John and James stopped for yet another rest. They sat on the branches catching their breath. John looked around. The problem was the same as it was on the ground; the trees all looked the same. John waved his hands in front of James' face.
"Maybe it's time we started marking the trees or something."
James looked around as well.
"Maybe." He shrugged and started playing with his fingers. He looked up.
"What do you think happened to the others?" He looked back down at his hands. John shuffled uncomfortably around to James. He stared ahead at the constant trees.
"I'm sure they're fine. I mean Elizabeth is looking after them."
James snorted. John smiled and continued.
"I mean Amelia is there as well. Maybe she went after Jane with Fred. Imagine what Fred will have to listen to." James looked up and laughed.
"Yeah, imagine the complaining Jane is going to do after all this. She will be the biggest pain ever."
The brothers started laughing when they heard a rustling behind them. They couldn't turn quickly enough to see what it was. They exchanged a glance and stood up. Leaning against the branches the boys stared into the foliage. Tentatively James stepped forward. Something rustled behind him and he spun round. He thought he caught a glance of something like a small child; it didn't seem to be much taller than him. He turned to warn John, but he had disappeared. James breath escaped him. He gulped and walked towards where John had been. He looked around carefully before whispering,
"John? Where are you?" No answer came. James carefully squatted and looked down onto the forest floor. The next thing he felt was a thump on the back of his head. He tried to stop himself from falling but hands behind him caught him and hauled him across the treetop. Voices shrouded his conscious and James soon stopped hearing and seeing the trees. The sunlight seeped in. James blearily opened his eyes. He couldn't open them completely; some coarse material was tied tightly across his eyes. His throat felt constricted and dry but it hurt to swallow. The swaying motion wasn't helping either. James felt his ankles losing their feeling as the ropes cut deeper into his skin. He tried to twist into an easier position but someone hit him and he fell still. Closing his eyes again he heard the things carrying him start to talk. It sounded like a whole lot of grunting but there seemed to be some English words thrown in there as well. James suspected they were in there for his benefit, as they didn't sound promising. He fell asleep soon after from a combination of the swaying motion and the bump on his head. The next time James awoke he was untied and there was a small child's painted face stuck up into his. With the initial shock James tried to move back but found his back against a wall. He tried to hold the child's stare but it was too disturbing. After a time the child moved back and disappeared. James slid forward and tried to twist his hands free of its bonds, but to no avail. His ankles were untied so after a bit of difficulty he stood up and walked around the small cell. It was a crude building. A cage made of tree boughs and string. There was only three walls made of bars, the back wall was against a more clay like material. James stared at the area that was outside of his cage. There were other cages like his. All of them were empty except his. He looked up and there were cages hanging from the ceiling as well. He looked at the cages on the floor again and called out. John was lying down in a corner of a cage in the centre of the holding area. James looked around. There didn't seem to be any more children around. He tried to squeeze through the bars but they were too close together. He tried sucking in his stomach and he tried to go head first, leg first, bum first but none of it worked. After swearing for a bit and kicking the walls he looked back at John. He didn't seem to be hurt apart from a massive lump on the side of his head. He was deeply unconscious and it was obvious to James that he was a long way from waking up. He sat back down and leant as far forward as he could. It was time to calm down and take control. He sat up and looked around the cage again. He looked at all the sides and up and down. The string seemed to be pretty sturdy. He stood up. The branches were all different sizes and there was no real pattern to the cage walls. The boughs were all uneven and different shapes. If he undid one bough it would come down quickly. James went to start. Then he realised his hands were still tied behind his back. He groaned. What was this place? He leant against the wall. His hands rubbed themselves against the wall. It seemed to be pretty rough. His hands were ahead of his brain. By rubbing the rope against the wall, it began to fray. James started to rush thinking that the little warriors could come back at any time. James tired quickly. He peered over his shoulder. He had made little progress. He looked back over at John and set back to work. The dryad's leader watched as the young boy worked on his ropes.
"Do you want me to stop the boy, majesty?" A small man with lots of badges stood at attention before the queen. Queen Branwen shook her head. The boy interested her. He didn't seem to realise he was being watched from such a close distance but he had realised where the other boy was being kept. The queen smiled. The captain mistook it for malicious. He sniggered along. The queen turned to him, bemused.
"Well, are they are to be enlisted?" The captain seemed overly keen and this turned off the queen.
"Oh course. What other use are they?" This made the captain wring his hands in delight. He laughed under his breath and walked off. The queen sniffed and turned her attention back to the boy. She smiled contently; these boys would make fine additions to her army.
Jane woke up sweating. She gulped in the sweet, cold air. She tried to sit up but her head pounded powerfully and her lunch rose in her throat. She lay still. Heavy breathing sounded in her air. Jane jumped sideways causing her stomach to give a disturbing lurch. Fred was lying on his stomach, dead asleep. His arms and legs were stretched out in a star formation. Jane sat back down on the floor. She started to shake Fred, but to no avail. He mumbled but that was all. Jane sighed. Her eyes followed the curve of the wall as it twisted upwards towards the roof. Jane gulped and shifted closer to Fred as the stalactites shivered dangerously. Jane hugged her knees to her chest. He eyes widened as she saw the shadows appearing on the walls. She poked Fred hard in the ribs and tickled him as the shadows become larger and kept coming closer to herself and Fred. Jane finally sat on Fred who woke with a start.
"Getoff me idiot!" Fred pulled himself up and started to prepare himself to let loose when he saw Jane's terrified face.
"What? What is it?" Jane pointed at the wall. Fred frowned. The fairy people had already returned? His back tensed. Standing up and pulling Jane closer to him, Fred took a deep breath and tried to form a plan. He looked up. The stalactites moved with a subterranean breeze. Fred knew they had one chance as they shivered under the stalactites. The two fairies were meant to guarding the children but instead were walking around the cave, gossiping about the latest scandal. They were shocked to discover that the children had awoken and disappeared when they returned. They swivelled around, searching out the dark corners of the cave.
"Where could they have gone?" The stockier fairy turned to her companion. She just shrugged. They jumped when they heard the voice of the boy. Their eyes were wide as his voice reverberated around the cave.
"Oi! Over here! Come and get us little fairies!" Fred turned to Jane.
"Just yell as loud as you can!" Fred looked back over at the fairies.
"Come on you ugly jerks!" Fred laughed. Jane gulped and looked at the roof. The stalactites were trembling precariously. Looking back at the fairies slowly advancing, she took a deep breath and screamed. Her scream echoed eerily among the stalactites. The sound waves ran around the roof excitedly before rushing down the walls and into the fairies ears. The silence was deafening. The fairies paused and waited. There was nothing. Jane stood gasping beside Fred. He hugged her.
"You may just have done it!" Fred's eyes were wide with excitement. Jane shuddered. Had she done the right thing? The two fairies looked at each other suspiciously, before letting out a war-like cry and rushing towards the two children. Jane shrieked and tried to hide behind Fred. One of the fairies face was warped with passion. Fred grimaced as he saw fate befall the fairies. The stalactites on the roof shuddered one final time before falling. The fairies realised halfway across the cave. They tried to dodge and turn back, but it was too late. The stalactites fell like deadly knives. They cut the fairies into half and half again as the stalactites continued to fall. The two children cowered in their hole that was cut into the wall. Jane started to cry. Fred punched her.
"Don't sook. We did it! We can escape now." Fred patted her hair.
"Did we really have to kill the fairies?" Jane's face was flushed and her hair everywhere.
"If we want to stay alive. We had to do it. Jane, they were going to eat us!"
"I've never heard of cannibal fairies." Jane's eyes widened and she shivered. Fred shrugged.
"Oh well. We have to depend on ourselves. Just wait for all the stalactites to drop and then we'll get out of here. We have to find Amelia and Ollie." Fred looked out at the cave. The noise was gradually becoming less as the majority of the stalactites fell and it became more infrequent. The siblings sat silently next to each other, watching with awe at the chaos they had caused.
Captain Teyrnon tried to remain calm. This girl was oblivious to what was happening around her. She kept talking as if her brothers would rescue her. He smiled. How naïve. He cut off his train of thought when the girl had stopped talking.
"I understand where you are coming from, but really try and see it from my point of view."
"Yeah, well see it from my point of view. We can either get eaten by fairies, or you do what you do to us."
"What can I say? I am an understanding type of person–"
"If you were an understanding person we wouldn't still be stuck in here." Elizabeth crossed her arms. Captain Teyrnon raised his eyebrows. He stroked his chin and paced in front of the children.
"Okay, here it is. You are obviously feeling very vulnerable standing there. Yes?"
"Just a little." Elizabeth rolled her eyes. Captain Teyrnon paused and continued.
"How about we talk about this out here? Where I am?" He swept his arms around.
"Okay." Elizabeth only thought for a second. Captain Teyrnon smiled. He beckoned the children with his index finger.
"Welcome to the crew of the –"
"What? That wasn't part– "Captain Teyrnon placed his finger on his lips.
"Hush young one. I am sure you will enjoy being part of the naiad crew." His eyes flashed.
"They will certainly enjoy some new additions." He laughed leading the three captives to his ship. As they walked up the gangplank, Agnes averted her eyes from the many that were now surveying her. The only place she could really look where she wouldn't see the creatures was the floor. She repulsed at the bones and muck on the wooden planks. She coughed as a gut wrenching smell hit her nose. Her eyes watering she let out a small cry as someone lifted her up. The hands that were holding her were rough and calloused, but gentle with Agnes. She tried to twist around to see where Elizabeth had gone but was firmly turned round the right way by her snatcher. Agnes looked out before her. The ship was massive, at least 900 metres in length. Her eyes widened as she took in the high mast and the bird's nest, a speck in the sky and all the blue things, separating and making a path for her and her carrier as they walked the length of the vessel. As they reached the end they came to an open door. Agnes was slowly lowered to the ground and softly pushed in the right direction. She gave a fearful look behind her and walked through the door. The heavy oak slammed decisively for her. Agnes crept into a beautifully furnished room. The walls had a golden wallpaper and plush carpet. Cabinets and bookshelves lined the walls, full of ancient artefacts and disturbing objects. Agnes shivered and hugged herself. She turned to the west wall where a large desk stood. Piles of books, papers and assortments of items lay haphazardly over the desk. Agnes kept turning and looking around the room recoiling at some of the things she saw. Tiring of being disgusted, Agnes sat down on the soft carpet. She played with fibres, comforted by their gentleness and immobility. Agnes waited patiently for someone to come. She got up and walked around, not quite daring to touch the things surrounding her. Agnes' heart jumped to her throat when she heard a key scraping in the door. Bowing her head slightly and cupping her hands in front of her body, Agnes prepared herself. Captain Teyrnon swept in, with a smaller creature accompanying him. Agnes stood where she was, the captain not registering her presence. The red capped creature stared at her as the captain sauntered around his quarters, lamenting about Elizabeth and Ollie.
"We need to keep an eye on those two, you never know what kind of ideas - " Captain Teyrnon was cut off by his manservant's suggestive cough.
"What is it Nisien?" The captain sounded annoyed. Nisien only had to nod his head Agnes. The captain muttered and shook his head.
"I forgot I had her sent in here." He strode over to Agnes. Lowering himself to her level, he looked her in the eye.
"Agnes? What are you doing in here?"
She swallowed and whispered, "Someone put me in here." The captain nodded slowly. He turned to his companion.
"Who would have told someone to place Agnes in my private room?" Captain Teyrnon stood up and looked down at Nisien, who stared back just as defiantly.
"It definitely wasn't me sir. I warrant it was that Crossly or Lloyd."
Captain Teyrnon held his hands below his chin. His eyes searched his room for some inspiration. Looking back down at the little red head girl he sighed. Nisien caught his eye and pulled his finger across his neck.
"I have a little job for you Agnes. I would like to sort out all of my old books from my new books. Do you think you can do that?" He made a passive smile play on Agnes. She looked at her feet. Captain Teyrnon tried to wait patiently. Agnes continued to avoid his gaze. He finally looked at the clock and sighed.
"It seems that the day has run away from us." He turned to Nisien and whispered. Agnes stole glances as she waited. Captain Teyrnon finally turned back.
"Nisien is going to take you to your quarters." He paused, waiting for a response.
"The others will be there." He watched as Nisien took the young girl's hand and walked out to the deck.
Agnes shivered in the cool night air. The blue man had a firm grip on her hand but no thoughts of escape entered her head. She was going to Elizabeth and everything would be fine. They walked a short way before coming to a trapdoor on the deck floor. Nisien stopped and knelt down, making Agnes copy him.
"Now little one, you must help me pull this door up." He waited for an affirmative nod and then showed Agnes how to grip the handle while pulling up, using her knees. Nisien counted to three and with a nod of his head, the two of them heaved the heavy door upwards. Gasping for breath, Agnes let herself be led down the stairs and into the adjoining room. To the side was a table, around which three blue creatures were sitting. Agnes shrank at their embossed armour and bejewelled swords. Their eyes burned into her back as she and Nisien walked to the door at the end of the room. Nisien examined the door. There was no handle, but a single keyhole. It sat in the middle of the door, a rectangular shape with foreign inscriptions surrounding it, the metal shining dully in the lamplight. Nisien toyed with the keys on his belt and shook his head. "Do any of you have the key for this door?" He hardly spoke above a whisper but one of the creatures walked over and wordlessly unlocked the door. Nisien nodded silently and gently pushed Agnes into the darkness beyond. She stood as still as she could as the door slammed behind her. Her skin crawled as her imagination took hold of what could be in the darkness around her. She took a tentative step forward and heard something crunch underneath her foot. Jumping back she almost cried as she heard Oliver swearing.
"Ollie? Are you in here too?" Agnes swallowed as she heard an intake of breath.
"Yeah, and so is Elizabeth. She's asleep somewhere in here. I was too before someone stepped on my hand." He smiled as Agnes started to apologise.
"Nah, it's okay. Let's try and find Elizabeth." Ollie held the back of Agnes' dress and the two of them shuffled around in the dark trying to locate Elizabeth. Eventually they did. She was curled up in a ball, fast asleep. Agnes knelt down beside her and poked her till she woke up. Elizabeth cried out in relief as she held Agnes. "Oh God, I thought something had happened to you." The three children huddled together and soon fell asleep, comforted by each other's presence.
Amelia sat up bolt right. Her eyes wide she tried to take in where she was. Jumping up she shook the bars that had suddenly surrounded her. She looked wildly around as she saw that the cage she was in wasn't the only one. She gulped as she took in the cages hanging from the roof, the hundred or so other cages which now surrounded her. The massive holding area she found herself in seemed almost to be taunting as all of the cages were empty and others were demolished. Amelia walked the perimeter of the cage. She felt like the tiger in the zoo she had seen only days before, pacing around and around. Shaking her cloudy head, she frowned. How could she have gotten here? The last thing she remembered was having tea with Dylan…she kicked out at the cage bars. How stupid of her. How completely and utterly pathetic of her. This 'dryad', this creature, had planned against her and put her in this place. She groaned and sunk to the ground. Putting her head into her hands she tried to control herself so she could try to get out. All she could of though was where she was and how she had gotten her. She shuddered as she remembered that she was all alone. Tears welled up, unwanted. Even alone, Amelia couldn't bear to think she could be seen crying. Standing up she rubbed her eyes till they felt puffy and the tears receded. She looked around the cavern again. This time she tried to take in all the finer details. Amelia jumped back and then sprang back at the bars. She flicked her hair out of her eyes and looked again. That hair, only –
"James! James!" Amelia started screaming and waving her arms. James seemed to be slumped over against the wall. At the sound of Amelia's voice, his head jerked up, this made Amelia yell louder.
"James! James over here!" Amelia felt her voice crack but it became stronger as she saw James respond.
"Amelia! How did you get here?" James had pressed himself against the bars almost as hard as Amelia had.
"I don't know. There was this creature, he called himself a dryad, I think he gave me something and then I fell asleep and I woke up here." Amelia smiled as she realised she wasn't alone anymore. James looked troubled as he looked over at a cluster of cages. Amelia followed his gaze and gasped. In the centre of a cage, John was sprawled in a tangle of legs and arms. James saw her looking and sighed unhappily.
"We've been here for ages and he still hasn't woken up." James tried to stick his head through the bars.
"Really? I don't know what the time is but it's definitely night time by now, right?" Amelia bit her lip.
James shook his bars. "Have you seen the others?" He asked anxiously.
"You're the only ones I've seen, since well, since the afternoon." Amelia shook her head
bitterly. The cousins stood silently, watching and waiting for something to happen to
them.