Awakening

by Nancy Gaskin

  Breaking Fast

  There was a terrible itch on the bottom of Dagmar’s feet and she kept moving and rubbing, but the itch seemed to follow. Rolling onto her back she opened her eyes and looked around, sitting up with fright, and then just as suddenly remembering where she was but not certain where the room she found herself in was. As she slipped out of the bed and her feet touched the ground a chorus of giggles emanated out from under the bed, scooting back onto the bed she turned around and laid on her belly with her head hanging over the edge and peeped under the bed. At first all she saw was darkness but as her eyes adjusted she saw tiny little creature scuttling in every direction, trying to hide. Sitting up the girl rolled to the side closest to the window and scrambled off the bed and walked slowly to the window pulling aside huge tapestries that were keeping the room in a pleasant semi dark. Letting in the sunlight the girl then raced back to the bed to looking under it, not finding anyone hiding, she noticed that the floor felt nice and warm on her knees and shins. Looking closely and running her fingers over the surface of deeply vibrant floor tapestry she saw and felt rich vibrant deep colours, the deep warmth of the burgundy and the caressing touch of a spring breeze with promises of things to come in deep sapphire blues. It was made of the softest material she had ever felt and her fingers caressed the fabric luxuriating in the in the experience. She stood and wandered back to the window and was dazzled by the breathtaking view. She felt as if she could see forever, with the blue sky having a sparkling sheen to it and soft fluffy white clouds frolicking in small groups whilst underneath, tall trees of all kinds were reaching up to touch the sun. Many large grassy clearings could also be seen with small creeks and rivers running through them in a casual meandering way.

  Turning to the sound of more giggling the girl again saw tiny creatures but now she notices that she had seen them before, in the dressing room the previous evening. Kneeling down the child raises her hand slowly waving “Hello there, nice to see you. Were you tickling my feet earlier? My name is Dagmar, who are you?” the little creatures began to giggle again and then scurried away too quickly for anyone to try and catch them. They resembled the faeries with pointy ears and wings but these ones were small enough to fit into her hand. Looking around the room properly for the first time she notices that it is a very large round room with a huge four post bed in the very center and windows set in such a way there was no break by walls in the view. The door to the room opened and Lillianna and Niamh stepped into the room. “Good Morrow sweetling!” they both sang simultaneously “Did you sleep and dream well?” asked Lillianna “Yes thank you I slept very well, umm not so sure if I did dream though” while Niamh opened a wardrobe and took out some garments which she laid on the bed. “We have food waiting in the court yard but first we must have you washed and dressed, oh look at the lovely outfits Niamh has chosen, which do you think you would like to wear?” asked Lillianna as she held up some lovely blue pants with a white shirt and then picked up a beautiful rainbow coloured dress showing it to Dagmar. Closing her eyes Dagmar pointed her finger and spun on her heel then stopping suddenly, pointing at the pants and shirt. Laughing at the way the child did her choosing the two faeries helped the girl dress in her new clothing.

  The material of the pants were the most lovely shade of blue and when they were against her skin it did not even feel like she was wearing them, and the shirt was such a bright white it stung the eyes when the sun touched it and it was as soft as eiderdown and as light as feathers but also warm against the morning chill which still hung in the air. Dagmar noticed that the clothing was all one size but as she put them on they adjusted to fit her perfectly. Niamh searched around and found slipper which she found in the bottom of a cloth bag that Lillianna had brought in with them, they were of a brown velvet material and as the girl slipped her feet into them and they also adjusted to fit her feet snugly. In all her life the girl had never felt such soft comfortable garments, not even her grandmother.

  Niamh then set to work brushing the child’s hair making such a fuss over her “Oh how I just LOVE your beautiful ringlets AND the color!” Dagmar was becoming a little embarrassed. Lillianna came to her rescue by opening the big doors which led outside saying “Come you two, they are all waiting for us to break fast! There is plenty of time for you to play with the sweeting’s hair later on.” And took to her wings and flew to the platform from the previous evenings feast. Niamh had put her arms around Dagmar “Don’t fret dearest I will keep you safe” and flew after Lillianna to alight on the platform only seconds later, placing the girl gently on her feet then proceeded to steer her to a seat at the table and began to fuss over her, waving to faeries who were loaded with trays of delicious fruits and cereals and deftly choosing several samples to be placed on Dagmar’s plate. Sitting down next to her smiling she said “Come sweetling I have chosen the most delicious foods for your breaking of the fast. These here are wild oats and apple blossoms with the sweetest honey milk” pointing to a small bowl, “and this is flesh of the summer meat, very juicy and sweet” indicating a plate filled with the same fruit the child enjoyed so much the evening before at the feast, “and here we have honey dew nectar or you can have dew water instead if you like” waving her hand in the direction of several tulip shaped jugs containing all sorts of delicious liquids. Dagmar tucked in with wild abandon when yet again her tummy embarrassed her by making frustrated growling noises.

  The wild oats and apple blossoms tasted grainy and very much like sweet and juicy red apples with the bowl being polished off in no time by the girl. Next came the wonderful fruit she liked so much and made a mess of herself with the juice just dripping down her chin in wild abandon, trying to keep clean, Dagmar wiped her face and front of her shirt and sleeve with a napkin only to notice that as she wiped her face a tingle spread all over her starting from her head to her feet and that as she wiped the sleeve it returned to the original blinding white. Picking up a goblet shaped like a small bell and took a sip of the nectar and licked her lips to catch every small taste sensation. Feeling sated and happy Dagmar sat back and looked around at all the other occupants at the table and listening to the mumble of conversation. Wouter was sitting several seats away from her but she could watch him without moving, long brown hair tied into a tail at the nape, his brows were creased in a slight frown over deep green twinkling eyes as he concentrated on the plate in front of him, feeling her eyes on him he looked up and gave her a big smile and a small wave calling over to her “have you had enough to eat sweetling? Do you want some more food or a little cup of dew? Just ask and it will be brought to you.” Shaking her head she replied “No thank you, I have had my fill, the fruit and cereal were absolutely divine and the dew was just delicious and I feel very full now.”

  Looking around some more the girl noticed some faces that she had not seen during the previous evening sitting at the table. She sat and watched as everybody was chatting amiably with their neighbour. Sitting next to Niamh was a very stately looking lady with the whitest of hair and when the girl looked closely saw that this beautiful lady also had the most amazing indigo coloured eyes. Noticing that she was being watched the lady looked up and gave Dagmar the most brilliant smile and then returned her attention to Niamh with whom she was chatting. The child watched the two for a little while looking at the lovely lady she noticed how gracefully she moved her hands as she conversed with Niamh. Looking towards the left, directly across from her, sat a much younger looking lady with silver hair who had during all this time furtively been watching the girl. They smiled shyly at each other not sure where to start, with that deciding that the patterns on their plates were much more interesting. To the right of the girl, as Dagmar decided to describe her, sat a distinguished looking adult male with Golden Blond hair which seemed to have sunshine interwoven into it and the most mesmerizing emerald green eyes, which met the child’s across the table with a wink and a raised goblet in silent toast, smiling the girl
lifted her glass in response. Next to him was the familiar face of Randolph who as in deep conversation with a small matronly woman with flaxen white hair. Trays came flitting past with faeries industriously attached to them clearing plates and refilling goblets with much commotion happening behind Dagmar as a chanting began.

  At first it was a low rumbling sound, similar to a hungry tummy noise, then a few clear voices began to sing, not words but sounds. The child could hear the wind in the trees and the snow falling on the mountain tops, the busy workings of honey bees collecting nectar and the sound of a baby bird hatching from its egg. Dagmar looked around and saw that a path had been made and an ancient looking little man with a white beard longer then he was tall was hobbling towards the platform leaning heavily on a gnarled old stick. He was dressed totally in green from the cap on his head to the boots on his feet. “Merry Meet gentle fae, I have come to tell a tale for your entertainment and learning.” Sweeping of his cap and bowing slowly bowing to the gathered crowd “Merry Meet and be welcome honoured elder, would you like refreshment to wash the dust out of your mouth?” Lillianna greeted the old man offering him her seat at the table.

  “I thank you my lady you are most kind to offer, I would love a small cup of dew if that is not too much to ask.” Without a word from Lillianna one of the faeries with goblets of dew on her tray flew to him and offered them to him, as she flew away another flitted into her place and offered him a plate of fruit which he accepted with a gentle nod and smile. Randolph got up and approached the old man, bent down and in respectful tones quietly spoke to him for several minutes with their heads very close together, then Randolph straightened and clapped his hands smiling “Fellow fae, we have the honour of having Saeldur the story teller in our midst. I have asked him if he would honour us with one of the tales of the realm and he has accepted. Please prepare a space so we may all be able to listen to his words.” With the announcement fae cheered and began to flit about making a space for all to sit and hear the story, with chairs brought out and chairs moved from the platform to be placed in the front for its occupants to re-seat themselves.

  Saeldur sat in a chair facing the edge of the platform waiting patiently whilst the crowd sorted itself out and settled and was ready to listen to his tale……………….