"My lady, I'm scared," whispered a frightened Marta. She and Princess Anne were huddled in a makeshift tent made of sticks and pine branches, beside Princess Julie and her servant, Cassie. "Don't call me that Marta, you know I don't think of you as a slave. Please, call me Anne for goodness sakes!" "Terrible sorry my la- . . . . . . I mean Anne. It's just I've never been out in the woods before at night, and it's dark, and I'm hearing things, like. . . AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"Marta! Quiet down or every single animal will come out of their burrows and spend the night here with us! Would you like that? Ok, then please, calm down. What's the matter?"
"I, I, I heard something, it sounded like a man's voice. And, and, and, I could hear footsteps."
"Oh Marta," replied Cassie, "It's probably just an owl, or more probably your imagination. Now lets all go to sleep. We'll explore tomorrow."
Little did they know that that night; they would have a visitor.
Now, Marta and Cassie were used to this sort of thing, although Marta still got nervous. Being out in the woods, with no comfy, warm, bed was a big change for Anne and Julie. To make matters worse, it started to down pour. "Oh, my gosh! Can things get any worse?" Just as Julie asked that, the tent flew away, catching a higher tree branch. "AUGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" All four girls screamed, and then sat under a large oak. "What a wonderful way to start our new life. Well, since we know now that things can't get any worse, let's..." Anne said. "Let's what, Anne?" Marta asked. "Who's there? Show your self, I command you!" Anne shouted.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Now now, my child, no need to be so curt. I'm only trying to help you."
"We don't need any help, thank you very much." replied Julie.
"Well, then, I guess I'll have to give this map to someone else. Good night. . . "
"WAIT!!!!!!!!" called Anne, "What kind of map?"
"Ahh, so you are interested. Well, then, I can't tell you anything about the map other than; guard it well, because should it fall into the wrong hands, it could be fatal for you." And with that, the old lady disappeared, and the girls were left alone.
"Well, aren't you gonna open it? Come Anne, please the suspense is killing me!" Julie said. Opening the map, Anne just looked at a blank piece of parchment. She turned it over and over but nothing appeared. "Oh, why doesn't this stupid map work?" Julie said with exasperation. "Maybe it is one of those maps that you need to have a password for," said Marta. The girls said all of the words that they thought would make sense, and even some that they didn't. Nothing worked. "Let's go to bed," Cassie said, "We will have new ideas in the morning." "Goodnight, Oh Great Universe," Julie said. All four girls heard a twinkling noise, as is small bells ringing. Anne hopped up, and saw the map was no longer blank, it was glowing. "Julie, Marta, Cassie, come here!"
They saw the most beautiful land they had ever seen. Fairies rested on flowering trees of every color, and the streams that trickled through the land were so clear, you could see they shining pebbles at the bottom of them. Deer grazed in the large green meadows, and dazzling white clouds were home to the many birds that flocked in the blue skies.
But what really awed the girls were the extravagant women doing their hair. It seemed as if it was Hair Day in this land (they still, by the way, had no idea what this country was called). Every woman here had long, glittering hair that went past her waist. They were all sitting in a circle, with combs, fixing their hair into stunning styles.
Suddenly, as they were watching, a dark shadow crept up behind them. A low, dark voice then said, "Who are you people, who come here without the lineye asking you? Come with me."
Julie, Anne, Cassie, and Marta felt an invisible rope pulling them away from the women, who they understood, now, were called lineye. They were pulled farther until they reached a barren, isolated, dead part of this country. Then, the voice spoke to them again.
"You have come here uninvited, how did you reach us? This land is not of human context. Only immortals are supposed to live here, and no human is allowed to pass," the great voice boomed.
"Who are you, or better, where are you?" Anne asked. In front of them appeared a silver cloud, "I am the earth, I am the rain, I am the fire, I am the ruler. I can see through any soul, ladies." The girls were startled at this remark, as they were still dressed as lads. "This land is not meant for humans. Any human remaining here for more than one sunrise and one sunset will perish. Their body cannot withstand the pressure here. They will disintegrate. "
"How do we get out of here then?" Julie asked, in a frightened voice. "If you want us to leave, will you give us a way out?"
"You must perform a task that involves your map and the lineye." responded the voice from the silver mist.
The girls were excited that they would be able to see the beautiful women again, and were eager to find out what their duty was.
"A hair from the lineye is what you need
and a fairy flower seed.
Wash these things in the river clear
And you will find a white cloud near.
Go to the cloud with the hair and the seed
There will be directions which you must heed."
The girls all looked puzzled. "What is a fairy seed?" ventured Cassie.
"Did you not see the fairies on the flower trees? Those flowers, a seed from
them is what you must get." replied the voice.
"These directions will take you to a place
Where you will find a velvet case.
Open it up and you will see
Four glittery pieces of jewelry.
And take my advice, DO NOT LINGER.
Follow a little shining brook
Until you find a magic book.
Let the wind turn the pages
And read the book so you all become mages
Then you must cast a spell
Mixed with water from the wishing well
Drink it up and you will appear
In a land far from here.
This must be done by tomorrow
Or your lives will end in great sorrow."
With that, the silver cloud disappeared.
"How are we going to remember this?" Marta asked.
