Fairy Tales - Part One

To those interested, I will be posting WIP (work-in-progress) stories and chapters as I can this summer.  I will warn readers that I cannot guarantee quick updates or completion of these WIPs anytime soon.  However, I hope you enjoy reading, and I'd love to hear your comments.  Positive feedback definitely helps my muse :)  Thanks, readers :)
JL-

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Fairy Tales - Part One

“Fin Earthenly, just wait till I get my hands on you!  Your wings will be grounded for a month’s moon cycle!”

Young Fin’s wings shuddered at the threat, despite the fact that he was an Earth Reader.  However, just because he communed with and cultivated the planet’s earth-force didn’t mean that he didn’t find thrill and fulfilment in stretching his wings and flying to the treetops and above.  Being grounded would suck.  He couldn’t let his mother find him until she calmed down.

His eyes darted around and spotted a soft pink rose, its petals starting to close for the night, and he flew as silently as possible to the flower, hiding himself in the fragrant petals just as they shut completely.

He breathed a sigh of relief, only to gasp and whirl around as a chuckle sounded behind him.  His eyes landed on a familiar face, Jacoby Floraman—occasional friend and occasional bane of Fin’s existence. 

“Oh flutterby.”  He murmured the common fairy swear.

Jac clucked his tongue both in chiding and amusement.  “Your fairy butt in trouble again, Fin?”

Fin crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes in an attempt to look menacing to the older and bigger boy.  Jacoby had a knack for rubbing him the wrong way.  “I don’t see how my fairy butt is your concern, Jacoby.”

Jac’s mouth tipped upward with growing amusement instead of being cowed by Fin’s posturing. 

“You’re in one of my flowers, runt.  I’d say my concern became valid the moment you joined me.”

Fin huffed, having forgotten Jacoby was a Nature Nurturer and had a vested interest in all growing things.  “I didn’t know you were here.”

“And if you did, you wouldn’t have flown in?”

“No,” Fin adamantly declared.

“I see.  So, letting your mother find you and ground your wings would be the preferable option?”

Fin scowled, embarrassed that the other boy had heard his mother’s threat.  “I hate you.”

Jac merely chuckled and shook his head.  “What did you do this time, kid?”

Fin crossed his ankles and gracefully sat down, resting his back against the rose’s soft petals.  “It’s no big deal.  Mama will calm down by morning light.”

“If it’s no big deal, why are you so determined not to tell me?” Jac questioned.

Fin felt his cheeks heat up, but tried to bluff away the blush.  “I’m not.  I just don’t see any cause for Mama’s ire.  Besides, you knowing my activities hasn’t always worked to my advantage.”

“Oh please.”  Jac rolled his eyes.  “If you’re talking about what happened when I turned seven, it’s time to get over it.”

Fin harrumphed.  “I was five-years-old and your tattling kept me from having any sweet foods for two days!  That’s hard for a kid to get over.”

“Newsflash, Fin.  You’re not five anymore, and you were at fault.  You blew out the candles on my birthday cake!”

“I know!  I couldn’t help it!  They were…mesmerizing.”

“Yeah, well, I was seven and upset that I wouldn’t be able to make a birthday wish for another whole year.  You know birthday wishes are special…just as special as the wishes made on the first star of the night.  You took my wish away and I was distressed.”

“And went crying to your mother,” Fin repeated sassily. 

Jac sighed.  “I’m not apologizing for something that happened over ten years ago and that wasn’t my fault.”

“You told….”

“And you deserved it,” Jacoby interrupted the start of Fin’s rant.  “Wouldn’t you have told on me if I took your wish?”

Fin actually thought about that and some of his indignation faded.  “Yeah,” he conceded.  “I would have.”  After a long moment he added, “Sorry for taking your wish away.”

Jac immediately smiled at him.  “Thank you.  I made up for it with an extra big wish when I turned eight.”

Fin’s eyes brightened with interest.  His natural curiosity being immediately triggered.  “What did you wish for?!”

The older boy shook his head.  “Not telling.”

“Jac-o-by!” Fin whined.  “Tell me!”

“Nope.  You know you shouldn’t tell your wishes.”

“That’s just to make sure they come true!  If your wish already came true, then you can tell me what it was!” Fin insisted.

“Maybe it didn’t come true yet,” Jac argued.

Fin’s eyes flashed in irritation.  “You’re just being mean now.”

“I’m not.  I’m actually bargaining with you.  Tit for tat.  You tell me why you’re hiding from your mama tonight, and I’ll tell you what I wished for.”

Fin bit his lower lip.  Being overly-curious was a natural trait among fairy-kind, although some learned to manage it better than others.  Fin was not one of those.  He struggled to keep a handle on his inquisitiveness at the best of times, and having Jac dangle the tantalizing string of a childhood birthday wish in front of him was too much for him to resist. 

“Fine,” he yielded.  “I’ll tell you.  Mama…well…she’s been preparing some things for company tomorrow.  Some of her and Papa’s water sprite friends from their school days are coming over, and she had been saving some rainbow water for them.”

Jac’s pointed ears perked up at the mention of rainbow water.  “That’s very hard to get,” he stated.  “Rainbows directly touching the water are rare, and they only linger a few minutes at most, but the water they touch is the sweetest there is.”

“Yeah, I know,” Fin admitted reluctantly, his eyes going downcast.

“Oh dear.  Did you spill it?” Jac questioned.

Fin shook his head guiltily.  “I drank it.”

Jac’s sea-green eyes blinked in surprised.  “You drank it?  Why?”

Fin’s lip trembled slightly.  “I didn’t realize it had been brought out for Mama’s company.  It was just sitting there and it looked so delicious.  I thought to just take a sip, but then…I couldn’t stop.”

The older fairy shook his head disapprovingly, causing the ponytail his black hair was pulled up in to sway back and forth.  “No wonder your mama is irked at you.  I would be too if you drank my rainbow water.”

Fin’s eyes dropped to his knees, his wings drooping in remorse as well.  “I didn’t mean to drink it all.  I’d give it back if I could.”

“It would be hopeless to get now anyway,” Jac stated.  “Finding a rainbow at night is nearly impossible.”

Fin whimpered, his pretty violet eyes getting bright with moisture.  “I know it’s impossible, but Mama is really mad, and now there’s nothing special for the company.  I can’t fix it and I don’t want to get my wings grounded.”  A tear dripped down his cheek.  “I hate it when my flying is taken away.”

There was a shuffling sound, and then Fin felt an arm slip around his shoulders and Jac’s voice was surprisingly sympathetic.  “You’ve certainly dropped yourself into a thorn bush of a problem, but don’t lose heart.  Let me think for a few minutes.  Perhaps there is something that can be done.”

“Really?”  Fin looked to him hopefully.  “Can you help me?  What can we do?”

“Hush, runt.  I said I needed to think,” Jac lightly scolded.

Fin’s head dropped again, but then Jacoby squeezed him lightly and urged him to rest his head on his shoulder while they sat in silence. 

Fin’s patience only lasted so long though, and after several minutes, he lifted his head to look up at the older boy.  “You done thinking yet?”

Jacoby’s sigh in response seemed borderline exasperated, making Fin feel bad all over again.  His fall back into melancholy earned him another squeeze though.

“You could try thinking of some solutions too, kid,” Jac suggested ruefully.  “Although I might have an idea at the moment.”

“Really?!  What is it?  Will it work?!” Fin immediately reacted.

“I said might, Fin,” Jac reminded.  “It’s just an idea, and I think it’s best we wait till first light to pursue it.”

“What is it?”

“I think we should go to Lorelei, the Water Watcher, and ask her advice.  Maybe she’ll know where we can gather some rainbow water before your mama’s guests come to call.”

“Lorelei?”  Fin scrunched his nose in disfavor.  “She’s such a stick-in-the-mud, and she’s bossy.”

“She’s a wise fairy who has been a Water Watcher since she could speak, and an elder in our community for decades.  She can give us guidance, and I’m sure will be willing to assist us…”  He looked down warningly at Fin.  “If we are respectful to her.”

Fin harrumphed.  “I’m respectful!”

“Yeah, it’s respect that makes you call her a stick-in-the-mud, right?”

Fin shook his head.  “No, that’s just me being honest.”

Jacoby laughed and lightly smacked Fin’s head.  “You’re naughtier than a raccoon pup, Fin Earthenly.  Now lie down and get some sleep.  We need to take care of things at first light because I have other things to be done tomorrow besides saving your little white wings.”

The two of them settled comfortably into the rose’s soft petals, the quiet settling onto them, although it didn’t last long.

“Jac?”

The older fairy sighed.  “What, Fin?”

“You didn’t tell me your wish yet.”

Jac couldn’t help chuckling.  “It would drive you crazy if I didn’t tell, wouldn’t it?”

“You promised you would!” Fin insisted. 

“Aye, I did.”

“So, what was it?”

Jac was quiet for a long moment, but Fin could tell he was getting ready to answer. 

“On my eighth birthday, I wished to see above the trees for the first time,” he finally said softly.

“Oh wow,” Fin breathed.  “My wings weren’t strong enough to do that until I was twelve.”

“Neither were mine,” Jac admitted, “and I didn’t tell anyone my wish, but I think my Pop figured it out.  Just before dusk that day, he brought me to Daichi the Owl, and we rode on Daichi’s back until we broke through the tree-cover.  We circled the Fairy Woods while the sun set.  It was the best thing ever.”

“Wow,” Fin said again.  “I want to do that someday.”

They lay in contented silence for several minutes after that, and Jacoby was just drifting off to sleep when a voice interrupted the quiet again.

“Jac?”

“Fin, go to sleep,” he grumbled.

“Just one question, Jac?” the younger boy pleaded.  “Well, maybe two.”

Jac sighed, knowing Fin’s curiosity would have to be soothed if they were ever to get any sleep.  “What is it?”

“Could you take me to Daichi someday to ask to ride on his back above the trees, and maybe ride with me?”

Jac grinned in the darkness.  “Sure, runt.”

“Good,” Fin said happily. 

“Is that all you wanted to know?” Jac questioned.

“No,” Fin replied.  “I wanted to know what else you needed to do tomorrow besides talk to Lorelei with me.  What are you going to do?”

Jac’s voice got mildly sober.  “I turn eighteen tomorrow, Fin.  It’s my time to go see the Bond Guardian.”

Fin felt his wings shudder slightly in nervousness for Jac.  He’d forgotten it was the boy’s birthday the next day, and what turning eighteen meant.  All fairies went to see the Bond Guardian on that day.  It was an important event.  The Bond Guardian was the guard of relationships and compatible love between fairies.  She was the one who told you if you were to be mated, or if you would be happier as a single fairy.  If you did have a mate in your future, sometimes she could even tell you who it would be. 

Fin was glad he still had two years before his time to see the Bond Guardian.  He feared he wouldn’t like whom he would end up matched with; or, even worse, he feared being told he had no match.  He didn’t like the thought of being without a life-companion. 

“Are you anxious, Jac?” he asked quietly.

“A little,” the boy admitted.  “And that was three questions.  No more tonight.  Go to sleep, Fin.”

*****

“Hurry up, Fin.  You know I don’t have all day.”  Jacoby grabbed the younger boy’s hand and pulled him along.

Fin still hesitated.  “But what if nothing can be done?”

“We won’t know that until we talk to Lorelei.  Now come on!”

Finally, they reached the willow tree that Lorelei lived in. Its leaves hung down toward a lovely woodland pond that was just starting to shimmer with the morning light.  Fin hung back slightly as Jacoby knocked on the Water Watcher’s door.  It opened a moment later to reveal the white-haired fairy called Lorelei. 

“Jacoby Floraman,” she said in a husky voice.  “What are you doing beating my door down when dawn has barely begun?”

“I’m sorry, Lady Lorelei,” he replied sincerely.  “I know it is early, but a friend of mine has a problem and we’ve come seeking your help.”

“What friend?” Lorelei questioned.  “I see no one but you.”

Jacoby looked behind him and saw that Fin had indeed disappeared.  His hands going to his hips, he turned and spoke to the seemingly empty area.  “Fin Earthenly, you better not have run away!  Come out right now!”

The tinkle of rustling fairy wings could be heard and Fin’s head popped out from behind one of the willow tree roots.  Jac pointed firmly to the spot in front of him, and Fin hesitantly came to join him.

“Don’t hide like a mole,” Jac admonished.  “It’s not respectful.”

“Sorry,” Fin said softly but sincerely.

Lady Lorelei huffed quietly, but there was a sparkle of amusement in her eyes.  “Come inside, Jacoby, and bring the little mole-boy with you.  We’ll see if you are deserving of my help.”

With a hand on Fin’s back, Jacoby followed the elder fairy inside.  Lorelei had them sitting on a bunny-fur couch with hot cups of honeydew tea in their hands within minutes.

“Now, tell me what this problem is,” she ordered as she sat with her own cup of tea.

Just glancing at Fin told Jacoby the boy was too nervous to explain his dilemma, so Jac did his best to explain what had happened, while trying to make Fin not appear as guilty as he was.  The boy’s face was still the color of the rose they’d spent the night in by the time Jac finished the explanation.

“I see,” Lorelei said when he was done.  It was hard to tell what her sentiments were on the subject.  Her tone revealed little.  “I suppose you’d like me to find some rainbow water for you.  Is that right?” she questioned.

Jacoby didn’t want the elder to think they were taking advantage of her.  “We don’t want to put you out, ma’am.  We hoped maybe you could tell us where we would be most likely to find some.  Fin would like to replace what he drank, and we’re on a bit of a time crunch because his mother’s company arrives today.”

“It does sound like you’re about to go over a waterfall of trouble, young man,” Lorelei said to Fin.

“Yes, ma’am,” he agreed, his blush getting rosier.

“Well, I’m afraid finding a rainbow within wing distance today is not going to happen.  Rainbows require rain, and the Water Watcher in me knows that the next shower for these parts is two days away.”

Fin’s wings seemed to wilt against his back.  The sight tugged at Jac’s heart, and it seemed to affect Lorelei in much the same way.

“Now, now, lad,” she soothed.  “Don’t let your white wings turn blue.  I may have an answer to your problem, but it will come with some conditions.”

Fin’s gaze finally met hers.  “Really?  You can help me?”

“Well, it just so happens that I have a bottle of rainbow water of my own.  I always try to keep some on hand…just in case, you know.  Anyway, I might be willing to part with it into your hands, but I’d like some recompense from you if I give it.”

“Oh, I’ll do anything, ma’am!  I promise!” Fin declared, his eyes lighting with hope for the first time.

“You might want to hear my conditions first, young man.  If I am to part with my water, then I’ll expect you to someday replace it with rainbow water you are able to gather on your own.  There is no time limit on that condition, since I know better than most how rare it is.”

“I’ll do it, Lady Lorelei!  You can count on that!” Fin assured.

“Yes, I believe you will do your best to gather it, but that’s not my only condition.  I have two more.  The first is that I could use some help with some of my duties at this time of year.  It’s not as easy for me to gather samples from all the different waterways in our fairy wood as it used to be.  The samples are vital though.  Water is alive you know, and the samples the waterways gift to me tell me how healthy each area is or what they need from us.”

Both Fin and Jacoby nodded their understanding of that knowledge.

“Well, it would do me well if two young lads like yourselves could gather samples from the furthest away waters.  That would be Nighttree Pond, Rock Falls, and the Sunshine Tide Pools.  Each one is a day’s flying for me, although I’d guess it wouldn’t take quite so long for young ones such as yourselves.  Could I count on the two of you to get me adequate samples from those waters?”

Fin nodded his head emphatically while Jacoby said “Yes, ma’am, but you might need to advise us on the proper way to do it.”

Lorelei gave an approving dip of her head.  “Of course I will.”  She then turned her gaze exclusively on Fin.  “The last condition rests on you alone, lad.  Since it appears you’re so fond of sweet drinks, I’ll give you the task of organizing my water cellar.  It has needed it for a while, but shifting all those bottles is too much for me now.  I’ll direct you how I want it done, and I’ll expect it done well…without tasting any of my collection.  Is that understood.”

Fin looked momentarily disappointed in this assigned chore, but he nodded.  “I understand, but I’ll have to see when I can do it.”

“You’ll do it a week from today,” Lorelei stated.  “That will give you time to change any plans already made, and it gives you and your friend Jacoby here the span of this week to obtain the water samples I need.”

Fin appeared rather affronted at Lady Lorelei’s mandate, but Jac elbowed him in the side before the youth could say anything disrespectful.  The younger fairy seemed to swallow back his first reply and merely nodded, with a “Yes, ma’am” added in for good measure.

“It is agreed then.  I’ll go retrieve my rainbow water now.  The two of you can wash up these few tea cups.”

Fin was a mix of giddy and grumbly in the few minutes he and Jac had to themselves as they washed and dried the cups; giddy to be able to take a bottle of rainbow water home to his mother, grumbly about the tasks assigned to him.

“Just be grateful,” Jacoby said more than once.  “Lady Lorelei is probably the only fairy in wing distance who has rainbow water.  She’s being very generous to give it to you.”

Fin sighed dramatically.  “I know.”

It was still less than enthusiastic, but Jac didn’t push. 

Not too much later they were out the door with chilled bottle of rainbow water in hand.  Fin looked at it longingly until Jac nicked it from his grasp.

“Maybe I’ll just carry this.  You’re already tempted to drink it, aren’t you?”

“Not that tempted,” Fin tried to defend, although the unconscious licking of his lips betrayed him.

Jac rolled his eyes.  “You’re such a fairykin, Fin.”

“I am not!” Fin asserted loudly.  He didn’t take kindly to being called the disparaging term for a “baby fairy”.

“Fine, fine…you’re not, but if we don’t get this water and you back to your house quickly, your mama is likely to treat you like one.  Come on.”

Glaring at the other boy, Fin still fluttered his wings a little faster, and the two of them made fast time to Fin’s home.

At the door to the Earthenly’s hollowed-rock home, Jacoby was about to say good-bye, but the silent look of pleading on Fin’s face made him decide to delay his departure.  Instead, he followed Fin in as the youth entered his home and immediately faced his mother.

“Fin Earthenly!” the small fairy woman scolded.  “I’ve a mind to ground your wings until you’re eighteen!  First you drink the rainbow water, and then you disappear for hours.  You’ll turn my red hair white before too much longer!”

“I’m sorry, Mama,” Fin apologized, the blush on his face so strong that his wingtips had even tinted pink.  “I’ve tried to fix things.”

“How could you fix this, Fin?” his mother demanded.

Fin glanced at Jacoby, whom his mother had barely noticed, and the older boy held up the bottle of rainbow water.

“Fin went looking to replace the water, ma’am,” Jac offered.  “He garnered one for you in exchange for assisting Lady Lorelei with some of her needs.”

Fin’s mother was rendered speechless for a minute as she took the bottle of water from Jac’s hands.  Her voice was softer when she did speak next. 

“You did this, Fin?”

The youth nodded.  “Yes, Mama, but Jacoby helped me.”

The woman looked between the two young fairies and the anger that had been in her eyes and voice faded completely.  “Thank you, both.  I appreciate the effort gone to for this.  Although,” she gave a mildly reproving look to Fin.  “I can hope that it won’t be necessary to go through any of this again.”

“Yes, Mama.”

Fin’s mother came closer and dropped a kiss onto her son’s dark purple hair.  “You’re a good lad, Fin.”

She then surprised Jac when she lightly kissed his brow as well.  “So are you, Jacoby.  Thank you for helping.  Would you like to stay for a bite to eat?”

“I’d like to, ma’am, but I’m afraid I have somewhere I need to be.”

She looked disappointed for a moment, but then her eyes widened as understanding hit her.  “You are eighteen today,” she stated knowingly.  “Yes, you do have somewhere to be.  Go on with you then, and good luck, Jacoby.”

“Thank you, ma’am.”

The lady disappeared into her kitchen then with the bottle of rainbow water, and Fin walked Jac to the door.  He looked a bit embarrassed and his wings were stiff instead of relaxed, but he met Jac’s eyes and offered a sincere, “Thank you.”

Jac’s mouth tipped up in a grin.  “You’re welcome, runt.  See you around.”

          After that he was out the door and flying quickly toward the house of the Bond Guard, knowing it was better to face his future than spend the day worrying over it.