The Fairy Diary Day 687 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

I kept a promise to Dunfallon this morning by rolling a game of ninepins with some of his dwarf friends, with the pixie’s mountain goat Gabhe looking on. I was able to express the pixie’s sadness at not being there with them as he had hoped. They all understood the reason for his absence. And asked me to convey an invitation to him to return soon. 

I discovered that I quite enjoyed the game, and did very well. (They did make me swear beforehand not to practice any “fairy business.” Dunfallon in the beginning had gotten away with a few things before they exacted a similar promise from him).

I had just won a game when Herblas came down to retrieve me. As he was ushering me up to Gilgorgon’s audience chamber he informed me that we had a visitor.  

Upon entry I was overjoyed to see the elf Navril there with Merlin and Gilgorgon. As he had promised he brought news about the renegade elves. He had been on his way to the Faerie Kingdom and just happened to stop by to pay his respects to the dwarves, and was delighted to hear that we were present. 

Navril and other elves were never able to elicit any explanations from their renegades until just a few days before. In sharing this news with the wizard and comparing dates they ascertained that the transformation in them came about the instant Merlin had placed her former majesty’s voice in the box. 

The difference in their behavior was as stark as that of night from day. They were no longer obstinately devoted to her cause, but were left wondering how they became committed to her in the first place. 

After hearing this, I was more than ready to return to the fairy capital. And Merlin announced that so we shall on the morrow. 

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The Fairy Diary Day 680 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

My companions Dunfallon and Gibley did their best to lift my spirits along the way to the capital. Their banter was constant and full of good humor. And for long stretches the pixie had his harp out to regale us with pixie traveling tunes. Even Gibley entered the fun with a couple of rounds of rhythmic croaking. (There was one in particular that caused Cluyjil to pick up his pace to a gallop. I had to rein him back).

I was thankful, for they did much to prevent my mind from dwelling on my predicament. Though at one point when it did cast its shadow over me, I was beginning to wonder if I might just withdraw my name and be done with it.

Merlin again was awaiting our arrival at the inn, where we will pass the night before departing for Gilgorgon’s mountain. The prisoners will be delivered to us tomorrow morning, and we will leave immediately. The wizard tells me that the tide is turning, and he thinks will eventually redound to my candidacy. And he truly believes that my successful completion of this latest mission will put a seal to it.

Before Merlin returned to the palace, he forcefully told me that I am the High Fairy that the Faerie Kingdom needs and deserves.

The Fairy Diary Day 662 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

We are finally down from Gilgorgon’s mountain. We were held up unexpectedly by a breakdown of one of wagon’s wheels. It was necessary to remove the bell while it was worked on. Noralei with the help of Rugis and Strukul repaired it in a very short time. 

I have noted a change in demeanor in the pair. So perhaps Merlin is right that they are no longer a threat. At the same time it makes me wonder if their recent demeanor was their own or the result of influence from her former majesty – who now, I believe, has given up hope along those lines. 

I admit I am still wary. And will be, until we leave them behind at the next border. 

Merlin entered the Caretaker’s cage to check on his complaints about injuries he sustained in the bumpy ride down the mountain. According to the wizard it was all a ruse in order to speak to him out of earshot of her former majesty. The renegade fairy is fearful for his future as we grow increasingly closer to the Faerie Kingdom. Merlin told him that he is not the one to speak to on such matters, and that he must wait until he can speak to Tinadell or those in his government. 

How I long for this trip to be over. 

The Fairy Diary Day 644 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

One incident marred our entry into the harbor of Corbelin. A couple of the returning fishing boats came alongside and questioned Captain Goff about our passengers. Evidently the renegade queen somehow had been trying to solicit the aid of these elvish fishermen in securing her release. At that point Merlin intervened and explained to them the crime for which she will be tried back in the Faerie Kingdom. 

The fishing crafts backed off but I had an uneasiness that they were not totally convinced. 

Such was my concern that I thought it best for Dunfallon to set up his “army” on deck once we were moored – to protect the ship, the prisoners and the Crack of Doom. In addition the pixie had Cluyjil take up a position on the quay beside the ship. 

It was also time to bid goodbye to Nora. He had more places to go and places to see. After quartering Rayjil, Noralei went for a ride around the harbor with him as her way of saying farewell. 

We are going to wait for the morning, before procuring a wagon to transport the bell, our prisoners and us. 

The Fairy Diary Day 639 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

We are satisfied with our meeting with the new leader of the Frost Fairies. His name is Tublain, and all he wants is to take his people home to the North. They want nothing to do with the renegade queen nor her Caretaker. They look upon that pair as the corrupters of their king – enticing him to leave the frigid lands behind for lives of ease in the South. 

Our meeting was short, but we asked him to stay the night and await the sun and the arrival of our ship so that we could release the blue fairies we held here as prisoners. 

Merlin promised Tublain that he would do all he could to see them safely back to their homes. 

After Captain Goff arrived the Caretaker was brought ashore and put in a separate cell from the queen. And Tublain and the other blue fairies went aboard for the trip back to the ice floe. 

Gibley now recovered from his indigestion took Conjil up to escort our ship and to keep an eye on things. 

As for what to do next our meeting with Merlin was quick and unanimous as to our decision. We will take the queen and the Caretaker back to the Faerie Kingdom to be tried for treason and the murder of the High Fairy. 

We passed the rest of the day uninstalling the Crack of Doom from the tower and packing it up for transport. 

The Fairy Diary Day 620 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

I do not think I have ever been more shocked by anything than when Merlin revealed to us all that has transpired in the Faerie Kingdom in our absence. The others were variously effected. Rumble and Noralei were visibly shaken. For his part, Gibley could sense their devastation and was moved to sadness in sympathy for them. Dunfallon, struggling with the stigma of his tardiness, could not lift his gaze under the disapproving eye of the wizard.

According to Merlin the Faerie Queen has been deposed – not just for her late dereliction of duty, but in reviewing the documents in the archive pertaining to the banishment of Tinadell, the prime minister has uncovered a matter of the most alarming nature. A secret history assumed to be written by the Queen herself detailed the plan she had successfully executed to usurp the throne from its rightful heir, Tinadell. 

That worthy has now been installed in her place.  

A prophesy that predated that time had predicted the ascension to the throne of one who weaves. Tinadell had not been a weaver in those olden times and thus was not given another thought by those then in the know. This goes a long way to explain the behavior of the queen once she learned this after Tinadell’s return and what that meant to her future, and why she moved to consolidate her power outside of the kingdom. 

When the wizard finished, Dunfallon spoke up – he had heard these revelations from his new elvish friends last night. And then he added that Tinadell is currently searching the kingdom for the right fairy to become the new High Fairy – for the High Fairy we knew is no more.

A great sadness descended over the room. 

At this turn of events it was Merlin’s turn to be shocked and announced that for this news the pixie would be forgiven his tardiness. He then went on to say that we have a great work ahead of us. It would be the best way to honor our fallen friend. 

The Fairy Diary Day 589 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

What an absolutely horrible day. 

It all started well enough. We passed a fairly comfortable night in the open – the unseasonal chill having departed. And we had renewed hope that we might discover Dunfallon and Navril. We had seen some figures in the distance in front of us, but they turned out to be only a couple itinerant merchants. And they soon took another fork towards the southern part of the Faerie Kingdom. 

We looked around before taking the approach to the repository and seeing no one else – hurried out of the view of the main thoroughfare. 

There were no guards near the hidden entrance. And no one challenged us or answered our calls. All was deathly silence. Rumble knew of a sally port by which he gained entrance and opened the gate. 

We were the only beings inside – no Caretaker – no soldiers – no dragons – and no bell, for the Crack of Doom was no longer hung up in its space. 

But perhaps worst of all – there was no sign that Noralei or Gibley or their dragons had been there, or had even arrived. 

The Fairy Diary Day 578 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

It has been a long, long day. We arrived at the capital of our Faerie Kingdom very late in the evening. We flew more or less directly here. We skirted around a few problems, and did not stop at Gilgorgon’s mountain for the obvious reason. 

However, Dunfallon wanted to swing around to Aznastria to solicit an endorsement from King Nimrood, but I told the well meaning pixie ’no.’ With the hearing set for tomorrow I did not want to chance any untoward happenstances. (And anyway I was sure that any human endorsement would not be looked upon favorably by her majesty). 

The High Fairy met us and brought us to an inn outside the capital where he had arranged a place to stable Cluyjil. Merlin decided that it would be best to leave Willie (in his cage) tethered to the dragon, to the end that they could look after one another. Then it was that the wizard revealed the substance of his discussions with the Wisp – Willie wants to be released back into his swamp in the pixie territory. Merlin went on to say that we could discuss it further after Noralei’s hearing. 

His excellency led the wizard, Dunfallon, Navril and myself up into a suite in the palace set aside for us. There Noralei and Rumble were waiting up for us. 

After the briefest of reunions Noralei herded us together into the library to talk over tomorrow’s hearing. 

The Fairy Diary Day 547 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Glossom took pity on the state of our clothing and dug out some furs – child goblin size – and soon had us clad against the cold. 

The goblins were keen to return to their hunting and asked us to accompany them. But we begged off for now and chose instead to remain by the fire with Merlin. 

He had a lot to tell us. 

He had walked all the way here, having entered via the lands to the north of Dromadil. It took a moment to comprehend what he had just relayed to us. 

Then he claimed that the cold invading our world was originating from here. This he had explained to the goblins already – but so far they were not alarmed nor even cared about it. 

Dromadil has frozen over already and he fears Laguayil and the Faerie Kingdom are next. 

Dunfallon piped up and said, “And my pixie burrow too?”

We all agreed that we would had to find a solution for this problem. 

The Fairy Diary Day 529 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Our happiness at being back is only marred by the forced incarceration of Tinadell. To my mind his meekness in submitting speaks well of his character. Dunfallon, and then Noralei were the first to speak up on his behalf. And I reiterated in speech what I had written down in my message to the High Fairy. 

For his part, his excellency remains skeptical, but he hides behind the fact that he cannot rule in this matter. Tinadell’s treatment is dictated under the edict of the Queen and cannot be gainsaid. Only she can change that. (It is probably the reason behind Merlin’s silence in this matter).

Arrangements are being made therefore to transport Tinadell to the capital. Dunfallon, Noralei, and I will follow to speak on his behalf. 

In the meantime our little group has disbanded. Navril has left for Laguayil; Herblas to Gilgorgon’s mountain; and Gibley to the canyonlands and his clan. The little goblin cannot wait to tell the news about the changes in their former hunting grounds. Before leaving on Conjil, Gibley turned Cluyjil back over to Merlin, and gifted Rayjil to Noralei. Noralei was deeply honored by Gibley’s kindness. And I could tell Rayjil was content to remain with her.

Merlin, though curious about what is to happen with Tinadell, is talking about returning to his castle. This put me in mind of our old friend Rumble. I asked the wizard to free him to come and meet us in the capital of the Faerie Kingdom.