Read Nemesis and the Fairy of Pure Heart Online

Authors: Ashley Du Toit

Tags: #Children's Fantasy

Nemesis and the Fairy of Pure Heart (5 page)

7

Life's Wind

B
ella walked down a beaten path towards the stream. As she walked, she took a small green ribbon lined with blue silk stitching from her magical bag, and braided it into her hair. The ribbon would ensure safe passage across the river and the stitching would provide protection when she again reached land, in case the current washed away her fairy dust.

She stopped when she reached the water's edge. The water gurgled past, making small, overlapping swishing noises, as if all the creatures in the water were talking at once.

The sun shone brightly in the sky. Bella guessed that it was almost mid-day, which would hopefully leave her with plenty of time to reach the crystals and return to the Elfins before night fall.

She breathed deeply, drawing in the courage she would need, then stepped into the river. Icy water rushed up against her body and goose bumps appeared on her arms. Bella waded in further, she could feel the current pulling at her. The water churned around and past her in a hurry to escape this obstacle in its path. She struggled to retain her balance.

Bella looked wistfully at the other bank. It looked so far away. She waded further into the river and the water slowly rose up her body, Bella willing it to warm around her. When the stream had reached to her chest, she took a deep breath and dunked her head under, then gasped as she cleared the icy water again, rivulets of water cascading down her face.

Wiping her hair from her eyes, Bella lifted her legs and began to tread water, face angled to see within the depths. She could see that the river bottom dropped sharply away at this point, but she could not see more than a few metres into the depths. Taking another deep breath, she stepped forward.

She drifted downward, making a conscious effort to trust that her body would know what to do. As she slowly descended, her lungs began to feel the strain of holding her breath. She looked back to the surface. Across her view, the sky stretched hazily, broken here and there by sunlight streaming through the water in soft-edged rays. The need to breathe becoming urgent, Bella began to struggle towards the surface. Her lungs bursting, she kicked out in panic. Just as she realised that she could not reach the surface in time, the elfin's words echoed again in her mind. Opening herself to trust, Bella gulped in a breath. And realised that what Pirogues had told her was true. She was breathing under the water.

Bella stopped struggling, and again began to drift downward. After a few moments, her feet gently sank into the bed of river sand and she could stand again. Her eyes now adjusted to being open under water, Bella blinked in disbelief. All around her were tiny gleaming homes shaped like raindrops and covered in shimmering splashes of swirling glitter that glistened with a myriad sparkles as the sun caught them at different angles. Gently swaying willowy plants grew in neat arrangements between the raindrop dwellings, and tiny bright stones nestled on the river bed in rows, as if they were pathways of a sort.

Bella was lost in contemplation of beauty, the like of which she had never seen before, when something moving at the edge of her vision brought her from her reverie. She turned to see hundreds of ethereal creatures swimming rapidly but silently towards her.

Unsure whether she was in danger, Bella backed away towards the small community of houses. When she reached them, she turned to face the water sprites following her, and sank again to touch the bottom. She held herself still and a number of the creatures swam towards her, then began to swim around her in swift, dizzying circles. Frightened, Bella sank down low, dropping her head to protect herself from attack. After a long moment the water calmed around her and all was still.

Cautiously, Bella raised her head and opened her eyes. To her dismay she discovered that she was inside a bubble, which she realised the water sprites must have been spinning around her. She pushed at the side, it was spongy and absorbed her touch, but did not move. Bella realised that she was trapped.

She faced the water sprites. They were ugly creatures, with long, thin bodies, and webbed and scaly feet and hands. Coated in light, filmy slime, that caused them to glisten, they had tiny little spikes protruding from their spines. Their faces were thin and pointed at the end and something drifted upon the tops of their heads—she could only assume was supposed to be hair—streaks that didn't form any real shape, a kaleidoscope of different colours meshing together, some short, some long, but all of them floating eerily towards the surface.

“What do you want with me” she garbled out, her voice distorted as it travelled through the water and the bubble.

The water sprites responded to her words with loud gasps and expressions of astonishment. Confused, Bella looked from one to another of the water sprites, willing each in turn to talk to her.

One sprite came forward. From the bronzed shining crown on his head and large spear in his hand, Bella assumed him to be the King of the Water Sprites. His body was tinged green and purple. His huge round eyes were staring at Bella, a horrible scowl on his face.

Trapped in her bubble, Bella was getting more restless, more uneasy with each moment that passed. She continued to look at the awesome creature before her.

Not understanding what was happening, Bella tried a smile in his direction.

The king opened his mouth and spoke:

“How is it that you use our language, the tongue of our ancestors, Fairy?” he demanded, his tone clearly expressing his outrage.

“I don't know,” she said after a moment, blinking in confusion.
I was speaking another language?

“Why do you trespass in our waters?” he demanded.

Ignoring his question, she asked one of her own. “What is your name?” she queried in a firm voice, trying to sound as brave as she felt.

“I am Zeis, King of the Water Sprites,” he boomed. “Why are you in our waters? Tell me NOW!”

“I seek to cross to the other side of the river,” she explained with an outward calm, although she was far from feeling that way inside.

“Who said that you may cross our domain?” he demanded.

“No one,” said Bella, standing up. “I seek your permission, O King. Will you allow me free passage through your kingdom?”

Zeis rubbed his hands together, an unpleasant, knowing smile upon his face, as if he held within him a great secret. “I think ... NOT.”

Before Bella could ask why he would deny such a small request, Zeis had pointed his spear at her. A vicious storm began to form in her bubble. Bella raised her eyes to him and lifted a delicate eyebrow. The next minute Zeis was lifted and flung backwards to sit on the river floor. For a moment, his face showed shock. The water sprites watched them, unmoving.

Bella could see that Zeis was very angry but he didn't point his spear at her again. “Your magic does not work against me, Water Sprite,” she said softly, as he continued to watch her.

“What do you mean, Fairy?” he asked in a dangerous voice.

“My protection spell is far stronger than any spell you could use against me.”

Zeis stared at her strangely, “What is your name, Fairy?”

“My name is Bella, Fairy of Pure Heart,” she answered.

The water sprites began to shout, Zeis spoke, “We have heard of you, Fairy of Pure Heart. We did not know that you would venture into our domain. Now that you are here, what should we do with you?”

“I mean you no harm, so I do not understand why you would try to harm me. I seek only to cross your kingdom, retrieve something from the other side, and then return,” she said.

“I wonder, what you could want on the other side of the river, Fairy? What would you recover from the ancient realm of our enemy? Do you go to save the Elfin race that we have tried to doom? You cannot expect us to let you live, surely you did not think it would be so, surely
they
did not think it would be so?”

Zeis sent Bella an evil smile, turned and swam away. Some of the bigger sprites grabbed the bubble and started to drag it towards Zeis's throne. Bella watched as they heaved and hauled her snug bubble, surprised that it didn't burst when they twisted its covering in their hands to get a better grip.

Zeis's throne was set in a clearing that shone so brightly that momentarily Bella had to close her eyes against the glare. Still trapped in her bubble, Bella looked at Zeis, seated on his throne, droning on to the sprites that surrounded him.

What was this spiteful little water sprite going on about?
she wondered. She called out, but they ignored her and talked animatedly amongst themselves. When at last they had finished, Zeis floated threateningly down towards Bella,

“You cannot harm me, Water Sprite,” she said softly.

“Perhaps you are right,” he said, a smirk upon his face, “but that doesn't mean I have to let you go. You will stay here with us for all time, Fairy. Enjoy your bubble,” he grinned wickedly at her.

Desperately, Bella searched her mind for a way to escape such a terrible fate.
He's acting like a thwarted child,
she thought, and the thought set her on the path to an answer. Whenever the fairy babies would look ready to throw a temper tantrum because they couldn't have something they wanted, one of the older fairies would provide a distraction, and so avoid the outburst. Perhaps she could find a distraction here. It could not be something welcome, as with the fairy babies, she didn't know enough about the water sprites to know what would work there, but maybe there was something that would frighten the water sprites enough to let her go.

A thought came to her. Raising her eyes, she gave Zeis the sweetest, most charming smile she could muster.

“Are you sure Water Sprite?” she asked pleasantly. “Because if that is the case, I shall have to summon the sun fairy, and ask her to dry up your river. We fairies are pledged to help each other. All I would need to do would be to chant her name seven times, and she would rush to my side.”

Bella stifled the giggle which threatened to escape her as the Water King's eyebrows snapped up.

Sighing dramatically, she said, “So if you're
really
sure that you want me to be a permanent guest, then please feel free to tell me right now.” She smiled sweetly at him again, tilting her head to one side as she watched his expression.

Zeis was absolutely livid. His face turned an even darker purple colour, and a vein in his forehead throbbed noticeably. After a few moments where he visibly struggled to master his rage, Bella could see that he was seriously contemplating her words. He pointed his spear at her bubble, this time bubble burst.

Cool water lapped at her body as he muttered to her, “Go, Fairy, before I test that protection spell of yours.”

Bella was so happy to be free that she almost danced. Instead she held up her hand to halt Zeis. ”I will return this way tomorrow, and I do not want my passage to be hindered this time.” With those words she swam away. None of the sprites followed.

The current became stronger the closer Bella got to the opposite side of the river, and nightfall had arrived by the time her feet could touch the river bed again.
So much for getting back in plenty of time,
she thought as she dragged herself up onto the bank, and sank into an exhausted sleep right there.

She awakened when morning's light smiled on her, but was still tired from her long swim. She pulled herself up and looked around. In front of her was a beautiful lush green meadow, a sense of great age and peace gracing it. It beckoned her, called to her to come and discover its secrets. She moved quietly, so as not to disturb this ancient place, and sought to get her bearings.

Bella listened to the sounds of the trees talking, their leaves rustling in the early glow as she moved forward. As she walked, she looked for the ancient oak that Pirogues had said sheltered the crystals beneath its roots, but she couldn't see it anywhere.
What do I do now?
she sighed,
It's supposed to be right here.

An idea came to her. She realised that the elfin glen must be hidden within the meadow, protected from the eyes of intruders by an ancient charm. Sitting down in a clearing surrounded by trees, she crossed her slim legs, closed her eyes and concentrated, saying clearly:

“I Bella, Fairy of Pure Heart, seek the ancient elfin's glen,” she announced, then began to chant:

I seek beyond your hidden wall,

I seek to find your ancient hall.

Let me see your secret door,

Let me see what was before.

Reveal to me your sacred space,

Reveal to me that hidden place.

Bella sensed a life force to match hers quivering around her. She felt the earth shift, then still. She opened her eyes and smiled. The elfin glen was now fully revealed to her.

She rose and walked into the glen. In front of her stood the ancient oak; its beautiful branches stretched out high in the sky, its massive trunk standing proudly tall. The tallest tree in the hidden elfin's glen.

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