Harmony climbed out of bed a bit more sedately, but also very excited. “Nine sleeps to go until the Surprise Royal Fairy Wedding! Let’s eat breakfast and magic into our fairy dresses, then we’ll send them,” but Rhapsody was too excited to wait.
“Harmony PLEEEEAAAASSSEEE let’s do them now! We can eat breakfast and get dressed later … come on, let’s send them by fairymail! Come ON Harmony!”
Rhapsody was very persuasive, and her fairy friend smiled in agreement and nodded as Rhapsody gave a ‘fairy hip hip, hooray!’, handing Harmony her wand.
We wrote a special letter
This letter now we send
Please grow wings and fly, fly, fly
Take this letter to our friend
As the fairies started singing the Fairymail song, the invitations grew beautiful, feathery little wings and started flittering and fluttering. All of a sudden, the Snuggery was awash with flying fairymails! Harmony and Rhapsody ducked and dived, their hair messed up, giggling so hard until the final fairymail dipped its wings in salute and dashed out of the door.
“Perhaps … next time … one at a time!” laughed Harmony.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Barnaby and Elf were still walking the tightrope when two fairymails zipped into view and hovered next to them. A third hovered for a moment, then flew off, clearly looking for someone.
“Oooh Elf the Fairy Cake Maker … I’m so excited … is this what I think it is?” asked Barnaby, buzzing a little more than normal.
“I think it might be!” said Elf, as they both opened their fairymails quickly, and took out the invitations, reading the words to themselves as fast as they could. Barnaby couldn’t help himself! He just had to buzz around and around and around in little bee circles of happiness, while Elf simply had to do a backflip, and then a front flip. And then just one more back flip!
“I’m invited and Harmony and Rhapsody have asked me to organise drinks – only they’ve given them a very posh name … ‘refreshments’! The sweetest nectar from the prettiest flowers for the bride and groom, the whole wedding party and all of the guests!” Barnaby continued to read: “And the tastiest water from morning dew drops shaken from glistening spider webs in the top of the garden and Elf …” he paused very dramatically in true Barnaby style before continuing with a puffed out chest: “They want me to perform for the Prince and Princess … look at me, look at me, Barnaby the Bizzy Showtime Bee!”
Elf was just as delighted as he read his fairymail. “The fairies want me to bake magical tricky treats ... five hundred of them! Oh … and, oh, what an honour … they want me to make the wedding cake too! It’ll be the most magnificent Surprise Royal Fairy Wedding cake ever! Layers of dried sultanas and baby currants, eggs, spices, flour … cherries soaked in peach and apricot juice, with rich golden syrup – oh my taste buds are twitching already!”
Barnaby was drooling at the description of the cake as Elf continued to describe it in detail. “All covered in the most delicate of flowers and leaves in perfect cream and pink icing … and Barnaby, I’ve been asked to perform as well. A jazz number to inspire and delight!”
But as the two friends danced their way out of Fairyland, another magical creature didn’t look as happy as he popped up from his hiding place under a spotted mushroom.
On seeing him, the third fairymail dashed over and hovered in front of the Little Gnome until he took the letter, then the fairymail's wings disappearing while the gnome opened the envelope and pulled out the invitation. He read the front, read the back, then shook the envelope, obviously missing something important.
“The Bee gets asked to provide drinks AND perform. The Elf gets asked to bake tricky treats AND make the cake AND perform… and what about me? I can perform! I want to perform, but nobody wants to watch me, nobody cares about what I want,” he grumbled grumpily. “I’ll show them!”
And with a hunched back he shuffled away, but as if had drunk a whole cup full of energy-giving, fresh strawberry juice, he straightened up, and for the next ten fairy seconds, danced the most amazing hip hop routine. What he didn’t realise was that he was no longer alone. Harmony and Rhapsody had magiced into Fairyland in a burst of stars and fairy dust, and watched the Little Gnome as he danced out of sight.
“That Little Gnome’s quite new to our Fairyland isn’t he Harmony. I didn’t know he could dance! Pretty cool!”
“I think he moved here a few weeks ago,” her friend answered. “And no, I’ve never seen him dance either! Clever! Oh Rhapsody, it’s going to be a fan-fairy-tastic day in Fairyland. Imagine organising a surprise fairytale wedding between a Prince and a Princess! Witnessed by magical creatures from all over the fairyland world - getting together to perform as one. Everyone should be getting their fairymail soon … how exciting!”
And indeed, as the fairies were skipping through Fairyland on the way to Elf’s Flower Pot Café, fairymails were fluttering in all different directions! Some flew along dusty, country lanes; some flew over snow-capped mountains, shivering a little as their wings grew a bit icy. One even flew over the ocean to where Bubbles the Beach Fairy was dancing along the water’s edge collecting shells.
Bubbles looked up as she heard the tinkling fairymail bells, and saw a tiny flying envelope coming towards her, skimming the waves, darting amongst a few dancing dolphins, then flying into her open hands. Bubbles opened it and whispered to herself: “It’s an invitation to attend a Royal Fairy Wedding! But what a surprise … the invitation doesn’t say who the prince and princess are! Oooh, it’s in 9 sleeps time and Harmony and Rhapsody have asked me to perform with the Fairy Mermaids. I need to call them!”
“Fairy one, fairy two, fairy three … Aquarius! Coralight!”
Bubbles practised some dance steps on the beach while she waited and looked out into the ocean.
“Oh dear they must be a long way under the water. I need to call again! Fairy one, fairy two, fairy three … Aquarius! Coralight!”
This time the Mermaids heard her and popped their pretty heads out of the water just in front of Bubbles.
“Fairy hello, Mermaids!” said Bubbles as she held the invitation up high. “Look, it’s so exciting, we’ve been sent an invitation by fairymail inviting us to a Surprise Royal Fairy Wedding … and we’ve all been asked to perform as well!”
“Oooh – who’s getting married?” asked Aquarius.
“That’s the big surprise … we don’t know who the Prince and Princess are!”
Coralight giggled in a very mermaid-type of giggle. “A wedding surprise! Oh what fairy fun, Bubbles!”
“So you’ll perform with me? We’re all in this together?”
The mermaids looked at Bubbles with sparkling eyes and big fairy smiles and nodded.
“You can count on us”, they said with delight.
In a different part of the world, another fairymail was addressed to the Bootskooting Fairies, and was flying along a country lane past a small group of kangaroos grazing in a paddock, past a clump of trees with a mother koala sitting restfully in a fork in the branches, a tiny baby koala clutching her back.
It twirled past a man sitting on a small stack of hay-bales next to a truck, a farmhouse in the background. The farmer wore a checked shirt with jeans, cowboy boots and a hat, and was gently strumming a guitar. The fairymail flew past his hat like a little whoosh of wind, and he swatted the air as if a pesky fly had bothered him!
The fluttering envelope soon arrived at a rusty old barn, where, hidden behind a very large hay bale, were five fairies looking very much like country girls! Hearing the fairymail bells, they opened the invitation excitedly, all whooping with delight!
The fairymails even travelled as far as the Snow Pixies’ home, flying over snow-covered mountains and past a pretty little snow chalet before arriving at a group of three Snow Pixies, who were twirling gracefully on the ice, their fluffy pink hats and gloves keeping them warm. The fairymail danced with them for a moment, but when they stopped to admire it, it drew in i
ts wings and allowed itself to be opened. Quickly passing the invitation around for all the friends to see, the Snow Pixies were ecstatic!
CHAPTER EIGHT
One very special fairymail had to leave the magical land and fly into the real world to deliver its letter to Granny Love. Flying out through the tiny door in the magical mystery tree – one of the special trees that links the top of the garden with fairyland – the fairymail flew on its journey until it reached a white picket fence with a sign on the gate saying “Honeysuckle Garden”.
A beautiful house could be seen over the fence, with sweeping lawns leading down to a pretty pond. Cottage flowers bloomed in every colour of the rainbow, and were surrounded by hedges of lavender and rosemary, and fruit trees were in full blossom under the cloudless blue sky. It was a perfect day in the top of the garden!
In the distance the fairymail noticed a man mowing lawns and two children playing on a swing, and it gave a little flutter of appreciation when it saw a very gorgeous, tiny little chapel covered in dainty honeysuckle flowers. But the fairymail was there to do a job, and suddenly it saw Granny Love in a secluded spot in the garden, rocking gently as she knitted.
As always happens when fairymails get near, the fairymail bells started to ring, and Granny Love stopped knitting when she heard the tinkling noise, her head on the side, a puzzled look on her face. After a few seconds she shook her head, smiling. “Don’t be a silly old duffer,” she whispered under her breath, thinking that she had imagined the noise. But wait … she heard the bells again – louder this time! She put down her knitting with surprise.
“Fairymail bells! Fairymail bells! My goodness gracious me - it has been a long time!” she said, recalling the last time she heard the bells when she was just a young girl of seven years old. “Why it’s over 60 years ago!”
She caught sight of the pretty little fairymail darting this way and that, until it came to rest on the arm of Granny Love’s chair, its wings fluttering like a butterfly. Granny Love picked it up and very gently opened the tiny letter, taking the fairy paper out, adjusting her glasses and reading the beautifully formed, little words.
“Dear Granny Love, please, oh please can we meet inside the magic fairy ring by the chapel at 10 o clock on the fairyland clock! I’m so looking forward to seeing you again after all these years! Love from Rhapsody.”
“Good gracious me – my own special fairy, Rhapsody. She must still live in the bottom of the garden!” Granny Love looked at the watch on her wrist and saw that it was nearly 10 o’clock already. She slowly arose from her chair, then almost skipped, in a Granny-kind of way, towards the Chapel in the distance, humming as she went.
Close to the Chapel was a pretty little ring of stones. Normally it looked like any other ring of stones – not terribly interesting, and a kind of gray colour, but today there was magic in the air, and as Granny Love came close enough to see the ring, each stone started to glow gently, and then sparkle, in so many different colours. Granny Love remembered what to do and stepped inside the fairy ring, closing her eyes and whispering:
“Special magic fairy ringI stand inside of thee
Please let Rhapsody appear
On the count of fairy three ...
Fairy one, fairy two, fairy three!”
Nothing happened to begin with and doubting herself, Granny Love gave just a little laugh and said to herself “Oh you silly old fool!” but as she turned to step out of the fairy ring, in a flash of light, hovering next to her, was the beautiful Rhapsody, fairy sized just like a little bird.
“Rosemary!” greeted Rhapsody. “Or should I call you Granny Love! How fan-fairy-tastic to see you once more!”
Granny Love was surprised, delighted and slightly nervous all at the same time. She wasn’t sure whether to bow, or to curtsey … it was way too hard to shake the hand of such a tiny fairy, so in the end she just smiled. “And you, Rhapsody! My own special fairy – I can’t believe you’re still living here! It’s been so long.”
“You may not see me, but I’m always here, Granny Love!” Rhapsody reminded Granny Love of what she really did know but had almost forgotten. That everyone has their own special fairy or elf, that lives right nearby them for the whole time they are on earth!
“It has been a long time in human years! I am so glad you still remember me. I have a favour to ask.” Rhapsody continued.
Granny Love was just about to answer her when suddenly out of the corner of her eye she thought she saw another magical creature. Could it have been … a gnome? Surely not? Rhapsody saw where Granny Love was looking and turned around to see what was so interesting … but the little gnome had quickly darted behind a flowerpot and now couldn’t be seen.
Granny Love shook her head, chiding herself for ‘seeing things’, and turned back to Rhapsody. “Of course I would love to help you Rhapsody – with anything!
Rhapsody smiled her thanks. “A very special occasion will soon be taking place. The Fairy Queen has told us there will be a Royal Fairy Wedding in 9 sleeps time, and she’s asked me, and my best fairy friend Harmony, to organise the wedding!”
Granny Love thought this sounded beautiful. “A Royal Fairy Wedding – how romantic! Who are the lucky couple?”
“It’s a surprise! The Fairy Queen didn’t tell us,” the little pink fairy said conspiratorially. “I don’t know if even the Prince and Princess know yet! We’ve sent invitations to all of the magical creatures in Fairyland to prepare for this special occasion, and we would be so grateful and so honoured if we could use Honeysuckle Chapel for the ceremony.”
“Of course! How exciting!” Granny Love replied, quite delighted at the thought of the pretty little Chapel just beyond her garden being used for such a special occasion. “I will make sure the lawns are mown and the paths leading to Honeysuckle Chapel are swept so the fairy princesses’ beautiful wedding dress stays clean.” Suddenly Granny Love had a thought and a worried look passed over her face. “Oh, but Rhapsody, what about my grandchildren?”
“I am so sorry, Rosemary,” Rhapsody was shaking her head as she answered. “Children cannot see us – this rule is set in magic. We must have extra special permission from the Fairy Queen to appear in front of big people – even children. We’re just so pleased she let me see you today!”
Granny Love nodded. “I understand – I will make sure Sophia and Ethan are at home with their parents that weekend.”
Suddenly the grandchildren she was talking about could be heard! In fact, oh no, they were running towards them! Granny Love looked startled and a bit concerned. “Speaking of the children …”
“Oooh they mustn’t see me! I must leave now, Granny Love. Thank you for your help,” spoke Rhapsody quickly, and in a shower of stars and fairy dust and tinkling bells, she disappeared as two children ran closer.
Rhapsody reappeared, still fairy size but unable to be seen by the children where she stood on top of a clay flower pot, next to a ramshackle old wheelbarrow.
“Granny Love, why are you standing in a circle of stones?” asked the young boy.
“What circle of stones” replied Granny, looking down with concern at her feet – but she need not have been worried, the glowing, sparkling colours had faded away when Rhapsody disappeared, and all she was standing in were the dark grey stones from the human world. She was just about to answer her grandson, when Sophia spoke.
“That’s so obvious Ethan, it’s a fairy ring!” said Sophia.
Granny Love looked pleasantly surprised at Sophia’s comment. “Ah Sophia. You are a very wise little girl!” she said gently, running her hand over Sophia’s shiny hair and dropping a kiss on the head of her granddaughter.
Her grandson, however, was not as open-minded! “Fairies! Please! I’d rather go fishing!” Ethan ran off, diverting slightly to kick a tennis ball that was lying nearby. Only at that very moment, the Little Gnome had darted out from his hiding place nearby, and the tennis ball – the size of a very large dog to the little magical gnome, rolled to
wards him and knocked him flat on his back! He hauled himself up and stomped away, muttering under his breath unhappily.
CHAPTER NINE
Barnaby and Elf were sitting on top of a mushroom still in their pyjamas, their invitations in hand, animatedly chatting about the wedding plans.
“Gosh so much fun. So much to do! ‘Bout time we got dressed, hey Elf!” buzzed Barnaby, but before Elf could answer him, they both heard the sound that could always be heard just before their wizardly friend from the planet of Wizzle Gazzelles dropped in to visit them.
Barnaby looked worried and gave a few little buzzes, darting his eyes this way and that, too scared to look up.
“Oh oh! Bizzy buzzy bother! Er, Elf the Fairy Cake Maker, have you seen our friend from Wizzle Gazelles lately?
Elf was equally as worried. Wizzy rarely landed without a crash, and he could crash on top of anywhere … or anyone!
“Not for a few days,” Elf answered.
“No Wizards with purple capes and silver stars … no wonky spells popping up in Fairyland?”
“Can’t say I’ve come across any wonky spells Barnaby …” said Elf, “but this noise is getting louder and louder and I have a funny feeling that Wizzy the Wizard is about to make an entrance!”
Elf simply ducked his head and hid under his hands, but Barnaby wanted to get right out of the way. He jumped off the mushroom and ran for cover. He ran this way and that, hiding here and hiding there, then changing his mind as he muttered under his breath.
“Not there … too out in the open! Not here … too spiky! Oooh where’s he going to land this time? Not there … ah! Here! Perfect hiding place!” and he dived under the safest place he could find, where he was completely covered by the dome of a very large spotted mushroom.
Unfortunately, nowhere was safe when Wizzy arrived, and the cloaked wizard crash-landed right on top of that very same mushroom and flattened it, with Barnaby quite squashed underneath!
“Oh wizzaling weeblies! I must practise my landings!” cried the unhappy Wizard, as Barnaby climbed out from under the mushroom and brushed himself off, buzzing grumpily to himself.