The journey back to Castle Enfys was a much more light-hearted affair; the unicorns pranced joyously, their coats a splendid bouquet of colour lighting up the track ahead.
“I cannot wait to see Mum and Dad,” Beatrice announced as she rode happily upon Caeruleus, patting his neck affectionately. Octavia thought her cousin was practically glowing. Her long hair was now braided and intertwined with small blue flowers, and her dark dress had been changed for comfortable leggings and a tunic.
“Me too,” Martha agreed, “although… I am actually going to miss it here.” She looked around Rhosyn’s Woods, where various woodland creatures observed them as they passed. In doing so, she missed the startled looks her words caused in the other children.
With a laugh, Octavia urged Xanthe forward to join Otto, who greeted her with a smile; they rode together through Bloomsville Village to where Finnian waited nervously. His eyes lit up when he saw Soren.
“Ah, my son, you are returned safely!” he said, his voice full of relief, flapping up to pat Soren on his broad back.
“Well met, father,” Soren replied, vaulting from Ember smoothly, the sap bandages having worked their magic and healed his wounds. He helped round up all the unicorns to take them back to the paddock.
Xanthe looked deep into Octavia’s eyes.
“I will miss you,” Octavia told her as she ran her hand along her soft nose. Xanthe gave a whinny and shook her head. To her delight, Octavia saw a flower materialise from Xanthe’s horn and float into Octavia’s outstretched hand. The yellow flower tinkled as if it was made of crystal. “Thank you!” Octavia said with tears in her eyes.
She watched as Xanthe walked over to join the herd, a ball of sadness sitting in the pit of her stomach and the tears threatening to fall.
Mum came up behind her and gently hugged her. “Time to go home,” she murmured.
With one last look at the unicorns and a final wave to Soren, who had been talking closely with Evony, the Blooms headed up the winding path to the castle.
They entered the castle gates to great fanfare; the Fairy Court was all assembled to welcome them back. Octavia smiled happily at Briar, Sorrel, Alora, Haf and Hevva as they waved at her from amongst the crowd.
Queen Rhosyn held up her staff, and quiet reigned instantly. “I would like everyone to please join us in the grand hall for a celebration banquet,” she announced.
The assembled group cheered and headed for the grand hall, where flowers still adorned every available surface and hung suspended from the ceiling in long trains, remnants of the Late Summer Ball. Food and drink was served with the flick of a wand from the food fairies, Cegin proudly orchestrating it all.
“Please, a toast to our human friends, for friends they have become.” Queen Rhosyn looked down the table at the children, took a deep breath, exchanged a look with the king – who nodded encouragingly back – and continued, “During the conflict with my sister, things were different and restricted in Fairy Land. but I feel we are long overdue for a change. It is time I took the power back into my hands. Therefore, I hereby decree that the Blooms will always be welcome in Fairy Land, and would indeed encourage them to visit us here to strengthen our bond, for after all we could not exist without their belief in us.” The queen raised her elderflower wine and toasted them: “To the Blooms!” It was echoed throughout the court.
Octavia exchanged excited looks with her siblings and cousins. They could come back! Mum caught Octavia’s grin and groaned good-naturedly.
Octavia’s attention was brought back to Queen Rhosyn, who was speaking to her. “Are you ready to go home, Octavia Bloom?”
Octavia glanced around at her fairy friends and back at her family, violet-blue eyes shining brightly with the knowledge that she could always come back.
“Yes. It’s time.”
“It was a pleasure meeting you, young Key Keeper,” King Llyffant said in his deep voice, bowing low over Octavia’s hand. “I have you to thank for being reunited with my queen.”
Octavia smiled happily back and turned to Evony, who was hugging Felicity. “I will look after your bow and arrow until you return,” Evony said, and Felicity reluctantly relinquished her precious bow.
“Thank you for helping me prove myself to my mother,” Evony directed at Octavia with a wink. Octavia winked back and gave her a swift hug. Leaving Evony to say goodbye to the others, she looked sadly at Ferren.
“I will miss you the most,” she told her.
“It is not for long.” Ferren patted her face with her tiny paws. “You will be ten soon, and at your Key Keeper ceremony I will be able to come and live with you.” Octavia stroked her gently and joined Otto as he took his leave of the queen.
“Thank you for looking after my son,” Mum told Queen Rhosyn, who beamed at Otto’s joyful face.
“It has been our pleasure,” Queen Rhosyn replied as the king, Evony and Eira came to join her. Taking her staff, she activated the Portal.
Octavia swiftly passed Ferren to Evony, before gripping hands with Otto as the rest of her family followed suit. She stared at the Portal in awe as the rainbow crystals started to glow. As one, they all stepped into the shimmering opening; Queen Rhosyn met Octavia’s eyes. She smiled.
“Goodbye for now.”
Octavia nodded and closed her eyes. When she opened them again, they were all back in the attic at Castle Bloom.
Chapter Sixteen
The Key Keepers
“Bea? Matty?” a trembling voice asked. “Am I dreaming?”
Aunt Anastasia hesitantly walked forward into the patch of dappled sunlight, a thin blanket wrapped around her trembling shoulders.
“Mum!” Beatrice cried out, then, with a sob, ran forward and was caught in her mother’s safe embrace. Martha joined them, clinging tightly, tears running down her face. The three slid to the floor, crying and laughing at the same time.
“Genny,” a soft voice called from the doorway.
Mum turned to see Dad standing there, his face pale and his hair sticking up in tufts. With a cry, she ran forward and hugged him tightly. Over her shoulder, Dad’s eyes roved across his children’s faces, stopping on Otto’s, where they widened.
“Otto?” Dad said, his breath hitching. He slowly untangled himself from Mum and walked toward his son. Mum looked on with misty eyes as Pan settled on her shoulder.
Octavia grinned impishly as she watched her father solemnly offer his hand to Otto, who in turn threw himself into Dad’s arms.
“Dad,” he said happily as a cloud of fur barrelled through the doorway, narrowly missing knocking Mum off her feet. Otto found himself licked exuberantly as Bronwen pushed her way in between them, and just like that, Otto was finally home.
“I thought I would find you here!” An amused voice startled Octavia out of her daydream.
Sitting on the window seat in the attic, she had been staring at the skirting board where the Fairy Door always appeared. Bronwen had taken to following her about like a shadow, and was watching her warily out of one eye as she lay curled up in the patch of sunlight on the floor.
“You’re going to miss the ceremony – and we can’t have a Key Keeper ceremony without the Key Keeper,” Felicity said, coming over to stand next to her sister, patting the dog as she passed. Bronwen’s tail wagged lazily. “Come on,” she added, grasping Octavia’s hand and pulling her up.
Octavia gasped as the beam of light shot from their hands and revealed the Fairy Door again.
“Don’t even think about it!” Felicity warned as Octavia threw a mischievous look over her shoulder. Bronwen sat up with a bark of agreement.
“Look! There’s another note and a bottle of fairy dust!” Octavia exclaimed, clutching her sister in excitement. She bent to retrieve them, savouring the scent of mossy ground. The note was warm as if it had been sitting in the summer sun, whilst the bottle of dust tingled in her fingers.
“Come on, let’s go and show the others!” Octavia rushed from the attic. Felicity laughe
d and followed behind her, trying to keep up. Bronwen skidded on the flagstones in her own haste to catch up.
Octavia dashed into the ballroom, where preparations were under way for the Key Keeper ceremony.
“Ah, there she is.” Mum came over to hug her youngest daughter. “Are you ready?”
“Yes, I can’t wait – but, Mum, look at this!” She thrust the bottle and note into her mother’s already full hands. Laughing, Mum hastily put down the box of flower garlands and looked incredulously at the tiny bottle and note.
Everyone else crowded around curiously.
“Where did this come from?” Dad asked suspiciously, narrowing his eyes at Octavia.
She held up her hands. “The door appeared again when Fliss helped me up – they were outside it,” she explained earnestly.
“Well, open it, then,” Great-Aunt Clara said, looking at the tiny note as Grandmother eyed Octavia with an indulgent smile.
“‘Throw the dust into a sunbeam’,” Mum read aloud, looking quizzically at the others.
“Here, Mum.” Otto pulled her over to the large window that dominated the room. Sunlight streamed through it, a large beam spotlighting the floor.
Mum looked at Aunt Anastasia, who shrugged and nodded, so Mum un-stoppered the bottle, peeling away the gold wax seal. She hesitated, before throwing the dust into the sunbeam, where it glittered and flickered like an old TV set. Finally, the flickering stopped, and an image came into view; it was Queen Rhosyn, resplendent in a shimmering golden gown, her wings extended majestically. She looked around before her gaze landed on the assembled Blooms.
The Blooms curtsied and bowed hastily as the queen bestowed a glittering smile upon them. “Blessings to you all on this most special day. We in Fairy Land will be celebrating and toasting to the new Key Keepers.” She looked at Octavia, whose mouth opened in surprise.
“Key Keepers? As in more than one?” she blurted, perplexed.
Queen Rhosyn nodded and looked at Otto. “Young Bloom son, throughout the generations there has never been a boy child born with copper curls and violet-blue eyes, which therefore makes you special indeed. The king and I have agreed that you and Octavia will become joint Key Keepers.”
Octavia gasped and clutched Otto in excitement. Queen Rhosyn continued, smiling indulgently at the pair.
“The male of your line will now be included in keeping the secret of the Fairy Door safe.” She looked at Mum, who was clutching Dad’s hand tightly. “The men in your family have proven they are loyal friends of Fairy Land – and besides, it was an archaic rule,” Queen Rhosyn added, “one I can and shall change.”
“Does that mean I get a companion too?” Otto asked, his boyish voice ending on a squeak of excitement.
The queen nodded. “We have someone very special waiting to join you. Blessings on you all, and I hope to see you in Fairy Land soon,” she added, including Martha and Beatrice in her look.
The image faded away, leaving glitter sparkling in the air.
“Well,” Grandmother breathed out. “I need a cup of tea,” she announced, and left the room to find Mrs Fawcett.
“Me too,” Great-Aunt Clara said. “Come, Rowan.” The squirrel had been gazing at the spot where the queen had stood, but scampered over to leave the room with Great-Aunt Clara.
Otto and Octavia were dancing around the room; they circled over to Felicity, Martha and Beatrice and linked arms with them. Laughingly, they all joined in, joy shining from their happy faces as Mum, Dad, Aunt Anastasia and Uncle Piers looked on.
“Come on, let’s finish getting this ceremony set up,” Mum told them eventually, clapping her hands. The five children stopped dancing and picked up boxes of garlands and bows, helping to finish decorating the hall. Pan was being especially helpful by flying to the hard-to-reach corners and attaching the flowering garlands.
Finally satisfied, Mum addressed her twins. “All right, you two – time to get changed. Mrs Fawcett has laid out your clothes in your rooms. And you too, girls; your clothes are in Martha and Beatrice’s room, Felicity.”
Otto and Octavia left the ballroom and galloped up to their rooms, the others following more sedately. Octavia gasped in delight as she saw the beautiful yellow dress draped on her bed. She picked it up, admiring how it shimmered in the light. Creeping vines and yellow buds had been delicately embroidered along the hem, and tiny rainbow-coloured crystals were scattered across the bodice.
She put it on and admired herself in the mirror. As a final touch, she tucked the yellow crystal flower, presented to her by Xanthe nearly two months ago now, into her already braided crown of flaming hair.
Octavia could hear the voices of her sister and cousins as they made their way back down the corridor. Giving them a minute to reach the ballroom, she slowly walked out into the corridor, feeling subdued by the importance of what was about to be bestowed upon her. She was met by a solemn Otto, looking the part in a copper-coloured waistcoat embroidered with orange flowers and rainbow crystals winking along the hem.
The pair clutched hands and walked quietly down the stairs, Octavia’s yellow satin shoes making no noise on the faded carpet.
Rainbow candles in heavy silver candelabras lined the walkway into the ballroom, flickering as the pair passed them. Mum, beaming with pride and radiant in a flowing, multicoloured dress, met them at the door and led them into the room. Various Bloom relations had come to join in the celebrations. Cascades of flowers spilled from huge urns on either side of a raised platform.
Octavia and Otto took their places opposite their mother on the platform. Felicity, Beatrice, and Martha smiled widely at them, dressed in beautiful, shimmering dresses of their own.
Grandmother, as the current custodian of Castle Bloom, stood at the front of the platform in a splendid pewter dress, her charm bracelet jingling from her slim wrist, the setting sun a halo around her head.
“Thank you to you all for attending tonight. We are here to bestow upon Octavia and Otto the esteemed title of Key Keeper,” Grandmother began, her voice echoing off the stone walls. “In my objective of keeping our family safe, I hid the key for many years…” She paused. “…But now, the key couldn’t be in safer hands,” she finished, beaming at her youngest grandchildren.
“To Octavia and Otto, Key Keepers!” she announced as Mum held out the tiny glowing key.
Light rippled from Mum’s hand over to Octavia’s and Otto’s. The intermittent tingling Octavia had been experiencing buzzed up her arm like an electric shock as a feeling of warmth filled her whole body. Looking at Otto, she could see a dazed look on his face.
“Wow!” he said, and took a long breath.
Octavia took the key reverently and placed the vine necklace over Otto’s head. “You look after it for now,” she told him, to rapturous applause and cheers from the assembled Blooms. Bronwen, a satin bow tied around her shaggy neck, barked twice.
Pan and Rowan suddenly hurried from the ballroom, and Mum and Great-Aunt Clara turned to look at one another knowingly. Within minutes the creatures were back, but they were not alone.
“Ferren!” Octavia shouted, jumping off the platform, her shoes sliding on the smooth stone floor. She knelt and caught Ferren as she scampered into her hands and up to her shoulder, giggling as the mouse tickled her cheek with her tiny whiskers.
A handsome brown otter stood on the threshold of the ballroom, sniffing the air, his whiskers twitching. His eyes locked with Otto, who hesitantly walked toward him. He knelt next to the otter and smiled as he twitched his nose, looking at Otto with his clever eyes.
Otto nodded and announced to the crowd, “His name is Sage, and he is my new companion.”
Everyone clapped and crowded around to welcome Ferren and Sage to Castle Bloom.
“I’ll expect you two to look after our two adventurers!” Dad shouted to the creatures above the din, to which everyone laughed.
The celebrations lasted well into the night. Octavia’s mind was aswirl with new faces and names; s
he hadn’t known there were so many Blooms she had never met before.
After the last of the guests had retired to the guest tower for the night, Octavia took Ferren on a tour of the castle. Finally, they made their way to the drawing room, where her immediate family were assembled, drinking a last cup of tea before bed.
Octavia grinned as she caught Grandmother breaking off a piece of shortbread and absentmindedly feeding it to Rowan. He raised a bushy eyebrow at a chuckling Great-Aunt Clara. Patting her sister with renewed affection, Great-Aunt Clara heaved herself up to pour more tea.
Mum beckoned Octavia over as she hugged a sleepy Otto against her. Sage lay curled on his lap.
“I think it’s time we had a little talk about your habit of running headfirst into danger.”
Octavia looked up as Dad spoke quietly, but her father was not looking at her; he was looking at Mum with an amused twinkle in his eye.
Mum raised guilty violet-blue eyes to Octavia’s matching ones, and the pair burst out laughing.
The laughter was almost magical as it rippled around the room, echoing through the castle and up into the attic, where a tiny door was waiting to be revealed once more.
In the ruins of Castle Astra, something was stirring. Dusty black and silver feathers ruffled in the darkness, the raven they belonged to trying to get comfortable. Anger, a bright shining spear, was not enough to keep her warm, but the thirst for vengeance kept her alive.
Her time would come; oh yes, she would rise from the dust and take back what had been stolen from her.
She opened one silver eye and focused it far into the distance, where a shining white castle stood tall and proud, in its depths a hidden Portal to the world of humans.
Glossary of Names
* Octavia (Oc-tay-vee-ah) - Chosen because she was born in October
* Tavi (Tay-vee) : Nickname
* Felicity (Fuh-liss-i-tee) - Latin meaning Happiness
Octavia Bloom and the Missing Key (Through The Fairy Door Book 1) Page 14