It's been a year since I fell into the fairy kingdom and began creating new memories with my family.
I have loved every moment of it.
Reading from the archives about fairy culture, anatomy, and magic heritage has taught me so much. For instance, did you know that fairies have to hibernate in order to save their wings from the harsh winter winds? Apparently, their wings are extremely delicate and can become brittle and damaged due to extreme cold or dry conditions. That is why the fairies encase themselves in a magical cocoon and hibernate for about three months of the year. This helps prevent any damage to their wings.
Also, if a fairy has offspring that is too young to provide themselves with this magic cocoon of protection, then the elves provide a daycare type service in their underground bunkers for the fairies. Of course, it also helps put the fairies' mind at ease when they place a bonding spell on their children to ensure that their child is being well taken care of. This is called the 'omniscient spell.' It basically allows the parents to assess their child's health, alerts them if their child is in danger, and allows telepathic communication with their child while they sleep.
Of course, due to past historical controversy, laws had to be put into place that prevents fairies from placing this spell on others who are not their children.
Good thing mama was able to adopt me before she slept. She confided in me and told me that if she couldn't adopt me, then she was going to break the law and place the spell on me regardless. According to grandpa, the penalty of such a transgression is steep…and I really don't want anything bad happening to my mama.
Everyone was pleasant and nice in the underground bunkers. There were a few awkward stares at my wingless back or curved ears, but Uncle Sunny usually made a joke to break the ice and ease the tension. I tried not to let it bother me, but it had been a while since I received that kind of ogling and decided to explore the area and avoid large crowds for the most part.
The elves' bunkers are really interesting. It's pretty much an underground city that is stocked to the brim with supplies and entertainment. Uncle Sunny says that elves, fairies, dusties and sprites have co-existed with each other for centuries. That the elves relied on the protection of the fairies during the spring, summer, and fall months from the 'gobblers' that used to live in this area. And the elves repaid the fairies for their protection by watching over their young while they hibernated. Since this arrangement worked in everyone's favor, everybody stayed together even after the 'gobblers' were long gone.
When I asked him what a 'gobbler' looked like, Uncle Sunny just scratched his head and said, "Beats me, but they are evil beings and gobble up everything in sight...especially…little girls named—Imogen!"
He then began tickling my sides and made ghost noises to try and scare me, but it made me laugh instead.
Uncle Sunny is extremely silly, but really nice. He told me funny elf stories and taught me pretty songs to pass the time. He even blushed when I first called him uncle—it was then that I realized that he had a huge crush on Aunt Dawn and wouldn't mind actually becoming Uncle Sunny one day. I think he'd be a great match for my aunt, but she's still a long way from realizing this herself.
With all the excitement that was going on underground, you'd think that I wouldn't be so homesick, but… it still got lonely without mama tucking me in every night. I even talked to her every night, through our connection, and told her all about my day and the new stories I heard, but… I still missed my mama and her warm hugs during those three months.
Which is why I'm super stoked that it is spring time again and I am back in the castle with my family!
Speaking of which…where the heck did mama go?
We were reading a story together on our usual rock, the one on the training ground, when she said that she had to go check on something. That something was probably Aunt Dawn, but it usually doesn't take this long…unless Aunt Dawn was hiding again.
I let out an exasperated sigh.
It was just getting to the good part in the story too. I gently placed the book face down on the rock, careful not to lose my place, and laid on my back to stretch my arms above my head. Once I was sprawled out and my muscles wonderfully relaxed, I closed my eyes to soak up a few rays of sunshine. I've missed relaxing in the sunbeams with the birds chirping happily in the background.
So peaceful.
"Oh, come on Marianne! We have so little time to get ready for the party!" Aunt Dawn screeched out.
…And peaceful moment shattered…
"Yeah, you go on ahead, I'm already ready," I heard mama say before I heard her wings beating close by and felt the gentle thump of her landing next to me. She followed my lead and stretched out beside me before pulling me into her side. I quickly snuggled into her, deeply inhaling her flowery scent with earthy undertones. Just having mama near me, always puts me in a relaxed state of mind.
"Ugh, come on you, lazy bones—you still have to get Imogen ready then," Aunt Dawn said while pulling on mama's free arm, jostling me in the process.
I made an inaudible noise of complaint before tightly putting my arm around mama's middle—trying to hold her in place with all my might.
"Ughhhhh…fine," mama said while shooing Aunt Dawn off her arm before scooping me into her arms and flying off.
"Hey! Grab Imogen's book for me! I'll meet you in the Main Hall in one hour!" Mama called over her shoulder to Aunt Dawn. I didn't even think of the book as I curled myself further into my mother's embrace.
It didn't take long before we landed in my bedroom. I let out a grumpy groan as mama placed me on my feet and told me to go splash water on my face to wake me up.
I sighed, but did as I was told and shuffled my way into the adjoining bathroom. Once the water was cold enough, I quickly splashed my face and rubbed my eyes before returning to the bedroom. Mama was holding up a sky-blue dress and a salmon colored dress, looking in between the two then back at me.
"I can't decide which one. You look super cute in both of these, but I really want to put tulip earrings on you…or maybe do a braid with tulips intertwined as a crown…" Mama trailed off while looking at me before nodding her head in a decisive manner. She then put the blue dress away and had me put on the salmon colored dress before sending the sprites out to collect miniature tulips for my hair.
She decided it would be easier to do my hair at her vanity. So, once I was dressed, we made our way to her bedroom where she sat me on her stool and began brushing out my hair.
"We're going to have to cut your hair again. I swear it is growing like a weed and is determined to reach your feet," mama muttered the last part in slight exasperation at my untamable hair. I giggled at her antics while she began braiding my hair. She had braided two smaller strands on both sides of my head and wove them into the larger braid at the back. Once this was done, the sprites returned with the tulips and she began weaving the small buds into the two, small, front braids—making a small flower crown around my head. I smiled at my reflection and graciously hugged mama.
She always made me look and feel like a princess. I must have admitted this out loud because she got this sad look in her eyes before mama smiled down at me and whispered her daily promise:
"No one will ever hurt my little princess."
With that final declaration, she kissed the top of my head and led me towards the main hall.
And no one will ever hurt my queen again.
With my own declaration in mind, I gripped mama's hand tighter and got ready to face the masses.
When we got to the door, Aunt Dawn had already gone into the party to dance, but grandpa was waiting outside for us.
"Ah, there's my little girl and 'littler girl'!" Grandpa cooed out at us with open arms. Mama rolled her eyes at his display of affection, but I giggled at his goofy behavior before racing into his arms.
Grandpa hugs are one of the best hugs!
Mama reluctantly came up to grandpa and gave him a hug after me. He just smiled and held out his arm to lead her into the ballroom. I grabbed onto mama's hand, feeling the butterflies return to my stomach. I've been to some fairy parties before, but this is going to be the first one as Princess Imogen, daughter of future Queen Marianne.
It's pretty daunting just thinking about it.
Grandpa and mama were whispering about mama's fake smile, but I could only focus on all the gazes that were watching my every move.
Oh, stars above, please don't let me trip and fall flat on my face!
Thankfully, and unfortunately, I didn't need to focus on this fear for long before Roland decided to crash the party and make an appearance. He was talking about dancing with mama before launching into a song and dance number with his minions.
My face must have held such disgust because when I shot a glare at the sprites, they stopped 'awing' and decided to glare at this jerk with me. Maybe mama is rubbing off on me after all.
Please don't fall for this mama…
Fortunately, I had nothing to worry about and mama was not buying what this dope was selling. She got up in his face and said he had a lot of nerve showing up to the party. I don't think I was supposed to hear the last part because mama whispered that he cheated on her.
I didn't think my hatred for this jerk could intensify, but I found out I was very, very wrong.
How dare this bum cheat on my mama! She is the most beautiful, caring, funny, strong, and charismatic woman in all the land, and he had the audacity to cheat on her?! I want his head on a stick!
Everyone seemed to be taken in with his act, but my mama remained strong and started countering his number with a song of her own. She even took some jabs at him before he fell down and hit his head; even the sprites joined in and slapped him in the face.
I cheered out when I saw the coward retreat towards the door.
Mama hit a high note in his face before letting him fall out the door behind him.
She smugly called out, "Bye, bye." Then slammed the door on his wing and turned around with a victorious grin. Everyone else looked appalled, but I ran up to her with a hug and told her how badass I thought she was.
Mama laughed at my excitement before admonishing me for my language. Grandpa, however, was a mood-killer. He got mama's attention and gave her a disappointed look. But mama just rolled her eyes before picking me up and flying away from the party.
I didn't try to stop her and was more than happy to get away from all of the judgmental stares from the snobby fairy court.
Maybe mama was right…maybe we were better off by ourselves.
My mind was reeling at this thought, but I knew one thing for certain.
"I love you, mama."
"I love you more, baby girl."
Love calmed my erratically beating heart and soothed my worried mind to sleep. I felt mama gently lay me on her rose bed before slipping my shoes off my feet.
The last thing I remembered was mama, curling me into her side again before my mind drifted off into the land of clouds and stars.