Daisy Takes Charge (8 page)

‘A
ttention please, everyone!' Waratah called above the chattering voices. ‘Queen Jasmine will now speak.'

Queen Jasmine moved to the front of the stage. A hush of anticipation spread through the crowd.

‘If the contestants would please join me.' Queen Jasmine smiled as the contestants flew to the stage, an enthusiastic Grebe bounding up the stairs. ‘As you all know,' she continued when they were gathered behind her, ‘the winner of tonight's competition was promised a secret but momentous prize.'

‘Have I missed the announcement?' Nen whispered as she slid into her seat.

‘You're just in time,' Daisy answered, glancing at Grevillea's table. The troublesome fairy was back, looking quite shaken up and remorseful. Boronia gave her mother a quizzical look, worry creasing her face.

Queen Jasmine held out her hands in a gesture of welcome as a tall, thin fairy with brown skin and long, sheer wings like a stick insect flew up to join her. When he landed, his wings folded against his back, almost invisible against his fitted brown suit.

‘Nine sacred Guardians oversee the Fairy Callings,' Queen Jasmine continued. ‘And the greatest honour that can be bestowed upon a fairy is to become the apprentice of a Guardian. Tonight, I shall appoint an apprentice to the Guardian of Music and Magic, Guardian Rhyme!'

The gathered fairies cheered and clapped as Guardian Rhyme bowed gracefully. Daisy looked at Maggie. There was longing in her eyes.

Expressions of hope, nervousness and pride flickered across the contestants' faces. Watching them, Daisy felt wistful. They were so passionate! She hoped that one day she too would feel like that.

Queen Jasmine addressed the contestants. ‘You were all tremendous! But I must make special mention of our two youngest performers, Grebe and Pea, for the passion and joy that they brought to their performances.'

The audience applauded Pea and Grebe, while Pod and Lark vied to outdo each other, whistling, stomping and cheering for their family members.

Daisy smiled, but inside she ached for Maggie.

‘If Grebe and Pea could come forward . . .' Queen Jasmine nodded to Rhyme, who stepped towards them, bearing two small wooden flutes.

Daisy's heart lurched. Maggie seemed calm but Daisy knew her sister would be devastated if Queen Jasmine chose another fairy as the winner. Music was all Maggie lived for.

Rhyme spoke. ‘These flutes, infused with magic, will be an open door, to rhythm, beats and melodies that will see your music soar.'

Awestruck, Grebe and Pea came forward to accept this wondrous gift – Pea, for once, not tripping over her feet.

Gesturing for them to return to the other contestants, Queen Jasmine continued, ‘And now, for the momentous prize!'

Nen reached over to clasp Daisy's hand, all nerves and excitement. Daisy gave her a quick smile then turned back to the stage.

‘It is with great pleasure that I announce, the new apprentice to Guardian Rhyme is . . .'

Daisy held her breath as Queen Jasmine paused, drawing out the suspense.

‘Maggie!'

Daisy leapt to her feet as the clearing erupted with cheers, whoops and whistles, accompanied by deafening applause.

Maggie stood frozen with a stunned look on her face.

The other contestants nudged Maggie, pushing her gently forward.

‘Congratulations,' said Queen Jasmine, taking Maggie's hands in her own. ‘Your diligence and delight in your Calling is a wondrous gift.'

With one last squeeze of Maggie's hands, Queen Jasmine let Guardian Rhyme take her place. He held a necklace from which swung a small silver flute

‘I invite you, Maggie, to be my apprentice, to join with me in safeguarding the magic and music of the forest. Will you accept this charge?'

Maggie gulped as the enormity of what was being offered sank in. Taking a deep breath, she whispered, ‘I will.'

With grave solemnity, Rhyme placed the chain over Maggie's head. ‘Let this flute be a symbol of your commitment,' he said. ‘Wear it always and play it with pride.'

Lifting the flute to her lips, Maggie played a joyous melody.

The other contestants crowded around, hugging Maggie and patting her on the back before joining their families below.

Daisy smiled when Grevillea clasped Boronia in an awkward hug. Maybe there was hope for her after all?

Then Maggie was flying towards them. Daisy ran to meet her, grabbing Maggie's hands in her own. ‘You did it! I'm so proud of you.'

Then Nen and Efa were there, gathering both of them into an enveloping hug, and Daisy felt that warm special feeling that only a family hug can give.

‘What about me?' asked Aunt Acacia. ‘I want to congratulate my talented niece, too.' Maggie ducked out, throwing herself into her aunt's arms, the two of them jumping and spinning until Lark tapped Maggie on the shoulder.

‘I suppose you'll be living with the Guardians at Hakea College now?' he asked.

‘I guess so,' said Maggie.

Lark grinned. ‘I've just started living there too.'

Maggie smiled. ‘I guess we'll be seeing a lot more of each other then.'

As Nen and Efa exchanged a knowing look, a small, hard stone settled in Daisy's chest. Maggie was growing up and going away, leaving Daisy behind.

The moment was interrupted by Pea and Grebe, who had dragged their parents to the table. A lengthy series of confused introductions followed, and Daisy forgot to be unhappy.

Later that night, when all was quiet again, Daisy lay awake in her hammock thinking about how she would miss her sister. Soft footsteps tiptoed across the floor. Then Maggie climbed in beside her.

‘Thank you, Daisy. Nen told me what you did tonight.'

‘Maybe I shouldn't have helped you win,' Daisy joked. ‘I'm going to miss you when you go.'

‘I'll miss you, too,' said Maggie. ‘All of you. But I want more than anything to learn from Guardian Rhyme.'

Daisy sighed and hugged her sister tight.

‘Chin up, possum face, I'll come back all the time to visit. And I bet once you find your Calling you'll be at Hakea College with me. You're something special, Daisy. The Guardians would be crazy not to see it.'

Daisy didn't know if Maggie was right about her Calling, but she did know one thing for sure. No matter how different or far apart they were, she and Maggie would always be sisters. And, just like Nen and Acacia, they would always be there for each other.

The Blue Fairy is an orchid and is one of the prettiest flowers in the forest. It likes to grow in the shade and is most often found when the weather is cooler as Blue Fairies don't like the hot weather.

Blue Fairies grow between 5 and 18cm high. So the short ones are only the same height as me. I can stand beneath the tall ones, though with their hairy green or reddish stems they don't feel nice to lean against.

The flowers have four long, blue sepals to the sides and front with one more standing up at the back. The centre part is called the lip and looks just like a tongue sticking out.

Sometimes, when I see a Blue Fairy, I stick out my tongue back. But I'm always careful that no one is looking, as it's not really very polite!

The Blue Fairy is a perennial flower, so it lives for more than two years. It usually flowers from June to September, so Queen Jasmine must have used magic to make it flower for the Songbird Festival.

It's not often you see blue or purple in the forest, so I'm always extra happy to find a patch of Blue Fairies.

It's one of my favourite surprises!