The Fairy Diary Day 182 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

The High Fairy kept vigil with Merlin the night through while they consulted his seer’s stone. Together they came to the conclusion that the same force allowing the adversary access to the wizard’s castle was also blocking all views of that speck on the horizon. 

They are most alarmed. 

The High Fairy uncovered the same phenomenon back in Nonin-gal-dith. Yet he never located any agent responsible. 

Rumble and Dunfallon remain deep in the library with as of yet nothing of substance to report. 

Noralei and I lent a hand wherever we could. We feel quite useless otherwise. 

I caught the High Fairy later in the evening and asked after Nimrood and his kingdom. He told me that the situation was settling – with most of the refugees now returned to their farms and villages. Yet there are those few who have not. 

However he added that concerns were growing in the capital of the Faerie Kingdom. The queen has asked him to send our group to her. 

We agreed that we face a dilemma as to which will be the best course of action. 

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The Fairy Diary Day 173 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Rumble was the first to notice the change in the landscape ahead and drew our attention to the patches of brown earth that dotted the far side of the plain. 

We had found some refugees. 

Now how best to inform them of the change back in their homeland. 

We had the proclamation from Nimrood but would they accept it from us? Would they even let us come close? None may ever have encountered fairies or pixies before. And they might be armed with iron weapons. 

We pressed onwards and set our sights on the closest and smallest cleared field. It seemed the safest course. 

As we neared we made out a family busy outside. A flag flew atop of their simple hovel. 

Taking one look at it Noralei became excited. 

“I know that flag,” she said. “And now I know why the High Fairy insisted that I come with you.”

The flag was that of Caywyn’s family and clan and Noralei knew exactly how to approach them. 

That is what she did and how we met the leader of the refugees.

The Fairy Diary Day 171 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

I could see no other way around it. We needed to be on our way – all of us – as soon as possible. And in order to include Noralei in our number again I knew that I must call upon Merlin. 

So first thing upon rising, with Rumble and Dunfallon looking on, I took a hold of the pendant and summoned Merlin. 

We all expected him to appear immediately. But when he did not, we were all dumbstruck and could not move for the longest time. 

And we would have stayed rooted to that spot if my other pendant had not urged us to be on our way. 

We bid the trolls goodbye – which was hard, especially for Dunfallon. And Geog made it harder for he so wanted to come with us to help, but he understood our explanation that we did not want to chance frightening the refugees by his mere presence. 

After we left the troll’s valley and when their village was lost to our view – who should we see stepping from behind a great oak but our friend, the wizard, escorting our comrade Noralei. 

And before we could protest he transported our whole party not only from the spot where we stood – all the way to the other side of the mountain, but also late afternoon was changed to the middle of the night. At the moment he set us down, our fatigue was such that we lay down where we landed – with a promise from Merlin ringing in our ears that all would be clear in the morning. 

The Fairy Diary Day 166 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Dunfallon happily volunteered to join the all night vigil with his fellow pixies to catch a glimpse of the phenomenon they have reported. He was ecstatic to be in their number. 

Yet it was all for naught. 

Morning came and they had nothing to report. Tog believes that our presence has driven them away, and he is highly complementary of us because of this. 

It was decided that Geog will go down to feel out his kin on their attitudes before bringing two fairies and an unknown pixie into their midst. 

Grimace is content to remain up here with old acquaintances and to help Dunfallon compare notes. 

I passed the day with Tog. He had much to tell me about the human refugees. And he had questions himself – he was most curious about my pendants.

The Fairy Diary Day 163 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Rather than pressing onwards along the main road in the effort to discover where the refugees departed it, we followed the troll brothers on a shortcut to that part of the second chain of hills that guards the valley of their homeland. 

It was a most pleasant walk through a picturesque landscape. Although there was one section near a swamp that conjured up unpleasant memories of the Will’o’the Wisp. I asked Geog if he had ever encountered such beings. He told me no, not in this swamp, but he added that often he has spotted flickering lights floating in the woods around his family’s place. He’d never gotten close to any and for sure, no one ever went missing on account of them.

This piqued Dunfallon’s interest but before he could act on it, Rumble took him aside to remind him what we have come here for.

The Fairy Diary Day 162 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

The farmer and his family bid us each a fond goodbye. They were much relieved having passed the night in our company, their former fears all melted away. They are wholly thankful to us for bringing them the news that it is safe to return to their farmstead. 

They wished us all speed in reaching the rest of their countrymen. And they confirmed Geog’s theory in that they knew the refugees planned to take this main road until the second valley where they intended to circumvent both the settlements of the trolls and the mountain beyond, all to get to the wild territories – virgin land to farming.  

The road ahead of us is getting longer and longer.

The Fairy Diary Day 152 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

I was still awaiting a reply from the High Fairy. Though I confess my thoughts had not centered on hearing back from his excellency. For some reason instead they had settled upon all those human refugees we witnessed traveling between the territories of the fairies and the pixies. Many of them must have been farmers who were forced off of the lands hereabouts. And the burning conclusion I came to is that we must find some way to bring them back. 

I was so caught up in my musings I did not notice that Rumble had left. That’s when I found a note from him – he had gone in search of the rumored local fairies. 

I went to the others, but none had encountered or had even seen him. Caywyn did say that there are stories of fairy folk living somewhere in the parklands adjoining the palace. So, Caywyn led Noralei and me over to the most lovely of parks. 

But Rumble was nowhere to be seen. 

Before we could think of another possibility, an alarm was raised summoning everyone to the walls of the main gate. 

The troll army was attacking.

Day Seven Hundred Seventy Nine #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Our hosts who accepted us into their village are refugees from the East and thus have an affinity to Mei. Indeed, we learned that most of the inhabitants on the rings of villages are new to the area, but unacceptable and kept out of the sprawling city. Only the hunters, having been here longer are allowed into the city. And that for trade only.

That intelligence set off warning bells in my head, and I made the case to Elijah that we waste no time in going to the city.

But Elijah was not persuaded. He confirmed that we would indeed enter the city. Just not yet.

Instead he wants to explore the reason behind these people’s reaction to him.

Day Five Hundred Eighty #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We took on some cargo unexpectedly.  Actually we had carried it here. The owner, one of the refugees from Stan’s tropical island requested passage and transport of his belongings.

The port authority granted him permission. And shortly after loading was completed we were cleared to leave.

The Captain didn’t waste any time taking us out.

We felt all eyes trained on us as we passed the warship. To our relief they remained in place.

Two other ships departed at the same time. But they soon split from us to take a northerly course.

We were all alone as we headed south.

Our passenger, Mr. Kagi, asked for an audience with the Captain. He proposes we make a run for it.

Day Five Hundred Seventy Five #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Upon entering the harbor yesterday the Captain sounded the ship’s whistle. And Tomas again led an expedition ashore to find a mooring and to help in the process.

The new day found us settled in. And there were signs of life returning to the city.

Just the curious at first, but soon after some dock workers who went to fetch their bosses.

The main port official made ready to receive our cargo. He also informed us that refugees from the original terminus of our voyage have immigrated here, and are elated at the prospect of claiming their property.

Late in the day, Hans returned to his ship. Scared off, it is said, by stories about Elijah told by the crew.