The Quest of the Hudion

Chapter 2 - Wings

I awoke the next morning with the sun, and continued on my way.  The crisp air was filled with the music of bells, and my heart was lightened by the beautiful singing of the birds.  As I walked, the trees began thinning, and bright sunshine beat down on my shoulders. The dirt path I followed wound through a field of tall grass, rippling in smooth waves around me.  I listened closely to the beautiful bell songs of the birds, and realized that there was a new noise new mingling with the birdsong.  It was the sound of soft laughter.

As I listened to the giggles, they grew louder and louder.  I came to a brook, where dozens of fairies chattered while washing their clothes. I stood in astonishment, until one of them noticed me and gave me an inquisitive look.  She whispered to a few other fairies, who stared at me.  I blushed, and looked at my feet.  The first fairy saw I was bashful, and came over to introduce herself. 

“Hello,” she said.  “My name is Nettle Willowand.  Where are your wings?”

I was speechless.  I was talking to a fairy!  When the power of words finally returned to me, I replied.  “Umm… very nice to meet you… Nettle.  M-m-my name is Cassandra.  I’m not a fairy.”

“Oh,” she replied, cocking her head inquisitively.  "A baby giant then?  Maybe an elf?”

“I’m a human.” I said, confused.

Nettle’s shrieks filled the air, followed by the horrified screams of the other fairies.  In a twinkling, the stream was deserted.

“What?” I cried in alarm, looking around for the fairies.

All that answered me was the rustle of leaves in the fresh wind.

“Hello?”  

When I still received no reply, it dawned upon me that they were probably scared of me like Mr. Caro, because I am a human. “Listen.  I’m not here to hurt you,” I cried in desperation.  

A few fairies, including Nettle, cautiously re-appeared.  “You’re sure you won’t hurt us?” they asked fearfully.

“I’m sure,” I replied, laughing inwardly at their innocent question.  The remainder of the fairies cautiously emerged from the bushes when I spoke.  

“What in the King’s name are you doing here?” quivered a fairy.

“I’m not sure,” I replied. “I just fell asleep in my world, and then I was suddenly here.  A golden bird lead me to this path.”

“Oh…” they breathed with awe.  “That bird is a messenger from King Trodlof!  The King must need to see you!  Have you begun the journey to his castle?”

“I guess,” I faltered.

“Well, what are you waiting for?  I’m coming!” said a flower fairy to my left.  

“Me too!” another piped up.

“We’ll all come with you!” chimed in the rest.

Having gathered together a group of fairy guides, I turned with a smile towards the King’s castle and took the first few steps of our journey. 

We had been walking for quite some time through the sea of grass when we arrived at a dense forest.   The trees were so thickly packed that no light could find its way through, and the underbrush was a thick wall of choked greenery.  There was no soft moss to pad the ground; only pebbles and gravel covered the dry earth underneath the scrub.  The lighter green of the shorter trees contrasted against the deep, velvety colors of Mr. Caro’s forest.  The trees were not very tall, and the fairies could easily fly over them, but I frowned as I realized that I would have to stumble through the dense underbrush.  A few fairies started to fly over the trees, but Nettle quickly called them back.