The Fairy Rose

The Fairy Rose Fairy Rose Chronicles™ By Kailin Lauren Gow

Published by Sparklesoup Inc. (Formerly Sparklesoup Studios, Inc.) First Published 2003 Copyright © 2003 by Kailin Gow (Kailin Lauren Gow) All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage or retrieval system, without the permission in writing from the publisher except in case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. Electronic versions cannot be resold. All rights owned by Kailin Gow. Published by Sparklesoup Inc. For information, please contact: Sparklesoup Inc. 14252 Culver Drive, #A732 Irvine, CA 92604 First Electronic Version Edition Published in the United States of America

The Fairy Rose by Kailin Gow p. cm. - (The Fairy Rose Chronicles)

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet."~ William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

Chapter 1 I Am a Rose, an Honest Rose, Fairy of the Glen, Subject of the Summer

Kingdom

Dear fellow fairies and friendly humans, I am but an honest fairy, born and raised in the Glen of Roses. Hence my name Rose. Like my name Rose, my hair blaze a deep strawberry red, lighten only by the gold hues of the sun. As the Summer days grow longer, my hair turns brighter, almost like the orange-red sun of Summer. I am from the Kingdom of Summer, a wonderfully glorious kingdom where the sun shines brightly, the air is alive with the songs of Summer, and stars sparkle on the glistening leaves. Each blade of grass carries its own melody, and each flower petal her own perfume. As I am named after the sweet flower rose, the perfume I smell these sweet summer days are the ones closest to my name. And like a rose, being a fey of Summer, I flourish best within the Summer lands.

This is magic…as Feyland is a land of magic. I am from the world of Feyland, indescribably beautiful, with two suns and two moons, rolling valleys of green grass or red dirt, deep cravens of sharp precipices, gorges of bottomless edges, and skies of blues and lavender. Even the treacherous Winter Kingdom has its own form of beauty, although Summer has always believed its beauty superior to that of Winter. I am a seasonal fairy, and a young one at that! I am a mere 367 years old in fairy age, which I believe dear human friends, whom I will call the SIGHTLESS because you often cannot see us fairies and other magical creatures of the fey, especially when we disguise ourselves with glamour, I am a mere thirteen years of age. Since I am thirteen years of age in SIGHTLESS age, I am no longer just a child fairy, but of age to begin apprenticeship. My friends August and Melony, Summer fairies all, have already began their apprenticeship, while I eagerly await a visit from our sovereignty to

find out where I begin. My choices? Be like my friends August, who work with Melony in preparing Summer Harvest all year long or be like my older brother Rodney, who began training three summers ago as a Summer Knight with the most elite Summer fairies of the kingdom. Chances are, being that I am not at all as adept with a sword as Rodney, who is but a mere three years older than I, or age fifteen in SIGHTLESS eyes, I will not go to Fairy Knight Training. For although we have always practiced sword-fighting with wooden swords made out of oak by our own mother, out in the golden wheat fields behind our cottage since we started toddling, I do not have the gift of strength that Rodney has, nor can never be as swift. Rodney, with his kind eyes and gentle manner, is deceitfully deadly. He was born to be a knight, while I…well, what I was born to be has yet to be seen.

Chapter 2

Cooking Lessons like Knight Training “Rose!" a strong male voice called out from the doorway of our cottage. “Come in and help me prepare dinner.” It was Father, and he had on his clean white chef’s apron. On his fiery red head, sat a jaunty white mutton-top hat. Something he had picked up during a journey far away…across all of Feyland, across the flowing fields and streaming rivers…to someplace where humans live, and go to school, work, and even cook. A place where the SIGHTLESS live and cannot see us fairies unless we glamoured ourselves into one of them. He chuckled as I ran, no, flew into the house as fast as a lightning fly, eager to help with dinner. I grabbed an additional apron hanging on a hook within the kitchen door, and pulled it on. It was Rodney’s old one- the one that he wore when he used to help Father prepare meals…before he left to attend knight training. The neglected apron hung

down low, sagging to the ground on me. Father came over and tied the strings on top, using quick fingers to adjust the length. Soon, I was standing besides him, hands-deep in a bowl of dough mixture. It was a treat to be able to help my father prepare dinner. Though it was a long-held fey tradition that fairy women were not allowed to cook, while the men were the ones who did the cooking, Father would ask me to help him once in a while. “It’s because Rodney is away at knight training,” he would tell me. “Otherwise, he would be the one helping me with this slicing and dicing, peeling…” Father would tell me. “Mind you, cooking is very much like knight training…the best cooks make good knights. But not all knights make good cooks.” Father would then proceed to show me how to cut with phoenix-eye precision, full fowl, vegetables, and various fairy fruits into even slices. With a sharp knife, he showed me how to scale the skin of a dragonfish within seconds. Next, he showed me how to shuck a crystal oyster out of its delicate shell, without breaking the shell. “This,” Father says, “is an

oyster from the river of crystal, which runs through our world and the world of the humans. It took fairies many a journey to fetch this oyster. We must not break its shell, for it is a rarity.” Father smiled wide, his blue eyes gleaming. “And the meat tastes far better than any of the oysters from Feyland.” I looked up from the table where Father had quickly shuck another oyster to look at Father. He looked like the older version of Rodney. Red-hair and blue eyes, just like mother, and just like me. “Why are we having crystal oysters for dinner, Father? What is the occasion?” Father shucked another oyster before answering me. “Rodney is returning home from knight training, and he is bringing a visitor from the Summer Palace. I hear this visitor is the son of the King’s physician - an alchemist…a magical physician, as all us creatures of fey are. An alchemist is the most important adviser to the King.” “Why?” I asked. “Wouldn’t any of his political strategist, his military strategist, or even the Queen be more important?”

Father chuckled. “Yes, one would think they are all important to the Summer King. But in order to keep the King in good health so he can rule, his alchemist is the one who keeps our king well. And it is an honorable profession, too.” “As honorable as the King’s cook?” I asked, for Father occasionally was sent to help out at the Royal Kitchen as a cook. When Father did not help cook in the Summer Palace for his culinary skills, he was a riding instructor for an elite group of Summer knights. “Of course, as honorable as the cooks,” Father said. “But of course…like the alchemists, male fairies are the only ones who can fulfill those roles.” I shook my head, but pounded the dough mixture harder. “Hmmph! If women fairies can forge swords, wield axes, and shoot golden arrows in the War between the Winter and Summer Kingdoms, then women fairies should be allowed to cook or become alchemists, too.” Father reached for the bowl of dough mixture I

have been pounding, and took a look at the mixture. “I take it, Rose, you disagree with this Feyland tradition?” He held up the mixture, which had been beaten and mixed so well, it was as soft as the softest clay. Turning as bright as my hair, I looked down. “Is this the Feyland tradition for all fey folk?” “Ay,” Father said. “Summer, Winter, Spring, and Autumn fairies all.” “Then at least we are all one with this tradition,” I said, not believing we held such outdated traditions such as those in Feyland in common amongst all fairies, but still fought a war between us. “Yes, well, Rose,” Father winked. “Tradition or not, at least one girl in Feyland will know how to cook…and that be you. Hurry up, Girl, and slice that starfruit into a hundred pieces as I’ve just shown you, and do it quickly.” Father glanced out the window. “Rodney and his visitor will be here soon, and Mother will be arriving shortly, as well.” I tried slicing the starfruit neatly into tiny stars,

but had only sliced about seventy when in walked Rodney and a very handsome boy with blonde hair that fell neatly down to his shoulders. He was as tall as Rodney, which was tall for a boy of fifteen, and equally as broad-shouldered. Instead of wearing a gold and white tunic like Rodney, the boy was dressed in all black. His eyes were a paler shade of blue from Rodney and mine – a light baby blue, but they glanced over at Father, me, and our cozy cottage with interest. “Hello, Father!” Rodney’s voice boomed, and he came forward to give Father a hearty embrace. When done, he turned to me, and I ran over to wrap my arms around his waist. “Welcome home, Rodney!” I said, almost surprised at how much I missed my brother, who had been at knight’s training for three years now. “I can’t believe how much bigger you are !” He had grown taller, I noticed now that I stood side-by-side with him. “And you have grown, too, Rose,” Rodney said. “You now reach up to my chest.” He chuckled.

“But you’re still a pip squeak,” he said, pinching my nose affectionately with his two knuckles. It was Rodney’s way to show affection towards me, but my face went crimson as I looked over at the blonde boy, watching my brother pinch my nose and shake my head up and down and then side to side in front of him. It got worse. Much worse. “Rose rose that smell as sweet, how does it smell when I pinch that nose?”

Chapter 3 Return from Knight Training

I

nearly slap Rodney’s hand away from my

face and push him hard from me when the boy started laughing. Loud donkey laughs. At that moment, I thought about donkeys and boys and how if I had the training of an alchemist, I would be able to transform boys into donkeys…just like that. Finally, the big oaf of a brother, whom I loved dearly for most of the time, sensed my discomfort. Rodney let go of my nose, and turned around to face the blonde boy, who had stopped laughing long enough to face Father and I. “Rose, Father…meet Alistair. He is the nephew of the Duke of Autumn Springs, the land that lies between Spring and Autumn.” Father perked up. “The Autumn Springs?” Father and I exchanged looks with each other and then turned to face Rodney. The Autumn Springs was a serious land in contention between the Winter and Summer Kingdoms. They had denizens of Winter and Summer residing within its borders, and have taken a neutral stance in the Seasonal Wars between Summer and Winter. “Yes, the Autumn Springs,” Rodney repeated,

clapping Alistair on the shoulders. “I was sent there for most of this year to train in the high Alps of Autumn Springs. There is a training camp there where we are learning to fight and survive in Winter lands conditions. At one point in my training task, I was to retrieve the Flower of Astorrich, which can only be found in the Forests of Astor, hidden in the Alps.” Rodney blushed at the remembrance of his embarrassment. “I became lost and stumbled across a grand castle…which fortunately, happened to be Alistair’s home.” “Actually, it is my uncle’s home. I only live there,” Alistair said. “Your uncle the Duke,” Rodney said. “Who happened to be on good terms with the Summer Kingdom.” Father nodded. “Welcome, Alistair. We are glad that Rodney is back with us, safe and sound, and we have you and the Duke of Autumn Springs to thank for it!” He went over to Alistair to give him a seat at the table, where there was a round of crystal oyster shells laying about, my well-beaten dough

mixture rolled out into a sheet, and bowls upon bowls of cubed and starred starfruit. Father said, “We did not expect Rodney to arrive so soon, and we were expecting another visitor…” “Yes, an alchemist in training,” I said, more excited about seeing and meeting an alchemist than the nephew of a Duke from some far away land. “Well…you’re in luck!” Rodney said, smiling. He went over to the table, picked up the bowls of fruit and the sheet of dough, and began placing each fruit cube into a round of dough sheet. He did it as easily as though he was folding a napkin. Alistair joined him at the table, after washing his hands, and began rolling more dough. Alistair laughed, then fixed his eyes on me. “I’m actually the alchemist in training,” he said. I smiled back and raised my eyebrows, focusing my gaze at his. Suddenly, Alistair has gotten a lot more interesting.

Chapter 4 Rose Gets a Gift

After Alistair had told me he was an alchemist in training, he and Rodney proceeded to help Father prepare a traditional fey meal of sweet breads, nut-encrusted fruits, fresh dragonfish, and baked crystal oysters. The kitchen filled with the warm smell of charcoal and baked vegetables, steaming fish, and baked spiced oysters. By the time the table was set with dishes of delicious food, Mother arrived home, carrying a blue velvet bag. “Rodney!” she cried seeing her handsome strapping son return from training. “Oh, it is wonderful to see you.” She rushed over to Rodney and gave him a strong hug before she spotted Alistair standing by the fireplace in the kitchen. “Now, who is

this young man?” Mother said smiling. “Another Summer knight?” “No, Dear,” Father said, moving over to Mother to place an arm around her shoulders. Although fairies rarely show their love openly for too much affection is forbidden, our family was one that defied tradition once in a while. It is important for you to think for yourself, Mother once told me. Rules

are important, but sometimes rules can be broken only when there are special cases. “What is that?” I once asked Mother. “When it comes to love,” Mother said. Being at almost thirteen years old, I was too young to know or have experienced the kind of love Mother spoke about, the kind she shared with Father. And I was glad. According to fairy lore, love brought about too much passion and madness…the kind that can destroy fairies. But I have seen the other side of love, too, so I know Mother was right about breaking the rules of Feyland tradition. “So, who are you, dear boy,” Mother said, a little too roughly, looking at Alistair. Mother is a

master swordswoman at the Summer Palace, although not a knight. She taught weaponry when she was not forging weapons. “Alistair, milady,” he said, sounding too formal for me, but just perfect to my Mother’s ears. “Where do you hail?” Mother asked, already taking a bite out of one of the oysters. “The Autumn Springs,” Father said before Alistair could speak for himself. “The Autumn Springs!” Mother exclaimed. “Why that’s practically all the way to Winter. What brings you here?” “He’s the Duke of Autumn Spring’s nephew,” Father interjected again before Alistair could speak. “Not only that,” I said excitedly. “He’s an alchemist.” “Not yet. I’ve just started training this afternoon,” Alistair said. “With the King’s alchemist.” Father and I exchanged a quick look, and I remembered Father’s words about how an

alchemist is the most important adviser to the King. So Alistair would be important? He was tall, like Rodney, and even broad-shouldered. He was blonde with light blue eyes, eyes that if I was a girl around Rodney and Alistair’s age, could easily swim in. But I wasn’t a girl of that age, yet, and I thought Alistair was interesting enough. “So you don’t really know much alchemy yet,” I said. “No, not the kind that would make any difference, at least,” Alistair said. “But…” Rodney said with a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Enough to make a difference to someone in particular.” I looked over at Rodney, and wondered why he was acting as peculiar at that moment than he had ever before. Did knight training teach you to be mysterious and secretive, too? I supposed it did, especially if you were to become a spy knight. Still wondering if I would ever be as good as a fairy knight as Rodney, I missed the exchanges everyone around the table shot each other.

Father got up and began clearing the table, while Rodney, Alistair, and Mother went off to our main room. I finished my glass of fairy fruit juice and was heading to the kitchen area when Father took my glass, and turned me around. “Rose, I can handle it here. Now go into the main room and spend some time with your brother. He’s not here very long, and will have to go back to training within a day or two.” With that, I headed into the main room, where Mother and Rodney’s backs were turned towards me, and they were hunched over something. Meanwhile, Alistair was sitting in a chair, waiting. Waiting for what? He caught my glance at him, and smiled. Mother and Rodney seemed to be struggling with something, and I was about to go towards them to help when Alistair came over, put a hand on my elbow and turned me towards one of the chaise lounges at the far end of the main room. He plopped down and looked up at me, patting the seat next to him. He had been very charming since I’ve met him, and Mother, Father, and Rodney seemed taken with

him…so I sat down next to him. “Rose,” Alistair said. “Rodney’s told me a lot about you when we made our way to the Summer lands.” “Oh,” I said, suddenly painfully conscious of my appearance and what Rodney would have said about me. From the looks of it this afternoon when Rodney plucked my nose and tweaked my face around like a puppet, I would have thought Rodney would have told Alistair every embarrassing thing about me. “Like how you’re good at sword-fighting, how you like to read and write…like how you like cooking…” “Oh, well, you’re not supposed to know I cook,” I blurted out. “Well at least help prepare meals. Father can’t do it alone without Rodney here.” Alistair laughed. “Between you and me,” he said. “I detest cooking. I wished it were female fairies who cooked, and not us men.” “Rodney loves cooking,” I said laughing.

“He’d rather be cooking than in knight training, I bet.” “So, what would you rather be doing?” Alistair asked. I shook my head. “I don’t know yet,” I said. “I want to do everything, a part of this and a part of that…I still don’t know.” “Well, until you come into more of your fairy magic,” Alistair said, “alchemy may not be it for you yet.” “Oh,” I said, a little disappointed. “What might?” “I don’t know you well enough, Rose,” Alistair said, “so I could not say with certainty…but take some advice from someone older…” “What three years older?” I asked scoffing. Alistair was determined to be like Rodney…acting like another parent rather than a brother who was merely a little older than me. “Hey, those three years make a difference,” Alistair said winking. “I’m much wiser and hopefully smarter than I was three years ago.”

“And your point?” I asked, smiling, trying to act older than I was and definitely older than Alistair thought I was. “Enjoy whatever experience comes your way, whatever opportunity comes your way Rose, you will come into your own soon enough.” I turned towards Alistair and looked at his face closely. He looked like a fifteen year old boy, but he sounded like someone my father’s age. He winked again, and before he could say anything, Rodney had made his way to us and pulled me to my feet. “Rose… I wanted to surprise you with this… and Mother was fortunate enough to secure one for us.” At that Mother came forward smiling, and Father suddenly appeared with a large cake. “Happy Birthday, Rose!” Everyone said. My jaw fell down. It was the first time I was ever surprised for my birthday. Usually I could guess something was going to happen. It was a rare gift that came around once in a while, especially around

my birthday. Father and Mother came over and pulled me over to the kitchen, where Father set down the cake. Father clapped Rodney on the shoulders and laughed. “Telling you about Rodney was a good way to disguise your birthday celebration, wasn’t it?” “Although we are very happy Rodney and Alistair are here!” Mother said. “Now for the big surprise,” Rodney said with a wide grin. “Close your eyes, Rose.” I closed my eyes obediently, hoping I would be surprised again before my gift of seeing or predicting a little ahead, kicked in. “Open your eyes!” In front of me laid this beautiful wand, made of pure clear crystal with pink diamonds, rubies, and emeralds embedded in the rose-shaped top. I could not believe my eyes. “A fairy wand,” I sighed, touching it gently. “And a crystal one, too,” Mother said. “I had

to pull some favors with the wandmaker for that one.” “Another part of it, too,” Rodney said. “It’s touched with a bit of magic outside of Summer…” I quickly turned my head to look at Alistair, who was smiling. “What I did learn on my first day of training to be an alchemist today,” Alistair said, “is to impart a bit of Autumn Springs magic into your wand.” Alistair smiled, his teeth perfectly white and his light blue eyes gleaming with excitement. “With your wand, you can begin to learn to control your gift of sight better…” “And your other emerging magic as a fairy,” Mother and Father said. “But why need it be touched by Autumn Springs magic?” I asked. “Because,” Alistair said. “Rodney told me of your gift of sight…a seer.” “Yes?” I asked. “It turns out,” Rodney said. “The gift of seeing

originates from the Autumn Springs fairies.” “And your Great Great Grandmother was from Autumn Springs,” Mother said. “So,” Rodney continued, “in order for you to fully reach your potential in seeing, you must have magic from the origins.” I nodded, but I was not sure what that meant. As far as I was concerned, it seemed I was about to embarked on more than what I expected from turning thirteen years of age.

Chapter 5 The Fairy Wand and the magic Gold Dust of Harvest

“Now, Rose,” August said excitedly. “Tell us how Rodney looked when he came back from Fairy Knight Training!”

“There isn’t much to tell,” I said. “He’s grown taller, bigger in his shoulder area…now he is slightly taller than Father and just as wide but without Father’s belly…” The girls laughed, knowing how Father had a belly the shape of a stuffed bear. “Is his eyes bluer?” Melony asked, her blonde curly hair flying in the wind as she sat with August and I on a blanket of blue clovers in the middle of Clover Fields, a field filled with clovers of brilliant dark jewel tones. August shoved Melony playfully. “Of course his eyes can’t get any bluer. We have the same shades of eyes since birth. No one’s eyes can get any bluer.” “No,” I said. “I’m sorry to tell you Melony, my brother’s eyes are not bluer than before. And if you want to check, just check mine. We have the same eye color and hair color throughout my family.” “What I mean is…” Melony blushed. It was obvious Melony’s crush on Rodney did not go away, even when Rodney went off to train. “Is Rodney more

swoon-worthy than before?” I rolled my eyes. “How am I supposed to answer that Melony?” I asked. “Oh, alright, even as a sister you can tell when a boy is handsome,” she said. “Melony! He’s my brother – sisters aren’t into their brothers, I hope you know.” “Yes, yes, I know,” Melony said. “But come on… you’ve seen him. Only you’ve seen him. Not me. Not August. Only you can describe him to us.” “Okay,” I said. “Like I’ve said, bigger, stronger, and he seemed more grown up…except he did do that ‘pip squeak’ thing with me then and right in front of Alistair.” August’s green eyes widen. “Who’s Alistair?” She brought up a large chunk of her dark hair and began twirling it around her fingers. “Yes, who is Alistair?” Melony asked. I looked from Melony to August and back to each again. “Well would you two look at yourselves?

At the mention of a boy’s name, you suddenly look like…” “We know!” August and Melony said together. “It’s that age.” “What?” I said. “I’m the same age as you are, but you don’t see me acting like it’s all about boys and how they look and …” “Who is Alistair?” they said again, louder this time. “If you don’t tell us,” August threatened, “we won’t give you your present.” My mouth flew open. “You got me a present?” “Of course,” Melony said. “It’s not everyday that a fairy turns the ripe old age of 367 years old and is no longer a child fairy.” “Trust me,” August said. “You would love your present…so tell us, who is this Alistair fellow?” I sighed. “Alright then. He’s got straight blond hair that goes down to his shoulders. He’s got blue eyes a shade lighter than Rodney’s and he’s just as

tall and well-built, and he’s very nice.” “Just as tall and well-built as Rodney,” Melony said, sighing. Satiated with her curiosity, August asked. “Where is he from, and why haven’t we heard of him before?” “That’s because, girls,” I said. “He’s not from here…” “Oooo!” “He’s from Autumn Springs…” Another “Oooo!” “And he’s the Duke’s nephew there.” “Oh,” the girls said. I looked up into the lavender blue sky and rolled my eyes. “Satisfied?” The girls looked at me and nodded. “Now for that,” August said. “You’re going to love your present…” Melony took a small bag made of golden

gossamer threads out from her sleeve pocket and said, “Open your hands, Rose.” I opened my hands palm up in front of her, and Melony placed the bag into the center. “What is this?” I asked. “We’ve been gathering this for days!” Melony said. “Luckily it is from an area close to where we’ve been harvesting.” I nodded. Melony and August have started their apprenticeship as Harvesters weeks ago. Harvesters planted, took care of, and harvested all the fruits and vegetables in Feyland, and held an important role in providing food for many, including non-fey creatures like unicorns and horned rabbits. Harvesters also had a special gift…the ability to talk to non-fey creatures all over Feyland. “So!” August said. “Open it!” Without further prodding, I gently removed the gossamer bag, and pulled out a golden glass vial. Inside were flecks of gold. “It’s magic gold dust,” Melony said. “From the honey bees.”

“Pollen?” I asked. “You might say so, except this dust become whatever you imagine them to be.” “Sprinkle a little of this on something, and it becomes what you want it to be?” “Oh, like this?” I took out a little of the dust and sprinkled it on one of the clovers. Right before our eyes, the clover transformed into a hairbrush. Delighted with the results, we clapped our hands. “Now,” I said licking my lips. “Let’s try something else. “How about this?” I sprinkled the dust on one of Melony’s charm locket - the one shaped like a crossbow with an arrow through it. Nothing happened except I felt a sharp cold wind suddenly blow through the fields, sending the gold dust in my hands scattering across the clovers, painting them golden shimmering blue. The breeze was cold enough to make me shiver, and I looked around, hoping one of my friends brought a blanket or cloak.

The charm crossbow and arrow stayed the same, and Melony and August waited and said, “So what did you wish for?” “I wasn’t sure. Just for something exciting to happen,” I said. And as soon as I said that, something did.

Chapter 6 The Hunt

A loud roar sounded from the trees nearby the fields. Melony, August, and I looked up and saw a charging stag the size of a bull run towards us. “Run!” I shouted. “Did you just wish for that?” August asked. “I wanted something exciting to happen, and

then I felt cold…” I said, running. “No time to explain…just run!” August, Melony, and I shot up and ran as fast as we can, but the thick field of clovers felt like molasses to our fairy legs, the once beautiful blue and purple field becoming a blanket of flowers wrapping around us. “Why aren’t we moving?” August asked. “We are!” I shouted. “Only slowly.” “Feels like we’re moving through honey,” Melony said. “We’d better move faster or that stag will be plowing into us any minute,” August said. “What happened? The fields were not this thick this morning when we got here…” August said in frustration. “My wish…the gold dust!” I said. “I wished for something exciting to happen, and then it got cold, and I think I wanted something warm like a blanket…” “Arghhh!” August and Melony groaned.

“How do we undo the gold dust spell?” I asked. Melony shook her head. “I don’t know.” August said, “Perhaps spread more gold dust and wish it back to the same?” I looked at my vial of gold dust, thrown to the ground when the stag first appeared, opened and uncorked. Empty. “Can’t try that now,” I said. “We have to think.” Melony was already trying to fly, her small budding gossamer gold fairy wings out and fluttering. “It’s no use,” she said. “I’m stuck, and my wings aren’t strong enough to pull me out.” August tried her wings, a set of blue-tipped ones on white. She flew a little and then came down. “Melony’s right, these clover fields have become as sticky as honey.” “That’s good because it’s slowed down the stag a little,” I said, keeping my eyes on the approaching beast. “Just a little though because he’s

definitely making his way here.” By sheer strength, the stag had already crossed half of the fields and would be on our trail within seconds. “If only I had more magic,” I said. Then I thought of my fairy wand. How could I have used that right now? A brief image of my beautiful crystal wand popped into my head. And I shook my head with a groan. I had left back at the cottage, too afraid to use it, lest I broke it…it looked so delicate. Then I thought of the crossbow and arrow charm, which I had sprinkled the gold dust on. Why did the gold dust not affect it? A distinctly male voice boomed out in the field. “Rose, you forgot this at home!” Rodney. He had my wand in his hand. And he had Alistair with him. They were flying with their fairy wings, hovering in at the edge of the fields. Did they see the stag running towards us? Taking another glance at the stag, I wonder how could they not see it. The stag was the largest I have ever seen. It was white, and its

horn was silver. One look at him, and I realized it was a stag touched by magic. “Rodney!” Melony and August screamed with relief. “Help!” Rodney and Alistair flew to us. “That’s a stag from the White Woods, part of Winter lands,” Rodney said. “How did it get here?” “I don’t know,” Alistair said, “but I intend to hunt it down…” He reached behind him and pulled out a silver crossbow and an arrow that closely resembled the one that was part of Melony’s charm bracelet collection. Did the gold dust worked on that charm after all? Or was it because of my gift of sight that worked once in a while? Alistair pulled back his bow and adjusted his arrow. With a steady hand, he pulled the arrow back, and let it fly through the air. It flew through the air like a lightning bolt, landing in the stag’s right flank. With a roar, the stag stumbled. “That should stop it,” Alistair said, turning back to us. August was smiling at Alistair with her biggest smile, while Melony had that dreamy look. I

looked at Rodney, and we both grinned. Apparently, my friends now have a new crush besides Rodney. “How do we get out of this?” I asked, trying to be practical, and trying to ignore the look Alistair shot me after the stag fell. It was friendly, but it also had a look as though he wanted approval, from me. As though he cared what I thought. Rodney flew down and touched the top of the clovers, and pulled his hand back. They were sticky. “I’ve never seen this before,” he said. “Hey Al,” he turned to Alistair, who was readjusting his crossbow. From the distance, the stag had gotten up again. “Ever seen this?” Alistair kept his eyes on the stag, but bent down to touch the clovers. “Nope,” he said, wiping his hands on his black tunic. “Feels like molasses or honey.” “Well,” I said. “We have to get out…that stag looks like it’s roaring to go again!” “Not to mention,” August said, “we can’t be stuck here all day. We need to go back to the

Harvest.” “Was it a spell?” Rodney asked. “If so, the way to undo the spell is to repeat it again, but reverse it, right Al?” “Don’t know too much about that yet, Rodney,” Alistair said. “Undoing spells and all. If this effect was created from magic, then it makes sense it can be undone by it.” “Oh, I agree completely,” August said, her eyes gleaming. I sighed, August and Melony were almost a complete SIGHTLESS year ahead of me. They were fourteen in SIGHTLESS years, and I guess with that comes blind love? Crushes? No, it could not be… Melony and August has always been boy crazy since I can remember. “Okay, now I can’t undo it the same way it was created,” I said. “All the gold dust is gone, blown away onto the clovers. Unless August and Melony can get out and go get some more, then this field is going to be like this for however long.”

“But we’re stuck!” Melony wailed. “We can’t get out and go gather more gold dust from the bees. Besides gathering gold dust is not that simple, Rose.” Rodney took out his sword, and began cutting down at the clovers. All that did was mix the clovers together, sticking in globs to his sword…rendering it useless. Disgusted with his effort, he faced us and said, “Well, I tried.” Then he reached into his tunic and brought out my wand. The wand glistened in the sunlight like a brilliant diamond. With the sun shining through it, and reflecting off the ruby, pink diamonds, and emeralds of the rose top, the wand was the most beautiful jewel I’ve seen. It was also the only thing that got August and Melony to stop staring at Alistair for a moment. “Is that your fairy wand?” August asked. Not all fairies can get a wand, and it was considered a status symbol in Feyland amongst the female fey of our age. “It is beautiful!” “Yes, it looks like the one Emily has… only

hers is not crystal,” Melony said. Rodney handed the wand to me. “Maybe you can use it here to help.” Alistair said, “You created this field of clover molasses, you can undo it. With the wand mixed with some of the added magic in it (he winked), it might have enough magic to undo this.” I concentrated, bringing the wand to my chest and then raising it high up into the air. I saw the wind blowing around me, trailing a small stream of tiny sparkling red-pink stars. In the corner of my eyes, the stag had started charging towards us again. “Here he comes again,” Alistair said, letting loose another arrow. The arrow zinged through the sky and was about to plunge deep into the stag’s chest, when a silver arrow knocked Alistair’s arrow out into the fields. We all looked around us. Where did that silver arrow come from? As if to answer that question, at the edge of the fields from out of the trees, a white horse appeared. Then a few others. Riding on top of these strong magnificent horses

were fairies of unbelievable ethereal beauty. Most of them had pale skin and eyes of varying shades of icy blue. The men wore snow white tunics, laced with silver embroidery. In the middle of their chest was the emblem of a snowflake. A woman, the only woman amongst the men, sat on top of a white horse with wings. A Pegasus. She was a sight to behold. Long jet black hair flowed down her back and shoulders like satin ink, framing her perfectly oval pale face like an exquisite portrait. Brilliant stormy blue eyes gazed out behind long black eyelashes that sparkled blue-black. Her red lips were pursed in a frown. Unlike the men, she was dressed in a long sky-blue dress, with silver embroidery running down the front and back. The sleeves and collar of her dress were lined with soft white fur. On the top of her head was a small silver circlet. If I was not a Summer fairy, I would be bowing. But I was, and instead of bowing in respect and fear, I quaked only in fear. Not far away, with a small group of men, was the beautiful, but deadly Winter Queen. And she held a silver crossbow and bow, posed toward our direction.

Chapter 7 The Winter Queen “The Winter Queen!” Alistair whispered. He and Rodney quickly lowered themselves from the air and into the thick clover fields where we laid crouching on the ground. Sticky or not, it was imperative we would not be found. Summer and Winter had been at war for a few years now, and though I have never seen the Winter Queen, I have heard enough about her prowess in battle, her unearthly beauty, and even her ferocity. Known also as the Snow Queen in SIGHTLESS mythology, she was also irresistible to mortals. There was a hush amongst us, as we wondered what our fate held if the Winter Queen and her small group of men, noticed us in the middle of the field. “Where is my stag?” she asked. “We’ve followed it this far, I want to bring it home.”

“He is right there!” one of the men close to her pointed out the stag in the fields to her. “I knew my magic arrow would find him,” the Queen said. “Now let’s gather him and bring him home. Next time we will build a better wall to keep some of my magical animals from wandering off like this. It isn’t safe for them…” “Yes, your Majesty,” the man bow deeply. “Now,” the Winter Queen said. “The stag!” The fairy winter knights surrounding the Queen, took out their swords and headed toward the stag. As soon as they began moving deep towards the stag, the first few of the men stopped moving. “Well, go on…” the Winter Queen’s right hand knight said. “You shouldn’t be afraid of the stag…he has, after all, been raised in the White Woods behind the Winter Palace.” The first knight, a strappling man who was built larger than the others, turned red under his dark beard. “My Queen,” he said. He struggled in his place and then used his sword to stab in front of him.

“Yes?” the Winter Queen said. “What is it? Oh never mind,” she jumped off her horse, gathered her skirts behind her, holding her crossbow high above her and waded into the clover fields. She waded further than her knights, and was nearest the stag, yards away. The stag had turned around away from facing us now, and was slowly, but surely making its way around the clovers to face the Queen and the Winter Knights. “Come on Wesley. Get closer, I’ll need you to help wrangle his horns. I don’t want to hurt him. He must not be hurt.” The Queen waited a second to see if Wesley would move closer. When he did not, she turned around. “Well…” “I’m afraid we’re all stuck here,” the large burly knight said, embarrassed. “In a field of flowers?” the Winter Queen said. “Push forward, Wesley. You’ve got the girth and strength to plow through.” “But,” the Knight pushed forward, throwing himself into it. “Your Majesty,” he said again. He was about to say something else, but stopped. The stag, who was their prized chase, had raised his horns

and lowered its head, as though he was ready to charge what was in front of him. And what was in front of him was the Winter Queen. “Watch out!” Wesley called out to the Queen. The Winter Queen turned around to face the large stag. She tried to move, but could not. “Oh for goodness’ sakes,” she said. “You were right Wesley, the clovers seemed to have clumped themselves together into a sticky mess.” The stag did not care, and began forward towards the Queen. The Queen’s men raised their swords and arrows, ready to throw it into the charging stag. “Wait!” The Queen said. “Do not hurt him.” They stopped. But the stag did not. With a roar, it pushed harder through the clover molasses, closer and closer to the Queen. The Queen’s blue eyes widen, and she stared with all her command and power at the stag. “Stop or I will unleash my powers on you, Stag.” The stag stopped briefly, but snorted in the

air, defiantly. Then with a roar, it began charging head down, horns out towards the Queen. A single arrow swished by the Queen and pass the stag, glazing its back, but without much damage. The Queen looked around to see where it came from…”Wesley!” The burly knight looked down. “But you are in danger…” Another roar came from the stag, louder this time. The arrow wound only infuriated him further. His eyes had turned darker, and he was moving faster. The Queen saw this, and for a brief moment, her blue eyes filled with panic, as she tried to move. She struggled with the clover molasses in frustration, while her men looked helplessly on. Then there was a flash of light from somewhere in the middle of the fields, brilliant, but small. And the clover honey began moving in large globs away from the Queen, away from the Winter Knights and into giant pots that suddenly lined the edges of the field. “What’s happening?” The Queen asked, looking around.

The clover honey globs filled up the pots, but left a field of dirt where the clovers once covered, and exposing Rodney, Alistair, Melony, August, and I. “Drat,” I said. I was holding my fairy wand out, and the reddish-pink light that illuminated from it was still streaming out, as the last of the clover honey from the field was removed and placed by invisible hands into the remaining pots. I had only wanted a taste of honey and had reached down to taste the clover honey at my elbow. It was so delicious that I had wished to take more of the clover honey mix home with me in a large pot. All eyes were on me, including the Winter Queen’s. Without the clover honey stopping her from moving, she flew with lightning speed to me, avoiding the charging stag. While her knights wrestled with the stag, trying to capture it, the Winter Queen stood before us – tall, beautiful, and powerful. “So,” she said, looking at me, her stormy blue eyes meeting my eyes. “You are the child who possess such strong magic.” She looked me up and

down. There was a glint in her eyes. “You are very young to possess such magic, but I can see you growing it. My daughter is a little older than you, and her magic has yet to show, too.” She then looked over Rodney and Alistair, who held his crossbow, and her eyes narrowed. “Knights. Young ones, too.” She glanced over at her Winter Knights, who had by now been able to subdue the stag with a net and ropes and was leading it out towards the trees. I can see Rodney and Alistair tense up. The Winter Queen stood in front of us. The Winter Queen, the leader of our sworn enemy, the Winter Kingdom. We had only one knight and Alistair to defend ourselves, and two Harvesters, and I. If we were to fight the Winter Queen and her strong powerful knights, we would surely lose. The Winter Queen looked Rodney and Alistair over, her blue eyes scrutinizing them as though she was considering them for lunch. “I have a son your age,” she said. “He is young as you two boys, but he has already proven himself deadly with his sword.” She eyed Rodney’s sword. “As I am sure you are.” She backed away a step. Her knights had

secured the stag, and half of them were making their way to the Queen. “You see the men around me,” she said. “They have been fighting for years, top of their game as swordsmen, but…” She winked at me. “They weren’t as clever as you just now in your use of magic. Clover honey into large pots, indeed!” she laughed. “You found a way to remove this sticky mess and made it useful, too.” I blushed. This woman, who was everything I was not – tall, powerful, confident, and beautiful beyond belief, had paid me the largest compliment. The fact that she was the Winter Queen, only made it sweeter. There was no reason for her to be complimentary to me. Except out of sheer nobility. As much as I have feared the name of The Winter Queen, I have to say, having finally met her in person, I have witnessed nobility at its finest. The Winter Knights were steps away now, their hands posed around the hilt of their swords. Rodney and Alistair looked at each other. Melony and August had stiffened besides me. Were we to be taken hostage or cut down like the brave men and women knights we heard about that have gone

off to fight against the Winter Kingdom? When the first of the Knights stopped behind the Queen, and the rest followed, the Queen smiled, and said, “We are fortunate today our stag stopped in these fields today rather than others. The clover honey served to stop his progress, and we were able to capture him without injuries, though I believed he had a flank wound from before we found him…” her eyes stopped at Alistair and his crossbow. “Your Majesty,” one of the younger Knights said, his right hand flexing above his sword hilt. “These are Summer fey. What do you propose we do?” The Queen shot around, and her eyes blazed with restrained fury. “I will tell you what we are to do when I am ready,” she said. “Yes, they are Summer fey, but they are very young… and harmless.” She turned and held her hand high in the air with a wave. “They helped me get back my beloved stag. For that… I will spare them today.” She glanced at each of us, sending chills down our spines…chills that were filled with awe and a bit of fear. She turned and with lightning speed, flew back to the edge of the fields

where the rest of her hunting party stood, watching us. The Winter Knights gave us a quick look of disgust before following their queen. When they got to the edge of the fields, the Winter Queen looked back at us one more time. Did I see a hint of a smile? She turned, raised her arms, and with a whoosh, the Winter hunting party disappeared into the trees, along with the stag. After they left, a collective sigh of relief came from all of us. “For a moment there…” August said, “I thought…” she shuddered. “I know, I can hear my heart pounding like sun melon drums in my ears!” Melony said excitedly. Rodney was still looking out at the area the Winter Queen’s hunting party had stood. “Magnificent,” he said, almost to himself. “What?” I asked. Rodney shook his head. “Oh, nothing.” I looked closely at Rodney. Like me, he was thoroughly impressed by the Winter Queen and her knights. However, he could never show that, now that

he was a Summer knight, who would be sworn to fight the Winter knights to the death, to defend the Summer Kingdom. Alistair took a step towards me, his face beaming. “Smart move, Rose,” he said, almost laughing. “I see you are already putting your fairy wand to good use.” I blushed. “A fairy beginner’s luck,” I said shrugging. Alistair laughed then. “I would never have thought about ‘harvesting’ the clover honey or molasses or whatever it was. Just about turning it back into clovers.” August laughed along with Alistair. “And the large pots were a nice touch, Rose.” She patted me on the shoulders. “You know what you just did?” “What?” I asked. August’s eyes twinkled. “You just saved hours of work for about fifty Harvester fairies. You singlehandedly created a field of clover honey, mixed it, harvested, and bottled it.” August counted the pots

lining the field. “We have enough clover honey for the entire Summer Kingdom here and for the trading with the other lands.” I felt Rodney’s hand clapped my shoulders. “Well done, little sister! The Summer Queen would be so pleased. I am sure you will get an audience with her for this.” I blushed even deeper. The Summer Queen was going to hear about this? More importantly, I was to meet with the Summer Queen? I looked down at my dress, drenched with sticky clover honey, and my shoes, my hair…sopping wet with the honey. Then I lifted my head up high. “If I’m going to meet with the Summer Queen, then I must get out of this outfit and something more becoming.” First the Winter Queen, then the Summer Queen? I had wished for excitement and that is exactly what I got.

Chapter 8

The Summer Palace and a Meeting with the Queen

The next day, Mother and Father appeared at the doorway of my bedroom. Besides seeing the twinkling in their eyes, I knew they had a surprise in store for me. Mother and Father rarely show up at my bedroom, and never together there. “You tell her,” Father said to Mother. “No, you tell her,” Mother told Father. “Alright, we shall both tell her,” they finally said. I looked on, wondering what could have gotten my usual calm parents so excited. They both approached my bed. Then Father said, “The Summer Palace has requested your presence in court.” “The Queen would like to meet with you,” Mother said.

“That is quite an honor!” Father said, patting my shoulders. Mother was already rummaging through my meager wardrobe. “Oh, this won’t do,” she said with dismay. “I’ll have to get you a dress or alter one of my own ball gowns.” She took one of my dresses with her and set off out of my room. “When will I meet Her Majesty,” I asked. “She requested your presence this afternoon,” Father said. “Which means, get up and out of bed, Rose. We need to get ready for your first official visit to the Summer Palace.” “This afternoon!” I exclaimed. “Why I need to…” Mother returned with a dress in orange silk with red and yellow ribbon flowers embroidered along the collar. “This should do nicely,” she said handing the dress to me. “Now Father, leave us be so we can get ready.” I got out of bed, and Mother whisked me to the mirror sitting on top of my small white birch table.

She took my silver hairbrush and began brushing the knots out of my hair until my hair shone brightly. Then using her magic fingers, she weaved my hair into braids, tucking little buds of orange blossoms in to match my dress. When that was done, she slipped the new dress onto me, zipped it up, and stood back. “Perfect,” she said with a nod. I looked in the mirror, and Mother was right. I had never looked more presentable in my entire 367 years. I stared at the image of myself in the mirror. With my hair in braids, swept up a little from my shoulder, and my new dress (Mother’s old one), I looked older, like one of the Summer Court ladiesin-waiting. I walked downstairs from my room where Father was waiting. Rodney was there, too, and he grinned. “Can that be Pip Squeak?” He made a show of rubbing his eyes. “That beautiful, elegant young lady is not my little sister. What have you done with her?” I grimaced and raced down the stairs, socking Rodney on the shoulders. “You oaf,” I said. “I am Rose.”

Rodney laughed. “You look beautiful, Rose, for a second there, I thought you were someone else.” I socked him again. “So why are you here? Aren’t you supposed to be training?” Rodney bowed. “I am here on Summer Court business. I am to escort you to the Palace.” ****** It did not take Rodney and I very long to ride into the Courtyard of the Summer Palace on two of Father’s prized horses, Percy and Poppy. I have been there before with Mother and Father as a toddler, but not on official business. Now I was going to appear in the Throne Room to meet the Queen. Rodney sensed my nervousness and gave my shoulder a quick squeeze. “Just be yourself, and the Queen will love you,” Rodney said. “Easy for you to say,” I said. Everyone loved Rodney. “Have you met the Queen?” Rodney said, “No.”

“Then how would you know how she’s like?” I asked. “Just from what I expect Queens to be like,” Rodney said. “Decent and kind, and benevolent?” I asked. “We hope,” Rodney said, now looking a little nervous. “Well, no time for nerves now, Rose. We have arrived.” As he said that, the great big double doors in front of us opened, and in front of us was a lavishly-decorated room of cream and gold silk curtains, white marble floors with specks of gold and diamonds. But the most lavish sight of all was in front of us: The Summer Queen. She had flaming red hair that flew out from her as though a wind constantly blew on it to keep it from her alabaster white face. Tall and willowy, she held a Summer beauty that radiated heat, harvest, and the strength of the Sun. Wearing a dress of pure gold threads, weaved with diamonds and pearls, she

was as bright as the Sun itself. “Come here, child,” she said gesturing to me. “Come here so I can see you better.” I trembled with the booming yet frightening sound of her voice. She was fiercely beautiful, but cold. Unlike the Winter Queen, who was coldly beautiful, but held a warmth that radiated from within. My foot took one step. Rodney took ahold of me and was leading me to the throne when the Queen coldly said, “Not you, boy, the girl. I request she come up to me alone.” Rodney stopped where he stood and pushed me forward. I walked forward on my own, my legs a little unsure of myself with nervousness. I finally reached the area before the Queen’s throne, and stood there with my head bowed. The Summer Queen stood looking me over. “Not much of a fairy, are you?” she said without a smile. “I have heard of some fairy in the country that was able to harvest honey like no other fairies… in a diligent and efficient manner,” she said. “I did not expect it to be a mere wisp of a girl.” She leaned in

close. “Tell me, what is the source of your magic?” Startled, I was not prepared for the slight hostile voice in the Queen’s voice. “I don’t know,” I stammered. “It came from my wand.” “Nonsense, girl,” the Queen said. “A fairy wand is only an extension of the fairy’s magic. It has to come from within you. Where do you hail from?” “From the Summer Glen,” I said. “Your magic is strong, especially for someone so young,” The Queen said matter-offactly. “I am curious how that magic will blossom.” She cocked her head to the side, as though she was thinking. “For now, you will apprentice as a Harvester. You have a natural ability there, and they can use someone with your magic.” Although I was not quite happy with being a Harvester fairy, I was glad to finally learn where I would be apprenticing. Harvesting? That was what Melony and August did. I did not know exactly what I wanted, only that I wanted something else…more exciting than harvesting. I bowed my head and said, “Thank you your Highness.”

The Queen lifted her hand to wave me away. “Now go, child, off you go to the fields. You will find that we are very pleased that you will be joining many of our most diligent fairies in such an important task as harvesting.” I bowed again, turned, and walked back towards Rodney. When I reached him, he saw my face. “What’s the matter?” he asked. “Let’s get out of here,” I whispered. “Alright,” he said, and we quickly made our way out of the Throne Room, out of the Palace, and into the Courtyard where Percy and Poppy were waiting for us. While we mounted the horses and rode out of the Palace gates, Rodney turned to me again. “Now, would you tell me what happened?” With tears in my eyes, I said, “I’m to be a Harvester fairy.” Rodney sighed. “What is wrong with that?” I shook my head. “I was hoping…hoping

that the Queen would say that my magic is strong, strong enough to get me an apprenticeship with… with…” “What?” Rodney asked. “As a Knight, like me?” “No,” I said, “as an alchemist like Alistair.” Rodney’s eyes twinkled while he laughed. “Oh Rose, you can’t start off as an alchemist at your age. Alistair only just started, and he’s my age.” “But my magic… isn’t it pretty strong?” I asked. “It is strong, Sister…” Rodney said. “Only, you will see that most of the other apprentices, including Alistair, are already well-verse in magic before they begin training.” I dropped my head. Rodney lifted my chin with his hand. “Look Rose, I think I can get you where you want to be, though. Let me think it through, and I’ll fetch you tomorrow.” With that, we rode back to The Glen, and he left me at the door. “I have to get back to the

Palace for training. I will help you, I promise,” he said. With that, he turned and left, galloping as fast as Percy’s swift enchanted fey horse legs can run.

Epilogue Fairy Wand Lessons

As promised, Rodney came to fetch me the next day. After breakfast, he took me to the wheat fields behind our cottage where we used to practice sword-fighting with our oak swords. I looked around and asked, “Why are we here?” Rodney smiled. “I thought you said you wanted to become an alchemist.” “Yes, I do!” I said.

“Well, look around you!” Rodney said. “Before you can get accepted into the alchemist training program, you must already be trained in magic.” I looked around. It looked like the same wheat field as always. There was nothing magical here. Then Rodney whistled, and out in the middle of the field, something large came towards us. I could not see exactly what, but I felt it. I felt the wind blow towards us, sending a chill up my spine, as the thing came closer and closer. I looked at Rodney. What had he planned? “Rodney…” “Hold on, Rose,” he said. “Don’t be so afraid. It’s nothing to be afraid of…you’ll see.” Then the wind stopped blowing, and I sense the thing was right in front of us. I could hear a laugh and a snort. And Rodney moved out in front of me. “Now!” I did not know what to expect, but I certainly did not expect this. Right in front of me, a figure in black solidified and was laughing. He was sitting on top of Rodney’s horse Percy. “Alistair!” I said, with

relief. “Good show!” Rodney said, patting Percy. “The look on your face Rose,” Alistair said. I glared at him. “You frightened me.” Alistair hopped off Percy and came over to me. “Sorry, Rose, but you’re so amusing.” “That’s nice to hear,” I said dryly. I turned to Rodney. “This is the surprise? A scare, a prank to scare me?” “No,” Rodney said. Then he turned to Alistair. Alistair grinned. “No, the surprise is that you’re going to get some training in alchemy. And I’ll be the one to help you.” His blue eyes twinkled, and I thought I felt my heart jumped up in an erratic leap.” A smile washed all over my face, and I knew that something exciting had happened to me, and many more of it was yet to come.

*********

Rose and her Friends’ Adventures continues in The Fairy fair The Fairy Rose Chronicles #2 Available now

Excerpt from The Fairy Rose Chronicles™ Book 2

The Fairy Fair

Tis

the time of Summer Eve and the Fairy

Fair is upon us. All the fairies in the Glen and in the Summer lands look forward to the Fairy Fair where there is much feasting and celebration of Summer’s Harvest. Tis a busy time for us, especially for the Harvest Fairies. There is much work to be done – vegetables to be grown, fruits to be picked, fairy fruit juice to be made, and so forth. As true to my orders from the Summer Queen herself that I must apprentice in harvesting, I found myself right along with Melony and August, picking juicy starfruit from the yellow and orange starfruit trees that grew in the Summer orchards by the Summer Palace. The orchards with its myriad of colorful fruit trees, with fruit blossoms more colorful than flowers themselves were ripe with summer fruit of all kinds – starfruits, passion fruits, oranges, candy apples, peaches and lavender honey barks. August looked over at me, carrying my pail of oranges and said, “Rose, can’t you just wave your wand and get all these fruits magically picked and into those large baskets near the trees?” Her long dark hair was pulled back off her pretty oval face, and she wore a sweet yellow dress which was cut in

a style that allowed maximum movement. She had been climbing trees and picking fruit all morning long, and she let out an exasperated breath of air. “If only I had a bit of the magic you have, I would be using that instead of using sheer physical force… like the non-magical beings – humans.” “Yes,” Melony joined in, her blond curls bouncing all over her face as she tugged at a particularly large melon pear from a branch. “Why are we harvesting these fruits like humans? Rose, you have the magic to, you know, especially after what you did at Clover Fields.” “Turned the whole field into honey and got it all packed up and ready to go in great big porcelain pots by the road no less,” August said. I cringed. It was precisely my use of magic from a wand I still did not know how to use, which got me here – this apprenticeship as a Harvester fairy, rather than what I had really wanted – an apprenticeship as an alchemist. For all that I was ambitious in thinking I can get an apprenticeship as an alchemist like my fifteen year old brother

Rodney’s friend Alistair, I did not want to show that I had the magic that would make me stay being a Harvester fairy.

The Fairy Rose Chronicles Book Club Discussion Sheet Book 1: The Fairy Rose 1)

What is Rose’s special gift?

2)

Where do Rose and her family live?

3)

Who are the SIGHTLESS, and why does Rose call them SIGHTLESS?

4)

What kinds of fairies live in Fairy Land or Feyland as they call it?

5)

Who does the cooking in fairy society? Is that how it is in your family? Who does the

blacksmithing? Is this what you expected for women and men? 6)

What are apprenticeship?

Rose’s

choices

for

7)

Is Rodney a good older brother to Rose? Do you think he would make a good knight? What are the qualities do you think a knight must have? Would Rose make a good knight? Would Alistair?

8)

Was the Winter Queen like what Rose expected? What do you think of the Winter Queen?

9)

Was the Summer Queen like what Rose expected? How is she different from the Winter Queen? How is she the same? Who do you think Rose likes better?

10) If you lived in Feyland, what apprenticeship would you choose? Harvester Fairies, Knight Training, or Alchemy? Why?

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The Alchemists Academy

What do you learn here...at the Academy? Wirt asks. Magic? The responsibility to use your powers responsibly? Uh...something like that, his roommate Spencer said. More like how to rule worlds. Wirt, is used to being shuffled from foster home to foster home, adopting a devil-may-care attitude toward the world along the way. Now he is in a school he can’t escape, learning to develop his latent magical abilities, for what use, he doesn’t know...to save his world or to destroy it...

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The Frost Series

About the Snow Queen and Winter Fairies

Bitter Frost (Frost #1) All her life, Breena had always dreamed about fairies as though she lived among them...beautiful fairies living among mortals and living in Feyland. In her dreams, he was always there the breathtakingly handsome but dangerous Winter Prince, Kian, who is her intended. When Breena turns sixteen, she begins seeing fairies and other creatures mortals don't see. Her best friend Logan suddenly acts very protective. Then she sees Kian, who seems intent on finding her and carrying her off to Feyland. That's fine and all, but for the fact that humans rarely survive a trip to Feyland, a kiss from a fairy generally means death to the human unless that human has fairy blood in them or is very strong, and although Kian seemed to be her intended, he seems to hate her and wants her dead.