Meribabell and the Crack of Doom: The Fairy Diary, #2

For the friends of fairies and pixies.

A NOTE TO MY READERS

In 2015, I began to write my first novel, Diary of the End of the World. Well, actually in concept it wasn’t a novel to begin with, but that was how it ended up. As I explained in the forward to that publication, I had heard about something called ‘flash fiction.’ The idea was to tell a story in as few words as possible. I chose an arbitrary number of 120 words per entry as my target, and began to write out a daily diary entry for three and a half years. It resulted in a 685 page paperback.

I had no plans right away for another novel. That is, until we took an extended family vacation in 2020 to Disneyland in California. Looking for a souvenir by which to remember the trip, I happened into one of the shops in the Disney Village area. There, I was drawn to a tiny leather bound volume - three inches tall, by two inches wide, and one inch thick. It was called a Fairy Diary.

I did not purchase it at first encounter. However, something about it kept pulling at my fancy. Even when I did find and purchase another souvenir, that tiny tome continued to call to me.

I did give in and added it to my bookshelf at home. And as such it became the inspiration for my series, The Fairy Diary.

As I got into this second volume of the series, I relaxed even more the original restriction on the word length for each daily entry. And I have added a few graphics - a map of the world of the fairies and the other folk - plus sketches of the four main principles - Meribabell, our hero fairy; Rumbletwist, the bookish fairy (or just Rumble for short); Dunfallon, the doughty pixie; and Noralei, the fairy maiden, who is handy with a forge.

So, without further adieu, may I let the Narrator open up to you the further adventures of Meribabell and his friends, old and new.

RWOz2 September 3, 2024

CHAPTER ONE

Loose Ends and a Curse

THE NARRATOR SPEAKS up:

For sometime I fear, I suffered from a malaise after reading about the fall of the stronghold at the end of the Low-way of the Dwarves. I feel it was connected somehow to that which overcame Meribabell at the point when he exerted himself against the forces enslaving the dark elves in the stronghold - that place which once again belongs to the dwarves.

A long time has passed as I translated and collated the next writings in the diary of the intrepid fairy. At one point I gave the volume a good shake, and I was surprised to see a cloud of fine, red dust fall out of it. I swept it up and filled a small salt shaker with it, which I have hidden away for possible future use.

Afterwards, I sensed a great release - a new energy and drive to complete my work on Meribabell’s next adventure which I now have prepared for your enjoyment.

Meribabell writes:

They tell me I fainted dead away from all the excitement surrounding the fast moving changes in the stronghold city at the end of the Low-way of the Dwarves - changes at play among the dwarves, elves and pixies, as they have assented to agreements, signed treaties, and began the exchange of habitations.

Now I have reawakened, I call it exhaustion, and consider it just a delayed reaction to the amount of force that streamed out of me in dispelling the influence of that mysterious entity responsible for the madness visited upon the Dromadil pixies and the dark elves.

The dark elves have already begun their trek back to the surface. They will repopulate the abandoned villages of the land with no name. And are considering to name it anew (they even desire to seek a new name for themselves, as they want to leave behind the stigma carried by the term ‘dark elves.’)

Dunfallon has gone off up the Low-way with a few of the Dromadil pixies in search of Artoxon and his dwarves to inform them that they may now return to this, their former stronghold.

When I joined Rumble and Noralei who again had taken up the examination of the chalice and the red ashes, who should walk in but our friend, the wizard Merlin.

I detected a hint of embarrassment in our friend before he began the account of his latest adventure. That became clearer with the first words out of his mouth. In his hasty pursuit on the Low-way of those bearing the dragon egg, he ran afoul of one of our traps. It had to have been one of our fairy traps. For he fell into a deep state of forgetfulness.

And he wandered aimlessly until he encountered a couple of dwarves - our old friends Fliget and Gnoston. That is how Merlin fell into the hands of the ever suspicious Artoxon.

Something about his surroundings brought him back to his senses. (I believe the fact of all that gold in one spot did the trick - certainly he realized that it would make a perfect nest for a dragon egg, and that reminded him of his mission).

Once he remembered who he was, he thanked them, bid them goodbye, then disappeared from their sight. (He was none too keen to trust those dwarves based on their past history).

He was more than happy not to explain more, when Noralei laid before him the mystery of the chalice and the red ash.

As the wizard conferred with her and Rumble, I went atop the tower from which it had been removed, and looked around.

Sitting atop the tower did much to clear my head. From that height I watched the former dark elves stream out of the city below - some exiting the quickest way by the canyonlands - others via the gate to the Low-way to travel to the other access points along that route.

There I was basking in the contentment flowing from the happy conclusion to our recent efforts when a cold cloud of fear descended upon me. A tingling in my back between my wings soon had me shivering all over.

I looked down and saw that the pedestal upon which the chalice had once stood, was icing over.

I leapt back when the shivering ceased and the hot passion of the bloodlust was enveloping me.

I shrugged it off and dove off the tower and flew to my friends. And related this disturbing incident to them.

We may have to call a halt to the dwarves returning to this place until we can discover what, if anything, is wreaking havoc with the emotions of any being that falls within its influence. For as long as those affected have their wills bent to its purposes, we simply cannot allow it.

The High Fairy arrived here today and we handed the problem over to his excellency and to Merlin.

After much deliberation, they concluded that a curse was at work in this matter. Inquiries among the remaining former dark elves shed no light. They claimed that anyone in the know had already left. I worked with the idea of sending messengers after each group to seek out answers, but that turned out to be unnecessary as Dunfallon and his Dromadil pixie contingent returned from their trip to see Artoxon.

They confirmed that a curse was indeed in play. The dwarves had placed it. And will remove it soon upon their return.

Artoxon did not come himself but had sent his envoys - our former guides, Fliget and Gnoston. With them was a most puzzling figure - I believe it was a he - the most wizened dwarf I have ever seen. And imagine my surprise when he was revealed to be an ancient goblin and a bit of a wizard himself.

He went away with the High Fairy and Merlin, while Fliget and Gnoston remained with us and filled us in about their companion, who is called Bifitz. Long ago this goblin had forsaken his own people to live among the dwarves, maintaining a place of distinction in their ruling council.

It was Bifitz who had conjured the curse upon the stronghold when the dwarves were forced to abandon it.

Rumble and Noralei went off with Fliget and Gnoston on a tour of the city. I sat with Dunfallon to hear the tale of his latest adventures.

According to his say-so Bifitz has negated the curse. Through a lengthy spell he was able to physically remove it from within the pedestal. He examined the chalice and the red ash. He tells us that the dark elves must have been aware of the curse for he believes the chalice and something that had been placed on top to close it off was their attempt to deflect its effect.

This may explain why it was stronger at other points along the Low-way in the deserted places. And that whoever took away whatever enclosed the chalice caused the curse to pour back onto the stronghold. Hence, the horrific effect on the Dromadil pixies.

Noralei and I met with Merlin afterwards and filled him in about the missing Will’o’the Wisp. He agreed with our suspicions that Willie may be responsible for removing the chalice cover.

And he is fairly certain that it was some kind of crystal.

The first party of dwarves arrived today to take up residence in their former city. Fliget has been appointed regent, and with Gnoston’s assistance, helped settle dwarves back into their shops and homes. Fliget was kept quite busy settling disputes. (We will not be seeing Artoxon any time soon. He prefers to remain down in the depths with his riches).

The High Fairy left to see the fairy troops back to the Faerie Kingdom. But before departing, he handed the dragon egg back into Merlin’s care. And his excellency asked if we would be returning soon to Nonin-gal-dith also.

I replied that we would weigh that option very carefully with Merlin before deciding.

I, for one, am filled with uneasiness regarding the future.

We saw Gnoston off at the gate to the Low-way. He was eager to return to his family village, now that his duties here are fulfilled.

Fliget offered to lead us on a tour of the mines in the area that have just reopened. We fairies declined, based on Noralei’s experience with one of them that revealed a danger of exposure to iron ore. Dunfallon was happy to accompany him, of course.

Before they departed I took Dunfallon aside and confirmed what he told me yesterday about our next steps. He has not changed his mind, but wants to continue on wherever I lead. He knows and approves of my inclination.

I then gathered Rumble and Noralei for a meeting with Merlin. They both have concerns they wish to check on back at Nonin-gal-dith before making a final decision.

Merlin mused a moment, then agreed. He took them back right then. And promised to return for Dunfallon and me tomorrow.

He thinks we need to know more, so he proposed that we gather at his castle to search out the matter.

It was a day for saying goodbyes. Nililitil and Navril mustered the elves of light and after a touching ceremony in which Fliget gifted each with a cuirass of the finest dwarvish workmanship, they departed for Laguayil.

Nililitil promised to send out orders for all in his kingdom to watch for any sign of our Will’o’the Wisp.

The Dromadil pixies listened to a fine speech by Dunfallon in which he presented each with a sack of gold as their thanks from the dwarves. When they were dismissed they took up the rear guard to the Laguayilian troops.

Next, Fliget saluted our pixie with a surprising gift - a harp of gold that he can carry in his pocket - it grows when played and shrinks back to pocket size afterwards. (The regent thought its music would be the perfect accompaniment to Dunfallon’s stories).

My turn for farewells came shortly after Merlin’s return. There in the city square before all its denizens, Fliget placed a new pendant around my neck. It sported a tiny crystal, so it fit quite nicely and did not clash with my other two pendants. He tells me it has the power to protect me against the ill effects that ordinarily I would suffer in the presence of iron ore.

As proof he revealed that its chain was forged from that material. I felt marvelous.

Without further adieus, Merlin and I were off for his castle. Dunfallon, by mutual consent, is traveling on his eagle, the better to check for signs of Willie.

And hopefully, we will soon know whether or not Rumble and Noralei will be joining us.

I awoke this morning with a jolt. I must have been dreaming. All I could remember was flying along, when on a sudden, I fell out of the sky. In my groggy state I had to remind myself where I was and what my new pendant was for.

Then everything came back to me.

For now, I am Merlin’s only guest, as Dunfallon has not yet arrived. I have no concern about his absence as I figured he was just following his curiosity. For after all, he was looking for signs of Willie.

(Merlin did consult his seer’s stone and ascertained that the pixie and his eagle were not too far off course, and in fact should be here with us later this evening).

Also, we are awaiting word as to whether or not Rumble and Noralei will be joining us.

After a brief time on the rampart with Merlin, he pointed me to the section