The Fairy Diary Day 498 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Before we set out again this morning Merlin shared the results of his extra time in the quarry yesterday. Through close observation he had figured out how to follow the Maulfors in their movements under the mountain branching out from the quarry. This was new to Glossom – though somewhat skeptical he was willing to test it. 

Thus we re-entered the same entrance as yesterday and followed the wizard’s lead to some fresh signs of worm passage. 

The goblins were impressed. We were soon running in passageways hitherto unknown to them. However the gems left behind had a reddish tone, not a purple one. Merlin took them anyway in order to see what he could do with these particular crystals. 

We were almost back to the main quarry when a Maulfor came crashing through a wall chewing everything in sight. 

This one had never met a pixie before. 

Dunfallon within the space of two wingbeats had the front of the beast sliced off from the back, and from its slimy innards out slipped a purplish stone. I scooped it up to the applause of all present.

And we returned to Glossom’s with gladness. 

The Fairy Diary Day 497 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Merlin did something I had not seen him do before. In preparation for entering into the quarry with us, he made himself small – somewhere between fairy and pixie size. 

Glossom had thought that the wizard would have had to remain behind but was pleasantly surprised when Merlin had his own solution. This left Glossom the largest member of our party to enter into the quarry by the worm holes. 

I did not worry about the iron which was supposed to be present in abundance because of the protection of my third pendant – but I did have apprehensions about encountering the giant worms which Gibley was certain would consider fairies a great delicacy. Collectively the goblins call these worms Maulfors. 

Dunfallon was not the least bit anxious about them. “One cannot live in burrows,” he said, “without having to deal with such things eventually.” Still, he did keep one hand on the hilt of his sword. 

By the light from the goblin torches and Merlin’s staff (and my glowing pendants) we searched the other offshoots from the main quarry. I was somewhat relieved that we did not bump into a Maulfor – but then again we did not find what Glossom told us to look for – purple colored gems that have passed through the insides of a worm. 

It is the only type of gem pure enough. 

Glossom said we will try from another entrance tomorrow. As we turned to trudge back Merlin begged leave to remain behind and test a few notions about the nature of the Maulfors. 

None objected. 

The Fairy Diary Day 496 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

The dwarf Herblas remained behind in the stronghold city. Merlin had assigned him the task of combing through the nearby gem mines for possibilities to be fashioned into beacon stones.We would be looking for the same once we arrived at Glossom’s domicile. 

Once out in the canyonlands at the absolute end of the Low-way of the dwarves we met up with two dragons waiting there with a goblin handler. Gibley mounted the first with his uncle; Dunfallon and I the second with its handler. 

Merlin wanted to travel on his own. “Besides,” he quipped, “I do not want to arrive before anyone else.” 

Even so the wizard was waiting at the mouth of cave entrance when our dragons touched down. 

I believe Gibley was impressed. 

Merlin produced a couple gems that he had acquired along the way. Glossom held them up to the sun and said,”Right color but not pure enough.”

Our host used the remaining hours of the day to lay down the rules for our search through the goblin quarry in the morning. Dunfallon was a most eager listener and Gibley was just happy for the attention from his uncle. 

For my part I was a little nervous about the dangers Glossom enumerated. 

The Fairy Diary Day 495 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Before we met again Merlin had been prompted to change a few things. Instead of the council chambers the wizard asked for a smaller and more secure venue – and he also limited those in attendance. 

Fliget and Gnoston, as their presence was not required, took it upon themselves to stand guard against any eavesdroppers at the doors of the inner room in which we convened. Herblas joined his fellow dwarves, leaving only Dunfallon, Gibley, and myself to attend. The High Fairy was not present, as he had returned to the Faerie kingdom to give a report to the Queen. 

Merlin opened the meeting with important information from Glossom. He made it plain that only dragons like Rayjil can transport to the other side in their own power. For other dragons and their riders to accompany such a one required a beacon stone worn around its neck. And the only one that Glossom’s goblins possessed was the one lost when Gorbin was immolated. 

(When this was said I had a flash of understanding of how the black bird moved between the worlds with the Will’o ’the Wisp). 

Upon a quick glance Gibley’s way I was filled with pain for him, wondering what may happen in any future encounters with this bizarre reincarnation of his father. Is there anything left of Gorbin in that beast?

Thankfully the wizard did not allow us the time to dwell on such thoughts, for we immediately set out for the goblin holdings in the canyonlands for answers. 

The Fairy Diary Day 494 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

The meeting went long – all night long. I am afraid that I was in great part responsible – for the discussions revolved around my insistence that Noralei be included on the team. 

Both Merlin and the High Fairy thought it best to limit membership to one each from the fairies – the dwarves – the pixies – the goblins and the elves. Hence they argued that with me on the team already, Noralei could not be. 

Merlin wanted to consider the decision concluded for he said we needed to address more pressing needs. He tried to move the discussion on to what we need to acquire before they send us to the other side – but I would not allow it. And Dunfallon came alongside to support my position. 

Together we made the arguments that supported the inclusion of our friend. In reaction to which Gibley spoke up and offered to allow her to take his place. 

Since we could not come to an agreement on this point, I proposed we put it off, especially in light of what steps our leaders say we need to do to prepare for our mission. 

The wizard and his excellency agreed to this and we adjourned to shake off the onus of this day’s work. 

The Fairy Diary Day 493 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

My head is in a whirl about all the things discussed in our meeting. The weight of the task ahead of us is almost suffocating. It makes me grateful that I will not be going alone. 

Much of the time in the meeting was taken up by Glossom in which he explained the relationship the goblins had with the Land of Plenty before it became the Land of Darkness. The goblins with their dragons used to spend whole seasons upon its towering mountains, hunting wild game and living off the land’s bounty. Then the change came. And the mountains became pits growing ever deeper and at the last becoming one vast well. 

During the transition they had encounters with an entity – one that kept to the shadows and only attacked from ambush. 

At that point Glossom turned to Gibley and told him and us that Gorbin, Gibley’s father took it upon himself to hunt down their tormentor. And Glossom was witness to their encounter in which his brother and his dragon were consumed in a dark conflagration out of whose ashes rose a large black bird. 

“And that is why we (he said this more to Gilbley than to us) have never been back.”

Dunfallon immediately went to Gibley’s side as the tears filled his blinking eyes. 

Out of the heaviness Merlin wisely adjourned our meeting and called for us to reconvene this evening. 

The Fairy Diary Day 492 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Well, at long last some of the mystery in which Merlin has shrouded his plans has been revealed. 

Fliget and the new regent for the city were taking us on a tour to show off all the improvements when word was brought up that the long awaited guest had arrived and was outside the canyonlands gate. 

The wizard begged to be excused from the party, but rather than go on without him, all of us chose to accompany him down to the gate. 

Gibley the goblin spotted the mystery guest first. And his look of astonishment left his mouth agape. There at the gate was Gibley’s uncle. 

Merlin greeted him warmly, then made the introductions all around to Glossom the chief of the goblin dragon handlers. 

This time the uncle greeted his nephew in what we only could understand to be warmth between goblins – a stiff embrace. 

Then, Fliget moved everyone up to the city’s council chambers and thus began our council of war. 

(Thankfully another feast was not proclaimed).

The Fairy Diary Day 491 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

The gates to the stronghold city were wide open. The High Fairy joined us there. The sights awaiting us inside were so different than at the time of the original victory celebration. Lights and garlands were festooned overhead, bringing a cheeriness to the eyes and heart. The citizen dwarves having declared a holiday lined the street singing snatches of praise embroidered around each of our names. 

Fliget later told us that he had so wanted to do this as a more proper thank you for all that we had done. 

And the most rousing song of all was lifted up for our pixie Dunfallon the Noble. 

Even before any note was sung I knew we were in for another round of dwarfish hospitality. And there in the city square table upon table was set up for a feast. 

But unlike our feast up in Gilgorgon’s mountain, talk about the future was not only allowed but also encouraged. And the first decision made was about the dwarfish involvement in the mission to the other side. Fliget announced that he would back Gilgorgon’s selection to represent all the dwarves, and while looking at Herblas he added that he thought him a perfect candidate. 

Merlin and the High Fairy applauded the king of the dwarves choice. Then, the wizard stood to make an announcement himself. He introduced Dunfallon and myself and said that we would be part of the team joining Herblas. He had one other to name, but could not until a missing guest had arrived. 

And with that he left us to wonder who that might be. 

The Fairy Diary Day 490 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Our progress picked up after Fliget decided to exercise his prerogative as king of the dwarves. All caravans were shunted aside to allow ours the right of way. 

I began to feel uncomfortable about what might lay ahead for us in the stronghold city. My sense that something was off lead me to approach Merlin to talk to him about it. Gnoston’s and Fliget’s actions were hard to understand as to what motivated them. And afraid to say, I was suspecting our friends of evil intent if not outright perfidy. 

The wizard listened patiently to my fears. When finished he chuckled and painstakingly calmed all my concerns. 

The High Fairy has been sent for and will join us in the stronghold city. The dwarves have invited him to be present for a special celebration of our victory over the dark elves. 

Evidently the dwarves think that a season of thankfulness is called for, especially on the eve of another conflict. 

Before he dismissed me, Merlin hinted that more surprises await us upon our arrival in the stronghold city. 

The Fairy Diary Day 489 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Come time to set out for the stronghold city I was almost too full to move. This feasting of late slows me down considerably. Looking around at my companions I saw a similar effect at work in them – all except in the case of Merlin. He seemed ready to march nonstop all the way to our destination. 

Even more traffic was traveling the Low-way of the dwarves. Most of it headed towards the capital. Many times our party had to yield to the traffic headed in that direction – huge caravans carting building materials and there were other transports headed in that direction which we knew were ferrying metals from the mines, judging by the amount of soldiers guarding them. 

During one of the instances we were waiting Dunfallon excitedly brought to us a new arrival – our friend Gnoston. He wanted to know if I would send a message to the High Fairy – but before I could answer him, Fliget saw him and took him away from us. 

I asked Dunfallon if he knew why Gnoston wanted to contact his excellency. The pixie shook his head. 

We had the distinct feeling afterwards that our friend was being kept from us.