The Fairy Diary Day 638 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

I escorted the renegade queen up into the tower. Once there Merlin offered to look at her wings, and while she submitted I took over monitoring the seers stone for the wizard.

I could see that Captain Goff was maintaining his lead over the approaching line of ice crystals. I winced with the thought that if it were to catch up, the ship would be crushed under the pressure of the burgeoning ice. Then, I saw that Nora was lending a hand. He was circling the ship constantly, churning up the water and preventing it from going solid, and seemed to be enjoying himself immensely.

Then, that thick line of blue fairies halted its forward movement and came to rest on the ice floes. 

With the morning they were still motionless. They looked exhausted. And one lone Frost Fairy stepped out of the pack and with ceremony sheathed his sword.

I told Merlin that we needed to go out there to meet with them. He gave me permission and added that we should take the dragons. I had turned to leave, but he called me back. 

“I think you should go under your own guise,” and he removed all of our blue disguises.

We left Clemjil with Gibley (still recovering) as he guarded our prisoners. Dunfallon selected Cluyjil, who then led Noralei on Rayjil, and myself on Conjil out to the waiting blue masses. (It was good to be back in our own skins).

We passed over our ship, then outdistancing the static line of frozen water. Nora broke off and began to follow behind us.

One by one we landed on the ice floe in front of that lone figure. He asked us directly, “Where is our king?”

With those thousands of eyes on us, we were silent for about sixty wingbeats. Then, I answered him, “Your king is no more.”

They answered us with silence also, but then cheers erupted from the front and carried all the way back into the distance, culminating in a unified shout of exultation.

I proposed that this fairy, their new choice for leader accompany us back to the tower for a conference. And I had him mount up on Conjil behind me. The warmth from my pendants has me expecting a fortunate outcome to this new development.

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The Fairy Diary Day 636 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Merlin assigned Clemjil for my use in liaison with the others. I took him to Noralei to fit him up with a pair of ear shields – as the wizard said he would need them. I believe the little fellow remembered me and was excited to be out stretching his wings. He definitely knew Dunfallon who stopped by to scratch behind his ears – whisper to him – and gently placed the devices on him. 

First I flew him out to the furthest away of our forces – Captain Goff and his ship. There I informed them that Merlin has seen the two dragons with one figure on each and expects we would encounter them before the day closes. And in addition to that  – a swarm of blue fairies follow behind at a great distance. 

Rumble had some information for me. His prisoner, the Caretaker, had let slip that besides the queen on one dragon, the King of the Frost Fairies would be on the other – said to be a most formidable fairy. 

Next, I took this news up to Gibley circling above on Conjil, and to prepare them for our defense. I intended to return to the tower and make one more round of my charges, but Gibley cried out that he saw two spots in the distance. 

Conjil went transparent at the goblin’s urging and my mount followed his senior’s example. Thus, instead of spots, we were mere specks. We then flew higher. 

We watched as the approaching dragons and their riders honed in on the ship and dived on it. Before I knew it, we were streaking after them. 

Before the dragons could spew fire on our ship, two things happened. Gibley ducked under a vicious backslash executed by the blue fairy king and launched himself at his attacker and in one gulp devoured him and commandeered his dragon. And at the same instant the two unshielded dragons reacted to the sounding of the Crack of Doom. I had been waiting for this, knowing that Merlin was waiting in the tower – watching via the seers stone. 

The renegade queen tumbled off of Rayjil and did not fly off under her own power. I saw her hit the water and disappear under the surge that characterizes this sea. 

I looked for her myself – unsuccessfully- before turning the task over to Captain Goff and Rumble. 

I returned to the island and joined the celebration as Cluyjil was reunited with Merlin and Rayjil with Noralei. 

The Fairy Diary Day 635 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Another busy day as I acted as go between from Merlin to the others in our preparations. The wizard will remain in the tower to guard the bell and to monitor the enemy and to better see where he can aid us.

Dunfallon was told to split his forces. Some – mainly the halbards – to guard our prisoners.  (Thankfully the Frost Fairy troops were only a skeleton force). The remainder of his army, the swords and spears were posted around the tower. 

Hopefully we retain some measure of surprise. It is doubtful the renegade queen could know we have already arrived and have taken the island. Merlin took the precaution of “coloring” us all blue to promote that perception. I can still hear our pixie grumbling about that particular humiliation. 

Noralei in her concern for Nora tried to convince him to return to our world below, but he would not hear of leaving us in this time of peril. However, he did agree to remain out of sight as much as possible. And per Merlin’s instructions he was set to accompany Captain Goff as he and Rumble held off in the ship at some distance from the island to lend another layer to the deception. 

Gibley has the most important task. He will stay aloft with Conjil and most likely will have the first and most important contact with the other dragons. 

For now we wait. 

The Fairy Diary Day 634 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

It has been a day of action – unrelenting in our efforts to beat our way to the shores of the island. Even with the help of Gibley and Conjil towing, it was slow going. In the meantime Dunfallon drilled his army constantly. 

When at last we neared the shore, we were greeted by Nora who informed us that Noralei had landed to scout around. 

Merlin ordered Captain Goff to anchor the ship, and the rest of us helped Dunfallon land his troops. The wizard held the dragon and Gibley in reserve against the expected arrival of the other two dragons. 

Before we left the beach, Noralei returned with a captive – the Caretaker. She had surprised and subdued him not long after going ashore. She easily avoided the patrols of Frost Fairies ringing his chamber at the base of the tower in the mountain. (In many ways it reminded her of the repository back in the Faerie Kingdom). Noralei wrung from the Caretaker the intelligence that his queen was not there but with the dragons and the army of Frost Fairies in the field. Then handed him over to Nora who transported him over to the ship where the captain shackled him. 

The next task before us then, was to secure the bell. So, Dunfallon set his troops in motion and Rumble, Noralei, and l marched behind in the rear guard ready for anything. 

We came up against the first outpost but its blue defenders had disappeared. And as we swung our column towards the tower we caught sight of our adversaries in full flight. 

Our pixie had not yet pressed onward with his soldierless weapons and we three fairies took to the air and harassed the Frost Fairies from above. Then the resolve of our enemy broke and they sued for quarter and laid down their arms. 

(Later, we learned that many of them had witnessed the slaughter of their fellows back at the village of the Sprites – and did not want to experience a similar defeat). 

In exploring the tower we found the young dragon Clemjil under lock and key. Noralei with Dunfallon’s help was instrumental on reaching through his distrust and once under the attention of Conjil, he settled down. 

With the tower and the Crack of Doom in our hands, we set about preparations to meet the return of the former queen and the dragons. 

The Fairy Diary Day 344 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Sitting atop the tower did much to clear my head. From  that height I watched the former dark elves stream out of the city below – some exiting the quickest way by the canyonlands – others via the gate to the Low-way to travel to the other access points along that route. 

There I was basking in the contentment flowing from the happy conclusion to our recent efforts when a cold cloud of fear descended upon me. A tingling in my back between my wings soon had me shivering all over. 

I looked down and saw that the pedestal upon which the chalice had once stood was icing over. 

I leapt back when the shivering ceased and the hot passion of the bloodlust was enveloping me. 

I shrugged it off and dove off the tower and flew to my friends. And related this disturbing incident to them.

The Fairy Diary Day 343 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

I detected a hint of embarrassment in our friend before he began the account of his latest adventure. That became clearer with the first words out of his mouth. In his  hasty pursuit on the Low-way of those bearing the dragon egg, he ran afoul of one of our traps. It had to have been one of our fairy traps. For he fell into a deep state of forgetfulness. 

And he wandered aimlessly until he fell into the company of a couple of dwarves – our old friends Fliget and Gnoston. That is how Merlin fell into the hands of the ever suspicious Artoxon. 

Something about his surroundings brought him back to his senses. (I believe that the fact of all that gold in one spot would make a perfect nest for a dragon egg did the trick). 

Once he remembered who he was, he thanked them, bid them goodbye, then disappeared from their sight. (He was none too keen to trust those dwarves based on their past history). 

He was more than happy not to explain more when Noralei laid before him the mystery of the chalice and the red ash. 

As the wizard conferred with her and Rumble, I went atop the tower from which it had been removed, and looked around.

The Fairy Diary Day 137 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Today was a day of preparation. And for the first time the maps produced by Rumble were proving their essential worth. We all poured over them with Caywyn’s help to plan our route to the capital. 

The Captain marked up my copy with what he thought would keep us far away from the troll camps. He intends to accompany us most of the way, but has a couple of errands to complete at various points. Of course, I offered our services for these tasks or at least to wait upon his return. But he insisted that it would not be necessary – adding that the tasks would require someone more of his stature. 

This comment did not sit well with Dunfallon and I had to head him off before he expressed his obvious disapproval. 

Instead, the planning session being at an end, I offered our services to improve the defenses of the outpost. To this Dunfallon and the others fell to with relish. And between us we greatly improved the security of the outpost and especially of the tower. 

The Fairy Diary Day 136 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Caywyn took us up to the tower on the cliff and there we looked into the territory beyond. Several camps of trolls were spread out surrounding the capital city in the distance. One of which guarded the exit at the end of the canyon in back of the outpost. 

The Captain pointed out columns of smoke along the main road to the capital that mark the smoldering ruins of other outposts. 

A sobering realization settled in upon us. Dunfallon though was the first to recover and with enthusiasm asked when we were  departing for the capital. 

After we all burst out laughing, I looked to Caywyn and together we said, “The day after tomorrow!”

The Fairy Diary Day 133 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

We are at a standstill. Dunfallon brought back the news that the outpost at our front is occupied – by humans. They are armed and vigilant and sent a flight of arrows after the pixie. (Though I presume all they saw was the eagle).

Rumble says they are similarly alert on the approaches from the ground. 

Because of the way it is situated – nestled in the hollow of a canyon – he could not scout the other side. 

We could fly up and over the cliffs to either side, but Dunfallon believes there are lookouts stationed along both sides. (From where I stand I do see one tower built on the right hand side).

My companions think we should try anyway. 

But I question if this might be the time. Would it be best to go in and introduce ourselves? And ask to be taken to their leader, Nimrood?

Day Nine Hundred Fifty Nine #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Magwich took me up to the tower, so I could see over the wall. I wanted to be there when the tanker trucks came through the outer gates into the army compound.

We expected them first thing this morning, but were still waiting as the sun reached its zenith.

I would have gone down earlier but I was enjoying Magwich’s company. We had much to discuss. He was particularly interested in all my travels.

Reuben interrupted us with the news that the army had been called out. I went to the overlook and there down by the gate, Elijah and a couple of the guards swung the gate open, allowing the tanker trucks to enter.

By night we were underway.