Tanya continued watching the village until no more patrols returned and the only movement below was around the Stay Bushes. Unaware of how many hours she had been sitting in that awkward position, Tanya flexed her muscles and quietly climbed down the large oak tree. Slowly and silently, she maneuvered her way around the orchard to the point that would offer the shortest distance to the large apple tree.
Slowly, step-by-step, Tanya inched her way towards the Queen’s tree, stopping every few steps to listen for any sounds. Half-way there, Tanya had to press her back against a tree and hold her breath as a fairy came out of his hole and flew to another. Two many hours of being cramped up in a tree or behind a bush caused Tanya to feel weary, but the adrenaline of sneaking into the fairies’ stronghold kept her alert. Finally, after what seemed an eternity, Tanya reached the Queen’s tree. She put her ear against the tree, but nothing could be heard. Steeling her courage, Tanya scrapped her finger along the underside of the platform on the other side of the tree. Leaning so she could just see around the large tree’s trunk, she waited. Nothing happened.
Tanya stuck her finger out and, as lightly as she could, tapped the underside of the platform. Hearing a distant rustling of cloth, Tanya got ready. Queen Mita walked out on the platform and stared around. As quickly as she could, Tanya reached out and grabbed the Queen of the Fairies.
Surprisingly, the Queen did not cry out. Tanya held one finger to her lips and brought the fairy up to her face with her other hand. Tanya quickly realized why the Queen had not cried out and shifted her grasp so the Queen could breath.
“I am sorry,” whispered Tanya. “Make no sound and you will be safely returned.”
The Queen glared at Tanya and spoke in a dignified voice. “You will gain nothing by taking me. The Fairies will not bow down to your kind for the life of their Queen. Another will take my place and your friends will be killed.”
“I wish to talk with you without ending up in your Stay Bushes,” whispered Tanya. “Will you be quiet and come with me or must we have unnecessary bloodshed on both sides?”
“I will talk with you,” declared the Queen, “but we will do so right here. If you manage to get me out of the orchard, my armies will pursue you and we will not have a chance to talk. I guarantee that when our discussion is over, you will be allowed to walk out of here freely.”
“And then be pursued with a vengeance,” Tanya snorted. “You will pledge your son’s life as my guarantee of safety. Swear on Prince Midge’s life that I will not be pursued or harmed.”
“As long as you do no harm to my people,” Queen Mita affirmed, “you have my pledge on my son’s life.”
“Very well,” Tanya accepted as she placed Queen Mita on the small balcony. “I have heard stories of your dealings with the Great Mage and he is said to have believed you an honorable and trustworthy people. I will chance my life on his words.”
“You know the Great Mage?” Queen Mita questioned.
“No,” replied Tanya, “but my uncle knows of his stories including the one where he restored this orchard and had Prince Midge accompany him to imprison Alutar.”
“So that is how you knew my son’s name,” reflected the Queen. “Why have your people come into our orchard?”
“We were captured before coming to your orchard,” Tanya corrected, “but we would have come here anyway. My friends and I seek to end the Dark One’s rule and our journey requires us to speak with you about the Holy Sapphire.”
“What does the Holy Sapphire have to do with ending the Darkness?” queried the Queen.
At that point a shout rang out from somewhere in the orchard that was quickly followed by more shouts. Tanya swung around and saw hundreds of fairies emerging from all over the orchard. As she turned back to grab the Queen, she saw Queen Mita holding her hand up to the gathering fairies.
“Hold,” the Queen shouted. “This human is my guest and will not be harmed. All of you go back to sleep, but send Midge here.”
The fairies reluctantly turned and disappeared. In an amazingly short time, Prince Midge landed on the platform. “As you can see,” Queen Mita stated, “the Mage told the truth. You may trust the word of the fairies. Son, this is the missing human and I have guaranteed her safety with your life.”
Prince Midge just nodded and stood on the platform next to his mother. “You were talking about the Holy Sapphire,” reminded the Queen.
“Yes,” began Tanya while shaking her head. “The Prophecy states that the Dark One will be killed by the Sword of Heavens which we possess. Before the Sword may be used, the seven gems in its hilt must be restored. Your Holy Sapphire is one of those gems.”
A green fairy suddenly landed on the platform, startling Tanya. He quickly whispered something in Midge’s ear and they both flew off. Dismissing the interruption, the Queen sat down.
“The fairies’ very existence is dependent on the Holy Sapphire,” the Queen explained as Prince Midge returned. “We cannot just turn it over to you even if we had a desire to do so.”
“The Sword of Heavens gave us a vision before it led us here,” Tanya explained. “The vision showed the Sapphire and a blue fairy reciting a verse. That verse said that the Sapphire was a lie. Surely you know the verse that was spoken by the fairy in the vision.”
“I know the verse very well,” confided the Queen. “This is the verse you speak of:”
Your blood will flow ‘til none is left
While darkness around you descends
On Holy Sapphire all you have
Fate of the Fairies do depend.
The Crown of Light the Fairies’ Life
Without it all are doomed to die
The Holy Sapphire just a patch
Redemption only just a lie.”
Prince Midge stared off into the forest as he said:
The Bringer knows not what he does
But fate has chosen only he
Who bears the mark upon his chest
The Winged Serpent death doth flee.
Queen Mita snapped her head to glare at her son, but the Prince returned her glare with determination.
“He is here,” Prince Midge proclaimed. “He is one of the humans which we captured today. That is what brought Pixy to the platform moments ago.”
“Wake him and bring him here,” snapped the Queen.
“What is happening?” Tanya asked. “What is this about a Bringer?”
“You have heard only the beginning of the Fairy Prophecy,” Queen Mita explained. “The rest deals with someone known to us as the Bringer. We have always assumed that the Bringer would be a fairy, but my son believes that one of your companions is meant to fulfill the Prophecy. We shall see soon enough. You have asked for my peoples’ restraint. I now ask the same pledge from you. I am having one of your companions brought here in an awakened state. You will ensure that fairies do not come to harm through his actions.”
“I shall,” Tanya agreed as she watched Arik annoyingly march towards the tree.
“What is going on?” he demanded of Tanya. “Why have they freed us and not the others?”
“Arik, please restrain your temper,” Tanya suggested. “I want to know the answers to that and many other questions. Queen Mita has agreed to talk with us in peace and I have promised our cooperation and their safety. Let us hear what the Queen wants with you.”
“So, your name is Arik,” greeted Queen Mita. “This is my son, Prince Midge. Arik, would you kindly bare your chest?”
Arik look stunned and turned to look at Tanya, who was obviously confused about where the Queen was leading. “I would prefer not to, Your Highness,” Arik finally declared.
Tanya was shocked at Arik’s answer to the Queen, but Queen Mita merely smiled. “If you have any chance whatsoever of even seeing the Holy Sapphire, you will have to comply. I am told that you bear a strange mark on your chest and as the Queen of the Fairies, I must make decisions based on what I see. I assure you that I am not asking to embarrass you.”
“Son,” she ordered, “free the prisoners and invite them here. I will offer them my apologies when they arrive, but yours may be needed at the time they are released. They are to be treated as guests, but I fear they may take offense at the way they have been treated already.”
After Midge had left to free the Rangers, the Queen returned her attention to Arik. “I am sorry if I have embarrassed you, Arik,” she apologized. “You are a special person to the fairy people and a very honored guest. If you wish not to be embarrassed by this in front of your people, you have only to request it and I will make sure it is not mentioned. As for Tanya’s lips, that is your own problem.”
“What does it all mean?” Arik asked. “It is only a rash which I picked up in Tagaret.”
“It is not a rash, Arik,” the Queen assured him. “It is the mark of the Bringer. You have been chosen to return the Crown of Light to the fairy people. Who chose you or how you were chosen is unknown to me and does not matter. The Prophecy foretells of your arrival and the task that awaits you. If you want the Holy Sapphire, you will have to return the Crown of Light to the fairy people.”
“Where do I find this Crown of Light?” Arik asked.
“I have absolutely no idea,” confessed the Queen. “It has been lost for ages and if any fairy knew where it existed, we would already have it in our possession. It is the very symbol of the Fairy Monarchy.”
Chapter 24
Reflections
Garth, Kalina, Fredrik, Niki, and Tedi were brought to the Father Tree in the apple orchard to meet Queen Mita of the fairies. Tanya smiled openly at their arrival, but Arik seemed distant and lost in thought. Queen Mita stood regally on the platform and welcomed the humans.
“Greeting to you all and welcome to the land of the fairies,” she intoned. “You have my deepest apologies for the treatment given to you upon your arrival. While I did not order your capture, I did know about it afterwards and consented to your imprisonment. For that I can only offer apologies that are insufficient to compensate you. You are now free and are welcome as my guests. We will extend every courtesy to you during your time with us. I am Queen Mita, Queen of the Fairies, and this is my son, Prince Midge.”
Kalina stood with a tight grimace on her lips. Fredrik and Tedi looked around as if to determine whether or not they were in some kind of dream. Niki peered at the small Queen as if examining her wardrobe. Garth stepped forward and bowed.
“If the thoughts of your soldiers were that we were coming to attack you, then they behaved admirably,” Garth offered. “We had no way of announcing our arrival, but we have ridden far and long to seek your audience. We have a matter of grave importance that must be discussed with Your Highness. I am known as Garth Shado.”
Queen Mita smiled deeply. “You are a most eloquent and gracious guest, Garth. I have been discussing your adventure with Tanya and Arik. I know why you have come and what it is that you seek. The Holy Sapphire will be presented to Arik when he returns the Crown of Light to the fairy people. Introduce me to the rest of your group.”
Garth threw a puzzled look at Arik and Tanya as he introduced the Rangers to Queen Mita. The Queen apologized and welcomed each member of the group before addressing Garth again.
“I assume by the others’ deference to you, Garth, that you are the group’s leader,” the Queen began. “It is late and while you have slept, my people have not. Midge will help you set up camp and we will discuss things in the morning.”
Garth nodded and Midge flew down to hover before him. After inquiring about the Rangers’ requirements, Midge selected an area of the orchard that was not far from the Father Tree and still allowed for a campfire. The Rangers set up camp while flinging questions to Arik and Tanya. Arik ignored all of the questions and was the first down on his blanket to go to sleep. Tanya looked quizzically at Arik every time someone asked her what was going on. Eventually, she suggested that discussing it in the morning was a good idea and she also retired. With no one to answer their questions the rest of the Rangers drifted off to sleep.
Garth awoke early and retrieved water from the stream to make coffee. As soon as Garth got the fire going, Prince Midge appeared to offer his help. Garth’s questions were shrugged off with an explanation that Garth should learn of the discussion from his own people. Midge did prove to be pleasant company and Garth enjoyed stories about fairy life. Of course, Midge’s favorite story was about the time he accompanied the Mage and Garth detected the soul of an adventurer in the fairy Prince. Midge did explain to Garth what had happened on the trail with the casting of the Sleep Spell, the levitation of the prisoners, and the disappearance of Tanya.
Soon the smell of breakfast and the sound of voices awakened the Ranger camp. Many fairies were already roaming about the orchard and all of them sported inquiring glances, but no one bothered the humans. Garth invited Midge to join them for breakfast and the green fairy was elated. Over breakfast, Tanya explained how she avoided capture and planned the infiltration. Garth thought Midge’s eyes would fly out of his head when Tanya described how she grabbed the Queen. When she got to the part about the Queen’s determination to see Arik’s chest and some reference to the Bringer, all eyes turned towards Arik. Arik turned bright red and stalked off to his blanket.
“What is all this about?” Kalina demanded of Midge.
“It is not my place to talk about it,” Midge declared.
“The Queen said that she would forbid her people to talk of it if Arik requested her to do so,” Tanya prodded. “Arik did not make such a request.”
Midge stared over at Arik while he talked. “Our Prophecy foretells of the one who will return the Crown of Light to our people,” Midge finally got out. “We know Arik to be that individual whom we call the Bringer.”
“How do you know it is Arik?” pressed Kalina.
“He bears the mark foretold upon his chest,” frowned Midge. “Now that I have told you, will you spare him further grief and embarrassment?”
“What else do the Prophecies foretell?” Garth asked.
“I am only permitted to speak of the Prophecy as far as I have,” declared Midge. “To say more is to betray my people. Please do not abuse the hospitality that we have extended.”
With that Midge flew off to sit near Arik. “You have no reason to be ashamed of what you bear,” Midge told Arik. “I would gladly bear it for you if that were possible. It is a sign of greatness to my people. You should remove your shirt and wear the mark as a badge of honor because you have been chosen for an honorable task. There is not one among my people that would look upon it with anything but envy and awe. You are to be respected and revered.”
Arik looked at the diminutive Prince and smiled. “Thank you, Prince Midge,” he said softly. “Your words are kind and I respect them, but I am not a fairy. My own people will find amusement in my disfigurement and I will be scorned as a freak. I just want it to go away. I want to return home and fish with my father.”
“Alas, Arik,” Midge sighed, “greatness can not be discarded. Destiny cannot be tossed by the wayside with careless abandonment. For whatever reason you were chosen to perform this great deed, only you can perform it. What comfort could you enjoy with your father, knowing that there were people who needed help, which only you could provide? Face it, my friend, you have been chosen and you will perform the task. Given that, make the best of it. Be proud of who you are and strive to do your best. I will help you in any way I can.”
“Thank you, Midge,” Arik said. “You have mighty words for one so small. Perhaps you can help me practice my swordsmanship.”
Midge turned a pale green and Arik laughed. “I am sorry, Midge,” he apologized. “Practicing helps me clear my head and I did not think before I spoke. Your words have helped me and I will dwell on them while I practice.”
> Arik rose and called out to Tanya about practicing. She rose immediately and joined Arik in a clear area away from the fire.
“Practicing is a good idea,” she mentioned. “It will clear your mind and make you realize that we are all friends here and will help each other through whatever difficulties we face.”
Arik nodded and squared off with his practice sword. Once the swordplay got underway, Tanya noticed that Arik’s mind was still on his troubles. She pushed hard at him with a variety of strokes. Quickly, Arik responded to her vigor, first defensively, then with bold attacks of his own. The fighting between Arik and Tanya became so intense that Fredrik and Tedi stopped practicing with their staffs to watch. Kalina and Niki also abandoned their magic lessons and soon a crowd of people and fairies had gathered to watch the dueling pair.
Tanya tossed her cap to the ground and rolled past Arik while attempting a hit across his legs. Arik caught her movements just in time and leaped over her sword swing. Upon landing he rolled himself into a ball and continued away from Tanya so she would not catch him turning around. Jumping to his feet, he saw Tanya closing on him and raised his wooden sword to deflect her blow.
The two warriors continued on, oblivious to the crowd, focusing their entire attention on each other. His body aching and drenched with sweat, Arik subconsciously stripped off his shirt and threw it to the ground just in time to fend off another of Tanya’s attacks.
The fairies in the crowd gasped at the sight of the mark upon his chest. Niki hid her face with her hands and Garth and Kalina stared without expression. Fredrik and Tedi started to laugh and both felt something hard strike the backs of their heads. Turning around they saw Midge and another fairy with slingshots and the fairies were not smiling. Their laughter died in their throats as they turned back to watch the match.
Sapphire of the Fairies, Book 1 of Sword of Heavens Page 29
