The Fairy Diary Day 337 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

At long last Dunfallon returned – with great news. He and the Laguayilian troops led by our friend Navril, ambushed the three dark elves carrying the dragon egg. It was a costly success, for that dark elf warrior maimed or killed nearly half their party. Dunfallon and his eagle prevented Navril from being decapitated by distracting that warrior as he swung his ax and in a mighty riposte Navril actually did the deed on him with one stroke of his sword. (There is some concern that a bit of his blood fell on the shell of the dragon egg and was absorbed). The egg is on the way to the care and keeping of the High Fairy. 

A band of Dromadil pixies had arrived late for the battle, but continued here with them, all as volunteers for the assault on the dark elf stronghold. Dunfallon wants his fellow pixies with him as they poke around looking for the hidden entrance into the dark elf stronghold. They descended to our junction single file and followed down the narrow passage to the next junction above the stronghold gate. 

Navril’s elves filed in after them but had to stoop while they remained in these smaller confines. 

Thus we thought it best that they set up their camp down in the Low-way. 

About that time we noticed that Willie was missing from his cage.

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The Fairy Diary Day 336 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

For quite some time no activity has been observed down on the Low-way. It tends to make one’s time there on watch boring. And consequently all that time to think. At least for me. 

So many things to worry about. Will Dunfallon and the elves of light retrieve the dragon egg? Will Nililitil’s forces break into the dark elves’ stronghold? Will we ever know what happened to Merlin?

And then there has been the strange behavior of the Will’o’the Wisp. He does not converse with us – but he has taken up mimicking us. Repeating the words of our conversations with one another. 

I hope Dunfallon returns soon. Perhaps he can break through to Willie. 

I believe Rumble and Noralei would welcome his intervention in that matter.

The Fairy Diary Day 335 #TFDbyRWOz2

The High Fairy sent a message asking for any news on Merlin. There was little I could tell him. I was in the midst of asking him if Nililitil could put more pressure on the stronghold when I changed that thought and asked for Laguayilian troops to be sent to help Dunfallon in heading off the trio of dark elves carrying the dragon egg. And then they could help open an attack on the stronghold from this side. 

I found it hard to wait for his answer and for the return of our pixie to report in. 

I was glad to see his happy face. Dunfallon said there should be plenty of time for him to visit Nililitil and get some of his troops in place to deal with our problem.

The Fairy Diary Day 333 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

We three fairies kept up our watch rotation of the traffic on the Low-way. Only one of us had anything to report. Noralei saw one dark elf come up from the stronghold, but shortly after returned post haste. 

It must have been at that time that Rumble decided to encourage the growth of the roots around the walls of this junction. 

There I was wondering how Merlin and Dunfallon were doing in their separate attempts to track down the dragon egg, when little sprouts started dropping from the plant roots, and commenced walking about the chamber. 

This alarmed both of us, but seemed to amuse Willie no end.

The Fairy Diary Day 329 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

We decided to retreat based on the fact that our current location is too close to the stronghold. I thought it wiser to give ourselves more opportunity to spot and to seize the dragon egg, and to do that, required that we descend to the Low-way and head back to the other passage that connects to the first junction we came to in the side passage. 

Before we followed Dunfallon down to the Low-way, Rumble finished his ministrations to the plant roots with good results. They appeared healthy and thriving. 

Keeping to the wall and the shadows, Dunfallon soon had us at the other passage to the first junction. Along the way we sighted only a few dark elves – traveling singly – some up the Low-way, others down. Obviously messengers, but none carrying a dragon egg. 

We took turns going up to the chamber of the junction. When it came Noralei’s turn, she was gone no more than fifty wingbeats before flying back down with the news that the red ashes in her compass were once again active. 

We think it might be tracking the dragon egg.

The Fairy Diary Day 328 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

So many things are happening that I am finding it difficult to keep it all in perspective. What things need our immediate attention – and what things are a distraction. 

We arrived at another junction. Dunfallon found one passage that led down to the Low-way – just before it reaches the gate into the dark elves’ stronghold. 

Willie has awakened again and he is throwing off more light than ever before. I do not know whether it is because he is rested or if we are now closer to the enemy than we have ever been. 

Noralei, out of curiosity, inspected another passage and returned, flying with all of her might. The passage led to one of the deepest mines she had ever seen – much deeper than the shaft back at the capital. But of the highest concern was the felt presence of that bane of fairies – iron ore. Going forward we will need to exercise extreme caution whichever path we choose. 

While Dunfallon and Noralei were gone, Rumble examined this junction chamber closely. It’s walls are an entwined network of tree and other plant roots – and they are dying. Without hesitation he set about tending to their needs. 

I am struggling for we may not have time for this. For I received a message from the High Fairy – although Gilgorgon and Merlin have pushed back the threat of the attacking dark elves, the enemy successfully carried away one of the dragon eggs. He wants us to be on the lookout for it. 

The Fairy Diary Day 326 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

The Will’o’the Wisp was still unresponsive, but there was no need for the others to unloose their cloaks to light their way by the shine from their armor as my pendant in this smaller passage gives light enough for all. 

The babble of the brook was good company as it kept up a merry tune as we traveled along. Though at times it increased to a roar when we came out at the foot of a waterfall. 

After a couple of such instances we began to fear that we may no longer be paralleling the Low-way, and might miss altogether the dark elf stronghold. 

A check with Rumble’s map was inconclusive. And Noralei’s compass has been no help for quite some time as it continues to point to the ancient dark elf capital so very far behind us. 

We halted when we arrived at a junction of five passageways. While Dunfallon hastens to check each one, the rest of us are resting.

The Fairy Diary Day 324 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

The Low-way is noticeably larger, both wider and higher now. Consequently we have avoided the middle course and hugged along the walls to the side. It would not do to be caught in the middle by any approaching dark elves. 

Dunfallon took Willie and kept to our front. He was looking for side passages with access to underground streams that our former guides told him about.

The pixie is eager to search them out. In particular there is one they say that should get us into the stronghold undetected. 

When the light from Willie’s cage dimmed quite noticeably Dunfallon returned to us. He was concerned that the Will’o’the Wisp had expired. But I could see his breath fanning his whiskers, so I knew he was just in a deep sleep. 

I gave the pixie permission to loosen his cloak and let him proceed with the light from his armor. And Noralei took over the care of Willie.

The Fairy Diary Day 321 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

We bid goodbye to our guides after we came up to  the branch off of the Low-way. Its massive doors lay open. So we knew that the dark elves forces were on their way to Gilgorgon’s mountain. 

We thanked Fliget and Gnoston for their services to us. And though they offered to continue with us – we thought it unwise. Besides to do so would have been against the express orders of Artoxon. 

Before departing Dunfallon and the dwarves made a quick check of the immediate area. They found a camp of dark elves in a way station further back on the Low-way. They observed relief guards come from there and exchange with their counterparts keeping post beyond the huge doors. 

Once Fliget and Gnoston were gone we gathered together and I whispered the question. Do we follow the dark elves into the new passage, or should we try to help Nililitil’s forces get beyond their stronghold?

The Fairy Diary Day 318 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

I received a note back from the High Fairy. He reported that the advance of Nililitil’s forces has stalled before the fortifications of the stronghold mentioned by our dwarfish guides. They are despairing of taking it any time soon. All attempts to circumvent the city have been blocked and they observe dark elf troops coming and going via the Low-way. 

There was some good news, his excellency added that Merlin says that Gilgorgon and his dwarves are fully prepared to repel any dark elves coming their way. (Merlin would prefer to move the dragon eggs, but Gilgorgon refuses. The wizard has a concern that possession of the eggs is having an undue influence on him).

Our guides tell us that we are two villages away from the passage spur that branches to the east and ultimately to the mountain of the Gilgorgon dwarves. They keep us going at a good pace but do dwell on entertaining histories at certain points we pass. Dunfallon uses the opportunity to school them in pixie traps and even leaves a few examples. 

Noralei confides to me that the further along we go on the Low-way the stranger she feels. I sense it too. I can only call it what she does. A rising bloodlust.