The Fairy Diary Day 260 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

We are now safely ashore on the land whose name no one will utter – in an abandoned fishing village. How that came to pass is a very surprising story. 

As our ship was drawing closer to our destination we could at last make out some features along the shore. Per Rumble’s map a fishing village was situated somewhere nearby. As it came into our view, we all observed a slow change in the captain. His reluctance to proceed grew greater in direct proportion to our proximity to the shore. 

In fact he called a halt and brought the ship about and anchored when the harbor of the village was yet a good distance off. He refused to go further, giving as reason the lack of charts for this coast and the clear evidence of rocks and shoals ahead.

I was about to protest, when Noralei spoke up and told me it was not necessary to take the ship any closer. She had had a dream last night and in obedience to the same she mounted to the top of the mast and blew on a horn borrowed from Dorgone. 

In two wing beats, Nora, the water horse appeared at the stern, frolicking in great excitement to encounter us again. 

And he agreed to ferry each of us ashore.

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The Fairy Diary Day 258 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Finally Captain Dorgone has the ship on our desired heading. Northward, with following seas. (Thanks to Merlin, I do believe).  

The captain and Goff suspect that Hawk was the one who had tied down the rudder. Especially having learned what Noralei had observed about him on their shift.  She recognized the cord used on the rudder as unique to him and further suspects it has magical qualities. (Merlin is examining its remains). 

His disappearance though remains a mystery. Was he a hapless victim in the storm? Or having accomplished his designs had he escaped somehow? Rumble thinks he may well have been a dark elf. 

Dunfallon kept pestering the wizard for news about his friends up in Dromadil, especially the troll Geog. I pulled the pixie aside and promised we’d all confer together with Merlin some time later this evening after seeing to our important tasks. 

I know I am just as curious as he is.

The Fairy Diary Day 257 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

The worst of our recent ordeal is over. I almost don’t have the energy to write it all down. And I wonder if I have the ability to note it down with any degree of coherence. 

I’ll try my best and just go in order. 

First there was the unending night in which our vessel was spun about ceaselessly. We hung on to each other and whatever came to hand that was solid on the ship. 

When daylight came again (we assume it was the next day), we discovered that one of our number was gone. The sailor called Hawk was nowhere to be found. But we had no respite to consider this circumstance at length, for the sea around us was marching at us with waves as high as mountains. Rumble, Noralei and myself banded together and exerted our combined powers to carry the ship over the highest waves. 

It was on one of these efforts that Rumble discovered that the ship’s rudder had been immobilized. Under Dorgone’s instruction, we freed it up. 

Finally with our resources clearly faltering, I grasped the pendant gifted to me by Merlin and summoned him to our aid. 

In an instant the wizard was on the deck. He raised his arms and the flash of light emanating from his hands leveled the sea in all directions. 

We thronged him gladly, and were glader still when he dismissed us to go below for rest. While he held vigil.

The Fairy Diary Day 253 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

When Rumble and I began our watch this morning it was all very different. Not only had the storm passed behind us, but the land to our north had disappeared completely from that horizon. It is now more paramount than ever that we begin to round in that direction. The captain is doing all he can to claw our way up to the north, but it is clear we are being pushed much further to the west.

By midday the sky in every quarter was darkening – except our current location. 

It was eerie to be in bright sunshine and to see a band of black surrounding us. Dorgone and Goff have never seen the like before. Dorgone called up the other watch to aid during the coming blow. 

I feel I won’t be able to write for quite some time. 

The Fairy Diary Day 252 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Rumble and I got called up in the middle of the night in order to help that watch with a severe change in the weather. The wind had freshened finally, but was blowing head on to us. 

Dorgone and his two elf sailors taught us how to tack the ship. We soon had the ship obeying our will and running westerly. 

Once the new course was established Rumble and I turned in below. 

Come our shift in the morning, we found the ship’s heading still the same. Though the captain was content that we are gaining to the west, at the same time we are being pushed further to the south. 

Thus things continued throughout the day. And before the approach of night, dark clouds were massing over the land to the north. Rumble and I went below with the knowledge that we again may be called up in the night.