The Misty World of Arial Hollyberry

I woke up this morning to a turmoil of activity. Arial and several of the emerald guard were fluttering about my face, pulling at my eyelashes and tugging my ears. Over by the French doors, still more of the emerald guard dashed back and forth obviously ecstatic about something outside.

I dragged myself out of bed and gently brushed the excited faeries out of my hair. “Arial, what’s this all about? I was sound asleep.” Pulling on my robe, I shuffled over to the windows and looked out.

Overnight, the world had been transformed into a mesmerizing study in white. Lacy flakes of snow as large as silver dollars chased each other in a downy race to the ground. Pine boughs hung low, straining to bear the burden Mother Nature was asking. The snow was so thick that the valley below me had been completely consumed by whiteness, and I could see no signs of it stopping any time soon.

I stood, transfixed, with Arial and the emerald guard on either side and marveled at the frozen fantasy playing out before my eyes. I had only been standing at the window for a minute when I realized snow wasn’t the only thing that drifted down.

I wiped my breath off the glass with my sleeve and peered out into the crystal fog.  Tiny faeries were riding snowflakes to the ground. It was difficult to determine where the lacy white flakes stopped and the delicate outline of the faerie wings began. When the faeries landed, they twirled off in all directions causing the snow to poof around in little circles

Arial whispered in my ear. “They have returned, the frost faeries have returned!” She giggled suddenly. “Come, we must go to the palace and pay our respects to the queen. Hurry, she will be waiting to hear about the happenings here.”

The emerald guard had started to tug at the sleeves of my robe. “Hey, wait a minute! I’m sure Orlaith will wait until I’m properly attired.” Arial shot through the mass of faerie wings and pulled out her wand. The guard immediately fell back and waited.

She waved her wand above her head and whispered in elvish: “To the palace we must go, through the cold and swirling snow, adorn the Kind One in beads and lace, so that she may take her place beside the queen of winter’s grace.” Sparkles rushed at me from the tip of Arial’s wand and quickly surrounded me in a flash of silver light.

I felt a press of cool air and my feet left the ground for a moment. My hair was magically swept up into a loose bun, held in place by glittering butterflies, and a diaphanous silver gown covered in shining crystal beads replaced my pink robe. A cape of ice blue faerie lace drifted down and landed lightly over my shoulders.

Arial tilted her head and nodded in approval. “I think that will do nicely, Queen Orlaith will be pleased.” I held out my arms and spun around in a circle. “Arial! You have out done yourself! I inspected myself in the floor mirror. “Exquisite,  but won’t I get cold?”

A tiny frown creased Arial’s forehead. “Really, do you have to ask? I would think that you would be used to faerie magic by now.” She snapped her fingers and the crystals on my gown began to pulse, first growing brighter, and then fading to a warm pinkish glow surrounding me head to toe in a magical wash of silken warmth.

The emerald guard was arrayed in their usual positions, four in front of me, four behind me, and two on either side. Arial took the lead position. She had transformed herself into her true and royal personage, Princess Arial, daughter of Queen Orlaith, queen of the frost faeries.

Since last winter, I have had Arial as a constant companion. We have had many adventures together and have become very close. I sometimes forget her linage, she just seems so normal. It sounds strange to hear myself use the word normal when talking about faeries! The only time she takes on her true identity is when we are about to have an audience with the queen.

Arial darted up to my face and pinched my cheek, then settled herself on my shoulder. “Kind One, please return to the present.” I shook myself and let my memories fall to the floor and bounce around, not unlike a pail full of rubber balls. One by one they bounced and disappeared in a quick poof of mist. “I… I’m sorry, what were you saying?”

The queen’s daughter smiled at me like someone smiles at a small child. She tucked a straying lock of hair up under her sparkling crown and repeated, “I was asking you if you were ready to journey once again to the palace of the winter faeries.”

I executed a low courtesy. “I am indeed your highness. Forgive my inattention.” The faerie guard giggled under their breath which drew a sharp and icy glare from Arial. She glided to face me full on. “No need for sarcasm, I just didn’t want to lose you somewhere in the darkwood. I need your full attention, as you well know.” Without waiting for me to reply she swirled her wand in a large arc and we all dissolved into the glimmering white light.

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