The Fairy Diary Day 497 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Merlin did something I had not seen him do before. In preparation for entering into the quarry with us, he made himself small – somewhere between fairy and pixie size. 

Glossom had thought that the wizard would have had to remain behind but was pleasantly surprised when Merlin had his own solution. This left Glossom the largest member of our party to enter into the quarry by the worm holes. 

I did not worry about the iron which was supposed to be present in abundance because of the protection of my third pendant – but I did have apprehensions about encountering the giant worms which Gibley was certain would consider fairies a great delicacy. Collectively the goblins call these worms Maulfors. 

Dunfallon was not the least bit anxious about them. “One cannot live in burrows,” he said, “without having to deal with such things eventually.” Still, he did keep one hand on the hilt of his sword. 

By the light from the goblin torches and Merlin’s staff (and my glowing pendants) we searched the other offshoots from the main quarry. I was somewhat relieved that we did not bump into a Maulfor – but then again we did not find what Glossom told us to look for – purple colored gems that have passed through the insides of a worm. 

It is the only type of gem pure enough. 

Glossom said we will try from another entrance tomorrow. As we turned to trudge back Merlin begged leave to remain behind and test a few notions about the nature of the Maulfors. 

None objected. 

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The Fairy Diary Day 425 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Merlin landed with Rumble and me on the top of Gilgorgon’s mountain.  We found the lookout loft unguarded, but there was no need for one as the access into the interior from there was locked down. 

I thought for sure that the wizard was going to render the stone door into dust with his staff, but he had me step forward instead and take out the pendant that he had given me long ago – the one by which I summon him. He instructed me to hold it up to the rays of the afternoon sun until it glowed. When its light grew steady he said to illuminate the door. And a keyhole appeared. 

I could see that it could receive the shape and size of the pendant. So at Merlin’s nod I inserted the pendant and the door moved aside. 

To our curious faces Merlin explained that Gilgorgon had commissioned him long ago to set up this lock and ones like it for his defenses. 

All was silent as we moved into the topmost post of Gilgorgon’s kingdom. Again there were no guards. 

It was not unexpected. But also was one more sign of the desperation of the dwarves of Gilgorgon’s kingdom.  

The Fairy Diary Day 395 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

My pendant proved highly effective. Not only was I shielded from the ill effects exposure to iron wrecks on the fairy physique, but it produced a brilliant red glow to light our way. 

Dunfallon helped us avoid several traps obviously set up as protective measures on the orders of the dwarf king. 

Unbeknownst to us, Gibley had followed us into these depths. Dunfallon had to rescue him when he fell prey to one of those same traps. After admonishing him for his foolhardiness I relented and granted his plea to continue with us. 

As promised upon reaching the lowest level we were received into Artoxon’s apartments. The very atmosphere was rife with tension for they knew for a fact that a dragon was held up in their biggest, deepest vault. And they were leaderless for Artoxon had locked himself in his bed chamber and would not answer any call. 

The remaining dwarves fell down before us and begged our help in their emergency. 

I asked for everything they could tell or show us about the vaults below. Thus, Dunfallon, Gibley, and I sat down with the warden of the vaults below to plan our next steps.

The Fairy Diary Day 394 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Bifitz had to clear the way before us each step of the way. Though the dwarves were massed at critical points and armed to the teeth, we could see their fear as we passed. Not one of them was without jitters. 

Arriving at the entrance to the shaft to Artoxon’s apartments we found the doors shut. Bifitz said they were barred and bolted from within by Artoxon’s orders and we would have to enter via some nearby maintenance passageways. He had sent word ahead for us to be allowed entry at the lowest level. 

We were about to enter but Noralei intervened. She announced that it would be unsafe for fairies to proceed further for a huge amount of iron ore awaited below. 

Dunfallon perked up at this announcement and was game to continue even if alone. I took my place beside the pixie and said, “Time to test the power of my third pendant.”

And thus we set off into the lower reaches with one consolation – though a pixie and a fairy could pass here with ease, there was little to no room for a dragon.

The Fairy Diary Day 373 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

This passageway is so different from the Low-way of the dwarves. Traveling along them was like walking the halls of an ornate castle. At those places where a descent was called for, a grand staircase was hewn from the rock for the purpose – often there were twin staircases. Dunfallon tells us that Gilgorgon’s predecessors were highly skilled craftsmen, and they somewhat snobbishly looked down upon their distant kinsmen that were only miners. Such attitudes hint to me just how difficult our secondary mission may be to accomplish. 

Rumble had been given permission to light each section we passed into, from stores of oil placed along the way for that very purpose. It was a nice luxury, especially when thinking ahead to relying on my pendant and the glow from our armor once we enter the Low-way again. 

Talking about that eventuality, brought up thoughts of Willie – especially to our pixie – and wondering where he was now – and what he was up to. 

The Fairy Diary Day 369 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

The meeting to discuss custody of the dragon egg was limited solely to Gilgorgon and Merlin. Although the wizard wrung a concession from the king of the dwarves to allow testimony from Dunfallon. 

Later when the pixie was called for, he was not nearby. I left the antechamber and retrieved him from the caverns below. He was playing a game of nine pins and really did not want to leave off, as he was winning. I convinced his opponent to suspend their game until later. He left Gabhe behind to keep an eye on things. 

After I delivered him, I was settling in for another wait when my pendant grew warm to the touch and it pulled me along through passageway after passageway- gallery after gallery until I was soon somewhere under the mountain unfamiliar to me. 

The air was much warmer down there. And I knew without asking that I had arrived in the area where the dragon egg was being kept. 

Or had been kept. 

The doors to the nesting chamber were wide open and the only evidence that a guard had been in place were the arms and armor scattered on the floor and the particles of ash swirling in the air about me.

I hurried back up to raise the alarm.

The Fairy Diary Day 366 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

The High Fairy broke the spell that bound Dunfallon’s memory. It was as the image in the crystal portrayed it. The black bird had precipitated the pixie’s fall from the eagle, and chased his mount from the sky. It later appeared in Willie’s lair daily while he languished in the cage. 

Dunfallon awoke many times becoming aware that the two were discussing him. Their voices so low that he never could understand their meaning. Save for one time when he saw an image projected above the crystal. 

In the shimmering light he clearly made out exact representations of the dragon eggs he had seen with his own eyes. 

Then a strange thing happened – the Will’o’the Wisp reached for the eggs – and the crystal burst into flame. The black bird was quite upset with Willie and left. 

I knew immediately what I had to do. I stepped out of the burrow, grasped my pendant and summoned Merlin. 

A gust of wind forced my eyes closed and when I reopened them – the wizard stood before me. The others joined us and together we explained the latest.

The Fairy Diary Day 351 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

I awoke this morning with a jolt. I must have been dreaming. All I could remember was flying along, when on a sudden, I fell out of the sky. In my groggy state I had to remind myself where I was and what my new pendant was for. 

Then everything came back to me. 

For now, I am Merlin’s only guest, as Dunfallon has not yet arrived. I have no concern about his absence as I figured he was just following his curiosity. For after all, he was looking for signs of Willie. 

(Merlin did consult his seer’s stone and ascertained that the pixie and his eagle were not too far off course, and in fact should be here with us later this evening).

Also we are awaiting word as to whether or not Rumble and Noralei will be joining us. 

After a brief time on the rampart with Merlin, he pointed me to the section of his library that he wants me to explore. It contains all his volumes about crystals.

The Fairy Diary Day 350 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

It was a day for saying goodbyes. Nililitil and Navril mustered the elves of light and after a touching ceremony in which Fliget gifted each with a cuirass of the finest dwarfish workmanship, they departed for Laguayil. 

Nililitil promised to send out orders for all in his kingdom to watch for any sign of our Will’o’the Wisp. 

The Dromadil pixies listened to a fine speech by Dunfallon in which he presented each with a sack of gold as their thanks from the dwarves. When they were dismissed they took up the rear guard to the Laguayilian troops. 

Next, Fliget saluted our pixie with a surprising gift – a harp of gold that he can carry in his pocket – it grows when played and shrinks back to pocket size afterwards. (The regent thought its music would be the perfect accompaniment to Dunfallon’s stories).

My turn for farewells came shortly after Merlin’s return. There in the city square before all its denizens, Fliget placed a new pendant around my neck. It sported a tiny crystal, so it fit quite nicely and did not clash with my other two pendants. He tells me it has the power to protect me against the ill effects that ordinarily I would suffer in the presence of iron ore. 

As proof he revealed that its chain was of that material. I felt marvelous. 

Without further adieus Merlin and I were off for his castle. Dunfallon by mutual consent is traveling on his eagle, the better to check for signs of Willie. 

And hopefully we will soon know whether or not Rumble and Noralei will be joining us.

The Fairy Diary Day 340 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

We met no resistance at this end of the city. I would of thought the area deserted except for the furtive figures of what I took to be female dark elves and their children peeping out of the windows of the buildings lining the crooked streets. 

I remember being thankful that our fears about Willie had not come to pass. No hue and cry had been raised. We went about freely. 

It was not until the city center that we encountered any opposition. There the dark elf reserves were mustered awaiting orders. 

The Dromadil pixies burst in upon them with a fury that took me aback. The destruction they meted out was like watching the goblins at war. I could not believe my eyes. 

Then, I realized that they must have been in the grips of that entity Noralei and I had struggled against on the Low-way. 

So fearful were the dark elf troops to get away that they fled to the canyonlands side of the city and opened the gates in their panic to flee the pixies. This despite their brethren’s resistance to this action. 

I called on Navril and his elves, and Noralei and Rumble to bring order and discipline to the Dromadil pixies. 

Dunfallon would have been best for the task, but with the nearness to the outside world he had summoned his eagle and together they were everywhere – in and out of the stronghold. 

I so wanted to summon Merlin. 

But then I simply did what I knew I had to do. Removed my cloak – held my pendant in front of my armor and rose above the city. 

In the blinding flash that followed all activity ceased. 

As we pieced things together later, this got Dunfallon’s attention, and his gaze fell upon a chalice atop the highest tower in the stronghold. At the same instant Noralei noticed it too. She arrived before he could and wrenched it from its place. 

The result was immediate. As with a great sigh of relief the Dromadil pixies came to their senses. 

The dark elves stacked their arms and surrendered.