The Misty World of Arial Hollyberry

While The Kind One was rushing headlong through the dark forest to get home and save her loved ones from whatever disaster loomed from the breach in the portal, her husband, Bill found himself in the grip of panic. He didn’t know why until he looked from the kitchen window and saw a beam of green light, like a laser, striking the outer leaves of the ivy hedge. Where the light touched the leaves shriveled and burst into teeny specs.

He didn’t know what it was, or where it was coming from, but he felt sure that it was something bad, something very bad. Bill ran through the house gathering the chihuahua’s and their kennels and ran to the back door to escape. A small strident voice coming from the floor demanded that he not leave without them. For the first time, in his memory, he was confronted with the two ankle high gnomes living under their sink. The Kind One said they were there, but he didn’t believe her, until now that is.

~~~~~~

The ghostly faerie in the  mist appeared just after the heartfelt plea to Arial had left my lips. I rationalized that this must be how Arial intended to get a message to me in her absence. The mist spread silently through the trees, crawling over the ground and sending wispy curls up into the lower boughs of the dense pines. It spread quickly toward me, completely surrounding my legs up to my knees. With her long white hair swirling around her face in slow motion, the faerie moved closer, always staying inside the mist. When she was just feet away, she held out her hand so that I might come forward to grasp it with my own.

I stood, mesmerized, all the fear and panic melted away. My thoughts were as foggy as the mist. Wasn’t there something I needed to do? What was it? I remember running…running away from… someone? Something? I just can’t remember now. I looked up into the large dark eyes of the spectral faerie hanging in the air before me, her translucent white hand stretched out. She smiled and spoke in a soft, melodic voice. “You escaped from their clutches just in time my dear, you would have been dinner for the Undak by now. Come, take my hand and I  will carry you to safety.” The air around me grew thick, making it hard to breathe and I found myself swaying to the faerie’s seductive promises. The forest took on a dream-like quality. I rubbed my eyes and spoke into the darkness, “What was I thinking?” My slurred words sounded like they were bubbling up through soft, thick, mud.  “Well, it doesn’t matter anyway does it, I’m safe now.” The mist sent soft, caressing fingers sweeping through my hair and around my head. The faerie’s eyes held mine and I raised my hand to grasp the thin white fingers.

Our hands clasp and a sharp, momentary, jolt of pain shot through my arm, pushing the euphoria I felt out of my mind. I tried to scream but shock and pain had taken my breath away. The only sound that came out of my mouth was a stunted gasp. My arm went numb and I was jerked off my feet and into the center of the glowing mist.

The foggy white tendrils that had been weaving silently through the trees pulled back suddenly, like weird alien beings returning to the mother ship. Then the light went out, plunging me back into total darkness. I couldn’t feel the ground and I couldn’t feel my arm but I felt the rush of air on my face so I knew I was moving, and moving fast. Every now and then the tips of leaves would brush through my hair or a branch would scratch my cheek. I tried to struggle, to pull away from the thing grasping my hand but every time I tried, I just ended up swinging wildly back and forth. And each time I would hear a deep crackling laugh, as if my frantic attempts to free myself were somehow amusing.

I was growing weaker, I could feel the last of my strength evaporating like mist in sunshine…sunshine, how long had it been since I had seen sunshine? I couldn’t hold my head up any longer and it lolled to one side. I…must…stay…conscious. Arial, where are you? I must… get back to…Bill.

Suddenly, a shower of tiny golden orbs lit up the sky. They fell through the forest canopy and darted right for me like they had a mind all their own. “Oh…look… fireflies. They’re beautiful!” My voice sounded faint and far off. Holding my free hand up I let the shimmering points of light surround my finger tips. They moved over and around my hand and swirled down my arm  making my skin glow translucent pink. To my dazed mind it felt like they were sniffing me, like my Chihuahuas do after I have been scratching an unknown puppy. It tickled.

“Hi.” I wiggled my fingers. “Hi there little lights.” My new shinning friends stopped and pulled back, I watched as they merged together into one large, pulsing ball of fiery light. “Oh man, I’m sorry, did I scare you?” I don’t think at t his point I would have been surprised if they had answered me. The sphere had grown razor sharp spikes and now each tip was pulsing. “That’s pretty too…”

The creature clutching my hand came to a jarring halt and spun around to face the blinding ball of golden light. An angry shriek of defiance pierced the blackness as the spiked orb catapulted toward its mark.

My hand was released, and as I fell toward the ground I saw the thing that had bewitched me. It’s massive head was waving side to side in agony. The broad forehead wrinkled up in pain and its slanted black eyes glazed over as the last shreds of life pour from its hunched, bony frame. Its leathery wings drooped and it began to fall…right behind me.

© Tami Ruesch, The Misty World of Arial Hollyberry, 2009-2010

Something was wrong! I didn’t know what it was, but my heart started doing a Gene Krupa drum solo in my chest and my breathing stopped, then started with a squeak. I thought I was having a heart attack. Men my age have them, you know, but I’ve learned the warning signs of a heart attack and this wasn’t it, nor was it a stroke. I think it was a panic attack. I was panicked but without a cause. Doesn’t that seem odd?

I was looking out the kitchen window at the ivy covered back fence. I stood there shaking and grasping the sink until my physical sensations settled down. That’s when I saw it. There was a beam of light like laser pointers, only it was an icky green instead of red. It was aimed at the ivy near the round outdoor thermometer. I couldn’t tell where it was coming from. My best guess was across the street, but lasers pointed at the moon 238.000 miles away have illuminated spots that were seen from earth. If this was a laser its source could be anywhere there was a direct line of sight.

As I watched the green pinpoint started to grow and the ivy leaves scorched where it touched. I was shocked but fascinated. I had never seen anything like this and I wondered what I should do. If it grew any bigger it could cause some real damage. What if it shifted from the fence to the house? That’s when I got scared. We had to get out. We had to let someone know that our fence was under attack by, by what?

I didn’t know but I didn’t want to wait any longer to find out. I went rushing through the house yelling for my wife, but she didn’t answer. I didn’t know she was out, but she sure wasn’t in. I grabbed for the dogs who were yapping like a pack of idiots because they didn’t know what was going on. Better to yap than to be caught unprepared. The silly things ran away from me every time I tried to pick them up. I had to herd them into a couple of kennels so I could carry them out to the car. You’d think a four pound dog couldn’t put up much of a fuss, but they can. I don’t know if they were reacting to my fright or if they sensed something wrong too. They were bumping, and thumping against the sides of the kennel so hard that I could barely hold on to them. The handles on top were straining and I was afraid that they might break and they’d tumble down the stairs kennels and all. I was lucky, no breaks.

We reached the back door when I heard something strange above the caterwauling of the dogs. I know, dogs don’t caterwaul, but these three were coming very close to disproving that belief. It was loud, and obnoxious, and high pitched. I didn’t think I could hear a bomb go off in the din they created. But I heard something. It sounded like a woman shouting at me, “Mr. Bill, Mr. Bill don’t go away and forget us! We’re scared too.”

“Wha?”

It must have been the ringing in my ears and my overactive imagination. “Nah,” I thought, “I didn’t hear anything.”

Then just as I turned back to the door again, I heard it again, “Mr. Bill, don’t you dare leave this house without us!”

I turned around and there standing just outside of the kitchen were two little people only six inches tall. My eyes bugged out. I dropped the kennels, which caused the dogs to get louder if that was even possible, and I fell down hard on my butt. “Oh great,” I thought, “Here I am running around the house like a crazy person, scaring the wits out of our dogs, and the truth is I’ve gone around the bend to the funny farm and climbed the slippery basket-weaver’s tree.”

The little folk took this chance with me seated on the ground to run up my legs, scramble up my shirt and perch on my shoulder. The female said, “Hurry, we have to go. There is going to be a breach in the portal and we can’t be here when it happens.”

I didn’t move. The male of the pair slapped my ear and yelled, “Get up, yer big lug — we don’t have time for yer amazement. You can be amazed later — right now we gotta go.” With that he yanked the hair at the nape of my neck and screamed, “Go, go, go!”

So I did. Luckily the car door opened easily. In went the kennels. The tiny folks scrambled from my shoulders on to the front seat beside me. I jerked the door closed and backed the car down the drive. There wasn’t a moment to lose, I turned and shot down the street. Car, kennels, little guys and me, rushing headlong into the darkness. I glanced over at the little man and woman struggling to get under the broad seat belt and started to think. Were these the gnomes that lived under our sink? My wife said they were there, but I had never seen them. Not until today that is. What else has she been talking about that seemed too fanciful to be believed — fairies, shape shifters, and centaurs? What if it was all true? What if? The thought made my stomach queasy. I didn’t want to think about it anymore. Besides I had better figure out where we were going and what we were going to do once we got there.

© Tami Ruesch, The Misty World of Arial Hollyberry, 2009-2010

Why is Bill surprised? Visit “Real Men Don’t See Faeries”

Be sure to check out the post “What Lurks in the Dark Wood?” to catch up on the action

Related posts: “At the Request of the Queen”

Mab had finally returned to her seasonal palace in the west, giving Orlaith full reign here for the winter. Our small group stood by the great crystal doors of the palace as all the guests at the Yule ball said their good-byes and departed into the forest. The mermaids needed a little assistance getting back to their lake but that was accomplished by the centaurs pulling massive wooden carts with large crystal tanks. The tanks were  filled with lake water, and the mermaids who were now flapping and splashing happily as they rolled away down the path and into the darkness.

Orlaith glided across the hall toward us followed closely by Arial, Sunny, Bella, Pip and Ferne. Arial took her usual place on my shoulder and the others played tag with each other around my head. In the year that had just passed I had forgotten what a handful they could be. Not that I minded. Other faeries shot past me and took positions by what I assumed were their mortals. I chuckled under my breath when I realized that they kind of matched their charges. Sparkle had a feisty little faerie that wore a gown of multicolored scarves in a daring off the shoulder fashion. She had large eyes and a puckered mouth. The Word Master’s faerie had silky straight hair and wore a black and white one piece jumper. A faerie with large green wings in the shape of oak leaves perched on Jewel and the faerie hovering around the Sculptress had her honey colored hair pulled up in a lose bun and was wearing a red and white polka dot skirt that ballooned out like the top of a mushroom. Golden Heart had the most glorious faerie. She wore a gown of midnight blue and silver that billowed around her like a cloud.

When the last of the straggling pixies had departed, Orlaith drew closer so that she could give us her royal blessings. Speaking softly to each person, she sent them off with their faeries. One by one, my new friends dissolved in sparkling light with promises that we would keep in touch.

Orlaith waited patiently while  Golden heart gave me a hug. Her black hair shone in the reflected light of the palace as she waved goodbye. Grinning broadly, she shimmered away into nothingness. The winter queen slipped her arm through mine. “Kind One, I must speak with you before I let you return to your world.” Her mood was suddenly somber. “I have been informed of a breech at the portal in the ivy hedge. ” I jumped back in shock at the unexpected bit of news, sending the group of faeries spiraling around my head flying off in all directions, squeaking their displeasure. “Oh no! is anyone hurt? I must get back immediately. I, I have to check on my gnomes and Bill, oh, and my dogs!”

I charged through the crystal doors, down the wide steps, and out into the night. I shut out Orlaith’s frantic plea’s for me to return to her and the safety of the palace. The only thing on my mind was the safety of my family. Not stopping to think about what I would do when I got to the ivy hedge, I dashed through the meadow, heading for the ebony gloom of the trees. A single thought wafted though my panic driven mind, I’ve been down this path many times before, I have a good idea how to get back, even  if it is pitch black. I ran, fearing the worst, but hoping for the best. I had no idea where Arial was or even if she was following me.

The path ahead was swallowed by the forest. I hesitated for only for a moment then shot forward, dashing into the inky underbrush.The wild wood closed in around me. The trees that were so cool and inviting by day had turned menacing, their branches reached for me, picking at my hair and clutching the sleeves of my gown. The last thing I heard was Orlaith’s voice warning me about…what was it…her voice was so faint now, it sounded like “they’re dangerous” or something. Then, I was alone, with nothing but the pounding of my heart in my ears.

Irrational fear drove me out of the palace and into the darkness of the forest. I had to get home, had to help…somehow, but it wasn’t long after I entered the dark, foreboding,  mass of pine and oak that cool, logical, common sense hit me and I stopped running. My sides burned and ached and my breath came in ragged gasps. I tried to see through the murky blackness with no success. Bending forward, I wrapped my arms around my waist and waited for my breathing to slow down and the pain in my side to release. What had I been thinking? I hit my forehead with the palm of my hand. Stupid, stupid, stupid girl! Now you’re alone in the woods, in the DARK.

My imagination began to get the best of me, I thought that I felt a hand close around my ankle and jerked myself to attention. I tore forward, shaking  my foot with each frenzied step.The darkness filled with all kinds of eerie sounds. Multiple sets of tiny, piercing, yellow eyes blinked at me from the bushes. I slowed my pace and began walking slowly up the path, hoping I was going in the right direction. The yellow eyes were all around me now, moving with me.

*********

Orlaith shouted at me as I darted down the steps. “Kind One, no! Don’t go, wait for the emerald guard! You don’t know what lurks in the dark woods, wait! They are dangerous!” Arial was hovering at her side, shocked at how fast I had moved, wings flapping like a humming bird, eyes wide. Mutely, she pointed after me as I sped across the meadow toward the opening in the trees. Panic swept through the mass of faeries that had gathered by the palace doors. Sunny and Ferne were trying hard to calm the commotion. Shrill whaling’s of “what will we do now!” echoed through the great hall.

Orlaith turned and raised her arms, calling for quiet. The court grew silent and waited. “Arial, my daughter, go after the Kind One, be quick now, they will hear her coming. Sunny, Ferne, go ahead to the portal, see what needs to be done, help where you can and send the captain of the emerald guard to me. Bella and Pip, you go to the Elvenwood and notify Elendain and the elves, they can work back from the far side of the realm. The rest of you spread out over the forest, be sure to stay above the canopy, and keep your eyes sharp. Signal if you see anything.

Orlaith stood at the entrance to her palace and watched as hundreds of faeries headed into the night. “I pray the Goddess Danu watch over you, and keep you safe Kind One.” Her voice stuck in her throat. “Please Danu, bring her back to us.”

*********

I walked timidly through the pitch black forest. Eyes wide, arms out in front of me, feeling for any obstacles that I might run into. The yellow eyes kept pace. I noticed that the farther I went, the more  pairs of eyes were watching, waiting. A low moan echoed the the darkness causing the tiny yellow beacons to wink out. I don’t know what was worse, seeing the yellow eyes, or not seeing them but knowing they were out there. A chill ran down my spine as the moan echoed again. I stopped and waited. Silently cursing my stupidity, I began to wonder what had happened to Arial. Why wasn’t she here? I whispered into the darkness, “Arial, I need you, I’m here, on the path leading to the ivy hedge, and I’m not alone. Follow my thoughts…hurry, please hurry.”

A glowing mist had begun to form on the path ahead of me. In it was a ghostly form of a faerie, she was smiling and beckoning me to come closer. A warm peace settled over me and all sense of panic subsided. Feeling a little lightheaded, I moved toward the light…

© Tami Ruesch, The Misty World of Arial Hollyberry, 2009-2010