The Fairy Diary Day 659 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Merlin was not convinced that the dwarves would have any designs on acquiring the Crack of Doom for themselves. But rather than continuing to speculate he suggested that we just go ask Gilgorgon ourselves.

Inside the mountain was abuzz with the activities of a new day. We caught Gilgorgon just after his morning meeting with Herblas in which he had laid out the tasks for the day.

To Merlin’s pointed question, our friend the dwarf king smiled and said that he for one could understand our concern. However, he expressed surprise that knowing a dwarf’s propensity for metals, we should have at least understood the matter from their side. He brushed it off as just curiosity on the part of these unnamed dwarves as to the metals used in the bell and its forging.

Gilgorgon went on to add that our pixie seemed to understand this about dwarves, for he had petitioned him last night for permission to visit their forges to help put new edges on his soldier less “army.”

This mention thunderstruck the wizard. For he immediately excused himself by saying that it was imperative for him to be present throughout that whole process.

I also excused myself from Gilgorgon’s presence – and as it was clear we would not be departing today, I joined with Noralei and Rumble down in the assembly area. There, we busied ourselves with the upkeep for the wagon and the care for the dragons.

As we finished for the day, we felt satisfied that we had headed off some possible future problems. The harness was quite worn, and we were able to mend and strengthen it. Noralei took a close look at Clemjil, who, though present, was not behaving like his normal self – for he had not been everywhere and into everything. And she said to us that he might just be ready to have an igniter installed in his jaw. 

I confess that I shuddered for a moment, but with my second thought I knew that the time would not be far off.

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The Fairy Diary Day 545 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

We have made one circuit of the mountain so far at this level. Stretching out from it in every direction below – as far as one can see – is a solid blanket of clouds. Noralei is now certain that the goblins are nowhere up here on the mountain and suggests that we take up the search in the clouds and below them. 

I am beginning to think that something untoward has happened to Gibley and Glossom and whatever clan members are with them. 

So the three of us mounted Rayjil with the intent to leave this region of the mountain behind. But Rayjil did not respond to Noralei’s commands. She much rather preferred to gambol about the sky above the clouds. 

Finally she was able to get her to alight back on the mountain and Dunfallon slipped off and grabbed the dragon about one ear and whispered something. 

Rayjil perked up and as soon as the pixie was reseated, she took off and dived for the clouds below. 

Flying through these clouds was like unto swimming through a river of rainbows. And coming out of them the light was, of course, not as bright as above them. We made for the multitude of hills drawn up around the base of the mountain. And there found another abandoned goblin hunting camp. 

We settled in and talked through our options. 

The Fairy Diary Day 543 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Noralei had some difficulty with Rayjil convincing her to leave her new found playmates behind. Thankfully Dunfallon enticed her away from the stable by whispering something in her ear. 

I jotted a quick note on the scroll to the High Fairy to alert him to our movements. 

The three of us were soon mounted and Rayjil took flight, pursuing the westering moon. I knew we were on the right track when the rainbow circling that orb reached out to us and drew us in. 

The Land of Darkness was no longer. Instead of the vast well sinking down to its depths there was an irregular shaped mountain filling the same space. A pleasing light filled the air about us. Dunfallon wondered out loud if this was the Land of Plenty once again. 

We touched down on the nearest side of the mountain. Everything was barren roundabout – hardly a paradise. And everything was cold to the touch. 

We scanned our surroundings for any sign of Glossom and Gibley. But nothing. 

We sent Noralei aloft on Rayjil to do a wider search. Dunfallon and I remained on the mountain to explore all the nearby caves and crevices. 

In one such cave we found what we believe to be a goblin hunting camp. Noralei circled back at that instant to report a similar finding further down. Since she judged the one she had found of more recent use, she packed us up and we descended to it. 

There we took our ease after a busy day. And tried to rest despite the constant light bathing the land. 

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 374 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

It seems that our surroundings became more ornate the further we traveled in this passage. So, it was strange to come upon a scene of devastation and destruction. 

Dunfallon took it as proof that the dragon had gained entry to the mountain via this access. I was not convinced- but before I could utter a word, Rumble spoke up and said what I was thinking and reminded the pixie that the dark elves and Gilgorgon’s dwarves had clashed repeatedly back when the first egg was stolen. And most probably at this very spot. 

I pointed to a couple of places where I was sure Merlin had struck the ground with his staff. Even the ceiling above them showed signs of fiery blasts. 

Shortly after with the end of the passage in sight, Noralei made a definitive discovery- two jagged pieces that could only be dragon scales. 

Passing through the high doors that we had originally seen so long ago, we held to the hope that the monster was long gone. But we feared what it may have left in its wake.

The Fairy Diary Day 371 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Rumble and I rejoined with Noralei and Dunfallon to discuss our separate investigations. Noralei and Dunfallon had covered the upper entrances and found no breaches there. All gates and bars and guard stations were all in perfect working order. And their accompanying representative from Gilgorgon was satisfied that all their protective measures were indeed impenetrable. 

Rumble and I had plumbed the depths of the mountain. Our main focus was the entrance to the passage way that runs down to the Low-way built by Artoxon’s predecessors. Gilgorgon’s lieutenant assured us that after the other dragon egg had been stolen by the dark elves, they doubled and tripled the defenses in that quarter. In fact, they filled in certain sections of the passage so that only one dwarf at a time could pass through. 

At the end of our deliberations all of us, except Dunfallon, were hard pressed to explain how the dragon egg could have been removed at all. The pixie put forth his belief that either the dragon can turn itself invisible or that it can shrink in size. Or both.

The Fairy Diary Day 370 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Merlin left immediately to see to the security of the other dragon egg. It was by mutual consent. We shall remain here until we have firm direction as to our next step. Gilgorgon’s demeanor has undergone a transformation. He no longer turns an hard countenance towards us. It is clear that somehow the dragon egg had exerted an undue influence upon him. He freely admits the fact himself. 

The High Fairy has returned to the Faerie Kingdom to warn the Faerie Queen and to help her prepare for what may come next. 

Our merrie little band have assigned ourselves the task of investigating how the dragon gained entry into the most secure chamber under the mountain. 

We have paired up to pursue that end – Rumble with me – and Noralei with Dunfallon. Gilgorgon appointed two trusted lieutenants – one for each team to aid in the search.

The Fairy Diary Day 360 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Gilgorgon’s dwarves have now all returned. They have covered the immediate vicinity of their mountain and have nothing to report about our pixie – but they did come across dragon droppings. Therefore, Merlin has decided to turn his focus to the possibility that the dragon Dunfallon had encountered is on the hunt for the eggs. 

It will fall to us fairies to take up the search for Dunfallon. Once we have everything together we will set out for the pixie burrows, and failing that to Willie’s bog or even Nonin-gal-dith beyond. That is, if we don’t meet up with the High Fairy before then. 

Because Rumble reasoned that Dunfallon may have lost his silver whistle with which to summon his eagle, he came up with the idea to take the pixie’s mountain goat along with us. (It was just delivered to Gilgorgon today by Cawthrup’s son Corbet who has offered to accompany us just to this side of the pixie burrows). 

When all was prepared Noralei hurried us down the mountain before night set on. 

The Fairy Diary Day 53 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

When we arrived at the base of the mountain we were no longer in the same land. Instead of a depression in the middle of a plain, we stepped onto a sandy desert. We could not have been more surprised. Our pixie’s goat had to be restrained from turning around and climbing back up the mountain. 

If not for another message from the High Fairy, we all might have joined Dunfallon’s mount on its desperate attempt to flee this unwelcome place. 

Satisfied we were where we needed to be, we pushed onwards keeping the mountain to our backs. (The only way I could think to navigate). 

And just like on our world we passed through a veil into a more inviting terrain. 

Rumble was particularly gratified to see plants here – with wildly exotic blooms.

The Fairy Diary Day 51 #TFDbyRWOz2

The Narrator breaks in:

I was wakened from a deep sleep by a dream that continued in my conscious state. 

Or perhaps I just thought I had awakened. 

In the dream I was cocooned in my bedroom one minute and in the next I was on a strange jumble of a mountain being blown against its craggy rocks by a whirlwind of rain. 

When lightning began flashing I turned my back and hugged the stones against the following crash of thunder. 

Time seemed to stand still with the storm rolling on interminably. 

I remember feeling soaked to the skin, but not cold. Though I should have been. 

Then at some point I realized that my surroundings were exactly like Meribabell had written about in his diary. And the next instant I was back in my room wet from sweat not rain.