Having left Lady Francine, I cautiously proceeded along Airy Path, the only way to Castle Fairydust. One has to be careful here, you can see the world of reality clearly from here and if you don't proceed with care it is here that the little imps of worry and concern will make sure you never make it to the castle. That night though my spirits were high and the peace in my heart helped me to cross Airy Path without any difficulty.
I had walked around a quarter of an hour when before me, I could see a beautiful shining castle - Castle Fairydust at last. No sooner than it came into my view I started hearing a voice - it was so calm, so soothing it had to be Lady Francine, but it wasn't! It was singing a sad sad song in a language I had never heard in my life and for no apparent reason I started weeping my soul out. Just then I heard footsteps and before me stood a being, it had the shape and body of a man but i saw that his head was shaped like a star. His whole body too glowed like one.
"And pray tell why are you weeping,young sir, yes!" said he.
"I don't know sir, this song in the air just makes me cry, can't you hear it?"
"And what do I hear save for your incessant weeping, young sir, yes?"
"That voice...that song, you don't hear it?"
"And so it seems, hmmmm, voices eh? And would you be the one sent by Lady Francine yes?"
"That I am, sir", I replied.
"And so it would be, yes, strange lot you who are called by Her. And very well follow me then, She has left some things for you in the Castle Vault, yes She has. And if you will follow me yes?"
I followed this strange being to the castle and he took me down to the vaults where he opened a strange locker, in fact the locker opened itself when we arrived there.
"And yes, you would be the one yes, were it not for you it never would have opened itself, yes? Here you go, yes? And if you would follow me please, someone would have a word with you, yes she would, yes!" he said as he handed me a dusty old bag.
We then proceeded upstairs and I could see all manners of fairies, elves and pixies enjoying themselves in the ball-room. The elves in particular were a treat for the eyes- slender, graceful with lovely features and they were singing for the others who were happily dancing time away. I couldn't help but smile and feel a strange sense of peace when I saw this. However, my host led me past this merriment and into the Throne Room and there it was that I saw one of the most beautiful elves on the throne. She smiled when she saw me and said thus:
"Ah! Child of Sorrow, enter please. Thank you Starch for bringing him here. I trust you have given him the bag, you have? Excellent. Now then my child allow me to introduce myself, I am Lady Fwendyer, Queen of Fairydust and might I say that it is an absolute pleasure for me to see with my own eyes The Child of Destiny sent by Lady Francine herself, an absolute pleasure, come and sit before me, I see questions in your eyes and I shall tell you whatever I can."
"Thank you, Lady Fwendyer..."
"No child, thank YOU!" she replied "now go on, ask away?"
"Can you tell me why I'm here and what I need to do?"
"The first question you will find out for yourself dear boy and as for the second question I will tell you later. Are there any more questions?"
"Yes, can you tell me whats in the bag?"
"That I can", she smiled "Inside that magic bag are three things, a robe, a sword and a picture frame. But do not take them out now, you will know when to take them out, but just to give you an idea let me tell you. The robe is to be used when the very air around you dampens your spirit, the sword is to be used when and only when violence is the only answer and the picture frame to be used when you need to know what it is that is most important to you. But you can use each item only once before the magic that binds them will be unbound and vanish forever so use it only when you absolutely must and not before. Now I will tell you what you must do, just outside the castle you will find a trail that leads down to the shore. You must go there immediately and search for a Captain Fairwave. He will take you to the next part of your journey. I know you still have questions aplenty, child, but they are really not mine to answer and you will be have all the answers when you need them and not before. Now hurry child, and if all goes well, I hope to see you here again soon. I shall eagerly await your return and I shall hold a great banquet to celebrate your success. But for now, farewell, O Child of Sorrow."
With a bow, I left the company of the Fair Lady of Castle Fairydust and followed her directions. There at the shore I met the captain, Captain Fairwave.
"Ho! Welcome lad, welcome, a pleasure to meet you. Allow me to shake your hand. It would be a pleasure to welcome you to my fair ship, The Flying Fin, come now come."
I boarded the ship and the catain took me to my cabin and left me there while he gave orders to the crew to set sail immediately. After a while he reappeared.
"Alas lad, we are off now to Care Island. I have been instructed to take you there, heaven knows why, its a lonely isolated little island and a funny one if there ever was one. All I can tell you lad is that once you are there you are to look for the Cavern of Weeping and enter there. There would be someone waiting for you there, and now I'll leave you to rest and preserve your strength, you shall need it. I shall notify you when we are there."
And so was I left alone undisturbed for hours. I tried to sleep but I couldn't, everytime I closed my eyes I could hear the song I heard near Castle Fairydust and I was left to sit alone and ponder over what lay ahead for me. I hadn't asked for any of this and almost felt so frustrated to the point of being brought back to reality, but then the thought of Lady Francine saved me. I knew that she wouldn't send me on this quest for nothing and so my belief in Her revived my hopes and I was filled with a new determination to see this through.
After many hours of sailing, Captain Fairwave finally reappeared and smiled.
"We're here lad, on must you go alone now. But before that, there is someone on board who wishes to see you. I will bring her in."
The captain then brought in a fair elven maiden who bowed the moment she saw me.
"Quel re, Heruamin, cormamin lindua ele lee (Good day, my lord, my heart sings to see thee) I am Andresia and I know it is more than I could ever wish for to be able to help you let alone see you. I come bearing a gift. Please take this shell with you. It is filled with the song of the elves and is able to work its magic to all who listen to it. You will know when you need it. I must go now, my Lord. It has been an honor to see you in person. Aa’ lasser en lle coia orn n' omenta gurtha (May the leaves of your life tree never turn brown) "
With that she left me and I too left the ship and waved farewell to the captain and his crew and Andresia too.
I was now alone on the island and could feel an eerie presence all around. But now my job was to find the Cavern of Weeping and that is where my tale will continue...
