CHAPTER 31
Fairies were known for their hospitality; and these ones were no different. I was ready to get down working and putting my case forward, but the nobles would have none of it. Firstly I was taken to another room where a feast had been laid in my honour. It was not often they had guests, and they were making the most of it. They chatted as we ate and then the entertainment began.
The Fairy music began and I could feel myself falling into a state of euphoria. I fought it, and if it had not been for the many protection potions I carried, I think I would have been mesmerised, and I would have forgotten my task. I knew this is how mortal folk had ended up being kept in the Fairy world forever. This was probably their intention, I was being tested, and If I failed; then so would my mission and the war that was being fought on the mortal plane.
There would be no discussions tonight, and so I pretended exhaustion. This was taken as a good sign by the Royalty, and I was shown to a room where I could rest for the night. Once I was on my own, I checked my herb pouches. I knew the magic would not last long in this place, so I had to keep my guard up. I needed my rest to keep up my strength, so I went to bed. It was a shaped as a sleigh, with silk and fur as the covers; to be honest I had the most perfect sleep that night, and woke up feeling more relaxed and confident. Everything about this place was carefully created to lure you into complacency, and to make you forget your past and want to stay there.
My confident feeling didn’t last long though, as a group of Fairies came in giggling, and said they were to show me around the realm. Reluctantly, I went with them. If I was honest, I did long to see the realm but I knew my journey had been one of importance and this was just another delay. It would not work; I would not forget why I was there.
The serenity of the place was overwhelming. As before it was twilight; I found out this was always the case, and I looked again at the warm glow cast by the thousands of lanterns entwined in the trees and across the small homes. The air was filled with bird song and the humming of the fireflies. I was taken across a glorious field of clover, to a group of ‘picture box’ cottages.
I found out these belonged to mortals who had been lured by the Fairy song and had been trapped in the Fairy Realm. Of course they didn’t feel trapped, they lived in peace and tranquillity, and there were no worries here. I was introduced to some of them and I knew this was yet another tactic to make me want to stay.
One lady I was introduced to, was called Guene, she told me she had been here for many years now, and loved it. As she rambled on about the life and the goodness of the Fairies, a feeling crept over me that I could not shake. I knew I had never met her, but she felt familiar somehow. The more she talked, the stronger the feeling became, but it was not until she hugged me, I realised who she was.
Her memories had flooded into me; this was the missing Intercessor, who was thought to have died. She had been taken over by the Fairy magic and had forgotten all that had gone before. I was pleased she was safe, and longed to talk to her, but I knew this would do no good. If she returned to the mortal world now, she would turn to dust. She had been here for centuries, even though she thought she had lived a normal lifetime.
I was not Guene, and never would be. Rather than lure me into their world, this meeting had strengthened my resolve to obtain the help I needed, and get back to my world. I asked for an audience with the Royalty, but was told they were unavailable and I would see them at dinner. I had to assert myself at the dinner, I knew this, as the magic here was powerful and I would not be able to fight it off for long. All I could do was to wait for the evening meal and make my plea then, even if I was risking the anger of the Kings and Queens there, it was then or never.