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 609 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Before we parted Willie gifted  Dunfallon with a striking ring. It glows with the same color as the Wisp. My pixie friend was quite taken with it, and kept looking at it as we flew along. 

When Gilgorgon’s mountain came in view, I had the urge to visit our dwarf friends – a notion that my pendants confirmed with the sensation of spreading warmth. So, I asked Gibley to take us over there. Dunfallon was all for the move, but Gibley wondered if we should at this time. When I told him that it may just prove to be crucial to our current quest, he urged Conjil on to that destination. 

We had some trouble at the main entrance with some guards who were unfamiliar with us, but once Herblas was sent for, he had us in and settled in short order. 

Gilgorgon received us gladly and called for a sumptuous meal. While it was prepared he invited us into his private chamber and listened intently to my account of our recent doings. When I revealed the problem faced by the Dromadil pixies, Gilgorgon became very animated and sent for his chief miner whom he introduced as Dibla. 

From Dibla we learned that Dromadil had been built over an abandoned work excavated by the dwarves long ago – back during the time of the building of the Low-way of the Dwarves. The more he talked the more connections I made between these underground areas and the activities of the Frost Fairies and their manipulation of water in that sphere. 

I asked Dibla if he were free to accompany us to Dromadil. He hesitated and put us off with the plea for time to consider – which we were more than willing to do. 

The Fairy Diary Day 605 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Our celebration with the Dromadil pixies last evening was very pleasurable. But it was also full of oddities. And none more so than when the Dromadil king suddenly changed the topic and asked after the Will’o’the Wisp. I filled him in on Willie’s current whereabouts and Dunfallon described his daily routines in his swamp. Then, that was it, the king moved on to a fresh topic. 

I did not learn of a connection until later. Merlin had left a message on the scroll for me. He requested that we hear out a request from the Dromadil king. (The wizard had made a promise to him in return for receiving the Sprites into his kingdom). 

It was a favor being asked of fairies – so, while Dunfallon and Gibley remained behind, Rumble, Noralei, and I went in for a special audience with the king. I feel that he had a general misunderstanding as to who had the closer relationship with Willie – for he asked us if we could persuade Willie to leave his bog and come here to help the Dromadil pixies with an ongoing problem. The king was reticent about details and would only say that Merlin was aware and would approve. 

None of us knew what to say in reply. Finally I just told the king that we needed to confer with one another before making a decision. He said he understood and dismissed us. 

I wrote out a note to Merlin and we gathered out where Conjil is stabled to talk through the request. 

The Fairy Diary Day 604 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

As Gibley predicted we saw the city of the Dromadil pixies that collection of burrows rising above the morning mists of the fields. From then on, we passed by pixie farms and villages. And as I feared we garnered stares and fearful looks from the pixies we met. Thankfully when they caught sight of Dunfallon their demeanor changed to one of welcoming comradery. (I verily believe that they took him for the leader of our little band). 

We had decided beforehand that we would head straight for the place where we were required to stable Cluyjil on our last visit – in hopes that Conjil would accept that imposition willingly. But before we got there we came across an encampment of wee structures, and as we suspected the Sprites we came for were located there. 

Emminie, their chieftain, who remembered us, was elated to hear that it was safe for them to return home. And he could not leave soon enough – for they all feel slighted by the way the Dromadil pixies have kept them at a distance. Evidently there are stories of long standing that cast these wee folks as robbers who use their tiny stature to sneak into homes for nefarious purposes. They knew that it was only on account of Merlin’s request that they were allowed in to their territory. 

Some of us (Gibley in particular) thought that with the message delivered we were free to depart ourselves. But I overruled that idea, reasoning that we owed it to the Dromadil pixies to thank them on behalf of the Sprites and the wizard. And perhaps change the image the the Dromadilians hold about them. 

We found the right place to stable Conjil and sent Dunfallon in to meet with his friend the king of Dromadil (whose name I still cannot pronounce much less spell). 

Soon after the rest of us were invited in and fêted by the Dromadil pixies. 

The Fairy Diary Day 573 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Dunfallon took the lead when we arrived at the capital of the Dromadil pixies. It took all of his assurances for them to allow Cluyjil within the city gates. Even then we had to stable the dragon well away from the inner city wall. 

They were even reticent about Willie’s presence with us. But they permitted him entry on the condition that he not leave our side. (The sight of his bobbing cage turned every head as we passed by). 

Dunfallon’s friend, the Dromadil king was away at the time of our arrival, so we had to wait for his return this morning. And when he did – to await again his pleasure to receive us. 

When we did at last, we learned that he had been out in pursuit of some marauders from the North. Such groups have been preying upon the Dromadil pixies since the first descent of the unseasonable frost – the harbinger of the snow and ice. 

Dunfallon explained to him our mission and reason for coming and our fear that Merlin has fallen prey to these aforementioned marauders. 

The Dromadil king was saddened to hear about Merlin’s capture. And we were aghast at his further belief that the wizard must now be dead or irretrievably lost. 

Willie interrupted at that moment and said simply, “No. Merlin was willing.” And could add nothing further as he himself knew not why he had said it. 

The Fairy Diary Day 428 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Merlin, Rumble and I descended into the depths of Gilgorgon’s mountain. Gabhe desired to go with us, but felt herself in a bind. On the one hand, she wanted to brave the hazards with us, but she could not shake the onus of responsibility bestowed upon her by the dwarf king. Thus the mountain goat remained behind. 

In the midst of our conference yesterday I had written a note on the scroll to the High Fairy to brief him on our plans. No answer had been forthcoming until I checked again just as we entered the underground passage to the other dwarf kingdom. 

There waiting was his excellency’s reply, containing two bits of news- the goblins report that all is quiet on their frontier with Artoxon’s kingdom – and that the Dromadil pixies had executed the dark elf Hawk for the murder of two of their guards. 

I was saddened at the news about Hawk (Rumble not so much). 

Merlin took the lead. He had been here before, of course, when he and Gilgorgon battled the invading dark elves. Our way was brightly lit, for Gilgorgon must have left the oil flowing after he and his troops passed. It was welcome, even cheery. But I admit to being on edge the further we went. 

The Fairy Diary Day 421 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

The news is scanty. The High Fairy says there is nothing direct from Gilgorgon. His whole mountain is locked down to the outside. Everything is second hand through the Dromadil pixies, who learn it from the goblins. 

It has me very worried. What could Gilgorgon be thinking? Does he not know that we are for him? And would swiftly come to his aid?

Merlin and the High Fairy locked themselves away in the wizard’s study to consult the seer’s stone – after advising us to keep about our tasks with the hatchlings. 

I found it very difficult to hold my focus. And I believe it was the same for each of us, save Gibley, who has never met our friend. To be sure the goblin has encountered Artoxon – and though he has not expressed an opinion about him outloud I am reasonably certain that his mirrors ours. 

Eventually we became engrossed in our work. Dunfallon put Cluyjil through the motions of flying as he and Rumble waved the staff with the hatchling attached to it. Such movement gives Cluyjil the sense of what it feels like to flap his wings. 

Rayjil was still content with simple things – jumping on and off the staff, and turning invisible for longer periods of time. 

Meeting together at day’s end we were all thinking about the same thing – is it time yet to introduce our charges to one another?

The Fairy Diary Day 391 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

I was just reading a bit of news from the High Fairy when Dunfallon and Noralei returned with a captive in tow. The pixie had discovered someone was following them. It was Gibley the goblin. Upon being spotted, he tried to flee and fell headlong into one of our traps. (That it was one of fairy design amused Rumble no end, who will thus be bragging about it as against those of pixie design). 

When we questioned the goblin he was quite contrite, even apologetic. Dunfallon pressed him further as to why he was following us, but he answered only that he was following orders from his commander and did not know the reason why. 

I thought I knew why. So I shared the news from his excellency. The Dromadil pixies report that the treaty between Artoxon’s dwarves and the goblins may be breaking down. 

We may have a very ticklish situation when we arrive back at Artoxon’s capital. 

The Fairy Diary Day 390 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

We set out on the Low-way of the dwarves without any guides, counting on an absolution from Artoxon for our departure from Bifitz’s expressed edict by the urgency of the situation. 

Dunfallon took up the lead as is his custom. He and Noralei guided us around all the hidden obstacles. 

I had written on the scroll to the High Fairy inquiring about news – any news – for it seems we have been cut off from information as to the goings on in all the lands we have been to. I particularly wondered if the dark elves had chosen a new name for their people. That led to thoughts about Hawk and his fate. Before we left, the goblins were chaining him up for transport to the shaft. 

Rumble was a quiet companion. When he did speak, I learned he had been thinking about some of the same things as me. 

His main concern above all was whether or not we can trust Artoxon. He has taken to heart the warning from Dromadil pixies via the High Fairy. And I believe – so have I.

The Fairy Diary Day 386 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Hawk steadfastly refused to answer any of our questions. The goblins had chained each limb to a different wall in the cave cell set in the floor. So, it was easy to understand his reluctance to speak. 

His captors ignored all of our advice for his better treatment. And it was all we could do to keep them from spiriting him off to the Shaft before Merlin could join us. 

Probably it was the threat that the wizard was coming that prevented the goblins from summarily carting him off to prison and more than likely execution. 

When Merlin arrived, he brought more bad news for the elf, the High Fairy had made a query about Hawk with the Dromadil pixies, those recently responsible for his incarceration. Somehow the dark elf had given them the slip, harming several and in fact killing one of the Dromadilians. 

Merlin commanded that he be left alone with Hawk.

And we knew he was serious when he included all of us in his ban. I looked for something to keep us busy in the meantime.