Xenos’ way of travelling was odd for both humans and elves. Lady Ysmeina admired his almost constant singing, while Sir Reynaert complemented his steady pace. But they all noticed that Xenos was paying very little attention of where they were going, as if he was just blindly walking into a guessed direction. On the day of the First Quarter, Prince Emrys couldn’t take it anymore. “Xenos, I insist that you tell me if we’re any closer to the fairy kingdom!” he said.
“Shush,” Xenos simply said as he chose a lesser-walked path at a fork in the road, and calmly continued towards a wild-looking forest. Prince Emrys endured his forced silence for a few hours before he lost his patience again. “I swear to the Kings of Old, if you don’t tell me how close we are to the fairy kingdom, I will—”
“I already told you at the beginning of this journey that patience is a virtue, your highness,” Xenos calmly said as he stopped walking and turned to face the prince, “now stop looking at the time schedule you have created on the inside of your arse, pull your head out and look around you!”
“I don’t care who you are, I will not permit anyone to address the prince like that,” Sir Reynaert said, stepping forward. Xenos was the least intimidated and simply poked his cane against the knight’s chest. “Can anyone tell me whether they noticed something strange so far?” he simply said. A silence fell in the party, and when no one answered the seer, Rosemary decided to speak up. “The flowers,” she said, nodding towards about four, small, purple flowers going on each side of the path, “crocuses don’t bloom in early summer. They’re autumn flowers.”
“Very good, miss Miller!” Xenos said enthusiastically, “now I don’t know what you have been told about fairies, but from what I know, they have the capability to disguise themselves as flowers. The best way to detect a fairy, is to find a flower that is blooming off-season. And given that I see only four, I suspect they’re guarding the entrance to their kingdom. Excuse me!”
He turned away from the astounded party and looked at two crocus flowers at the edge of the path. “I know you heard me. There is no need to hide anymore,” he said, “I wish to have an audience with King Oberon.”
Another silence fell, in which everyone stared at the flowers, before they slowly opened their petals, revealing the tiny humans inside. The petals turned out to be their wings, the purple colour being matched with their purple and yellow uniform. Two of them flew up and floated in front of Xenos’ face. “Who is calling for our king?” one of them said. His voice was rather high, but that was probably due to the size difference, so none dared to laugh. Xenos simply stepped aside and gestured towards the prince. “I, Xenos, present to you Prince Emrys of Elysium. Accompanied by his entourage; the Lady Ysmeina of the Fields of Arathmel, Sir Reynaert of Elysium, Miss Rosemary Miller, and Lucas.”
A third fairy joined the two Xenos just spoke to. She whispered something in their ears, to which they quickly straightened their backs and saluted the party. “Welcome, everyone!” one of them said, “King Oberon has been expecting you, follow us please. And watch your step.”
The two guards flew off, leaving the two others behind, who folded their wings and went back to their crocus disguises. They followed the fairies, leaving the path and carefully venturing deeper into the forest. The further they walked, the more fairies they spotted as they all dropped their disguises. The tiny crocus fairies were nothing compared to the roses, carnations, daffodils, chrysanthemums, dahlias, gerberas, gladioluses, hydrangeas, orchids, pansies, lilies and tulips – Lucas only managed to recognise all flowers because Rosemary kept pointing them out. They really had to watch their step as to not trample anything that could be a fairy or could be hiding a fairy, and very carefully made their way towards a small, overgrown pond. All the fairies they had passed, were now gathering around them, as a large, blue water lily slowly unfolded and revealed a small man in white robes, holding a small, golden staff. He didn’t need a golden crown as his hair already seemed to be made of gold. He stretched his wings a little, before taking a seat on the golden-coloured inside of the flower, almost blending right back in again. Xenos knelt for him, beckoning the others to follow his example, which they then quickly did. “Xenos, my old friend,” King Oberon said, “why did you lead these humans and an elf to my kingdom?”
Xenos got back up when the king addressed him. “The humans are in conflict once again and they again need the help of mythics to solve it,” he said.
“What is it this time?” King Oberon said with a sigh.
“They angered the dragon Thanatos. He kidnapped the Elven Princess in revenge.”
“And now you need our magic weapons to slay Thanatos and save the princess?” King Oberon asked. Xenos simply nodded. “How coincidental,” King Oberon said, “last time we spoke you requested to have four magic weapons made, which we happened to have completed yesterday.”
“Excellent!” Xenos said, “then I’ll take those weapons and we’ll be on our—”
“Not so fast,” King Oberon interrupted, “your request was for us to craft the weapons, not to hand them to you and your humans...and elf.”
Xenos fell quiet for a few seconds. Obviously he had not expected this. “I told you,” Lady Ysmeina whispered at Sir Reynaert, “trickery.”
“Could we, perhaps, make any arrangement in which we acquire the weapons in exchange for...well, you name it, Sire,” Xenos said. King Oberon sighed deeply. “No,” he said, “now that I know your objective is to slay a creature of the same nature that you are of. All I shall give you is some fairy dust so you can forget everything about my kingdom.”
“So this was a waste of time,” Prince Emrys grumbled.
“No, wait,” Lucas said as he sat upright, “forgive me, Sire,” he quickly added, “but we do not wish to slay Thanatos. Our only objective is to save Princess Lorelei – or more precisely; we wish to assist Prince Emrys in saving the princess. We’ve learned that normal weapons and shields are powerless against...against such a magnificent creature, but we need something to defend ourselves. And you know Xenos is a seer, and he told me, winters ago, that we will acquire those weapons one way or another. All we need is for you to show us the way….or something like that…”
His voice died away a little as his improvised speech didn’t sound as convincing as the one Emrys held to convince Queen Eurydice to let them go and save the princess. King Oberon seemed to be thinking the same thing. “What are you trying to tell me, human? Or ask me? I can’t even tell whether you’re announcing something or asking something,” he said, in a rather mocking tone.
“What he’s trying to say is that we are willing to do anything in exchange for those weapons,” Prince Emrys said as he stood up, “whether it be to fulfill a quest to earn them, or to make a pact that we only use them for self-defence. Or both, if you wish.”
King Oberon now turned to the young prince, observing him from top to bottom. “I take it that you’re the Prince of Elysium?”
“Not quite, sire,” Prince Emrys said, “that title belongs to my older brother.”
“Who died, thus all his titles and duties automatically go to you,” King Oberon said, “you are no longer His Highness Prince Emrys, you are now His Royal Highness The Prince of Elysium.”
“Yes but until the official crowning ceremony I am not,” Prince Emrys calmly answered, “now can we come to an agreement or am I wasting my time – and with that Princess Lorelei’s life – on this audience with you?”
A silence fell, as a few fairies seemed shocked at Prince Emrys’ tone towards their king, but King Oberon seemed amused. “Good. So you do have character,” he said, “you’ll need it in case you encounter my wife on this little quest I shall give you to prove that you’re worthy of receiving and using our magic weapons.”
Another silence fell.
“I’m sorry, your wife?” Prince Emrys said confused.
“Humans aren’t the only one with drama,” Xenos simply said, “King Oberon and Queen Titania have been quarreling for years now.”
“Why do I get the feeling that restoring their marriage will be easier than this quest the prince is about to receive?” Rosemary muttered.
“Don’t give him any ideas,” Lucas hissed.
“Quiet!” Lady Ysmeina whisper-shouted, as she tried to hear what King Oberon was telling Prince Emrys. Lucas and Rosemary settled down and listened as well. “A day’s walk West from this exact spot, you will find a very special flower,” King Oberon said, “A tri-coloured viola with blue, purple and yellow petals. Only those three colours, Prince Emrys. It is vital that you bring me the right flower.”
“Is that all?” Prince Emrys asked surprised, “you want me to pick a flower for you?”
“Yes and I want you to do it on your own. Your entourage may spend the night here. You have a long walk ahead. See you tomorrow.”
King Oberon waved a dismissive hand before folding his wings and blending back in with the water lily. Prince Emrys was left standing agape. “Close your mouth, your highness, you’re catching flies...or fairies,” Xenos said. Prince Emrys slowly turned to the rest of the party. “I know nothing of flowers,” he admitted. Rosemary rolled her eyes. “Do you know what a pansy is?” she asked. Prince Emrys nodded. “Good,” Rosemary said, “and do you remember the colours the fairy king told you?”
“Blue, purple, yellow,” Prince Emrys summed up.
“Good,” Rosemary repeated, “because that’s what you’re looking for. A pansy, but with those specific colours.”
“But those are very common colours for pansies,” Lady Ysmeina said.
“Then just grab the one that stands out,” Rosemary said, “time’s ticking, your highness. It’s not a difficult assignment.”
“That’s her way of saying we have faith in you,” Lucas put in. Prince Emrys nodded, and after an encouraging nod from Sir Reynaert and Xenos, he started walking west...