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“I’LL PULL YOU UP, LIN. Just settle in on the swing, and I’ll tug when I’m up there.” Nip says. He quickly flies up to the branch just below the arena. Attached to the branch is a winch and long rope that trails down to the bottom of the tree where I stand. A board is attached to it with the rope going through a hole in the center and a large knot under the board. I sit down on the board, the rope between my legs and wait for Nip to pull me up. I always find this humiliating, not being able to fly up like a proper fairy. But when Ren says your presence is required, you do what it takes to get there.
My stomach churns from the spinning of the swing as I’m lifted higher into the tree.
When it finally stops, Nip pulls me onto the platform and holds the swing still while my head stops spinning.
“Come on, Lin. I don’t want to miss anything.”
“I’m coming.”
I hate this part of all the gatherings. Each talent sits together, which leaves me sitting between the groups and on my own. Nip and Bray try to have their groups on either side of me, so I’m not quite alone. But I still dread it.
“Hey Lin, what did you do all afternoon?” Bray asks as I sit down in the space she has left me.
“I think I might have an idea of how to stop the glisch. But I’m having a hard time figuring out how to let the other bugs and animals in, as well as the fairies.”
“You’ll figure it out. You always do,” She pauses. “Look! Ren is here,” her voice falls to a whisper. “This year they have the most initiates ever! I can’t wait to find out who is a harvest fairy. I’ve been chosen to train!”
“Bray, that’s great!” I see Ren staring at me, and she looks over to the line of initiates. “Ren wants me to join the initiates. I’d better go.” Bray squeezes my hand.
“It’ll be fine. Maybe this year will be different.”
I look at her with fondness. “You say that every year. But, thanks.” I stand up and walk over to where Ren awaits.
––––––––
“AISLIN, YOU WILL BE first this year. Because this is the double moon year, we will be going by age.”
“Yes, Ren.” I dread going first. Why did she say age? Not that alphabetical would’ve been any better.
I look at the tall woman before me. She’s put together, her gold gossamer dress flowing around her, the gold wings catching the light of the moon. As far back as I can remember, she’s been the same beautiful woman, never aging. She strides forward and stands under the Moon stone.
“Talent Fairies, it is the night of the double moon. A twice sacred night, for we will welcome the new talents, and we will welcome the moon harvest,” she says, projecting her voice over the gathering. Cheers erupt around the gathering. “Once the moon harvest is gathered, we will have the sacred progression over the realm and then the celebration dinner. But now for the first initiate.”
I walk forward, dreading this. My hands dip into the first bowl, and nothing happens. I walk to the next bowl, and the next, and the next. But nothing happens. I hang my head as I reach the last bowl. Failure is all I hear, though the arena is silent.
“Aislin, I’m sorry.” Ren says. I nod my head, a tear slipping down my cheek and walk back to my seat between Bray and Nip. Silently, Bray and Nip each take a hand and squeeze. I draw strength from them as I hear the excitement of the other fairies.
“Water!” Ren cries, and the water fairies all shout welcome to their newest member. Six more times the different talents shout welcome to the new additions.
Something about the next candidate catches my eye and I watch with interest as he walks towards the bowl. He’s tall and quite muscular. His hand goes into the first bowl, and nothing happens. He takes a step to the next bowl, and the next and the next. By the time he comes to the 6th bowl a hush has filled the arena. All eyes are on him, and I feel for him, knowing the pain he must be feeling. Slowly his hand goes into the bowl, nothing. His head drops.
“Orrin, I’m sorry.” Ren says and points him to sit with me.
I start, for the first time I will have someone to sit with me. He shuffles towards me and sits down heavily in the seat before me. What do I say to him? Should I put my hand on his shoulder?
“Hey, Orrin. I guess we’re in the same boat.” Stupid, stupid, stupid. Why did I say that? The only thing that would make it worse is if I had said at least he has wings. “My name is Aislin.” He nods his head, but doesn’t speak. Fine. If he wants to sulk, I’ll let him.
I realize that I haven’t been paying attention as another shout tells me one more initiate found their talent. I look at the line and see that two initiates are left. Both are boys, one on the shorter, stocky side, and the other is tall and skinny with glasses.
“Puck,” Ren calls, and the shorter boy steps forward. I let my mind wander as he goes from bowl to bowl. A gasp has me turning back to where Puck stands. His hand is in the last bowl, but no glow has come. How could this be? Before this, I was the only fairy with no talent, and now we have two more.
“I’m sorry,” Ren says, concern lacing her voice. “Please go sit with Aislin and Orrin.” He walks towards us, and Orrin moves over to make room for him.
‘Hi, Puck,” I say softly.
“Hi,” he says. I look into his soft eyes and melt a little.
“Our last initiate is Warren.” Ren looks at him, concern evident in her stance. The tall thin boy steps forward and puts his hand into the first bowl, nothing. He takes a step to the next bowl, nothing happens. His step slow, and I know what the result will be. “I’m sorry, Warren.” He walks to join us. Whispers fill the arena, and Ren claps her hands to get everyone’s attention.
“Let’s welcome our new talents and start the Moon Dust ceremony.” Ren claps her hands, and 4 large fairy men carry in the large bowl for the ceremony. Placing the bowl in the center of the arena, the men step to the side. Ren nods to a small fairy who precedes the singers in. They line up, and with a wave of her wand, the small fairy leads the singers in song.
I usually love to sit and listen to the singers, join in on the choruses of the old songs that would bring the moon dust down. But this year, my mind is left puzzling over the 3 men who sit in front of me. What does it mean that they have no talents? Are they like me, or will their talents come next year when Ren forces them to go through the ceremony again?
“Hey, Aislin? Is that your name?” a male voice asked, gently touching my leg. I jolt and look around. The benches around us are slowly clearing, and I can sense the unease of the other fairies. They are not rejoicing as they usually do.
“Yes, Aislin. And you’re Warren, right?” He smiles slightly and nods his head.
“Yeah, talentless Warren.” Bitterness laces his voice.
“Well, Warren. You’re in good company. I happen to be the resident expert on being talentless.” I say with more bravado than I feel.
“Yes, Lin. You are the only one who knows what these three are going through. I am going to put them in your care. Hopefully, between the four of you, you can figure out what has happened to cause some of our initiates to be talentless.”
I gulp. I hadn’t seen Ren approach us. I look at the Queen of the fairies and nod to her. “Yes, Ren.” When the Queen speaks, we do not question what she says.
“Ma’am?” Orrin says bowing his head deferentially. “Where will we stay now? The dorms with the other initiates?”
“No, I think it best that once you have gone through the ceremony, you not return to the dorms.” She tapped her finger on her perfectly painted lips, thinking the situation through. “Aislin, I know that your house is small, but could you house the boys for tonight? Tomorrow we can have all the Fairies gather to make a larger home.”
“Of course, Ren.” I think furiously of my house. When Nip visits he seems to suck all the space up. Now she’s asking me to have three boys in my house. Where will they sleep? Maybe if they slept on the floor of the living space, they would fit. My bed would be big enough for one of them . . . The thought sends a flush to my cheeks. No, my bed will be off limits. “Are there any sleeping blankets or pillows we could have?”
“Yes, I will have Fairy Nanny send some over, as well as some extra food. Now, why don’t you four head to the cove? I think the next while will be interesting for you.” She smiles and the look in her eyes gives me the idea that she knows more of what’s going on than she lets on.
“Okay, guys. Let’s head out.” I start to walk towards the platform that leads to my swing.
“Lin? Where are you going?” Puck asked.
I turn and looked at him. I was nearly at the end of my patience for the night. “Maybe you didn’t notice that I am not just talentless, but also wingless. What do you want me to do? Jump off the branch and pray that my wings suddenly sprout from my back? Yeah tried that one a few times over the past twenty-four years. All I got for my trouble were a few broken bones.” I turn back and head to my swing. “Oh, and Puck? My friends call me Lin. We aren’t friends.” I whisper “yet” quietly enough that none of the boys hear me.
Once I reach the swing, I look over at the boys. “One of you want to lower me down?” I see Orrin and Warren look to each other, their adam’s apples bobbing. Crap, did I just say that? I can see the gears in their heads moving.
Orrin swaggers over to me and pulls the swing away from me. “Oh, sweetie, there is no need for you to take that way down. We’re here and can take you there.” I roll my eyes at the obvious line he’s attempting to reel me in with.
“How many times did it take practicing that before you didn’t laugh saying it?” I ask him.
He just looked at me and laughed. “Puck, Warren? Do you know how to do a lift carry?”
They nodded. I lunged for the swing that Orrin had pulled out of my hands.
“No, no way! I’m not letting you three attempt to carry me down this tree. I’m not a little petite fairy. No way. I’ve used my swing for years and I’ll continue to use it for years to come.”
Orrin just laughs and holds the swing further out of my reach. At that moment I can see him as a little boy, smooshing the ants into paste and laughing as they try to run from his foot.
“Trust us. We can carry you.”
“No! Orrin, maybe if there were 3 or 4 guys the size of you. But Puck and Warren? They would fall to the ground like a weighted stone.”
Orrin slowly hands me the swing and turns from me. “Aislin, that was harsh.” I turn and see Puck and Warren flying away, dejection in every stroke of their wings.
“Guys! Come back! I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that way.” Warren just waves his hand and continues down the trunk of the tree. I slide to the platform. “Crap, crap, crap!”
Orrin sits down next to me and gently touches his hand to my leg. “We might be new to this no talent stuff, but we do have some skills. Maybe instead of being so independent, you should lean on us.”
I nod my head, not looking at him, not wanting him to see the tears pooling in my eyes. As much as I love Bray and Nip helping me and being my friends, I have always been the odd man, errr girl, out, having to rely on myself more than anything.
“Hey!” He lifts my face. “It’s ok. We can make it better.” He pulls me to a stand. “How about I help you down, then we try to figure out this mess?” I nod to him and settle myself on the swing.