“Hey, stop pushing me!” the first goblin complained.
“You’re the one pushing me!” whined the second goblin, giving him a shove.
Just then, they both lost their grip on the branch and tumbled backward out of the tree!
The goblin with the flowery cap hooked his toe over a branch below. He grabbed the other goblin by his swimming trunks. Now they both dangled upside down.
Rachel gasped. “That was lucky!”
Mia nodded. “It was the luck of the golden bells.”
“You made my goggles fall off!” the first goblin wailed, clambering back up to the branch.
“You pushed us off the branch in the first place!” grumbled the goblin in the swimming cap.
“Did not!”
“Did so!”
They started to climb back up the tree, bickering as they went.
“Now’s our chance!” Kirsty said.
“I’ll fly to the end of the branch and unhook the golden bells,” said Mia.
But Rachel shook her head. “We can’t,” she said firmly. “If we fly away with the golden bells, the goblins’ luck will change. They’ll probably fall out of the tree and hurt themselves!”
“You’re right,” said Mia, her shoulders sagging.
“Mia, can you use your magic to get the goblins to the ground safely?” asked Kirsty.
“Yes,” said Mia. “But only if I’ve touched the golden bells. I need their luck on my side.”
“Then that’s what you’ll have to do,” Kirsty declared. “Touch the golden bells, and use magic to get the goblins safely to the ground before they can grab us!”
“You’ll have to be quick,” added Rachel in alarm. “They’ve almost reached the branch again!”
As the goblins lunged for the branch, Mia and the girls flew up to the bells and tried to tug the ribbon loose. Shrieking with rage, the goblins swatted the girls away.
“Help!” cried Kirsty. “My wings are tangled and I’m falling!”
The girls and goblins all lost their balance and went tumbling toward the ground, a jumble of arms, legs, and wings!
“Fairies, use your magic!” the goblins yelped.
“My wand arm is trapped!” Mia cried.
THUMP! They all landed in a heap on a soft pile of moss and leaves. There was a chiming sound as the golden bells landed nearby.
“Hang on …” said Rachel, untangling her wings from the goblins’ legs.
“Wait a minute …” said one of the goblins.
“Who was the last one to touch the golden bells?” they cried together.
They had no idea whose side the luck was on!
The goblins and the girls all made a dash for the golden bells at exactly the same moment. But one of the goblins tripped on a root, and the other stubbed his toe on a rock. Mia reached the golden bells first, and the girls realized that it must have been Mia who had touched them last. Luck was on her side!
The goblins gave angry cries as they hopped around the clearing, clutching their sore toes.
“I’m not explaining this to Jack Frost!” wailed the first one.
“Me, neither!” the other declared.
With that, they disappeared into the forest. As their voices faded away, Rachel and Kirsty sighed with relief.
Just then, something twirled down from the sky and landed next to Kirsty. She picked it up.
“Look!” she said. “It’s a feather!”
The feather was a bright blue color that shimmered and gleamed in the sunlight.
“Oh, Rachel!” Kirsty exclaimed suddenly. “This can be our something blue for Esther!”
“You’re right!” Rachel agreed, smiling widely.
“Thank you both so much for helping me find the golden bells!” Mia said gratefully.
With a twirl of her wand, she turned the golden bells back to their Fairyland size and put them in a silk pouch, which she tucked into her dress.
Then she grinned and gave another wave of her wand. Rachel and Kirsty closed their eyes as a whirl of sparkling confetti surrounded them. When they opened their eyes again, they were standing on a quiet street next to the jewelry store in Bickwood.
“Thank you again, girls,” said Mia. “I’m going to hurry back to Fairyland and return the golden bells. But I’ll see you very soon — after all, we still need to find the silver veil!”
She disappeared in a flurry of sparkles, and the girls walked back into the store.
“Hi, girls!” Esther called. “Come and tell me which earrings to choose. I can’t decide!”
Rachel and Kirsty hurried over and looked at all the jewelry in the case. There were diamond studs, dangling pendants, and pretty flower shapes. But Rachel and Kirsty knew exactly which ones to pick. They both pointed at a pair of earrings in the shape of tiny, golden bells!
“Just one more night to go!” said Kirsty as she brushed her hair. “Isn’t it exciting?”
Rachel nodded eagerly, and then sighed. “But I won’t be able to really enjoy it if we haven’t found the silver veil,” she said, climbing into bed. “I’ll be too worried about the trouble Jack Frost and his goblins will cause.”
“That’s true,” agreed Kirsty, looking thoughtful.
The door opened, and Mrs. Tate popped her head in the room.
“Are you ready for bed, girls?” she asked.
“Yes, Mom,” said Kirsty. “Is everything OK downstairs?”
“I think so!” Mrs. Tate laughed. “I’ve been practicing hairstyles on your Aunt Isabel while she double-checked the seating plans. Esther is finishing up some details with her friends.”
“It sounds like the whole village of Kenbury is here tonight!” said Rachel with a grin.
The house had been packed with friends, family, and neighbors all day, and the sound of laughter still floated up the stairs.
“We’re all helping to make sure everything is ready to go,” said Mrs. Tate with a smile.
“Like what, Mom?” Kirsty asked.
“Oh, all the hundreds of tiny details that go into making the perfect wedding,” said Mrs. Tate with a wink. “Goodnight, girls. I’ll see you bright and early in the morning!”
She turned off the main light and closed the door behind her.
“I keep thinking about all the things that could go wrong tomorrow,” Kirsty said after a moment.
“Me, too,” Rachel added nervously, sitting up in bed. “Unless we find the silver veil, anything could happen at the wedding. It’s bound to be something to do with us bridesmaids.”
“And we still haven’t thought of the something borrowed for Esther,” Kirsty said, walking over to the window and opening it. “But let’s try not to worry too much. I’m sure we can help Esther have the perfect day!”
She leaned out and breathed in the fresh country air. In the distance, she could see the lights of Bickwood twinkling. Rachel joined her. Together, they looked up at the moonlit, star-filled sky.
“You can always see ten times as many stars in the country,” said Kirsty.
“I know,” Rachel agreed. “Oh, Kirsty — look!”
She pointed up to where a shooting star was burning across the sky.
“Quick, make a wish!” Kirsty exclaimed.
They both closed their eyes and made their wishes. But when they opened their eyes again, Kirsty frowned.
“That’s funny,” she said. “The shooting star isn’t fading. It seems to be getting bigger.”
Sure enough, the burning star was getting brighter … and brighter … and brighter!
“It’s coming straight at us!” Rachel cried.
As the girls jumped aside, the star shot between them onto the carpet, fizzing and crackling. When it faded, Mia was standing in front of them, smiling as brightly as the star itself!
“Hello again, girls!” called Mia.
“Hi, Mia!” Rachel and Kirsty cried in delight.
“Have you found the silver veil?” asked Kirsty hopefully.
“Not yet
,” Mia replied. “But this is the best time to search for it. In the dark, it glows just like the moon. Plus, there’s a lunar eclipse tonight!”
Rachel frowned. “What’s that?”
“The Earth is going to pass between the moon and the sun,” said Mia, creating a magical picture with her wand to show what this looked like. “It will block the light from the sun, and Earth’s shadow will cover the moon. That means that we’ll be able to spot the light from the silver veil even more easily.”
“But we still don’t know where the veil is,” Kirsty said.
Suddenly, Rachel’s eyes lit up.
“I’ve got an idea,” she said. “We all know that the greedy goblins can’t resist food. Mia, do you think you could use your magic to make a delicious feast?”
“Yes,” said Mia. “But how will a feast help?”
“If the goblins are nearby, I’m sure that they’ll try to steal the food,” Rachel explained.
“You’re right!” Kirsty cried.
“It’s a little dangerous to lead the goblins to us on purpose,” Mia warned them.
Rachel and Kirsty looked at each other. It was kind of scary to think about facing lots of goblins, but if they didn’t find the silver veil tonight, Esther’s wedding might be ruined!
“We have to risk it!” Rachel said determinedly.
So Mia swished her wand, and glittering fairy dust whirled around the girls.
They felt themselves shrinking to fairy-size, and they fluttered their wings with excitement. Then they flew through the window, down the lane, and out of the village to a dark, empty glade. The three of them landed next to a clump of daisies.
In no time, Mia flicked her wand and a marvelous feast appeared. Delicious food was laid out on a large blanket. There were piles of cucumber sandwiches, hot baked potatoes with melting butter and cheese, jugs of lemonade, chocolate cupcakes, and bowls filled with strawberries and cream.
“Now all we can do is wait,” said Mia.
Almost as soon as they had hidden behind the daisies, the three friends heard jabbering voices. A group of goblins walked across the field. All of them were carrying backpacks, and the girls could see a large net poking out of one of them.
Rachel nudged Kirsty and pointed. One of the backpacks was glowing silvery-blue!
“The silver veil!” Kirsty exclaimed.
As soon as the goblins greedily reached for the food, it disappeared! Mia, Rachel, and Kirsty fluttered out from their hiding place and faced the goblins.
“Give back the veil!” Mia demanded. “It doesn’t belong to you!”
“You tricky fairies!” the tallest goblin yelped, scowling.
“Please give back the veil,” Kirsty said. “Mia will reward you with as many cakes as you can eat.”
“Mmm, cakes,” said a plump goblin. “I like the sound of that.”
“It’s a trick!” said the tall goblin. “The cakes will vanish, just like the feast!”
“But I’m really hungry!” wailed the first one. “Let’s give them the silly veil!”
Mia and Kirsty were distracted by the squabbling goblins, but Rachel suddenly turned pale.
“Kirsty,” she said, “how many goblins did you see come into the field?”
“Um … seven,” Kirsty replied. “Why?”
“Because now there are only five of them,” Rachel said, alarmed.
They whirled around — just as the two remaining goblins threw the net over them from behind!
The other goblins stopped fighting and tied the net shut with a rope.
“Oh no!” whispered Mia. “I dropped my wand!”
“Tee-hee!” giggled the tall goblin. “We tricked the tricky fairies!”
They snickered and waved at Mia and the girls, who were squashed together in the net. Then they ran off toward Bickwood.
“Ouch!” exclaimed Rachel. “I think you’ve got your elbow in my ear, Kirsty.”
“Sorry,” said Kirsty, moving it.
“Ooh, now it’s in my ear!” said Mia.
“Sorry!” cried Kirsty again. “Oh, what are we going to do?”
“Mia, can you use your magic to get us out of here?” asked Rachel.
“Not without my wand.” Mia sighed.
“We’ve got to get out of here fast, or the goblins will escape!” Rachel exclaimed.
“Girls,” Mia said suddenly. “Listen!”
They went silent, and heard a loud snuffling noise. A brown field mouse was scurrying toward them.
“Excuse me,” called Mia. “Can you please help us? We’re stuck!”
The little mouse sat up on its back legs and sniffed the air. Its whiskers twitched. Then it hurried over and nibbled at the net. Soon it had made a hole large enough for the friends to clamber through.
As Mia picked up her wand, she kissed the tip of the field mouse’s nose. “Thank you so much!” she whispered. Mia waved her wand, and a pile of nuts and berries appeared in front of the happy mouse.
Then the three friends fluttered their crumpled wings and rose into the air. As they flew toward Bickwood, the night seemed to grow darker.
“The eclipse of the moon is almost complete!” Rachel cried.
As the Earth’s shadow finally covered the moon, one street was still bathed in light.
“That’s where the silver veil is!” cried Mia in triumph.
“And the goblins!” Rachel reminded her.
The light was coming from a wedding store. The girls quickly flew down, peered through the window — and gasped.
The shop was crawling with goblins, all wearing veils, wedding dresses, hats, and high heels! One of them was walking with his arms held out, balancing a pile of wobbling tiaras on his head.
Another was wearing a gold tuxedo. He was poking a goblin in a pink frilly bridesmaid dress.
“Get away!” yelled the goblin in the dress.
He tried to kick, but his foot got caught in the dress and he tripped over himself.
Rachel, Kirsty, and Mia slipped into the store through the mail slot and fluttered to hide behind a large hat. Somewhere among those puffy dresses, pink frills, and dressed-up goblins was the silver veil … but where?
“I bet Jack Frost would be furious if he could see the goblins goofing off!” Mia said.
“You just gave me an idea!” Kirsty exclaimed. “Mia, could you make my voice sound like Jack Frost’s?”
Mia nodded thoughtfully, then waved her wand toward Kirsty.
“Did it work?” Kirsty asked in a growly whisper.
“You sound exactly like him!” Rachel gasped.
“You’d better be quick,” Mia said. “The magic won’t last long.”
Kirsty took a deep breath.
“What are you doing, you fools?” she bellowed.
The goblins froze in terror.
“You should be hiding the silver veil, not enjoying yourselves!” Kirsty roared.
The goblins looked around wildly.
“W-we w-were j-just about to h-hide it, s-sir!” stammered the goblin in the wedding dress.
“You’re useless!” Kirsty shouted. “Give me the silver veil, or I’ll turn you all into goblin ice sculptures!”
Trembling, the goblin pulled a shimmering square of material from the bodice of the wedding dress. Mia darted forward to grab it, but Rachel stopped her.
“Not yet!” she whispered.
“Put it on the floor!” ordered Kirsty in a booming voice. “Then turn around!”
The goblins obeyed, and the girls flew out from their hiding place to grab the veil.
“Now shut your eyes!” Kirsty shouted.
But her voice cracked — the spell was wearing off! The goblins turned around, saw the girls, and immediately rushed forward. Hands pulled at the silver veil from all sides.
“It’s going to rip!” Mia exclaimed. “We have to let go! We can’t let it be ruined!”
In despair, Mia and the girls let go. But the goblins weren’t expecting that! They all tumb
led backward, and the silver veil flew into the air.
“Quick, Mia!” Kirsty called out.
As Mia darted up and caught it, the veil shrank back down to fairy-size.
The girls looked down and giggled. The goblins had fallen backward and crashed into racks of wedding dresses. All that the girls could see were seven pairs of green legs waving in the air, surrounded by dresses, ribbons, and veils.
“Get me out of here!” yelled a muffled voice from under a heap of lace.
Mia and the girls flew quickly out of the mail slot and landed gently on the pavement outside the store.
“Thank you, girls!” Mia said. “I’ll make sure that the store is all cleaned up before morning. But first, I have to return the silver veil to Fairyland!”
“I’ve never seen anything shine like that before,” said Rachel.
She and Kirsty gently touched the veil. It was so fine that they could hardly feel it under their fingers, and it lit up their faces with its sparkling light. It made them feel safe and warm just to look at it.
“It belonged to a very happy bride,” Mia told them. “The first Queen of Fairyland. It’s made from moonlight, and happiness is woven inside its threads.”
She folded the veil into the tiniest square Rachel and Kirsty could imagine. It was now so small that the girls could only see its blue-silver glow. Mia tucked it into the silk pouch and put it in a pocket in her dress.
“Will you come with me to return it?” she asked.
The girls nodded eagerly as Mia looked up into the sky. The eclipse was ending, and a single moonbeam was making a pool of light on the pavement.
Mia the Bridesmaid Fairy Page 3
