poemtry and prose

They walked out into the hallway. The sun had faded, casting orange and yellow glows on the tapestries hanging on the walls. Cassie felt that something seemed out of place, as they headed back to the main room. It almost seemed too quiet. She did not see anyone wandering the hallways and heard no voices.

She wondered where Hazel and Stick were. Neither one of them had bothered to visit her in the room she was staying at. Of course, she was trying very hard not to let her overactive imagination get the better of her. Pushing thoughts of them being locked away in some dark dungeon, a madman hovering over them holding pliers ready to rip their wings and limbs to shreds. She shuddered, dismissing the thoughts and pushing them as far back into the corners of her mind as she could.

It continued to be silent when they got back to the side door of the Elder's Chambers. Cassie held her breath, fearful of what was happening on the other side of the door. Celan paused before pushing the door open and winked. Fear gave way to shock and excitement when Cassie saw what awaited her on the other side.

Long tables occupied a third of the floor. Cassie was not sure how they got them all there, either by faerie magic or hard work and effort. Hanging above each table, suspended by no wires or strings, were lots of candles. Their flame flickered illuminating the room with a soft but bright glow. The walls had been decorated with boughs of ivy and pine. The whole room smelled of incense and flowers. A table runner of purple and black, beaded at the ends, spanned each table. Vases of flowers and pine boughs decorated the tops of each table as well. Silver and gold silverware glinted from the light of the candle.

About 200 faeries were seated at the tables, talking and making merry. Each and everyone was dressed in their finest garments. Some wore no clothes, their bodies pained with bright colors. The sight of it all amazed Cassie, there were creatures seated before her that even in her wildest dreams she would never dared to think existed.

The Elders were seated at a special table placed directly in front of their thrones. They too also had their finest clothes and robes on. A cat sat next to Innowen. Cassie thought nothing of it, except that there were two soft and puffy wings extending from the cat's back. When the door opened, revealing Celan and Cassie, all heads turned to face them. Their voices stopped mid sentence as well. It stretched and yawned as Innowen bent down to pet it. Everyone stood up at the same time, and clapped and cheered as she walked into the room. Cassie had never seen anything like it before in her entire life. Her face flushed bright red as she was not sure she deserved all the attention. Even Celan was grinning and clapping.

Atim walked over to her. He placed his arm around her shoulders, "You look beautiful. Just like a faerie princess."

"Thank you," Cassie said. "But all this cannot possibly be for me?"

He nodded. "It is. Not only is our formal greating to you, but it is also to thank you for all that you will do for us. All your help."

Cassie felt flustered. She opened her mouth again, but closed it. She saw movement out of the corner of her eye. Something was rushing at her fast.

"CAAAAAASSSSSSSIIIIEEEE!" the tiny body screamed. Stick was running full speed towards her.

Cassie bent down to the ground, her arms stretched out, and braced her body for Stick. The little faerie, fully grown, came only up to her knees. And yet, as tiny as she was, she was still able to knock Cassie back a bit when she reached her friend.

"Hey, Stick," Cassie said, hugging the tiny faerie gently. "I missed you."

"Me too. I am so glad that Hazel found you. You had us very worried. We had no idea where you went or what happened. One day you were there and then the next, you had disappeared. Talk about some magic!"

Cassie smiled and laughed, "Well, I will tell you all about it when we got time."

"Oh right," Stick said, growing blue with embarrassment. She had forgotten that she was surrounded by 200 of her peers and looked up at Atim. "Sire, please forgive me. I was excited. It has been awhile since I got to see Cassie."

Atim looked down at Stick, "That is quite alright little one. I understand. How about you show the daughter of Adam to her seat?"

Stick nodded, "You bet. I can do that. Come on Cassie. You are going to love this!"

Cassie looked at Atim, who nodded. Stick practically dragged her to her seat. They had placed her at the head of one of the tables. Hazel sat to her left. He was wearing a formal suit of all black leather, the pants tucked into the boot tops. His hair had been combed back and Cassie felt her body temperature raise. He looked very handsome. She never realized just how handsome he could be. She smiled at him and he smiled back.

Then he stood from his chair, stepped behind her chair and pulled it from the table, "Milady," he said. It was a sincere gesture and if the room had not been filled with so many well dressed fae she probably would have giggled for this was a side of him she never saw.

She sat in the chair as he pushed it up to the table. He then picked Stick up and placed her on the table. There was a tiny place setting complete with a thimble sized glass for her to drink from. Stick bowed at Hazel and sat down.

Atim walked back to the front of his table and cleared his throat. All the eyes in the room turned towards him. "My esteemed friends and colleges, we gather here today to welcome and celebrate the coming of Cassondra Brown, daughter of Adam. She has traveled from afar and has agreed to help us search for a cure and end the dreaded plague that has struck our world."

A few voices murmured as some of the faeries strained their necks to get a better view of Cassie. She sat motionless and watched closely as the Elder spoke.

Atim clapped his hands. "May the festivities begin," he announced, taking his seat on his throne once more. The room erupted in cheering as server faeries walked into the room, one by one, carrying platters filled with sweet smelling food. Cassie's mouth watered. She had never seen anything like it. Plates of fresh vegetables and fish and soup and salads materialized from nowhere on the tables. Celan walked over to Cassie and laid a plate piled full with roots and berries and a purple fish meat. Cassie thanked her as Celan gently placed the plate in front of her. Cassie wished that Celan was seated next to her, enjoying the party with her instead of serving her. But the faerie winked and looked happy to serve.

Hazel also received a plate as well. "You will enjoy this. The fish is from the coast and it is rare for this time of year. The fishermen go way out, beyond the islands in search of their spawning grounds."

"It all looks so good. I am starved," Cassie replied, placing an Celtic embroidered napkin in her lap.

An elderly fae sat on Cassie's right side. During the feast, he spoke to her of his lands to the North and about the damage the plague caused to his lands. His tales, broke Cassie's heart and she found it hard to eat the meal. More and more plates arrived, as the fae ate. Stick had a plate of greens and roots before her. She slurped the roots as she ate, which humored Cassie.

"So we leave tomorrow," Hazel said. "Stick and I have prepared packs for our trip and we have lots of jerky and fruits to last the trip. We also have clothing and ropes to keep us warm for when we get to the mountains."

Cassie nodded, "Do you know where we are going? Have you been there before?"

"I have been around those areas, and know of a few towns we can stay in and ask questions. But I have never gone into the mountains. At least not alone. We consulted a map and have planned the fastest and least dangerous trip. Do not worry, we will be fine."

"I always feel safe when I am with you," Cassie said, reaching for a goblet that was filled with a thick red liquid. She took a sip and the sweet, sticky taste warmed her lips. "Wow. This is good. What is it?"

The elder faerie leaned over, "’Tis Elderberry wine. The best of any Stonehaven cellar. Drink it slowly, least it all go to your head."

Cassie never had any alcohol before. So she drank it slowly, fearing that it would go to her head and make her sick.

Midway through the feast, Bridget stood. Once again the hall filled with silence. Even the faeries serving and clearing the table stopped in honor and respect. "I wish to make a toast."

Everyone, including Cassie, Hazel and Stick, raised their goblets.

"To new friends. And to old ones who could not be here with us to feast. May we all live long lives and celebrate the magic. May the fallen never be forgotten."

A chorus of voices rose out, "To new friends. To the fallen." Goblets touched goblets ringing out. Then all was silent as everyone sipped elderberry wine.

Servers cleared the remaining plates of food. Cassie felt warm, fat with food. "That was delicious," she said. "I do not think I can eat anything else."

Hazel laughed, "Oh but this is only the beginning Cassie. You have desert to eat. And watch."

Once again, plates materialized in front of each faerie. Instead of being filled with roots and meats, they contained sweets of fruits and chocolates and pastries. Creams and donuts and cake appeared across all the tables.

"Oh my god, it looks soo good. But I have no idea on where to begin." Cassie said, her eyes darting between each plate.

Stick stood up, "I can help you choose." She wandered around the table pointing to a pastry, jubilee of fruits and a piece of cake. Each item she pointed at then disappeared from its position. Appearing on an empty plate sitting in front of Cassie.

"Hey, thanks," Cassie said, staring down at the mountain of sweets.

Hazel put his finger in some whipped topping, "mmmm... i hope you save some for the rest of us, Stick!" he teased. Everyone at her table broke out into laughter. Cassie thought Stick was right, the tiny fae definitely knew which sweats were the best.

The gentleman leaned back in his seat, a belch escaping his lips. "Excuse me," he said raising his napkin to wipe a speck of cake from the corner of his mouth. "My that was a great feast! I cannot remember the last time the obelisk had such amazing food."

Cassie nodded. The food was definitely hitting her bloodstream and her eyes started glazing over. Atim stood once more. "One more toast," he called out.

Again glasses raised high in the air, poised.

"To Cassondra, daughter of Adam. May the gods smile and bless you and your travels. May you find information that may lead to curing the plague."

With those words, everyone stood from their seats. They raised their glasses higher in the air. Cassie blushed and averted her gazed downwards, keeping seated in her chair. "To Cassondra," the room roared. Hazel looked at Cassie, his eyes filled with love and compassion. He bent down, and whispered into Cassie's ear, "You better say something before they go crazy."

She nodded. Cassie rose from her seat once the room calmed down. "Thank you, thank you everyone. For your warm welcome and generous hospitality. While I cannot promise you that I know a cure exists for this evil plague, I promise you I, we," she looked at Hazel and Stick, "will do our best to gather information that can be helpful." She then raised her glass, "A toast, to you. My new friends."

Cheering erupted from the floor as her words were met with another round of goblets clinking together. Cassie sat back down in her seat once more.

"Well done," Hazel teased. Cassie playfully slapped his arm. "So what next?" she whispered.

As if he heard her words Atim clapped his hands again, "Friends we are not done yet. For the night is young and there is still much to celebrate. Please turn your attention to the floor before you and watch the finest dancers in all of the realm."