The Fairy Diary Day 615 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Between Rumble and I, we have enliminated several passageways off of the huge reservoir as leads to the source of the blockage. Rumble has marked his map accordingly. How many more there are we still do not know. Gibley and Dunfallon joined the search today in the boat that Noralei and Rumble put together. They were able to mark off two more dead ends. 

Some strange things happened when the two were about to descend their next passageway. The ring that Willie gave to Dunfallon came to life. It threw off an illumination that filled the air all around, but the unsettling part was that it spoke to them as well, warning of imminent danger and telling them to turn around – which the goblin did despite Dunfallon’s protest.

Dunfallon thinks we should all band together and return there tomorrow. And even take his entire “army” with us. 

I’m not inclined to go that far – maybe the small unit that has been guarding Noralei on the landing would suffice. 

But I do think we shall all go down to search it out tomorrow.  Especially in light of a message I received from Merlin. He asks that we be ready soon to come to him. 

I wrote back to the wizard to say that we are close to resolving the problem for the Dromadilians. 

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The Fairy Diary Day 609 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Before we parted Willie gifted  Dunfallon with a striking ring. It glows with the same color as the Wisp. My pixie friend was quite taken with it, and kept looking at it as we flew along. 

When Gilgorgon’s mountain came in view, I had the urge to visit our dwarf friends – a notion that my pendants confirmed with the sensation of spreading warmth. So, I asked Gibley to take us over there. Dunfallon was all for the move, but Gibley wondered if we should at this time. When I told him that it may just prove to be crucial to our current quest, he urged Conjil on to that destination. 

We had some trouble at the main entrance with some guards who were unfamiliar with us, but once Herblas was sent for, he had us in and settled in short order. 

Gilgorgon received us gladly and called for a sumptuous meal. While it was prepared he invited us into his private chamber and listened intently to my account of our recent doings. When I revealed the problem faced by the Dromadil pixies, Gilgorgon became very animated and sent for his chief miner whom he introduced as Dibla. 

From Dibla we learned that Dromadil had been built over an abandoned work excavated by the dwarves long ago – back during the time of the building of the Low-way of the Dwarves. The more he talked the more connections I made between these underground areas and the activities of the Frost Fairies and their manipulation of water in that sphere. 

I asked Dibla if he were free to accompany us to Dromadil. He hesitated and put us off with the plea for time to consider – which we were more than willing to do. 

The Fairy Diary Day 608 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

There was no convincing Willie to change his mind despite any reason we could come up with. Even Gibley had a cogent argument that I imagined would have won any Wisp to its wisdom. But Willie wiggled his whiskers at him and said, “No.”

Just after his first refusal yesterday I jotted down a cry for help to Merlin. He finally got back today and agreed with my suggestion that we now ask the Sprites for their help. 

Then, he closed out with the news that two fairies had indeed set sail from Corbelin – and they had with them a rather large crate which he suspects to contain the Crack of Doom. And before I could formulate the idea – he added that no dragons were with them. 

So, I knew that the Caretaker was more than likely elsewhere with Cluyjil and Rayjil. But they can certainly be called at any time as long as the High Fairy and the Faerie Queen have the bell. And with a pang of realization so could Conjil. 

We bid farewell to Willie and set out to return to Dromadil. I shall try to convince their king to seek assistance from the Sprites. 

The Fairy Diary Day 607 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

We settled on all our arrangements last night. Since Dunfallon and I wanted to take Conjil to retrieve Willie it had to be with Gibley. Noralei and Rumble were to remain behind with the wagons. 

After we had presented our plan to the Dromadil king he heartily endorsed it. And was even more elated when he learned about Noralei’s skills. With the promise of a good reward, she accepted his offer to refit his dungeon cells while waiting. 

I do believe that Conjil was most happy to be on the wing again and unencumbered by the wagons. When Gilgorgon’s mountain came in view I noticed our pixie cast a longing glance in its direction, but to his credit it did not linger long. 

It’s strange to admit to a similar longing once we landed near Willie’s domain. Being so close to Nonin-gal-dith and not stopping in left me with pangs of longing. Something that I had not experienced in quite some time. I had more time to reflect on this while Gibley and I waited for Dunfallon to return with word that we were welcome within the Wisp’s sanctuary. 

As for Gibley he was struck by the beauty – and the melancholy of the place. And he was eager to see more once we were called in.  

Willie was glowing quite healthily and looked quite contented with himself upon first view. But then surprised us completely when he said, “I’m not going!”

This before we even asked him. 

The Fairy Diary Day 582 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

I emerged from my doldrums today. And so has everyone else. Having plans helps immensely. 

I saw Dunfallon off to the pixie territory where he will return Willie to his swamp. The Wisp has asked to keep his cage as it is a finely wrought apartment and he thanked Noralei for it personally before they left. 

Merlin and I went over to the High Fairy’s residence to check for any clues as to his whereabouts. The wizard has a key for his own use that allows him entry just about anywhere. Everything was as neat as a pin inside – except when we came to his library- there within was a messy mess – but knowing that Rumble had been granted access before the hearing, I was not sure that his excellency was responsible for the disarray. I took note of the open volumes. One, that was of concern, dealt with the care of dragons. But most of them were about ancient stories about fairies of the north countries – the Frost Fairies. 

Afterwards we went to Rumble and asked if he had pulled those tomes for his research. He said he most definitely had not. Merlin then asked him if he would mind checking them in order to find out why the High Fairy had pulled them. Rumble agreed. 

We then returned to Noralei’s where she greeted Merlin with the demand that he make good on his promise and go to the canyonlands to inquire after her request for a breeding pair of dragons. 

With a chuckle and nod of his head, the wizard was gone, leaving us to our parts in the developing plan. 

The Fairy Diary Day 580 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Merlin was also confident that the decision would fall in Noralei’s favor. But as the day dragged on with no summons from her majesty we were increasingly uneasy. 

To get away from our thoughts, Dunfallon and I went out to where Cluyjil and Willie were stabled. Willie and his cage were there, but not the dragon. The Wisp, grateful to see us, whined that he had been helpless to prevent Cluyjil from being led away. 

We took him with us back to the palace where we were met by a contingent of the Queen’s guard and ushered into the throne room. The others were within already, having received their summons.  

The Faerie Queen was not there. Her prime minister was. And he announced that she had departed on her scheduled trip, but had left it to him to announce her decision. She had accepted Noralei’s gracious offer to allow Rayjil to remain at the repository for now, and had added Cluyjil to her menagerie until such time as a breeding pair was provided in their place. 

As the others gasped, I looked to the wizard, but saw no anger there, just a placid acceptance on his features. 

Our dismissal followed and Merlin led us from the chamber to our suite where we packed our things and set out for Nonin-gal-dith. 

Throughout all this I was left to wonder where was the High Fairy. And why had he not answered any of my communications via the scroll. 

The Fairy Diary Day 578 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

It has been a long, long day. We arrived at the capital of our Faerie Kingdom very late in the evening. We flew more or less directly here. We skirted around a few problems, and did not stop at Gilgorgon’s mountain for the obvious reason. 

However, Dunfallon wanted to swing around to Aznastria to solicit an endorsement from King Nimrood, but I told the well meaning pixie ’no.’ With the hearing set for tomorrow I did not want to chance any untoward happenstances. (And anyway I was sure that any human endorsement would not be looked upon favorably by her majesty). 

The High Fairy met us and brought us to an inn outside the capital where he had arranged a place to stable Cluyjil. Merlin decided that it would be best to leave Willie (in his cage) tethered to the dragon, to the end that they could look after one another. Then it was that the wizard revealed the substance of his discussions with the Wisp – Willie wants to be released back into his swamp in the pixie territory. Merlin went on to say that we could discuss it further after Noralei’s hearing. 

His excellency led the wizard, Dunfallon, Navril and myself up into a suite in the palace set aside for us. There Noralei and Rumble were waiting up for us. 

After the briefest of reunions Noralei herded us together into the library to talk over tomorrow’s hearing. 

The Fairy Diary Day 577 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

When we left behind the trolls and the well that was once the tower of the Dark elves, Merlin turned his attention to Willie by joining him within his cage and stayed there throughout our transit to Laguayil. 

I admit as time went on I became uncomfortable at the long bouts of silence between the intermittent buzz of conversation. The wizard emerged as the city of the elves of light came in view. He stated that all was well within and expressed satisfaction at the change in the Wisp’s demeanor. 

The frost that covered the fields round about the area we were approaching, melted before our eyes as the sun appeared from behind the clouds that had hung over our entire morning. 

Dunfallon maneuvered us around to the main gate, and from there we were shown up to the palace to meet with Nililitil. Navril was there, of course, and he took Dunfallon aside for a quick chat. 

Once the formalities were observed, Merlin told the elven king all that had transpired since last they met. Nililitil was particularly interested in what he had to relate about the Sprites. Then, we got around to the point of our visit – seeking their aid for Noralei’s claim for Rayjil. 

Navril spoke up at that juncture and volunteered to appear at the hearing in her support. Nililitil agreed to his proposal and drew up a letter for him to give to the Faerie Queen. 

Before we departed Merlin asked me to drop a note to the High Fairy to inform him of our imminent arrival. Then, he told me he had decided to ride with Willie again in order to make room on Cluyjil for Navril too. 

Navril sang his farewell to his king and once underway took up that pixie ditty with his friend Dunfallon. 

The Fairy Diary Day 575 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Crisp and cold air – and a warm dragon – the only way to travel. 

We were traveling along above pillowy clouds, when Willie commenced counting backwards a series of five tens. As he began the count for the final ten, a break in the clouds opened below us. And upon sighting a tiny village in the crook of a brook, Dunfallon brought us down. 

Before we could even dismount wee folk brandishing spears and swords, spilled out of the village and surrounded us. A calamity was averted by the timely arrival of Merlin who emerged from one of the tiny houses, growing in stature as he came. 

At his friendly greeting towards us the wee folk backed down and dropped their warlike stance. Then the wizard introduced us to Emminie the chief of the Sprites. And the little fellow – one wary eye cocked towards our dragon, welcomed us to their village. 

As our joy over finding Merlin mingled with our urgency, we (diplomatically, I hope) declined the wee folks offer of hospitality and took Merlin aside to talk. 

Dunfallon briefed the wizard on his need to accompany us to appear before the Faerie Queen on Noralei’s behalf. 

Merlin agreed. But revealed that he must first fulfill a promise to Emminie and his people. He went on to tell us that he had gone with them willingly when approached for his help. They were at their wits end over two problems. The first was the unseasonal cold – which he explained to them would eventually pass, and the second was a strange rumbling in the ground beneath their village. For this Merlin asked if we could take a side trip to see the trolls about their mining activity and whether it may be affecting the Sprite’s village. 

I am afraid we rushed him out of there with the briefest of farewells to Emminie and the Sprites. 

The Fairy Diary Day 573 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Dunfallon took the lead when we arrived at the capital of the Dromadil pixies. It took all of his assurances for them to allow Cluyjil within the city gates. Even then we had to stable the dragon well away from the inner city wall. 

They were even reticent about Willie’s presence with us. But they permitted him entry on the condition that he not leave our side. (The sight of his bobbing cage turned every head as we passed by). 

Dunfallon’s friend, the Dromadil king was away at the time of our arrival, so we had to wait for his return this morning. And when he did – to await again his pleasure to receive us. 

When we did at last, we learned that he had been out in pursuit of some marauders from the North. Such groups have been preying upon the Dromadil pixies since the first descent of the unseasonable frost – the harbinger of the snow and ice. 

Dunfallon explained to him our mission and reason for coming and our fear that Merlin has fallen prey to these aforementioned marauders. 

The Dromadil king was saddened to hear about Merlin’s capture. And we were aghast at his further belief that the wizard must now be dead or irretrievably lost. 

Willie interrupted at that moment and said simply, “No. Merlin was willing.” And could add nothing further as he himself knew not why he had said it.