Berganashio - Chapter 33

The darkness of night commenced as a blanket. In a tumultuous panic, the fairies flew from the giant's lumbering form. Obediently, the giant followed Whisper's command to go into the cave entrance. It was bedtime for the giant, so he began to lay down on the leather conveyer belt that was near the front part of the cave entrance. The three totters jumped down from the giant's shoulder who had already fallen asleep; he was oblivious to the world.

"We have nothing to ward them off!" Pori screamed, pointing at the two dragons who had flown back up into the sky, circling in spiral configurations.

"What could they want with the likes of us? Papa totter held his two children closer. They clung to a small crag in the shadows that the moon was beginning to create. Jovie was near them to ensure that they were safe.

"I know this may sound wild, but I know who they are," Queen Finyellë shuddered.

Pori flew to Queen Finyellë. "What do you mean? How could you know who they are? Tell us!"

"Please tell us!" Whisper the dwarf lovingly patted the sleeping giant's chest as if to thank the giant for a good day's work. Whisper's entire body rose up and down with the inhaling and exhaling lungs of the giant. Whisper's long, mostly white, beard blew in the night breeze. He peered up at Queen Finyellë now, waiting for her to respond.

Queen Finyellë looked at Pori. "They're your parents, Pori. I'm so sorry!"

"What? But how could it be?" Pori was very breathless. Looking back up at the dragons, "Oh dear goodness, look now, they're coming down closer now!"

Indeed, the dragons flew down with great force. Just as they blew torrents of billowing fire, with all the might that they could muster, the fireflies formed yet another forcefield of protection. Brighter and stronger than ever, the fireflies formed a cascading sheet of protection that covered the entire cave entrance. In most known worlds fireflies simply would not have survived such intense fire heat from dragons. These fireflies were clearly more powerful than ever anticipated. More than ever, their power to protect was made clear to all the other creatures that were rather terrified in the cave now.

"Ohhhhhh! This is unreal! This has got to be a dream!" Brother totter was squeezing his papa's paw in amazement. Sister totter hid her eyes from the fiery blasts as she clutched one of Jovie's sweating palms.

With several more blasts of fire clouds, the dragons realized that they were not getting through the fireflies, so dramatically, they flew off into the darkness. It truly was surreal seeing the linked fireflies hover in such a still state. They continued to remain still now.

"They're stunning!" Cotton said as he was still down below on the outside of the cave entrance. Bry still clung to Cotton's white fur desperately hanging on for dear life.

"Cotton, where did the dragons come from?"

Cotton shook his head, "I have not the slightest clue, little one... but we should climb up there into the cave with the others.”

They made their way up to the cave entrance and Bry fluttered off of Cotton's back in time to quickly hug Pori.

"Oh, Pori! Giants and dragons and..." He paused, "What in the world could be next, Pori?"

She shook her head in befuddlement, "I suppose we just never know. Befuddlement in this particular context meant that she had no idea what to expect next. Glancing at the picturesque fireflies, she thought of a question. "Queen Finyellë, what do the fireflies eat?"

"Nectar and pollen mostly." The queen answered, "Why do you ask?"

"I was just thinking that they must be half-starved after a long day such as today. I could sing some flowers into fruition for them, you know... Bry could help too."

"Don't!" Sister totter had a flash back to when she had sung just a few notes of a melody back at the fairy vine village. The fireflies had vanished from the vibrations of the sound. "The fireflies will disappear from us like before!" Her small cheeks flushed in embarrassment from remembering the occurrence. After more explanation of the fireflies sensitivity or aversion to singing was expounded on, Pori thought of an idea.

"I know. I can fly to the other side of the mountain range with Bry. It will be far enough away to not disturb the fireflies. We can sing for long enough to produce some delicious edible flowers and vines and then we'll bring it all back. Without a nourishing meal, we'll all grow faint."

Queen Finyellë nodded in fatigued agreement. "We've lots of ropes, we can tie baskets to the sea-wolf if he's willing to carry all the baskets of flowers and vines, that is..." She looked at Cotton questioningly. He smiled and was glad to be of use for such a time as this.

Pori stopped to ask, "Before we go though, how is it possible that the dragons could be king Phineas and queen Malka? I can't fathom the ludicrous idea of it!"

"Huh?" Bry eyed Pori who tried to hush him instantly.

"Let her talk, Bry." Pori looked at queen Finyellë, searchingly.

The fairy queen took a deep breath. "For years, I've had nightmares of fiery arrows coming from the mouths of... unfortunately, your parents, the king and queen of the merfarie gardens. Because there was darkness boiling in their hearts, it led them to speak curses and vile words that have desperately tried to destroy me and all the other fairies."

Dozens of shocked gasps reverberated off the cave walls. The giant slept soundly. As their eyes adjusted more to the darkness of the cave, they could see large silhouettes of what appeared to be other sleeping giants on the sturdy leather conveyor belt.

The fairy queen sighed and continued speaking. "The fiery arrows came from the merfarie king and queen and they are part of what drove us from our home at the fairy vine village. As you all know by now, I worked very hard to establish a new community years ago. One where I could feel safe, one where fairies could reside. I was never welcomed or accepted by the elite merfarie kingdom. Though I carry very little tradition from my blood line, there are old legends that I recall."

"Legends about dragons?" Pori couldn't help but interrupt to ask the question.

"Yes!" Queen Finyellë answered. "Dragons were extinct. However, part of the old legend that I recollect is this:

Long-term, unabated anger and festered hatred will eventually turn merfaries into dragons.

So, you see, the king and queen turned into dragons because of the darkness that had grown over years in their hearts! Their brewing anger and hatred toward me is all I've ever known from them. It was passed down from my parents to my brother, as an evil baton of generational degeneration! They hated me because I was different! They hated me because I was deformed! There was a time when hate tried to capture my heart too, but no more! I shall never be overcome by it!"

She looked down at her legs with vehemence. Tears ran down her face. Longingly, she looked at Pori's glimmering fins that she possessed instead of legs.

Pori rushed to queen Finyellë, embracing her closely. In a hushed emotional tone, she stated, "You are not deformed! You were simply made different." She paused, "For reasons that I hope you'll accept as purposeful and beautiful, aunt Finyellë!"

With numerous witnesses, the embrace of the fairy queen, and Pori, the merfarie princess, symbolized a reunited family that had been estranged for far too long. The tears from Pori's eyes landed on the fairy queen's shoulder. Because merfarie tears have healing properties, the battle wounds that queen Finyellë had received were instantly healed. Her skin now appeared as new and unscathed.

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Author's Note:

Stay tuned for the coming chapter 34 in the near future....