Chapter 24 Reflections
Garth, Kalina, Fredrik, Niki, and Tedi were brought to the Father Tree in the apple orchard to meet Queen Mita of the fairies. Tanya smiled openly at their arrival, but Arik seemed distant and lost in thought. Queen Mita stood regally on the platform and welcomed the humans.
“Greeting to you all and welcome to the land of the fairies,” she intoned. “You have my deepest apologies for the treatment given to you upon your arrival. While I did not order your capture, I did know about it afterwards and consented to your imprisonment. For that I can only offer apologies that are insufficient to compensate you. You are now free and are welcome as my guests. We will extend every courtesy to you during your time with us. I am Queen Mita, Queen of the Fairies, and this is my son, Prince Midge.”
Kalina stood with a tight grimace on her lips. Fredrik and Tedi looked around as if to determine whether or not they were in some kind of dream. Niki peered at the small Queen as if examining her wardrobe. Garth stepped forward and bowed.
“If the thoughts of your soldiers were that we were coming to attack you, then they behaved admirably,” Garth offered. “We had no way of announcing our arrival, but we have ridden far and long to seek your audience. We have a matter of grave importance that must be discussed with Your Highness. I am known as Garth Shado.”
Queen Mita smiled deeply. “You are a most eloquent and gracious guest, Garth. I have been discussing your adventure with Tanya and Arik. I know why you have come and what it is that you seek. The Holy Sapphire will be presented to Arik when he returns the Crown of Light to the fairy people. Introduce me to the rest of your group.”
Garth threw a puzzled look at Arik and Tanya as he introduced the Rangers to Queen Mita. The Queen apologized and welcomed each member of the group before addressing Garth again.
“I assume by the others’ deference to you, Garth, that you are the group’s leader,” the Queen began. “It is late and while you have slept, my people have not. Midge will help you set up camp and we will discuss things in the morning.”
Garth nodded and Midge flew down to hover before him. After inquiring about the Rangers’ requirements, Midge selected an area of the orchard that was not far from the Father Tree and still allowed for a campfire. The Rangers set up camp while flinging questions to Arik and Tanya. Arik ignored all of the questions and was the first down on his blanket to go to sleep. Tanya looked quizzically at Arik every time someone asked her what was going on. Eventually, she suggested that discussing it in the morning was a good idea and she also retired. With no one to answer their questions the rest of the Rangers drifted off to sleep.
Garth awoke early and retrieved water from the stream to make coffee. As soon as Garth got the fire going, Prince Midge appeared to offer his help. Garth’s questions were shrugged off with an explanation that Garth should learn of the discussion from his own people. Midge did prove to be pleasant company and Garth enjoyed stories about fairy life. Of course, Midge’s favorite story was about the time he accompanied the Mage and Garth detected the soul of an adventurer in the fairy Prince. Midge did explain to Garth what had happened on the trail with the casting of the Sleep Spell, the levitation of the prisoners, and the disappearance of Tanya.
Soon the smell of breakfast and the sound of voices awakened the Ranger camp. Many fairies were already roaming about the orchard and all of them sported inquiring glances, but no one bothered the humans. Garth invited Midge to join them for breakfast and the green fairy was elated. Over breakfast, Tanya explained how she avoided capture and planned the infiltration. Garth thought Midge’s eyes would fly out of his head when Tanya described how she grabbed the Queen. When she got to the part about the Queen’s determination to see Arik’s chest and some reference to the Bringer, all eyes turned towards Arik. Arik turned bright red and stalked off to his blanket.
“What is all this about?” Kalina demanded of Midge.
“It is not my place to talk about it,” Midge declared.
“The Queen said that she would forbid her people to talk of it if Arik requested her to do so,” Tanya prodded. “Arik did not make such a request.”
Midge stared over at Arik while he talked. “Our Prophecy foretells of the one who will return the Crown of Light to our people,” Midge finally got out. “We know Arik to be that individual whom we call the Bringer.”
“How do you know it is Arik?” pressed Kalina.
“He bears the mark foretold upon his chest,” frowned Midge. “Now that I have told you, will you spare him further grief and embarrassment?”
“What else do the Prophecies foretell?” Garth asked.
“I am only permitted to speak of the Prophecy as far as I have,” declared Midge. “To say more is to betray my people. Please do not abuse the hospitality that we have extended.”
With that Midge flew off to sit near Arik. “You have no reason to be ashamed of what you bear,” Midge told Arik. “I would gladly bear it for you if that were possible. It is a sign of greatness to my people. You should remove your shirt and wear the mark as a badge of honor because you have been chosen for an honorable task. There is not one among my people that would look upon it with anything but envy and awe. You are to be respected and revered.”
Arik looked at the diminutive Prince and smiled. “Thank you, Prince Midge,” he said softly. “Your words are kind and I respect them, but I am not a fairy. My own people will find amusement in my disfigurement and I will be scorned as a freak. I just want it to go away. I want to return home and fish with my father.”
“Alas, Arik,” Midge sighed, “greatness can not be discarded. Destiny cannot be tossed by the wayside with careless abandonment. For whatever reason you were chosen to perform this great deed, only you can perform it. What comfort could you enjoy with your father, knowing that there were people who needed help, which only you could provide? Face it, my friend, you have been chosen and you will perform the task. Given that, make the best of it. Be proud of who you are and strive to do your best. I will help you in any way I can.”
“Thank you, Midge,” Arik said. “You have mighty words for one so small. Perhaps you can help me practice my swordsmanship.”
Midge turned a pale green and Arik laughed. “I am sorry, Midge,” he apologized. “Practicing helps me clear my head and I did not think before I spoke. Your words have helped me and I will dwell on them while I practice.”
Arik rose and called out to Tanya about practicing. She rose immediately and joined Arik in a clear area away from the fire.
“Practicing is a good idea,” she mentioned. “It will clear your mind and make you realize that we are all friends here and will help each other through whatever difficulties we face.”
Arik nodded and squared off with his practice sword. Once the swordplay got underway, Tanya noticed that Arik’s mind was still on his troubles. She pushed hard at him with a variety of strokes. Quickly, Arik responded to her vigor, first defensively, then with bold attacks of his own. The fighting between Arik and Tanya became so intense that Fredrik and Tedi stopped practicing with their staffs to watch. Kalina and Niki also abandoned their magic lessons and soon a crowd of people and fairies had gathered to watch the dueling pair.
Tanya tossed her cap to the ground and rolled past Arik while attempting a hit across his legs. Arik caught her movements just in time and leaped over her sword swing. Upon landing he rolled himself into a ball and continued away from Tanya so she would not catch him turning around. Jumping to his feet, he saw Tanya closing on him and raised his wooden sword to deflect her blow.
The two warriors continued on, oblivious to the crowd, focusing their entire attention on each other. His body aching and drenched with sweat, Arik subconsciously stripped off his shirt and threw it to the ground just in time to fend off another of Tanya’s attacks.
The fairies in the crowd gasped at the sight of the mark upon his chest. Niki hid her face with her hands and Garth and Kalina stared without expression. Fredrik and Tedi started to laugh and both felt something hard strike the backs of their heads. Turning around they saw Midge and another fairy with slingshots and the fairies were not smiling. Their laughter died in their throats as they turned back to watch the match.
Arik and Tanya had noticed none of the reactions, as they were too intent on gaining an advantage over the other. Arik scored a couple of kill hits on Tanya, but the young woman ignored them and continued her attack. The
