The Cloud Castle

The Grand Council Of Faires

Queen Nephele broke the deep silence in the council room.
   "Welcome to the Cloud Castle, strangers," she said. "I am Nephele, Queen of the Land of Clouds, and this is the Grand Council of Fairies. I imagine that you know why you are here."
   "It's an honor to be in your presence, Queen Nephele," Will said. "We are  here to help you."
   The queen looked at him questioningly. "What do you mean?"
   A low murmur rose among the fairies in the council.

"We know that the Weaver Fairies aren't weaving anymore clouds," Will said. "And we're here to find out why."
   "You are late, strangers," the queen said. "The truth is already known. It was this very council that JUDGED the guilty party and look the necessary actions."
   "If you're talking about Ariette, we've met her," I said. Another murmur rose up. "We went into her tower and spoke to her," Pam added confidently. 
   "She told us that she is innocent, and that she can FIND OUT the reason the fairies aren't producing silver thread," Colette said.

"That's absurd!" fumed the queen. "She is guilty of describing the World Below to other fairies. That is against our LAW, and she punished."
   "But we come from the World Below, and it is of WONDERS," Violet said.
   The queen stared at us in SHOCK.
   "Please FREE Ariette," Paulina pleaded. "Punishing her has not solved the problem of the Weaver Fairies. And she is the only one who may be able to learn the truth."
   Queen Nephele shook her head. "No. Absolutely not. Ariette put our realm in SERIOUS DANGER and must stay in the tower. The Weaver Fairies will start weaving again soon, once they forget what she has told them." 
   The fairy council nodded in agreement. Only one fairy STOOD and bravely challenged the queen.

"My queen, I beg you. Listen to these strangers. They are telling the truth about Ariette," she said.
   "Galatea! We have already discussed this at length. The decision has been made," Queen Nephele said.
   Galatea lowered her gaze and sat down again.
   The queen continued. "I order that these strangers be taken to the castle library. They will stay there, under the custody of the Cloud Guards, while they wait to be removed from our land and retuned to the WOLRD BELOW. I hereby declare this meeting OVER."
   The queen stood and left the hall, and the council members followed her--- except for Galatea. When the Cloud Guards approached us, She stopped them. 
   "I will accompany these strangers. Please go."
   

They left, Galatea led us to the library.
   "So, you have seen my friend Ariette?" she asked.
   "Yes," said Will. "We were trying to find the Cloud Castle when we heard her cries from the tower."
   "Poor Ariette," said the fairy.
   "I wish I could help her, but I don't know how."
   "She told us she can't leave the tower without her CRYSTAL," Colette said. 
   Galatea nodded. "That is true.
   The crystal produces a magic light that surrounds the fairy wearing it and allows her to move across the clouds."

"It sounds beautiful," said Colette.
   Galatea grasped the PENDANT that she wore around he neck. "This is my crystal." "It's so sparkly," Violet said admiringly.
   "Why is it against your laws to explore the World Below?" Pam asked.
   "The reason is fear," Galatea replied. "Queen Nephele and many of the fairies don't know how much about other worlds, and so they believe they must be dangerous."
   "But that's not true," Paulina said, shaking her head. "It is a wonderful experience to get to know new people and places."
   "I agree," Galatea said. "But I think it will be a long time before the Grand Council of Fairies understands that."
   "That's a shame," said Colette.

Galatea sighed. "Meanwhile, Ariette is a PRISONER. I'm so worried about her." 
   "Are you good friends?" Nicky asked.
   "Yes. We are always together and share everything." Galatea replied. "I know it's not her fault that the Weaver Fairies are no longer producing silver thread."
   "Do you have any clue why it's  happening?" asked Will.
   Galatea shook her head. "No. Ariette is the only one who can find out, if she can ever LEAVE that tower!"
   "We tried to get her crystal back from the Color Pixies, but unfortunately we didn't succeed," I explained.
   "There's another way to free Ariette," Galatea said. "But I can't do it alone. Would you be willing to help me?"
   "Absolutely!" we all replied.