of wind, frigid and fierce to cause her to close her eyes. Upon opening them once more, there at the other end of her already small cage appeared a man. He was draped in a dark coat with a cut to resemble wings, and obscuring his face was a long beaked mask intricately grooved designs like thorns lacing it and that only showed his glowing pupils that were now more prominent. The birdcage was too short for his height to stand fully, but he had no need to as with a flourish did he bow at his waist to her. His eyes glowing in delight as they looked upon her.

Instinctually, hurriedly did she try to stand - as a commoner such as herself should in front of a lord, had circumstances been different. However her wedding gown had been wrapped around her for warmth too tightly. This caused the man to laugh again at her slight flailing.

"'Tis alright, I'd much rather have you remain sitting as to what we are to discuss little bird." With that he knelt before her, being mindful of the gown and giving her plenty of room to breath. They did just meet after all. "Now, I'm sure you have already figured out who I am and what I do. So, let us cut to the chase and have me ask you; What would you like to do now?"

"What?" Came the rather normal response to such a question.

"Hmm? Did you simply think I just fly in here and gobble you "brides" up? The man chuckled at his own dark humor. "I'm kind enough to give you brides a choice, when you were given none."

Her eyes widened at his choice of words, so he continued. "You can choose to try and get back up towards the cliffs. Some have made it and have lived to see their children's children. Others, falling to a death of their own will. Others, I will say, have chosen to remain in this final resting place - whilst I - well, can't refuse what whatever God has left before me now can I? Or, if you prefer I could give your corpse to the animals and earth as a "blessing" if that is what you wish."

The information given both baffled yet made complete sense. As was the won't of the Fae, at least from what she could perceive of him at first glance. With a jolt did she suddenly recoil back. He had outstretched a claw ringed hand toward her.

"I'd very much like to give you more time to ponder your choice but it grows darker by the moment and colder still."

How right he was. Her teeth were now softly chattering without realizing, as too did her body begin to tremble from the cold. It wasn't much of a choice one had to admit, but it was a choice nonetheless. More than had been given, and there was only one choice that she had in mind.

"Your name…" She mumbled, lips beginning to freeze.

He cocked his head to the side, his more corvid form coming to mind as he did so.

"I'd, I'd like to know my husband's name…"

He smiled, gently taking her shaking hand in his as he drew her towards him. Weakly did she stumble into his embrace, her legs having become numb as the steel floor had begun to frost, even her gown as well with a silvery sheen. Yet she had no need to walk as he opted to carry her as any bride wished to be. He was pleasantly warm, his overcoat framing her much smaller one. It almost felt like a large pair of wings, soft and welcoming.

"You may call me Alistair Cirksena Ozvaldo, and what might your name be my little bird?"

There was no need to lie now, for there was no doubt in her mind that she would ever return. For who would want to?

"Calliope."