by A V Awenna
***
Demi had expected Blackbird to still be in the basket when she emerged in this new world. Maybe he had fallen out on the ground, or in the water – she had to make sure she didn’t tread on him. The rustling of branches made her look up, but the person who emerged wasn’t Blackbird, but a woman clad in shades of leaf and sky. She was a fairy – her wings gave that away – but although she wasn’t even five feet tall, she oozed power and strength. Her dress, leggings and boots were exquisite; well-made and richly-embroidered. Her thick glossy hair was held back from her face – her wise, solemn face – by a matching headpiece. She was holding a shawl, but in her hands it looked like a formidable weapon. And yet – a fleeting first impression remained, of a startled woman, her expression changing from hope to anxiety, wearing once-costly but now shabby clothing, the embroidery fraying and many beads missing. That headpiece had initially seemed to be just a strip torn from something to keep the woman’s grown-out fringe from her eyes. Demi felt she was literally being dazzled by the woman’s glamour. She stood firm, the empty basket in her hand, until she heard a man’s voice calling, ‘Pefryn, Demali, it’s okay.’
The fairy woman’s demeanour changed once again, as she faced the direction the voice and handed the shawl into the branches. Moments later Blackbird emerged, full-sized with the shawl wrapped around his hips. Demi recognised him straight away, but man-sized he was all sinewy chest and hairy legs – it was startling! Blackbird and Pefryn threw their arms around each other, near-naked as he was. ‘My heart!’ she exclaimed. ‘It’s so dangerous for you here! We’re outside the city, but even so! How did you return?’
Blackbird lifted his head from Pefryn’s shoulder. ‘I think I can lift the curse on Tefyn. If so, my exile is lifted. But there are many things I need to do first.’
He introduced Demi as his Little Friend, but the way he said it made it sound like a great honour.
‘You found her?’ Pefryn asked. ‘After so many years?’
‘She and her companions have protected me these last few weeks,’ he explained. ‘I owe them everything. And it seems she is to be part of the solution – the nixies wouldn’t bring me without her.’
Pefryn grasped Demi’s hands, and gave her a look of pure adoration.
‘Come,’ said Pefryn, ‘there is a place nearby where we can shelter and exchange news. Follow me.’
With a gesture from Pefryn, the branches parted. Demi followed the fairies into the trees, noting how the branches closed behind them. A short path led to the biggest of the trees, branches spiralling around its trunk. Demi followed Pefryn up and around the stairway of branches, until her head emerged in a huge green space. A living basket of woven branches and twigs, the gaps filled with leaves of all colours and transparency. Dense autumn leaves of brown and gold made the floor and walls, whilst the ceiling was pale translucent green, and panels of skeletal winter leaves here and there let in light. Pefryn was gesturing to Demi to sit, and Demi realised there was furniture within, grown in the same way. There wasn’t a straight line anywhere, and although it was obviously held together with magic, it was solid and stable.
Blackbird complimented Pefryn on her architectural skills, and Pefryn explained that the tree was happy to allow Pefryn to control its growth in return for the company and protection. She was ladling water into a strange crystal-fuelled contraption, which Demi realised, was a kettle, of sorts.
‘But how did you come to be here?’ Blackbird asked. ‘What foul trick of Hafren’s drove you from the city, and your poor husband?’
‘I’m surprised you speak so kindly of Tefyn after the damage he caused you.’ Pefryn replied.
‘If I don’t forgive him, things will never be healed,’ Blackbird said. ‘Have you forgiven him for doubting you?’
‘Not entirely. He is learning to relinquish jealousy. Being deprived of our company has made him realise how much he values us. But let me tell you how I came to be here...
‘Everyone accepted I was true to my husband during his absence, and the allegations against you and I were baseless. It seems Tefyn’s messenger was intercepted on his way to see me and persuaded by some friends to join them for beer and stories. He left a message with staff at the Lodge, but by the time it reached us it had been altered. The messengers were Fairy, so of course they were made to take the blame, and the way things were changed to incriminate us was overlooked. It was all dealt with so quickly anyway; there was no time to truly consider the issues. After the sentence of exile was passed on you, Hafren pushed for me to disown you. With Tefyn damaged and in great pain, Hafren seized his chance to extend his influence. And of course, rumours were still breeding, despite the lack of any grounds for them. A few days after you were exiled, I was confronted with a ridiculous choice – disown you for your disrespect of my husband’s Place, or lose all of my Place.’
Blackbird gasped. ‘You don’t mean...’
‘Yes,’ Pefryn said, head bowed. ‘He had already had you declared Nobody, and he threatened to declare me Nothing.’
‘How can he do this? Why is no-one stopping him?’ Blackbird demanded.
‘Tefyn was under the care of his healers,’ Pefryn said, ‘heavily sedated with dreamweed. Hafren was already Chancellor, but he assumed some of Tefyn’s roles and responsibilities. He claimed he was doing it to help Annwn in a time of great crisis, but of course he was increasing his own power. And he wanted to neutralise me. I was the only fairy left with any Place, so it wasn’t too difficult.’
‘So what happened?’ Blackbird asked.
‘I told him I wouldn’t disown an innocent man, nor would I accept the jurisdiction of an unelected leader. He threatened me, pointing out that as Nothing it wouldn’t matter what I did. It was chilling. He simply said, “You will be treated as if you do not exist, until the time comes when that is the case. Once you have ceased to live, your remains will be added to the city midden.” Then all present turned away from me. I took wing and left the city, soaring on the thermals until I spied this place. I couldn’t even take my leave of Tefyn.
‘That first night was terrible, although I was too numb to feel the cold or hunger. But this tree welcomed me into its shelter, and I fluffed up my feathers and waited.
‘In the dark of the night, I heard someone calling. It was a fairy, with food and a message from Tefyn. He had learned of my situation, and promised his support. I shared the food with the messenger before sending him back to Tefyn with a reply.’
‘And how long until you forgave him?’ Blackbird asked.
‘I still haven’t forgiven him - not completely, and I won’t until he rights the wrongs he did to you. But within a week he had healed enough to come to me, and I accepted him. He is the only elf brave enough to leave Annwn after dark,’ Pefryn replied.
‘But he can cast lights,’ Blackbird said. ‘He uses crystals; I’ve seen him.’
‘I know,’ Pefryn said. ‘He’s a clever magician. But he’s an elf; his night vision is so poor that even with his crystals and the trail of lights I laid for him, he can barely see his own feet. Once I coaxed the nixies back to the portal the journey was much easier. The First Citizen of Annwn can use the portals whenever he likes – it saves him a long walk.’
‘I fear I will have to make that walk soon,’ Blackbird sighed. ‘I need to meet with Tefyn and attempt to heal him. This is more urgent than I realised.’
‘But there’s no need!’ Pefryn exclaimed. ‘Tefyn visits me every night, so just wait here ’til he arrives. You and your Little Friend look as though you could use some sleep. I’ll send one of my dragonflies to alert him. Do you need him to bring anything from the city?’
‘I can’t ask for anything – it’s part of undoing the curse,’ Blackbird replied. ‘I have to accept all that is given to me, whether blows or blessings. But if you think it’s acceptable for me to wait here...it’s after midnight in the world we just left, and i
t would be so good to just rest for a while.’
‘Don’t forget Mr Gently,’ Demi said.
‘Oh, stars!’ Blackbird exclaimed. ‘We need to find someone – a fairy called Rusty who visited Terra maybe six decades ago. He’s been calling for his friend – we have the friend’s life in this egg here.’
‘My dragonflies can help here, too.’ Pefryn called another dragonfly – a bronze creature with pale gold, buzzing wings – and it settled on the egg, probing the shell with its proboscis. Then it sped away out of the tree.
‘There is a path to Annwn,’ Pefryn said, ‘and it’s not too far to fly, even for an old fairy. The dragonfly will find him and bring him to us.’
Pefryn was stirring leaves and flowers into the water she had just boiled. A smell of summer meadows filled the room, although to Demi it smelt of Summer Meadow scented toilet cleaner.
Pefryn stirred the mixture a few times with a wooden ladle, then scooped some out into cups. Demi noticed they were made from birch bark, like the ones Heledd’s mum had bought because people in Russia made them and needed the money.
She approached Demi, holding the cup in both hands, and bowed her head as she offered it.
‘Accept it,’ Blackbird murmured.
Demi-Lee took the cup with both hands, trying to nod her head they way the fairy had done. ‘This is to drink, right?’ she whispered, making Blackbird roll his eyes.
Pefryn returned with a mug for Blackbird, then came and joined them with her own drink. Pefryn was fascinated by Demi-Lee, and exhausted her with questions. She wanted to know how all the technology in Demi-Lee’s world worked, but of course, Demi couldn’t explain. That was Vicky’s territory. Demi distracted her with tales of TV, fashion, gadgets and music, weaving 21st Century Wales into a world of dazzling wonders.
Demi was starting to flag – and so thirsty from talking she was actually considering drinking some of the tea – when a dragonfly returned, and circled Pefryn before leaving again. ‘The old fairy is on his way,’ Pefryn said. ‘I’ll be back soon – I must open the pathway for him.’
‘Her magic’s amazing isn’t it?’ Demi said. ‘Does she talk to those dragonflies somehow?’
‘Anyone can talk to a dragonfly,’ Blackbird replied. ‘Getting it to listen is the difficult thing – and to talk back to you. But Pefryn’s a good listener.’
Moments later Pefryn returned with Rusty. The old fairy was fluttering with excitement, and clasping his hands in anticipation.
She knew it was Tom’s fairy – not just the eager anticipation, but the red-gold shades of his hair and feathers, now flecked with white, like snow on Autumn leaves. Demi was surprised by how old he looked. True, he was in good shape considering he was at least as old as Tom – he looked like a healthy man in his early 50’s - but Demi had assumed fairies were ageless. She wondered how old Blackbird was. Younger than this one, anyway.
‘Hay-lo,’ he said. He had a cute accent. ‘Are you the little witch from Terra?’
‘I am,’ Demi replied. ‘Was it you Tom Gently met in the snow all those years back? If so, this is yours.’ She handed him the copper wristband; he turned it over in his hand, looking puzzled.
‘There’s symbols inside. Do they mean anything to you?’ Demi asked.
Rusty’s face creased up, in the smile Tom had described so vividly, when he saw the ‘explode and recycle’ symbol.
‘This is the promise I gave my friend. This is what binds us,’ he replied.
‘Can you explain it? To these fairies, if not to me,’ Demi asked.
Rusty conferred with the other fairies in their own language, then Blackbird spoke. ‘It means something like, “What I give I receive; what I steal I lose” ’, he explained.
‘Does that help at all?’ Demi asked him.
‘A little. It confirms what I thought.’ Blackbird replied.
Rusty took the band in both hands, holding it delicately between both thumbs and forefingers, and held it out so it formed a loop within the circle of his arms. He focussed on it, and Demi saw a blue glitter travel along its edges. He smiled and handed it to her.
‘Now it has power,’ Rusty said. ‘Wear this, and it binds you to all others who wear it.’ She took the bangle and thanked him. She could feel the magic within it. Her own amulet, offering protection and reward! But there was someone who needed it more than she did. She kissed the bangle for luck, then handed it to Blackbird.
‘You need this more than me,’ she said. ‘Especially if you’ve got to meet that nasty Hafren.’
Blackbird smiled as he slipped it over his wrist. He was so dainty he had to squeeze it really tight to stop it slipping around.
‘Demali, thank you,’ Blackbird said. ‘This binds us now. You gave this to me, and you will receive. It binds you to Rusty too.’
‘May it bring us all good things,’ said the old fairy.
‘This is what I really brought for you,’ said Demi. ‘We put Tom’s life in this egg. He said you’d been sending nixies for him.’
A wistful expression crossed Rusty’s face. He took the egg in his hands, making a circle of his arms as before, and focussed. His forehead wrinkled with the concentration, but soon the egg cracked, and a tiny creature pushed its way free. A little man, of adult proportions, but just three inches tall, stood on Rusty’s palm.
Rusty lifted his old friend to eye level and smiled. Fear passed over Tom’s face as he saw the giant face looking back at him, then he realised where he was, and smiled back. Tom tried to speak, but could make only the tiniest squeak.
Rusty spoke gently, ‘My old friend, it’s so good to see you again. I will take you home with me now, feed you and grow you. You shall be man-sized again within a few months.’
‘Stay and share a drink with us first,’ said Pefryn. ‘You can tell us the mood in Annwn – it would be helpful to know where we stand.’
They drank some more of the strange herbal tea, and Pefryn made a sugary concoction for Tom to help him grow. Rusty fed it to him drop by drop from the end of a clean twig, whilst chatting to Blackbird and Pefryn in Fairy. Demi couldn’t understand a word, but it sounded like bad news. Blackbird noticed her confusion, and told her that Light of Truth, the political party led by Hafren, was becoming more powerful – and violent.
Presently Rusty left, with Tom riding in the basket and Pefryn opening the path once more. Demi and Blackbird made themselves comfortable in Pefryn’s tree-home, and Demi was just falling into a doze when a commotion disturbed her. From a little distance away, several raised voices could be heard.
‘City guards!’ Blackbird said. ‘They know I’m here. They’ve come to arrest me.’
‘Don’t go, Blackbird,’ Demi pleaded. ‘Can’t we hide here? Let Pefryn tell them we’ve gone?’
‘That would be cowardice – and unfair to Tom and Rusty,’ he said. ‘The guards are holding them hostage.’
Reluctantly, Pefryn reopened the path, and they walked back through the trees. Demi could see two enormous men in the clearing, one restraining Rusty, the other laughing as he dangled something between his thumb and forefinger. It was Tom!
