The Fairy Diary Day 618 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

I wrote to Merlin that we would be underway as soon as preparations were completed. And informed him that we had taken precautions to protect Conjil from being summoned from us. 

I closed with a rundown of our accomplishment here and all that it will mean for the future relations between the Dromadil pixies and the Sprites. 

Today we bid farewell to Nora. He left with some of the Sprites who wanted to continue their exploration. In a short time they have become fast friends. Noralei did tell him before parting, that we will be headed for the coast around Corbelin and that it would be wonderful to see him there. 

Conjil was overjoyed to see us. So much so that she did not mind being harnessed to the wagons again. With everyone in place we were about to set out, when the Dromadil king stopped us – but only to thank us and to bid us farewell too. 

Gibley started her out but then she headed straight for the rainbow on her own volition and mounted that color-filled road. 

It felt good to be in the air and not knocking around underground. 

We came down off the rainbow in the hills above Corbelin. But there was no wizard in sight – nor anywhere around. 

We decided to pass the night here and I tried to contact Merlin through my scroll. 

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The Fairy Diary Day 617 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

I was not looking forward to our meeting with the Dromadil king this morning. Noralei, Rumble, and Gibley went back down to join the Sprites in the work of freeing Nora from his prison. Dunfallon and I brought Emminie up with us for our meeting with the king.

I went in by myself to begin. And I announced that we had located the obstruction and right then as I was speaking it was being removed. The king clapped his hands at this news.

I then did what I could to cushion the blow that would come to him at the revelation of the agency of his deliverance. Still I did see him tense up under the force of my words. 

I went on to state that my friends and I would have failed without the timely arrival and help of the wee folk – the Sprites. I begged leave to bring their chieftain in and make his introduction.

The Dromadil king fell silent, and seemed to shrivel on his throne.

After the space of sixty wing beats, he looked up and nodded his consent. I called to Dunfallon and he escorted Emminie into the chamber. And then pixie to pixie, Dunfallon introduced the chief Sprite to the king. My friend continued on to extoll the strengths and virtues of these wee folk. And then surprised us all by imploring him to count the debt the Dromadilians owed to the burrows of Dunfallon’s pixiedom, to be deemed paid – through his acceptance of the Sprites.

The Dromadil king glared at the mention of his secret, now fully known. And all resistance towards the Sprites ceased.

Emminie for his part was gracious. He went on to say that he was honored to lend this help, and that it was a matter only of humble thanks for the king’s opening of his land to them in their late distress.

I felt relieved upon leaving the king’s chamber. 

But then looked up – and a rainbow was arching down into the fields outside the city. And I knew Merlin needed us.

The Fairy Diary Day 616 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

This has certainly been a day for hearing voices. 

Upon reaching the passageway which Dunfallon was warned against entering yesterday, the voice from his ring declared that it was now safe. We three fairies having come in the boat with Dunfallon and Gibley took off to fly on ahead. 

Not long after a voice come out of the darkness in front of us, calling Noralei’s name. Then, to our great amazement who should rush into the light from my pendants but our friend, Nora the water horse. 

In his excitement he splashed all about, circling the boat – thoroughly drenching the pixie and the goblin. Then remained still while Noralei landed atop him. 

Through their excited chatter we learned that Nora had been trapped down here for quite some time. He had been exploring where a stream led and chanced upon a tributary that emerged from underground. He swam up against the flow and was fascinated by all he saw – until seeing some blue fairies. He went to talk with them, but they spurned him and chased him and sealed him up in this vast complex underground. 

And he was so glad that we came to rescue him. 

He beckoned us to follow him – down to what seemed another dead end.  But we all heard voices coming from the other side. Then, from high above our heads, a stream of tiny figures emerged from fissures – lead by Emminie. 

The Sprites swarmed everywhere while I met with their chief. Ever since they returned to their village they have been exploring what the Frost Fairies had left behind. Their trail led all the way to here (and perhaps beyond, for they are not yet finished). 

I asked him if they could break through these obstructions to free our friend. This they were glad to do – and added that they would have to be careful not to bring down the contents of the lake above. 

To this I wholeheartedly agreed and said the the Dromadil king would be very thankful. 

The Fairy Diary Day 614 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Dunfallon and I informed the Dromadil king that we have made it into the excavated expanse under his city. And that we require a boat before we venture further in our search for the blockage holding the water in. He replied that his boats that ply the lake are more than likely too big to take down there.

I told him that in that case we need only the materials with which Noralei and Dunfallon can construct one of the proper size for us, most likely down in the treasury itself. This pleased the king and he sent for his boat captain. Upon that worthy’s appearance, he also had a report for the king, but he heard us out first. He promised that his carpenter would supply the necessary materials. 

Then the boat captain informed the king that the level of the lake is slowly falling, and was first noticed to do so when the unseasonal snow and ice began to melt.

The king, Dunfallon and I were then struck by the new difficulties this situation presented. We would have to drain out the water currently below – perhaps through the very hole by which the water was entering from the lake.

It was clear we needed to know more about what is happening below in order to plan what needs to be done.

So, Dunfallon saw to the gathering of materials and brought them down to Noralei. And I joined with Rumble to fly into the nooks and crannies of the watery vastness under the city.

The Fairy Diary Day 612 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Noralei fashioned two devices to place over Conjil’s ears to shield them from the sound of the Crack of Doom. The dragon did not fuss as expected but submitted to Dunfallon as he put them in place.  

Then we appeared before the Dromadil king with our decision this morning. He was overjoyed at our willingness to attempt to find our way down beneath the city to seek out the source of the problem. He handed us over to the captain of his treasury guard to escort us down. 

The king had one request – that Dunfallon remain with him to act as a liaison between him and us. But I told him that it would be impossible as he would be commanding a small unit of his “army” as a precaution if we uncovered any Frost Fairies lurking in the depths. 

The pixie king reluctantly agreed. And as a consolation I promised to keep him informed. As an afterthought the king instructed his captain to allow Noralei the selection of one item from the treasury in payment for a job well done on his dungeons. 

Once inside the treasury Rumble and Gibley led us to a corner behind which they suspected the former opening to the dwarf excavation lay. There were a lot of things to move out of the way. So under the watchful eye of the captain of the guard and his second in command we – plus the remainder of the guards – began to move the treasure stored there back away from that wall. (We were not allowed to use any spells, lest we make any of it “disappear “).

The task consumed the rest of our day. And we were able to give it a good look over before calling an end to the day’s exertions. 

I could see why the Sprites would be a good fit for this job. But I think among the five of us we should be able to get beyond that wall. 

The Fairy Diary Day 611 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Our meeting with the Dromadil king was somewhat tumultuous. We were all there. And all very much taken aback by the palpable aversion the king has to even the mention of the Sprites. And the refusal of the Will’o’the Wisp to help prompted an even greater explosion. He turned green as his first reaction and flushed red at the second. 

I believe Dunfallon was quite surprised at his lack of self-control. 

After we waited for him to collect himself, (he changed another color upon learning that dwarves once dug in the earth below his city) he latched onto the possibilities offered by Dibla’s map. And asked that we find a way down to fix the problem –  just the five of us. 

When Gibley shared that one of the entrances down may be located somewhere within his treasury all the color drained from his face. The king then fell to begging and pleading with us to do it. 

At that point I told him that we would discuss it amongst ourselves and get back to him tomorrow. 

We all met back in the Conjil’s stable. And while we bandied about our decision, Dunfallon worked with Noralei on a solution to protect the dragon from summoning. 

The Fairy Diary Day 610 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Dibla declined to accompany us to Dromadil. (Most likely he did not relish the thought of riding a dragon). But he did offer an ancient map dating back to the time of their excavations up there. Though not as good as those Rumble has, it should suffice. 

On the map the dwarf called my attention to the stream with a village in the crook of its elbow and I recognized it as the village of the Sprites. He cautioned us that there are more than likely many differences since then. Though he added that up in the area of Dromadil there should not be as many. And he took the time to note a couple passages that the pixies would have most likely sealed off. Gibley’s eyes lit up at this and he stated that he thinks he knows where one of them might be. 

So, as soon as Dunfallon said goodbye to Gabhe, his mountain goat, having just finished a friendly game of nine pins, we bid farewell to Gilgorgon, thanking him for his hospitality and willingness to help. 

We were back in Dromadil by the afternoon. And met Rumble at the inn where Conjil was welcomed back into its stable. 

Rumble had not been idle. While Noralei did wonders with the dungeon cells (so comfortable that she spent the nights there herself), he had familiarized himself with the area and its trouble spots. He eagerly accepted Dibla’s map and went off to study it. 

Dunfallon, Gibley and I discussed how to go about broaching to the Dromadil king the need to ask the Sprites for their help. Then Gibley went off to visit Noralei and to look into a possible entry point into the dwarfish excavation. 

When we were alone I took Dunfallon into the stable and there discussed with him what we could do to forestall the summoning of Conjil away from us. 

The Fairy Diary Day 607 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

We settled on all our arrangements last night. Since Dunfallon and I wanted to take Conjil to retrieve Willie it had to be with Gibley. Noralei and Rumble were to remain behind with the wagons. 

After we had presented our plan to the Dromadil king he heartily endorsed it. And was even more elated when he learned about Noralei’s skills. With the promise of a good reward, she accepted his offer to refit his dungeon cells while waiting. 

I do believe that Conjil was most happy to be on the wing again and unencumbered by the wagons. When Gilgorgon’s mountain came in view I noticed our pixie cast a longing glance in its direction, but to his credit it did not linger long. 

It’s strange to admit to a similar longing once we landed near Willie’s domain. Being so close to Nonin-gal-dith and not stopping in left me with pangs of longing. Something that I had not experienced in quite some time. I had more time to reflect on this while Gibley and I waited for Dunfallon to return with word that we were welcome within the Wisp’s sanctuary. 

As for Gibley he was struck by the beauty – and the melancholy of the place. And he was eager to see more once we were called in.  

Willie was glowing quite healthily and looked quite contented with himself upon first view. But then surprised us completely when he said, “I’m not going!”

This before we even asked him. 

The Fairy Diary Day 606 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

We met and talked things through but with no results. None of us felt sure about getting involved with this request without first knowing more. It was helpful when Merlin replied to my recent message and reconfirmed that he had indeed given his approval to the Dromadil king. 

Thus we received our first hint as to what it is all about. It is something that the Dromadilians are anxious to keep secret.  Small imperfections have been discovered deep under the foundations of the city, especially in and around the area of his palace. 

Dunfallon and I met again with the pixie king and took Gibley in with us. We told him that he needed to be more forthright with us before we would agree to any further involvement. 

He reluctantly called for his architect to take us down to the lower levels where the dungeons and his treasury are located. There, water was oozing from the base of the walls through the tiniest of crevices. 

It was easy to understand the king’s reticence in this matter. And when we saw that Gibley (whom we brought along for the occasion) was too big for the job, we decided between us that the Will’o’the Wisp might be able to fix the problem- if he will agree to help. 

On the way back up to the Dromadil audience chamber, I could not but think that the Sprites could have easily done the job. 

But then, there are those prejudices. 

The Fairy Diary Day 574 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

This morning we were no closer to a decision about what to do when I received a note on the scroll from the High Fairy. It complicated things even further. 

His excellency says we must return in five days time or we will miss the only opportunity to meet with the Faerie Queen before she leaves for another extended period of time. Noralei and Rumble have already joined him in the capital to prepare for the now scheduled hearing. But they feel having Merlin there is crucial to their case. 

I wrote him back immediately with the news from our end. Then, we agreed amongst ourselves that we must depart before the day got any older. 

With the Dromadil king’s blessing we collected Cluyjil and set off in the direction recommended by our host – due North. 

No sooner had we left the city behind when my pendants grew warm to the touch and flashed in such a manner that revealed we must bear more to the West in our northerly flight. 

So we willingly corrected our course to follow the sun.