The Fairy Diary Day 560 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

While Noralei and Rayjil stood guard over our end, Cluyjil and I went in search of Dunfallon and his dragon. We found them on a cliff shelf a short way from the rift. Or rather, that is where Conjil was waiting – his focus on the opening of the small tunnel.

I called in and our pixie soon emerged. He had gone in to investigate after hearing noises within and has concluded it was a false alarm. 

I was filling him in about my adventure at the tunnel on the other side when Merlin materialized between the two dragons. This startled them to rise on their haunches but their alarm subsided when they recognized the wizard who often offered them treats. And he did so, while telling us the news that the thread had stopped unspooling. He had come fully expecting to see Gibley standing with us. 

Before Dunfallon could run back into the tunnel to look for his friend, Merlin told him there was a better way. With a wave of his staff over Cluyjil and himself, the wizard and his dragon were transformed down to sizes matching the pixie’s. 

While Conjil and I took up guard at the entrance, the threesome entered to look for Gibley. 

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The Fairy Diary Day 558 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Tinadell drilled Gibley on everything he could think of – what to expect or what he might encounter inside the tunnel. (Worms were a distinct possibility). He ended his instructions by cautioning him to be extra careful as some things may have changed. 

The goblin grinned at his teacher and rubbing his chin said he should be able to eat his way through any rock problems. 

Piqued by the mention of worms, Dunfallon sent off his goblin friend with the loan of his sword. 

Our friend was gone from view when Noralei came back into Tinadell’s chamber from the outside. She was beside herself with excitement – for the wind had ceased blowing. Dunfallon ran out to check and returned with a confirmation of her news. The pixie predicted that we should be done with the repair in no time at all. 

But both Merlin and Tinadell stood there stunned. Finally the wizard warned us that we just may have less time than we thought. And Tinadell took up the explanation that we must make haste to repair the rift before the wind commences again- this time from our world to this. 

To which Merlin added that it held the potential to do great harm to our world – by sucking all its air into this one. 

The Fairy Diary Day 557 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Finding Tinadell’s former domicile proved quicker than anyone thought it would be. Then, of course, we did have him with us. He even surprised himself by the ease with which he located it. 

The chamber with his weaving machines was large enough to accommodate all of us. And there mounted in a prominent place on the back wall was a gigantic spool with the most beautiful thread I have ever beheld – a match in color to the other end of the strand. 

Tinadell explained that by design – when the strand snapped, one end rewound onto this spool. We realized that we would never have found it on our own. 

We were excited to move on to the next step, but the master weaver reined us in and pointed to the other side of the chamber where the opening to a small tunnel lay. He said we must first thread this strand through the tunnel down to the rift. 

Gibley strode over and stood inside the opening, and seeing that he fit easily, volunteered to run the strand through the tunnel down to where it can be reattached. 

When we all heartily endorsed our friend’s bravery, the goblin snatched up the one end and would have set off right away if not for the intervention of Merlin. 

The wizard said we must first order our steps properly with a full understanding of how to go about this task. So he commanded us to sit down under Tinadell’s tutelage before setting things in motion. 

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.

Day Six Hundred Ten #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We kept a revolving watch through the night. No sign of our neighbor. The Captain even checked inside his house twice via the tunnel.

Foul play is a possibility, but the likelihood of that seems low. It is more likely that he is just visiting a fellow exile whom he mentioned also lives in the country on the other side of the city.

Although that possibility portends well in light of what we want to ask him, Tomas volunteered to actually go there and scout it out for us.

We gave him our blessing and set him on his way with the farmers going to market.

The three of us remaining behind alternated between the house and the peaceful causeway.

Day Six Hundred Three #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We actually saw the squad of soldiers coming a minute before our neighbor’s signal. And like he thought they tackled his home first.

The Captain and Tomas had plenty of time to hide themselves in the tunnel.

When the soldiers finished banging around our neighbor’s home, they regrouped outside, conferred briefly, then entered our dwelling.

Elijah stood immovable in the middle of the great room. The soldiers ignored him, peppering me instead with their questions.

Because we are obviously foreigners, I believe they stayed longer than at our neighbor’s, scouring through our things.

At long last they departed, and when they did, they took the guards at the crossroads with them.

Our friends emerged, having spent the whole time praying.

Day Six Hundred Two #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

A different pair of guards were at the crossroads this morning. So we knew there had been a change during the night.

I was wondering what would come next and talking with the Captain and Tomas about their views when Elijah joined us.

He announced simply that the troops would soon be making an house to house search.

At that very moment our neighbor appeared out of thin air and said he had a way around that problem.

Recovering from our shock, he took us down to the cellar and over to his house via a subterranean passage.

He believes his will be searched first and can signal to us when our fugitives need to hold up in the tunnel.

Day Two Hundred Seventy #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

I was awake before anyone else today. A lot on my mind. I got up and paid another visit to the twentieth floor. Upon my return Elijah called a meeting and handed it over to me to run, while he went for a walk in the tunnel. He charged me to teach them about Stan.  None among this band have ever heard of him.

However, they tell me about someone who fits the physical description that I gave them. This young man had executed many of their number, but first had engendered hatred and fear towards them in the hearts of his followers by branding them as monsters, walking dead people.

When Elijah returned he prepared them for our departure.

Day Two Hundred Sixty Eight #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We all recovered from our mutual surprise rather quickly, due to the absence of the mark on any of our foreheads. This band of a dozen or so people has been hiding out and scavenging in the area since shortly after the recent troubles.

Elijah questioned them all in turn, and answered theirs. (He mentioned two names unfamiliar to me. I learned later that this was due to a promise Elijah had made to Sy, to seek after his parents. No one knew them).

They invited us into their abode, in another basement off of the tunnel. And refreshed us with food.

As Elijah settles in to instruct them in things of the Spirit, I will explore the building above.

Day Two Hundred Sixty Six #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Before we parted Sy warned us that it would only be a few hours before the city forces come checking for him and his men. Once they missed his daily report, the city would go on full alert, looking for them and us.

I took the lead, as Elijah has never been on this side of the river. I thought it best to keep to the riverside and follow it to the next bridge down river, the bridge which the subterranean passage gives onto. Besides there was little sight or sound of reconstruction that way.

And so it turned out.

The tunnel entranceway was a jumble with no sign of recent use. We easily climbed over the rubble and descended.