Awakening

by Nancy Gaskin

Another realm

  The procession became a fluttering whirl wind of wings, giggles and noise as they turned around to make their way back to the palace. Dagmar waited until everyone was ready and she slowly got up dislodging a few faeries which had made themselves comfortable on her knees and began to follow. The girl was constantly surrounded by chattering faeries who constantly buzzed around her head and quickly darted in front of her face and then just as quickly flew away again giggling. Some of the braver ones would fly up to her face and quickly touch her nose or eye lashes and flew away before she could react. It was a merry procession with music, dancing and much singing when suddenly a hush fell over the parade. Princess Niamh stood up in her carriage and moved her hands in graceful motions until there was a shimmering like the kind you saw on hot days. The air around the whole crowd began to crackle with static and the small spot of shimmer grew bigger and bigger until everything that was part of the procession was enveloped. Dagmar felt no fear, in fact she felt very much at peace, something akin to sleeping in your own bed after spending time away. As they made their way into the shimmer, it became transparent and disappeared within moments of stepping into it. The child noticed one remarkable change immediately, the Princess and all her retinue were now the same size as she was.

  Alberich flew up to Dagmar and bowed “Welcome to the faery palace, the home of their highnesses the King and Queen of the Fae. Her Highness, Princess Niamh cordially invites you to a small feast to welcome you to our realm.” he bowed again, not waiting for an answer then flew away. The palace came into view and it was breathtakingly beautiful with towers which were topped with spires curled and twisted like a unicorn’s horn, sparkling in a rainbow of colours and vanished into the clouds. The courtyard at the center of the palace, which seemed to be curled around the courtyard similar to a cat curled up in front of the kitchen fire, could be seen from the massive sparkling butterfly wing shaped gates through which the procession was heading.

  When the whole cavalcade came to a complete stop, movement erupted out of the windows and doors, from seemingly out of nowhere marquees were erected and tables set up, a platform appeared and tables as well as some very special looking chairs were set in place. There were cooking fires popping up everywhere and the smells which drifted up Dagmar’s nose, reminded her that she had not eaten since the evening before. Her tummy made some very impatient grumble noises which stopped faeries close enough to hear and fell about laughing. A pretty dark haired faery popped into view, looking a little daunted at the task given, she beckoned for Dagmar to follow in quick frightened movements. Looking around and not being able to see the princess or Alberich, she followed the little faery.

  They wound their way through marquees, cooking fires and dance platforms. They were met by an elderly faery “Greetings sweetling, I am called Lillianna and you are…..” she tilted her head questioningly and looked at the girl with twinkling eyes “My name is Dagmar and it is a pleasure to meet you Lillianna” said the girl whilst making a small curtsey, “May I ask where the princess is?”. The elderly faery smiled and responded kindly “The princess has gone to freshen up before the feast; she has sent old Lillianna to speak with you and to make you feel comfortable and at home, my dear. I have something for you, which will make it easier for us all to understand each other” placing a small ring made of tiny flowers of all the colours of the rainbow into the girls palm. When Dagmar looked more closely she noticed that it had grown big enough to fit her pinkie finger and that the flowers were all individual gems. Looking at Lillianna, the girl slipped the ring on her right pinkie finger and she immediately could understand all the rustling noises which were actually many conversations. A small squeak of surprise escaped before she could stop herself and she looked around slightly shaken realising that nobody paid any attention. The elderly elf chuckled and walked over to where Dagmar was standing “Welcome my dear, I am so happy to finally meet you. Speaking human is something we enjoy but it is so much easier to be able to speak in a language we are comfortable in, also not all fae have learnt the tongue of man.” Lillianna held out her small delicate hand, Dagmar tentatively took it and they walked over to the table and sat down.

  “You have many questions my dear!” There WERE many questions bubbling around in the girls head and as they sat she had to ask a few to ease the pressure “What is this place? How did I get here? I thought you were all very tiny creatures” Lillianna gestured to one of the faeries flitting about with trays and took two goblets of rose dew nectar, handed one to Dagmar and settled back into her seat, preparing herself to answer many questions. “Well my dear this is the Faery Realm, we live parallel with the human world but we have a magical curtain to stop humans from accidentally stumbling into our realm. As for how you got here, well only those with fae blood can safely pass through both boundaries. The one separating our real from yours AND the protective orb we have crafted in case a human somehow stumbles into the realm, as you did my dear. We are on average the same height as humans but in your realm we like to be small because then we can hide much better and also get into places we may need to go with greater ease” Dagmar was very, she had believed that this was all a dream and that she was still safely in bed. She sat and pondered this information and then asked “But Lillianna, how could I be here apart from in a dream? I am asleep in my bed and this is all just a dream.” Lillianna took sip from the goblet and sighed appreciatively “Ahh my darling little foundling you are of the fae, a halfling as some would say, which makes me wonder who gave you fae blood. That is the only reason you could walk on the beam of the Mother Moon and enter this realm. Your shadow is in your bed and your Oma will know where you are I am sure. With the ring you will be able to bring the WHOLE YOU next time you visit. Now my sweetling would you like to have a look around before the feasting begins?” The girl very much wanted to explore but after what Lillianna had said she was not so sure. Lillianna sensed that and suggested they go for a stroll together before the feast began.

  As they walked through the courtyard it was hard to ignore the merry atmosphere and even harder not to be infected by the festive spirit. Dagmar and Lillianna strolled slowly, seemingly aimlessly around the courtyard until they arrived at one of the many doors which led inside the palace. They walked through and found themselves in what appeared to be a dressing room and startled a couple of faeries who were choosing dresses for the feast. Turning towards Dagmar and Lillianna they curtseyed and offered to help them get dressed for the feast. The faery girls treated Lillianna with such reverence that Dagmar wondered who she actually was. The dresses were breathtaking with so many colours and styles, it was very overwhelming until Lillianna suggested that she and Dagmar would sit down and the little faeries could choose what suited best and dress them. That announcement put the little faeries into a right flutter and with that dresses made of spider web flew one way and stockings made of gossamer the other. Dagmar closed her eyes and let it all be a big surprise………