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.

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The Fairy Diary Day 150 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

This morning was a serious contrast to last night as the king enumerated the dire circumstances confronting his kingdom. Chief of which was the crisis created by the surrounding farm lands being laid waste by the troll army. He has food enough for only one month. 

Nimrood is hoping that our presence will prove the decisive factor to turn the tide against the invaders. 

Months ago he had been told by Merlin himself about the arrival of our party. Then he fixed us with that one eye and asked what had happened to our pixie. 

He is convinced that our entire group must be intact for the prophesy to come to pass. 

Caywyn helped me explain the situation regarding Dunfallon and the troll brothers.

The Fairy Diary Day 148 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

The capital is now just moments away. But we are cut off by the encircling siege lines thrown up by the troll army. Caywyn thinks we can access the secret underground entrance if we can make our way over to it, and if no troll troops have set up near by. 

We assured the Captain that we can come up with a means to cloak our approach, even with our huge new friends. 

He weighed in with two new caveats – we might not be able to enter ourselves without first notifying those inside of our intentions so the guards therein can be ordered to stand down. And he is sure that Geog and Grimace are too big for the tunnel. 

I proposed a solution to the first and had Dunfallon summon his eagle. And with the password from Caywyn sent them off to see Nimrood. 

Now we just need a solution for the second.

The Fairy Diary Day 147 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

The closer we get to the capital the more troll army camps there are. So, having a couple of trolls with us may prove advantageous. If our group is spotted, they may be all that is visible and hence will be ignored. 

We’ve altered our route slightly based on some knowledge that the king’s soldiers had imparted to us a few days ago. It has proved sound advice so far. 

Dunfallon passed the day in the company of his newest companions, eager to hear their stories about his pixie brethren from a strange land. I kept pace with Rumble, who I think misses his friend greatly and may even be jealous of the new comers. 

Noralei holds herself aloof from the trolls and remains by Caywyn’s side as he navigates our party around the dangers. 

All in all I am confident that all is for the best. A notion to which my pendant agrees.

The Fairy Diary Day 146 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Our senses did not warn us of their presence. Strange. Since they are usually so noisy and their smell so over powering. 

There we were, satisfied in our renewed trust in one another when two trolls emerged from under a bridge we were about to cross. One on each side. 

The taller, and less ugly one demanded we pay a coin each before they would allow us to pass over. 

That was our first clue that they did not belong to the troll army. The second came when they backed off at Caywyn’s demand to know what they were doing on the King’s highway. 

Then they saw Dunfallon and begged the pixie’s help to get them back home. 

That is how we met Geog and his shorter brother Grimace. They are from a mountainous region far beyond the capital, among a tribe of trolls that treasures friendly relations with their pixie neighbors. 

We allowed them to join with us on a promise of their good behavior.

The Fairy Diary Day 145 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Early morning found our group hugging the low terrain to pass around another troll army camp. Dunfallon and I scouted in its direction to get a better look. There the stench gave off a stronger odor than that of a few days ago, reminiscent of those who came against the stronghold of the dwarves. 

After returning to the others we hastened to leave the area. 

Almost immediately we scattered to cover at the sound of an approaching force – troops from the capital as it turned out, whose leader was well known to Caywyn. 

They brushed aside Caywyn’s queries about the capital in their excitement at seeing three fairies and a pixie. They told us that Nimrood was waiting impatiently for us. 

Then they assured Caywyn that all was well at the capital when they left. But added that in a recent battle Nimrood had lost an eye. 

That news broke the ice that had soured the relationships in our little group. And together we saw the troops off to their rendezvous at Caywyn’s outpost. 

With brightened hearts and light steps we took up our march again to the capital.

The Fairy Diary Day 138 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Our departure did not go unchallenged. Caywyn thought that by restricting any activity on the side from which we exited, we would not draw attention to ourselves. Instead a live troll was waiting for us when we emerged. Only the fact that he was more surprised than we were, saved us. 

The troll was slow to attack and misstepped when he did, falling headlong backwards, splitting his head wide open. 

Caywyn checked the vicinity and finding no further opposition, quickly led us away from the outpost. He kept us out of sight for the rest of the day following a stream in a canyon that he says is far from the main road and the camps of the troll army.

The Fairy Diary Day 135 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Caywyn is a prince of a man. And not just in character. He is distantly related to the Nimrood family – and thus minor royalty and loyal to them. 

If I were to call on a human to represent my interests I could not do better than this Captain of the Guard from Azhnastria. 

And so say all of us. 

We passed the day under his tutelage. He explained the recent history of this human kingdom and how that colors the task before us of traveling to the capital. The troll army which devastated the area we have crossed so far has broken through into the plains beyond this outpost and is threatening Azhnastria. 

And there are whispers that they lie in wait for such as us.

The Fairy Diary Day 70 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

My memory returns again and again to the shadowy figure that stood behind me at the height of the battle. I only caught a glimpse of it as it was disappearing. Was it actually there? Friend or foe? Were we being observed? Evaluated? 

Dunfallon recalls his eagle swerving to avoid something when they were diving on the wolf. At the time he dismissed it as one of the dwarves. But now he knows it was much too large for one of them and he shares my concern over the mystery.

An even bigger mystery involves the location of the troll army we observed days ago. It seems they should have reached this outpost long ago. Gilgorgon assures us none have been sighted before the troll and the wolf attacked yesterday. He sent out some of his dwarves this morning with Rumble. And they report all is clear.

And we await word from the High Fairy – do we stay? Or do we move on?

The Fairy Diary Day 62 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Merlin feted us today with a gathering around his great hall table as a thanks for rescuing him. His entire household rose and applauded, roared, or chirped for us. 

He then went on to explain what he hopes the next few days will hold for us before sending us back out on our ‘great adventure.’

Afterwards the wizard invited me out onto the rampart for a private conversation. My companions were handed over to his major domo – a wise old owl who, they later told me, shared with them some vital instruction. 

From the view before me I was struck how much more threatening the darkness seemed today than yesterday. So, when he told me that we were being sent back to Nonin-gal-dith, I could hardly believe him. 

He then waved his hand in a circling motion and a vision appeared between us. 

It was a troll army – on the move. And I thought of that force that passed us in the wasteland.