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Dec. 24, 2008 - Found Among the Fairies---A Story : Part the Seventh, Eighth, Ninth and Tenth
Sorry I haven't posted lately. Normally blogging will rebegin right now! To make up, here are 4! parts to my story, Found Among The Fairies. Yes, this is the finished story! Yeah!
Found Among the Fairies
Part 7, 8, 9 and 10
Part the Seventh:
About the time Sun-beam finally realized she had entered the human-world, Liam Ronald decided he would get nothing from the fairies for his hard-ships. “Nell, we ain’t keeping her any longer!” Liam stated one night. Nell gasped and protested frantically to her husband while mending socks. “Oh no, you don’t mean it! Liam, she won’t live by herself!” Her husband grunted.“We won’t either if we keep feeding her. Listen, I say we give ‘it’ to her, along with enough bread for a day.” Mr. Ronald looked down to the ground and sighed. He didn’t like the strain his visitor was causing on his household pantry, but he didn’t welcome the thought of her ‘weaving a spell with that gibberish” again. Nell looked at her husband curiously. “Think it would help? It might be valuable-thought you’d want to keep it and pawn it off.” Her husband shrugged. “Sally needs it more.”
Sun-beam was told she must leave, and to their surprise, the Ronald’s found she agreed with them. “I am sure now that I am not in the fairy-world after all.” She explained. “I’ve always known I was from your world Mr. Ronald, but I didn’t think I was here until yesterday.” She sighed. “I don’t know how to get home though. I have no recollection of what part of the moor I headed from last week. I do wish I had some-one or something to help me. You’ve been so nice! But…I just don’t know where to head!“ Nell glanced at Liam who nodded. “
“What isssss it?” A small pointed-eared fairy clad in a green-reed sentinel outfit asked, mesmerized at a faded bud that was laying by the gate to the human-city Sun-beam was in. A stout, mature fairy lightly slapped the first, shaking his head with impatience. “That, Lt. Acorn, is one of our Princess’s flowers from one of her pretty wreathes she makes!” The younger fairy looked in awe at the flower for a moment, then asked, “What does it mean?” His commending Officer grunted and called loudly, “We’ve found a village Sun-beam has visited boys! Alert the other regiments to come quickly!” Within an hour, tiny fairies were flitting about, quietly searching the village for Sun-beam.
Meanwhile, Sun-beam had just missed her searching friends. She was now joyfully bounding across the meadow toward the mushroom ring. Shannon Ronald, a true play-mate, had given her an antique-looking, golden compass. “I found it at the market.” Liam had said roughly. “Thought it might help direct you home.” Sun-beam had tilted her head. “He means, this is a ‘compass’, an instrument used in locating direction.” Nell had explained patiently. Sun-beam nodded vaguely. “But I don’t remember the direction I came from.” She protested politely. All three Ronald’s had glanced knowingly at each-other. “It’s magic!” Whispered
Sun-beam had set off after many words of thanks, for she realized that in this strange land of her birth, things weren’t always as happy and carefree as in the fairy-world, and the gift was a very precious one from such a poor family. Once outside the town-gate, Sun-beam flipped open the compass lid, and murmured the words “Moon Stone Empire.” The compass needle spun wildly and suddenly stopped, showing the direction of the mushroom ring! Within moments she was gliding up the moor, with every intent of finding her fairy parents awaiting her arrival.
What a surprise she was in for! When Sun-beam stepped over the mushroom ring, and found herself transformed back into her paradise home, she also found that the city was empty and unguarded! “What has happened!” She cried. “Mother, Father, Twig, Olive!!!! Where are you?” Desperately, Sun-beam ran all about her meadow, where so many happy years had been passed, but all that she found was a very odd structure which had never been there before. Has someone invaded and killed everyone in my peaceful kingdom? She thought frantically. Maybe all the invaders are in this strange palace! Maybe I’m not safe in my home anymore! What’ll I do!?!
Part the Eighth
Two flashing blue eyes peeked into the Ronald’s window. In a snap, a whole fleet of eyes strained to see the going-ons in the shabby cottage. Mr. Ronald was crouched on a wooden bench, while Shannon and her mum where sewing on the floor. No fire was going, and no smell of hot dinner drifted through to the fairies. Four fleets of the little beings were anxiously peeping at the dreary little scene before them, for one quick little Sentinel had spotted dried flower-buds scattered about the living-room. As the fleet were gazing suspiciously at Shannon, (who was a lass very much like Sun-beam herself,) a sudden shrill went up from the inside room. The fairies had been spotted!
Liam Ronald rushed to window and pulled it open, so the panes swung inside the house and didn’t hurt the sprites. “Saints be praised! There are fairies in the world!” He cried, smiling happily for the first time in years. In a flash, Shannon and her mum, Nell, were by Liam’s side, staring in wonder. Meanwhile, the fairy army, so surprised, was poised in mid-flight. Suddenly, in a demanding tone, a fairy voice sounded, “Where is Princess Sun-beam?”
The floating fairies parted in respect, all bowing as King Aspen waltzed through the air toward the inside of the hut, where three ragged humans stood with wide eyes. In a second, Queen Moss appeared, seeming more gentle, but grave. “Humans of the Big-People World, we seek our adopted daughter, who has lived with us since she was an infant. We see her wreathe-blossoms scattered in your home and know she has been here, since you haven’t our variety of blooms in your world.” Queen Moss spoke elegantly, floating toward Shannon Ronald and smiling kindly. It was the poor Irish girl who spoke first. “Why yes, Sally…I mean Sun-beam, was here. She left a little while--”
Counted, there were 107 fairies fluttering around the Ronald’s home throughout the next hour while the human-family told the worried fairy parents about Sun-beam. “You have been faithful friends to us fairies, we are grateful.” King Aspen stated gracefully, standing up from his seat he had taken in a small cup on the table. “Yes indeed, most faithful!” Queen Moss exclaimed twirling in the air with delight. She spread her arms out wide, dancing nearer to Liam, and his enchanted wife. “When we get a hold of more of our magical dust, we will bless you with many things, luxurious and useful!” She said happily. “You see, we have had some trouble back in our Empire. Someone stole our precious fairy dust.” Liam and Nell nodded solemnly; they needed food badly, but were too stunned at the possibility of having much more than just that, to complain. “May I have a dress like Sally, I mean Sun-beam?” questioned Shannon who sat, watching the fairies, someway off. Queen Moss smiled. “Indeed my dear. But we don’t need dust for that! I promise I will weave you a fairy gown and bring it to you soon!” Liam frowned at the fairy’s remark. “
Sun-beam had hidden herself in a patch of tall Irises, crying herself wet, trying to decide what to do. “I’ll go back to the human world!” She sobbed aloud. Stretching herself to her full height, she gazed about her fairy-realm, than fled at full speed across the mushroom ring back into the human world, accidentally leaving the golden compass forgotten, amid the Irises. Once on the moor, a last glance showed her that the beautiful realm was now a small circle of grass. “Good-bye home.” She murmured sadly, turning back to the green fields. Suddenly she froze stiff, her eyes had adjusted away from the mushroom ring. Could it be? She thought wildly. It was! “Mother, Father!” Sun-beam screamed wildly jumping like a child. King Aspen and Queen Moss were gliding across the moor toward her, with their company of regiments in tow! In addition, all the search groups that had spread in different directions were floating happily from North, South, East and West, all heading toward the mushroom ring! “All Hail Sun-beam!” Thousands of fairy voices sang in unison! “What was lost has been found!” Added two high voices. Twig and Olive rushed forward to Sun-beam and started to tickle her!
Part the Ninth:
The whole host of fairies, along with over-joyed Sun-beam, returned to Moon Stone Empire happy to settle back into their normal life. However, things didn’t calm at once. Sun-beam was officially presented with her castles, which she found out was not an intruder’s home, but rather her own. Stories were related back and forth once the royal family was settled in the new palace. Princess Sun-beam realized that her beloved Kingdom was safe, the fairy population had only been absent because they were searching for her.
Over the next few days, amid settling back in, the fairies greeted sorrow a couple of times. When hunting for their Princess, some faithful fairy regiments had fallen into enemy (aka human) hands. Now, injured fairies came hobbling back to the kingdom, bruised and scarred from having been handled by the big-people. However, spirits soon revived as a consul meeting was held in Sun-beam’s gigantic palace, to decide what should be done to reward the Ronald Family.
“They have to be lifted from poverty, that is sure.” Olive stated during the meeting. “But dear, we haven’t any dust left; after all, your Uncle Tangle-web stole all our supply.” (It should be told that Sun-beam had learned all about the mysterious entwining cord and who had been behind the prank.) Queen Moss sighed, shaking her elfish head. “But the Ronald’s have barely anything!” Gasped Sun-beam, positive that her new friends needed all the help the fairies could lend them. “Not anything?” King Aspen questioned in disbelief. “Well….” Sun-beam thought for a moment. “They gave me their only thing of value....called a…campuss?, composs?, compass, yes! A compass! The Ronald’s gave me a magical compass that pointed me in the direction of the mushroom ring!” Quickly Sun-beam related the specifics about the compass, which she had forgotten all about until at the meeting. “I wouldn’t have found the ring if it wasn’t for this instrument. In fact, I think I know where I left it! Come on!” All the fairy counsel members followed their princess from the palace to the flower-fields. Sun-beam rushed toward the Irises and plopped down, fingering through the earth. “Here, this is it!” Sun-beam cried, and holding up the lovely golden instrument for them, the fairy host gasped. “Such a lovely thing!” Queen Moss stated, fluttering over to the object her daughter held and perching on top of it. “
The antique object was carried ceremoniously into the castle by Sun-beam, since the fairies couldn’t lift it by themselves, for indeed it was just the right size to make a seat for them.
“This still doesn’t answer where to get more dust.” The King stated as the counsel dragged on. “I always heard that our forefathers first retrieved our fairy dust from in the center of Fire Orchids.” The advisor Hyssop put in. “Yes, very well my good sir,” Olive piped up. “But we all know Fire Orchids don’t pop up very often. They’re what one calls a ‘rare species.’” The room heaved a sigh. Silence. Then, slowly, Twig started to mutter to himself. A light dawned in his eyes as he focused on his sister’s hand. Without warning, Sun-beam gasped, silently recognizing the plan whizzing through her fairy brother’s head. Lifting the palm of her hand above her head, Sun-beam announced, “This will lead us to the Fire Orchids!” In her hand lay the compass!
Next day at noon, Sun-beam had on an airy, blue gown that billowed around her bare feet. A crown of flowers swept ‘round her head as she stood in the meadow gazing intently at her hand. Hundred’s of fairy-folk were swinging along in the breeze, as they waited for the Fire Orchid hunt to begin. “Compass!” Sun-beam’s gentle voice commanded. “Lead us to the Fire Orchids here in
Part the Tenth:
Queen Moss nearly swung through the breeze back to Sun-beam’s hand. Almost shaking, the Queen of the fairy folk perched on her adopted human-daughter’s hand. Carefully she examined the pod-seed that lay inside Sun-beam’s palm.
“The only way to know for sure that this is a Fire orchid seed, is to plant it.” Moss finally declared. Her human daughter nearly jumped, jostling the Queen back into the air. “Oh Mother!” Sun-beam cried, “How wonderful! It would be grand to reward the Ronald’s with plenty of food! If this is a Fire Orchid, we can gather the fairy dust by the end of the new moon!” With broad smiles the whole group of seed-hunting fairies swept back to the castle. King Aspen, who had stayed at the palace for particular reasons, greeted his wife and daughter warmly. Olive and Twig excused themselves so they could dismiss the hunting party back to their flower houses.
“My dear, I have to agree that this might very well be a Fire Orchid plant!” King Aspen smiled. Floating up the staircase in Sun-beam’s human-sized castle, the King led his wife and daughter to the balcony of the tippy-top-most tower. Once there, he outstretched his arms and leaned over the railing, chanting. “Take root deep within, Blossom until your end, Then please release forth, more seeds to take birth!” With this the King motioned for Sun-beam and the fair youth gently tossed the seed over the railing down, down, down to the soft earth that surrounded the castle.
It took only three weeks. The Fire Orchid plant grew steadily. From the beginning the plant took on a shape unlike any plant that grew commonly in the fairy ring. The wide realm had many species of lilies, hibiscus, roses and chrysanthemums, even kinds that the human-world didn’t have, but this plant was completely unique. The stems wound themselves into lace-like designs. The leaves had veins that formed pictures. However, there was one problem. The needed dust was to be gathered at the center of the orchid-blossom. But though the greenery grew, no bud appeared. It wasn’t until Sun-beam began to tend for the plant, that buds slowly started to unfold. “My dear,” The Queen said one morning. “You are truly the Sun-beam that this plant needed to unfurl.” It proved to be true. As Princess Sun-beam watered the plant and pruned it, so did it flourish.
One day, soon after the blossoms began to open on the orchid plant, King Aspen decided on a very serious matter. “The only human ever allowed in this realm, for the thousands of years of its existance, was our dear Sun-beam. But today, I motion that the Ronald Family be taken into the Moon-stone Empire for the ceremony of gathering the dust. After all, they are the ones to benefit from our magical plant.” A whole group of fairy advisors sat in the throne room, listening to the King. A few objected, but most agreed it should be like the king said, for the Ronald’s had helped Princess Sun-beam during her absence from the realm.
The Ronald Family, a dirty, poor group, was lead by a parade of fairies into the enchanted realm. The group was made invisible while coming from the Irish town, through the moor and into ring, as to avoid any unwanted humans from following. Once inside, the amazed family was clothed, just like Shannon Ronald had wished, in beautiful breezy garments, fit for royalty. Tiny sprites and pixies danced around the humans as they were led to the castle and out toward the Fire Orchid. Liam, who had more than once been rough and rude to Sun-beam, felt very ashamed of himself. However, it was very hard to remain sad when throngs of wee-folk were bounding about waving ribbons and hanging stars in the afternoon air.
Finally, after thousands of her citizens had crowded in the air and the humans were seated on crystal chairs, Queen Moss took her place beside the Orchid plant (which towered above her). Slowly, she peeled back the delicate petals of an orchid blossom, and leaned into the deep center, plunging half her body into it. “Ohhhhhhhhh, ahhhhhhhh…” The crowd murmured in suspense. It seemed a million years, but finally Queen Moss emerged, triumphant, her hands full of gold powder. Cheers filled the air!
After all the dust was gathered, the fairy crowd was dismissed and the Ronald’s were escorted by just the Royal family outside the borders of the realm back into the Irish moor. To the human family’s amazement, King Aspen began weaving magic with the newly gathered dust!
“My friends, the Ronald’s: Hear me clearly. You were true friends to my daughter Sun-beam in her time of trouble. We wish to repay you by making your abode beside our kingdom. You have entered into our Empire as forever friends. You are always welcome to come back in times of trouble and in times of peace. As you have seen, my kingdom is extensive, but on the outside, it’s just a small ring of grass bordered by a mushroom circle. Once you step over the mushrooms however, you are in the fairy-world. Please come and go, eat and drink with us. Our home is yours.” King Aspen concluded his speech by powerfully raising his hands toward the Irish moor a few feet away and sprinkling fairy dust in that direction. POOF! Glitter flew in all directions, and slowly, a structure began rising from the grass. A red and white cottage formed! The attractive house grew quite large and a beautiful wooden perch formed with hanging plants and several chairs. Windows sprang up all around the house, trimmed with snow-white curtains and red sills. A beautiful bay window was set just below the pointed roof where the attic formed. Almost simultaneously smells began wavering from the open door and the Ronald Family felt hope for the first time in many years! They had a home and food! But most of all, they had friendship with the fairies!
In no time King Aspen added a perfect blacksmith workshop for Liam Ronald. His trade could flourish now with the proper tools and a healthy environment. Mrs. Nell Ronald had a glorious kitchen stalked with flour, sugar and dried fruit. A chicken barn was situated outside to the left of the house, along with a horse-filled stable! Queen Moss was sure to make her husband form a well and vegetable garden. All in all, the Ronald’s abode turned out to be a self-sustaining homestead! And not just that, but plenty of luxuries rested inside; a sewing machine, mahogany furniture, running water and a delicate set of china-ware! Shannon and Nell were provided with many dresses made not from magic, but from the delicate hands of Queen Moss and Sun-beam. Though this was appreciated, all three Ronald’s like what sat on their new marble mantle the best. The magic compass and a painting of the Fire Orchid! The Ronald’s lived for the rest of their lives along side the fairies. And though their new homestead made a comfortable living for themselves, they all agreed that it was the friendship of the fairies that bound them as a close, happy family once and for all.
And
As
It
Must
Be
Said,
All lived Happily Ever After!
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