Believe

by Allyson Giles

  Deliah was about to clap in excitement when they were all stunned to silence. The green liquid and light from the vile that Willy absorbed had gathered and was now coming out the top of his head and forming a tiny raincloud. Only it wasn’t producing rain. It seemed to be sucking tears right out of Willy before it burst with water and then shot up into the sky. There Willy stood, bright–eyed and free. He now spoke smoothly and almost eloquently. Deliah couldn’t believe it. He was more vibrant than ever and was smiling from leaf to leaf.

  “I’m free!” he shouted. He hugged Deliah and the king, thanking them, although they had no idea what they’d done.

  “Try and talk now, Weepin’ Willow!” they exclaimed gleefully.

  Willy didn’t stammer or weep once, and he explained that the day Kristoff was captured by the Dark Ones he had been close by. He could see them trying to turn Kristoff, and he tried to protect Kristoff by yelling at him not to listen to them and to hear his truth. He was distracting Kristoff, and for a while it worked. Then they took Kristoff deeper into the forest where Willy couldn’t interfere. The Dark Ones came back later and cast a spell on Willy: the sob spell.

  “It was not long after that they finally managed to turn Kristoff, and it seemed all had been lost. I couldn’t tell anyone of the spell, or they said it would remain permanent, and I would never be free of it.”

  Kristoff flew forward, shook a leaf, and said, “Willy, I remember now! I remember you trying to get me to not listen to the Dark Ones in the forest, and I remember ignoring you and following them. I can’t tell you how much it means to me that you tried to save me. I’m sorry you have had to suffer. Thank you. I am indebted to you.”

  “Not at all,” Willy replied. “Your friendship is all I need.”

  Because fairies and peoples of Faye love parties, they decided to celebrate in Willy’s honor right then and there. Before parting, Finvarra asked Willy to keep an eye out for Faye and to alert him of any suspicious behavior or unwelcome visitors.

  “Most certainly,” Willy said with a smile.

  Chapter 18

  Believe indeed; believe I do,

  For when you believe, life unfolds to you.

  Half a day later, as they continued through the dark forest, Deliah saw a red glow coming from her bag. Until now, she had all but forgotten about the ruby Dedrik had given her. Upon seeing its ravishing red glow, Kristoff flew over and stood somewhat hypnotized. Ostephen flew over and hovered beside him, waving his hands and snapping his blue fingers in front of Kristoff’s face, finally breaking his hypnotic trance. Somewhat embarrassed, Kristoff nodded appreciatively and hovered back a few feet.

  The ruby projected a red light into the air, and as if watching a movie unfold before them, they saw the Dark Corner, the Dark King, the Kahorgis, and his other loyal followers. The Kahorgis had apparently grown in number. The picture the ruby reflected was one Deliah didn’t care for. They saw the Dark King sitting on his dingy throne. Slightly disarmed at the number of Dark Ones and Kahorgis, Finvarra released a sigh before the picture faded, and he turned to his friends. Ostephen, Deliah, and Kristoff were all holding hands, trying hard to be brave.

  “Deliah, walk with me,” Finvarra said. Ostephen and Kristoff followed, but Finvarra kindly asked them for privacy. “This needs to be between a—well, just us, you see.” They nodded understandingly and went to talk with Edwin and Trin.

  Deliah had a million things running through her mind: Are we in trouble? Does he think we’ll lose Faye and that we should give in and turn back? Have I messed up somewhere, somehow?

  Finvarra stopped, and they each took a seat across from each other on two large rocks.

  “I’m not sure how to tell you this, Deliah, but there is only one person who can help us right now.”

  “Wonderful!” she answered excited. “Who is he?”

  “It is the one who is of my blood, one who has the blood of Faye coursing through their very veins. It is the only one who has access to Hallimer’s Halls and all the soul prints of Faye.”

  “Like Faye royalty?”

  “Yes, exactly. This is the only being with blood born of the King of Faye, the only soul who has access to the divine records in Hallimer’s Halls, the only one who can access the records and call forth whatever souls are needed.”

  “So we’re not outnumbered!” Deliah grasped enthusiastically.

  “Right, this person is only entitled because it is written in the prophecy that the only child of Finvarra, King of Faye, shall have access. Only the one in the prophecy. Only she….”

  He stared at Deliah intently searching for some kind of recognition, but she appeared lost.

  “So there’s another? Another girl who is part of the prophecy? Another girl who is half-human, half-elemental?”

  “No, there is only one, dear child.”

  “But, it can’t be. It doesn’t make any sense. We’re not….I’m not….It can’t be.”

  “Deliah, you are of my blood. You have Faye coursing through your very veins.”

  Deliah held on to the side of her rock, feeling the need to be grounded.

  “My father is Sam,” she stated.

  “I won’t deny this. In every way he has been and will forever be your father. Yet you, Deliah, were born in Faye, to Faye, of Faye. Upon my being captured, you were brought to Sam shortly after your arrival by Mayweather and Cordelia. They left you with him to be raised in protection, to be shielded and kept secret from the Dark King.

  “Why are you doing this? Why are you saying this?” she asked as she kicked at her rock with both heels.

  “Because the time is now. You need to know the truth to fulfill your purpose.”

  Deliah thought back to times when she had questioned Papa about her mother or other family. He never answered her directly; he just said that he was always alone and that he never knew love until the glorious gift of baby Deliah landed in his life. Because she was so happy with him and felt so loved, she let it go. She felt she had all she needed. The two of them were always enough.

  “Deliah, you were born unto Faye in a sparkle of silver light, a shine so bright the stars called you their very own. You are Deliah, Fairy Princess of Faye, daughter of Finvarra and Maeve.”

  “Maeve? Fairy princess? Maeve is Queen of Faye?”

  Deliah’s head was spinning. The last time she had felt this confused, she had been lying in the grass before stumbling upon a lot of little people and somehow winding up here!

  “Yes, she is a queen by every right and my one true love. It has forever been in the prophecy that the girl who would fulfill it would be deemed our child and would indeed be born half–human blood, half–Faye blood. You see, unlike Maeve, I have incarnated in human form many lifetimes to understand the human realm and their reasons for not seeing us and trusting in Mother Nature. Because of these lifetimes, I am also like you: half–human, half–fairy.”

  Deliah momentarily lost all sense of time and space, even forgetting about the gravity of the situation. She let herself get lost in a daydream of being a fairy princess—something she had always dreamed of. In the daydream, she was in a beautiful gown and had wings! She was dancing with a very cute fairy prince… very cute….

  “Deliah! Deliah! Deliah!”

  She heard her name echoing throughout her dream and suddenly snapped back to reality.

  “Oh, why wasn’t I born one or the other? Why am I not fully fairy or fully human?”

  “That is a very good question, my child. It is because of your purpose. You are protected by the prophecy. This is why you are special, Deliah. The Dark King and his servants cannot steal your energy or your soul. You are protected and unique by being born of Faye yet holding the energy of two realms. This is how it must be to fulfill the prophecy. Humans like you who are so deeply connected to Faye and the fairy realm never lose their fairy characteristics or traits. It is innate; we know how to coexist in each realm. Soon all humans will discover that this coexistence is possible and nat
ural. I may suggest that your future holds a bridging of the two worlds. Perhaps if you continue to embrace your truth as well as you have, you may very well be the bridge. I can only dream that one day all humans will come to accept our existence and welcome our help, stop hurting Mother Earth, and learn to live in harmony with all of nature and its creations.”

  Deliah was staring past Finvarra in a haze of mixed emotions, all the while feeling overwhelmed.

  “So, my dear, Maeve will be joyously happy to see you. Immediately after your arrival, I was captured. I sent word with Sidney the squirrel, one of a few nearby who saw me as I was taken. I had Maeve flee Faye to honor the prophecy and to keep her safe as well. Thank God for that squirrel. I have sent word for Maeve’s return; she shall arrive back in Faye any day now. Twelve years has been a long time to wait.”

  Deliah smiled as she saw Finvarra soften at the very thought of her. He sighed and then cleared his throat and got back to business.

  “So, Hallimer’s Halls. It is a large building full of books, records, and scrolls of all kinds. You must find your way, unseen by any Dark Ones and find the book marked with the seal of Faye. It will have an F marked in purple wax. Upon finding this book, you will bring it back to me, and together we are to open it and access the fairies, humans, knights, gods and goddess—the past and present friends who will come forth and join us.”

  “Like in the rainbow?” she asked.

  “Yes, but that was only the start. We will intensify that very energy and even move the moon if that’s what it takes to defend Faye! Are you all right? Can you handle this?” he asked tentatively.

  Deliah looked at him solemnly before her eyes fell to the rock, and Finvarra prepared himself for her to say “No.” With her answer, Faye could forever vanish. He shuddered at the thought.

  Deliah stood in front of the rock, locked eyes with her fairy father, and said, “I’m a fairy princess!”

  Finvarra laughed and hugged her heartily. He cupped his hands over hers, and they said in unison, “To Hallimer’s Halls!”

  Chapter 19

  She runs like a child on the happiest of days,

  The breeze pushing her forward, happy to play.

  As Deliah and Finvarra returned, they saw Ostephen and Kristoff in the middle of a flying competition.

  “I win!” Ostephen shouted, shaking his blue butt to and fro in victory.

  “No, I win!” Kristoff shouted back, flapping his wings sternly.

  Edwin decided to settle it for them, saying “I do believe it was a tie.”

  Kristoff and Ostephen looked at Edwin, then at each other.

  “Fine,” they reluctantly agreed.

  Finvarra cleared his throat and then said, “I think you should all be aware that Deliah has been informed of the remainder of the prophecy and that our next destination will be Hallimer’s Halls.”

  They all gasped in excitement, and for a moment they regarded Deliah not as their old friend but as royalty. They felt it an honor just to be in her presence.

  “I’m goin’ with ya!” Ostephen said instantly, placing his hands on his tiny hips for emphasis.

  “And I’ll keep lookout!” added Kristoff, flying up and sitting on Edwin, lifting his little yellow hand to his forehead as a visor, peering to and fro, trying to show off his best “lookout” skills. In that moment, he spotted some pink and red glowing lights coming from below a nearby hill.

  “Let’s check it out!” he and Ostephen shouted.

  They were about to make their way down the hill when they heard a rustle in the bushes and stiffened in fright.

  Edwin bowed his head and said, “Do not be worried, my king. I believe this to be a most welcome visitor.” He moved to the side, revealing a tall, mahogany–haired fairy draped in a gold gown covered with sparkling pink crystals. She was wearing pointed gold slippers, each with a pink crystal on the toe. Her hair sparkled with tiny pink jewels that glowed alongside her green eyes.

  Deliah stared in fascination at the precious pink crystals in her hair and then noticed that they were set in a tiny gold crown.

  “The queen!” she muttered under her breath.

  At the very same moment, Finvarra shouted, “My love!”

  He rushed to her side and knelt, kissing her hand before standing and hugging her close. The queen’s eyes welled up with tears of joy; she was truly relieved to see Finvarra safe and sound.

  “My dear king, how I’ve missed you so!”

  As Finvarra kissed her, glorious pink butterfly–like wings that reached from head to toe unfolded from Maeve’s back. She was so stunning that Deliah was in utter awe. Finvarra clasped Maeve’s hand in his, and they walked toward Deliah.

  “My sweet princess,” Maeve said, looking at Deliah adoringly. “You make me so very proud.”

  She hugged Deliah, and to her surprise, she didn’t feel any hesitation, just complete warmth, love, and joy.

  “I’m glad you’re back,” Deliah said. “Finvarra told me….”

  “Yes, it was terribly difficult leaving then, but I had faith that I would see both you and my love again, and so it is.”

  She smiled while cupping Deliah’s face in her hands. A look of true splendor and pride beamed across Maeve’s face.

  “My love,” Finvarra said, “our next stop is Hallimer’s Halls to access the book of Faye.”

  “Yes, I know. Merlin alerted me to your whereabouts. He knew I was anxious to find you. However, before you leave me again,” she teased, “the flower fairies have put together a beautiful feast for us. Let us enjoy one another’s company for a time before you move on,” she said with a voice as soft as the sea.

  Finvarra squeezed her hand gently in agreement. The sun had set, and it was just turning dark when they all followed Maeve down a slight hill. At the bottom of the hill, they saw a glowing heart shape made of pink and red dragonfly lights. In the middle of the heart–shaped lights was a feast full of every treat you could ever ask for. There were cupcakes, tarts, chocolate–covered berries, pies, cakes, and every kind of delectable fruit. There were so many treats that you couldn’t even see the marvelous mahogany table underneath them. The matching stumps of wonderful wood served as chairs, thirty–three to be exact. There was not a space left open that wasn’t covered in sweets or topped with flowers. The flowers included pink and red roses, lilies, peonies, hydrangea, carnations, gerbera daisies, and bountiful baby’s breath.

  Deliah was so awestruck by the pure splendor of it all that she had almost missed taking in all the guests seated at the table. She felt herself fighting back emotion and tears as she waved hello to Mayweather, Rosella, Willy, Twiglet, Pan, Maury, Herbie and a few of the other gnomes who had rescued her, Laflin, Mrs. McCullum, Cordelia, the frog prince, several bush people, Sidney, Merlin, Green Man, Chief Nimble and more. They all stood as Merlin came forth and took one of Maeve’s hands and one of Finvarra’s in his.

  “The King and Queen of Faye are united together again. Nothing makes me happier, and nothing is more powerful than the wondrous gift of love,” Merlin declared.

  Finvarra gestured to a seat for Deliah beside him and Maeve. With Merlin, they all sat down, basking in the romantic scene the flower fairies had set for them. There were a few flower fairies still nearby, wanting to be assured that their friends had everything they needed, but they chose to stay back, not liking to be the center of attention. Their quiet manner and shy demeanor was alluring, and each flower fairy wore a hat of the flower they were most fond of. There was one with a rosebud on her head and another with a lily. They were so sweet. Ostephen and Kristoff wasted no time digging in, their cheeks bursting as they continuously stuffed their faces. Finvarra made sure Maeve had her favorites and noticed Merlin and Deliah already deep in conversation. Deliah had gathered more than a few cupcakes in front of her—Grandma had baked them all the time, and they were her favorite. She enjoyed watching Maeve and Finvarra; they seemed unbelievably happy together. The whole table shook as Laflin let loose one o
f his telltale laughs, and Twiglet jumped onto the table to prove to the frog prince that he was mistaken: twigs can dance! This sent the bush people and the gnomes into heaves of laughter, which Twiglet momentarily found upsetting before he himself burst out in glee as well. Pan joyfully provided some soft, subtle music throughout the night.

  Merlin informed Deliah that not only was he happy to reunite Meave and Finvarra, but he also needed to give Deliah another tool for battle.

  “I know at your last gathering they shared with you the power of controlling your thoughts and how to use your breath and concentration to your advantage. Now that you’ve had some practice with this, Deliah, you can access a deeper level of healing. I want to teach you the gift of regeneration.”

  He took her aside and described how still using the other techniques and lessons she’d learned, she could find within herself the ability to heal others. Deliah was a bit overwhelmed but listened closely, trusting Merlin’s wisdom and gentle manner of teaching.

  “Breathe and call forth that which you desire. Set firm your will, and you can change an outcome,” Merlin assured her. Merlin also explained to Deliah that while she had been given some tools along her journey, it was actually the underlying message that proved most meaningful.

  “Can you tell me what that is? What have you learned along your journey thus far?” he asked her.

  Her chest started pounding, and she was suddenly nervous. She didn’t want to embarrass herself in front of Merlin. Then she took a deep breath and thought back to everyone she’d encountered and all her experiences. She was twiddling her thumbs. Then in a sudden moment of clarity, she looked Merlin in the eye and said, “Love is the force.” He nodded with his sincere smile and tipped his pointy hat, once again disappearing in a puff of smoke.

  It was a truly remarkable evening, but everyone knew that tomorrow they would reach Hallimer’s Halls and be that much closer to the Dark Corner.

  Chapter 20