The Misty World of Arial Hollyberry

I always get the most peaceful feeling when I come home, it doesn’t matter where I go or for how long, I guess it’s all the wonderful positive magic that flows through my garden. Today, I felt that serenity stronger than I can remember in the recent months.

I took the leash off of Lucy and let her in the house then turned back to face Arial and Cythia. The two faeries were sitting on the gate to the back yard, watching with intense concern as the emerald guard checked the silver protection orbs in the garden that marks the boundary between our house and the Shunners.

I walked quietly up behind them and peeked between the ornamental iron leaves that cover the gate. “So, are you two going to tell me what in Gaia’s name that little stunt was all about? Shooting in and disrupting a  perfectly charming conversation I was having with my neighbor down the street, I almost fell out of my chair! I’m just sure that she thinks I”m a little whacked now.”

I was hoping to return the favor of startling them by sneaking up behind them but I forget that it is almost impossible to surprise a faerie. Without turning to look at me Cythia said, “We have received some disturbing information from our colleagues in the realm, information that could directly impact you.” She turned to face me now, her eyes dark with worry. “The queen has requested your presence, I have been sent to escort you to the palace.”

Arial took her usual place on my shoulder. “The Emerald Guard and I will not leave your side.” She gave Cythia a defiant look which told me that they had already talked about this. Cythia shrugged her tiny shoulders. “As you wish, but we must leave immediately.” She pulled out her wand and touched the tip to my forehead. A flash of bright white light surrounded us, and as the world dissolved beneath my feet I asked, “Does this have anything to do with Lilly!?”

This isn’t the first time I have traveled into the realm of the fae. Every time I land on solid ground again, I always feel dizzy and disoriented. It would be nice if some of that faerie blood I have in me would help when it came to moving about the universe. Arial smiled at me as if she knew exactly what I was thinking.

© Tami Ruesch, The Misty World of Arial Hollyberry, 2009.

“Spring Procession” by David Delamare

The flower faeries of spring have been busy all week coxing the flower buds to appear in preparation of the May celebration of Beltane. The gathering of the faeries in May is second only to the raucous gala of Midsummer.

Cythia has persuaded Arial to help her and the other flower faeries with all the arrangements for the festival tonight. All must be made ready for the arrival of  Alina, queen of the flower faeries.

Arial and I were in the kitchen when Cythia suddenly popped in. “There you are Arial! Would you mind showing that group of faeries over there the best place for the Maypole?” She spun around and pointed to a group of five or six faeries who were hovering in the sunshine,their  wings shining. They were giggling and whispering to each other. Obviously not focused on the task at hand.

“Not at all. Did you bring the potion for the Kind One?” Cythia’s attention was distracted by the laughing chatter of the faeries. She tapped lightly on the window pane with her wand, “Ladies! Ladies please! Oh,  I am having such a hard time with them, all they want to do is play. Ladies!” Arial floated up behind her and tweaked her wing. “Cythia, would you please pay attention.”

“So sorry, what were you saying?” One of the faeries laughed and Cythia spun around, pointed her wand at the faerie, and a flash of light shot out of the tip and found its mark on the back of her head. There was a multitude of high piercing squeals and the group winked out.

“My apologies Kind One.” Cythia took a spot on my left shoulder. “Arial tells me that you are having trouble remaining intact.” She giggled. “Sometimes these thing things happen, but I have a potion for you that should knock those nasty cat molecules out of you for good.” She looked closely at my eyes, first one, then the other, pulling them open by my eyelashes.

“Hum, it is strange though, usually my potions don’t have this kind of effect on humans.” Cythia drifted around to the side of my head and tweaked the top of my ear, then grabbed a fistful of my hair and ran her fingers through it. “Your hair is finer than a normal humans hair, and the red highlights are deeper. She came around to face me again, “Are you part elf?”

“What? I don’t think so, but I’m Irish on my mothers side of the family. Hey, how many times have you given potions to humans?”

Arial scooted up beside Cythia with a look of excitement on her face . “Queen Orlaith gave her a blessing and bestowed on her a sacred crystal from her crown! I have never heard of her doing that with a human before.” The two faeries exchanged knowing looks.

“I think you’re getting distracted again. Can I please just have the potion?” I pointed out the window. “I would love to have my voice back, and I think your girls need some supervision.” We all watched as the pastel faeries of spring darted in and out of the ivy hedge playing tug-o-war with the flower garlands.

“Hold out your hand.” Cythia waved her wand and a small vial filled with cloudy blue liquid appeared in my upturned palm. “Drink this and you will be right as Gaia’s rain in no time!” As soon as the little glass bottle had settled in my hand, Cythia grabbed Arial’s and the two faeries rocketed for the door. “Come, sister Arial, we have so much to do before tonight!”

Before they rounded the corner, Arial shouted, “you will come tonight, the Green Man will be there. We will be singing and dancing around the Maypole and jumping the fires of renewal, please come! I will send the emerald guard for you!” They were out the door and streaking for the ivy hedge before I could get a squeaky whisper of acceptance out.

I turned my attention back to the  small bottle. Uncorking it, I carefully sniffed the contents. It smelled like grape jelly. I held it back and looked closely at it to see if there was anything unnatural floating in it. I wasn’t eager to drink anything a faerie gave me after that last little incident, still, I did want my voice back, so I pinched my nose and swallowed the liquid in one gulp.

It didn’t taste too bad. I walked toward the library testing my vocal cords, “Me, me, me” Good, but not great yet. I wonder what a human wears to the Beltane celebration…

© Tami Ruesch, The Misty World of Arial Hollyberry, 2009.