While the group waited for Phoebus to return, they noticed that Thronegarden was struggling. The grass was dry and dead with no rain to sustain it. The fields which had once housed cattle and crops were bare, with only old hoof marks and weeds left behind. Faced with this desperate situation only fuelled Damselfly’s determination to see through her plan.
“Princess, while we wait, I would like to speak with you,” Gregorian introduced.
“Of course, what is it?” Damselfly enquired.
“While I have the chance, I would like to thank you,” the gatekeeper offered.
“For what?”
“I was a hollow man before meeting you,” Gregorian confessed. “I had forgotten not only my pain but who I was. Masterless after Death fled, I was gatekeeper to a
gate that no one used, and my life had no purpose.
That all changed because of you, and I would like to thank you for it.”
Damselfly was surprised at Gregorian’s gratitude, although she could witness the emotion etched into his features, and accepted his words gracefully with an embrace.
“I am glad I did not stop you from going on this journey,” Gregorian stated.
Damselfly had a tear in her own eye as she was released from the gatekeeper’s arms. The blurred vision did not stop her from viewing a line of people behind Gregorian who dutifully stepped aside.
“I would also like to express my gratitude to you, Princess,” Bakka followed.
“You’re the one who helped us,” Damselfly queried.
“I had also given up on life and exiled myself to the Lavagarden,” the great smith reminisced. “I would still be there now if you had not come and found me. I see now that we cannot change our past mistakes, though we can try to make it right in our present actions.”
Damselfly hugged Bakka whose hands were rough, and he smelt like a welcoming forge.
“It is my turn to thank you,” the Matriarch expressed.
“I haven’t done anything for you,” Damselfly questioned.
“I was so busy watching over the Magicgarden that I forgot to actually fight for it. Magic is disappearing from Fable and if we do nothing then it will be lost forever. Without you I would never have realised that in time and so I am extremely grateful to you.”
Next came the villagers from Wintergarden who were thankful for Damselfly’s intervention with the Peritwinkle and her assistance in battling the Sprite army led by Jinx. The Peritwinkle himself appreciated Damselfly brokering peace between the villagers and himself so now they were friends rather than enemies. The Shades were next, and as a group they thanked Damselfly for standing up for them against their nemesis, the Scorj, and although they had lost the battle, her example allowed them to continue with their heads held high. When Delridden stepped forward, the last in line, Damselfly was feeling completely overwhelmed.
“What can I say?” Delridden started. “I lost the love of my life and because of that my heart was cold. You restored my faith in love and gave me back my identity. For that I can never repay you enough.”
Damselfly thought her emotional turmoil was finished until Buttontail moved from her side to join the others.
“Thank you for teaching me how to brave,” he said.
Damselfly stood before her entourage with tears in her eyes and a sense of pride that made her feel ten feet tall.
“I love you all,” she replied.
The moment was concluded by Phoebus’ auspicious return. The ancient owl landed on the Peritwinkle’s back and looked around obliviously.
“Did you find Rat?” they asked.
“Why would I want a rat, filthy creatures,” Phoebus answered.
“Not a rat, the orphan boy,” Damselfly clarified.
Phoebus looked indignant at being corrected and began pruning his feathers obstinately.
“I am here,” Rat announced.
Rat was exactly the way Damselfly remembered him: short for his ten years, stick-thin with long limbs and a shock of wild black tufty hair. He still wore ragged clothes,
covered with dust from his latest excursions, and only his eyes sparkled with richness. A crow perched upon the orphan’s shoulder with obsidian feathers and a silver beak. Unlike his master, the bird’s small dark eyes were dull and lifeless.
“I need you to get me inside the castle,” Damselfly explained.
“It will be difficult, there are guards everywhere,” Rat warned.
“That is why I asked Phoebus to fetch you.”
Rat smiled at the compliment, confident in his own abilities to move invisibly through the intricate passages of the castle without detection.
“Are you certain there is no other way?” Delridden questioned before they departed.
“I need to find my father; only he can stop this conflict without further bloodshed,” Damselfly explained.
“I have concerns about this plan too,” the Matriarch voiced.
“Damselfly has earned our trust and so we will consent to this venture.”
“Just know that I will storm this castle alone if need be, should you not return safely,” Delridden added.
“One final thing before you go,” the Matriarch offered.
With a touch the sorceress fixed the rip in Damselfly’s wings so they were just like new again.
“I might not have much magic left though I can still help in my way,” she said proudly.
After a brief farewell Damselfly and Buttons followed Rat back towards the castle. It felt strange returning home again under her own power, and yet Damselfly looked back to where her friends were gathered with greater familiarity than the castle. Having lived here all her life, there was a sense of moving backwards for Damselfly that she could not shake.
Was this still her home?
Rat did not talk much, so Damselfly concentrated on following without being spotted by the soldiers who were guarding the entrances. Instead of heading for the main entrance, Rat circled round to the rear of the castle where they were able to enter unseen through an old well shaft. Many years ago, the castle had been surrounded
