14

The Fairy Queen

The Fairy Queen was small, even for a fairy, but she seemed to glow like a shining star. Her long hair was pure white and her skin a rich brown like the earth, with eyes that sparkled with wisdom.

She sat on a throne woven with orchid blossoms, her pink and white feathered wings spread out behind her like a bird in flight, while her deep orange dress, like a sunset sky, trailed across the ground beneath her.

Too awed to speak, Daisy knelt and bowed her head before her. But the Fairy Queen spoke with a smile in her voice.

‘Welcome, Daisy, to the end of your Quest. Come, sit with me and remember.’

Daisy looked up. The Fairy Queen beckoned her with one hand, patting the mossy cushion beside her with the other. The music and dancing started up once more as Daisy moved to sit beside her.

‘Now,’ said the Fairy Queen, taking Daisy’s hand, ‘tell me about your Quest.’

With a deep breath Daisy began her story. She told her about the frog, the butterflies and Pea, about the lilies and the waterfall and how Ripple had saved her life. She told her of the gum tree, the firefly and the pollen, of how Pere had brought them to the Tea-Tree House, and how Vu had helped her from the very beginning.

And finally she told her about Holly and how she had given her the pollen.

‘I gave the Fairy Quest everything I had,’ Daisy said, her voice just a whisper. ‘And yet still I failed.’

The Fairy Queen looked at her with gentle eyes. ‘How does that make you feel?’

Daisy’s brow creased with concentration as she thought about it. If someone had asked her that question yesterday, the answer would have been, ‘Terrible!’

But after everything she’d been through today, she realised that wasn’t how she felt at all. She tried to explain her thoughts.

‘I used to feel like I wasn’t a true fairy,’ said Daisy, ‘because I didn’t have wings.’

‘And now?’ the Fairy Queen prompted.

‘Going on the Fairy Quest was a huge adventure. I explored the forest and met some wonderful new friends. I learnt that I’m strong and resourceful, and that I don’t give up. If I’ve failed the Quest . . .’

For a moment Daisy faltered, not sure how to go on. What would she do? Then she realised. There was only one thing she could do. She squared her shoulders, her chin lifting with determination. ‘I’ll keep on trying for as long as it takes. With or without wings, I’m happy with who I am.’

The Fairy Queen hugged her close. ‘You, dear Daisy, are a true fairy. The key to success wasn’t finding the pollen. It was about finding it in your heart to give it up. Fairies live as one with the forest and the animals. We must all look after each other. And sometimes, that means giving up something dear to us.’

Daisy lingered over the Fairy Queen’s words, feeling like she was missing something important. And then it dawned on her. ‘Did I pass the Fairy Quest?’ Her eyes searched the Fairy Queen’s for the answer.

‘I would say you passed with flying colours,’ the Fairy Queen smiled.

She stood gracefully, raising Daisy to her feet beside her.

As though on cue, the gathered fairies became still and silent once more. When the Fairy Queen spoke, her gentle voice filled the clearing.

‘This young fairy proud and true,

Her strength and kindness shown,

When her wings are chosen,

Will be a fairy grown.’

The Fairy Queen placed her hands on Daisy’s shoulders. ‘Close your eyes now, Daisy,’ she whispered, ‘and picture the wings of your dreams.’

Daisy closed her eyes, trying to summon an image of her ideal wings. They would be yellow and feathered, like the chest of an Eastern Yellow Robin. Slowly, a hazy picture began to form.

‘Concentrate,’ whispered the Fairy Queen. ‘See every detail.’

Daisy focused all her attention. As the picture became clearer she was aware of a tingling sensation, spreading down from the place where the Fairy Queen’s hands rested. A warm, comforting weight settled against her shoulder blades.

The Fairy Queen laughed, a trilling sound like a sweet bird call. Lifting her hands from Daisy’s shoulders, she clapped them together.

‘It is done!’ she said.

Daisy opened her eyes to a throng of cheering fairies. Her family was at the very front, her dad waving furiously as Nen brushed a tear from her eye. Maggie’s grin was wider than the ocean as she clapped her hands more enthusiastically than anyone.

Daisy laughed to see Pea hanging upside down in the tree above them, her legs wrapped around a branch and wings flapping wildly to keep her from falling off.

‘Come on, Daisy,’ Pea called. ‘Give them a flutter!’

Surprised that her body seemed to know what to do, Daisy stretched her new wings out wide, feeling them gently beat the air behind her. The watching fairies roared their approval.

Daisy shook her head, trying to take it all in. It seemed impossible that in just one day her world could change so much.

And there was still so much more to look forward to. Soon she would learn how to fly, and with the whole forest hers to explore, she was sure to discover her Calling.

She broke into a joyous grin.

Though the Fairy Quest was over, Daisy had a wonderful feeling that her adventures had just begun.