Many months had passed and the tiny Pixie, Alys, soon was more than just a visitor. She had become one of the residents of the Castle. Her heart was content with the life led here. More than just laughter to fill her days. Discusions and interesting topics busied her mind, new folk always came to the gate and this delighted her never ending need for knowledge as well as familiar faces, like family, were always there to make her feel content in her new home. So settled was she in this new life she soon took on the duties of the others residents, greeting new faces, teaching them the ways of the castle, aiding those who seemed a little lost. Her mind thought less and less on the glade and her folk who mindlessly let the days slip through thier tiny fingers. Here there was purpose, and talk, laughter as well and dancing and joy...all the things that her soul had yearned for. And she was truley content.
It came one day, that a black cloud hung over the castle. The gate was broken, none could enter. Setting out she followed the footsteps of Sage to arrive at a new castle. Very different it was from her own. No mixture of races, each kept to thier own small rooms. It was here she found Sage, discussing what was to be done to repair the gate to the Enchanted Castle. Gold.....gold was needed to repair the damage done. Gold and coin, jewels and treasure....to pay for the work..so that all the folk could return home. So much had it become her own home, she thought hard on how she could aid in the repair. Many hours she sat with Sage and Sauron, and soon...she knew what she must do.
Two days it took, for her to return to the glade of her folk. Tired but with a goal in mind. She waited for her folk to gather within the glade to dance and sing. When all were present and had started thier games, she stood on a rock in the center...and in a clear voice...called thier attention. Some of the small folk stood puzzled, after hearing her tale, for they had not e'en noticed she had been gone for so long. Some were horrified by the fact she had mingled with Mortal man. Her parents were outraged and shamed by thier daughters actions. And all her folk, reguardless of how they felt....could not understand why she would want to aid the mortals.
Her folk loved anything that shone and gleemed. Finding stones and coin, gold and silver, they would place these things in a hollow in a bank by the small creek. On some days all these things would be brought out and admired by all, played with, tossed about then placed back into the dark hole for another day when someone would remember that they were thier to be admired again. Sage had explained that to man, these shiny and pretty things could be traded for work, food, clothes...many things. Alys was surprised that such value had been placed apon such things, but apon hearing that by trading thses things the gate could be repaired, she came to her folk to ask for some. And now, standing before them all, she sensed this was perhaps not the best idea.
To aid man, was unforgivable, to return with the thoughts of man and other beings was unthinkable. Many backed away from Alys as she had spun her tale, and asked for aid. Some had left the glade altogether so frightened they were to hide away in thier trees and try to forget what they had heard. Some were puzzled and wanted only to return to the games they were playing. Alys stood, quietly as she listened to the chatter about her. Her eyes coming to rest apon the features of her prents faces. They were after all King and Queen, and it was thier decision as to what would be done.
She watched as her Father and Mother whispered back and forth, heads nodding or shaking to the words said and muttered under thier breath. I shall not say what all was discussed that day, for some things, are best left to the past. A decission was made, though I disagree with it, I am not pixie, so I understand little in the ways of her folk. Alys was granted a choice,to stay and forget of the mortals whom had become to her, friends and family, or to take some of the gold squirreled away in the bank by the creek and leave the glade forever. The latter meant that if she was to leave, it would be for good. No longer would her name be uttered within the glade, no longer would she be the daughter and princess that all knew, no longer would she be greeted as freind by her folk. It was, to any pixies' mind, a fate worse than death, than capture...to in a sense, exist no longer in the minds and memory of her folk. To have ne'er existed at all.
Alys returned to Sage three days later. Preecheee had aided her in carrying the gold needed to repair the gate to the castle. She had, in a true sense of selflessness, given up her life with her folk, to aid mortals. To show her kindness and gratitude to those who had greeted her as equall and friend. She knew she could ne'er return to the sun dappled glade of her folk e'er again. Never to dance to the songs of her folk, ne'er to sing with the bright eyed birds that came to mix the song with the pixie folk.
Many days later, the gate repaired, folk of the castle began once again to make the journey to the castle of Enchantment. Apon entering the castle, a name, shone in spun colour, hung from the rafters. Alys.... Arch Mage....friend to all, keeper of the castle, tutor to those new. Her name may not be spoken within the glade that rings of the laughter of her folk....but, it rings loud and strong within the gates of our home...for Lady Alys....Princess Alys...earned and was given the honor she had brought to our home. If one is fortunate..one may meet or catch sight of her gossamer wings as she flits about the rooms here. Some meet and greet her, some smile and nod.....I myself...am delighted to call her an old friend...for that to me is what she is....not pixie..not princess...but .....friend.......and that...is the tale...as I know it....of the Princess Lady Alys.....and what she did...to save our home...and what she gave up doing so.....
Thank thee...for hearing my tale....of Alys....
