The Fairy Diary Day 591 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

We saw them coming from our refuge, high within the repository and rushed down to open the gate to Dunfallon and Navril. The pixie was extremely unhappy not to see Noralei with us. But he mellowed out as the seriousness of the situation dawned upon him. 

Navril wanted to know what he could do to help. Rumble took him on a tour of the repository and together they took stock of the remaining materials. Surprisingly they found a huge cache of weapons – more than likely overlooked by whoever emptied everything else. 

Dunfallon and I talked over our options. Like yesterday I found myself counseling caution and patience – as usual a difficult proposition for my pixie friend. 

We were debating the virtues of waiting versus striking out on a search for Merlin. When who should appear in our midst but the wizard himself. I began to explain about the state in which we had discovered the repository, when he stopped me and told me that he already knew – as Noralei and Gibley had caught up with him and told him everything. 

Dunfallon then sidestepped to look behind the wizard as though he expected to find Noralei and the goblin there. Merlin placed a hand on his shoulder and said that they would be along a bit later. Gibley had returned to the canyonlands to leave Clemjil and the dragon egg where they could be better cared for. 

Then, Merlin said that what he really wanted to know was what had happened to the High Fairy. 

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The Fairy Diary Day 585 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Dunfallon came back from his early morning walk with exciting news. The village  had been abuzz with a rumor that a dragon and a goblin were pacing about outside the daisy ring defenses. He rushed to investigate and found our friend Gibley with Conjil. He led them in – settled Conjil in Noralei’s stable – and came straight over to collect us. 

Having seen us on our way, the pixie continued on to notify Rumble and Tinadell of our gathering. 

The instant I came through the door to Noralei’s shop, the face of the little goblin lit up and he bounded over to greet me. He had a message from Merlin for me. As I had thought when the wizard left the canyonlands he told Gibley that he had a promise to keep with the trolls. 

I asked him what his uncle decided about Noralei’s request for a breeding pair of dragons. Gibley asked me to wait until we were all present. 

So, the instant Dunfallon arrived with Rumble and Tinadell, the goblin led us out to the stable. And there he introduced us to the young dragon Clemjil, and an unhatched dragon egg, lovingly cared for by Conjil. 

Noralei was beside herself with excitement. 

The Fairy Diary Day 405 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

A message from the High Fairy brought us news about Merlin that was both good and bad. The other dragon egg has indeed hatched, but its hatchling has proven sickly and requires all the nursing skills he can muster.  Consequently the wizard will be tied up for the immediate future. 

We were so hoping that he would be free to come and relieve us. And perhaps carry Gibley and the hatchling back to his castle. 

I actually broached that topic to the goblin today, thinking he might welcome the wizard’s help. 

His answer surprised us all. 

In a manner it was a confession. He was not a member of the goblins from the Shaft. Rather – his was a special race of goblins whom he believes lives somewhere in the vastness of these canyonlands. Long ago he had been kidnapped by the dark elves and taken to their kingdom for the specific purpose of wrangling a dragon hatchling. His tribe of goblins were famous dragon handlers. 

The only thing is – Gibley was not. The dark elves soon discovered their error and imprisoned him with the goblins of the Shaft. Although accepted into their tribe back when we released them, he wants to make his way back to his people with this hatchling and reclaim his heritage. 

This revelation explained a lot. 

And it left us wondering if those dwarves outside Fliget’s city were sent by someone other than Artoxon.

The Fairy Diary Day 400 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Gnoston was relieved to learn that there will be no more creeping dragons to worry his village. And to see this hatchling being removed from the kingdom was most welcome. He was curious however what our plans were for the beast. 

To this we confessed that we had no say-so over any decisions. And Gibley continues to protest that he has no designs to use his influence other than for the good of the creature. 

I am just thankful that neither dragon egg has fallen into the hands of our unknown enemy. And I entertain the possibility that the goblin will give over his control of this dragon to our friend Merlin. 

Upon reaching the point where the passage to Gilgorgon’s mountain joins the Low-way, we were surprised to see the great doors shut and barred from this side. The sight did not augur well for peace between the two kingdoms of dwarves. 

Such thoughts bore heavily on our minds while Gnoston procured a place of rest for us in the nearby camp of guards. 

We shall soon see our friend Fliget.

The Fairy Diary Day 399 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

We settled on our next destination before we took one step on the Low-way of the dwarves. A note back from the High Fairy recommended that we make for Merlin’s castle by whatever means. (He could not confirm any news about the other dragon egg). Our guides preceded us at a respectful distance and kept their communication with us to the minimum. 

Dunfallon stayed close to Gibley and the hatchling. Our pixie proved to be a fount of information about dragons and their care from his time spent in Merlin’s library. So the goblin’s charge was well provided for from odds and ends found along our way. 

Gnoston received us into his village with the same warmth as before despite knowing about our banishment from the kingdom. So we had no qualms petitioning him to take over as our guide. And he has agreed graciously to accompany us to the stronghold city of the dwarves where Fliget is the regent. 

From there we will travel out to the canyonlands and from thence on to Merlin’s castle.

The Fairy Diary Day 398 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

The atmosphere of tension and stress has all evaporated from the halls and chambers of Artoxon’s apartments and is no doubt spreading throughout his kingdom as I write this. 

The great dwarf himself was finally persuaded to emerge from his bed chamber. He regained his confidence to the point that he dared to lay claim to the hatchling dragon. 

A notion that lasted no more than thirteen fairy wing beats. 

The hatchling will brook no interference directed at herself or Gibley – or by extension, for the moment, to ourselves. As long as she is with us, the dwarves dare not come near. 

In consequence Artoxon has ordered us to be ushered from his apartments and thereafter from his kingdom, and turned his attention to his vaults and his treasure. 

Bifitz received us civilly, but expects us to leave with the first available guides. 

Gibley wants to accompany us and has no plans to return to the goblin outpost as he fears for his life and her safety. He adds that this was nothing that he sought out. And though Dunfallon believes him, we three fairies are not totally convinced. 

Noralei brought up something the rest of us had forgotten when she wondered out loud if the egg in Merlin’s possession has also hatched – my cue for another note to the High Fairy. 

A Pixie Tale [for day 397] #TFDbyRWOz2

Dunfallon writes:

I find I am not at all reluctant this time to take up a pen and scratch out the details that our esteemed leader so humbly passed over in his account of our latest adventure. 

I’m not sure whether it was the bravery or the desperation of Gibley that catapulted Meribabell and me down into that treasure vault. (He still won’t talk about it). All I do know was that we could not let the little fellow face the danger alone.

I admit I did not stop to think of consequences as I jumped feet first into that yawning crevice and slid down that slope of shining gold. I kept on my feet as long as I could and thankfully Meribabell caught me up and flew me over before the worst of it – the horrible sights and smells of bits of dwarf still smoking where they came to rest in the low points. 

How Gibley was able to dash around them without being tripped up is a mystery. We should have overtaken him easily. 

And when I realized that we must climb out of the trough, no doubt created by the dragon, my despair grew. 

My fairy friend set me down to regain his strength. And from this lower position I almost gave up hope as it seemed impossibly steep. But the sight of the scrambling goblin ahead of us spurred me on. 

We came upon more dwarf corpses mingled with spent fire plants and thus knew how they met their fate. How was the goblin not affected?

Tiny rivulets of molten gold trickling down the sides of the heaped metals prepared us for the sight of the lake of gold as we gained the crest.

What a sight!

At that very moment we witnessed the dragon itself break out in flame from within. It was curled around the egg whose shell was already cracking and breaking loose. 

And right there was our goblin brushing aside the crumbling shell pieces to grasp the dragon hatchling and pull him out. 

With more of the metals melting and flowing into the lake, we knew we had to get out of the vault as soon as possible. 

I insisted that Meribabell scoop up the goblin and his hatchling and fly them out of the vault. Even then it was gripping to watch the fairy struggle to bare them aloft over that great gap to safety. 

I pressed downwards as fast as I could and thereby Meribabell did not have as far to fly when he retrieved me. 

And thus ends this my account – giving credit for the help lent me by my friend and walking dictionary Rumbletwist.

The Fairy Diary Day 396 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Through the warden and the few dwarves who had been able to descend into the vault where the dragon was nesting (and returned to tell the tale), the dragon was no longer ranging about, but is brooding upon an enormous pile of gold that has been seeded with a multitude of fire plants. 

We judged it no longer wise to attempt the recovery of the egg. Especially if the time was near for its hatching. 

It was ironic. Here these dwarves were waiting upon us for the solution to their problems, and I felt most keenly the need for direction myself. What I would not give to have Merlin and the High Fairy here beside me. 

But there has been no reply to my message to the High Fairy asking his advice. 

That was all rendered moot the next moment with word from the dwarves that Gibley the goblin had wiggled his way past their guards into the vault. 

In that instant Dunfallon and I knew we had to follow. 

The Fairy Diary Day 392 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

We forged an agreement with Gibley. We were happy to allow him to follow his orders unfettered. But he would not be allowed to report back to his commander until after we have resolved the problem of the dragon and the dragon egg. So he became an unofficial member of our party. 

(Besides we all felt he was safer with us. Rumble thought for sure he would otherwise have been caught in another trap, even the rather poor ones set by Artoxon’s dwarves). 

Dunfallon kept the goblin close, and enjoyed his time with him. 

We were drawing close to the dwarf capital, when each one of us froze in place. Gibley had no idea what had happened. But the rest of us knew we were experiencing exactly what Gnoston and his people had when the dragon was creeping nearby their village. 

It was very disquieting. 

And more so when I considered that this might be a second dragon. For we thought for sure the one we were pursuing was much deeper below us. And may in fact be already in the vaults under Artoxon’s apartments. 

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.