Ben's NaNoWriMo Log

Chapter 20 added Sep 23, 2005
"So this is Faerie." mused Sarah, looking around the clearing. To her eye, it looked like the world she knew, save for the fact that the moon was fuller than she expected it to be, as well as appearing larger in the sky. "A part of it, yes," said Chloe. Sarah had never been particularly keen on faerie stories as a child. She had always preferred tales of the sea, and, as she grew older, romantic ballads. From what she remembered of her childhood songs, faeries were sometimes helpful and sometimes harmful, depending on whether the people involved were kind or wicked. Chloe seemed to have placed them in the former category, which put Sarah somewhat at ease. She wondered if the faerie could smell the blood of the men she had slain on her. "Those men may still be chasing us," she said. "You may be in danger if you let us stay here." Chloe shook her head slowly. "They will not find this place. Only those who we wish to visit us are allowed to do so." "Oh." Sarah sat back in the soft grass, trying to think of some danger she might have overlooked in this situation. Suddenly, a thought occurred to her. "What if we want to leave?" "You are free to go whenever you wish," said Chloe, "though we may not be here should you return." Sarah nodded. If the faerie spoke truly, then there seemed to be nothing to worry about, and if she was false, it was already too late to do anything. She looked over at Molly. "What do you make of this?" Molly shrugged. "It seems like a fine place to me." She lay back on the grass and closed her eyes. "If nothing else, I can catch up on sleep." That sounded like wise counsel to Sarah, and she lay down as well. Between the fine grass beneath her and the sweet scent of flowers in the air, it wasn't long before Sarah was asleep. She dreamed of the happy days of her childhood, when the only kings and swords she had to worry about were pretend. She woke slowly, stretching lazily before opening her eyes. Molly was sitting nearby, bathed in the bright moonlight. Sarah certainly felt like she had slept a long time, but not an entire day. "How long was I asleep?" Molly shrugged. "I don't know. I've been awake... a while." She looked up at the shining face of the moon. "I wonder if the sun ever rises here." "Faerie does not mark time in the same way as the mortal world," said Chloe's voice from behind them. Sarah turned to see the faerie standing behind them. She was becoming used to people and things appearing out of nowhere in this place. "Morning is that way," she said, pointing a slender finger at the edge of the clearing. A previously unnoticed gap in the trees could be seen there, beyond which a trail led off into the woods. Sarah and Molly rose and went to investigate the trail. As they strolled along the tree-lined path, the midnight sky slowly began to brighten. Birds could be heard singing to each other, increasing their chatter with each step. After a few minutes the women emerged into another clearing, a little larger than the first. They stood at the top of a gentle slope that seemed designed specifically to afford them a breathtaking view of the rising sun over the trees. The forest spread out in all directions from where they stood, though the mist rising from the trees obscured their vision after a mile or so. They sat there for a while, watching clouds drift slowly across the sky. Though the sun rose no higher in the sky, the shape and color of its rays constantly shifted as the clouds obscured and revealed it. Sarah looked behind her at the trees. She could still see the path where they had arrived. She looked further along the tree line, but saw no other break. She went back to watching the sunrise, enjoying the play of light and color over the treetops. A scarf of birds rose up through the mist and flew overhead, babbling to each other as they flew. Sarah turned around again, this time simply expecting to see a new path through the trees. Much to her delight, that was exactly what she saw. "Come on," she said to Molly as she rose from the hilltop. "Hm? Where are we going?" asked Molly. "Noon, if I'm not mistaken." Through the trees they went again. Above them, the glimpses of sky they could see between the leaves changed from orange and purple to brilliant blue. When they broke through the foliage once more they found themselves surrounded by a gently rolling meadow. It was the largest they had yet seen, with tall, succulent green grasses swaying in a gentle breeze. Everywhere they turned it seemed that a different variety of wildflower was just coming into bloom as they watched. Forest creatures frolicked amid the greenery, glancing up from their browsing to gaze unfearfully at the humans in their midst. A sparkling stream wound through the meadow. As expected, the sun shone down from directly overhead. "How'd you know the way to get here?" asked Molly incredulously. Sarah shrugged, grinning. "I didn't know the way. I just wanted to find it." The clouds they had seen at sunrise were no longer in evidence, and the sun was beginning to feel quite warm. Sarah stripped off her wool doublet and discarded it in the tall grass. The cooling breeze blew refreshingly through her linen shirt. "I think I like this place." They continued their exploration through the woodland. They came upon a large, irregular stone standing in another clear area further down the path. "What do you think this is for?" asked Molly as she paced around its perimeter. "There aren't any markings on it." Sarah clambered up the side of the standing stone, perching on top of it. She pointed out over the trees. "I think it's here so you can see the sunset better." After a tiny grove of twilight and stars, they found themselves back in the moonlight where they had started. Chloe was standing there; it was unclear whether she had moved at all since they began their tour. "I see you have found the way to navigate our realm," she said, smiling softly. Sarah nodded, returning the smile. "Indeed we have. It's amazing." "I am glad it appeals to you. You may stay as long as you please."
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