The Fairy Diary Day 388 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

The four of us resisted the urge to run off on our first impulse – or impulses, as we surely would have scattered in every direction. As it is, after some deliberation we did divide into two groups – Rumble and Dunfallon went off with the goblin party that will be exploring an offshoot from the confirmed dragon lair. Noralei and I planned to interrogate Hawk for any details Merlin may have missed. 

To that end we asked for and were granted the prisoner’s release from his chains. However, at the goblin commander’s insistence he was placed into a cage. We found him docile, awake, and somewhat willing to talk. 

What we wanted to know was why he desired to obtain the dragon egg. He was more responsive to Noralei than to me. And after some patient questioning we learned that he believed that with the egg he at the least would have control of the dragon, and most certainly would have control of the hatchling when its time came. 

“Besides,” he added manner-of-factly, “the black bird commanded him to do it.”

He admitted afterwards that it was an outworking of the effect of the curse upon him. 

How intricate is the evil woven against us.

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The Fairy Diary Day 387 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Merlin extracted answers from Hawk to all his questions and to most of ours. The dark elf is now a shattered husk – a state from which the wizard assures us he will recover. 

Merlin claims never to have laid a finger on him. Whatever pressure was exerted, it was focused against the curse. And he turned that to his advantage. 

Understanding this went a long way towards explaining the puzzle that existed for Dunfallon and me. We could not understand why Hawk had continued in the thrall of the curse after its dissipation with the fall of the dark elf stronghold. 

Merlin said the curse had been totally embraced by Hawk, and thus it branded every part of his being. 

Most important of all was the knowledge that though Hawk encountered the dragon, he did not succeed in bending its will to his. Nor did he get anywhere near the egg. 

Merlin believes that the time for nesting has become critical and he is certain that both the dragon and the egg are held up in some remote place for that purpose. 

And because it is crucial for him to turn his attention to the egg in his possession for that same purpose, he has delegated us to stay in this area until it is found.

The Fairy Diary Day 347 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

According to his say-so Bifitz has negated the curse. Through a lengthy spell he was able to physically remove it from within the pedestal. He examined the chalice and the red ash. He tells us that the dark elves must have been aware of the curse for he believes the chalice and something that had been placed on top to close it off was their attempt to deflect its effect. 

This may explain why it was stronger at other points along the Low-way in the deserted places. And that whoever took away whatever enclosed the chalice caused the curse to pour back onto the stronghold. Hence the horrific effect on the Dromadil pixies. 

Noralei and I met with Merlin afterwards and filled him in about the missing Will’o’the Wisp. He agreed with our suspicions that Willie may be responsible for removing the chalice cover. 

And he is fairly certain that it was some kind of crystal.

The Fairy Diary Day 346 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Artoxon did not come himself but had sent his envoys- our former guides Fliget and Gnoston. With them was a most puzzling figure – I believe it was a he – the most wizened dwarf I have ever seen.  And imagine my surprise when he was revealed to be an ancient goblin and a bit of a wizard himself. 

He went away with the High Fairy and Merlin, while Fliget and Gnoston remained with us and filled us in about their companion who is called Bifitz. Long ago this goblin had forsaken his own people to live among the dwarves, maintaining a place of distinction in their ruling council. 

It was Bifitz who had conjured the curse upon the stronghold prior to when the dwarves were forced to abandon it. 

Rumble and Noralei went off with Fliget and Gnoston on a tour of the city. I sat with Dunfallon to hear the tale of his latest adventures.

The Fairy Diary Day 345 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

We may have to call a halt to the dwarves returning to this place until we can discover what, if anything, is wreaking havoc with the emotions of any being that falls within its influence. For as long as those affected have their wills bent to its purposes, we simply cannot allow it. 

The High Fairy arrived here today and we handed the problem over to his excellency and to Merlin. 

After much deliberation they concluded that a curse was at work in this matter. Inquiries among the remaining former dark elves shed no light. They claimed that anyone in the know had already left. I worked with the idea of sending messengers after each group to seek out answers, but that turned out to be unnecessary as Dunfallon and his Dromadil pixie contingent returned from their trip to see Artoxon. 

They confirmed that a curse was indeed in play. The dwarves had placed it. And will remove it soon upon their return.

Day One Thousand One Hundred Twenty Nine #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Our path as directed by Reuben guided us away from the plain for the morning hours. When we crossed back over the ridge the main body of the army of the North filled the plain. We took the main concentration centered on the side towards us to be the headquarters.

I asked Elijah if we were going to curse them per the wishes of the Supreme Commander.

He replied, “No. They are already cursed.”

With that Reuben hastened our pace to put some distance between us and them.

As they disappeared in our rear view, I could not help but wonder what our adversaries looked like up close. Were they the bloodthirsty barbarians of every report we had ever heard?

Day One Thousand One Hundred Twenty #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Both Elijah and I agreed that today would be the day, and though we were prepared, we were not expecting deliverance in the quarter from which it came.

Tomas had returned and I confess my focus was totally on what he had to tell us.

He had neutralized the artillery quickly. Then he went beyond his assigned task and scouted the near elements of the army of the North.

As he described their configuration, a picture formed in my mind’s eye, and I saw Elijah and me easily trekking our way through to our destination.

Before I could even consider the “how” the Supreme Commander rolled in and asked if we could curse the army of the north for him.