Orange Trees | Fred Weasley

Prologue

Summer of 1991

"...and how she would gather about her own little children, and make their eyes bright and eager with many a strange tales. Perhaps telling them the dream of Wonderland; and how she would fill all her simple sorrows, and find pleasure in the simple joys, remembering her own child-life, and the happy summer days she spent under the oak tree." The young boy finished, closing the children's book and looking at his audience.

The fairies that surrounded him hummed with glee, fluttering their wings with excitement for the story he had just completed. It took the entire summer, but they finally finished Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, one of many books Jericho has read to the fairies who lived within the orange tree.

"Do you think she was really there, Jericho? Do you?"

"Oh, yes! We must know!"

"Was it all a dream?"

"What about the rabbit? And the Cheshire Cat?"

"Oh, and what about the Queen? Tell us more about the Queen!"

The boy chuckled as he watched them emote, gushing over their love for the story. Despite the incessant chatter amongst the creatures, the most any passerby would hear was the excessive sound of high pitched ringing. With a reputation of being vain and shallow creatures, most people don't care to learn their petite language. However, having practically grown up with these fairies, Jericho had come to understand them - as well as their way of speaking - quite well.

Each and every one of them hovered closer to him, landing on his arms and legs as they waited for a response. He smiled down at them, happy they enjoyed yet another muggle book.

"Well, I like to think she was really there. It would be so boring if it was only a dream!" He told them, chuckling. Many of them were happy with his confirmation, telling each other 'I told you so!' in response. "I like the Queen of Hearts a lot as well...she reminds me a bit of my mother." He told them, whispering the last part.

"What are you going to read us next, Jericho?"

"I want one with a princess!"

"Oh yes! With romance!"

"And a handsome prince!"

"Where they kiss in the end!"

"Please!" They rang out in suggestion. Jericho giggled at their eagerness, impressed with their appetite for more.

Having never been far from the orange tree they lived in, the fairies were unknowing when it came to fiction and reality. A make-believe book made for small children was a door to another universe for them. Which was something Jericho had in common, amongst many other things.

As a young child, after discovering the tree, Jericho was oblivious to the creatures who called it home. It wasn't until one fairy, a young and curious one, made its presence known, that Jericho began to continue to visit. As he did so, the bond between the creatures and the boy began to deepen. Their trust in one another strengthened like the wood within the trunk they sat under.

He appreciated them, and not in the way most people did. To most, fairies were vain creatures. Obsessed only with their appearances. Jericho, however, discovered that was far from true.

Breaking off an orange wedge and plopping it into his mouth, he pondered which book to read them next. Perhaps he would read them Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, or maybe Rapunzel will satisfy their hunger for romance. He had only ever read them one once before, Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare. Despite the tragic ending, the tale of young love was a hit with the fairies - although not so much with him. He liked romance novels, having read a few others out of curiosity, but they didn't satisfy him as much as fantasy and adventure. Tales of distant lands and fantastical quests seemed to be more of his niche.