* * * *
"So that's what happened," Ma said, still holding EJ in her arms and asleep. EJ yawns, seeing everyone around him back at camp, him wrapped in a white blanket lying against Ma's shoulder.
Ma smiles, looking down at him as he starts to wake. EJ tries to move a little but is still very weak. "What happened, Ma? Did I miss something? Where is―" EJ tries to get his bearings back. "I thought we were with them," he replied.
"We were, son, and now we're back at camp. You just took a little nap, that's all; they said you needed one. By the way, son, happy birthday."
Everyone laughed because none of them realized it had been an entire year for them all until now. Planning an enormous party if they can manage it. But knowing his family they would, and it will be a night to remember.
EJ felt strange being wrapped up like this, but he said nothing, for it didn't matter where he was; somehow, he knew it; he could feel something change in him as he looked at Ma, Pa, and his three sisters and five brothers.
It was like they were part of him somehow, for he could feel something more this time. He could feel the love. It felt warm every time they looked in his direction. The other thing that changed was that he could see something that he had never done before. His family was all in white light, the Whitmores and nobody else except Jayden, Lizzy, and Aunty M. The rest of the group or camp were the same and felt the same, too. "Ma, I think there's something wrong with my eyes."
"What do you mean, son?" EJ tries to explain it to her as she looks about. Noticing herself, she gives a soft giggle. "Then it must be contagious, EJ, because the rest of us see it too." Then she explains to him what Glen did while he was napping as she held him in her arms.
"You did that for me?" he replied, his voice trembling with gratitude. EJ's eyes welled up with tears, shimmering like crystal beads, as he looked at his beloved family. A mix of emotions filled the room–the joyous anticipation of being included, the bittersweet longing for his grandma and aunts, and the unbreakable bond he shared with his little brother. EJ's heart swelled with love and appreciation, knowing deep within that Danny, Grandma, and Uncle Richard held a special place within his very soul, not just his heart. Yet it was enough for them as they watched; they knew where he wanted to be. Glen sensed it, too, a looming shadow, a darker force on the horizon as he looked at Martha and the boy's heart. Morgan was just a piece of a much larger, sinister puzzle as he surveyed the boy's life. Yet he kept some truths hidden, for now, for he and his family had to uncover them for themselves and choose the path they would walk.
Ma wiped both of their tears. "Yes, my son, we did that for you. You gave us a piece of your heart. Now, we're giving you a piece of ours. So, you know we truly love you no matter where you are. This blanket stands for that for me, and you that you are mine as if you really are my son, that I bore you in the womb and brought you home as a baby.
"That's why he put you to sleep. You need to be reborn in my arms so I can kiss you and hold you close to me. Because I love you so much. But now it is time for you to play with your brothers so I can feed your sister."
Ma slowly unwrapped the blanket, lifting EJ out and calling Grayson over as he ran over, leaping with his other brother, Jasper, right behind him. EJ smiled as they put his arms around his brother's neck to explore the camp and see the cool, neat things they could now do.
EJ watched his brothers take turns blowing up rocks or turning them into ice. It was cool having brothers around who really loved you, as they practiced and guarded you well. What was really neat was when you had both sisters and brothers who really loved you and could do remarkable things. Pa closed off an area so that they could all practice their new gifts and talents.
Glen said, 'You must be ready for anything.' It wasn't much at first, but it caused tension among the ranks as the day passed. Pa finally had to side with the group because even though his family needed the practice, it wasn't fair to the others who could not do the same.
Jayden refused to step in. In fact, he was elsewhere at the time as Arken watched him head into the trees with the fairies. He was dealing with another problem that did not concern him for the moment. Thomas and Arken came up with a solution like what he had down in New Downing, yet different. "The roster." The difference was that it had a time when they would do the task placed on a schedule and what they would do.
For instance, each person would list the skill they would like to practice then, whether it be potions, tonics, herb mixing, or whatnot—another area to be set up for defense magic and weaponry. After considering the situation, it was decided and rethought that defense magic and weaponry would be very important for everyone, provided they completed all that was asked of them. Everyone will be on a rotation schedule except for the children.
There were arguments about what they knew and who knew what was best until Margaret put her foot down right next to Lizzy. After the argument ended, Margaret, Lizzy, and some of the other women they chose from each group decided about the children for now.
People had learned that Margaret is one woman you don't piss off and be best to have on your good side. The menfolk are still learning that, but they are coming around quickly as she nods to them on her path.
Arken had enough to worry about as he looked one more time towards the trees. The Queen of the Pixies unfolded a sad moment in the trees as she gathered what was left of her followers that remained behind. A few hundred as she looks about her tree for the last time.
Indeed, it is true that it has come back to life once more. As she gazes at Jayden on one side and Derrick on the other, he nods and bows once again. With tears in her eyes, she expresses her gratitude to him for accompanying her, as her people are now lost in the world.
The words echoed in the room, signaling that it was time. As she trudged up the last league of the staircase, the sound of her heavy breathing filled the air, a testament to her determination. With a blast of trumpets, the surrounding trees came alive, their branches swaying to the rhythm as the lights dimmed. As the trumpet sounds, its notes reverberate like the rhythmic beat of drums, heralding the new Queen of the Pixies, "Aurana." All the fairies bowed and kneeled in awe as the new Queen gracefully made her way through the doors. As she trudges up the stairs of the throne, the creaking wood adds to the solemnity of the moment. She finally reaches the top and kneels before the old Queen.
Then she kneels once more to Jayden and Derrick, stands, and waits as the Master himself appears as a prince in majestic white. Once again, the trumpet sounds and all is quiet as the Master of the Light lays forth the wand in hand, placing the other hand on her shoulder as she kneels before him.
The old Queen placed the crown on her head with a kiss and kneeled at the Master. He changed her once more by putting one hand on her heart. As she glowed with light, he faded and then left her. The old Queen stood with tears, not of sadness but of joy, for he had filled her with life once more. Lorana turned to Derrick and Jayden. "I have finished it. I have kept my promise."
"Yes, but now that you are no longer Queen, are you willing to leave and accept being led by another?" Jayden asked solemnly.
Lorana's smile soon vanished as she turned to look at her people and dropped her head. "I must do what I must, for I did promise with my heart that I would."
Derrick picked her up in his hand. "Never fear the unknown, for the Master of the Light has touched you this day. Darkness shall not touch your heart and your soul. So be at peace, my friend, for you are among friends and your people as we travel to a new home."
Lorana tries to smile back at her old friend. "You have gotten wise and cunning, you old rascal. No wonder they wanted you bad."
"Yes, but they couldn't catch me, on the other hand," Derrick said, looking at the sore on her leg, "came close."
"Oh, it's nothing."
Jayden looked at the rash and noticed it, too. "It is not nothing, my dear friend. A Darzzee blade scratched you. Why you are not dead is beyond me, but could it be?" looking at the new Queen, "Jayden said. Is being a Queen related to it in any way? Not that meaning black heart; I mean protection placed once your Queen."
Derrick paced around the tree, every eye on him, not realizing he was causing such a fuss. Not waiting for an answer, Jayden rushed out of the tree with Lorana because if he was right, she had lost the protection, and being so small, there was no time to waste. Derrick was still pacing, then decided they best put her in a suspended animation, as he looked around for Jayden to do just that.
The New Queen whispers, "He left, taking her with him. She was turning gray. Not that you or he noticed you simple-minded people."
"Gray?" he asked.
"Yes. Gray, sick, dying. What part do you not understand? Now, if you don't mind. I would like to have a private party before we leave."
"Oh yes, congratulations, my majesty. "Derrick bows himself out, then runs towards the camp.
Jayden yells at the top of his lungs for Kollie, then runs almost right into him. "Quick, she needs to be healed; where's your wife?"
"Over there?" he replied.
Time was running short as he watched Lorana grow weaker. "Just a scratch, that's all," she said, barely able to sit up.
Renee quickly ran over and looked at Jayden's hands, seeing the fairy. Then she looked at Jayden. "How do I heal one of these? She asked.
Jayden was just as shocked as she was. "I don't know. You're the expert."
Kollie carefully lifts the fairy and gently places her on a clean cloth. "I hope this works," he said, taking his wife's hand. Together, they both place a finger on the fairy, speaking the healing words with love as they watch intently. This time, the feeling is different, yet the same. They don't feel drained like they did before, as they observe the glowing light surrounding her, which then quickly fades away. Slowly, they lift their fingers, and Lorana spreads her wings. To their amazement, the mark on her leg vanished, and she raised it as if it had never been blemished at all. Derrick came rushing out of the trees, finding them all staring down at Lorana as she flew over to him. She smiled as she sat on his shoulder. "So, are you going to be here a while, or are you just passing through?" Thinking it was funny; she laughed and saw him fussing over nothing but a scratch.
After a few minutes, everyone else, including Derrick, laughed and asked, "What's for supper, and who's providing the entertainment?"
Jayden laughs. "I'll get back to you on that one since I am just passing through."
Derrick glanced at Jayden with a puzzled expression. However, the explanation unfolded at the Syneral and Captain's table, though it omitted crucial details. After all, certain secrets were better left hidden from the High Council, especially if the Master hadn't revealed them in the presence of others.
They decided that a peaceful night under the open sky would be a great way to have some fun. They would feel the soft grass beneath their feet as they gazed up at the star-filled sky. However, the women wouldn't have it, prodding their husbands with a wooden spoon. Additionally, it was someone's birthday, or rather, there were many birthdays to celebrate. They had various fireworks that made the children burst into laughter, accompanied by music filling the air. They had plenty of homemade and artistic gifts, a testament to the community's shared effort to share with everyone who had a birthday.
It wasn't much, but they did the best they could give given the current circumstances. And yet, none of them complained. Margaret wasn't taking any chances, so she kept watch that night. She had a funny feeling that something big was coming from somewhere. To make matters worse, Julie had left, which didn't sit well with her. Everyone needed her there as she watched Julie transform into her dragon form and soar into the air. On a mission to find King Sly and his brother Rolan. She planted her foot down in front of the captains if they even thought of leaving their post. She would have them for supper. Something didn't feel right somewhere. What? She wasn't sure as she looked to the north, where they were heading in two days. The second group would leave, and they were unprepared as she seized up the people she knew in the group.
She slowly made her way to Jayden, who was looking over the maps with Derrick. He knew it, too, as he looked into her eyes and then looked away. Then, slowly, he strolled around the camp before returning to his friend Jayden. Derrick understood, placing one map in his pocket before leaving, patting his friend on the back.
Jayden stops, enters his tent, sees Margaret waiting as he sets a ward against eavesdropping around them, and then nods. "I know Margaret," before she opens her mouth, "I know they are not ready, but they must face it to be ready. I can't do it for them. They must learn to do it on their own without me.
"You need to learn that there is a time and place for things to happen, good and bad. You cannot have one without the other. Everyone must learn. That includes the Whitmores and the Downings. All I can do is reassure you that everything will work out in the end. Now I am tired and would like to spend what I can with my wife before I leave tomorrow."
"What?" she replied in shock. Margaret nearly goes unhinged. "You are leaving us?"
Jayden sighs. "Yes, now then, please, I am tired."
"Why?" she asked.
"Because I must, that's why. Isn't that enough?"
"No, Jayden." Jayden sits on the bed beside her, putting his arm around her.
"Margaret, like you and me, we each have a task. Mine is to lead these people to a new home."
"Yes, I know that."
"What you don't know," he recounts to her of all the people he must keep track of in some way or form. For they are all on the same journey, learning what they need to know.
"I can't do this sitting still in one place. They all need me at some point, whether or not they know it. For I'm the compass they are to follow." Margaret could almost feel the weight of the responsibility that was now placed on his shoulders as she looked into his eyes. Derrick had the same look sometimes, too; Margaret sighed. "My task gets harder and harder."
Jayden smiled as he looked at her. "It seems like that. Well, at least you have one group to worry about."
"Yes, I do, and it's going to take every bit of my strength to make sure they can survive what's coming because I feel a whopper of a storm is brewing, and now more with you gone."
"Yes, but you'll have help this time; you just need to help them use it and others in your group."
"Thanks, I think," she said as she slowly returned to her tent, watching Betty check the wagon again. "What is it about that wagon?"