Fairy Glade and Other Enchanting Tales (3 page)

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I- Findhorn Cottage

Once upon a time in the Scottish Highlands, there was a lovely seaside village called Findhorn. There nestled on top of a hill overlooking the sandy beach of a small lagoon, stood a white washed cottage with a beautiful patio garden.

The sun shone brightly over the cottage and its beautiful patio garden, fragrant pink and purple flowering vines grew over the southwest wall of the cottage. Their branches reaching round the outside of a bedroom windows; giving the patio an air of the French Riviera; with its white wrought iron patio furniture and colorful flowering potted plants spotted around the patio area. The table was covered with a crisp snow-white tablecloth falling to the ground in soft graceful folds. A blue crystal vase holding an arrangement of delicate sweet smelling roses adorned the top of the table. The heads of the flowers nodded gently to and fro while the tablecloth rustled gracefully back and forth in the gentle sea breeze.

A car came slowly up the hill, drawing to a stopped in front of the cottage gate. The beautiful woman at the wheel opened the door beside her and stepped out on to the road, she turned to open the back door of her car. A tall handsome adolescent boy stepped out of the back of the car stretched his long arms and legs then turned to look at the cottage, a hint of smile lit up his face.

“Good to be home Mother, said Kevin,

“Come on Della get out of the car I'm hungry;” he rubbed his hand over his tummy. Della got out of the front seat of the car; she was as tall as her brother, slender of stature, graceful and very beautiful, her blonde curly hair cascading about her shoulders like golden sunbeams.

“You, my brother, are always hungry. Nothing changes does it Mother?” They all laughed at this statement.

“Well,” said Kevin looking sheepish, “It's been a long time since we had lunch.”

Kevin took the luggage from the boot of the car, carried it up the steep pathway and in through the front door of the cottage. The women followed behind, carrying the small bags and coats.

Kevin placed the luggage in the appropriate bedrooms then went to find his Mother and sister. “In the kitchen,” called his Mother as she heard his foot steps on the stairs, “I'm getting our tea ready. You said you were hungry my boy. Will hot buttered crumpets and scones with Devonshire cream and strawberries suit you my son? We'll wash it down with a nice cup of tea.”

“That's great for me mother, but what are you and Della having for tea?” Kevin replied with an impish grin.

“Nice try, my son” said his Mother laughing, enjoying the verbal jostling.

After they had eaten their tea, the children washed and dried the dishes while Mother made another pot of tea. She placed it on a tray with cups and saucers, milk and sugar to enjoy on the patio. Mother asked Della to take the tray to the patio.

“I will join you both in a moment. I have to cut us a piece of Dundee cake. It will go well with our tea while we watch the sun go down.

The sunsets are so spectacular this time of year and we can talk about your plans for the summer holidays.”

They sat silently together watching the sun drop below the horizon as if falling into the sea. The sky before them flowed from beautiful shades of flaming reds and purple until finally, a silver lining edged its way around the clouds before them.

“Beautiful Mother” said Della, “its no wonder you sit here in the evenings.”

“Yes,” said her Mother dreamily. “Your Father loved to sit here too, we would sit here together every evening waiting for the sun to set, before he…” their Mother's voice trailed off and she blew her nose tearfully in her hankie. A tear brimmed at the corner of her eyes slipping down her cheeks as she spoke. She mopped the tears with her hankie.

Della took her Mothers hand in hers to comfort her, “We miss him too Mother.” She kissed the back of her mother's hands reassuringly.

“Your Father was too young to die of a heart attack,” she said wistfully.

“Yes Mother, he was.” Kevin whispered his heart going out to his Mother. His parents had been soul mates and best friends; it was hard to imagine one without the other.

“Now Mother, about our plans for the summer,” said Kevin quickly changing the subject. “Della and I would like to stay here with you. We really haven't any plans to go traveling about the countryside on another car trip. We have been away at boarding school since Father passed on now we wish to spend time at home.”

Their Mother smiled at her son through her tears.

“That suits me just fine, Love. I have missed you both too, now run along and unpack your bags kids. We could all use an early night tonight; it has been a long day.”

Della sat on Kevin's bed chatting about the things she would like them to do together in the morning, while he put away his clothes. He pulled open the bottom drawer of his dresser to put the arm full of shirts away.

“Oh what's this?” He dropped the shirts on the floor and pulled out along tubular case from the drawer.

“What's that Kevin?” asked his sister excitedly.

“I can't remember,” said Kevin as he pulled off the cap at the top of the tube and looked inside, “Oh my goodness, it's the magic wand Bluebell gave us two years ago.”

“How could you forget about that Kevin?” said Della. All excited, they stood there together staring at the golden wand in awe.

“We never did get to use it,” said Kevin.

“I know Kevin. Because when we arrived home from the woodland that day, we were told Daddy was in hospital not expected to make it though the night. We were all so upset it's no wonder we forgot about our adventure, then there was the funeral to cope with. After that we were sent away to boarding school.” Della reflected sadly. “Bluebell must think we have forgotten about her.”

“Or did not believe in her,” said Kevin guiltily.

“Yes I do remember Kevin. We must go to the woodland tomorrow morning after Mother leaves for Inverness. She works until six o'clock on Mondays. It will give us plenty of time to get back before Mother gets home from work.

“We will leave for the forest as soon we have finished our breakfast”, said Della, “You do still believe in the fairies! Don't you Kevin?”

“Well um, no, I mean yes, I'm two years older now.” said Kevin, ”So maybe I should stay here while you go, Della.”

“ Never,” said Della, “ we started our adventure together two years ago tomorrow we will continue it together, so smarten up and don't be so silly, of course you will come with me What's your age got to with it?”

“Ok then, I will come with you tomorrow Della.”

“I'm going to bed now, so I will be up bright early in the morning. Good night Kevin.”

“Good night Della and I'm sorry I was so silly just now about being too old to go with you tomorrow. Love you Della.”

“I love you too my brother Sleep tight and don't let the bed bugs bite.”

Della's bedroom was on the south west side of the cottage over looking the lagoon. A smile touched her lips, adding a sparkle to her eyes, as she opened the door to her room. Looking around the bedroom at the scene before her, it warmed her heart to be home again. She walked over to the window and sat on the window- seat and looked out of the open window at the lagoon, and breathed in the salty air. It was so good to be home; she had missed her mother, her home and her bedroom. It was her favorite room in the house.

After their Father had passed away, their Grandfather had advised their mother to send her children to the boarding school their Father had attended; giving their Mother time to grieve and decide if they would stay on in Findhorn or return to the city of London to live. London was a beautiful city but not home to Della, Kevin or their Mother. They were so lucky to have grown up in this beautiful part of the world, and well pleased when their Mother had decided to stay on living in Findhorn. She turned glancing around her bedroom again. Once more a smile kissed her lips showing the pleasure she felt.

Her bedroom with its rich royal blue cushioned window-seat complimented the white French colonial bedroom furniture. Delicate yellow frilly muslin curtains decorated the windows, with a matching bedspread on the bed was of the palest’ yellow, giving the bedroom an appearance of sunny femininity. She loved spending time in her bedroom. It was her haven where she could think, relax and heal from the grief of losing her Father. She undressed slowly putting on her nightdress and robe.

She picked up the silver picture frame that sat on her dresser, a photograph of her beloved Father. She kissed the smiling face looking out at her.“ I love you Daddy,” she whispered, placing it back on the dresser and got into bed. She heard her Mothers foot steps on the stairs. She called out good night to her Mother.

“Good night Della, good night Kevin.” chorused their Mother.

Della awoke in the morning to the sound of the ocean waves gently slapping onto the shore, sunlight streaming in from the window, bringing light and warmth to her already cheerful room. She jumped out of bed went to the window just in time to see her Mother leaving for Inverness. She called out a goodbye to her Mother from her bedroom window, waving until her Mother was out of sight.

When she reached the kitchen she found a note on the kitchen table from her Mother. Asking, if they would prepare the vegetables for dinner that night. The note went on to say to enjoy their first full day at home, love Mum.

Della prepared her breakfast and carried it out to the patio to eat. She was surprised to see Kevin already there eating a bowl of cereal.

“Good morning Kevin.”

“Good morning to you, Kevin mumbled between chews. What are our plans for the day Della?”

“Well Mother asked if we would prepare the veggies for tonight's dinner. Then the rest of the day is ours.” Della set her tray on the table.

“We can leave for the woodlands as soon as I have made some sandwiches for our lunch. Would you like a bottle of orange juice to drink with your lunch Kevin?”

“Yes please Della.”

“Can you remember the path we took to the fairy glade Kevin?”

“I think so once we reach the edge of the woodland it should jog my memory.”

“Good, I will go to make our sandwiches and pack them in the picnic basket. Then we are off on another adventure.

II- Midsummer Adventure-
The Enchanted Silver Lake

They left the cottage in high spirits chatting away about their new adventure in the woodlands. They crossed the sand dunes taking care not to walk through the sea oats, over the green fields on their way to the woodlands.

“This is the way we came before,” said Kevin. “I remember the old wooden poacher hut over there to our right.”

The early morning sun was warm the breeze was balmy, creating a good feeling. They knew that once they were inside the woods, the warmth would be gone. It would be very dark, cool and damp.

On they walked to the edge of the woodland to where the pathway began winding its way through the woods. The pathway was well worn from years of traveler's footsteps walking along this right of way though the woods to the town of Mac Duff. The atmosphere had changed; now it was dark and damp with the thick canopy of the trees shutting out the sun's rays. Here and there a shaft of light peeked in from above through the treetops, lighting up the trail before them bringing them warmth and light.

“Look Della there ahead of us, a baby fawn and its mother.”

“Oh, whispered Della, “how striking they look.” They came to a halt to watch the deer's making their way across the path ahead of them. The doe looked at Della and Kevin, sniffed the air then ran into the under growth the fawn close behind her.

They walked on for another fifteen minutes until they came to a clearing. Here the sun shone brightly though the treetops, warming the air and the grass as the children looked about them. There were wild roses growing up tree trunks. Daisies and violet dotted in the grass. The fragrance of the flowers drifted towards them.

How lovely Della thought as she gazed around the clearing.

“This is not the clearing where we met Bluebell,” said Kevin.

“I know,” Della replied sighing dreamily.