And on that ledge was a blazing fire.
Bella gazed into the flickering, deep red and orange flames. Inside rested a deep blue heart that pulsed with life. She could feel the life force flow around the room. She shivered. The goblins beside her dropped to their knees.
“Its beautifuls,” said Pronkzie.
“Ahhhh,” Gariz breathed out in awe.
Bella also sank to her knees, content to just watch the flames lovingly cradling the heart, flickering against its blue depth as if caressing it. The flames swirled higher, then sank, only to rise again. She sat silent for a long time, mesmerised, lost in no thoughts at all, until Pronkzie disturbed her, bumping into her as he was rising.
“Oh, hellos,” he said smiling at her. “Who are yous thens?”
Glancing at him, Bella thought,
I have to get out of here soon, before these caves make me like them.
The goblins asked Bella question after question; no sooner would she finish telling them the answer, than they would forget and ask again. Sighing after a few attempts, she gently mentioned that she had to get the heart of a fire for her quest. Pronkzie looked at Bella, then turned to look at the heart that burned deep blue.
He seemed to consider something, then he said: “Ifs we helps you gets the heart, yous'll takes us outs of heres.” His words were strained now, as if he had to think very hard before talking.
Bella nodded her head. Pronkzie stood up, gesturing to Gariz to do the same; they walked up to stand just under the ridge. Gariz pushed Pronkzie down to the ground and then he climbed onto his back, trying to balance himself as he pushed upwards, but he was still short of the ledge.
“Stands ups, Garizie,” he said to his brother.
Gariz began to follow his brother's direction, wobbling a little as he did so. In danger of falling, Pronkzie grabbed at Gariz's bold hair, yanking it as he tried to regain his balance.
“Owie,” screeched Gariz, at which point they both toppled to the ground.
Bella was too lost in her own thoughts to pay much attention to what either of the goblins was doing. She knew that she had to work fast; already she could feel her thoughts dissolving almost as soon as she could grasp at them.
Bella really needed some help, and not the sort the two goblins were giving her!
Her thoughts turned to the King of the Water Sprites and the gift he had given her. If she could find water, perhaps she could the use it to summon his help. Water would also help get past the bright flames that danced around the fire's heart.
She looked around, trying to find a small stream or trickle of water of some kind, but there was nothing to even suggest a drop of moisture would be found anywhere in the cave.
She looked over towards the goblins who were now sitting in a corner playing togetherâthey'd already forgotten all about her.
Just great,
she thought,
but at least they are out of the way.
She frowned as she noticed that Gariz had a fat water bottle sticking out of his pocket. Walking up to them she asked for a sip of water. The goblins, believing they were meeting her for the first time, asked her name and were having great fun just teasing her. Bella was patient with them, playing their game, until finally Gariz gave her the bottle. Losing interest, the brothers returned to their game.
Bella waited a few minutes to ensure they were absorbed in their game, then crossed to a small hollow in the rock floor. She poured the water in, reached into her bag for the opal crystal, and placed it into the water. She rubbed its smooth surface and waited to see what would happen.
She didn't have long to wait. A few minutes later Zeis popped his head out of the water, smiling at her.
“So, Fairy, you needed me sooner than you thought, hey?” he smirked.
Bella grinned right back. By rights they should not be friendly after the stunt he pulled on her, but since she was of pure heart, she couldn't hold a grudge, and he was here to help her.
“Yes, Zeis, I need to retrieve the fire's heart, and I would like you to quench part of the flames long enough for me to put my hand in and grab it. Do you think you could do that?”
Zeis looked insulted that she would even ask. He said, “Yes, but you do know that once you remove the fire's heart, the caves will come crashing down, so you'll have to hurry if you want to get out alive.”
Of course, Bella had not known that, and she shuddered. She called the goblins towards her. Gariz and Pronkzie looked at Bella as she explained that she wanted them to start moving towards the entrance of the cave. They were not to stop for any reason, she emphasised. Reaching into her bag, she took out some of her blue shimmering dust and sprinkled it over them in the hope that it would work for the goblins and keep them safe. Urging them to go, she turned towards Zeis.
“Ready Water Sprite, when you are,” she said, and together they moved towards the ridge.
Bella used the footholds notched in the walls of the cave to climb to the ridge above her. When she reached the top, Zeis was already there waiting for her. Zeis nodded his head up and down and started racing around and around the bright flames that licked and stretched even higher now with the wind of his passage. When Zeis nodded to show that now was the time, and Bella put her hand into the fire and withdrew the heart. It pulsed wildly in her hand. She carefully took Zarg's parchment from her bag, and wrapped it around the heart to protect it.
Two things happened at once. Zeis bid her goodbye, disappearing before she even had chance to move off the ridge, and the cave started to rumble, deep groans coming from the centre where she stood. Suddenly, it seemed that the mountain itself was shaking. Bits of rock from the roof began crashing to the ground, chunks of rock from the walls broke off and fell with loud bangs. The ground below her opened, small and then larger chasms chasing each other across the cavern floor.
Bella's heart racing, she clambered down from the ridge. She jumped the last few notches and landed heavily on the hard floor below. Scrabbling to her feet, she ran towards the entrance. As she raced, she dodged pieces of the cave roof and walls that were falling around her. The air became heavy with dust, which rose up in the air, choking her and making her eyes stream. She tried to run faster, but she could hardly see and she was afraid of stumbling and hurting a limb, then becoming trapped in the collapsing caves.
She rounded the final curve in the tunnel and ran straight into the goblins, who weren't running at all, but rather laughing at the sight of the chaos and destruction around them.
They've finally gone mad
she thought, as she shouted at them to follow her.
A dim light showed ahead and Bella could just make out the entrance to the cave. They were so close now. Her heart pounding in her chest, her lungs straining for breath, and her legs cramping with exhaustion, she finally reached the entrance. Bella just had time to turn and see the goblins come crashing through behind her before the entire front of the cave crashed in, sending dust and rocks flying in all directions.
The force sent them catapulting through the air and they came rushing towards the ground, landing heavily, the two goblins in a tangled heap, herself a little away from them. Bella breathed a sigh of thankfulness. She was so glad to be out of the cave unharmed and with no signs now of the fogginess that had threatened her sanity, but she was tired and sore. Bella lay back on the soft patch of grass that she'd landed on and promptly fell asleep, without even a thought for those in her company.
She woke much later and looked around trying to work out where she was. Gariz and Pronkzie sat silently nearby, watching her. She blinked her eyes and sat up. Gariz smiled tentatively at her.
“Hello. Have we met before?” he asked, not at all sure what Pronkzie and he were doing here with a tiny fairy, and all three of them covered in dust and small rocks at that.
“Oh yes, Gariz. You and I and Pronkize were together in the Cave of Forgetfulness, and true to their name, they seem to make you forget things, which is why you don't remember me. We barely escaped with our lives when the caves collapsed. But don't worry, now that you and your brother are out of the caves, your memories should return.”
Gariz shook his head as if to clear the confusion, but he didn't seem to know what to say. Standing up, Bella smiled at both of them, “Thank you for your help.”
The goblins just stared at her.
“Go home,” she whispered, then lifted her fingers to her mouth and blew. Within moments Teague was landing beside her. He pushed his head into her arms, reassuring himself that she was well.
“I'm sorry that I cannot stay here until you are yourselves again,” she smiled. “But I bid you a safe journey home.”
Giving the brothers one last look, she and Teague took to the skies.
9
A Rainbow Sliver
B
ella gently wound her fingers through Teague's fur. She tallied all the tokens that she'd been able to collect; Laughter's Gift, A Rescued Kiss, Life's Wind, Fire's Heart, and checked them off her list.
“Only one token left to collect. I need to get a rainbow sliver,” she said to Teague and he playfully flew in between clouds.
I know,
he telepathed.
We're on our way to see Nirb.
“You are a fairy's best friend,” she whispered into his neck. “Are we going to Leprechaun Hollow? It's been ages since I've seen my friend Nirb. Do you think he will be there?”
Let's find out,
Teague replied, as he lightly came to land in a cool, lush clearing surrounded by old leafy oak trees. High overhead, their strong branches touched each other and closed full circle, forming a haven for the leprechauns who lived there. Dotted between the grassy patches of the clearing were giant mushrooms and tiny white leprechaun flowers.
Bella felt eyes staring at her, even though she knew she wouldn't see anyone until they were ready to be seen. Leaves rustled in the faint breeze as if the trees were talking amongst themselves. A hammering sound floated on the air towards her, she grinned and called out,
“Nirb, my leprechaun friend, are you here?”
No one answered. The hammering continued. Bella smiled at Teague over her shoulder as she set off in the direction of the hammering to find Nirb. As she neared one of the old oaks with a tiny brown door set into its massive trunk, she could tell that the hammering was coming from within. She knocked on the door.
A leprechaun popped his head out of the door. He looked around, not knowing who to expect, then he spotted Bella and gave a gigantic grin. Dropping his hammer on the counter behind him, he grabbed Bella by the hand and pulled her towards him for a hug.
“Bella, me pretty fairy, has ye brought me some gold to store?”
Bella laughed as she returned Nirb's hug, thinking that leprechauns never change.
The Leprechaun folk are guardians of two things: rainbows, and gold, which they store in crocks at the rainbow's end. They stand about hip-high to Bella in her human form, although they are quite a bit taller than a fairy. They have stubby bodies, and wear green jackets and red pants.
Their one great passion, however, is making shoes. The fancier the shoe, the happier they are. Funnily enough, while they house their workshops in the trunks of the huge oak trees, they sleep in the shelter of the mushrooms in order to see the bright stars at night.
Leprechauns are rumoured to help the human race with a stroke of luck every now and then, and of course grant one wish if they are unlucky enough to be caught. Although that duty was a well-kept secret, one which they didn't share with the other immortals!
All leprechauns have mischievous glints in their eyes, and Nirb was no exception. It was Nirb who first introduced Bella to the human realm, painting such alluring pictures that she must enter to see these sights for herself. Once there, she had discovered that the mortal realm desperately needed her to guard their tulips as well. It was because of Nirb that she had met her prince.
When Bella had returned that first time to Leprechaun Hollow, Nirb had warned her never to go to the mortal realm again; it was forbidden for immortals to get involved with humans. But Bella, already captivated by the prince, had been unable to help herself.
Tears formed in Bella's eyes as she remembered those times, but shaking herself free from that, she began to tell Nirb all she'd done and seen since last they'd met.
She told him about the list of tokens she needed for Nemesis the Dragon, and finally coming to the end of her story, she raised her eyes and said,
“My dear friend Nirb, I know that you and the other leprechauns are the guardians of the rainbow; is there a way that you might help me?”
Nirb looked at Bella, realising how brave and courageous she must have been. “I'm so proud of ye, Bella. I cannot promise anything, but I will call a meeting of the council to see what they say.”
Bella knew that was a good offer.
Nirb set off to call the council, and Bella went to find Teague. They rested beneath the scattered mushrooms until Nirb appeared before her.
“Come Bella, Fairy of Pure Heart, the council awaits ye,” he said in a serious voice, and Bella knew that Nirb was making a formal request on behalf of the council, not just speaking as her friend. Nirb tapped his walking stick to the ground and the most beautiful rainbow appeared before them. Bella stared in awe at the vibrant colours shimmering and gleaming in front of her. Nirb took her by the hand and the two stepped into the rainbow.
Although Bella had often travelled by rainbow before, it never failed to amaze her. The rainbow colours began to move; they swirled around her in a dazzling kaleidoscope, and then settled back into pattern, and it was over, all too soon.
Before them was a half-moon formed from twelve mushrooms, eleven of which were occupied by leprechauns. Another unoccupied mushroom graced the centre, and Nirb directed her towards it. He made sure that she was comfortably seated, and then took his place with the other council members. Bella could feel them staring at her. Measuring her up, judging if she was worthy.
The leprechaun sitting right in front of her drew her attention when he said, “I am Nurch, chief of this council. Nirb has told us your story, although we do find it amazing. Is it true that ye entered the Cave of Forgetfulness? Brave, I must say. And ye had help from the water spritesâthey are not known for their kindness. Ye must truly be the Fairy of Pure Heart.”
He paused and looked around at his fellow council members, meeting each pair of eyes before returning his eyes to Bella.
“A sliver of a rainbow,” he stressed, “this is not a small thing that ye ask of us.”
Bella returned Nurch's gaze steadily.
“I have given my wings to Yarg, King of the Trolls, I have bested a werewolf and saved a witch, I have braved the water sprites for the elfin folk's help, and I have endured the Cave of Forgetfulness and snatched the heart from its fire. If I have something to give you in exchange for the rainbow sliver, I will surely do it, for my prince is worthy of it. What would you have from me?”
The council gathered together and addressed itself in whispers before turning to face her again. Nurch stood up. Bella watched his face carefully.
“Fairy of Pure Heart,” he began, “would ye be willing to offer a small service in exchange for a sliver of our rainbow?”
Bella looked at Nurch.
“What do you need me to do?” she asked hesitantly.
“Has anyone ever told you of the time before Nemesis the Dragon ruled?”
“No, I don't know of anyone who would have that knowledge,” she whispered, deeply intrigued with what he was asking.
“Before his time or ours, the immortal realms were ruled by another Dragon. His name was Thorne. He was as Nemesis isâa great ruler, one with vision. He united the realms, believing that we would be stronger together, and gathered one leader from each realm to form the Guild of Immortals. He declared that it was our duty as the stronger beings to advocate for the humans, that the magical realms must ensure that the mortal race would survive.
He bestowed a gift to each leader. To the leprechauns he gifted a powerful magical pot. The pot could hold an unlimited supply of either gold or luck. All you would need to do is think of the one you would need, and then put your hand into the pot and retrieve it.”
He looked at Bella to make sure that she was listening carefully to what he was saying.
“Recently, that potâ
our pot
âwas stolen.”
Bella gasped, “Who would do something so terrible?”
“We know who stole the pot,” he said. “But they are using it to prevent us retrieving it. We need someone to intervene; someone they wouldn't suspect, someone who can retrieve it and return it to its rightful owners.”
He paused and looked intently at Bella.
“Someone with a pure heart, wanting nothing from the pot itself.”
“I don't know if I can do it,” she said, and then, almost as if knowing the answer, she whispered, “Who stole your pot?”
“It was the Nuffins,” he said with disgust in his voice.
Bella gasped. “Oh, no, not the Nuffins. They are the naughtiest of magical creatures!”
“Yes,” sighed Nurch, “they create chaos and disorder wherever they go.”
“Why did they take your pot?” Bella asked.
“Our pot has magical properties!” Nurch snapped. “It has LUCK, sweet fairyâan abnormal amount of luck. Luck that doesn't belong to them. Luck that they shouldn't ever use, because they don't understand how it works. But mostly I think they stole it just to make mischief.”
“Where are the Nuffins?” Bella asked quietly.
“As you know, long ago they lived in the mortal realm, although unseen by humans. But they played with the weather there and caused an Ice Age, so Thorne banished them and forbade them from ever returning. So now they travel through the magical realms seeking a place of their own. But because they're so mischievous, none of the immortals ever allow them to stay very long. We've tried lots of times to find them, but when we finally track them down, they just disappear.”
“But how can I find them if you can't? I need to save Arthur, and time is of the utmost importance now,” Bella said, with distress in her voice.
Nurch sighed, and said as if speaking to a small, not so very bright child.
“We know where they are at this exact moment, Fairy. If ye take yer butterfly, then ye can fly there. They won't see any reason to run away and hide from ye. Then ye can go into their camp and retrieve our pot.”
“How will I get the pot?” she asked. “I do not see that they will just give it to me, and I cannot fight them for it. I do not believe in fighting.”
“Ah, Fairy of Pure Heartâyer name is true,” Nurch sighed. “No ye wouldn't have to fight anyone. All ye have to do is to stand directly in front of the pot and chant a spell, and it will return to us.”
Bellaâs face showed her lack of confidence in this plan.
“Is there no other thing that you would ask of me in exchange for a sliver of your rainbow?” she asked miserably.
“None,” he said flatly. “If ye wants yer sliver, bring us our pot.”
Nurch stretched upwards on the balls of his feet.
“Ye have until the moon rises tonight to consider our exchange, and then I shall expect yer answer. Should ye decide before then, ye only have to tell Nirb and he will contact us. We shall tell ye exactly how to find the Nuffins and what our pot looks like.”
Bella took a deep breath. “I don't need time to think. I will try to do what you ask of me. Tell me what I need to know and I'll do my best.”
“Take heart, Fairy. Ye have already faced difficult trials and found the courage to triumph,” he urged her.
Behind Nurch, the council members were excitedly speaking amongst themselves.
“Ye will find the Nuffins at the only common ground for all immortals, with the exception of the Valley Mystic. They are on the edge of the Immortal Markets, just ...” he began.
Bella raised her hand to interrupt him, “But the markets are guarded by werewolves!” she exclaimed, thoughts of the werewolf's attack on Brighid the witch coming to mind.
“Yes, but they will not harm ye. The grounds of the markets are protected by an ancient spell weaved by Nemesis hisself; none will dare face his wrath by attacking another there. Besides, they will not be werewolves yet.”
“What do you mean?” she asked, her brows drawing together in confusion.
“The werewolves are men during daylight hours; the minute the sun sets, only then do they change. They will stay that way until just past sunrise, as the first rays appear in the sky, and then they will be men again.”
Bella frowned at him as she thought again of Brighid's werewolf.
“I saved a witch from an attack by a werewolf, and that was in daylight hours,” she said slowly. “Why didn't he change, if what you say is true?”
Nurch smiled faintly, “He was her familiar?”
Bella nodded her head.
“Then he couldn't change. When they take a werewolf as a familiar, witches place a spell that gives them control of the change. Imagine how inconvenient it would be if the familiar changed into a man when the witch did not want them to!”
“I must admit, I'm not all that familiar with the laws that govern werewolves and witches,” mused Bella uncertainly.
Nurch could see that Bella still wasn't convinced.
“The Nuffins are camping on the borders of the Immortal Markets. Every night for the past week they have had a celebration, inviting other immortals to join them. Tonight ye will be able to get close enough to the pot and say the spell that will return it to us.”
“Do you know exactly where your pot will be?”
“No, but I do know that when ye set foot onto the immortal grounds the pot will recognise yer powers, and will call to them.”
“But I don't have powers anymore,” she whispered. “I gave my powers to Yarg in exchange for the list of tokens I needed to save Arthur.”
“Oh Fairy, yer powers aren't in yer wings. Yer power is inside ye, and yer wings were only an extension of thatâa visible, tangible extension, yes, but yer power has always been in yer heart.”
Bella looked at him, hope flaring in her eyes.
“Do you really think I can do this?” she asked breathlessly.
“How can ye ask?” he said smiling at her. “Look at all the things ye've done so far. Ye have great courage in ye fairy; believe in yerself.”
Bella gave him a faint smile.
“So, how will I recognise this pot of yours?”