The Book
Neverheart gestured to a seat beside her work table. Rummaging on the desk she found some fresh leaves of paper to write on. For a moment she paused. Putting down her quill she gazed at Melody with her dark eyes. "You're really a Wielder." She said. It was less a question than a statement. Still Melody nodded. "Do you know much about your talents yet?" Asked Neverheart.
"Not really." Melody admitted. "I suppose I shall have to learn as I go."
Neverheart's eyes narrowed. She seemed deep in thought. Fanning her wings she stood up without a word. "Perhaps..." She looked down at Melody. "I think I need to show you something, could you follow me please?"
Intrigued, Melody nodded again. Neverheart flew up to the third level of the room. There, in a break in the rows of shelves, was a set in display containing a single white rose in a colorful vase. Placing her hand on the wall just behind the vase, Neverheart pushed. The wall swung in, revealing a rounded room. She led Melody inside, and the secret door closed behind them.
Clearly the room had not been used in a fairy long time. There were no windows here. Yet the room did not feel dark in the least. The walls were suffused with irregular stripes of blue and gold. They seemed to pulse with light. Walking up to one wall Melody understood. The wall had been carved so fine against the veins of the tree that what she was seeing was the pixie dust that was it's very life. The veins of color shimmered, and she realized that, in fact, the dust was moving inside the tree.
Without thinking Melody lay a hand on one of the fine lines of blue. She heard Neverheart gasp and knew why. The veins were so thin that any wrong move would tear them. But the tree responded to Melody's touch. As if it knew her, the dust inside the blue vein began to glow brighter. The glow spread to the surrounding veins of gold and blue. Soon the entire room was vibrant blue gold with warming light. "It likes me." Melody breathed.
Neverheart gave her a searching look. "Perhaps it knows you are a Wielder. After all, it was Emma, the first Wielder, who planted this tree. Perhaps it recognizes that a Wielder has returned to Emma's study."
Now it was Melody's turn to gasp. "Emma's... This was Emma's room?" She asked in shock.
"It was. Agreed Neverheart. "Emma left you something."
"Me? Emma left something for me?"
Turning, Neverheart went to a desk and picked up a book. "I have spent my life trying to read this book. But I don't understand the language. Not one Writer, not even the Queens have understood this language. For seven thousand years this book has waited to be read, waited for another Wielder. Our written history began when Emma left. Where she went, no fairy knows. She left behind the promise that when it was time another Wielder would come. She gave us our written language, but it's not the language in this book. I believe," she paused a moment. "I believe you may be able to read this." Neverheart handed the book to Melody. "I'll leave you in peace. When you want to leave, the door will simply open for you."
Melody nodded absently. Without really thinking she sank into a deep chair beside the wall. Pulling one ankle under her leg she stared at the volume in her hands. Ages old blue leaf leather formed the cover of the book. It seemed to fit perfectly in her hands. She traced the medallion of the Pixie Dust tree set in the center of the front cover. Small gems ringed the tree in a three layer perfect circle. Looking close Melody saw each gem contained a talent symbol. Yet there seemed to a great deal more gems than talents Lulu had described to her over yesterdays' picnic. There were no words on the cover. Opening the book Melody leaned against the back of the seat. "The Wielders Secrets." Read the first page. "May the next Wielder find this useful, and may she add to it herself, when her time comes."
Melody turned the first pages in awe. It began with the story of exactly how Emma had created the Hollow, and why. There was a list of the animals who had come with the founding fairies. Melody nearly dropped the book in shock. There, written very neatly, at the very bottom of the list, were the words "And four dragon eggs."