Faery Merry Christmas

by Jacquie Rogers

  None other than Jay Jacobs, the motorcycle rider, climbed out of Liam’s small car. He had on a Sharks baseball cap and sported a catcher’s mitt. The day couldn’t get any weirder.

  “My catcher came down with a cold, and Jay, here, used to catch for American Legion ball, so he volunteered to give it a whirl.”

  “Why wouldn’t another catcher do?”

  “Because I throw a knuckleball.”

  He seemed to think that was a sufficient answer. I had no idea what he meant, but he was here, he had a catcher thanks to Jay, and Liam would have his opportunity.

  Ah ha! Sabrina entered with a handsome man, and both were greeted by several of the older men, probably with the Reds or Sharks organizations. So she was here, and somehow I needed to convince her husband, the man who determined which players made the big leagues and who stayed buried in the minor leagues, to give Liam a chance.

  “Earth magic is subtle, but it works.” Liam pointed to his collar and I knew his crystal lay under it. “I’m feeling good and ready to go. Could do without the rain, and I don’t know how my curve is going to act inside a building. Whoever heard of playing baseball under a roof? Doesn’t seem practical. What happens if a batter hits a high pop fly?”

  “If it’s that high, how can he hit it?”

  The Hawaiian musician blew into the microphone and got everyone’s attention. Liam trotted to the end of the hall where Mike, Jay, and the other players congregated. Mary stood to the side, chattering with another girl about her age.

  The musician introduced the scouts, among them Sabrina’s husband, then the managers and other baseball dignitaries, and the umpires. Sabrina left her husband’s side and joined Kaylee and me.

  “A lousy day for baseball,” she said, but her eyes twinkled and her smile was genuine. “You must be Cheshya. Queen Merci told me you’d be here.” Then she turned to Kaylee and curtsied ever so slightly. “Princess! You’ve grown into a beautiful young lady. Your mum is exceedingly proud of you.”

  “You know my mum?”

  “Oh, yes, we went all through Magic School together. We nearly flunked Charms and Enchantments 201 when a robin flew through Merci’s faery dust and conjured a swarm of mosquitos in the classroom.”

  Kaylee wrinkled her eyebrow. “That’s not so bad.”

  “No, but our professor did get a little testy when Merci zapped a couple of pterodactyls to eat the mosquitos, and their wings were so large, they destroyed the columns of the portico, and the whole school building collapsed.”

  “Oh, my.”

  Sabrina giggled. “The professor would’ve put us in faery detention except she didn’t want to be around us any more than necessary, so we were suspended for five classes. Were our parents ever angry with us!”

  “I can see where Kaylee got her penchant for mischief.” I glanced at Kaylee and we both burst into bubbles of laughter. Quite literally. To our good luck, Sabrina saw the bubbles and did away with them post haste.

  “Sabrina, I’m here on a Queen’s Quest issued from the queen.”

  “Oh? You don’t look a day over eighteen-hundred.”

  “Well, I’ll be two thousand on Christmas Day, but I accepted my Queen’s Quest because the odds of finding my soul mate and getting him to marry me in the few days remaining seemed a bit slim.”

  “I see.”

  I pointed to Liam. “See the tall faery man with the dragon hologram tattoo?” When Sabrina nodded, I said, “That’s Liam of the Red Clan, Project Number One. My job is to make sure that his heart’s desire here is fulfilled so he’ll want to return home.”

  “And?” She lifted her index finger. “Let me guess—he’s trying out for the big league.”

  “Right. Liam wants to be a major league starting pitcher. He’s made quite a name for himself around Shoreline, and I’ve heard he’s the best pitcher on the Sharks staff.”

  “And you want me to influence my husband’s decision.”

  “Uh, well, I was hoping to be a little more subtle than that, but yes.”

  “You don’t have to be. This is confidential, but my husband has already decided to invite him to the Reds training camp. On the roster. He’s kept an eye on Liam all year and is quite hopeful that the young man will do well in the Show.”

  “So he’s in? He doesn’t even need to try out?”

  “In essence, yes, but we certainly can’t say that because it wouldn’t be fair to the others. If Liam can throw the ball into his catcher’s mitt today, he’s got a roster spot.”

  “That’s wonderful!” I hugged Sabrina in my exuberance, and then hugged Kaylee. “He did it, Kaylee! And he did it on his own merits. He didn’t need my crystals or your connections.” I clasped my hands to my heart. “I’m so proud of him. He’s worked so hard for this.”

  But then dejection settled over me like a veil. He didn’t need me. At all. He never did.

  I gave my umbrella a tap on the floor to loosen any remaining drops. And because I needed something to do. “Kaylee, we might as well go home. You have a big party to plan and I have . . .” I nearly sobbed but choked it back. My throat was paralyzed with grief.

  “You have what?”

  “I have to get some. . .” The pent-up sob was threatening to erupt. I needed air. Maybe some ambrosia or gardenia nectar. Chit-chatting, however, wasn’t possible. I nodded toward the ladies’ room and made my escape from Kaylee and Sabrina.

  Since no one was in there, I barricaded myself into a stall, and transported myself to the Portal. Caedmon, Chief of Portal Police, met me there.

  “You’re not due back until tomorrow. Where’s Kaylee?”

  Those dratted tears wouldn’t hold back a moment longer, and I made a soggy mess out of the front of his shirt. Caedmon, a big, burly Viking-looking faery, didn’t know whether to hug me or drop-kick me.

  “Gracie!” He bellowed at his wife. When she flew out of the Portal Watchtower, he said, “It’s Cheshya. You fix it.” And off he went.

  Gracie chuckled. “Sorry about that. My man can handle goblins and ogres of any size, shape, or magical ability, but a woman with tears in her eyes completely undoes him.”

  I hiccoughed, and partly laughed, partly sobbed.

  She gave me a motherly hug and petted the back of my head. “What’s the matter, dear? Were you not successful on with your first Queen’s Quest project?”

  I shook my head, then nodded, then more tears poured down my cheeks.

  “Ah, I see. It’s an affair of the heart.”

  I nodded.

  “Do you love this person? Whoever was your project?”

  “Li-Liam.”

  “Liam, of the Red Clan?” She smiled knowingly. “Ah, my nephew, a braw lad, indeed. Last I knew, he was bound and determined to be a major league pitcher in Terra Humanus.”

  “He. . .” My throat still wouldn’t work, so I nodded again. “Home,” I begged.

  “Do you have enough magic left to transport yourself to your house, or do you want me to transport you?”

  With concerted effort to relax my throat muscles, I finally whispered, “You do it.”

  Chapter Nine

  On Christmas Eve day, Queen Merci made a party announcement, and summoned all faeries to attend the festival on Christmas Day, promptly at High Sun.

  I preferred to stay in my cave and draw strength from the earth.

  “Yoohoo!”

  Ah, curse the stars. I wanted to sleep, but Kaylee knocked on the door and made a pest of herself.

  I opened the door, and she marched right in, carrying a large container.

  “Ambrosia, food of the gods, and just the thing to cheer you up!”

  I smiled sweetly and got rid of her as soon as I could—not that I was ungrateful, but neither was I fit company for someone so generous. Besides, I had lots of thinking to do. I rather enjoyed the elements of my Queen’s Quest and working with faeries in Terra Humanus. I liked problem-solving and I really enjoyed assisting others build confidence in themselves. />
  The Queen’s Quest showed me how to be useful to others and not be so protective of my own needs. For the first time, I understood the purpose and strength of following one’s dream, and maybe I should have some dreams of my own that I could control, not that depended on someone else making a decision for me. But I no longer had a dream. Or hope.

  Chickadees chirped and bluebells jingled announcing another visitor. Gwynneth the Healer called my name. She’d brought the Waters of Life to make me strong, then stayed a while until she was satisfied with my condition. Not too long after she left, Gracie brought Dilettante hand-dipped chocolates from Seattle (in Terra Humanus) because for some things, only chocolate will do.

  When none of those things raised my spirits, Queen Merci sent over the most beautiful gown, made of layers and layers of filmy silver material. Diamonds and pearls swirled around the bodice and down the sleeves. The wing-shawl was trimmed in more diamonds and trailed to an eight-foot train. I’d never seen such a gorgeous gown on anyone except for the queen herself, and of course she would look dazzling in it. She was a stunning lady.

  But no, even such a generous gift didn’t make things better and frankly, I didn’t want it, although one simply did not refuse a gift from the queen. I repacked the gown in flower petals and transported it to the most remote closet I owned—out of sight. The lavish gown promised a new day, but that day wouldn’t include Liam, which only made my gut ache more. I had a lot of thinking to do. Yesterday, and all the yesterdays before that, I was blissfully unaware that I would never wed my soul mate. Oh, I gave lip service to the likelihood this past year, but truth be told, I never, even for a moment, believed it. I always had hope.

  No hope remained now. My future was all laid out. So I had to mourn what might have been and embrace the good part of the rest of my life.

  Yes, I’d always dreamed of marrying Liam, but that dream required his cooperation, which didn’t happen. Now it was time for me to create a dream of my own destiny.

  Or succumb to despair.

  Then again, the box of Dilettante chocolates called my name.

  Chapter Ten

  The next morning, I woke to pixies giggling in the breeze, and flowers dancing to the birdsongs. What a difference a day makes!

  I resolved to be happy in my endeavors, whatever they may be. And guess what? I was pretty darned good at my first Queen’s Quest project, and I’ll get even better with practice. Believe me, it felt good knowing my contribution would truly make a difference in many faeries’ lives.

  I fluttered out of bed, tidied the room with a pinch of faery dust, and had a nice cup of ambrosia. The palace opened for the queen’s Christmas festival in a mere two hours and I would be wearing the most stunning gown at the party, thanks to Queen Merci. Another pinch of faery dust sent a monogrammed thank-you note to her along with a recording of “I’m Back in the Saddle Again” by Faerosmith.

  Christmas Day was here—my two-thousandth birthday. I wondered if the queen would even mention it at the holiday festival. After all, most female faeries dreaded the fate that had befallen me. I, however, embraced it. With exuberance.

  The gown fit perfectly and I felt like a princess, spinning in a circle to see the skirt drift gracefully around me. With a flick of my wand, I sprinkled some diamonds in my hair to match the gems on the gown, and dabbed a bit of gold dust on my forehead and cheeks. Then I transported myself to the festival.

  This day, the first day of my new life, I fluttered into the palace with confidence and dignity in my beautiful gown.

  “Cheshya, you’re absolutely stunning!” Kaylee gave me a slight sideways hug and an air kiss. “I don’t want to mess you up.”

  I couldn’t help but smile a little, because hey, I felt like royalty myself.

  “Turn toward the crowd, now, and let them see the true you.”

  That remark embarrassed me. “It’s just a dress, Princess.”

  “I’m not talking about the dress, I’m talking about your face. You’ve learned who you are, and you’re more lovely for it. We all want to share in your satisfaction and contentment, for that is the source of true beauty.”

  Some of my friends started to sing the birthday song to me, but the queen held up her hand and stopped them.

  “Cheshya’s time of birth is in one hour, so we will refrain from celebrating until that time. But first . . .” She flicked her wand and faery dust swirled lightly all around the palace ballroom. “Faery children, come to the fore. This Christmas Day, we shall have a children’s celebration resembling that of Terra Humanus, and to do that we need . . .”

  The jingle of silver bells and a hearty “Ho! Ho! Ho!” was the signal for the gates to open, and Santa to come in.

  “. . . Santa Claus!”

  The faery children and pixies chanted “Santa! Santa!” as they swarmed around the sleigh pulled by eight reindeer. Papa was dressed in Christmas finery—red suit, corncob pipe, Wellington boots, and sporting his full, white beard.

  Kaylee clapped her hands, too, and fluttered up a bit so she could see the whole line. “The celebration is going to be so much fun! And your father always knows the perfect thing to give or do for each child.”

  I had to agree. “I think my favorite thing about my father is his kindness, for he truly is the spirit of Santa Claus.”

  Mum, aka Mrs. Claus, rode beside him, blowing kisses and tossing candy to all the faery children. Several shorter members of the Brown Clan followed the sleigh carrying pooper scoopers. The queen was all for celebrations but not too keen on the leavings.

  The children squealing and scurrying around the sleigh made even the saddest of hearts sing with joy.

  “Kaylee, until this moment, I never realized how important my parents’ work is for both worlds. Nothing could be more fundamental to world peace than making children cheerful, because their laughter makes their parents happy.”

  “Aye. It starts with the children, and the child within ourselves.”

  “My Queen’s Quest, even if on a much smaller scale, is no less important, don’t you think?” Helping each errant faery find his or her heart’s desire was my little contribution to peace overall.

  “Cheshya, I’m so glad you’ve finally learned how much we honor you and what you do, not just because you’re Santa Claus’ daughter, but for the wonderful, giving person you are.”

  Papa stopped the sleigh in front of the queen’s throne. “Mrs. Claus and I bear gifts,” he boomed in his baritone voice. “Everyone under age five hundred, line up and I will choose a gift for you. And, just to make things a little more fun, Queen Merci will bestow a gift of her own.”

  The children hopped up and down, clapping. “Me! Me! Me!”

  “Who gets the queen’s gift?” one of the children asked.

  “Ah, that I don’t know, but this person is, indeed, on my list of good-deed-doers.”

  “I put a bird’s nest back in the tree,” a little boy offered.

  A few children flitted around the palace ballroom but their parents quickly reeled them in, and the children lined up. Clowns, pipers, and hummingbirds entertained those in the queue.

  Within moments, the air thickened with self-drawing pictures, tooting noisemakers, and party hats.

  Papa gave a little girl a picture of her mum that illuminated in the night so she wouldn’t be afraid. She clutched it to her little chest and gave Santa a kiss on the cheek. Then he gave an older boy a woven vine that would attach to any tree for swinging.

  A few times Papa would pick up a box, but Mum would shake her head and give him a different one, then he’d kiss her on the cheek. They’d always worked as partners, but sometimes I wondered if he picked the wrong box on purpose so he had an excuse to kiss his wife.

  They gave out several hundred more presents, but the queen made no move to give her own.

  “So when is the queen going to bestow a gift?” I asked Kaylee. “Do you know what it is?”

  She shrugged. “The children are enjoying themse
lves and have probably forgotten all about it.”

  Papa was over halfway through the line. Mum kept things going by careful listening and judicious zapping. I never realized how much I admired her.

  Eventually, all the children had their gifts and gleefully giggled, leapt, and fluttered around the ballroom. I gave Mum a hug, and then Papa.

  “I’m so proud of the both of you!”

  Papa patted me on the cheek. “Cheshya, no smarter or sweeter daughter could we have asked for, and we’ve always been grateful to have been given the opportunity to be your parents.”

  “Even if I don’t ever marry?”

  “Posh,” Mum said. “How could that possibly have any bearing on how we feel about you?”

  “We just want you to be happy,” Papa added.

  The queen stood and flicked her wand. Faery dust settled all around me. “Your parents and I have a gift for you.”

  The sleigh held one last box. It was large, wrapped in red paper with a silver bow. When I tugged on the ribbon, the package fell away, and Liam stood before me.

  “And I want you to be happy, too,” Liam said. “I want to be the man who makes your heart sing and your toes tingle. Will you give me that chance?”

  Then entire palace ballroom’s party-goers erupted in applause and cheers. “Hoozah!”

  “I love you, Cheshya, and I want you to be my life-partner for the rest of our days.”

  The crowd cheered louder. I couldn’t breathe. Tears threatened but I didn’t want to mess up my makeup in front of the love of my life. My knees weakened, and my mind went numb.

  “Cheshya?” Liam put his arms around me and held me up. “Are you happy? Yes? No?” He groaned and held me tight. “Ah, sweetie, if you don’t want to marry me, I understand. Baseball has taken up a big chunk of my life in recent years, and it will for a few more years. But we have so much time after that.”

  After a few deep breaths, I relaxed enough to give him an answer.

  “Liam, I have loved you for so long—will you be upset if I continue with my Queen’s Quest?”

  All the faeries went silent. Liam’s face froze, a question, and maybe a little sadness in his eyes. “I waited too long,” he muttered.