Nicole repeated the question and paused, before saying, “I chose to go and sing to the others. I didn’t choose to be helpless. I took charge of what I could,” she said. “I’m still doing what I can right now!”
“You are indeed. You’ve taken a significant step toward healing your memories. We can do more over the next day or two, but right now you need to support your body physically with nutrition. I can smell whatever Symba’s been preparing. Let’s go check it out.”
Nicole stood up and hugged Brigid. “Thank you. I can’t really put into words how different I feel inside, but I do. Let’s go eat. You’re right, I’m starving again!”
Brigid offered Nicole a warm hug in return. “At lunch, I recommend some Earl Grey tea and I have some bergamot oil you can use on the points I showed you. It’ll help balance the stress hormones that have been flooding your body and improve your mental and emotional wellbeing.”
“Cool,” said Nicole as they walked toward the kitchen. “I’ve always loved that tea. Now I know why.”
Symba was pulling a bubbling lasagna out of the oven. She placed it on a hotplate and slid a cooking sheet full of heavily buttered and herbed bread into the oven to grill. She looked up as Nicole and Brigid arrived.
“Excellent, you’re just in time to help,” said Symba. “I have a few finishing touches to put on the salad, if you two could set the table and round the others up.”
Brigid offered to go collect the others because she wanted to grab an herbal digestive aid from her supplies. As everyone gathered around the table, Brigid passed the three rescuees glasses of water mixed with the aid.
“It may not be as exciting as wine or stimulating as coffee, but this aid will assist your bodies in accessing and utilizing the maximal nutrition of the food Symba has prepared for us.”
Bernard raised his glass. “For rescue and for healing, for courage and believing, for food and for your friendship, we lift these glasses tonight.”
They all toasted together. Plates were eagerly filled, and taste buds soon delighted in the meal that had been prepared. As the first edge of hunger was blunted, Evander shared the tale of the fairy prophecy and how he, Treena, and Brigid were from the Fairy Realm. Nicole was entranced to learn they were from another Realm that she’d only heard about in stories.
“How did you make it through? I thought there was a military installment at the portal,” Matthias said.
Treena explained how they’d used their gifts and ended up linked with Quillon and Symba. Quillon described the work he did and how his contact with Gerarda led the team to be involved in the rescue.
Quillon continued, “While you were resting, I initiated a few searches. I don’t have a lot of data yet, but I can tell you this much: Nicole, I was able to check in on your parents and they’re still at your home in Frankonia. There hasn’t been as much activity in that country as some others.”
“Communities there are very tight-knit and protective of each other,” Nicole stated. “That’s part of the reason I wanted to come here to study, to experience a little more freedom.”
“Your human host family is fine. They were in contact with your parents, and they have searched for you discreetly but persistently. It’s too close to your rescue to email them but, as soon as it’s safe, we’ll reach out. I don’t have any information on your boyfriend.”
“My family?” Bernard leaned forward, the creases across his forehead were deeply furrowed.
“Gerarda and her crew will keep a low profile as they tend to the other rescuees. We agreed to be in touch within twenty-four hours, so I may know more then. I’m sorry I don’t have more for you yet, Bernard,” said Quillon.
“I’ve managed to get through this long without knowing their fate. Surely I can be patient for one more day.”
Quillon turned to Matthias. “Luna is my local shapeshifter contact. I notified her yesterday about the convoy. She was watching for my communication and responded immediately. Your fight at the casino achieved what you wanted.”
A glint of hope flickered in Matthias’ eyes.
“Your brother and sister are in hiding, and they got word to your parents who also thought it wise to disappear.”
A quiet tear tracked down Matthias’ cheek. He abruptly stood and went to look out the window at the gardens to garner some privacy for the powerful sense of relief that was flooding through him.
“I checked news reports about the casino and it’s still running. A woman named Cassandra is operating it and word is that you and your siblings took an extended vacation to backpack around the world.”
“Thank you,” Matthias replied hoarsely.
Nicole poured a second mug of Earl Grey tea and quietly walked over beside him. She offered him the mug. “Here, the hot tea helps,” she said.
When Nicole sat down, Brigid reached over and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “Well done,” she mouthed silently.
Nicole smiled.
Evander stood up. “Since Symba cooked, I elect myself, Treena, and Nicole to be on clean-up. What do you say?”
“I’m in!” Nicole declared. “Symba, your lasagna was totally yummy. If you need help with supper, I enjoy cooking.”
Treena stalked to the sink and began filling it with water. “I’d like to suggest that we all meet in the gardens around four-thirty this afternoon. I believe that soaking in their beauty will be helpful for everyone.”
Evander, who was stacking dishes in the dishwasher, paused and then said, “I could offer my priestly skills to lead a brief ritual. The gardens are secure because of something called a holographic projection.”
He glanced over to Quillon for confirmation that he’d named it correctly. Quillon nodded.
Evander continued, “The sun is strong today, so excellent for fairy renewal time. If you need to shift, Matthias, we have black tourmaline stones. They help absorb the energetic resonance from our gifts’ activation.”
“Afterward, I expect you all in the exercise room,” said Treena. “Our bodies have absorbed a lot of tension. Today, we’ll do a calming routine with stretches for recovering bodies. Tomorrow, we’ll be back to training. As long as you’re with us, Nicole, Bernard, and Matthias, I encourage you to train with us. It would benefit us all.”
“I’m going back to my office to check on my searches. I’ll see you out in the garden,” said Quillon as he exited the kitchen.
Bernard leaned over and whispered softly to Symba. “Do you have supplies for making pizza? When they were starving Nicole, I overheard her tossing and turning in her sleep. She kept asking for pizza. I think it was one of her favorite treats. I make a pretty decent pizza dough.”
“Awesome idea,” Symba said. “We can easily cut up ingredients and set it up as a make-your-own-pizza affair. What about you? Do you have anything special you’ve missed?”
“Ice cream.” Bernard’s lips curled into a smile as he remembered. “I used to take my wife and children out to the local dairy bar for sundaes. Ice cream represents happy times and sweet memories to me.”
“We’ve got a couple varieties of ice cream in the basement freezer. I think we can plan that for dessert tonight.” Symba comfortingly covered Bernard’s hand with her own.
Nicole had returned to the table to clear the rest of the dishes. “Did I hear ice cream mentioned?”
“For dessert tonight,” Symba replied. “And Bernard suggested pizza. What do you think?”
Nicole froze and looked at Symba with wide eyes. “Truly?”
“It’ll be make-your-own, but yes, if that’s agreeable to you?”
Nicole plunked the dishes down and raced around the table to give both Symba and Bernard grateful hugs. “Yes! Yes! Yes!” she shouted.
Brigid walked over to Matthias at the window. A slight smile had lifted his lips at Nicole’s enthusiastic response.
Under cover of the hubbub at the table, he turned to Brigid. “I’m not sure I’m ready to work with you.”
Since she had walk
ed over to extend an offer of such support to him, she nodded her head in understanding. “We’re just beginning to know each other. It’s understandable not to feel safe with a stranger. I’ll be available any time you want to take that step.” Brigid glanced out the window. “Right now, I’m going to grab another cup of tea and sit on the porch steps to soak up the sun.”
“I need to shift. The energy of my body’s been building the last few days. With all the tension of this morning, my body is pushing to change. I’ll follow you out.”
“The gardens are large with private areas, so you’ll be free to move around. It’s safe and you’ll have privacy until it’s time for us to gather.”
As she went to fill her teacup, Brigid noticed a frilly apron hanging from a cupboard hook. She grabbed it and snuck behind Evander at the sink.
“Here. You should probably protect your clothes from getting sloshed with greasy water.”
She slid her arms around him and pulled the ties around his neck and waist. Letting her fingers linger and caress his neck, she tied him into the frilly affair.
“Matthias and I are off to the gardens,” Brigid said. She stood back and her gaze swept him up and down. “The apron suits you.”
Evander quickly pulled her to him for a hug and growled into her ear, “You suit me!”
Treena flicked a tea towel at Brigid. “Stop distracting my dishwasher. Some of us have work to do here.”
“I’ll get out of your way. Happy cleaning!” she laughed.
***
New Bonds
Brigid lifted her mug and slowly inhaled the bergamot’s healing scent. Each sip of the tea boosted her energy, even as it helped her relax. She felt the pleasant sensation of sunbeams warm her cheeks and a light breeze gently caressed her. She allowed her fears and the pain she so quickly picked up from others to seep out of her toes and fingers and be released into the universe. She heard a sharp yipping sound from within the garden and imagined Matthias reveling in his newly recovered freedom.
She heard the door snap shut behind her.
Evander cozied up to her on the step. “May I join you?”
She turned her head with a smile and leaned in to brush her lips pleasurably against his.
“What’s on your mind?” Evander slid his arm around Brigid’s shoulders.
“I was thinking about Matthias, the others, you, and me,” she responded.
Evander listened for her to go on, without commenting.
“Most of us hardly know each other, yet we’re being forged together through these circumstances. We’re being pushed to trust each other, with the full rawness of ourselves, without having time to build toward that trust. I have feelings for all of these people, more than I have for the people of my village back home, whom I’ve known for years. You and I—it’s less than two weeks since we met, yet my feelings for you are so intense. It’s a lot to take in and sometimes I’m afraid it’s just an illusion.”
“I’m no illusion,” said Evander, cupping her face. “Nor is what we feel for each other. I promise you. As for the others, shared experiences, especially dramatic and traumatic ones, can help us to connect more quickly with the realness of each other. Social gatherings back home often just brush the surfaces of who we are.”
“Other than Treena, I haven’t had friends like Symba and Quillon. They feel like treasured gifts in the midst of the craziness of the prophecy and being in this world. Bernard is so genuinely kind. Nicole is courageous and lovely, like a grace note that adds that extra something to a musical score. Matthias holds in all this seething trauma, yet is still able to appreciate the resilient joy that bubbles out of Nicole,” said Brigid.
The door slammed again and Treena plopped down on the other side of Brigid. “Expounding the admirable qualities of our new friends?”
“Just trying to cope with the insanity of feeling so grateful for these new bonds of friendship and trying to understand them, while wrapping my mind around facing these turbulent times and what’s been happening here,” said Brigid.
“It makes sense when you consider we three came from a relatively calm existence in a whole different realm. There’s a lot here for us to absorb, plus a huge learning curve we’re embracing,” said Treena.
“We thought the mission was murky when we left the Academy, but now our prophecy and lives are being woven into something even greater,” Evander said.
“I feel our prophecy drew us here because we’re meant to be involved with more than our own people,” said Treena.
“Now, we need to figure out what else the prophecy has to reveal. When will we meet the Player and the Mind? Will they be fairies or humans, dwarfs or shapeshifters? The possibilities have expanded, and we’ll need to keep alert and open.”
Evander stood up to go collect a few of the items he’d decided upon for the ritual. He promised to be back in a few minutes.
As the door closed behind him, Treena turned sideways to brace her back on one of the porch columns. “I know how much you pick up everyone’s emotions and the turmoil around you,” she said, looking intently into Brigid’s face. “How’re you holding up? And how are things going with Evander?”
Brigid offered a reassuring smile. “I’m doing okay. I did some release work while I sipped my tea earlier. I’m looking forward to renewing my energy in the garden; Evander’s wonderful at helping with that as well.” Memories of their interlude in the parlor swept through her mind.
She brought her attention back to Treena. “Anyway, it feels a little strange to have such happiness in the midst of others’ suffering. I have to keep recalling what you and Symba emphasized, allowing joy to balance the darkness.”
“Weren’t we the wise ones?” Treena pretended to pat herself on the back. “Seriously, I’m glad you’ve got something going on there. You share a glow with the rest of us when you’re around each other.”
She lifted her chin toward the garden. “Is Matthias out there? Maybe we should remind him it’s getting close to gathering time.”
Brigid nodded and called out, “Matthias, time to change.”
A few moments later, he was striding up the path toward them.
“He looks somewhat better,” Treena said. “That edgy despair seems to have receded a bit.”
“What did you think of the gardens?” Brigid asked as Matthias joined them on the steps.
“They were very refreshing in my other form—lots of small field mice and voles.”
“Oh,” said Brigid, not quite sure how to reply.
“Relax, Brigid. He’s yanking your chain,” said Treena. “Glad to hear you’ve got a sense of humor, Matthias, even if it’s poking fun at our lack of knowledge.”
“I was actually telling the truth. My other form is a red fox. When I shifted, I needed protein to support the healing my body wanted to do. Hunting mice and voles gave pleasure and nutrition to my fox form.”
“Huh. Good to know,” said Treena.
The porch door opened behind them. Bernard and Nicole came out with some bananas and grapes.
“Bernard and I needed a snack, so we brought these out to share.” Nicole passed the fruit around. As she gazed out beyond the porch, she exclaimed, “Wow, the gardens are fabulous.”
“Although it’s only spring, the tulips and other early flowers are abundant and pungent. I hope you’ll enjoy them as much as I have since we arrived here,” Brigid said.
“Evander was collecting things as we left the kitchen,” said Nicole, snagging another clump of grapes. “Symba’s trying to pry Quillon away from his computer.”
Brigid and Treena led the rescuees around the garden before guiding them to the center section. Nicole gasped in wonder at the flowering azaleas and then darted ahead once she saw the fountain.
Bernard halted his footsteps, soaking in the sight before him. “It’s good to remember beauty still exists,” he said.
“Hell, yes.” Matthias reached out to smooth the petals of the azalea nearest him.
Evander and Quillon appeared, carrying a few small folding chairs as well as blankets to spread around the fountain. People slowly chose their preferred seats. Nicole, Brigid, and Matthias sought out the blankets. Bernard and Treena each selected a folding chair.
Symba raced along the path. “I’m here. Sorry, I got sidetracked in the kitchen.” She plopped down onto a blanket and Quillon sat beside her.
Evander walked around and between them, encouraging them to allow the sun’s warm rays to help them relax.
As he sensed the peace spreading amongst them, he spoke. “The creative energy of life connects us—human, fairy, dwarf and shapeshifter, pure heritage and blended. We are one. We share ourselves in different ways, and we respect each other’s uniqueness. Together, with gratitude, we seek what we most need. We are safe within each other’s presence. We accept who we are.”
Evander took a seat and allowed his wings to unfurl. Treena and Symba followed his example.
Nicole looked tense.
Brigid whispered to her. “You don’t have to open your wings. You can simply be with us. You’re safe here. You can choose what feels right to you.”
Nicole whispered back, “Will you hold my hand and do it with me?”
Brigid nodded.
They joined hands. Brigid could feel Nicole’s vulnerability and fear.
“Deep breathing, like earlier.” Brigid pressed the points on Nicole’s hand to allay fear as Nicole focused on her breathing.
In and out, Nicole kept her attention on her breathing and Brigid’s healing touch. Gradually, they unfurled their wings together.
Matthias and Bernard gazed on in wonder. The sun seemed to glisten upon the spread wings. They could almost see the energy pulsing into the offered wings. They waited meditatively as the sun replenished the fairies and the shared experience refreshed them all.
Then, Evander picked up a plate and cup he’d placed in a basket. On the plate were Medjool dates, and in the cup a mild mulled cider. “Let us share these dates as a reminder of the sweetness of life, the kindness of friends, the beauty of each other. Savor, my friends.”
The Prophecy Page 19
