http://fairiefabels.com faeries through the ivy hedge Sun, 13 Feb 2011 00:50:07 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.5 faeries through the ivy hedge The Misty World of Arial Hollyberry no faeries through the ivy hedge http://fairiefabels.com/wp-content/plugins/powerpress/rss_default.jpg http://fairiefabels.com http://fairiefabels.com/2009/08/midsummer-revisited/ http://fairiefabels.com/2009/08/midsummer-revisited/#comments Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:48:31 +0000 Arialhollyberry http://www.fairiefabels.com/?p=1477 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/08/midsummer-revisited/feed/ 0 bleeding hearts,crystal,dancing,dragonflies,faerie celebration,faerie realm,Flowers,frogs and crickets,humming birds,light of day,Midsummer,rose quartz I felt a tangible shift as I stepped into the fairy ring. A soft breeze began to sweep through the meadow, it carried the sent of lavender and jasmine as it swirled around the circle. I heard the rustling of a thousand  faerie voices blowing on the bre... I felt a tangible shift as I stepped into the fairy ring. A soft breeze began to sweep through the meadow, it carried the sent of lavender and jasmine as it swirled around the circle. I heard the rustling of a thousand  faerie voices blowing on the breeze, soft at first, then growing louder. I spun around and peered into the gloomy recces of the tall pines looking for the whispered solicitations, then, In one gigantic explosion, the air was filled with faeries. I couldn't see Arial anymore, she was lost in the frenzy of the faerie celebration. At the edge of the clearing, fireflies flew in and out of the flowers on the bleeding heart bushes, making them glow a soft red, still others flickered like tiny yellow candles moving in and out of the shadows at the edge of the clearing. Mixing with the melodious voices of the faeries were the sounds of the night. Frogs and crickets added the counter point to their song. The faeries circled and spun, diving in and out, their delicate wings fluttering through my hair. In an attempt to find Arial, I moved closer to the center, making sure not to step on any of the spiraling faeries. They were everywhere, flying on humming birds, and hiding behind flowers. I had been to the realm of the fae before but I had never seen so many different types of faeries, they were all shapes and sizes. The rhythmic melodies of the faeries were becoming more enchanting and I found myself swaying with the magical music. I caught sight of Arial just as a legion of faeries  lifted me into the air. Normally I would have been unnerved by the sudden change of altitude, but the high pitched singing had filled my ears and I was caught up in the turbulent dance of Midsummer. It looked as if I were dancing with the stars themselves, whirling faster and faster until everything blurred together. I heard musical voices whispering to me to leave the mortal world behind. The night passed into early morning and still we danced, twisting and leaping, until I felt as though I had merged with the fae. All memory of my mortal world was slowly seeping away. This is wonderful! I have no ties to hold me back, no responsibilities. I am grace and spontaneity! At this moment, I had given myself over completely to the faerie realm, I couldn't even imagine going back. I was so caught up in the euphoria of the moment that I hadn't noticed Arial spinning close by. She had a look of understanding on her face. "Kind One, we must get back to the ivy hedge before the sun's rays hit the meadow."  I felt like cold water had been splashed in my face. In the east, the sky was beginning to show the first light of day. The celebration was already beginning to fade from my memory and I became aware that I was floating high above the ground. "No Arial, I don't want to go back, I'm one of the fae now, I've been invited!" Arial held her wand over her head in both hands and spoke in elvish. The wand began to glow as we slowly drifted back toward earth. Arial spoke, her words soft in my ear. "Hold out your hand." Reluctantly, I gave in and held my hand forward. She waved her wand  and a small polished stone materialized in my upturned palm. The stone was soft pink rose quartz that had a hole in the center. I watched as black cording twined around the stone then draped itself over my head so that the pendant hung over my heart. "This is beautiful Arial, thank you, but what do I do with it? Does this mean I can stay?" Arial smiled. "The Fae need your help on the other side Kind One, your work and the people who love you are there. You are much to important to us to stay in the realm."  She could see that I was having a hard time remembering. "Hold the stone up to your eye and look through it, you will understand better." I brought the crystal up to my eye and gazed through the center. The faeries I had been dancing with were fading into mist, their delicate hands reaching out for me. The Misty World of Arial Hollyberry no 7:36 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/07/she-still-knocks-me-out/ http://fairiefabels.com/2009/07/she-still-knocks-me-out/#comments Thu, 30 Jul 2009 23:17:34 +0000 Arialhollyberry http://www.fairiefabels.com/?p=1492 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/07/she-still-knocks-me-out/feed/ 0 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/07/come-away-with-us/ http://fairiefabels.com/2009/07/come-away-with-us/#comments Sun, 26 Jul 2009 01:45:43 +0000 Arialhollyberry http://www.fairiefabels.com/?p=1464 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/07/come-away-with-us/feed/ 0 Cloudless Sky,dragonflies,faerie realm,Fairies,forest,Midsummer,mushrooms,music,predawn,soft breeze,Sunset With the fire faeries doing such a wonderful job of heating up the season, the only time I can enjoy my backyard is in the cool of early morning. The sky is a cloudless light blue and the air is calm, as if the world is holding its breath, With the fire faeries doing such a wonderful job of heating up the season, the only time I can enjoy my backyard is in the cool of early morning. The sky is a cloudless light blue and the air is calm, as if the world is holding its breath, waiting for the sun to melt away the last of the predawn shadows. I love to lay on the chase lounge and watch my faeries coming and going through the ivy hedge. Ever since the celebration of Midsummer I have had a hard time concentrating, I feel the faeries whispering to me, inviting me to join them and leave the mortal world behind. “Come away with us, come, and leave your cares behind. Feel the soft breeze of the realm; hear the stream as it trickles over cool, mossy stones. Come away, come away…if it weren’t for Arial, Odette and I would still be there. Arial has been trying to get me to write down my experiences, she tells me that it is the only way to break the spell cast over me when I entered the faerie circle; it seems that having faerie blood running through my veins makes it a little harder to resist the pull of the Fae. “Kind One, please, write down your thoughts on your computer machine, I will help if you like.” I had to smile. “Arial, I didn’t know you could type.” Arial flew in low over my laptop, skimming her tiny feet across the keyboard. “I don’t mean helping you to spell the words, I mean helping you remember.” She flew up and landed lightly on my shoulder then began to braid my hair. I felt it again, that hazy euphoric feeling. The trees started to sway back and forth and I heard pipe music playing in the distance. It could have been my imagination but I could swear that the energy field around the portal wavered. “Thanks, I think I can handle it.” I saw a look of disappointment wash across her face and felt ashamed that I had been so short and hurriedly added, “Why don’t you sit  and keep me company, I might need some clarification, I do still feel a little light headed.”  She jumped up and buzzed around my head, adding to my already disconnected feeling. A slight breeze blew through the trees, carrying with it the sweet scent of honeysuckle. It lifted my hair and made the wind chimes sway. The pipe music I was hearing grew louder as the backyard seem to fade into a fine mist. My thoughts took me back to the path at the bottom of the hill. The dragonflies and faeries had escorted us  from the Elvenwood and were landing in groups of two and three at the edge of the forest. The sun balanced on the top of the hill sending blazing fingers of orange and pink reaching out toward high, thin clouds, and in the east, the early evening hues of violet and indigo signaled the coming twilight. Arial suddenly materialized on the path in front Odette and I. Her sparkling bright orange and pink appearance took us by surprise and we had to shield our eyes from the intensity of her glow. “I’m so glad you are back! I trust that Elendain treated you well. Don’t you love the elvenwood? I knew she was nervous because she was talking fast as she whipped around us in an excited frenzy. “We must hurry to the meadow, the celebration is about to begin.” I grabbed Odette and carried her as we made our way up the hill. By the time we reached the top, the purple and blue of the evening sky was blending with the sunset and the shadows on the forest floor were quickly deepening to black, blotting out the definition of the tall deep green pine trees. I expected to see a flurry of activity in the meadow but it was empty. “Arial, where is everyone?” Arial had flown ahead of us toward the center of the clearing and was hovering just inside what looked like a ring of soft white mushrooms that were nestled among the tall grasses, their large caps tilted in every direction. Arial's glittering wings reflected the last of suns fading rays. She beckoned us forward.  “Come, come and join the dance. Step inside the fairy ring, come. The Misty World of Arial Hollyberry no 6:31 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/07/my-goblin-problem/ http://fairiefabels.com/2009/07/my-goblin-problem/#comments Sat, 11 Jul 2009 15:59:36 +0000 Arialhollyberry http://www.fairiefabels.com/?p=1443 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/07/my-goblin-problem/feed/ 0 Arial,computer,Creatures,Faerie stories,Fairies,goblins,ivy hedge,Kevin Costner,Lilly The other day I walked into my magic room to find a couple of rather nasty goblins under my desk. They were hunched over and chewing on my computer cables. After chasing them around the room for a few minutes I called Arial to help get rid of the nefa... The other day I walked into my magic room to find a couple of rather nasty goblins under my desk. They were hunched over and chewing on my computer cables. After chasing them around the room for a few minutes I called Arial to help get rid of the nefarious creatures. "Arial! come quick! There are sneaky goblins reeking havoc on my computer!" Arial shot into the room followed by two glowing fire fairies. They formed a triangle around the two little slimy green beasts, pointed their wands at at the center and chanted: "Goblins green in face and arm Here to do the Kind One harm Be ye gone by count of three Lest we fairies clobber thee" Streaks of bright green light flashed from the fairie wands and surrounded the offending pair of goblins in a glowing bubble, then vanished in a burst of sparkles leaving only a  faint trace of footprints. Arial checked around the room to make sure that there were no more intruders. "That should do it. I think that it will be a long while before those two decide to come over again" I turned on the computer and tried to get on the internet. "Shoot! They have fried the modem cable." I checked to see if the lights on the router were flashing, nope, all dark. "Oh no, they wrecked the router too." I looked over at Arial and the other fairies. "It's going to take at least a week before I have this all replaced, what are people going to think if I don't keep them up to date on the fairie happenings?" Arial landed on my shoulder, her usual place, and whispered in my ear. "If you write it, they will come." Yeah, yeah, I know, ever since Arial discovered videos she spends entirely to much time watching TV. She is a HUGE fan of Kevin Costner. I had to think for a minute. "I guess I could try to tweet on my cell phone until my network is up and running again, it won't be the same, but I guess it will have to do. I wonder how they came through the portal, isn't it invisible anymore?" The three fairies put their heads together in a huddle then Arial floated back to my shoulder and stood with her hands behind her back. "It is the opinion of my colleagues that they came through the night you came back from the Midsummer celebration. Honeyed mead can make fairies a little, oh, how shall I say it, light headed." I frowned at her. "So what you're saying is that no one noticed that we had two to  many people in our group?" She giggled."We do love our celebrations." She stood a little taller and flipped her wings. "But we are now focused on the task at hand once more, never fear." The two fire faeries slid up beside her, nodding agreement. "Well, the damage is done, there is nothing else to do but go forward from here. Just make sure that the emerald guard is watching the portal." I thought back to the day the trolls hairy arm came through the ivy. "It could have been a much scarier creature." The three of them spun around my head, smiling and whispering words of consolation, then they winked out of sight. I have noticed something about the fire faeries, the air shimmers around them. The more determined they get, the more defined the shimmer becomes. When Arial and the two fire faeries winked out, the fire faeries had a very heavy shimmer around them. I looked out the window to see Lilly heading down the street toward her little white house, it looked like she was talking to someone, but there was no one with her that I could see. I squinted my eyes and looked harder, nope, there wasn't anyone else with her, not that I could see anyway. There is something more to her than she is letting on. I made a mental note to visit her again, maybe I can figure out what it is. © Tami Ruesch, The Misty World of Arial Hollyberry, 2009. The Misty World of Arial Hollyberry no 5:43 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/06/the-morning-after-or-wow-did-i-have-a-wierd-dream/ http://fairiefabels.com/2009/06/the-morning-after-or-wow-did-i-have-a-wierd-dream/#comments Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:04:03 +0000 Arialhollyberry http://www.fairiefabels.com/?p=1420 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/06/the-morning-after-or-wow-did-i-have-a-wierd-dream/feed/ 1 Alice in Wonderland,Dreams,Jim Butcher,Midsummer,NeverNever,white rabbit Arial has been after me for days to write down my impressions of the celebration of Midsummer in the faerie realm. It isn't that I have forgotten dancing with the faeries in wild abandon, after all, I have faeries coming and going through the ivy hedge... Arial has been after me for days to write down my impressions of the celebration of Midsummer in the faerie realm. It isn't that I have forgotten dancing with the faeries in wild abandon, after all, I have faeries coming and going through the ivy hedge all the time. No, it isn't that I have forgotten, I just don't know where to begin. Arial poked me again. "Begin at the beginning." She spiraled around my head, tracing intricate patterns in the air with the tips of her fingers. How frustrating it is to try and write with faerie wings buzzing in my ears! "Arial, you sound like something out of Alice in Wonderland, begin at the beginning. You know very well that it's the "beginning" that I am having a problem with." She did a mid-air cartwheel, as she passed in front of my nose, I blew on her wings making her bobble. I want to stop here to tell you that, yes, I did find Arial (she was waiting for me  on the grassy slope leading up to the  firefly meadow, silhouetted against the sun as it hung on the horizon), and yes, Odette came with me to the celebration. She rode with a fire faerie on a particularly stout dragonfly. When the entire court landed at the bottom of the path, the plump dragonfly that had been transporting Odette wobbled off into the tall grass where it proceeded to flop down and stretch out  its tired wings. I could swear I heard a loud, heavy sigh of relief coming from its general direction. Arial giggled at my teasing. "You know, I met Alice's white rabbit once, very congenial little fellow. The flower beds are nice enough, but I didn't really care for the caterpillar." I gave her a a skeptical glance. "You really want me to believe that Alice was a real girl, and that Wonderland exists?" As I think about it now, that was a dumb question. Arial twirled around, making her skirts flare out. She raised one eyebrow and gave me one of her famous quirky smiles. "Do you really want people to believe there are faeries in your backyard?" Like I said, dumb question. "Point well taken, but I do think that we are way off the point now. The question on the table is, what was the beginning. And something else... should I tell everyone what happened when Orlaith found out that you had a hand in sending me off into the faerie nevernever?" With all due respect Jim Butcher, but that is a wonderful word! Arial frowned and kicked her toe against the side of my keyboard then paced back and forth in front of the monitor, thinking hard. "No, I don't think we have to include that." She scratched her head. "I think you should start when you arrived at the meadow, you know, when the sun was going down. Oh! and you can put something in about how wonderful it was to see me again!" I hunched over and looked at her sternly (I went cross eyed, but it made my position very clear). "I'll just bet you'd like that." She nodded vigorously. I pinched my lower lip. "No, I think I'll start with waking up on the chase lounge in the backyard. After all, it did seem like a dream." "When I think about the times I've been to the palace, the troll, the time when I changed into a cat, and getting mail delivered via sail cloth, and everything else that has happened since seeing my little faeries." Arial feigned surprise, I ignored her and went on. "Midsummer was definitely something dreams are made of, not that that is a bad thing mind you, but something that will take a little explaining." I looked at the clock that hangs on the wall to the side of my computer. "It's almost five o'clock and I have to give the dogs their dinner." Arial looked at me suspiciously. "Oh, I promise that I will let everyone know the details tomorrow, hey, you can stay and share the dogs dinner!" Arial jumped up from where she had been sitting on my camera and shot out of the room. The last thing I heard as she headed for the ivy hedge was..."eeeeuww!" I do love it when I get the last word with a faerie. © Tami Ruesch, The Misty World of Arial Hollyberry, 2009. The Misty World of Arial Hollyberry no 5:27 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/06/spanish-lady-celtic-women/ http://fairiefabels.com/2009/06/spanish-lady-celtic-women/#comments Mon, 22 Jun 2009 04:04:24 +0000 Arialhollyberry http://www.fairiefabels.com/?p=1408 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/06/spanish-lady-celtic-women/feed/ 1 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/06/queen-litha-the-fire-faeries-of-summer/ http://fairiefabels.com/2009/06/queen-litha-the-fire-faeries-of-summer/#comments Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:40:17 +0000 Arialhollyberry http://www.fairiefabels.com/?p=1391 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/06/queen-litha-the-fire-faeries-of-summer/feed/ 0 dragonflies,Fairies,fire,fireworks,lightening,magic carpet,shimmering,summer,Wizard of Oz "Summer Procession"      by David Delamare The air was full of iridescent blue-green dragonflies and faeries whose wings  crackled with energy. They circled and dived, then circled again. The elves in the trees came out to watch the aerial display. Ev... "Summer Procession"      by David Delamare The air was full of iridescent blue-green dragonflies and faeries whose wings  crackled with energy. They circled and dived, then circled again. The elves in the trees came out to watch the aerial display. Every so often a faerie would suddenly appear with a loud pop, sending a shower of red, orange, and yellow sparkles out in every direction. This was what I had seen coming through the trees earlier, this faerie firework display. Suddenly, the show halted. The dragonflies landed on the tree branches all around us, reflecting the sunlight in shimmering blue-green flashes. The faeries had drifted quietly to the ground and were hovering a few inches above the ferns on either side of the path. A hush fell over the clearing. The elves had ceased their murmurings and stood in respectful silence. Coming through trees just ahead of us was a large gleaming sphere carrying a faerie in a glittering red gown. She had hair that looked like fire, red turning to orange, turning to yellow and her crown was made up entirely of interwoven lightening bolts that were constantly flashing around her head (it reminded me of the Wizard of Oz when Glinda arrived in munchkin land, only not that big). There were faeries gliding along the ground on either side. Their wings were tall and thin, coming to a long, point.  Glittering lights followed the intricate design of veins that detailed each wing. I realized that these were the fire faeries of summer and that the spectacular faerie in the carriage must be their queen. The procession halted in front of Elendain, who bowed deeply as the queen emerged. The faerie queen circled her wand in the air, spreading a bright yellow light above her, growing in size until she was as tall as the mistress of  the Elvenwood. The royal pair hugged each other in greeting. "We are honored by your presence, Litha, Queen of the fire faeries, and want to welcome you and your court to our forest. Peace be with you." Litha's eyes sparkled and her smile warmed her face as she continued to hold Elendain's hands. "We come in friendship and gratitude. We are indebted to you for saving the Kind One." I stood watching the gracious diplomacy of the two queens feeling small and inadequate, like I had been some what of a bother. It must have shown on my face because Litha turned and approached me. She glided up to me and held me in her arms. "My dear, we were so worried about you." She held me at arms length and looked at me, tears glistening in her eyes. "I do not know what the future would bring if anything had happened to you. You are more important than you suspect, but that is the charm of your human half." There it was again, the half faerie blood thing. I sure wish I knew how to use it to my advantage. "Queen Litha, all of this..." I gestured around me, "is so far over my head. I am learning of things that I had no idea existed, of places I thought belonged  only in bedtime stories." Litha smiled and winked at me. "It is all quite something is it not? We have a very important celebration to attend so we must be going." She turned again to Elendain who had stepped up behind her and they hugged one final time. "Hail and farewell Queen Litha, may your journey be smooth and your nights be filled with stars." Litha waved her wand and a brightly woven rug appeared, hovering two feet off the ground. She motioned for me to sit on it. "A flying carpet!? I feel like I'm in one hundred and one Arabian nights!" She laughed at the analogy. "Well, why not, it is a long journey, you might as well be comfortable." She returned to her crystal bubble and waved at Elendain. "May you only know peace and happiness, Elendain, Mistress of Elvenwood." With that, the entire court of fire faeries rose into the air, flying carpet, dragonflies, and all, then darted toward the west, where the sun was already beginning to set. © Tami Ruesch, The Misty World of Arial Hollyberry, 2009. The Misty World of Arial Hollyberry no http://fairiefabels.com/2009/06/the-invisible-walls-of-elvenwood/ http://fairiefabels.com/2009/06/the-invisible-walls-of-elvenwood/#comments Sat, 20 Jun 2009 19:28:20 +0000 Arialhollyberry http://www.fairiefabels.com/?p=1369 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/06/the-invisible-walls-of-elvenwood/feed/ 0 charms,escort,invisible walls,platform,sunlight,trees Odette and I followed Elendain up the rope bridge to a large platform high in the tops of the gigantic evergreen forest. We burst out of the branches into bright morning sunlight that spread as far as we could see. I stopped at the end of the bridge, Odette and I followed Elendain up the rope bridge to a large platform high in the tops of the gigantic evergreen forest. We burst out of the branches into bright morning sunlight that spread as far as we could see. I stopped at the end of the bridge, holding tight to the rough rope. "Is it safe up here? I mean, won't we fall off if the wind starts to blow?" Elendain turned back to me, smiling. "My dear, we have been here since the dawn of time, no one has ever "fallen off". Come, walk with me and I'll show you." She held out her hand to me. "I promise, you won't feel even a whisper of movement." I took her hand and carefully stepped out onto the large, round platform. Elendain continued. "We live in harmony with nature, we respect Gaia and she respects us, the wind never blows strong in these woods. Walk to the edge and put out your hand." I moved gingerly toward the edge, a tingling sensation of dread crawling up my spine. Stopping about five feet back, I held out my hand toward empty space. Elendain glided up behind me. "That's right, keep going. Hold your hand out in front of you, yes, that's right." I nervously inched my way closer to the edge of the platform. Two feet to go and my hand hit something. My eyes told me that there was nothing there, but my touch said there was a wall in front of me. With my eyes wide and my mouth hanging open, I took a few more steps closer and put both hands out, palms forward, and mimed  my way around the entire platform. "It's an invisible wall!" Elendain motioned for me to return to her side. "There are charms all through the elvenwood. This great hall is where we hold all of our celebrations and we prefer to be as close as we can to the heavens. That is why we charmed the ceiling and walls to be invisible. Odette was giggling under her breath, with a mischievous look on her face she darted toward the edge. At the last moment, before she could leap out into the blue sky, she turned her body and smashed, shoulder first into the invisible wall. "Oh, Odette don't...". She rolled on the floor at my feet laughing hysterically. "Ah missus, these inviseeble walls mess with yer brain they do. Lettin ya think yer gona fall."  Elendain was laughing too. I turned toward her with a mock look of exasperation. "Don't encourage her." I tried to keep my voice stern but it's hard not to laugh when everybody around you is laughing. Somewhere below a flute played. Elendain turned toward the east. "Your escort is arriving." In the distance I could see bright flashes of red, orange and yellow all through the dark green of the trees, it looked like tiny  fireworks moving toward us. As we made our way down, dropping once more into the  shelter of the evergreen boughs, I had a thought. "Elendain? If there are charms all through these woods, how did a troll find you? When Arial and the emerald guard helped me get home through the woods by the faerie palace, they kept throwing little silver orbs into the bushes at the side of the road. They said that it made the path invisible to the trolls and since they couldn't see the road, they would wander off in another direction." A shadow of doubt played across Elendain's face. Her eyes darkened the way Lilly's did the day Lucy and I walked down the street in front of the little white house. Elendain's voice pulled me back from my musings. "Yes, that is a good question, and one I will be looking into, but for now..." She stopped at the bottom of the tree and stepped to one side to let me pass in front of her. "Your escort is here." I looked up, flying toward us through the lingering mist on the forest floor, came hundreds of  faeries riding on fireflies. © Tami Ruesch, The Misty World of Arial Hollyberry, 2009. The Misty World of Arial Hollyberry no 5:37 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/06/light-above-fog-below-pt-2/ http://fairiefabels.com/2009/06/light-above-fog-below-pt-2/#comments Thu, 18 Jun 2009 03:26:38 +0000 Arialhollyberry http://www.fairiefabels.com/?p=1361 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/06/light-above-fog-below-pt-2/feed/ 0 elves,Faerie stories,Fairies,forest,Trolls I had completely forgotten about the night nettle quill. "That's right! My knee went numb, and then...and then...I can't remember anything, except that we were worried about...trolls?" Elendain and Odette exchanged knowing glances. "Goblins missus. I had completely forgotten about the night nettle quill. "That's right! My knee went numb, and then...and then...I can't remember anything, except that we were worried about...trolls?" Elendain and Odette exchanged knowing glances. "Goblins missus."  Odette offered a weak smile and patted me on the hand. "That's okay missus, it's best ya don't remember, things turned out just fine." I uncovered my knee. It was a little swollen and bright pink. There was a small black dot in the middle where the quill had stuck. Elendain moved over and felt around the knee cap. "The swelling is going down nicely, stand up and see if you can walk on it." I stood as directed, aside from a dull ache when I bent it, it seemed ok. I looked up at the tall elven queen. "I can walk on it, it's hard to bend, but it doesn't hurt much." I walked over to the window of the circular room and looked out at the sun in the treetops. The ground below was shrouded in early morning mist that swirled around the massive trunks of the trees. As I stood watching, a large hairy arm with long, grimy green nails shot out of the fog and grabbed onto a low hanging branch.  A low throaty groan echoed through the valley as the beast attempted to heave itself up the tree toward one of the lower elven dwellings. I jumped back. "What is it with these hairy arms all the time? Shooting out of anywhere and everywhere!" Elendain peered over the edge then pulled a small silver flute from around her neck. She quickly played four or five high sharp notes. A crowd of Elves flooded from the dwellings above us. They took positions along the rope bridges and prepared to send a volley of arrows toward the matted hairy form. The Undak reached for another branch and slowly pulled itself out of the mist, closer to its intended goal. As soon as its body had cleared the hazy gloom, twenty arrows sped through the morning light, hitting their target in perfect unison. The Undak fell back with a thunderous roar. Grabbing at the arrows it fell, parting the swirling mist and hitting the ground with a heavy thud. Without a sound, the archers disappeared back into their respective huts. Elendain played another series of notes, high and thin. A new group of elves moved down the bridges toward the motionless pile of greasy hair. I looked down at Odette who was jumping up and down, frantically trying to get a glimpse of the frightening beast. I picked her up so she could see and pointed out the window at the group. "They must be the clean up crew." She made a grimace, "Tis a frightful sight." She turned her head. "Lets not look anymore." I nodded agreement and we followed Elendain through the door, heading for higher ground, and the bright morning sunlight. © Tami Ruesch, The Misty World of Arial Hollyberry, 2009. The Misty World of Arial Hollyberry no 4:08 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/06/light-above-fog-below/ http://fairiefabels.com/2009/06/light-above-fog-below/#comments Mon, 15 Jun 2009 23:07:07 +0000 Arialhollyberry http://www.fairiefabels.com/?p=1328 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/06/light-above-fog-below/feed/ 0 beast,faerie realm,faeries,Fairies,Fog,forest,forest canopy,mist,pillows,Trolls I sat up and struggled to pull myself out of a large  mass of white flowers that were threatening  to smother me.  Opening my eyes, I shoved and pushed the giant blooms, only to find that the large white flowers were only big fluffy pillows that had be... I sat up and struggled to pull myself out of a large  mass of white flowers that were threatening  to smother me.  Opening my eyes, I shoved and pushed the giant blooms, only to find that the large white flowers were only big fluffy pillows that had been placed all around me on a large downy bed. Bright morning sunlight filtered down through the forest canopy and pooled on the floor beside me. A pillow had slid off the bed and was now moving across the floor, seemingly by its own power. I reached up and twirled a strand of my hair between two fingers."Where am I, and how did I get here?" The thought floated in my mind like a leaf on a pond. I rubbed my eyes and watched as the pillow ran into the wall. A moment later, a pointed green hat burst out  from under the pillow. Odette followed the hat, her hair all disheveled. She shoved the pillow off of her and scurried across the floor. "Oh missus! Oh, your awake! Saints be praised, your awake." She climbed the mountain of pillows that were scattered around the bed then pulled herself up my arm and hugged my ear. "I waited right by yer side missus, I never left ya, not for a moment, no sir, not for a moment." She was quivering with excitement and relief. I wiped a tiny gnome sized tear from my ear lobe and plucked her off my shoulder, then cradled her in my hands. "Odette! I thought I had lost you. I was floating on a leaf in the middle of a huge pond and I almost sank when a storm came, but you weren't there and I couldn't see the shore." I held Odette, rocking back and forth and she hugged my thumb. "T'was the light from the crystal that saved us missus. It glowed so bright the the elves saw it and came for us. they'ed been told to watch fer us just like I told ya, an none to soon, the goblins were wantin us fer their dinner I think." Odette gave my thumb a long squeeze then waded across the mattress, sinking in up to her chin with every step. She wrapped her fingers around a delicate chain that was attached to the clapper of a silver bell and tugged. The chime echoed through the forest. Suddenly, the trees came to life. Eleven folk were everywhere. Spirals of wispy smoke began to curl out of chimney tops scattered throughout the trees. I pulled my gaze back from the activity in the tree tops. "Odette, your an elf alarm clock!" She turned and smiled at me, making her way back to my lap. "We'll be havin company soon." The curtain across the entry was pulled back just as Odette finished tucking the last of her curls up under her cap. Elendain moved through the entrance and came forward with her hands outstretched. "My dear, you have no idea how relieved the faerie court will be to know that you are safe. Allow me to introduce myself, I am Elendain, Mistress of the Elvenwood. We are honored to have you with us." She glanced at Odette. "And your little friend too. She is a true and faithful companion, she showed incredible grace under pressure." I noticed Odette blushing at such lavish praise. "Queen Alina has been notified that you are with us and will be sending an escort for you. The faerie, Cythia, has been remanded to the flower faeries winter realm and will no longer be a problem. I would love to take you on a tour of Elvenwood while we wait for your escort, that is if your knee will allow it." © Tami Ruesch, The Misty World of Arial Hollyberry, 2009. The Misty World of Arial Hollyberry no 4:55