The Fairy Diary Day 561 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Thankfully our vigil was uneventful. Although the turmoil in my mind more than made up for it. I would have been happier to be with them on their search for Gibley. That way I would have seen the danger with my own eyes and not have to suffer through the multiple images from my wild imagination. 

I had something else to preoccupy my thoughts when a breeze commenced flowing from the vicinity of the rift. My sole thought then was that time was running out. I believed my agitation was picked up on by Conjil, bringing her to her feet, but when she moved to the tunnel opening I knew something else was afoot. 

In a rush, Merlin and Dunfallon emerged – followed by Cluyjil bearing Gibley and the strand end. As the wizard and the dragon grew back to their own stature, Merlin explained that the line had become too heavy for Gibley to pull along. 

Tinadell flew in at that instant and spoke to the problem – it was all on account of certain additions he had attached to the line as it paid out. 

All talk ceased with the freshening of the breeze rising in force to a stiff wind. 

I leapt on Conjil and announced that I would fly this end to Noralei down on the other side. Tinadell jumped on behind me. 

When we reached her, she was already prepared. She even had separated out the inner strands of her end all the better to splice it together with ours. 

Tinadell nodded his approval as he effected the reattachment of the two ends into one line. 

When the rest of our party arrived, the Master Weaver instructed them what to do while he and I flew back to his chamber to take up the slack and pull the completed line back up into position. 

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The Fairy Diary Day 559 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

The rest of us had our instructions also. While Tinadell and Merlin remained in the chamber to monitor the strand as it paid out, we were each assigned to a dragon with our own tasks. 

Dunfallon left on Conjil with the assignment to meet Gibley when he emerges at the other end of the tunnel. Tinadell said it comes out at a lower level than the cavern from which we staged our searches. 

Noralei, on Rayjil, was appointed to retrieve the other strand anchored to the rock on the other side. I was to accompany them on Cluyjil and while she minded the loose end I was to make sure that it was not in danger of severing back along its exposed length. 

It was a quick transit without the constant harassment of the wind. Our two dragons grew somewhat frisky as they did not need to battle its turbulence at the mouth of the rift. I let Cluyjil have his head as he showed off for Rayjil by orbiting her and Noralei. But then reined him in the closer we approached the secured end of the other strand. 

After reaching our destination, Noralei pronounced the strand intact and sent me off to follow it back up to its source. This Cluyjil and I did. 

However, at the mouth of its small tunnel, I found a lot of slack in the line. Concerned I tugged on it and was glad when it at last pulled taut. 

I mounted Cluyjil to return to Noralei but stopped when my pendants signaled danger. I drew my bow and notched an arrow and shot into the dark opening. A worm slid out and died at my feet. 

The Fairy Diary Day 557 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Finding Tinadell’s former domicile proved quicker than anyone thought it would be. Then, of course, we did have him with us. He even surprised himself by the ease with which he located it. 

The chamber with his weaving machines was large enough to accommodate all of us. And there mounted in a prominent place on the back wall was a gigantic spool with the most beautiful thread I have ever beheld – a match in color to the other end of the strand. 

Tinadell explained that by design – when the strand snapped, one end rewound onto this spool. We realized that we would never have found it on our own. 

We were excited to move on to the next step, but the master weaver reined us in and pointed to the other side of the chamber where the opening to a small tunnel lay. He said we must first thread this strand through the tunnel down to the rift. 

Gibley strode over and stood inside the opening, and seeing that he fit easily, volunteered to run the strand through the tunnel down to where it can be reattached. 

When we all heartily endorsed our friend’s bravery, the goblin snatched up the one end and would have set off right away if not for the intervention of Merlin. 

The wizard said we must first order our steps properly with a full understanding of how to go about this task. So he commanded us to sit down under Tinadell’s tutelage before setting things in motion. 

The Fairy Diary Day 370 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Merlin left immediately to see to the security of the other dragon egg. It was by mutual consent. We shall remain here until we have firm direction as to our next step. Gilgorgon’s demeanor has undergone a transformation. He no longer turns an hard countenance towards us. It is clear that somehow the dragon egg had exerted an undue influence upon him. He freely admits the fact himself. 

The High Fairy has returned to the Faerie Kingdom to warn the Faerie Queen and to help her prepare for what may come next. 

Our merrie little band have assigned ourselves the task of investigating how the dragon gained entry into the most secure chamber under the mountain. 

We have paired up to pursue that end – Rumble with me – and Noralei with Dunfallon. Gilgorgon appointed two trusted lieutenants – one for each team to aid in the search.

Day Seven Hundred Thirty Three #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

At the least we were not taken down to the chamber to be locked up again. The unit attached to the tanker truck held no interest about the dam other than their immediate security.

Once its commander had his mission underway, the collection of water from the lake, he finally deigned to speak to us.

Tomas had been insistent with anyone within earshot until cuffed into silence by one of our guards.

So he was gratified at last to have the chance to request a communication with the Supreme Commander.

The unit commander was at first skeptical and almost dismissed his request out of hand.  That is until Tomas pressed him with the emergency code word.

The message was sent.

Day Seven Hundred Thirty One #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We were feeling abandoned. And losing track of the time since we last saw our captors.

Then something happened that interrupted the passage of time. The sameness we had been locked into. The ground beneath our feet shuddered and heaved.

Was it an earthquake? Or something manmade and more sinister?

When the chamber quit shaking, the door fell open. It had sprung free from its frame.

We lost no time in exiting. Nothing and no one impeded our scramble up and out from the bottom of the dam.

All the sentry points in the area were deserted and a pungent odor pervaded everywhere.

We made one attempt to reach the city, but turned back at the sight of bodies everywhere.

Day Seven Hundred Thirty #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Hour upon hour passed by. And not a peep from our captors. Nor did anyone look in on us. Not even to deliver a morsel of bread that has been our daily allotment.

We can only speculate that they have their hands full elsewhere. My thoughts went immediately to the return of the tanker trucks with combat units.

Tomas tried the door at one point. It was still locked. But no one outside reacted to the ruckus it raised.

This inspired the Captain to again rummage through the chamber for anything that could jimmy the door. As in every time before there was nothing that wasn’t bolted down. His efforts only raised his frustration.

Elijah remained calm and waited patiently.

Day Seven Hundred Twenty Nine #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We were appalled. Elijah was bruised and bloodied about the face, but he brushed our concern aside and assured us that all would be well.

And he added for my benefit that his interrogators ceased their thuggish actions so abruptly that he knew I must be interceding for him.

(There is nothing like an encouraging report to buoy your spirits and for strengthening your resolve to go on). The Captain was so encouraged that he stayed awake softly singing songs of praise.

They came for me next.

They had no new questions and I had no new answers.

The main interrogator was raising his hand to strike me when he recoiled in fear.

I was ordered back to our chamber.

Day Seven Hundred Twenty Eight #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Evidently they weren’t finished with Elijah. Hours after his return they collected him from our chamber and whisked him away again.

We were left on our own for hours on end. We talked freely amongst ourselves, not caring if anyone was eavesdropping.

Finally we concluded that we needed to settle ourselves down and embrace this time in the presence of the Spirit.

My thoughts were directed to intercession for our friend. I had just concluded that endeavor and was about to move on to intercession for the rest of us, when the door flew open and two guards charged in.

They demanded to know what we were doing and frisked us for communication devices.

They left when Elijah was returned.

Day Seven Hundred Twenty Six #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Members of the city’s militia came to the inn this morning looking for Tomas. And finding him with us, they demanded that we all come with them for questioning.

So it was after a long wait, we finally appeared before a tribal magistrate. He had no questions for us, only for the militia soldiers. Tomas had been observed by those stationed at the dam. Their conclusion was obvious – Tomas was a spy, and by association so were we.

We protested, but our words fell on deaf ears. We were hustled away to the dam, of all places, and locked up in a chamber deep therein.

I guess with all the soldiers about they believe it to be the most secure.