Chapter 11

Come one, come all when the fairies call.

Forget all your worries, troubles, and cares.

Dance in the forest with the bears.

See that tiny sparkling light?

’Tis your fairy guiding you through the night.

Deliah turned to see a wild–looking creature with an abundance of messy, twig–like hair; a large nose; and a grass skirt.

“Good heavens!” she said to Ostephen, “What on earth was that?”

“Shh!” Ostephen whispered. “They’re forest Nimbles. Listen closely, and you’ll hear their song.”

They both fell silent. Sure enough, as the Nimbles danced around a ring of fire, Deliah heard a low chant.

“Nimblee–ee–ee. Nimblee–oo–oo. Ee–ee–ee–ee. Oo–oo–oo–oo.”

They were casting their hands in unison toward the fire, causing it to grow larger and larger with each movement. They were stomping loudly and moving in a clockwise circle. Their medium–sized bodies were pale in comparison to their outlandish hair.

“Strange things the Nimbles are,” Ostephen said with a shrug.

“Should we maybe approach them and say hello?” Deliah wondered.

“No! You don’t talk to a Nimble unless invited, and you don’t question a Nimble either. Those are the rules.”

Just then, the Nimbles all grew silent as their flame reached its highest point; inside the flame, they shared a vision of a little girl.

Deliah stepped on a twig, which made an inconvenient snapping sound. The Nimbles stopped and turned. When they recognized her as the girl from the fire, they sent their chief to invite her to join their ceremony. Intimidated yet intrigued, Deliah agreed, much to Ostephen’s dismay.

As she followed the chief to the fire ring, he said, “We honor you.”

“Oh, that’s not necessary. Really, I’m just….”

Deliah was cut off by the chief who didn’t look impressed. “We honor you,” he said again. “You open arms to receive honor. Yes?”

“Yes?” Deliah said, smiling nervously, opening her arms wide. Ostephen sat beside her and—after receiving a few nudges — did the same, smirking all the while. At first she felt a little silly, but as the Nimbles continued their chant, she felt a wave of energy envelop her, and she felt amazingly powerful yet remarkably humble. She was really enjoying this experience.

“Nimblee–ee–ee. Nimblee–oo–oo.”

She snuck a peek to the side and smiled when she saw Ostephen chanting “Ee–ee–ee–ee. Oo–oo–oo–oo” along with them. After the fire dance ended, the Nimbles bowed graciously before Deliah. All raised their hands toward the fire, which revealed another vision.

“You go here,” Chief Nimble said. Deliah looked into the fire and saw a rocky terrain very close to the water. “Waverly Water’s Edge,” Chief Nimble explained. “You go. Must hurry. Must save.”

Deliah thanked the Nimbles, and they all stood stomping and chanting as they urged her on.

“Nimblee–ee–ee. Nimblee–oo–oo.”