And There Were Three

Chapter the Fourth

Thirteen years later.

So long a time, yet short did those years seem to the Water Fairy. She changed little in those thirteen years; her hair was still the rich golden color, her eyes still their sparkling blue, and her person still beautiful. She was more solemn, with a line or two of care in her face; yet she also seemed more filled with joy than ever. Ficum was the cause of this joy. He was a cheery lad, and growing up strong and handsome. He had almost-black hair, long and wavy; deep blue eyes that peered out of a face shining with health; and a tall, robust body, thin and nimble. He was extremely skilled with sword, bow and spear, and could outrun anybody. He was also quite excellent with the lute and with strategic games, for he had a quick mind and a wonderful sense of music. He learned how to bond with animals of all kinds, wild and feral; and if one were to send Ficum the most uncontrollable horse on earth, he would in a short time have the animal as gentle as any child’s pony.

Ficum spent his days studying and developing his talents, visiting good friends such as his “aunties” Syla and Asani, and exploring. He loved to wander through woods and fields, befriending animals and learning their speech. His “fellow fairies” taught him their silent, gliding walk, so he was able to quietly watch scenes in the forest that no normal human would probably ever see: the birth of a fawn, the midnight prowls of a bear, the mother wolf gently nursing her pups. From these and other numerous experiences he gained a knowledge of and respect for every living creature.

His foster mother Anomien was very proud of him, and loved him dearly. She never knew about his learning the languages of wild animals and watching their secret lives for he kept those special moments secret, but she did watch him run, fight and ride outstandingly well. She always cheered him on in races and games, for she was always there to do so. The two did much together, and that was when they were most happy. She often took him on her river patrols, and nothing pleased her more than to glance at her side as they rode the waves where he sat astride a dolphin, gay and carefree. It was on one of these patrols that Ficum really proved to his foster mother how great were his skills.

“Ficum! Ficum, lad, wake up!” Anomien shook Ficum’s shoulders gently. He moaned and turned on his back, his thick hair rumpled with sleep. She patted him on the cheeks. “Wake up, son,” she said again. Ficum sighed deeply and opened his eyes.

“Is it morning already? I just fell asleep!” he mumbled, looking at the Water Fairy. “I’m awake.” Anomien rubbed his hair and smiled, saying,

“Do you want to patrol the river with me?”

“Yes, please.”

“Get up, then, and eat.” Anomien glided out of the room and started preparing breakfast. This meal usually consisted of a wholesome loaf of bread and cool water, occasionally accompanied by fresh herbs and vegetables that the Earth Fairy brought.

After satisfying themselves on their simple fare, they walked down to the river. The sun was just rising, the lustrous golden beams sparkling on the rushing water, and shining on their hair. The sky was filled with fluffy pink and orange clouds, and all the birds were beginning to sing, filling the air with sweet melodies. Anomien sighed, glancing at all the beauty around her.

“Isn’t it a lovely morning?” she exclaimed. “Don’t days like this make you so glad to be alive?” Ficum grinned and replied,

“Aye.” Arriving at the riverbank, two smiling dolphins stuck their grey heads out of the water, squeaking their greetings. Ficum ran to them and jumped into the river, making a giant splash. Quickly mounting one, he rode down the river on its back, clinging expertly with his knees while the animal swam and leaped and twisted. Anomien did likewise (though perhaps not so quite boisterously) and together they sailed the mighty waters.

In a lull in the dolphins’ splashing, foster mother and son were conversing together softly, when suddenly an unearthly screech rose high in the air, filling them with an eerie feeling. It stayed there, lingering, then dropped to nothingness. The Water Fairy’s hands flew to her mouth and she gasped,

“Whatever was that?! It sounded like a demon!” Ficum’s back stiffened as he peered at the gloomy forest lurking on the Wild side of the river.

“I’m not quite sure,” he said, his voice low, “but I think…” Another scream shattered the stillness, with it deep, throaty growls and the rustling of underbrush. The trees and bushes nearest them started to tremble and sway as if a giant was shaking them, and the water lapped gently against their legs. The growth parted like waves and there leaped out of the thicket a terrifying horde of monstrous panthers, snarling like beasts from the underworld. Their hypnotizing green eyes were filled with a cold, blind hatred, and the muscles of their lean bodies rippled with horrible strength. They paused slightly, stretching their cruel, barbed feet.

Ficum, though shocked, took advantage of those creatures’ pause. Turning to his benumbed mother, he shouted,

“Get out of here! I’ll take care of those cats.” Anomien started and turned pale.

“Son, are you mad? You cannot do this alone!” The terrible beasts cast their eyes upon them, and licked their jaws. Ficum knew they were going to attack any moment and said,

“I can do this; please trust me. But hurry!” His mother opened her lips to speak, and then looking into his eyes (while her own filled with tears), she nodded. Ficum quickly jumped off his steed and slapped both dolphins away. Then he turned and bravely faced the cats.

Anomien’s heart fluttered like a humming bird’s wings. She watched her son, her precious boy turn to the wild beasts fearlessly, his head held high. She watched as the cats glared at him as he drew his sword. She watched as they crouched, ready to pounce. She watched as his muscles tensed, as he poised for the battle. She felt sickened, but still she watched. Finally the huge animals ran at him, and Anomien smothered a scream. She felt sure that he was going to get mortally wounded and she prepared to summon her sea creatures to aid the boy. But Ficum didn’t need her help. Nimbly hopping out of the cats’ way he slashed one on its tender belly. It crumbled in a heap, moaning. Next he deftly rolled under a panther as it pounced upon him and he stabbed its ribs. Swiftly turning round, he blocked the swat of another’s clawed paw with the flat end of his sword, and with a skillful twist of his wrist, he cut off its deadly weapon. Then two panthers leapt at him. One he smote with his right fist, knocking it down to the ground. The other he tried to block with his sword, but he got its claws in his arm. He yelled, and so did Anomien. Using his right hand, Ficum took a knife out of his belt and thrust it into the beast’s neck. Though wounded, he fought manfully, killing the panthers one by one until there were only two left. These backed away from him until they reached the edge of the river, for they were frightened. Ficum calmly gazed at them, a scarlet stream trickling down his arm; and to Anomien’s surprise and wonder he wiped his bloody sword clean on the grass, and sheathed it. She wanted to shout “What are you doing?” but decided to wait and see what happened.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The house of the Earth Fairy lay in a corner of the Fairy Kingdom, between two marvelous birch trees, and surrounded by flowers of all sorts. It was a comfortable house made of tree bark; not very big perhaps, but snug and homelike. Out of the roof stuck the chimney, which was always smoking. The door leading into the house was rectangular at the bottom, but oval-shaped at the top, and on this hung a large mat made of grass. Dried flowers were woven in it, making a cheery picture. Inside a little carpet of the same material lay on the dirt floor. Curtains of a light substance embroidered with flowers and trees were draped on the three windows. Along the wall ran shelves with strange and outstanding carvings, on which rested shapely glass vases filled with many different kinds of flowers and bushes. In a corner sat a fat stove with a merry fire, and copper-bottomed baking dishes and pans hung on gold hooks above. An open doorway showed a small bedroom with a mattress and pillow filled with the down of cattails. A table made of cherry-tree wood with a candle on its top rested there, too. It was altogether a pretty, comfortable house.

The Water Fairy’s house was just as comfortable, but in a much different way. It was a cave beside a tremendous waterfall that poured into the Anomiada. The front of the house looked east toward the Fairy City. The inside of the cave had beautiful symbols and pictures painted on its walls. Delicate tapestries and curtains made of water lilies hung on the walls and windows. Soft mats of rushes lay all around the floor. A curious cupboard holding wonderful earthenware sat in an opening in the wall, and a fireplace cut into the rock was below it. A miniature waterfall springing from the larger one shot through a hole in the roof, ran splashing down the southern wall and out into the river. Light streamed in through other holes in the roof and through the windows, mingling with the spray from the waterfalls and casting cheery bits of rainbow around the cave.

It was in this bright house that the lost baby boy laughed and played, shoving his wee hands into the dancing spots of light. Anomien started to call him Ficum. Every morning she gave Ficum his breakfast and played with him. Then she carried him down to the riverbank, and leaving him in the care of the water animals, who were her fellow river guardians and better caregivers than any nurse, she mounted a dolphin and sailed down the water to patrol the border. Finding all secure, she would return to her riverbank, and usually discover Ficum sleeping deeply on the blanket of grass, a sweet smile on his face.

Near the end of the week, Anomien received a message from the Queen’s court, telling her to wait another seven days to meet with her sister, as Asani was still in counsel with her wise advisors. Evidently she was determined to get to the bottom of the mystery which enveloped Ficum and his box. Anomien was grateful for the delay, for she was still recovering from the first shock of finding the babe and his mother. The Water Fairy in turn sent a message to the Earth Fairy, telling her what the Queen said. On her part, Syla was disappointed in the delay, for she was extremely curious about all that happened, and sighed to think of how long it would be before she learned any answers. However, it turned out the week was shorter than she expected, for Anomien invited her many times to visit with her and Ficum. Syla was delighted with this arrangement. In this way they passed the week of waiting, and as was expected received at its end a summons to have an audience with the Fairy Queen.

+++

Anomien and Syla walked the road to the Fairy Queen’s palace once more. The Earth Fairy chattered excitedly, describing her curiosities to Ficum as she held him in her arms, while the Water Fairy glided behind, smiling softly to herself as she watched them. Arriving at the palace, they found Queen Asani pacing the room, again impatiently waiting to see her visitors. She bounced toward them, and bestowed kisses on all three, even the startled Syla. Then sweeping the baby up into her arms, Asani skipped back towards her throne and plopped herself upon it. She said with a giggle,

“Pardon my, well, un-ladylike enthusiasm, but I can’t tell you how I’ve been longing to see you!” Anomien replied, laughing,

“You sound like my dear friend Syla! Although I think she was more impatient for answers to her questions than anything else.” Syla grinned sheepishly while Asani exclaimed,

“And you shall get your answers, at least some of them. I don’t know all, but I shall relate what I have learned.

“Having consulted with my counselors about this matter, and having made many explorations, we have arrived at the simple conclusion that the writing on this box is written in some ancient script known only to a particular race of humans, those to whom our Ficum belongs. We do not know what the writing says, but are hoping that in time, Ficum himself will be able to read it. We have a feeling that there is something of great importance in the box, most likely concerning Ficum. So far, that is all we have been able to discover, which, unfortunately, is not much; after all, we fairies are very unacquainted with humans and their ways.” Asani leaned back in the throne, her slender fingers drumming the armrests. Anomien gazed out of the throne room window while Syla sat brooding. She abruptly broke the silence:

“But why did Ficum’s mother get murdered in such a brutal way? What could have caused such a tragedy?”

“We are not even sure that the girl was actually Ficum’s mother,” answered Anomien. “Perhaps she did not have anything to do with the boy? Maybe it was just a coincidence that we found her beside the child?”

“No,” said Asani. “It was not a coincidence; I am sure of that. I suppose that the people who killed Ficum’s mother wanted to do the same with Ficum. It was lucky that Ficum’s enemies didn’t find him. Poor girl!” (She sighed, thinking of Ficum’s mother.) “If only we could find out who was responsible for her death. Then we could do something, we could act.”

They continued in this manner, talking far into the morning. The outcome was that they would raise Ficum themselves in the arts of combat, riding, swimming, everything a fairy boy would learn, and even more. When he was of age, they would reveal to him his true heritage (if he had not guessed it already) and as much of his story as they knew. Then they would send him with their blessing on a journey, a perilous one, to find those who were his real family. Anomien, the softhearted, shed silent tears at the anticipated parting.

The fairy city of Myriada (named because of the myriad of fairies that lived and passed through there) was situated on a magnificent mountain; actually, the whole mountain was but part of the city. The Fairy Queen’s palace was on the mountain, and from there the city wound down and landed at the mountain’s foot, where it spread out for three miles round. This part of the city contained numerous trees and flowers of all kinds, as well as quaint fairy houses, shimmering pools, and stables for the royal unicorns (of course, fairies preferred flying to riding, and the unicorns were usually used only on special occasions). Beyond the walls of the city a few homes were dotted sparingly among many trees and hills that stretched out for miles; and beyond these ran the River of Anomien, or the Anomiada, moving in a wide circle around the city. This river was the guardian of the city, for it was the border of the kingdom, and there were only three ways to cross the roaring water: flying (and only fairies could do that), walking over the bridge of diamonds, which was always watched carefully, or taking a boat across. The last was the most dangerous, for the river flowed fiercely and could easily tear a boat to pieces; also, the beasts of the river, the sea horses, fish, etc. were always ready to attack any who would dare cross the water by boat. They were ordered to protect the city by Anomien, the Water Fairy, who was the Anomiada’s mistress and guardian.

Past the border of the kingdom of the Fairy Queen of Myriada (sometimes called the kingdom of Myriada) lay immense forests and wide plains. Most of the fairies traveled no farther than these forests and plains; in fact, they rarely left their kingdom at all. Because of this, they did not know much about the Wild World where humans lived. Only very few ever explored the world of humans; and when they did, it was usually to visit a relative or friend. That is why fairies in Myriada often thought humans slow, clumsy, fierce creatures, and they couldn’t be bothered with them. So you see why it was strange that Anomien should take such interest in the human boy, and bring him with her to present him to the Fairy Queen.

“Your Majesty!” One of the handmaids of the Fairy Queen rushed into the throne room and knelt at the Queen’s feet. “Your Majesty!” she said again.

Queen Asani turned her head at the address. “What is it, Lyli?” she asked the maid gently. The maid answered, still kneeling:

“Your Royal Highness’ sister, Anomien the Water Fairy, requests an audience with you.”

“My sister? Good news! Send her in at once, Lyli.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” replied the fairy, and with a curtsy, she ran out of the room. Queen Asani hopped off her throne with a sprightly air. She was strikingly beautiful, with the Water Fairy’s same blue eyes and pointed chin, but with midnight hair falling in waves down her back. Upon this raven glory rested a circlet of silver, encrusted with costly jewels. On her delicate figure a violet dress of silk clung. In her dainty, white hand a crystal scepter was held. Her feet wore grey satin slippers that shimmered as she moved. Her wings were transparent, veined with silver that sparkled like diamonds. Though small, she was full of vigor, and she flittered around the room, impatiently waiting for her sister.

The throne room door opened, and Anomien glided in, accompanied by Syla the Earth Fairy, who was carrying the baby. Anomien ran to her sister with a beaming smile. Asani opened her arms to embrace her, but Anomien first held up her finger, and dropped on one knee to kiss the Queen’s hand. This done, she jumped up on her feet and threw her arms around Asani’s neck, who exclaimed joyfully,

“My dear, dear sister! I have missed you, oh very much indeed. But what is the reason for this delightful visit?” Anomien replied, with a wave of her hand toward Syla,

“This baby.” Asani turned toward the Earth Fairy, who performed a deep curtsy, and held out the boy. He gurgled, staring at the Fairy Queen with his round eyes. She in turn stared at him curiously for a moment, and picked him up in her arms to observe him closely. Then she turned, walked to her throne, and sat down still holding the child. Indicating some chairs by her side, she said,

“Please, sit down and tell me all about it.” The other fairies did so, and Anomien proceeded to tell the story. When she got to the part about the finding of the child’s mother, tears ran down her cheek, and she could not speak. Syla then took up the story in this manner:

“So I told Anomien that I had found the baby’s mother. She came and looked, but turned away, for oh, it was a terrible sight, Your Majesty. On the ground lay a human girl, scarce more than seventeen or eighteen years old. She would have been a pretty thing, were it not for the blood on her body, as there was an ugly gash in her chest. Her face, her whole body was extremely pale, though she must have been dead for only a few hours. But, Your Highness, worst of all were her eyes, so lifeless and dead, yet full of pain and fear; unearthly they seemed, yet alive, like those of a ghost or a spirit long dead and rotting in the grave, but come back to life. It was awful. Whoever carried out such a cruel, cruel deed ought to be punished forever, that’s what I say,” and here the Earth Fairy burst into hot tears.

As most people don’t like other people seeing them cry, we will skip this part of the story, and jump ahead a bit. After Anomien and Syla had dried their tears, though their eyes were still red, they all sat silent, except for the baby, who laughed and squirmed and played with the Queen’s hair. They stayed in this manner until Asani, who had been sitting, brooding with her chin cupped in her hand, said,

“Show me the gold box that you found with the baby.” Syla reached into a pocket in her dress, drew out the box and handed it to the Queen, who examined it after placing the infant in her sister’s arms. She scrutinized the box, turning it over in her hands, rubbing the writing with her fingers. At last she said thoughtfully,

“I cannot make anything out, but I have a feeling that the writing on this box contains an important message, probably for this little boy. Leave it with me, and I shall have some of my wisest courtiers take counsel with me. For the present, you may keep the baby with you, Anomien, and at the end of the week, return here, and perhaps I shall have some answers for you.”

Anomien and Syla then stood up, and curtsied to the Queen. Anomien bade her sister farewell, and they left the room, Asani already summoning her wise courtiers. The Earth Fairy and the Water Fairy walked down the city street together, each busy with her own musings. They heeded not the many curious eyes that watched them from doorways and windows. When they came out of the city, Syla bade Anomien and the baby farewell, and flew off toward her home, where she spent the rest of the day deep in thought.

Anomien returned to her home as well, cradling the boy in her gentle arms. Arriving at her house, she gave him something to eat, and laid him tenderly down on a bed of rushes, covering him with a blanket of a similar sort. She kissed him on the cheek, and sang a lullaby to him. Her voice was beautiful and clear, like the splashing of rain drops or the rushing of a quiet stream. His eyes slowly closed, and she softly stole out of the room. She then walked to the riverbank, where she positioned herself on a rock to ponder all that had happened in just a short time. Feeling tears coming to her eyes as she considered the helpless, motherless baby, she started to sing once more. The musical tones soared over the water, mingling with the song of the river, and bringing peace to her troubled heart.

The baying of hounds shook the cold silence of a dark, grim forest as a young woman, barely more than a girl, ran with panting mouth and a baby upon her heaving back; she was running as fast as she was able among the tall trees, stumbling as she tripped over roots and vines. The beams of the night’s crescent moon slipped through small openings in the towering branches of the forest, throwing patches of silver-blue on the fallen leaves. As the girl sped through these soft rays, they cast glances upon her ragged clothes which were stained, not with dirt or filth, but with blood.

The hounds howled again; they were closer. The girl gasped for breath, and suddenly her legs crumbled under her. She fell, and the baby tumbled off her, crying piteously. The girl groaned and tried to move her legs, but one of her ankles was twisted. It was now her turn to weep, and with the tears streaming down her face, she kissed the infant’s plump cheek and set him in a rotted log. She gave him something from a bottle, and his tears stopped. She set down a small gold box with intricate and queer designs beside the baby, and quickly scooped up leaves with which she covered him. The nearing barks of the dogs ringing in her ears, she proceeded to drag herself away from the log. She crawled upon the leaves, to get as far away from the baby as possible, and the hounds were so close she could hear the pattering of their feet upon the ground, and also the shouts of their masters. She found herself too weak to move anymore, and sank onto the leaves. She waited, waited for what?…for death.

The dogs burst out of a thicket, sniffing the ground. Close behind them were men on horses, holding flaming torches. The cruel eyes of the bloodhounds reflected the light, glittering with malice and the delight of the hunt. Their cries told the men that the hunted was found, and the riders urged their horses on. Only voices were heard, and then four of the five men rode away, taking the torches with them, and as they rode they threw the dogs some meat, a reward for hunting down the girl. One man remained, hovering over her limp form. In the cold moonlight the naked blade of a shimmering axe rose, and fell with a sickeningly soft thud. A quiet but sharp gasp came from the girl, then nothing more.

The man mounted his horse and rode away, without even a backward glance. By great luck (or perhaps help from a more powerful source), the baby remained unobserved by both the men and their dogs. The child knew naught of what horror had just occurred in the shadows of the forest, for he was fast asleep. Some hours later, near dawn, he awoke confused, for he could hardly breathe and something was tickling his face. He squirmed, trying to get the leaves off his face, but only a few fell. He started whimpering, frustrated. Suddenly the babe heard footsteps rustling in the leaves, accompanied by soft voices. His whimpers became bawls, and swiftly attracted the attention of the strangers. The leaves were brushed from the baby’s face, and he looked up into a pair of lovely sky-blue eyes gracefully positioned in a small, pretty face with a pointed chin. The baby could not know, but this was the fairy Anomien, the Water Fairy, and also the younger sister of the Fairy Queen. She was clad in a silver dress with a girdle that matched her eyes. Finely shaped ears that formed into a point on their tip peeked out of her glossy tresses which were the color of the sun; these shiny locks framed her face and tumbled down her shoulders like a waterfall. If one were to look closely at these yellow strands, one would see small blue droplets of water nestling among the gold. Her marble hands were small, as was the rest of her body, and her finely shaped feet were bare. This picture of mystical beauty gazed at the baby and exclaimed,

“Why, Syla, ‘tis but a child, a human child, and a pretty one at that. Look at his dark brown hair, and his rosy cheeks, and blue eyes! Is he not a sweet thing?”

Her companion peered searchingly at the boy. She was as dark as Anomien was fair, with wavy auburn hair, eyes as black as the deepest abyss, and a reddish complexion. She was slightly larger in frame than the Water Fairy, and with a more earth-like glance. Her silky garment was the same color as the majestic fir trees which surrounded them, with a gold sash wrapped around her shoulder, across her breast and tied at the waist. Her wings were also green, but a shade darker than Anomien’s, and not as sparkly. She was barefoot as well, and her feet were rather dirty from working in her garden. She was the Earth Fairy, and she looked it. She replied to her companion’s question,

“Oh, he might be sweet, but not to my liking. Babies are loud wee things, and I have no use for them. You can keep him if you like; you will have no argument from me.”

“Syla, how can you say so? It is true they might be a bit troublesome, but they are darlings, and so innocent….I shall ask my lady” (the Fairy Queen) “if I can keep him, and raise him on the river. I wonder where he came from.” She picked up the boy, and rocked him gently in her arms. “Good babe,” she crooned as she saw him close his eyes. Syla watched her, shaking her head.

“He’ll turn out to be trouble, mark my words,” proclaimed the Earth Fairy. “Humans are rather stupid creatures with usually no sense of right or wrong.” Anomien merely shrugged her shoulders. Syla continued to speak, running her hands over the leaves which had previously been the baby’s bed. “He’ll be playing tricks on the other fairies, running away and…Anomien! Look at this!” Syla held in her hand the gold box with the strange designs. Anomien moved close to get a better look at it.

“How queer, and beautiful,” she said wonderingly. “It looks like there are letters on it, but written in some language I cannot read. Can you make anything out?”

“No, I can’t,” replied Syla. “Perhaps the Queen will know something about it. She is very wise and book-learned. Why don’t we take it to her?”

“Certainly. We have to get back anyway, and this fellow probably needs some nourishment. Let’s get out of this forest so we can fly,” for the overhead branches were so thick the fairies could not fly through them.

The companions started walking, gliding really, in their fairy way, through the wood, Anomien leading, Syla following, when suddenly the latter stopped and said in a low voice,

“Anomien.” The Water Fairy ceased walking.

“What is it?” she answered, almost impatiently. She was absorbed in the baby at the moment, and was in a hurry to get him something to eat. “What’s the matter?”

“Anomien, I think I found the baby’s mother.”

______________________________________

Okay, okay, I know it was short; but most of the chapters are, unfortunately.  What do you think?

Love,

Eówyn