"So what do I have to do?"
Lily sat back on the couch in the fairies' home together with Rowan and Alice. She had no idea what they wanted her to do... She knew she needed training and learn to control her magic, but she had no idea how the fairies were going to help her. Other than the sleeping curse, she had never even seen them, or anyone using magic.
"I'm afraid there isn't much we can do, but we can at least try to help you give you some help to control your powers before you embark on your journey," Flora told her. "Tell me... What is it that triggers your magic to get out of control? When does that usually happen?"
Lily bit her lip.
"Usually when I have a nightmare..." she answered. "That's when it happens the most... I hurt Rowan a few times unintentionally because of that. But I can fee the energy whenever I am angry, sad or afraid... Even when I am happy I can feel it but... Differently. I don't know how to explain, but I can't seem to have any emotion without it coming out."
The women nodded slowly as Lily tried her best to explain.
"Magic tends to react to emotions," Fauna said with a knowing look. "There are more people who have trouble controlling their magic tied to their emotions... But that doesn't mean you can't feel anything. You just need to learn to control your magic. To keep it contained and stable, no matter what you are feeling."
"Have you ever tried to practice your magic?" Merryweather asked curiously, but Lily shook her head.
"Not that I know of... At least not in the past few years. I don't even know where to start practicing my magic. You are the first other magical beings I have met, and I didn't even know that there were others."
"Oh of course there are others with magic, dear," Flora said with a soft chuckle. "Of course, magic isn't always too common, but there are others who know magic." She then looked at Rowan. "From the way you reacted yesterday, I understand you had some experience with magic... But I can assure all of you that not all magic is bad. It is about the person who wields it that makes the magic good or bad. If someone with magic would use it for bad, the magic will tend to get darker just like their intentions."
"Oh then I am sure there is no dark in Lily's magic at all," Alice said as she shook her head. "Lily doesn't have a bad bone in her body. She'd do fine, if that's what you are worried about."
Lily blushed lightly, flustered by the praise the woman gave her. No bad bone in her body... She doubted if that was really true, but it was true that she was trying her best to be good. Se couldn't imagine herself ever hurting anyone.
"Then I suppose we could help a little bit," Flora said. She rushed to the other side of the room to the bookcase and started searching it. "Now where did we leave that thing... It should be here somewhere... Aha! There it is!"
She pulled out a heavy looking tome out of the bookcase, walking over with it to Lily. Lily hesitated, but slowly took the book.
"What is this?" she curiously asked, carefully opening the book.
"It's a magic book for beginners," Fauna answered happily. "It has some basic magic spells that anyone would be able to do. It isn't a lot, but it is at least a start."
Lily nodded slowly, flipping through the pages of the book.
"I wish I had done this sooner..." she muttered as she looked at the spells that were written in the book.
'Growing a flower'. She glanced at the flowers on the table and she was unable to contain her excitement and curiosity. Without reading anything further, she pointed her hand to the flowers, hoping it would make them bloom. But instead, the vase that they were in soon broke, shattering to peaces. She gasped as peaces of glass shot around the room. Rowan only just managed to protect Alice from the glass and the fairies quickly ducked out of the way. Lily bit her lip, realizing what she had done.
"I'm sorry..." she softly said "I was hoping to be able to do at least something."
Meryweather crossed her arms grumpily, unhappy with the mess, but Fauna smiled kindly. Flora quickly took out her wand and cleaned up the mess she made.
"Well, better try somewhere outside next time," she said with a soft chuckle.
"Do you think you can help me?" Lily asked with pleading eyes. "You know a lot about magic yourselves..."
"You mean like a mentor?" Fauna asked with a thoughtful look. "Well I don't know how good of a mentor we could be, but we CAN help you if you need it."
Merryweather crossed her arms, looking at the other two.
"Aren't we a little too old for that?" she asked. "We just make wishes come true and we help the sick, remember?"
"Oh come now, Meryweather," Flora said. "You know we have done a lot more than that. If we can help a prince defeat a dragon, why would we not be able to help this young lady?" Without waiting for an answer, she turned to Lily again. "I believe someone else would be a better mentor for you, but that doesn't mean we can't help you. Here, take this..."
She summoned a magic orb that was hovering in the air close to Lily, waiting for her to take it.
"What is that?" Lily asked as she stared at the orb, enchanted by it.
"If ou take this with you on your journey, we could help you if you need it," Fauna said. "But remember, this is your journey. You will need to find a way to get through this and we won't be able to help you. But perhaps, when you are in need of advice or help, we could be there for you. Don't worry about when would be the right time. We will know."
Lily slowly took the orb and it disappeared the moment she touched it. She felt the magic inside, as if it merged within her. The feeling was strange, but calming at the same time. She could trust the fairies... They would help her if she needed it and she didn't have to do anything for it...
"You said I would need another person to be my mentor," she said. "Who is that?"
"There is a powerful wizard that you might have heard of," Meryweather answered, apparently having decided to help for now too. "His name is Merlin. He is one of the most powerful wizards in the world."
"Merlin..." Lily repeated, but of course her mind was completely blank. She looked at Alice and rowan, but they shook their heads. Apparently this Merlin was not too well known in the part where they lived. Or it was the fact that Rowan wanted nothing to do with magic.
"Where can I find him?" Lily asked, unconsciously tracing the pattern on the cover of the book the fairies had just given her. "Is it okay to just ask him for help?"
"Oh knowing him, he already knows you are coming," Fauna said with a soft laugh. "Merlin can see into the future and he's gone to the past multiple times. Most of the times he already knows what is happening before you've even decided on it."
Lily blinked as they explained, a milion questions rising into her head. He could see into the future... Would he know what happened to her then? Perhaps he already knew what was ahead of her... And most importantly... Would he tell her? She bit her lip. It was at least something, and it was a start to find what she was looking for.
"Where can I find him?" she asked again.
"He owns an enchanted library a few villages further down," Flora answered. "You should be able to find him there, and perhaps find some answers too. I would recommend having a look at the books in the library as well. You never know what you'll find."
Lily nodded slowly. It was true... She would never know until she'd try. And she was going to try every possible thing before giving up.
"Thank you," she softly said, raising herself from the couch. "I think I know where to go now. And... Thank you for the book too. I'll do my best to practice."
"Of course dear," Fauna said with a kind smile. "We are happy to help you in any way. Don't forget the orb if you ever need our advice or help again."
Lily smiled and nodded.
"Don't be too trusting... Magic always comes with a price even when it's from good fairies. You don't know what they want in return from you."
Lily's eyes widened when she heard a voice. A voice she knew... A voice she had heard every night, but never outside her dreams.
"Layla?" she whispered softly.
"Lily? Lily are you okay?"
Lily turned to face Rowan, her expression looking confused and shocked at the same time.
"I..." she started, but then she heard Layla's voice echoing through her mind again.
"Don't tell them. They might know about your dreams, but I don't want you to draw any attention to me. You'll never know who else might be listening in... And your friend barely let you go the first time. He won't trust me..."
Lily closed her mouth again, not really sure what to say. She cleared her throat and nodded.
"Yes," she said with a short nod. "Yes, of course I am... I'm fine, don't worry about me."
She felt bad not telling Rowan and Alice what just happened, but she decided to take Layla's word for it for now. From her dreams it was clear that Jafar was keeping her, and he could easily know what was happening. Though she hoped she was not making a mistake by doing this. Alice tilted her head as she looked at Lily, clearly not buying her act. But she didn't say anything. Lily took a deep breath and looked back at the fairies.
"Thank you," she said again. "I will be sure to use it if I need any help.
She ignored Layla's advice on not trusting them. If they had bad intentions, they would have done something already... And if there was a price to pay, she would pay it. After all, she would never even have found out about Layla's existence if it wasn't for them.
She made her way out of the cabin, followed by Alice and Rowan. When the door closed and the three of them were alone, she took a deep breath and turned around. She felt a lump in her throat as she looked at the two of them.
"Well.." she sighed. "This is it then... I'll need to find this Library and ask Merlin for help. If he wants to help me of course."
Alice looked at her for a few seconds, and then walked up to her, pulling her into a hug. Lily froze in surprise, bug hugged her friend back. The moment Alice stepped back, Rowan did the same.
"Be careful," he softly told her. "And at least come and visit us sometime if you find out something. Whatever happens... My door will always be open for you."
Lily blinked a few tears away and sniffed.
"I will miss you," she softly said. "Of course I will return. Even if I find out something about my past, it won't change me. Not really..."
Alice pulled off her satchel and gave it to Lily.
"It isn't much, but it should be enough food before you get to the next town. "And there should be enough money to buy some food and supplies later. At least for a few days."
Lily bit her lip and looked inside the bag, finding her favorite snacks and food inside of it.
"You didn't have to do this..." she softly said.
"Well, we wanted to make sure you are well prepared for everything," Alice said with a soft chuckle, waving away Lily's gratefulness. "Now go. Your future is waiting."
Lily chuckled softly, taking a deep breath.
"Take care of each other," she softly said.
She took a deep breath and took another step, starting to walk towards the direction the fairies had told her to go. This was it... No turning back now, even if she wanted too. She had to find what she was looking for.
"They are treating you like a child, you know that?" Layla's voice echoed through her mind. "They've kept you with them for a long time. He knew that there were others with magic... Who says he doesn't know more about who you are too?"
Lily blinked, thinking about Layla's accusation for a moment. It was true that Rowan didn't easily let her go... And he did know about the fairies or at least he had heard about them. But still...
"They care about me and they are worried," she told Layla aloud. "They just want what's best for me."
Layla didn't answer, but she could feel the annoyance and disapproval inside of her.
Lily looked over her shouder, waving at Alice and Rowan who were standing at the cottage, watching her disappear in the distance.
Layla was wrong. She didn't know why Layla thought that they treated her like a kid or they had bad intentions, but she did know she was wrong. They let her go now, and it was what was important. She would return to them soon enough... But first she had to find Layla and save her from this Jafar...
Author's note:
Of she goes on her heroes journey... Blissfully unaware of who Layla really is and what she has done too long ago. She is convinced she needs saving... Poor sweet innocent Lily...
Well, it's always fun to know more than the main character, isn't it? I'd say it's classic disney. Villains are clearly within view for the readers/watchers, and the people around them have no idea... Hope you enjoyed this chapter, and until next time! Remember, if there's a character you want to see, let me know and I will see what I can do :D. They can also be from newer movies, but no Marvel or Star Wars please :P.