“Oh my…” Ink said, jumping into the air and hovering around Olivia’s head to look at the creature. “This is curious indeed! You see, Olivia, while you were on your journey, the Great Fairy and I discussed the possibilities of opening the Door one last time and of somehow giving you your own fairy to help guide the other children.”
Olivia watched the little fairy as it stumbled around on her palm. It had delicate wings that resembled leaves, although the fairy couldn’t use them at the moment.
“He sent me to make sure the Door could be opened. While I was gone, he must have figured out a way to give life to the seedling. You know… he has been holding onto to that for centuries. It’s brilliant, although I wish I knew how he had done it. No matter!” Ink turned to face the other creatures, Dust, and the kami. “Everyone, I present to you Olivia Wickworth and her fairy!”
Everyone stood for a moment, shocked, staring at the creature in Olivia’s hand. After a while, they looked around at each other and smiled in amazement. They moved closer to Olivia to look at the tiny fairy in her palm. She glanced over at the Great Fairy and closed her eyes, thanking him silently for what he had done not only for her, but also for the children of her world and for all of Aeldyn.
* * * * *
Olivia lay on the pile of blankets in the Great Fairy’s Hollow, watching her fairy explore its surroundings. Her fairy was quite a fast learner and went from timidly flapping its wings to flying around Olivia’s head in no time. Olivia watched, fascinated, as the tiny fairy took in its surroundings, learning more and more with each new thing it encountered. Olivia felt the fairy learning; the more of the world it observed, the more Olivia understood. She felt a long forgotten pit of emptiness inside her being filled.
Soon the fairy grew tired and lay next to Olivia on the blanket. Olivia propped her head up on her arm and smiled down at it. The fairy wasn’t yet able to speak, but Olivia figured it would learn how to soon enough. After watching the sleeping fairy for a while, she realized that she couldn’t remember what had happened at the Lich King’s fortress. The last thing she recalled was Locke’s death. She was about to seek out Ink to ask if he could tell her what happened when he appeared next to her. He turned his gaze in the direction of the hollow’s entrance. Celestim, joined by some of the other hjorthovin from the Nocturnal Archives, was walking up to where Olivia lay. Celestim bowed as he approached.
“Olivia Wickworth,” Celestim said, looking down at her with his almond-shaped eyes. “We traveled here today to give you our most profound thanks. We have heard of your deeds, and we hold them in our highest regard.”
“Thank you, Celestim,” Olivia replied, sitting up slowly and bowing her head slightly in return.
“Now, I have some information for you that you will likely be interested in hearing,” Celestim said. “After careful study of the events that have transpired, we have reason to believe that you, Olivia Wickworth, have summoned the power of the Draka-Cor.”
“The what?” Olivia asked.
“Forgive me, for we do not know the true name of this phenomenon in order to properly explain. It has been but an abstract concept in hjorthovin philosophy until now,” Celestim explained.
Olivia stared at Celestim, as usual not understanding what he was trying to say.
“You see, Olivia Wickworth, you are not an ordinary human. It is exceptionally rare that a being such as yourself is born into this world. You possess the ability to perform magic, just as all other humans do. But, in order to wield the power that you have, one must be pure of heart and strong of spirit. The Draka-Cor theory is one that the hjorthovin have pondered for many, many ages. Some began to think the theory would never be possible in reality. I, on the other hand, saw strange powers within you the moment I saw you. I strongly believed when you left the Nocturnal Archives that you would be able to prove our theory true.”
Olivia was confused and wondered what Celestim meant. She still didn’t recall what had happened. She had been told that the Lich King had been defeated, but she didn’t know if she was even the one responsible. She remembered nothing.
“I posit that, when your brave imp friend was killed, you became enraged,” Celestim said. “However, you focused that emotion only on the one who had caused your friend so much pain and who threatened the other creatures of Aeldyn. Correct?”
“Y-yes, I guess so.” She closed her eyes, trying to remember.
“I was correct in my assumption, then,” Celestim said, nodding. “Only a human pure of heart with noble aims may summon the Draka-Cor. You may have been overtaken by emotion, but it was your singular and selfless desire to save Aeldyn no matter the cost to you that made your transformation possible in that moment.” He paused and looked at Olivia.
Olivia stared at him, her eyes growing wide. At that moment, she slowly began to remember what had happened, like someone had opened a door to her memories. She recalled being surrounded in blinding light and feeling strength she had never before felt. She remembered lashing out at the Lich King with what she had thought was the very last of her life. But not only was there anguish and rage; there was also emapthy and pity.
“We would like to thank you once again. Due to your actions, the Fabric has become clear to us once more, though it is unraveled and torn in some places. But I digress. I shall leave you now and allow you to rest,” Celestim said quietly. He stared at her unblinkingly. I see that you now understand, his voice said inside Olivia’s mind. “Olivia Wickworth…” He bowed deeply, the other hjorthovin following suit, and walked down the mound to the hollow’s entrance.
Olivia stared at the twisting roots near the entrance for a while, pondering everything Celestim had just revealed to her. It occurred to Olivia that she would like to record what had happened along her journey. She wanted to think back over the last several days and relive the details of her adventure. She leaned over to her tattered sack, pulled out her father’s journal, and opened it. She flipped to the page that held her father’s drawing of Ink and ran her finger over the drawing’s lines.
“I think they would both be quite proud of you,” Ink said quietly from behind Olivia, causing her to jump. She hadn’t realized that he was still there. She turned to look at him and saw that he had taken the form of a black cat and was purring gently. “Your parents, I mean.” He patted her head softly with one paw, then leapt into the air and disappeared in a cloud of fog. Olivia looked back down at the journal, turned to a fresh page, and began to write.
Chapter Nineteen
The Beginning
“Olivia…Olivia?” a tiny, high-pitched voice said.
Olivia felt something tap her nose, so she slowly opened her eyes to see the fairy, which startled her at first. As she awoke from her nap, she was overcome with joy.
“You can speak now,” she said happily. “You know my name!”
“Yes, Olivia, I know your name,” the fairy said. “But do you know mine?”
“No, I don’t suppose I do.”
“It’s Lily,” the fairy said proudly. “Is that a good name?”
“Oh, yes, I think it’s a lovely name,” Olivia said, sitting up. Lily flew and landed on her shoulder.
“I’m so glad you like it!” Lily said, hopping up and down.
Olivia giggled, but stopped as something suddenly occurred to her. The other children… she thought, struggling to get to her feet. What was I thinking… Wasting valuable time.
“Where are we going?” Lily asked.
“I need to ask Ink a question,” Olivia said. She knew Lily had heard her thoughts, so she was about to explain further, but then she realized that there was no need because she already knew that Lily understood. She stood shakily and slipped her boots on. She was wearing a new dress almost identical to the one that was now a tattered mess. She made a mental note to thank Miss Isabelle next time she saw her. She looked up and gazed around the hollow, but no one was there. “Do you know where everyone went?”
“They have gone to p
repare for the funeral of Locke and the Great Fairy,” Lily said. “The somnivate called Ink said he would return for you when they were ready because you needed to rest.”
Olivia sat back down on the blankets. She had suddenly been reminded of Locke’s and the Great Fairy’s deaths all over again. Images of their last moments flashed across her mind, causing her to feel a strange emptiness. She also thought about Nachton and the other children. I hope Ink has found a way to help them, she thought.
So do I. Lily’s voice was clear in Olivia’s mind. It was almost as if they were one mind, one spirit. Olivia smiled at her. She was about to continue her search for Ink when he suddenly appeared.
“You surprised me,” Olivia said, glancing over at him.
“Oh, I am terribly sorry,” Ink said, frowning. “I just came to inform you that the service will begin shortly. Jin says that if you need assistance walking, he will help you.”
“I think I can manage,” Olivia said, getting to her feet. She slowly walked around a few paces, her legs wobbly but able to support her. “I’ll be okay. Where will the service be held?”
“Out in the orchard,” said Ink. “People from all over Aeldyn are making the trip to pay their respects to Locke and the Great Fairy.”
“Alright then,” said Olivia, taking a deep breath. “Would you like to come, Lily?”
“I would,” Lily said, flying up to Olivia’s shoulder. Did you even have to ask? She smiled.
Olivia slowly hobbled out of the cavern and onto the stone slab that led to the glen. Many creatures—some familiar to Olivia, some not—filled the orchard. As she walked down the bridge toward the orchard, the creatures turned to watch her. They bowed their heads and moved aside silently, making a path to the center of the orchard where Olivia’s companions stood.
When Olivia reached her companions, she looked around at them with tears forming in her eyes. Jin and Bren stood beside Thunc and Kili behind the two small stone tombs that had been constructed for Locke and the Great Fairy. Grimwitch and Gauntlet stood beside Locke’s tomb, their arms around each other’s shoulders. Rufus, Holli, and the other gnome stood next to them. Holli waved for Olivia to join them.
“Oh, Olivia, we haven’t really had the chance to speak with you since we’ve returned,” Holli said. She patted the unfamiliar gnome on the shoulder. “This is our little dearie, Ronald.”
Ronald stepped forward and extended his hand toward Olivia. She bent down and shook his small hand with her thumb and forefinger, overjoyed that Rufus and Holli now had their son back, safe from harm. She noticed, however, that Ronald looked grey compared to his parents.
“I don’t know how to thank you enough for what you’ve done for us,” Ronald said. “Back in that fortress I felt like I was in some sort of trance. I know I must have done horrible things, but I’d rather not think about it now. I’m just thankful to be alive and reunited with my family, even though it seems that all of us who were Taken have lost the ability to perform magic.”
Olivia was taken aback by what Ronald had just told her. She couldn’t imagine all those that the Lich King had used being forced to live without magic.
“I lived for quite a while without even knowing that magic existed,” Olivia said. “In a way, I understand what you’re going through. Please let me know if I can do anything for you, even if it’s just to listen.” She straightened back up, smiling at Ronald.
“I certainly will,” Ronald said. “I can see why Ma and Da speak so highly of you, Olivia.” He removed his hat and bowed.
Olivia thanked him, reached down, and patted his curly red hair. He looked up, blushing. She smiled as a bit of color returned to his face.
She turned her gaze toward the Great Fairy’s tomb and saw Kai-Tu and Haunches standing near it. She waved at the family of gnomes before shuffling over to Kai-Tu. She noticed that he held a hat that looked identical to the ones Rufus and Holli wore, except that it was black. Olivia looked at the hat questioningly.
“Rufus talked to my father,” Kai-Tu whispered. “He was amazed when he heard I wanted to study remedology. He even said that I can study with the gnomes under Stonehaven Lake.”
“That’s wonderful!” Olivia whispered, patting him on the shoulder. “I’m glad you get to do something you enjoy. No more hiding who you truly are.”
“Yeah,” Kai-Tu said. “I guess.” He cut his eyes at Olivia and they both laughed.
Olivia then turned her gaze to the others. As she looked around at everyone, they nodded grimly, as if they understood exactly what she was feeling.
From the moment Olivia had been bound to Lily, she had felt a strange sadness unlike any she had ever felt before, but she had also been flooded by a whole host of other emotions. Now, however, she felt a new strength with the sadness, guilt, and despair that revolved around the deaths of the Great Fairy, Locke, Morragin, and all the others who had lost their lives along the way. She felt as though the order of the world had been disrupted, as though their lives had been ripped from a tapestry and left behind gaping holes. Things that would have been because of their existence would never be, and the holes in the tapestry would have to be mended by new threads spooled from the memories of each person they influenced. Olivia began to cry softly as she looked down at the tombs.
It’ll all be okay, Olivia. Lily’s voice came with a comforting feeling, like a warm blanket had been thrown over her anxious and suffering mind.
“They said you were closer to Locke than anyone else,” came a gentle voice from behind Olivia. She quickly turned around, wiping her eyes. Three imps, two slightly taller than Olivia, and one slightly smaller stood before her. They reminded her strongly of Locke. They all carried flutes on their backs, and one of them carried a violin.
“Oh…yes, he was a great friend,” Olivia said, sniffing. “We had many good times together. Are you…Locke’s family?”
“Yes, Miss Wickworth, we are,” the tallest imp said. “I am Madocke, his father. This is Leesa, my wife.” He pointed to the imp next to him. “And this is Pucke, our younger son.” He pointed to the smallest imp, who gazed at Olivia in wonder.
“It’s an honor to meet you,” said Olivia. “Locke told me many things about you on our journey. He even cooked your imp stew for me, I believe.” She smiled.
“Oh, Locke…” said Leesa, putting a hand to her mouth. Tears formed in her eyes. “We came up with that recipe together. He was such a wonderful imp, so kind and...”
Leesa threw her arms around Olivia. They cried, remembering the times they spent with Locke. Madocke and Pucke joined Leesa in embracing Olivia. Their tears were for their loss, but also for the joy they remembered Locke bringing them. As they grieved, Olivia felt the hole left behind by Locke’s death slowly being mended. It wasn’t filled, but it no longer caused her pain or sorrow.
“Miss Wickworth,” Madocke said, wiping his eyes. “Bren brought Locke’s violin back to us. We thought that, if you would like it, it would only be fitting that you have it.” He held the violin out to her.
“Are you sure?” Olivia asked, hesitant to accept such a precious item.
“Of course,” said Leesa. “We know how much you meant to one another.”
“Thank you. Thank you so much.” Olivia cautiously took the violin from Madocke’s hands and held it close to her chest.
“Everyone please gather around. We would like to commence the service,” said a loud voice near the tombs. It was Flaym.
A ripple of excitement and confusion swept through the ever-growing crowd surrounding the tombs. Most of the creatures of Aeldyn had never seen the kami before.
“We stand before you, deeply moved and greatly saddened by the reason we have gathered here,” said Flaym, surrounded by the other three kami. He floated over toward Olivia and looked down at her with his ominous glare. She felt, however, that he was smiling at her.
“However, we are here to honor the great Aeldynians we have lost and to joyously recall their lives,” Flaym continued, turn
ing to the crowd. “As many of you now know, a human girl named Olivia Wickworth was brought here from another realm, one that is called Earth by some. It is a land long forgotten by the people of Aeldyn. At this very moment, Earth is dying, and your world would have fallen to the same fate had it not been for Olivia Wickworth.
“When she started her journey, Miss Wickworth met Locke, a young imp from the Elder Forest. They became the closest of companions despite the danger it posed to him. In the end, Locke stood by Miss Wickworth and stared into the face of evil itself to protect her. His name shall be forever honored as the bravest of all Aeldynians.
“You are all aware that the one you called the Great Fairy has passed on. Even though Miss Wickworth’s quest to save Aeldyn resulted in the loss of a wonderful friend of ours and an old adviser of your people, he would not have wished you to grieve for him. His time should have come long ago, but he was bound to the human in the north, prolonging his life. It was he who brought Miss Wickworth into Aeldyn, allowing us all to live in peace once more.
“Leave this place today recalling the wondrous lives of these two great Aeldynians. Always remember their sacrifices and celebrate their victories.”
The kami bowed to the tombs and then toward Olivia. She bowed in return, thanking them silently for their part in bringing her into Aeldyn and allowing her to meet Locke and the Great Fairy. The kami then headed toward the Great Fairy’s Hollow to return to their own realm. After a moment, Olivia walked in front of the tombs and bowed her head, Lily perched on her shoulder and Locke’s violin pressed to her heart.
The Last Fairy Tale Page 24
