“Unless you'd like to sleep for a hundred years or more, don't get close to those things,” Chester advised. “These are set here as protectors of Fairy Dell. They’re bewitched. Only those who are fairy friend know the secret of their calling song and stay away. The bite would’ve sent you into instant sleep and you would’ve awakened only as the poison dissipated a century from now.” Chester backed away from the other flowers, carefully avoiding them.
“Gee whizzes, what are you talking about? How could some little flower be so poisonous?” Thomas asked skeptically.
“Look over by that rock.” Chester motioned with his head.
A shape propped up against a boulder, slumped into a mass of tangled vegetation. It was a man or what had at one time resembled a man, sound asleep and snoring deeply. Vines and flowers had grown around him over the years, forming a sort of cocoon. A tiny robin nested within the mass of overgrown beard.
“If he’s been asleep for almost a hundred years, wouldn’t he be a skeleton by now?” Ned commented in disbelief.
“It’s a spell of time. Our time moves fast, yet to him a hundred years is a mere hour. When he awakens he’ll find all he knows is gone,” Chester explained. “It’s a painful punishment for his serious crime of coming too close to those in Fairy Dell without an invitation.”
“I think there’s a story we read in school kinda similar to this; Rip Van Winkle, it was called,” Thomas commented thoughtfully. “Makes ya wonder how true fairy tales may be.”
“No one in his family will be alive when he wakes up?” Miranda shook her head sorrowfully. “Momma would’ve been so sad if I didn’t come home. Thank you, Chester.” She kissed the horse’s nose. “I’m sorry I got angry with you. You were just protectin’ me and all. I shouldn’t have been so upset.”
“No need for that now. I’m just doing my duty.” Chester bobbed his head, embarrassed at Miranda’s affection. “It’s getting late. Night is approaching and we must get to the shelter of Fairy Dell. There are other things that come out in the darkness we don’t want to encounter.”
The four friends matched the horse’s pace as he led them towards to the giant group of oak trees. Each one remained quiet, absorbing the new world, lost in thought of the impending journey to Black Isle.
“When do you think we’ll reach this Uthal’s fortress?” Thomas finally asked Matt.
“Soon, I hope. I’m kinda anxious to find Toby and the others. I don’t wanna be here any longer than we have to.”
“How long are we going to be here?” Ned pushed through the older boys. “I already miss home.”
“Yes, it would be nice to know how much time we’re goin’ to have to be here and all. I didn’t tell Momma where I was goin’. I kinda just left a note on my pillow tellin’ her I would be home this evening sometime.” Miranda edged closer to Matt.
Matt looked at the faces of his friends, realizing in some small way that he had unwittingly become the leader of their group. He thought for a Moment before he answered. “I hope not too long. I wanna get Toby back as quickly as possible. My Mom is really upset, and my Dad hardly said one word to me last night. He went to his study after everyone left and didn’t even look at me.”
“Gosh, he was mad all right.” Ned nodded.
“Gee, Caitlin and George’s parents shut themselves up in their house and wouldn’t answer the door. Mom said she heard her sister crying really loud inside.” Thomas stuck his hands in his back pockets.
“We’ll find them soon. Don’t ya’ll worry and all.”
“I don’t expect us to be gone more than a couple of days. I can’t see being here in this place any longer than that,” Matt said half-heartedly. He wasn’t quite sure himself of their situation, but thought it best to offer some sort of encouragement.
“Yeah. I say, let’s get that stupid map, and be on our way. Gee whiz, the quicker we’re done, the faster we’ll be home.”
“You have some unreal expectations,” Chester replied abruptly. He snorted in an absurd way, and it almost sounded like he laughed.
What did he mean by that statement? Matt furrowed his brow, but before he could ask Chester to elaborate, the horse quickened his speed, forcing them into a jog. In no time, they found themselves at the outer gate and high walls surrounding the Living Oaks of the fairy kingdom. Passing through flower-covered trellises, the group emerged under the gigantic towering trees on the border of Fairy Dell. The lights they had viewed from the top of the plateau were lanterns hung along branches, marking the doorway to each small fairy house, woven within the leaves.
“Look, there’s the palace,” Thomas exclaimed, pointing to blue crystalline towers peeking from within the branches of the center-most oaks. “Gee, it’s pretty.”
“I’ve never seen anything like that. They’re so large and all,” Miranda observed. “Are they magical?”
“They are most beautiful and inspiring,” Chester replied. “The Crystal Palace is over five thousand years old. Its blue crystals lock in a magic energy that Uthal tried to capture during the first war with the Fomorians and Elves on Earth. It’s good he didn’t get it, though. Awful fate for the universe it would’ve been. Things could’ve been a whole lot different for the human race than it is now.”
Horns blasted, apparently signaling their arrival. The air quickly filled with noise as the numerous inhabitants of Fairy Dell opened their doors and fluttered to the tips of the tree branches to inspect the newcomers. When the horns blew again, Chester quickly advised the four to remain quiet and allow him to talk to whomever the queen sent to greet them.
Matt stared at the growing group of fairies now forming above their heads. The shimmering tiny people who fluttered in a mass of colors around them were talking all at once, pointing at the four. Then, abruptly, they grew silent. Matt wondered why they had stopped. The answer soon came when the circle of fairy folks parted and allowed a troop of tiny men through. It was the queen’s guards. Dressed in glittering white and blue uniforms, their wings hummed in the evening air as they flew towards them. Matt could see scowls upon their faces when they got closer.
“State your business,” the foremost guard gruffly ordered.
“We need to see Queen Onagh. I’ve been sent to retrieve the ancient map of the Fomorians with this message. In order to save the lives of those in this world and on Earth, we need the relic. A black banshee passed through the portal in the garden of Stewart Manor, capturing human children. The one on Black Isle is close to completing the first step in the forgotten spell.”
“Who are these with you?” the guard demanded, his tiny hand pointing to Matt and his friends. The guard’s face puckered as if he had sucked on a lemon, when his eyes caught Matt’s gaze. “You know how the queen feels about humans.”
“She also knows that prophecy states it is only by the hand of a human child that Uthal will be destroyed.” Chester tore angrily at the grass beneath his hoof. “Have you forgotten the quatrains? The legend foretold by the wizard Keltrain? She needs to let go of her distaste of the human-kind if she wishes to rid our world of Uthal’s evil.”
“Wait here,” the head guard commanded. Darting to the other two behind him, he spoke to one of them, the tone low and hushed. The second guard shot off at such speed, his departure was a blur of gold wings. In minutes, he returned, whispering something to his Captain, who nodded and turned to the horse. “Queen Onagh commands that you take shelter here for the remaining night. She can’t see you until the morning,” he instructed.
“Did you send word to her about the urgency of our quest?”
“She’s aware of your plight and that of Green Isle. There’s still one element of the spell Uthal doesn't have,” the guard said. “Queen Onagh has hidden it with the Water Wraiths of Gwragedd Annuin.” He glared at the horse. “So your plight isn’t as urgent as you might think. You’ll have to wait until the morn. Her word is final.”
“If the Black Warlock took three human children in such haste, he knows wher
e she’s hidden it.” Chester’s head bobbed and twisted as he whinnied in dissatisfaction. “He’s a thief and he’ll use his spells to get what he wants. We must act now.”
“She instructed you to wait, and wait is what you must do,” the guard bellowed. “Follow me to your quarters or rest in the dungeon. The choice is always yours.”
“As she wishes. We’ll wait.” Chester sighed heavily. “Come children. We’re at the mercy of the Queen. Tonight we’ll stay in Fairy Dell.”
Matt was glad the horse relinquished the argument. He really didn’t want to stay overnight in a dungeon.
“What about Lily and DaGon? Won’t they be expectin’ us and all?” Miranda whispered with concern.
“Don’t worry. Both of them know how she is. Queen Onagh works in her time frame, not anyone else’s,” Chester replied softly. “This map is so very important to our success. We must be patient. It’s necessary in rescuing those taken by Uthal. We’ll have to abide by her rules this time, or we might lose the chance to obtain it.”
“Why is this map so important? Gee whiz, if you already know we gotta go to this place...what is it? The Black Isle? Why not just go?” Thomas asked. Matt could see his friend was growing very upset by the possibility of staying longer in this unknown world. He was glad Thomas asked the question. It had already crossed his mind.
“You’ll find out tomorrow. I can’t speak much of it now. I’ll let Lily and DaGon explain further, as soon as we get to the Elven lands on the other side of the Dell.”
“When do you think we’ll get there? To the elves?” Matt asked. “It’s just that we all kinda didn’t tell our parents anything about this adventure, you know?”
“Perhaps tomorrow or the next day,” the horse replied.
“Two days? And when do you think we’ll get to where Toby and the others are?”
“It’ll take some time,” Chester answered slowly, his voice low. “Which is why I said earlier that you have unreal expectations. It’s not going to be an afternoon trip, there and back. This quest to rescue your brother and the others will take planning and the collection of magical things to protect us all.”
“Then how long will we be here on Green Isle?”
“I don’t know,” Chester replied quietly. “It could be weeks or months. It depends on many circumstances.”
The fear Matt felt before quickly manifested itself again. Unable to think, he felt dizzy. Weeks? Months? How would his parents react when their eldest son disappeared as well as their youngest? It would be a blow to them. Matt shuddered at the thought of his mother grieving for two lost sons.
Ned, hearing the words, ran to the horse’s side. “Chester, I’m rather...rather afraid,” he stammered. “Do ya think it’s too late for me to go back through the portal? Or, maybe, I could stay in the Dell and wait for your return. Whatda ya think?”
“I understand your fear, but you play just as an important role in this quest as the others, and frankly, your presence is greatly needed. You have strength in your friends. So...no. You can’t retreat, you must go forward.”
Ned fell back behind the group. Sticking his hands in his pockets, he hung his head. Matt saw the look on his face and felt bad for him. He knew his friend felt the same fear he was feeling.
“So do you really believe we’re going to be here for months and all? Oh my, Momma is going to be so unhappy if I don’t get back home tonight,” Miranda cried out in panic. “What will they all say? The whole town will think we’ve all disappeared or died.”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked you guys to come,” Matt apologized.
“Our parents are gonna be really upset,” Thomas said as he heaved a huge sigh, shaking his head. “Gee whiz, can ya imagine what’s gonna happen in town?”
“It’s gonna be so crazy,” Miranda agreed. “Everybody’s gonna want that house torn down, and worse, the garden destroyed.”
“If they do that, how would we git back home?” Ned cried in alarm. “I don’t wanna be stuck here forever.”
“Then we can’t be here for months. We’ve got to get to the others quickly.” Matt shivered slightly, apprehension turning his body cold.
“It’ll be okay, Ned. Gee, we’re not gonna be here indefinitely. I promise, as your big brother, that we’ll get back home soon.”
The friends grew quiet. Matt felt horrible. What had he done? He never should have involved them. He shook his head, silently berating himself for his actions. This was his responsibility, not theirs.
Coming around a bend in the path, the group found themselves in front of the Crystal Palace. Warmth radiated outward from the crystal structure, bathing the area in unearthly light. The bluish hue, filtering in and around the trees, washed over their bodies, sending light shocks of electrical currents through them that caused the hair on their arms to prickle. Matt couldn’t help himself and stepped closer, the light drawing him. It was somehow comforting. The blue light shone through an oak, its wood pale, white, and glistening like polished silver, growing through the center of the palace, intertwining with the crystal forming a frame around the outer walls. Hand-carved doors made of the same wood sat atop alabaster steps leading down from the entrance onto a circular, cobbled stone pathway.
“That strange light is makin’ me feel funny,” Ned exclaimed, his eyes wide with awe.
“The tree and the crystals are putting off a living force, which protects the inhabitants of the Dell,” Chester explained, as the guards led them away from the palace down the left side of a forked road. “The oaks are connected to the fairies. If the trees were to die so would the fairies. The strangeness you’re feeling is the energy given off by the Crystal Palace.”
“Where did this all come from?” Matt asked the horse, as he stared at the pulsating light emanating from the palace.
“The Fairy Queen herself brought the tree seedlings of the Living Oaks from the first homeland on Earth after they opened the portals for the refugees. Along with the crystal shards, rescued before they slipped into the sea after the first war, Fairy Dell was created as both trees and palace grew together.”
Matt, intent on the words of the horse, was surprised when their escort stopped abruptly. The head guard pointed to a small cottage. “You should find its shelter satisfactory.”
“We wait anxiously for the queen’s call in the morning.” Chester bowed gracefully, the tone of his voice reflecting his dejection of their delay.
Returning the gesture with a small salute, the guards turned and flew back into the Dell. Matt watched as the blur of wings disappeared into the foliage of the oaks. He wondered how the morning would play out when they finally met with the Fairy Queen. Somehow, he felt it wasn’t going to be good.
Thomas opened a small wooded gate that guarded an enclosed garden. Matt and the others followed the horse as he entered a small courtyard and headed toward a white cottage about the size of a large playhouse. Tucked into a thicket of Laurel trees, the cottage’s windows were shuttered with pale green frames and adorned quaintly with flower boxes. They overflowed with an assortment of spring tulips and other foliage. The door was painted the same color as the shutters, and a small stone step was placed in front so visitors could step up to the porch.
“Before you go in I would like to give you some advice about our meeting with Queen Onagh tomorrow. There are certain rules of court that should be strictly obeyed,” Chester said as he hesitated in front of the door. “First and foremost, you must not address her directly, unless she speaks to you first. Otherwise, it would be considered a great insult and we would most likely end up in the dungeon or worse, placed forever in one of the other types of prisons she likes to use.”
The children nodded their understanding.
“For you can be punished very harshly, should you speak out of turn. She despises humans, so sending you off to some sort of punishment would make her very happy.”
“Why does she hate us so much and all?” Miranda inquired, her brow furrowed.
“It’s a very sordid tale, if you should know. She once loved a human man who took advantage of her love, and it almost cost her throne and the lives of all magic creatures on Green Isle. She doesn’t trust your kind anymore because of it.”
“So we gotta pay for something we didn’t do?” Thomas frowned as he crossed his arms across his chest. “Gee whiz, don’t you think that’s a little extreme? Judging everybody the same just ‘cause of that?”
Matt listened to the horse’s instructions, but his mind kept going back to something he said earlier. Interrupting the conversation, he asked quickly, “Chester, what did you mean when you told the guard that only the hand of the human child could release those imprisoned and destroy Uthal?”
Chester didn’t immediately respond. He hung his head for a Moment and nibbled on a couple of small blades of grass. Finally, he looked at Matt, his eyes solemn.
“The map we’re seeking guides us to a special sword. It’s the only thing we can use against the Dark One, the only element that can help rescue the children. Only one of you will be chosen as its champion and forever locked with the sword’s magic. It’s that child who will be the one to conquer Uthal.”
“What are you not telling us? There seems to be more to this 'rescue' than what you’ve let on. How am I supposed to use this sword? I’ve never fought with a blade.”
“I never said it would be you,” Chester retorted. “You assume you’re the only one on this quest, and yet there are three others with you. The sword itself will select its champion. It will be one of you, but we don’t know who. The prophecy was very vague, you see.”
“How do you know for sure it's gonna be any of us?” Miranda countered.
“I truly believe you’re the four spoken of in our legends, although Lily and DaGon aren’t so quick to say so,” Chester replied thoughtfully.
“What legends? You need to tell us what’s really happenin’ here.” Thomas crossed his arms again. “Since we’ve been involved, all I’ve heard is stories and tales about mythical creatures and spells. Gee whiz. I’d like to hear somethin’ that makes any kinda sense.” The older boy’s voice became louder with each passing word as the pent up frustration slowly made its way through his body.
The Forgotten Spell (Legends of Green Isle Book 1) Page 10