He led the way to the huge bubble, which was gently hovering above the mossy ground. Its surface had an almost mirror-like sheen. “Step inside,” he instructed.
Taking a deep breath, Octavia stepped up to the bubble. Her pale face gazed back at her, slightly distorted by the curved surface. She placed one slippered foot into the bubble. Reassured that it wasn’t about to pop, she pushed the rest of her body through. Surprised to find little cushioned seats inside, she helped Felicity, Martha and Beatrice climb aboard before sitting down. Ferren jumped though the bubble and came to sit on Octavia’s shoulder. Feargal boarded last, and the girls gasped as the bubble slowly rose and headed toward the castle.
Octavia watched in wonder as the moonlight lit up a cascading waterfall below; rainbows bounced from the surface where the tumbling waves met the river. The bubble skimmed by the castle walls and headed for a golden platform high up on the tallest tower, where it came to a gentle rest.
The girls stood up, and Feargal motioned them to disembark. They found themselves surrounded by a crowd of fairies, who were slightly bigger than the girls in size. The fairies stared at them inquisitively and the girls gazed back; in their dressing gowns and slippers, they were a stark contrast to the shimmering fairies. The fairytale folk that surrounded them were dressed in glittering gauzes and iridescent silks, with wings of varying size and shape, reminiscent of butterflies and dragonflies. Except for the wings, their pointed ears, and the unusual colours of their eyes and hair, Octavia could almost have believed they were human.
“Why are you so big?” Beatrice blurted out. “I imagined that you would be tiny to fit through the door.”
The crowd of fairies tittered and smiled indulgently at one another.
“It is not we who are big, it is you who are small,” a beautiful fairy with teal hair shot through with one copper streak remarked. She looked to be about twenty years old. “When you come through the Fairy Door, you shrink to fairy size. Fairy Land is its own miniature world, except with magic.” She smiled gently. “My name is Evony. I will escort you to Queen Rhosyn.” She turned to reveal a shimmering pair of rainbow wings, in between which nestled a quiver of arrows. Octavia thought her wings resembled the wings of a butterfly in shape and was utterly fascinated.
The girls followed Evony through an archway of marble and along a corridor to a grand glass staircase; she led them down it and into a glittering throne room. Three crystal thrones were placed at the far end of the room in front of a wall of shining windows. On one of the thrones sat an elegant fairy, a crystal crown threaded through with multicoloured flowers atop her tumbling copper curls. A snow-white hare sat at her feet, its lavender eyes watching the girls keenly. As the fairy rose, her dazzling gown billowed around her, changing from green to purple to blue with its opalescent sheen. Her enormous butterfly-shaped wings extended, revealing all the colours of the rainbow.
Ferren squeaked in awe from Octavia’s shoulder and whispered in her ear, “I have never been this close to the queen before.”
The queen turned her benevolent gaze upon the group and smiled softly before saying, “Welcome, all, to Castle Enfys. I see you have met my daughter, Princess Evony. I am Queen Rhosyn.” Her voice had a musical lilt to it which rose and fell like a song.
Evony smiled and went to stand by her mother. “These are the human girls Feargal found in your woods,” she told her.
“And what would four human girls be doing in my woods?” Queen Rhosyn’s purple eyes roved over Octavia’s copper hair with curiosity. “It has been an age since another human girl with copper hair thought it wise to come through our door. That did not end at all well,” she mused.
“Please, your majesty, I am Octavia Bloom, and this is my sister Felicity. We and our cousins Martha and Beatrice have come to help free my twin brother Otto.”
Martha tried to give a wobbly little curtsey, but her dressing gown spoiled the effect. Blushing, she straightened awkwardly, not meeting Octavia’s amused gaze.
Queen Rhosyn opened her mouth to speak when a crack rent the air. Evony immediately grabbed her bow and slid an arrow from her quiver, placing herself in front of her mother.
“Guards!” she screamed as a black cloud materialised in the centre of the room.
Ferren scampered from Octavia’s shoulder and down her arm in fright. Octavia scooped the mouse up and placed her safely in her pocket. A figure stepped from the cloud, holding aloft a black staff, a silver star shining at its top.
“Hello, sister dear,” a sinuous voice said lazily.
The cloud cleared to reveal a haughty-looking fairy in a dress of black net, cunningly worked to appear as if it had been sprinkled with a thousand glittering stars. A silver crown sat upon her black locks, a tangle of vines and stars, and a black raven was perched on her shoulder, beady-eyed and poised for attack.
Queen Rhosyn stepped from behind Evony, who didn’t lower her bow. “What brings me this pleasure, Nesrin?” she asked in a voice that said it was anything but a pleasure. “We have an agreement that you are not to enter this castle.”
Fairy and animal guards filed into the room to form a circle around Nesrin, who smiled tightly. “My bees told me there were human trespassers, so I came to investigate. That is the only reason I am here – in our parents’ castle – of course.” Her silver eyes fell upon the four girls, who had banded together in fear. She sniffed as if she had caught a scent, and her eyes lingered briefly on Beatrice, who shrank against Martha. Ferren squeaked nervously from Octavia’s pocket.
“No trespassers; they are here as my honoured guests,” Queen Rhosyn replied smoothly, walking to stand next to the girls.
“Guests?” Nesrin spat. “You know no human is to set foot in Fairy Land, as stated in the Guardian’s Code.”
“A code you insisted on, and which I agreed to if you would cease your endless, futile quest at trying to rule. But now, I think it is time we revised the code. Time has passed, and humans are evolving – they are so much more accepting now; they pose no danger to us or our realm,” Queen Rhosyn said calmly.
“You are a fool to believe that!” Nesrin whirled to face Octavia. “I remember your silly grandmother and her siblings. They paid dearly for breaking the Guardian’s Code, and I suggest you return to your world before I curse you too!”
“You have no power in this castle,” Queen Rhosyn, her voice like steel, reminded her sister. “Now go!”
“Maybe not, but they can’t stay in this castle forever!” Nesrin said, and gave a taunting laugh, her attention still focused on Octavia. “You’ll never break the curse, little girl; I know what you need, and it is well guarded!”
With that parting shot and an intricate movement of her staff, her black cloud reappeared. She stepped onto it and was gone.
Chapter Six
Castle Enfys
Queen Rhosyn turned to look at the girls. “Now Nesrin knows you are here, she will do all she can to thwart any efforts to rescue your brother. She won’t give up easily. She was so enraged when your grandmother interrupted her attempt at garnering more power from the Dragon Moon’s magic. Using the last vestiges of the moon’s power, she invoked an ancient curse. But I knew what would work as a cure. I had always made sure to study antidotes and cures, as my sister took a great interest in curses and dark magic when we were growing up.” The queen looked troubled. Her eyes, so similar to Octavia’s, narrowed. “If you are here, then that means you have the other flowers?” she asked.
As Ferren popped her head out of Octavia’s pocket to listen, Octavia nodded. “Yes; my father is hopefully getting the sixth flower as we speak. I had a dream about Otto – he was holding out a pearly purple flower, which my mother has told us is the seventh and final one needed in the cure,” she explained earnestly, twisting her primrose-yellow dressing-gown belt in her hands.
Queen Rhosyn smiled. “Of course – the Arianthe flower. Yes, it is the most important part of the cure. I wondered how long it would take before a Bloom r
ealised they would need to come back through the door to find it. The other flowers are of course found in the human world – my small attempt at giving you Blooms a head start in finding the cure.” She paused. “You dreamt of your brother, you say? But that is not possible, unless…”
She trailed off, raising an eyebrow at Evony, who asked, “Shall I bring Alora to you, Mother?”
Queen Rhosyn nodded and dismissed her guards. Watching as they filed from the room, she addressed the girls. “Where are my manners?” she exclaimed, and with a flick of her globe-topped staff, shot out a rainbow. It twisted and rippled like a ribbon out of the door. Within moments, a plump fairy rushed in with a curtsey. With a flick of her own amber-stone-topped wand, a table appeared, laden with fruit, bread and a yellow-coloured liquid in glass goblets.
“Please, sit and refresh yourselves,” Queen Rhosyn told the girls, who gratefully fell upon the food and drink with gusto. “Try the chamomile tea; it is most calming,” she added, taking a cup for herself.
Octavia placed Ferren on her shoulder, and the mouse squeaked as the queen turned her luminous gaze upon her.
“Ah, I see your companion found you. I knew she would be a good fit. Your tutor was most complimentary about you, Ferren Mouseling,” Queen Rhosyn said with a smile.
“Oh! The queen knows my name!” Ferren squeaked in happiness, clutching her tiny paws together, her black eyes rounded in amazement.
Everybody laughed. Octavia felt an immediate connection with this creature, and knew they were going to have lots of fun together.
“You wanted to see me, Your Majesty?” a tinkling voice asked. The girls turned to see a small fairy with pink hair and a silver dress approach the table. Her silver-veined wings fluttered anxiously.
“Yes, Alora,” the queen replied, setting down her acorn-shaped cup. “Tell me, have you visited Castle Bloom recently and given the youngest Bloom daughter here one of your special dreams?” A comforting warmth spread through Octavia’s back as Queen Rhosyn placed a slight hand upon her.
Alora’s eyes darted from the queen to Octavia apprehensively. “It was an accident, Your Majesty. I was taking a batch of dreams to the storage room when one dropped and rolled under a door. The guard outside the door was dozing, so I looked underneath the door to retrieve it. I could see a human boy asleep on the bed, shrouded in sleep mist. The dream bottle was open, so I quickly grabbed and recorked it.” She licked her lips nervously. “I didn’t tell anyone about the boy, I promise.”
Queen Rhosyn looked thoughtful. “Hmm, so did Otto dream of you whilst you dreamt of him, I wonder?” She looked at Octavia musingly. “What happened to the dream bottle you dropped?” she asked Alora.
“Something told me to take it with me when I went through the door to the human world. I hadn’t planned to give any dreams to the Bloom girls that night, but I felt compelled to give that particular dream to the girl with hair like yours,” Alora said, eyes darting back and forth between Octavia and the queen. “I hope that was all right!”
“Well, that settles the matter; it was meant to be. The quest for the flower is indeed yours,” Queen Rhosyn said, and with a nod, excused Alora. With curious eyes, Alora backed out of the room.
“Queen Rhosyn, may we see Otto?” Octavia enquired politely, after she had eaten her fill of honey-smothered bread.
“I am afraid that as part of the pact to keep him safe, he has been placed in an enchanted sleep until the cure can be created. I had to keep him hidden from Nesrin, so the fewer who knew where he was, the better,” Queen Rhosyn said. “You have a busy day ahead of you, so I suggest you retire for a few hours.” She stood and addressed her white hare. “Eira, please bring Briar and Sorrel to me.”
The hare bounded out of the room, and swiftly returned with whom Octavia guessed to be two forest fairies.
“Please take our guests to the Amethyst room and provide them with something more suitable to wear,” Queen Rhosyn requested of them.
Briar, with her brown dress and green wings, gave the illusion of falling leaves as she flew toward to girls. Sorrel, in a grass-green gown and mushroom-coloured wings, flitted over gracefully with a smile. Both had curling nut-brown hair.
Though disappointed that her attempt to see Otto had been thwarted, Octavia smiled politely at the two fairies. She and the other girls followed Martha’s example and tried curtsies of their own. The queen’s eyes twinkled as she inclined her head at their wobbly efforts before they left with Briar and Sorrel.
Castle Enfys was as exciting to Octavia as Castle Bloom was, although for completely different reasons. The fairy castle was filled with chattering fairies and creatures busily going about their business. Rainbow bubbles burst from circular windows as more fairies were transported in, carrying baskets of flowers and loops of vines.
“You have arrived at the right time; we are preparing for the Late Summer Night Ball – it is the most important event in our fairy calendar!” Briar told the girls, gesturing to the mounds of flowers and vines being woven into intricate banners by a team of fairies and hummingbirds.
“When does it take place?” Martha asked, watching with interest. Her fingers twitched, and Octavia thought she was probably itching to draw the scene.
“Two nights hence – there will be a grand ball, a feast, and a ceremony to bring blessings for the new season,” Sorrel explained.
The girls passed through the hall and up glass steps that chimed as they walked upon them. The fairies led them into a circular room, whose walls glittered with amethyst crystals and golden seams. The four girls were momentarily struck speechless; even Ferren’s eyes grew impossibly rounder as Octavia gently placed her down on a padded seat.
“Please make yourselves at home. Oh! Let me help you get changed…” Briar remembered. Taking a twig-like wand intricately carved with leaves and thorns, topped with a green crystal, Briar waved it delicately over the four girls. In an instant, the girls’ nightdresses and dressing gowns were transformed into the softest brown leggings and colourful tunics. Upon their feet, instead of fluffy slippers, were pointed leather shoes which tied like ballet slippers. Octavia wore a sunny yellow tunic, Felicity wore emerald green, Martha’s was in hues of pink, and Beatrice was in blues the colour of the sky. Their hair had been expertly braided and threaded through with matching flowers, tied with strong vine.
“Wow!” said Beatrice, doing a twirl, and even Martha looked impressed.
“Please rest,” said Sorrel. “We will come to collect you for breakfast.” She and Briar left the room, closing the door behind them.
Felicity, Martha and Beatrice walked over to the large, semi-circular canopied bed and lay down, the night’s adventures taking their toll. They were asleep as soon as their heads hit the cloud-like pillows.
Octavia was too excited to sleep; she walked across the purple-veined marble floor to stare out of the crystal window. Ferren scampered after her and jumped onto the window seat.
“Key Keeper, you really should try to rest – as the queen said, you have a busy day and a difficult journey ahead of you,” Ferren said earnestly.
“But there’s too much to think about!” said Octavia. “What did Nesrin mean by ‘it is well guarded’?” she asked.
“I do not know. The flowers in Fairy Land belong to everyone, but you speak of the rarest flower here – the Arianthe Flower. It blooms in the moonlight of the Late Summer Moon. I do not know where, but our flower fairies are sure to know,” Ferren said, stifling a yawn.
Octavia smiled with affection at the mouse. “You should go to sleep too.” She leaned her head against the window, mulling over Ferren’s words. She couldn’t wait for morning to come and for their quest to start; Otto’s future depended on it.
A warm shaft of sunlight slowly woke Octavia from a deep sleep. She opened her eyes to find that she was still nestled on the window seat with Ferren curled up next to her, sleeping. Standing, she stretched and noticed that her sister and cousins were still fast asleep. In
her soft leather shoes, she tiptoed over to the huge wooden door, pulled it open and peered out into the hallway. The hustle and bustle of the night’s activities had ceased, and a silence lay over the castle.
Octavia made her way back down the musical glass steps into the wide entrance hall. It looked beautiful, festooned with glowing, shimmering flowers the like of which Octavia had never seen. Butterflies and hummingbirds fluttered from flower to flower, sipping upon nectar.
Octavia carried on down the corridor. In her storybooks, fairies stayed up late busily working and liked to sleep in; she wondered if there might be some truth to it, as she didn’t come across any fairy or other creature. At the end of the corridor she came once again to the throne room, which was now empty. She had hoped to stumble across Otto’s room, but even though she had known it probably wouldn’t be that easy, she still wanted to see him – it was all so frustrating.
As she turned back, a shimmer out of the corner of her eye caught her attention. An old fairy was standing in the great hall’s entranceway; she beckoned Octavia over.
“You are Otto’s sister?” she asked, to which Octavia nodded. “Good – you got my note.”
Octavia was perplexed. “Note?” she queried.
The old fairy’s crinkled wings flapped feebly against her dress of sage green, and she pushed her braid of faded green hair over her shoulder. “Yes, yes, the scroll I sent through the door telling you time was running out,” she said impatiently.
“It was you? I wondered who sent it,” Octavia said, looking around furtively. They were alone. “Can you take me to Otto?”
“Yes, that’s why I’m here – I have looked after Otto since he arrived. I’m Hevva, a healing fairy.” She gave a crooked bow. “Follow me.”
Octavia’s heart started beating faster. This was it! Finally, she would get to meet her brother. She followed Hevva eagerly.
Hevva took her up a winding staircase and stopped halfway up at a closed door, in front of which was a dozing badger. His striped head was bowed over as he snored deeply; he was dressed in the rainbow tabard of Queen Rhosyn’s guard.
Octavia Bloom and the Missing Key (Through The Fairy Door Book 1) Page 5