Have you lost something?
Check your cloak.
Perhaps it’s a fairy playing a joke.
The two white doors seemed to reach to the sky and beyond. Alone, Deliah pushed one open and crept inside. The smell of books old and new filled the air. She marveled at how organized it was, yet how chaotic it appeared. Shelf after shelf was lined with books, scrolls, records, and sacred contracts. She felt like a tiny ant, knowing it would be hard to spot her among these gigantic halls. She began to creep cautiously up and down the various halls, looking for the row marked Faye as Finvarra had mentioned.
Aha! She found the correct aisle and ran her fingers over the smooth bindings of the books, breathing in their heady scent. The halls emanated wisdom and power; she was sure that every second spent in Hallimer’s Halls was a second of knowledge gained. She found a step stool and on her tiptoes frantically sought the purple book with the wax seal. She pulled a large purple book off the shelf and opened it to check. To her astonishment, she spied a tiny creature inside the book, peeking over the binding, causing her to scream in shock. After a few moments, her echo faded as she stared at the creature. His thumbs and fingers were large and gripped the book’s edge tightly. All Deliah could see were these huge brown eyes staring back at her from this tiny, round purple head.
All of a sudden, the creature spoke, “Allo!”
Terrified, Deliah dropped the book and ran to the other side of the aisle. She peered around the corner to see if the book and its inhabitant were still there. There was a sparkle of light as the book closed, but there was no trail of the wide–eyed creature. With her heart slowly finding its regular beat again, she regained her focus and studied the shelves.
“Purple book, where are you?” Deliah mumbled frustrated.
Suddenly, there was a sparkle of white light, and she saw the same creature peering over another book’s edge from inside it. She stiffened as it locked its attention on her. It then slowly raised one of his round, long fingertips and pointed to the shelf below her. Another sparkle of white and a wink, and it was gone.
Deliah bent down, counted three books over, and to her bewilderment noted a large purple wax seal with an F marked in it. She grabbed it quickly and hugged it tightly to her chest, aware of its precious cargo.
“Thank you,” she said humbly, looking around for the wide eyed creature.
Suddenly, the book fell open, and he popped up once again from inside it, gripping its edges tightly.
“Spirkle,” he said in a high–pitched voice. “Spirkle’s me name.”
He extended a hand, and Deliah reached out and shook his long, slender finger.
“Ask ’em,” Spirkle said. “Ask ’em all for help. They all knew you’d be comin’. At least we all hoped! Go on and ask ’em!”
Before Deliah had a chance to open her mouth and say thank you, he vanished once again. She sat cross–legged on the floor and gently ran her hand over the book’s smooth cover, sliding a finger down the gold lining, appreciating its beauty. A book fell off a shelf in front of her and opened. Spirkle peered out.
“You gotta ask first! Ask and then you’ll see. Just ask and then you’ll see….”
Deliah was starting to wish Spirkle might stick around a bit longer, so she could ask him some questions, but he seemed to be adept at disappearing. She held the edges of the book of Faye—the seal still intact—and closed her eyes.
“Please help me. Please help us. Please help Faye.”
She opened her eyes and was stunned to silence as she saw the halls packed from ceiling to floor with souls, thousands of them all hovering in the air. They were of all ages and sizes: some children, an older gentleman smoking a pipe, several knights in armor, gods, goddesses, wizards, scientists, all creatures and animals past, and so many more. She was quite taken aback but not at all scared.
She hugged the book to her chest and slowly stood. No one was talking, and she thought, So this is what an uncomfortable silence must feel like!
They all laughed appreciatively, and she realized she may have said that aloud, or they were telepathic as Merlin had mentioned.
“Um, thank you,” she said shyly.
A knight stepped forward and bowed before her.
“No, thank you,” he said. “Let the king know we are all ready and awaiting his call.”
Deliah smiled, and all the souls nodded in recognition. Her heart warmed, and for the first time since she had used the ruby and caught a glimpse into the Dark Corner and its army, she felt as though they might actually stand a chance.
Deliah knew she’d be allowed entrance to Hallimer’s Halls, but she never gave thought to the trouble she’d have getting out. She looked out the windows and saw Dark Ones and Kahorgis around every corner wall. She knew her friends were out there, but she had no idea how she was to go about getting to them. What if the Dark Ones had snuck up and captured them? She knelt in a corner well hidden from the windows and prayed for help.
She was obviously in the right place because instantly a group of twenty or more souls appeared floating before her and said, “Your friends have created a diversion on the east side. You are to exit there, and all will be well.”
She bowed her head in thanks. They guided her to the proper door and wished her well.
“When the book is opened, you will see us all again,” they
said.
Just then Deliah swore she heard her name. Maybe it was just a bee buzzing by? Or maybe it was…Ostephen! He had managed to sneak in through a crack, and he whispered the plan of escape to Deliah. The souls, still nearby, listened and offered their help.
They all took a deep breath, and Ostephen quickly darted out the door, buzzing left then right, up then down, confusing several Dark Ones. Annoyed, they let him go and focused on the door, waiting for Deliah and the book. The souls enveloped Deliah in the center and momentarily blinded the Dark Ones with their white light and power. The Dark Ones screeched in pain and frustration, giving Deliah enough time to run safely back to the trail to meet her friends. The souls knew that the Dark Ones could never gain access to the halls because the energy of Hallimer’s Halls simply wouldn’t allow it.
Now in the safety of her friends, Deliah thought that Hallimer’s Halls seemed almost too easy. She found it comforting to know that they would have the support of all those souls from all the records and scrolls, but she started to wonder if it wasn’t all just an illusion. She realized there was no end to the magic and surprises that existed in Faye. Many times she was frightened, yet somewhere deep within her there was an innate sense of comfort, of safety, of déjà vu. It was like she knew she was in the right place at the right time. After all, she seemed to keep getting clue after clue, meeting each and every person she needed along the way. It just seemed so fateful.
• • •
Deliah ran to Finvarra, still tightly gripping the book of Faye. She paused, so filled with excitement that she was at a loss for words. She held out the book, and Finvarra hugged her, smiling proudly.
“Well done, my dear, well done! Now that we have the book, we have the souls and therefore all we need. We shall prepare for the Dark King. Follow my lead.”
He led Deliah and all her friends to the enchanted castle of Faye where he and Maeve resided. It was an unbelievably beautiful elm tree that contained furniture carved of wood. Pictures taken in fairy dust decorated the walls, and it was filled with all the warmth and love of Faye.
As they sat by the fire still holding the closed book of Faye, Deliah truly felt as though they were a happy family. Maeve and Finvarra were chatting happily. Ostephen and Kristoff, whom she’d come to see as her brothers, sat close playfully teasing one another and her. Her heart swelled with a fullness she hadn’t felt before.
As she let her big eyes wander through the enchanted castle, she thought, If anything could conquer evil, it would be this feeling, this magic.
“Bam!”
Deliah sneezed and coughed from the sudden
impact of a cloud of fairy dust over her head. She looked over and saw Ostephen’s sorry glance.
“That was intended for Kristoff,” Ostephen explained, pointing to his yellow brother who was mocking his terrible aim. Deliah sneezed again, and a cloud of glitter exploded from her nose and around her face. There was a moment of silence before they all broke out in hysterical laughter, rolling on the ground with glee.
After they were all seated again, Deliah remembered she had a question to ask Maeve—one that had been on her mind ever since her fairy princess awakening.
“In Pan’s omen about the prophecy, he mentioned the girl having wings. Is there any chance I could ever have wings?”
Maeve looked at her with gentle eyes, and Deliah began to blush, embarrassed. Maeve leaned forward and whispered, “You already do.”
“Your wings unfold when they are ready. They’re like fruit,” Ostephen said enthusiastically. “They need to ripen before they unfold.”
Maeve nodded and said, “Soon enough, sweetie. When they do unfold, it’s important that you control them. They can be seen or unseen as will be necessary in your realm.”
Deliah was quiet, and they all assumed she was absorbing the news, but she was silently willing her wings to grow a wee bit quicker.
They all enjoyed some tea and then settled in for the evening. Finvarra found a quiet spot with Deliah, and together they opened the book to call on the souls. They pulled back the purple cover, and a golden glow shot out of the book, filling the night sky like a huge hologram. Deliah recognized some of the souls from the hall. Finvarra seemed slightly relieved at the number of souls and help.
A knight stepped forward and spoke, “I see it is time, my king. We will follow you into battle wherever you lead us. We are loyal to Faye—past, present, and future. You have our full allegiance.”
“I could not ask for anything more. Your loyalty is deeply appreciated, and your honor is beyond admirable. I thank you,” Finvarra responded before filling them in on where the battle would commence. “After we reach the Dark Corner, there is no turning back. They are waiting for us there. Come dawn,” Finvarra warned, “the battle will begin.”
The souls all knelt before Finvarra and assured him that they would be ready. He could close the book now. They needn’t be called upon again; they were his.
Chapter 21
An open heart shall be the key
To seeing that which you wish to see.
Upon awakening the next morning, the air felt different in the castle—and everywhere else for that matter. Every woodland creature and resident of Faye had received word that today they would rise against the Dark King and his castle. It wasn’t worry or fear, but there was an intense suspense that gripped the entire realm. The reality of the day had at last hit home.
As they all left the enchanted castle, they joined hands and walked through the rest of Faye to the Dark Corner. One by one, Faye’s friends and inhabitants joined the group. Tree after tree uprooted itself, birds flew in flocks larger than anyone had ever seen, and every critter far and wide scurried to join the rallied force.
As they came to the edge of Faye, it was as if they were sitting on the brink of two worlds. Behind them, the sun shone as the clouds sparkled in the clear blue sky. In front of them was nothing but black sky and crashing lightning. From the dark mist surrounding the dark land, a blood red hue seeped through the air as the army of Dark Ones and Kahorgis emerged. The Dark King stepped forward and unfolded his long, black, wicked wings as he signaled for his minions to stop. The sky sparkled as all the fairies and creatures of Faye moved closer until King Finvarra, standing tall in front, signaled them to stop. Finvarra displayed his distinguished, dragonfly–like wings before wrapping them around his chest.
The Dark Lord bellowed at Finvarra and demanded, “Give me the girl!”
Finvarra’s wings flared out again as he soared into the air, shouting back “The light prevails today!”
He flew back to his troops of elementals. The Dark King stood, staring at Finvarra and the elementals, watching their auras expand, radiant and luminous.
He shouted, “Fools! All of you!” and dashed back to his minions.
The Kahorgis ran and charged toward the elementals as the Dark Ones took to the sky to attack from above. The sky was now a muddled, murky gray; it was a mixture of pulsating auras of color from Faye and blood red black from the Dark Corner.
Finvarra pulled out the golden sword of Faye and raised it to the sky as the fairies of Faye fluttered into the air to head off the Dark Ones. The Kahorgis leapt into the elementals, clawing and shredding the auras and beams of light they were casting.
“The light will prevail!” Finvarra shouted as he began to charge his enemy.
One of the male dragons glided over, looked at Deliah and then at Ostephen, and said, “Protect her with your life.”
He then jetted into the air, his eyes gleaming red. Red heat and flame could be seen in his mouth as he dove down toward the battle and flew across the middle of the Dark King’s army, incinerating them in fire, Kahorgis and Dark Ones falling to ash. The Dark King rose and shot bolts of lightning and bursts of flame toward him, hitting his left wing and causing him to fall to the ground badly hurt, unable to move. Dedrik saw the Dark King standing over one of her dragons; she breathed fire as she batted her golden lashes, and she glided toward the Dark King who immediately shot into the air. Continuing to swoop by the injured dragon in pursuit of the Dark King, Dedrik hurled a stream of fire, burning and singeing the Dark King’s wings. Several Dark Ones attacked, and Kahorgis leapt from the ground in defense of their king, but Dedrik landed and tossed them aside with her talons.
Kristoff charged forward on top of Edwin, whose silky white mane blew in the breeze. There was a horrible burning smell and ashes now covered the formerly green ground. Ostephen and Kristoff turned around to see who could possibly be laughing during this ordeal and found Laflin standing over a Dark One, his gold coins rattling away in his pocket.
His wife was nearby and yelled out, “Finally met a match yer own size. Yer a big man now aye, honey?”
Fireballs were thrown left and right, met by splashes of color, sparkle, and blinding white light. The dark gray wind howled deep into the dark, swirling and encompassing all it touched in a cloud of fear and doom. Merlin raised his hand and held his staff out horizontally before him. The wind faded to a mere whistle and was gone. A melody of soft serene notes took its place.
Finvarra knew that to ultimately defeat the Dark King and rid the earth of the Dark Corner, his sword, the golden sword of Faye, had to be thrust into the Dark King’s throne by both the King of Faye and the child of the prophecy. Seeing that Dedrik had the Dark King cornered, Finvarra and Deliah snuck away and momentarily left the battle to the rest of their friends as they descended upon the Dark Castle. The souls of Hallimer’s Halls had gathered around Deliah and Finvarra, creating a shield of protection. With their help, Deliah and Finvarra managed to sneak inside, escaping all the remaining Dark Ones and Kahorgis on the battlefield.
Inside, the souls all stood guard around Deliah and Finvarra. They slowly approached the ragged, dirty monstrosity of a throne and walked up the two disheveled steps to it. Finvarra nodded ever so slightly, gripped the handle of the golden sword between both fists, and drove it into the seat of the dark and dreary throne. Being close to the throne weakened any who were in its presence while it strengthened the Dark King. They could actually feel all the anger, hatred, and fear that had been created and directed upon the lands from this very seat. As Deliah and Finvarra grew even weaker, their eyes slowly started to close, so Finvarra placed his left hand on the sword and looked to Deliah to complete the task.
This was it! This was what they’d been waiting for! Deliah reached out her hand to take hold of the sword and screamed as a large burn formed on the top of her hand. A large, red–hot ember ate away at her flesh. She drew back and writhed in agony. Finvarra ducked as a swarm of Dark O
nes buzzed around them, a cascade of large embers falling everywhere. He ran to cover Deliah as the souls surrounded the throne and protected the sword.
Deliah held her hand, wincing at the sting of the raw, burnt flesh; it seemed so deep that she wondered if she could finish this. The Dark Ones buzzed louder, forming an X across the throne, taunting and teasing their enemies. Finvarra instructed Deliah to sit against the wall and not move as he strode fearlessly toward the Dark Ones.
Under his breath he said, “The time has come for Faye to heal, and with this, I invoke the shield. The sun, the moon, the stars are one. The dawn of Faye has just begun!”
The Dark Ones, surprised at his willingness to attack even though outnumbered, threw fireballs toward him. They were even more surprised when the fireballs could not penetrate the golden glow shining forth from Finvarra but instead fell to the ground frozen. Unsure of what to do, the Dark Ones started to retreat. They looked around for Kahorgis for reinforcement but didn’t see any. They hissed and sparked, but the look in Finvarra’s eyes warned that he would not stand down. It was more than determination; it was a good man in touch with his absolute power.
Still retreating against this “mad king,” they were blinded to the little blue fairy that had managed to creep in to tend to Deliah. Ostephen swaddled her hand in some cloth he had found nearby, dropped sparkles of blue on to it, and whispered, “Sparkle and shine just like new, intended to heal by the blue.” This instantly made her feel better.
After a few moments, Ostephen said, “Finvarra has invoked the golden light of protection, so go! Go to the throne! I’ll decoy the Dark Ones.”
Deliah stood and waited for the brave blue fairy to steal the Dark Ones’ attention. He flew over and mocked them, leaving bright flashing trails of blue sparkle behind him. The Dark Ones threw flames at his sparkle and started to chase him, but Ostephen could fly faster. He led the dim–witted Dark Ones to the castle door and back on to the battlefield.
Finvarra and Deliah, both glowing golden, stood on each side of the throne. Without a word, they looked at each other and placed their hands on the hilt of the sword at the same time. They closed their eyes and said, “And here we are, and so it is.”
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