The Fairy Diary Day 169 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Merlin has been quite thorough in his assessment of our situation. He commended us for our industry in seeking out the displaced farmers. So Rumble and I were feeling supreme satisfaction with his approval. That is until he brought up the High Fairy. The minute the wizard asked if we had heard anything from his excellency I realized that I had not so much as written a single word to him. And had not thought to ask for his direction. 

Nor had I even checked for any message from him. 

I felt horrible. And even more so after I looked on the scroll and there saw the same question from him – written over and over again. “Where are you?”

I wrote back immediately. A long message detailing all our movements. 

By this morning I still had no answer. We left for the troll village down in the valley. For after all it is our commitment. Our promise to keep. At least we do have Merlin’s approval, and Geog and Grimace started the celebration the minute we arrived. 

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The Fairy Diary Day 161 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

There is something about the coolness of the woods on a hot day that is so refreshing. But Geog mentioned to Dunfallon (and the pixie to us), that it was much too quiet hereabouts. No bird song and hardly a breeze to rustle the leaves. 

I had noticed the lack of such sounds in our surroundings too. But was thankful for the absence of those black birds spying on us. 

Our focus was drawn elsewhere when Dunfallon discovered a broken down cart a ways off the road. It was the kind farmers use, like those we saw being drawn by the refugees months ago. 

Clearly it was no longer usable so I decided we should scour the vicinity for the former owners. 

It was Rumble who turned up a human family hidden in a hovel on the opposite side of the road. 

With some difficulty I was able to get them to come out. (One sight of Geog and Grimace had them quaking). 

Only when we brought out the king’s proclamation did they finally relax.

The Fairy Diary Day 155 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

We bid adieu to Caywyn this morning. He was anxious to get back to his post and to find out if his men there were experiencing any problems due to the enemy’s retreat. Noralei asked permission to join him. To this we reluctantly agreed, but only because the rest of us thought we would soon follow.  

While waiting for instructions from the High Fairy as to our next actions we took our ease. Nimrood wanted to stage another celebration but we prevailed upon him to wait for things to return to normal first. 

Encouraged by Noralei‘s example, Dunfallon put in a request to accompany Geog and Grimace back to their home. I was not keen on him leaving us too until I heard that many of the farmers in the area had fled into that territory. Then, I knew what I had to do – I put it to the king that we would be glad to carry the tidings to his people up there that it was safe to return to their farmsteads.

No need to ask the High Fairy. It was the right thing to do. 

Day Six Hundred Nineteen #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

The darkness has returned again. It’s like the land wanted to roll over and go back to sleep.

Even the farmers were late getting on the road. But only a few traveled towards the army camp.

It got darker. Like a storm ready to break over our heads. You could smell it in the air.

Elijah took me with him into the city. Our friends remained behind – unhappy, but obedient.

Upon our arrival in the central square a mass meeting was underway. Rain was spitting.

Elijah interrupted.

I saw his image on the building wall as he announced to the world that he was sealing up the heavens.

The rain stopped. The sky cleared. And the Spirit whisked us away.

Day Six Hundred Fifteen #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

The stamp of feet no longer reverberates throughout the house. The last soldier column passed our crossroads around midnight during my watch.

The silence was welcome.

After my turn on guard I slept and actually got some rest.

Upon rising, Elijah was just returning from some time apart on the causeway. He reported more strangeness.

The farmers were on the roads again, but instead of being bound for the city, they were headed towards the army camp.

We decided to postpone our departure for today. Instead we dispatched the Captain into the city to reconnoiter.

The news he brought back was disconcerting. Not a single man of military age remains in the city, only women or children or old men.

Day Six Hundred Thirteen #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Tomas entertained us with tales of his adventures on the road before turning in. He found the conditions the same as reported by our neighbor. And no one bothered him.

We showed him the map to the other exile’s place and he recognized most of the landmarks therein. He was excited at the prospect of leading us there.

We intended to leave at first morning light and join the farmers in their daily movement to the city. However, come the dawn not only weren’t there any farmers and their produce heading to market, but the roads were clogged with columns of soldiers.

I pointed out the obvious conclusion – construction of the army camp must be complete.

We are waiting again.

Day Six Hundred Ten #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We kept a revolving watch through the night. No sign of our neighbor. The Captain even checked inside his house twice via the tunnel.

Foul play is a possibility, but the likelihood of that seems low. It is more likely that he is just visiting a fellow exile whom he mentioned also lives in the country on the other side of the city.

Although that possibility portends well in light of what we want to ask him, Tomas volunteered to actually go there and scout it out for us.

We gave him our blessing and set him on his way with the farmers going to market.

The three of us remaining behind alternated between the house and the peaceful causeway.

Day Five Hundred Ninety Eight #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We arose early and went in search of our friends. Only a few farmers in carts heading to market shared the roads with us.

We said little on the way in.

When we came to a temple we had passed by yesterday Elijah insisted upon entering. It bore all the signs of rededication to the cult of Stan. An acolyte motioned us forward but we skirted around the morning crowd and made our exit.

With the citizens across the city tied up in similar meetings we quickly got through to the civic center. There the Captain and Tomas were penned in a cage. Their surrounding captors fainted away at Elijah’s approach.

We released them and together returned to the country.