A/N:
Hi, everyone! Here are my messages, answers, and whatnot:
1. Sonchika had a very good point. (When she released her powers wouldn't her eye color change back to purple since she has no powers to maintain the small magic?) I have thought of that as well, and my response: she needed magic to change her eye colour, so I guess she would also need magic to change it back.
2. I know you all want Darrin back, but please be patient! I will bring him back, I promise!
Many thanks to:
azurestarr
sonchika
tayk
Gaerwen
sassafras
Daffodil8728
QueenSabriel5
CrimsonEnchantress
bella
Skeet
lady gwen
Danna
Moonjava
stubble96
slickchick650
A Vision
awaiting impatient person
sealednectar
CaptainFantastic
Crazayladay
secludeddark
A/N:
Okay, so…read on!
Warrior Blood
What happened so far:
Tania met Brynn, Garret, and Garret's friends on the streets of Frell. She found out that they were thieves who stole from other thieves. Also, she found a secret message on a wall, summoning fairies to the grove at midnight. Tania didn't know why, but found herself going to it…
Chapter 5: The Meeting
The grove was up ahead. Tania nervously fixed the hood of her cloak, for as she neared the grove, she felt the same, familiar presence crawl through her skin. It became stronger as she got closer to the vast cluster of trees. What was it?
All of a sudden, it hit her. Magic. It was magic she was sensing. Of course! It had been absent from her life for so long that she had almost forgotten what it felt like.
Almost. She stopped in the middle of the arrow-marked dirt road and closed her eyes. As she concentrated intently on her surroundings, she sensed the magic even more. When she strained her ears, she could hear it: a very soft and faint humming, mingling harmoniously with the wind. And, she could feel it: a powerful aura that made the hairs on her arms and neck rise.
She opened her eyes, ending her meditation. She frowned. It was odd the way the grove was dark and quiet. Not a soul was within sight, and an intense, unnatural silence filled the atmosphere. It made Tania wonder if there even was a meeting, for there was no sign of activity whatsoever.
She weaved through the trees, heading deeper and deeper into the woodland. The air was crisp and eerie, the wind howling softly between the rustling leaves.
Suddenly, something shiny caught her eye. Tania looked closer up ahead, and when she did, she saw it: a silver rune on a bark of one of the lanelins. She headed towards it cautiously, and when she was naught but a metre away from this particular tree, she stiffened. The magic. It was much, much stronger now.
Then she crossed the marked tree. When she did, she felt this powerful wave of magic ripple through her.
This was when everything changed.
Music. Light. Laughter. They were everywhere. Up ahead, there was a celebration going on. A large bonfire was in the middle, with people around it, chatting, laughing, and even dancing.
Tania, with her heart beating a mile a minute, took one step back, crossing the marked tree once more.
Silence. Complete silence. She looked up ahead and saw nothing but an expanse of darkness. She crossed the marked tree…
There they were again. Laughter and celebration.
Magic, Tania thought. They used magic to create some sort of barrier and an illusion…
No one had seen her so far. Tania quickly hid behind an ancient tree with a very thick bark. Very quietly and stealthily, she climbed up. She mentally thanked her cloak and the cluster of leaves for providing cover.
From above, she could see the whole celebration. Tania almost gasped when she saw how many fairies there were. There must have been at least two hundred of them! To the side, she saw a long table of food and drinks. In the middle was an enormous bonfire, and all around were people feasting.
She sat on a branch and watched them.
She didn't know how long she had been sitting on the branch, but it must have been an hour. During the course of the hour, all Tania did was observe her people. She had come to many findings that somewhat surprised her. One was that fairies were beautiful people.
Everywhere she looked, she saw people with the most exquisite features. Sure, there were some gray-haired, wrinkled, and chubby ones, but she could tell that they were once beautiful. Age just came to them; that was all. But it was clear that beauty did grace them some time ago.
They knew all the languages. From above, Tania could hear some of the conversations going on, and when she did, she heard fairies talking in mixed languages: Ayorthaian, Kyrrian, Geldrinian, and many more. Because of this, she came to the conclusion that languages just came to fairies naturally. That explained why she had always been good at languages. Why she knew her own people's language.
She did find out a weakness. They were too trusting. They put too much faith in…pretty much everything. Many believed that redemption would come someday. Many believed that Faylinn would somehow be restored. It was all foolish talk, according to Tania.
There was one other thing that Tania found out. They hated their last queen. Anything about the queen that came from their mouths was either insulting or mocking.
"She was weak," one declared. "I don't know what I'd do if I see her in Noewyn."
Another nodded in agreement. "I can't believe she abandoned her kingdom and people like that. She was one pathetic ruler. The Saeryl breaks into pieces, so she does as well. Pathetic! We would have been better off if Princess Laeris was the one made queen."
Tania looked curiously at the third member of the group, the one who did not speak a word, but just listened to the other two. Even from afar, she could see the fairy's eyes flash with pure anger. But the very strange thing was that she looked angry with her companions, not with the queen.
Then she spoke. Tania actually shivered when the fairy did, for the fairy's voice was filled with ice and venom.
"The Queen went up eighteen years ago," she said. "Eighteen years! It's time to put it behind you!"
Her companion glared. "I'll do what I want to, Saphra," he said angrily. "I will never forget what that weakling did. Ever. And I won't let anyone forget. Every future children of our people deserves to know what she did."
Tania snapped out of her thoughts when she heard a loud voice call for silence. The noise immediately died down, and everyone turned to look up at the raven-haired fairy floating a few feet in the air. Tania recognized her as Saphra, the previously angry fairy. Except she looked happy now, which made a big difference. She was cold and frightening before.
"Glad you all came," she said with a small smile. "As you already know, two of our people will be ascending tonight."
There were a few quiet murmurs in the crowd. Tania looked around and saw that a few were teary-eyed.
"Our friends Cyril and Tynan have decided that it is time for them to move on to the next part of life. We will be saying farewell to them tonight."
There were louder murmurs as Cyril and Tynan flew up next to Saphra. They were old people; they had grey hair and lines on their skin. Tania saw that they looked…spent. It was as if they had done everything there was out there.
"At the end of the night, we will witness their ascension, but as for now, let us celebrate with them and wish them happiness in the next chapter of their life. Let us remember that this is not a final goodbye." Saphra smiled. "After all, we will be seeing them again in the later years."
Then the three landed back on the ground, and the music and laughter started once again. Tania came to the conclusion that a celebration like this was considered a happy event, but a little sad as well. A bittersweet event. She sighed softly and leaned wearily against the bark.
Suddenly, she heard this very quiet noise behind her. Tania wheeled around immediately and saw…
Blue eyes. Familiar blue eyes.
"AHHHHHH!" she screamed before losing her balance and plunging headfirst to the ground…
She was falling. She felt her heart completely stop when she remembered that she couldn't fly. She closed her eyes and braced for the very painful impact on the ground.
At least I'm immortal, she thought wryly.
The severe pain never came. There was a quiet grunt from someone as she landed right on their strong arms.
Tania, when she felt impact with minimal pain, groaned softly and opened her eyes. She found herself staring at blue eyes, the same pair she saw from up the tree.
She froze. It was that man…that man from the street. Brynn's brother!
Garret, she recalled. His name is Garret.
She suddenly remembered that she was still in his arms. She felt her cheeks heat up as she twisted out of his hold.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," he drawled.
She stopped struggling and looked at him. "Why?" she demanded.
He looked down, then back up at her. "See for yourself," he said with a grin.
Tania looked down and saw that they were a couple of feet in the air. Her eyes widened. "Put me down!" she yelled.
"All right, all right," he said. "Calm down." He tightened his hold on her as they descended. When his two feet were safe on the ground, Tania wrenched herself off him.
"Thanks for scaring me like that, you jerk," she mumbled in Geldrinian as she dusted her dress. "Wonderful experience to see a pair of eyes looking at you when you're up a damn high tree."
"Why were you up there anyway?" he asked her, replying in Geldrinian. Tania saw that he was trying hard not burst out laughing. "Why not join the rest of the fairies? Are you afraid of your own kind?" he said jokingly.
She shot him a defiant look. "I'm not a fairy."
He snorted. "Oh please. Of course you are. You wouldn't have been able to pass through that barrier if you weren't."
She scowled. "Why is there a barrier anyway? I thought we're only allowed to use small magic."
He shrugged. "How about you ask everyone who's staring at you right now?" he said, an amused grin on his face.
Tania froze at that. "What…"
Slowly, very slowly, she looked around.
It felt as if a billion pairs of eyes of different colours (bright gold, shades of blue andgreen, dark amber, browns, silver, light orange, black, shades of purple, and many more) were staring at her. She realized that the music was gone, and so were the talking and laughing. Even the wind seemed to still.
"Um…hi?"
"Why were you hiding up that tree?" someone asked in the native tongue.
Tania shrugged. "I was…um…shy," she replied in the same tongue. (It was her first time to speak in the fairy language, yet it felt so…natural. As if she had been speaking in it since she was a child.)
There was silence. Tania felt her cheeks flame as they continued to stare at her.
Then there was a change. All of a sudden, a couple of the fairies either smiled or grinned. Then a few people started to chuckle. Soon, there was cheerfulness in the atmosphere.
"There's nothing to be shy about!" said one of the old fairies. She smiled. "All fairies are welcome here! Come and have something to eat or drink. My name is Cagney. What is your name, child?"
Tania smiled uncertainly. "Um…Tania."
"Well, Tania, where are your parents? Are they here?"
Tania shifted uncomfortably. "I…never knew them."
Silence engulfed them once again. The fairies resumed back to staring after this little confession. Tania felt herself flush once more. Don't they know how unnerving it is to get stared at?!
It was Cagney who broke the silence. "That's very strange," she said quietly. "Can you tell us their names?"
Tania froze as a sudden memory from months ago came to her. Greilah plen, o Tania val…Este'Adelle Lovrin mal…
When she finally spoke, she spoke quietly and uncertainly. "Actually…yes, I think. My mother…I think her name was Adelle."
There was a loud gasp among the fairies. Their eyes widened.
Then a man stepped forward. "You're not to speak that name out loud!" he shouted at Tania.
Tania started. "Why not?!"
He glared at her. "You wretched…"
"STOP!"
Tania, the man, and the rest of the fairies turned simultaneously. They held their breaths when they realized that it was Saphra who shouted, and her beautiful golden eyes were blazing dangerously. Tania figured that this fairy was probably of high rank back in Faylinn, to have such respect from the fairies. Maybe she used to be a duchess or a marchioness.
"Adelle was a very common name among our people, Briac," she said to the angry man. She turned to Tania. "Do you know her last name?"
Tania fidgeted under everyone's gazes. "Er…Lovrin," she replied. When she did so, she saw almost all the fairies breathe a sigh of relief. They broke into relieved grins and began to talk animatedly to each other. Soon the merriment recommenced, as if nothing strange had happened five seconds ago.
Tania, a frown marred on her face, turned to Saphra. "What just happened?" she asked.
Saphra smiled understandingly. "You don't know much about your race, Tania?"
Tania shrugged. "I grew up with humans. What happened?"
Saphra's expression darkened. "Adelle was the name of the last queen," she said gravely. "Adelle Esturion. The name 'Adelle' used to be a very popular name eighteen years ago and beyond that, because during the First Aeon, a legendary woman, who was named Adelle, was the one who led the Nalyan Riders to victory during the final battle of the Gorivan War. In fact, Tania, there are about eighteen Adelle's here at the moment." A wry smile then formed on her lips. "But of course, none go by that name anymore. Not since the last queen's abandonment of her people. It is considered shameful."
"So…fairies hate Queen Adelle because she went up to Noewyn?"
Saphra nodded. "Do you know about the Saeryl?"
"It was a jewel, with the ability to either heal or destroy," Tania replied.
"Yes, but do you know why it was important?"
"Well," Tania began, "I read in a book that it was what bound the fairies together. Its powerful aura was what maintained peace and prosperity back when there was a Faylinn."
"Yes," Saphra said with a sad smile, "so you do know a lot about the Saeryl. Basically, when it shattered, the fairies went mad…well, maybe not mad, but…distressed. And after this happened, they turned to the Queen, who was the only one who can do big magic, for guidance…only to find out that she was gone."
"How did the fairies know that she went up to Noewyn?"
"There were witnesses, Tania," Saphra said. "About eighty fairies, maybe even more, saw her fly up. They didn't want to believe it, but they knew it was the truth."
"And what about this…Princess Laeris?"
Saphra shot her an odd look. Then she said, "She was Queen Adelle's older sister. She was supposed to have the crown, but Queen Adelle got it instead."
"Do you think it would have been better if she was the one crowned?"
Saphra was quiet for a while. Then, she said softly, "I do not think so. I knew her personally, Tania. And she lacked the wisdom to rule a kingdom. She was very brave and high-spirited, but she lacked the wisdom."
"But…"
"No more questions, Tania," Saphra cut in gently. "No more questions."
Tania looked at her strangely. "Um…all right…"
Saphra nodded. "I'll see you later."
A pensive frown formed on Tania's face as she watched Saphra walk away. She's so sad, she thought. She almost reminds me of…Caelan. They're so alike.
"You know, this is a celebration, so stop frowning," said a voice.
Tania turned and saw Garret. "Oh. You," she said flatly.
He grinned. "Yes. Me. And to answer your previous question, yes, fairies are only allowed to use small magic, but when you bring together a lot of small magic from the fairies of Frell and the neighbouring cities, then you can use it to do something big. By the way, this is my sister, Brynn."
Brynn, who was standing next to her brother, smiled at Tania. Tania, since she was not dressed as Viper, pretended not to know her.
"Nice to meet you, Brynn," she said with a smile. "My name is Tania."
"Hello."
Then, Garret's three friends, the ones who fought Brynn's pursuers earlier that day, came over to them. One of them, who had long blond hair tied into a low ponytail, shook his head at Garret.
"Nope," he said. "No sign of him."
Brynn groaned. "You're mad! Why the hell do you think he's a fairy?!"
Garret glared at his sister. "I told you! I saw him reading the message on the wall!"
Brynn rolled her eyes. "Maybe he just happened to glance at the wall."
"For that long? I don't think so! I could tell that he could actually see the silver writing!"
Tania, curious to know what this argument was all about, spoke up. "So…what's going on?"
Brynn waved her hand dismally. "Oh, my stupid brother here thinks that this man we met today is a fairy."
"What was his name again?" Garret's curly-haired friend said.
Garret rolled his eyes. "For the last time, Braeden, it's Viper."
Tania stiffened. Viper…they were looking for her?! They saw her reading the message on the wall?! What…stalkers!
"Actually he could be here," the blond man said. "He's just not wearing his black garb, that's all."
"Maybe," Braeden said, "but that's unlikely."
Garret nodded. "I think so, too." He turned to his sister. "Could you tell what he looked like, Brynn?"
Brynn groaned in frustration. "For the last time, Garret, I could NOT see anything!" She paused. "Well, except for his eyes. His eyes were brown…exactly like Tania's, actually."
All five of them turned simultaneously to her.
Reference
1. When Tania was in Geldrin, she came to the outskirts of a very large forest called Emerlin Forest. Darrin, her bodyguard,was also with her. There she heard a song sung to her, telling her this: "...that you are the Tania...Adelle Lovrin's gem." The song also called her to enter the mysterious forest, but she never did. Darrin did not hear any of this.
2. Caelan was a fairy who made weapons.
3. Tania's reference to: "At least I'm immortal." She was not worried when she was falling off the tree because fairies cannot die permanentlyfrom such a death. A fairy's spirit can only leave if it suffers from emotional pain, or if it is hurt by powerful magic. If a fairy gets sick, drowns, gets stabbed, etc., she/he will die, but will resurrect five minutes later. These five minutes are used to heal/restore the body.
4. Tania used to have purple eyes, but she changed into brown.
5. A fairy does age. However, when he/she reaches 30 years, his/her aging process slows down tremendously. Therefore, a fairy who is actually fifty years old can look like a thirty-year-old. So, I would say that a fairy with grey hair and wrinkly skin would be 200 years old, which is the usual age fairieschooseto soarup to Noewyn.
6. Noewyn is a haven for fairies alone. No one knows exactly where it is, but it is way beyond the clouds. Once a fairy soars up there, there is no return. Therefore, extremely little is known about this place and what happens when a fairy gets to it.
7. It is not unusual for fairies to have eye colours of gold, purple, etc. While that is unusual for humans, it is not for fairies.
8. And as I said in Fairy Blood, I am not going to be strict on the boundary between small magic and big magic. If you think that a fairy is doing "big magic," just assume it's small magic, unless I specifically say that it is big magic. (Like that gift of obedience to Weston...if you don't know what I'm talking about, then just let it go.)
Okay, so...I think that's it. If I missed anything, let me know. And one last thing: if you haven't read Fairy Blood, can you please say so? Because I really need to know who's reading this that does not know what happened in Fairy Blood. Thank you!
