Shasta Summer

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Shasta Summer Page 4

by Teresa Geering


  Quietly pulling back the covers, Summer got out of bed. Merlin remained undisturbed, although his tail was twitching back and forth which usually meant he was dreaming or anticipating something. Apart from that, he was snoring. Summer didn’t realise that cats snored, and smiled to herself.

  Tiptoeing out of the room, she made for the kitchen. As she passed her aunt's bedroom, she glanced in and saw that the bed was empty. It couldn’t be that late, then, thought Summer to herself, otherwise her aunt would be in bed.

  As she walked into the kitchen, her aunt walked in from outside. “Hello, my lovely, couldn’t you sleep, then?”

  “No,” said Summer. “There seems to be something strange about tonight, but I don’t know what it is and I feel very hungry,” she said.

  “Well,” said her aunt, “it’s a full moon tonight which makes it very special. In the olden days, we used to howl at the moon which was part of a ritual, but I’m getting too old for all that. Also I feel a bit silly howling at a moon these days. Now, you said you felt hungry. Is there anything special that you fancy?”

  “Yes,” said Summer, “lets go and look in the fridge to see what there is to be had.”

  “Let’s not,” said May. “This is Shasta remember. Just tell me what you fancy to eat and we’ll see what we can conjure up.”

  “Well, to be honest, I fancy chicken, hot buttered bread and some sweet cakes to follow, all washed down with a glass of ginger beer,” said Summer.

  “Your word is my command, oh mistress” said May with a smile on her face.

  Summer laughed and sat down at the kitchen table.

  “Who is going to cook the chicken, Aunt?”

  “No one, this is Shasta remember.”

  “Oh let me do this.…..”

  Summer went to the range and looked at the oven door. She imagined a succulent juicy chicken in there. Within moments it appeared and smelt mouth-wateringly delicious. Picking up the oven gloves, she lifted the roasting tray out onto a trivet on the kitchen table. May watching her and laughed out loud. Summer joined in. The tinkling laughter of both women woke Merlin who stretched, yawned and jumped off the bed to see what all the fuss was about this late at night. He padded into the kitchen quietly and May, seeing him coming, explained what had happened.

  “Well, as this seems a midnight feast, can I join in, then?” The women looked at one another to confirm their agreement.

  “I don’t see why not,” they said in unison.

  “We still need the hot bread and cakes,” said Summer.

  “My turn, then,” said May. Staying at the table, she just glanced at the oven and there was suddenly a wonderful aroma of freshly baked bread and cakes.

  Summer went to the oven with the oven gloves and took out the hot bread and newly baked sweet cakes. May, meanwhile, had gone to the fridge and produced a jug of ginger beer, which was ice cold, and the butter dish, which she put on the table.

  “As this is a special occasion, Merlin, I will allow your dish to be on the table to enable you to eat with us, but don’t think you can make a habit of this,” said May.

  “Thank you, May, I feel very honoured,” he said, feeling that formality fitted the occasion.

  Summer, being ravenously hungry, began to tear at the chicken. May firstly cut up some of the meat for Merlin, as he was incapable of helping himself as such, before joining her.

  Having satisfied their hunger with all the food and drink, they sat back quietly for a while in an easy silence.

  Summer eventually broke it by asking May about the Book of Erasmus. “Can I ask it some questions?”

  “If you wish, my love,” May answered. “Let’s go to my room.”

  Summer was a bit hesitant as she followed May inside. Merlin had already made himself comfortable on the bed. May sat beside him, absentmindedly stroking him.

  “Well, my child, pick up the book and bring it over to me.”

  Summer stared at the book. She wanted to pick it up but, at the same time, was frightened of doing so, not knowing why. Erasmus was asleep, but also aware of Summer’s dilemma. He decided to wait a moment before speaking.

  Summer ran her finger over the cover of the book.

  “That tickles, Summer,” said Erasmus, trying to put her at her ease, while having the reverse effect.

  With a sharp intake of breath, she took her hand away, shaking slightly.

  “Don’t be worried,” said May, “that’s just old Erasmus and he won’t hurt you. He’s been the keeper of the book since time immemorial.”

  Summer picked up the book from the altar. With what seemed like practised ease, she held the book in her left hand, aware that Erasmus was watching her. But she felt no fear this time. She thought about the questions that she wanted to ask but there were so many and wasn't sure which one to ask first. Her aunt had spoken about Faery Cove - perhaps that should be her first question.

  She began to imagine faeries and what they would look like. Phrasing the question in her mind, she asked silently if there were faeries at the bottom of the garden. The book opened but she didn’t understand the rhyme, so May helped her to decipher it.

  The answer they came up with was, “Definitely.”

  The second question instantly sprung to mind. Getting used to asking the questions, she silently asked if she was Shasta. Amazingly she was sure she already knew the answer, but just needed confirmation. Her thoughts were confirmed in the answer.

  The final question concerned Merlin. She was curious to know if he would become human again. This time she was nervous about looking at the answer. Supposing the book said no. She knew that he would be extremely disappointed and so would she. Why would that be, she wondered? Unable to stand the suspense any more, she awaited the answer which revealed itself as Prepare for the unexpected.

  That can’t be right, thought Summer, and asked the question again, only to receive the same answer. So what would be the unexpected, she thought. Closing the book still in deep thought, she was about to replace it on the altar when Erasmus asked, “What’s the matter, my child. Your questions were answered, were they not?”

  “Yes, Erasmus.”

  “Then why are you so confused? The book never lies.”

  “Yes, of course, you’re right, Erasmus. Thank you,” said Summer thoughtfully.

  “Good night, Shasta.”

  “Good night, Erasmus.”

  May stopped stroking Merlin. Finally she knew that she could now refer to Summer as Shasta. Shasta (as she now truly believed she was) looked over to May and Merlin. As she walked towards her aunt, May stood up and opened her arms wide. Shasta ran towards her and was enfolded in May's love.

  “Oh, my beautiful Shasta, my mistress, welcome back to your home,” she said.

  Merlin, watching this, purred noisily, his tail beginning to twitch back and forth. “Oh, but it was once me encircling her in my arms,” he thought. “My darling Shasta, my heart longs for you so much I fear it will break. I will never ask anything again if I can but become human just one more time.”

  Chapter 9

  May suggested that they went out to the garden as it was a beautiful night and everyone was now wide awake. Walking with Merlin by her side, Shasta began to realise how fond she was becoming of him. Bending down, she stopped to stroke him. Arching his back in delight, Merlin gave into the tender moment and wished for many more. May suggested that they should sit on the swing seat and view the garden by moonlight. Resting beside her aunt, Shasta began to think about all that had happened this evening. Cooking the food by magic, talking to Erasmus and having her questions answered - albeit not getting quite the answers she wanted - and lastly accepting that she was indeed Shasta.

  While she sat pondering all these things, she was suddenly aware of a gentle rain falling about her. Although the flowers were drinking greedily, she and her aunt weren’t getting wet at all, yet the rain was completely refreshing. Even Merlin’s coat was still dry. In the light of the full moon, Summer could see
right around the garden and down to the gate at the bottom. Even the bushes, which normally hid plants from view, seemed to be transparent.

  Suddenly Shasta had an overwhelming desire to walk to the bottom of the garden.

  “I think I will go for a walk, Aunt May. I have a lot to think about.”

  “Yes, of course, my lovely. When I have things on my mind, I always go down to Faery Cove. It seems to help me clear my mind.”

  As Shasta started to walk down the path, Merlin made to accompany her.

  “Not this time, Merlin, this is one walk she must do alone. She is well protected and now is as good a time as any for her to meet Queen Abelia. We’ll wait here for her return.”

  “Very good, May,” he said but with some concern.

  Shasta started to walk down the path, quietly moving in and around the bushes. By now her aunt and Merlin were hidden from view. She didn’t feel afraid as the full moon lit the whole garden. Looking around, she was aware that her aunt’s garden was not overlooked at all, being completely surrounded by trees. Invisibly she walked among the flowers inhaling their heady perfume. Perhaps this had something to do with the gentle rain that was still falling.

  Suddenly she heard what sounded like the tinkling of bells. At first she thought it was her aunt laughing but she was quite alone. Venturing further, she noticed in the distance a little circle of lights near the ground. Shasta was sure she could hear the sound of laughter. Moving faster, she headed for the lights which seemed to part into the shape of a semi-circle as she got closer.

  What on earth can it be? she thought. Approaching with slight trepidation, Shasta stood just on the outside of the half-circle, watching.

  “We have come to guide you to our Queen,” a little voice said.

  Looking down Shasta saw a little baby robin perched on a branch of a blueberry bush, his bright orange chest proudly thrust out.

  “I’m sorry, what did you say?” Shasta asked, overcoming the surprise of talking to a bird.

  “I said we have come to guide you to our Queen. Please put out the index finger of your left hand.”

  Dutifully Shasta did as she was asked and the robin flew onto her finger. With her right hand she gently caressed the bird’s chest and wondered if it was the same robin she had seen previously at the birdbath. Reading her mind, the little robin told her that indeed he was the same and had been watching her for some time. It was his privilege, when the time was right, to guide her and the faeries to Queen Abelia.

  He then flew towards her shoulder and perched there. Looking down, Shasta noticed that she now stood in a ring of lights. Although she was surrounded by moonlight, all around her was a kind of mystical orange glow.

  Bending down with her hands on her knees, she looked towards the ground. From behind her a voice that she couldn’t place told her to drink from the wishing well which stood a little way off. The robin flew off and perched on the cup expectantly. Shasta walked towards the well and, as the robin flew back to her shoulder, she once more drank the shimmering liquid. All of a sudden she began to feel quite strange. Her head began to buzz and she felt she needed to close her eyes to effect some relief. As she slowly opened her eyes again, she was aware of being back in the circle of light, but this time she could see all the little people quite clearly. What was even more amazing was that the flowers and bushes now seemed to tower over her.

  My goodness, I’m reduced in height, she thought, as fear crept up her spine. So why hadn’t that happened before when she had drunk it?

  That wasn’t important, though. She was now in the middle of the circle again and, looking around, she began to relax a bit. She could see the faeries quite clearly and it looked like there was a whole kingdom of them. Shasta was speechless. So it was true there were faeries at the bottom of the garden and that she could see them. One faery that was still quite a bit smaller than Shasta approached her timidly. Like the others, she was wearing a beautiful gossamer dress that looked like it had been spun by spiders. It was as yellow as a pale sun. Her hair was blonde and curly, and woven in and out of the curls was jasmine blossom and ivy. In her hand she held a small stem of jasmine.

  “My name is Princess Jasmine,” she said importantly.

  “I’m very pleased to meet you,” said Shasta.

  Close behind Jasmine, waiting in line, was another. This one was wearing an identical dress to Jasmine but it was a bright orange. On top of her blonde hair was the bloom of a day lily. Much like Jasmine, this faery held a white flowering lily.

  “My name is Princess Day Lily,” she said equally importantly.

  “I’m very pleased to meet you also,” said Shasta.

  One by one they came to introduce themselves. Shasta noted that all the faeries were similarly dressed. Interwoven in their hair were various flowers depending on which flower they represented. She had never seen such a wondrous sight. Apart from the two princesses, each of the faeries carried paper lanterns lit by glow-worms. As each faery moved, a faint dust of all the colours of the rainbow seemed to fall about them.

  “Now all the introductions have been made, it’s my turn,” said a voice to the right of Shasta. Although she had been reduced in size, she still found she had to bend down to hear the faeries. She bent once again to listen to this new arrival.

  “Hello,” said Shasta, “and what is your name?”

  “My name is Evening Primrose, and I’m first in command after Queen Abelia.”

  She was dressed in a brighter yellow dress than Princess Jasmine and the bloom of an evening primrose perched jauntily on the side of her head. It seemed to be just balanced there. She was also carrying a stem of the evening primrose which seemed to glow so much brighter in the moonlight.

  As she swiftly turned round, a cloud of faery dust emitted from her dress. It was a bit like rainbow coloured pollen being scattered in the air.

  “Come,” she said, “we must not keep the Queen waiting.”

  Surrounding Shasta the faeries began singing and dancing as they glided along, their beautiful voices like wind chimes tinkling in the breeze, whilst the glow from the paper lanterns lit the way in the darkness.

  Finally they reached the gate at the bottom of the garden. It swung open as they neared it. Once they were all through, it silently closed again. Still perched on Shasta’s shoulder was the little robin singing sweetly in her ear.

  So many things had happened to Shasta recently, she was almost tempted to ask if one of them was the tooth faery, but thought better of it. This didn’t seem to be the time. Finally everyone stopped at the base of a tree. Growing around it was lavender and forget-me-nots along with blue and white bells. Hedra Ivy meandered in and out, where permitted. Looking closely on the ground, Shasta noticed many toadstools around the base of the tree. Other faeries seemed to occupy these. If she crouched down low enough, she could see inside. They seemed to be set out like normal houses with little tables, chairs and beds.

  “What else did you expect?” said a voice.

  Shasta felt as if her mind had been read.

  “I didn’t mean to be rude,” said Shasta standing up.

  “Stay where you are on the ground. Don’t you know you are in the presence of the Queen Abelia?” said Evening Primrose with as much importance as she could summon.

  Shasta knelt where she was. A few yards in front of her was the prettiest faery of all. She was quite a bit smaller than Shasta.

  Queen Abelia was wearing a silver dress which shimmered in the moonlight, Shasta’s first impression being that spiders had spun it onto her body as she stood.

  Unlike the other faeries, her dress reached to the ground. Her feet were encased in silver and gold slippers, and she held a wand which seemed to be similar in colour and style to silver Christmas tinsel. To complete her regalia, Abelia wore a crown of silver and gold, encrusted with tiny hanging crystals.

  Behind the Queen was a throne made from a lavender bush which she now sat on. The two princesses, Jasmine and Day Lily, sat on th
e ground on either side while Evening Primrose stood behind with a fern in her hand, gently waving it up and down in homage.

  There was a sudden hush as the Queen spoke.

  “Welcome to my kingdom, Shasta. I have waited many, many years for your return.”

  Shasta began to question herself. Not only was she in a faery kingdom, the Queen of all the faeries was talking to her as if she had always known her. What did she mean by many, many years, she wondered.

  “I realise that you must find this all very difficult to take in. It’s not every night that you get to visit a faery kingdom and meet a queen,” said Abelia, “but you can’t begin to imagine how happy I am to have you here at last.”

  “I just don’t understand, your majesty,” said Shasta

  “Oh, please call me Abelia. I don’t like too much ceremony here, although some of the faeries do take their duties rather seriously at times.”

  A delicate cough came from Evening Primrose standing behind them.

  “Let me try and explain, then, my dear,” said Abelia. “I know May told you the legend of Shasta when you visited the village recently.”

  “Yes,” said Shasta. “I’d forgotten you knew my aunt.”

  “Oh, my dear, May is a regular visitor here. She comes here to think, usually long after everyone else is in bed asleep.”

  “I had no idea,” said Shasta almost to herself.

  Carrying on as if there had been no interruption, Abelia said, “The Shasta in the village legend is you. Let me try and explain. In the past, when the village was originally named after you, May, as she was also known then, asked you to go and live with her and Merlin. Over time you fell in love with Merlin but for reasons I won’t go into now, neither of you had a chance to live your lives together. Fate has intervened on this rare occasion and allowed you a second chance in this life. May was also given the opportunity to relive another life as she is an integral part of the story. When Merlin appeared on her doorstep, he told her the sad story of how he had been turned into a cat. Taking pity, she took him in to live with her and he’s lived there to this day.”

 

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