(no subject)
Once upon a time there lived a very lonely girl in a very big forest. Left alone since the age of eight, Olivia Sprigg waited patiantly in a large oak tree for her parents return. There were no clues to where dear mother and father Sprigg had vanished to on that warm summer's day. She only knew the direction the couple walked, which was west.
Unknown to Olivia, that bright morning marked seven years since her parents dissapearance. As usual, a little fire was lit, and tea was prepared. Settling back with her cup, and some berries Olivia was startled when a fuzzy red ball fell from the canopy. One the way down it hit a glass wind chime causing a loud clatter followed by a shrill scream that ended with a soft thud into the trunk.
Puzzled, Olivia leaned forward to get a better look; but before she could, the little thing jumped up and in a thick Irish tongue shriked, " Is that the way you treat your guests? Just look at 'em do ya? After all the way I traveled, and now, now- me wing! Just look at me wing!" Pointing a very small finger at the wind chime it continued with, "It's been broken by your wha-whatever that mess is. A fine way to treat..."
Deciding to cut off the shrill rambling, Olivia interrupted, "What are you?"
Shocked, the little creature blinked a few times before exploding with, "I'm a fairy! What girl doesn't know a fairy when she looks upon one? Mum always warned to stay away from girls- said they would catch and pin me in a jar. And now, here I stand clear as day and the first one I meet can't tell what she's looking at!" Stumbling a bit the fairy stepped unto a patch of moss, presenting herself she cried, "Look at me! You see any other than a fairy here?"
It was true. She couldnt have been more than four inches tall, and most of that appeared to be wild curly red hair littered with forest debris. She wore a green silk dress trimmed with white flowers. Her bare feet came to a curly point, and tattered translucent wings hung from her back. She appeared to be attractive, but her scowling face was showing otherwise.
"The name's Edana, and you are to come with me. I've been sent by the Seelie Court, and there's no disobaying the Queen."
Met with a blank look, Edana continued, "Queen Mab has granted your mum's request, and you are to join her. Only a serving girl you'll be, but a way to earn your keep. Every seven years we take a mortal, and you look to be the one." Looking Olivia up and down she scolded, "You're skinny, but Ovlett will fatten you up. Now get your things together, we've a long walk ahead of us. You'll be the one to carry me, as me wing is ripped." Stumbling, she turned to show her wings dangling like old cobwebs from her tiny back.
"You really cant expect me to believe this," Olivia stammered.
Inspecting a berry the fairy declared, "Then you be daft. At the moment your parents are under Noggin Hill; they're waiting. You've got nothing here but a tree. What have you to loose?"
Deciding she had a point, Olivia began walking with the sun to her back while Edana perched atop her shoulder barking commands. It wasn't long before the cause of the fairy's stumbling and stammering became clear. A little wooden flask filled with sweet smelling liquor was kept at her hip.
After a few hours of walking Edana proclaimed, "We be lost. Bags! I knew this idea be bad, me directions all upside-down. If me wings-"
"Lost?" A gruff voice spoke. "I'm sure I could point you the right way...for a price." From behind a tree stepped a grubby little gnome. Larger than Edana, yet still very small, he waddled into view.
"Mattlewort? That be you?" Edana questioned.
"Right as rain. You would be the one I find lost. His blue pointy hat flopped back and forth as he chuckled.
Sighing, Edana asked, "So what'll the price be? I havent anything; you'll have to ask the girl."
Peering up at Olivia, Mattlewort grinned. "Ahhhh a mortle's gift; always a treasure to be found. Well, let's have at it."
Swinging from a lock of Olivia's long black hair Edana said, "Go on girl, it's the only way. Give him what ya got."
"I live in a tree! What have I to give?" Olivia snarled as she smacked the fairy to the ground. "Stay out of my hair! Besides, it wasn't me who got us into this mess."
Errutpint with laughter Mattlewort declared, "You've found a fire to match your little sprite. I like her and I'll make a deal. You give this to Malti in the second order and I'll tell you the way." Out of his pocket came a human sized bracelet of silver chain strung through three round jade beads.
Gasping, Olivia accepted the delicate bracelet and placed it ently in her skirt pocket.
Huccupping, Edana responded with, "Aye, a fair trade." Giving a wink she continued with, "I never knew you to be a generous one. Malti must have made quite the impression last midsummer's eve."
Blushing, Mattlewort confessed, "I am weak when it comes to the power of the fae." Shuffling his feet, he offered the bargained directions, and the pair continued on their way.
The sun was high in the sky when Olivia's stomach began growling. Edana's flask had grown dry, and her temper had become much shorter.
Wiping the sweat from her brow, Olivia bent to drink from a little spring flowing from the focky hillside. Her relaxation was interrupted by a thunk to her head. Blinking, she watched an acorn roll into the stream followed by a flying blue fairy. Barely missing the watter, she scooped up the acorn and zipped to Olivia's eye level.
"Back off! She's my mortal, and she goes with me to the Queen!" Edana shouted from the highest point she could climb- a rock about a foot high.
Letting out a little squeal, the blue fairy darted between the two and replied, "A thief I not be, I beg you to come see- a table set, food aplenty, comfortable cahirs that are empty."
At the thought of food, Olivia's stomach danced with delight and her eyes flew to Edana. "Can we go? I'm starving," she asked.
"Bags, girl! This be Pipslie, she works for Dionseelie the fairy of temptation. Take one bite of their food, and forever his you'll be."
"Lies she tells, harmless i am. Only a little friendship I wish to scam." As the fairy fhymed, she offered a yellow flower to Olivia. Taking it, Olivia watched it change into a sugar cookie- something she hadn't eaten in years.
"I know all about you. Your tricks will do no good here. Put it down girl."
Deciding Edana knew more about fiary tircks than she, Olivia let the cookie fall to the ground.
From behind an oak tree out popped a deep purple fairy holding a little cup in her hand.