The Winter Festival Gift
A Fairy Princess Chronicles Short Story
“Here you are. I’ve been looking for you everywhere!” Edric exclaimed as he entered his old tower chambers at Castle North. It was the second day of the Winter Festival and he and Elizabeth had planned on going into the village to enjoy the festivities before the ball at the castle that evening.
“I was looking for Nule,” Elizabeth told him. She was dressed in her red dragon leather riding clothes with the new jacket that Edric had given her as a Winter Festival gift. It was made of red dragon leather and was similar to her original jacket but this jacket not only sported the new royal emblem of the gold dragon and falcon with the “E” in the center, it was lined with warm, soft unicorn hair. Elizabeth looked as beautiful as ever with her long golden hair pulled back in a thick, neat braid, a lovely golden circlet on her head.
“I’m sure he’s just chasing Lady Ellen’s geese.” Edric knew that chasing the geese in the castle courtyard was one of the selleck’s favorite past times.
“I already checked the courtyard,” she told him looking somewhat distraught. “He’s not there and no one has seen him this morning.”
“Let’s go downstairs and find Lady Ellen.” Edric put his arm around Elizabeth to console her. He was quite fond of Nule having had the selleck as his own pet for years before giving him to the queen to be her daughter’s protector. Sellecks are nocturnal, and the large, black, panther like animals are silent and lethal. If any threat made it past the armsmen on duty, it would not make it past Nule. The older selleck had served the princess for many years before being replaced by Edric as Elizabeth’s nighttime guardian. “If anyone knows what’s going on with Nule, it will be Lady Ellen.”
***
The pair found the Mistress of the Castle busy in the kitchen working with her staff on preparations for the evening ball.
“I don’t know where Nule is,” Lady Ellen told them as she hurried about. She had much to do before the evening and the last thing on her mind was where the selleck had gotten to, that is unless it was after her geese or cows.
“I’m sorry; I know you’re very busy.” Elizabeth apologized for interrupting Lady Ellen’s busy schedule. It was just that she hadn’t seen much of Nule lately and was quite concerned. He was getting on in years and she was worried that he might take off into the mountains and never return.
Lady Ellen saw the sad look on Elizabeth’s face and realized how concerned she was. “Wait!” she told the royal pair. She called over several of the kitchen staff and spoke with them. After sending them back to their duties she turned her attention back to Elizabeth and Edric. “Apparently Nule came down to the kitchen late last night. One of the staff gave him a few slices of brown dragon meat and he took off out the back doorway with them. No one has seen him since.”
“He’ll be back for a nap in a while,” Edric smiled hoping to put Elizabeth’s worries at ease.
“Don’t worry princess. It’s not the first time that Nule has taken off for long periods of time,” the older fairy assured her.
“I’m sure you’re right,” Elizabeth decided it was best not to borrow trouble. Nule would be back to the castle by the time they returned from the festival.
“Shall we go darling?” Edric was anxious to meet up with Avery and Princess Clara. He didn’t want Avery to get too much of a head start on all the refreshments.
Elizabeth nodded and the pair made their way out to the castle courtyard where Lord Dellmont had their unicorns waiting for them.
***
Upon reaching the village, Edric and Elizabeth dropped their mounts off at the village stable and hurried over to the library where the entertainers were performing in front of the new building. They found Avery and Princess Clara standing and watching a puppet show. Avery had a meat stick in one hand and a mug of some beverage in the other hand.
“Why don’t you watch the puppet show while I go and get us some refreshments?” Edric suggested as he looked longingly at Avery’s meat stick.
“I’m not really hungry, but you go get something for yourself,” Elizabeth told him. She was still worried about Nule even though she tried to put the matter out of her mind.
“Alright,” he kissed her on the cheek. “Let me know if you change your mind.”
As Edric walked away, Avery decided to go with him. “I’ll be back,” he told Princess Clara as he suddenly deserted her.
“Whatever,” Princess Clara shook her head and moved closer to Elizabeth. She was used to being abandoned for Edric or Maymar. She really didn’t mind. She knew that Avery adored her and she wouldn’t change him for anything.
“Is something wrong with Princess Elizabeth?” Avery asked Edric as the pair made their way toward a nearby food cart.
“An astute observation,” Edric told his friend. “The princess is worried about Nule. He’s been taking off quite a bit lately and he’s gone missing again.”
“What do you think?” Avery asked as they waited in line. There was quite a crowd in the square in front of the library now that the entertainment had started.
“I think that Nule is getting older and he might decide to just stay in the mountains at some point.” Edric knew that was a very real possibility. “I just hope he’s at the castle when we return or Elizabeth is not going to enjoy the ball tonight.”
The puppet show was quite funny and Elizabeth was in better spirits when the four headed into the library to warm up and to say hello to Lady Blossom, the first Librarian of the Royal Elnaran Library.
“What a beautiful jacket,” Lady Blossom told Elizabeth as she looked over Edric’s gift. “Vondar or Kendra?”
“Kendra,” Edric answered. Kendra had made Elizabeth’s red dragon leather riding clothes so Edric thought that she could make a new jacket to complement them, plus she was now conveniently located at Village North since she and Vondar had switched shops so that Kendra could move to Village North and marry Dagmar, the Chief of the Mines.
“It’s beautiful!” Lady Blossom smiled. “What did you get for Winter Festival?” she now asked Edric.
“Princess Elizabeth gave me a superb new bow,” he replied. “I can’t wait to go hunting with it.”
“We could go now,” Avery suggested and was then promptly elbowed by Princess Clara. “Ow! That hurt!”
“You can’t go hunting now!” she told him firmly. “We’ll be heading back to the castle to get ready for the ball in a little while.”
“Oh, I forgot,” Avery shrugged his shoulders causing everyone to laugh.
***
The two couples spent several more hours walking around the village, admiring the ice and snow sculptures from the previous day’s competitions and sampling the festival food. They were given warm Winter Festival wishes from all the villagers that they saw who were always happy to see the Fairy Princess.
When they returned to Castle North, Elizabeth promptly checked to see if Nule had returned and was quite upset to learn that he had not.
“He’ll be back,” Edric hugged her and kissed her head, trying to smile as if he weren’t worried, but deep down he knew that the selleck might not come back.
“You think so?” Elizabeth wanted to believe it.
“Yes, I do. Go up and take a bath. I’m sure that Shaylee is waiting,” he told her.
When Elizabeth finally headed upstairs, Edric grabbed Avery who was about to head up to his chambers to bathe. “Nule hasn’t come back yet. How about you, me, and Maymar heading up toward the mountains to see if we can spot him?
“Count me in.” Avery was always ready for adventure and he was more than happy to help Edric. “I’ll find Maymar and meet you in the courtyard.”
Edric gave Avery a swat on the arm to thank him and headed to the kitchen to get a sack of meat. If he found the selleck, he might need some inducement for the animal to come back with him.
***
Elizabeth found Lady Shaylee waiting in her chambers just as Edric had predicted.
“Good, you’re here! I just sent Lady Milley down to get your bath water,” Shaylee told her as Elizabeth walked slowly past her into the bedchamber. “Okay, what is it?”
“I’m just worried about Nule,” Elizabeth plopped into a chair so that Shaylee could help her get her boots off.
“Did he take off again?” Shaylee asked as she tugged at the boot lacings.
“You know about him disappearing lately?” Elizabeth was surprised that Shaylee had noticed.
“Lady Milley talks to a lot of the kitchen staff and they’ve been telling her that Nule’s been grabbing slices of meat and then just taking off into the orchard.”
“Where do you think he goes?” Elizabeth wondered as they heard a knock on the chamber door.
Shaylee shrugged, not knowing what to make of the selleck’s behavior as she walked over and answered the door. It was Lady Milley with several armsmen carrying buckets of hot water for Elizabeth’s bath.
The warm bath water felt good and Elizabeth was much more relaxed as she soaked and let Lady Milley comb out her long hair over the side of the bathing vessel. Shaylee had just returned from fetching Elizabeth’s gown for the ball. Kendra had created a gorgeous Winter Festival ball gown made of light blue spider silk with a white dragon leather bodice and small, glittering crystals sewn all over the skirt and sleeves of the gown. The effect looked like icicles reflecting the winter sun.
Shaylee helped Elizabeth out of the bath and held her robe for her. “I’m going to go and change while Lady Milley does your hair. I’ll be back to help you dress,” Shaylee told her.
“Can you see if Edric is ready yet?” Elizabeth turned and asked before Shaylee departed.
Shaylee nodded and left, leaving Lady Milley to do what she did better than anyone else in the kingdom. No one could match her artistry when it came to hair.
When Shaylee returned, Lady Milley was just putting the finishing touches on the stunning coiffure. She had put Elizabeth’s hair up into an intricate crown of braids with a sparkling silver crown worked into them.
“It looks amazing.” Shaylee didn’t know how Lady Milley did it. She certainly wouldn’t have a clue how to even start such a complex hair style.
“How’s Edric doing?” Elizabeth asked as she stood up to let the pair help her into her gown.
When Shaylee didn’t answer, Elizabeth stopped and stared at her. “What?”
“He’s not ready yet,” Shaylee replied turning to pick up the underdress of the gown. Shaylee had changed into her gown, a lovely brown spider silk dress with a green dragon leather bodice with an embroidered leaf pattern.
“What else?” Elizabeth could tell that Shaylee wasn’t telling her everything.
Shaylee let out a sigh. “He and Avery and Maymar rode up into the mountains to look for Nule. They just got back.”
“Did they find him?” Elizabeth asked hopeful that they did.
“No,” Shaylee shook her head, sorry that she had to disappoint Elizabeth.
Elizabeth sat on the edge of her bed. “I just feel like something is wrong and I need to find Nule.”
Shaylee wasn’t sure what to say to comfort Elizabeth so she signaled to Lady Milley to go and get Edric. “I’m sorry that Nule’s not back yet, but you still have to attend the ball.”
“I know.” Shaylee was right. Elizabeth and Edric had lots of guests to take care of and they were expected to dance the opening dance. “I best get dressed,” Elizabeth smiled at Shaylee and let her help her into the gown.
When Lady Milley returned with Edric, Elizabeth was just putting on her shoes, a pair of soft, low boots which Elizabeth preferred over “fancy” shoes which in her experience were always uncomfortable and hard to dance in.
“You look stunning,” Edric flashed an appreciative smile as he approached his wife. He looked amazingly handsome in a matching blue and white tunic, his hair pulled back into a neat tail.
“You didn’t find him?” Elizabeth knew that they had not.
“It’s a big mountain range,” Edric kissed her cheek. “He’ll turn up.”
“Maybe I should use my magic to try and find him?” Elizabeth thought that might work.
“I tell you what. If he hasn’t turned up by morning, I’ll take you up into the mountains and you can try to use your magic to find him.” Edric waited to see if this would appease her.
Elizabeth thought a moment and then smiled and nodded. “Okay, we’ll wait until morning.”
***
Everyone applauded as Elizabeth and Edric entered the Great Hall. Elizabeth thought that Lady Ellen and her staff had done an amazing job of decorating the hall with winter greens and festive spider silk sashes. Elizabeth and Edric first greeted King Evan and Queen Phoebe and then Lord Warren, Noble Lord of Castle North and Edric and Shaylee’s father. They next walked out onto the center of the hall and signaled the musicians to play. The music was of course the Waltz in A minor which Edric had composed for Elizabeth’s sixteenth birthday and was their favorite waltz.
The royal couple looked amazing turning around the dance floor in their Winter Festival Ball finery.
“Feeling better darling?” Edric asked as they twirled around the floor.
“Yes,” Elizabeth smiled. “It’s just that I keep feeling like Nule needs me.”
Suddenly the music stopped as several guests let out a screech. Edric and Elizabeth stopped dancing and turned to see what had caused the commotion.
“Nule!” Elizabeth saw that the selleck had returned and was growling and acting agitated.
The animal spotted Elizabeth and Edric and hurried over to them. He stopped in front of the pair, looking up at them and roaring.
“It seems like he’s trying to tell us something,” Edric surmised. “Avery!” he gestured for his friend to come closer.
“What’s wrong with him?” Avery inquired after the selleck.
“I was hoping you could tell us what he’s saying,” Edric told him. Avery did have an uncanny ability with languages.
“I’m afraid I don’t speak selleck,” Avery had to admit.
“I think he wants us to come with him,” Elizabeth decided.
“You’re not going to try to ride in that gown are you?” Avery asked thinking it too nice a dress to be riding in.
“No, I’m not,” Elizabeth had a determined look on her face. Nule needed her help and she wasn’t going to let him down. She evoked her magic and the air around her shimmered. When it subsided, she stood dressed in her riding clothes.
“We’re going with you,” Eric gestured to himself and Avery.
“And me!” Princess Clara quickly stepped forward, not wishing to be left out.
“And Maymar!” Avery quickly looked around for the elf, spotting him making his way over.
“Alright.” Elizabeth quickly used her magic to change them all into their usual riding apparel.
“Come on Nule,” Edric told the selleck as the group hurried toward the courtyard. “We’ll be back!” Edric yelled to those in the Great Hall. “Keep the party going!”
***
The group followed the racing selleck into the mountains. They stopped at the high meadow to leave their unicorns behind before following the selleck on foot. Nule finally stopped at the entrance to a cave where they heard what sounded like another selleck growling.
They carefully entered to find Nule standing next to another selleck that was lying on the floor of the cave in some kind of distress. When they moved closer they could see that the other selleck was very, very pregnant.
“So this is what you’ve been up to,” Edric looked at his old pet. “And here I’ve been telling everyone that you’re getting on in years.”
Nule looked at them and let out a loud roar. “Somethings wrong with his female,” Avery decided.
“She must be having trouble delivering her kittens,” Edric thought.
“Poor thing,” Princess Clara wished they could do something to help.
Nule roared again and walked over to Elizabeth. He nudged her hand and then walked back over next to his pregnant mate.
“He thinks I can help,” Elizabeth looked at Edric. “How does he know?” Elizabeth never imagined that the selleck understood that she had magical power.
“It’s up to you darling,” Edric smiled at her already knowing what she would do.
Elizabeth walked slowly forward and knelt down next to the suffering selleck. “Shh, It will be okay,” she told the animal. She put her hand on the selleck’s side. She could feel the kittens moving. She turned to the others and smiled. Evoking her magic she delivered the six selleck kittens in a matter of seconds, the mewing little babies quickly looking to suckle on their happy mother.
Nule lay down next to the female and licked her on the head as she lay resting with her kittens before moving over to lick the kittens clean.
“He’s been bringing the meat up here to her,” Elizabeth was overjoyed for Nule and his new family.
“They’re so cute!” Princess Clara had never seen another selleck besides Nule and had no idea that selleck kittens would be so cute.
“He’ll keep coming up here and taking care of her until she decides to move on with her kittens,” Edric informed them. “Sellecks don’t mate for long.”
“He looks very happy now.” Elizabeth thought that the selleck looked quite content. “You take as long as you need,” she told him. “I’ll make sure that the kitchen staff gives you lots of meat to take up here to your family.”
“Speaking of family, we should try to get back before the ball is over,” Edric suggested.
“I think I can get us there before it ends,” Elizabeth smiled. She was bursting with joy and was now really in the mood for a celebration.
“We better step outside,” Edric suggested.
Elizabeth stayed behind a moment as the others exited the cave. She turned back to the selleck who paused a moment from his task to look up at her. “Happy Winter Festival Nule,” she smiled. “Thank you for this amazing gift.”