The Journey Begins

"How do you like our house?" Cherrie said as she led the way to a tree with a door just high enough for Cherrie to walk through. If Cherrie hadn’t pointed it out, Sybil never would have noticed it.

"Our? Who lives here with you?"

"All of us." Fayette said.

Cherrie opened the door and let them all in. It was a cozy little home, and Sybil instantly fell in love with it. There was a three person couch against the hallowed out trunk and a single beside it with a coffee table in between. A book shelf stood opposite from where the seats were, and there was a table at the back of the house. Near the table were a few counters, pots and pans hung above them and drying meat or fruit hung all around that little area which Sybil took to be the kitchen. Amazingly there were stairs that led up to the second floor where the bedrooms were and the only bathroom. Another set of stairs led up to the last floor where there was a gigantic living room and the only part of the house where there was windows. And in the middle of every room there was a fire.

"Oh, can I live here?" Sybil danced around the living room, "It’s absolutely magical!"

"Actually it is." Valonia said, and when she saw the surprise on Sybil’s face she said, "Did you really think it would hold up and all without magic?"

"I will prepare dinner," Fayette said and disappeared down the stairs.

An hour later they were sitting around the table on the first floor eating a delicious dinner. Fayette was small but her cooking was wonderful. Jolie was contentedly consuming a roasted duck beside the table.

Night time came and Sybil was led up to the guest room. Cherrie stayed for a while and talked and the others went to bed.

"You know there was a poem that I heard when I was little that was supposed to be a spell to get faeries to come to you."

"There was?" Cherrie sounded interested, "Can I hear it?"

"Sure," Sybil cleared her throat,

"Elderberry I will present you,

You’re supposed to repeat it ‘til the faeries come."

"I like the rhyme, and it’s true that fae’s like bluebells, and they make faerie wine with elderberry." Said Cherrie, "I just realized I haven’t asked what you’re doing so deep in the woods all alone. Are you lost?"

"Do I look lost? I was running away, my uncle is too strict and mean." Sybil jutted her bottom lip, "And nothing you say would make me go back."

"Why would I make you go back? You just got here!" Cherrie jumped up; she wasn’t used to sitting and talking for so long, "Good night!" She bounced out of the room.

Days and days passed and Sybil grew to love the place but she wanted to see more of everything. She hadn’t really only ran away just because uncle Odulf was strict but because she wanted adventure. She knew she was a bit young for it all, but what’s the harm in starting early? She met more and more fae’s and some dryads, but that wasn’t enough, she wanted to go to Castle Gryphana.

One day Sybil finally told Cherrie, "I have to leave soon."

"But why, you are so much fun, I have never had a human friend before. Must you leave so soon?"

"Yes, I want adventure, excitement, danger. Not that there is not enough that’s exciting here, but I really just want to go to Castle Gryphana.