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/category/celebrations/ http://fairiefabels.com/2010/03/happy-st-paddys-day/ http://fairiefabels.com/2010/03/happy-st-paddys-day/#comments Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:45:38 +0000 admin http://fairiefabels.com/?p=2180 http://fairiefabels.com/2010/03/happy-st-paddys-day/feed/ 0 http://fairiefabels.com/2010/01/what-lurks-in-the-dark-wood/ http://fairiefabels.com/2010/01/what-lurks-in-the-dark-wood/#comments Sun, 31 Jan 2010 20:21:10 +0000 admin http://fairiefabels.com/?p=1988 http://fairiefabels.com/2010/01/what-lurks-in-the-dark-wood/feed/ 0 http://fairiefabels.com/2010/01/mortals-who-would-be-faeries/ http://fairiefabels.com/2010/01/mortals-who-would-be-faeries/#comments Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:49:07 +0000 admin http://fairiefabels.com/?p=1967 http://fairiefabels.com/2010/01/mortals-who-would-be-faeries/feed/ 1 Adventures,Armies of Darkness,Autumn Queen,cloak and dagger,crown,dress,Dryads,fae,faerie blood,fall harvest,garden,gift of the faeries Dressed in their finest,  Arial and the emerald guard escorted the Kind One to the winter queen's palace. The grand hall was transformed for the faeries high holiday of Yule. It is the only time the queens of the four seasons, Orlaith, Alina, Dressed in their finest,  Arial and the emerald guard escorted the Kind One to the winter queen's palace. The grand hall was transformed for the faeries high holiday of Yule. It is the only time the queens of the four seasons, Orlaith, Alina, Litha and... The Misty World of Arial Hollyberry no http://fairiefabels.com/2009/12/the-yule-ball/ http://fairiefabels.com/2009/12/the-yule-ball/#comments Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:07:47 +0000 admin http://fairiefabels.com/?p=1914 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/12/the-yule-ball/feed/ 0 celebration,faerie magic,faerie winter palace,gift,holly berries,jingle bells,pine cones,shooting star,steampunk faerie "Winter Procession" by David Delemare Transporting the "faerie way" has a tendency to make me slightly dizzy, I think it has something to do with molecules rearranging... - We always arrive in the realm outside the palace, "Winter Procession" by David Delemare Transporting the "faerie way" has a tendency to make me slightly dizzy, I think it has something to do with molecules rearranging... We always arrive in the realm outside the palace, appearing  just at the bottom of the broad stairs that lead up to the ornate double doors of the royal home. Because this was a special occasion, and because Arial wanted to make her first visit to the newly arrived queen spectacular, she made sure that our whole entourage appeared right in the center of the Grand Hall. Personally, I thought it was because she was showing off for her mother, but she insists it was..."just for effect, in honor of Yule". The winter palace, as you would suspect, is made entirely of ice and snow. Every wall glistens. The floors are solid white and the color of choice is blue, every shade you can imagine. It sounds like a cold and foreboding place but I can assure you, it is just the opposite. Faerie magic is a wonderfully subtle thing, you can never trust your senses. What looks cold; is warm, and things that appear at a distance are actually closer than you suspect.  Now, standing in the middle of the winter palace, I was comfortably warm. The pale ice blue walls were draped with long runs of spruce garland that were decorated with pine cones, holly berries, and snowdrop flowers.Fireflies added their own particular type of twinkle.  Two large oak trees stood sentinel at both sides of the dais, where, instead of one chair, four chairs sat. I had to ask. "Arial, what's with the four chairs?" I pointed at the ornate stools, each carved with symbols depicting winter, spring, summer, and fall. Arial was busy greeting a steady flow of her faerie family. She looked very proud of her kind as she  turned to explained."The Festival of Oak and Holly is the only time the four sitting queens are together. The Yule ball is the time for all four seasons of the Fae to come together and celebrate the coming year." I nodded and looked around me. The grand hall was quickly filling up with faeries of all types and sizes. Other magical beings where in attendance as well. Elendain and the elves from the elven-wood were here. The centaurs were represented by Serg. There were dwarfs and pixies, mermaids and dyads (the mermaids accommodated by the placement of large fountains down each side of the hall). The dyads pretty much stayed in the oak trees, only coming out to greet the occasional well wisher.  This party reminded me of the one I attended at Midsummer, only more lavish. While marveling at my surroundings, I was surprised by a sudden flurry of faerie wings. Flashes of blue, yellow, red, and green obscured my sight. Four faeries whipped about my head in an excited frenzy. They were all talking in high tinkling voices at the same time, which made it hard to tell what was being said, it just sounded like a cacophony of jingle bells. Then it dawned on me, these were the first four faeries I ever saw! I held out my arms. Sunny, Bella, Pip, and Ferne all came to rest, two on each arm, wings fluttering wildly in their excitement . "Oh! my dear sweet friends! I am so glad you're back! Pip, I do believe you've grown, and Sunny, are you still a relentless teaser?" Ferne, the plant lover of the bunch, glided up to tuck a sprig of holly behind my ear and gave me a quick peck on the cheek. While we got caught up on the latest happenings, the lights dimmed and the huge crystal doors at the back of the hall swung open slowly. A path to the throne was made as the guests parted to make way for the procession of queens. As it turned out, I was on the front line after the throng of beings drew back to allow the queens passage. I could see them as they came down the aisle, stopping every once in a while to hug someone or share a few words. I noticed, as they made their way to where I was standing, that the people they stopped to speak with didn't look at all magical. The Misty World of Arial Hollyberry no http://fairiefabels.com/2009/11/to-faeriecon-and-back/ http://fairiefabels.com/2009/11/to-faeriecon-and-back/#comments Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:18:22 +0000 admin http://fairiefabels.com/?p=1826 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/11/to-faeriecon-and-back/feed/ 0 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/10/the-wiccan-new-year-is-upon-us/ http://fairiefabels.com/2009/10/the-wiccan-new-year-is-upon-us/#comments Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:38:58 +0000 admin http://fairiefabels.com/?p=1725 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/10/the-wiccan-new-year-is-upon-us/feed/ 0 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/2009/06/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/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/2009/05/spring-means-faerie-festivals/ http://fairiefabels.com/2009/05/spring-means-faerie-festivals/#comments Sun, 10 May 2009 16:35:04 +0000 Arialhollyberry http://www.fairiefabels.com/?p=1063 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/05/spring-means-faerie-festivals/feed/ 0