Marigold and the Fairy Queen
14/04/2013
Chapter One
Marigold finds a fairy in her garden. What will this discovery lead her to?
It all started when Marigold found a mushroom with a window. “Oh,” she said, “it must be a fairy house.” Sure enough, peering through the grass, Marigold saw a door.
Marigold was just about to run to her mum to tell her that there was a fairy living in her garden, when she felt a small tug on her dress. “Ow, that hurt,” she thought. Then, looking around, she saw a tiny face, with blue eyes, pink hair and a pretty smile peering around one of the petunias which said “Oh, please, please don’t tell anyone else about us. Especially adults. They don’t believe a word of your ‘Fairytale Nonsense’, and they make you tell them exactly what you saw, and you get tangled in their questions for ages and ages, then you get told ‘Nonsense, go to your room until you can think sense’.” Marigold stared in amazement. Then, the fairy spoke again. ”Sorry, I haven’t introduced myself. I’m Lily Shimmer, chief of fairy dust harvesting. Who are you?” asked the fairy. “I-I’m Marigold,” whispered Marigold.
It all started when Marigold found a mushroom with a window. “Oh,” she said, “it must be a fairy house.” Sure enough, peering through the grass, Marigold saw a door.
Marigold was just about to run to her mum to tell her that there was a fairy living in her garden, when she felt a small tug on her dress. “Ow, that hurt,” she thought. Then, looking around, she saw a tiny face, with blue eyes, pink hair and a pretty smile peering around one of the petunias which said “Oh, please, please don’t tell anyone else about us. Especially adults. They don’t believe a word of your ‘Fairytale Nonsense’, and they make you tell them exactly what you saw, and you get tangled in their questions for ages and ages, then you get told ‘Nonsense, go to your room until you can think sense’.” Marigold stared in amazement. Then, the fairy spoke again. ”Sorry, I haven’t introduced myself. I’m Lily Shimmer, chief of fairy dust harvesting. Who are you?” asked the fairy. “I-I’m Marigold,” whispered Marigold.
Chapter Two
A goblin interrupts Lily and Marigold’s conversation. What next?
“I’m glad you whispered, because sometimes, I get blown away when people talk to me. Would you like to-AAAAAAAAGGHH!” Lily screamed. “What?” asked Marigold. “Th-th-there,” said Lily, pointing and then diving into a bush. Marigold looked in the direction in which Lily had pointed. There, standing next to her, was an ugly green creature with two, short, pointed, horns on its head, short arms, and an arrogant face. It blew a raspberry at Marigold, made a rude hand gesture at her, and scampered into the very same bush that Lily was in.
“Lily, are you there? Lily!” Marigold cried in dismay. “Quick, in here,” Lily’s head poked out of the second bush to the left of the one she had once been in a minute ago. “How...?” “No time to explain. Just follow me.” Being small for her age and only four years old, Marigold easily crawled into the large bush. “Stop... here...” panted Lily, sitting on a leaf in the bush, her face pale. “That” said Lily “was a goblin. At least he won’t find us here.” “Of course he will” replied Marigold, gasping for breath, “He’s only...” Marigold tried to recount what she had seen before getting into the bush. “One or two bushes away.” “No, we’re not in your garden anymore.” replied Lily, still slightly breathless.
“I’m glad you whispered, because sometimes, I get blown away when people talk to me. Would you like to-AAAAAAAAGGHH!” Lily screamed. “What?” asked Marigold. “Th-th-there,” said Lily, pointing and then diving into a bush. Marigold looked in the direction in which Lily had pointed. There, standing next to her, was an ugly green creature with two, short, pointed, horns on its head, short arms, and an arrogant face. It blew a raspberry at Marigold, made a rude hand gesture at her, and scampered into the very same bush that Lily was in.
“Lily, are you there? Lily!” Marigold cried in dismay. “Quick, in here,” Lily’s head poked out of the second bush to the left of the one she had once been in a minute ago. “How...?” “No time to explain. Just follow me.” Being small for her age and only four years old, Marigold easily crawled into the large bush. “Stop... here...” panted Lily, sitting on a leaf in the bush, her face pale. “That” said Lily “was a goblin. At least he won’t find us here.” “Of course he will” replied Marigold, gasping for breath, “He’s only...” Marigold tried to recount what she had seen before getting into the bush. “One or two bushes away.” “No, we’re not in your garden anymore.” replied Lily, still slightly breathless.
Chapter Three
Marigold, accompanied by Lily, finds herself in the wondrous Fairyland, completely surrounded by the curiosities of nature and fairies. But, oh no, Almond Silverleaf’s in trouble...
“What!?” asked a shocked Marigold. “But...But...We’re in my dad’s bush! How can we be somewhere else?” “As long as you’re with a fairy, and that fairy is willing to let you, you can pass through the Magic Barrier at any time, from any place,” replied Lily airily, removing a beetle from her hair. “Ah, there you are Chris. I’ve beetle - sorry, been wondering where you were.” As Lily kissed Chris, Marigold was shocked to see him turn from chestnut brown to bright yellow, “The colour of a warning sign” Marigold thought. “What’s that? Al’s in trouble? Oh, no!” said Lily. “Marigold, we have to hurry! Almond’s in trouble and we have to help her!” “Almond who?” asked Marigold. “Never mind, follow me!” replied Lily with a concerned look. Marigold struggled through the leaves, coming after Lily.
When she finally burst through the leaves, Marigold saw what had never been seen by human before. There were rows of mushroom houses, toadstool shops, and, behind the second row of mushrooms and toadstools, there stood a simply tremendous centre mushroom, with two smaller mushrooms on both sides.
But Marigold didn’t have enough time to take it all in. “Huuuuurry!” gasped Lily, tugging on Marigold’s dress for all she was worth. “This waaay!”
“What!?” asked a shocked Marigold. “But...But...We’re in my dad’s bush! How can we be somewhere else?” “As long as you’re with a fairy, and that fairy is willing to let you, you can pass through the Magic Barrier at any time, from any place,” replied Lily airily, removing a beetle from her hair. “Ah, there you are Chris. I’ve beetle - sorry, been wondering where you were.” As Lily kissed Chris, Marigold was shocked to see him turn from chestnut brown to bright yellow, “The colour of a warning sign” Marigold thought. “What’s that? Al’s in trouble? Oh, no!” said Lily. “Marigold, we have to hurry! Almond’s in trouble and we have to help her!” “Almond who?” asked Marigold. “Never mind, follow me!” replied Lily with a concerned look. Marigold struggled through the leaves, coming after Lily.
When she finally burst through the leaves, Marigold saw what had never been seen by human before. There were rows of mushroom houses, toadstool shops, and, behind the second row of mushrooms and toadstools, there stood a simply tremendous centre mushroom, with two smaller mushrooms on both sides.
But Marigold didn’t have enough time to take it all in. “Huuuuurry!” gasped Lily, tugging on Marigold’s dress for all she was worth. “This waaay!”
Chapter Four
Having found Almond, Lily fights off some nasty goblins with her new reed whistle and to rescue Almond Silverleaf.
A moment later, the two new friends found themselves in a clearing near the edge of the forest. What’s more, the clearing was full of goblins, tickly reeds and long grass. There was also another fairy, of whom Marigold could not see clearly between the goblins, who was struggling against the goblins’ hands and claws. “? gniod uoy era tahW” asked one goblin to another.”What did that mean?” said Marigold. “It means ‘What are you doing’ backwards.” Replied Lily, hastily picking and twisting reeds and tickly grass. “Here,” said Lily, handing Marigold a strange object, which was made of reeds, “take this and blow for your life!” Lily took the strange instrument and blew. ‘PPHHWWHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEETTTTT!'
The goblins froze, dropped Almond, covered their ears and scarpered, yelping and howling things like ‘Yooweeeee!’ and ‘Hoooooooooooooo!’ as they went. “Thank you, Marigold. I couldn’t have done that all by myself.” “Why not?” asked marigold. “Why? Because the goblins would just have picked the whistle out my hands before I would have had time to fly away.” Said Lily when the goblins had gone, and Marigold had stopped blowing. Spotting Almond, Lily dived down onto the ground and sat next to Almond. Chris sat on Lily’s shoulder. Marigold, not sure what to do, sat down next to Lily. “Speak to me, Al,” said Lily in a soothing voice. “My arm” moaned Almond “my arm.” Lily examined Almond’s left arm carefully, then Almond’s right arm. Her left arm had been bruised, and the bruise was big. “Oh those ugly things!” screeched Lily angrily.
A moment later, the two new friends found themselves in a clearing near the edge of the forest. What’s more, the clearing was full of goblins, tickly reeds and long grass. There was also another fairy, of whom Marigold could not see clearly between the goblins, who was struggling against the goblins’ hands and claws. “? gniod uoy era tahW” asked one goblin to another.”What did that mean?” said Marigold. “It means ‘What are you doing’ backwards.” Replied Lily, hastily picking and twisting reeds and tickly grass. “Here,” said Lily, handing Marigold a strange object, which was made of reeds, “take this and blow for your life!” Lily took the strange instrument and blew. ‘PPHHWWHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEETTTTT!'
The goblins froze, dropped Almond, covered their ears and scarpered, yelping and howling things like ‘Yooweeeee!’ and ‘Hoooooooooooooo!’ as they went. “Thank you, Marigold. I couldn’t have done that all by myself.” “Why not?” asked marigold. “Why? Because the goblins would just have picked the whistle out my hands before I would have had time to fly away.” Said Lily when the goblins had gone, and Marigold had stopped blowing. Spotting Almond, Lily dived down onto the ground and sat next to Almond. Chris sat on Lily’s shoulder. Marigold, not sure what to do, sat down next to Lily. “Speak to me, Al,” said Lily in a soothing voice. “My arm” moaned Almond “my arm.” Lily examined Almond’s left arm carefully, then Almond’s right arm. Her left arm had been bruised, and the bruise was big. “Oh those ugly things!” screeched Lily angrily.
Chapter Five
Lily and Marigold go to the see the Fairy Queen on Her Majesty’s pet butterfly’s orders.
Lily headed back towards the fairy village, followed by Marigold who was carrying Almond. They went back into the fairy village. Just then, they were interrupted by a most curious and beautiful butterfly. “Oh, a royal butterfly” Lily exclaimed, then she began to talk with the butterfly in a sort of twitty, flittery language which sounded a bit like this: “Tit-wit-it-eet-fee-leet-ti-wit” twittered Lily, whist Almond rapidly translated for Marigold. At last, the butterfly gave a nod and flew off. Lily said “Oooh goodie, we’ve been invited for tea with Her Majesty. Are you two hungry?” Marigold suddenly realised how hungry she was. “Oh yes, sure I’m hungry” replied Marigold. “Not really” said Almond. “by the way, you can call me Al.” On the way to Her Majesty’s Palace, Marigold “Wow, a word river!” she exclaimed. “Yes, I know, trying blowing some bubbles with its water” laughed Lily. Marigold, try as she might, couldn’t blow any bubbles. Instead, she blew ‘e’s. After a while of chasing ‘e bubbles’, they set off for the Palace.
When they arrived, a royal servant fairy lead them into the palace, that is, she lead Almond and Lily into the palace, told them they would find the Queen straight ahead, turn left into the door marked ‘Authorised Guests and Servants Only’, then into the room with the red door. Then she said to Marigold, “Hmm. You’ll have to shrink before you can go in,” and with that, she flew up and started circling Marigold and covering her in fairy dust in such a confusing manner that Marigold’s eyes seemed to tell her the fairy was everywhere all around her at once, whist her brain thought the fairy wasn’t there at all.
“Achoo!” sneezed Marigold. Then, she felt a tingling in her toes which spread through her whole body. Then, the tingling stopped, and everything else was four or five times as big as it was before. Then Marigold realised that nothing was bigger, it was she who was smaller. “Come on, follow me,” said the fairy servant.
Marigold followed the fairy into the palace. “Amazing, isn’t it?” asked the fairy. “Yes” said Marigold, in wonder. Just then, Marigold spotted a truly magnificently dressed fairy hurrying along from halfway up the corridor.
Lily headed back towards the fairy village, followed by Marigold who was carrying Almond. They went back into the fairy village. Just then, they were interrupted by a most curious and beautiful butterfly. “Oh, a royal butterfly” Lily exclaimed, then she began to talk with the butterfly in a sort of twitty, flittery language which sounded a bit like this: “Tit-wit-it-eet-fee-leet-ti-wit” twittered Lily, whist Almond rapidly translated for Marigold. At last, the butterfly gave a nod and flew off. Lily said “Oooh goodie, we’ve been invited for tea with Her Majesty. Are you two hungry?” Marigold suddenly realised how hungry she was. “Oh yes, sure I’m hungry” replied Marigold. “Not really” said Almond. “by the way, you can call me Al.” On the way to Her Majesty’s Palace, Marigold “Wow, a word river!” she exclaimed. “Yes, I know, trying blowing some bubbles with its water” laughed Lily. Marigold, try as she might, couldn’t blow any bubbles. Instead, she blew ‘e’s. After a while of chasing ‘e bubbles’, they set off for the Palace.
When they arrived, a royal servant fairy lead them into the palace, that is, she lead Almond and Lily into the palace, told them they would find the Queen straight ahead, turn left into the door marked ‘Authorised Guests and Servants Only’, then into the room with the red door. Then she said to Marigold, “Hmm. You’ll have to shrink before you can go in,” and with that, she flew up and started circling Marigold and covering her in fairy dust in such a confusing manner that Marigold’s eyes seemed to tell her the fairy was everywhere all around her at once, whist her brain thought the fairy wasn’t there at all.
“Achoo!” sneezed Marigold. Then, she felt a tingling in her toes which spread through her whole body. Then, the tingling stopped, and everything else was four or five times as big as it was before. Then Marigold realised that nothing was bigger, it was she who was smaller. “Come on, follow me,” said the fairy servant.
Marigold followed the fairy into the palace. “Amazing, isn’t it?” asked the fairy. “Yes” said Marigold, in wonder. Just then, Marigold spotted a truly magnificently dressed fairy hurrying along from halfway up the corridor.
Chapter Six
After having tea with Her Majesty, Marigold, Almond and Lily tell the Queen about what happened.
“Your Majesty", began the fairy servant, but the Queen interrupted her. “Marigold, thank you, thank you!” “That’s very kind of you, but I didn’t do much,” replied Marigold “Didn’t do much? We would have needed at least three fairies to carry another fairy, and if you and Lily had gone to get help, then the goblins could have taken Miss Silverleaf and fairy dust knows what would happen after that.” “How did you know my name?” Asked Marigold curiously. “Never mind that,” Said the fairy Queen. “Follow me.” Marigold followed the Queen into the most curious of rooms.
The wallpaper was pink and purple, no, it was yellow, buttercup yellow and bright green, or was the wallpaper just changing colour all the time? Marigold slowly moved her eyes away from the wallpaper, which had just turned, and stared, round the room. Then, she noticed a table, where Her Majesty, Lily, and Almond were sitting, and saw a teapot, a milk jug, a sugar pot and several cups in the centre of the table. Almond seemed to be acting as if her arm wasn’t bruised at all.
Then the teapot stirred itself lazily, picked up what looked like a second milk jug with its spout, and poured the contents of the second milk jug into itself. The liquid that poured out of the second milk jug, was not, however milk. It was a shimmering, sparkling translucent substance that you could barely see.
Suddenly, Marigold fell off her chair, or that’s what she thought. The chair had actually broken into pieces. “Oh dear,” said the Queen, as Marigold let out a shriek and her head hit the ceiling. “Lily, you sort out Marigold please.” Lily drew her wand from her top pocket, and shrank Marigold again. “Shrinking spells” muttered Lily, under her breath. “Always wear off at the most inconvenient of times.”
After drinking some magic tea which tasted more like cinnamon and telling the Queen about what happened in the clearing in the forest, Her Majesty showed them to beautiful rooms, and then she gave Marigold a drink of something which had no flavour at all. “We never can be sure if you’ll suddenly get bigger tonight, in bed, can we?”
“Your Majesty", began the fairy servant, but the Queen interrupted her. “Marigold, thank you, thank you!” “That’s very kind of you, but I didn’t do much,” replied Marigold “Didn’t do much? We would have needed at least three fairies to carry another fairy, and if you and Lily had gone to get help, then the goblins could have taken Miss Silverleaf and fairy dust knows what would happen after that.” “How did you know my name?” Asked Marigold curiously. “Never mind that,” Said the fairy Queen. “Follow me.” Marigold followed the Queen into the most curious of rooms.
The wallpaper was pink and purple, no, it was yellow, buttercup yellow and bright green, or was the wallpaper just changing colour all the time? Marigold slowly moved her eyes away from the wallpaper, which had just turned, and stared, round the room. Then, she noticed a table, where Her Majesty, Lily, and Almond were sitting, and saw a teapot, a milk jug, a sugar pot and several cups in the centre of the table. Almond seemed to be acting as if her arm wasn’t bruised at all.
Then the teapot stirred itself lazily, picked up what looked like a second milk jug with its spout, and poured the contents of the second milk jug into itself. The liquid that poured out of the second milk jug, was not, however milk. It was a shimmering, sparkling translucent substance that you could barely see.
Suddenly, Marigold fell off her chair, or that’s what she thought. The chair had actually broken into pieces. “Oh dear,” said the Queen, as Marigold let out a shriek and her head hit the ceiling. “Lily, you sort out Marigold please.” Lily drew her wand from her top pocket, and shrank Marigold again. “Shrinking spells” muttered Lily, under her breath. “Always wear off at the most inconvenient of times.”
After drinking some magic tea which tasted more like cinnamon and telling the Queen about what happened in the clearing in the forest, Her Majesty showed them to beautiful rooms, and then she gave Marigold a drink of something which had no flavour at all. “We never can be sure if you’ll suddenly get bigger tonight, in bed, can we?”
Chapter Seven
Marigold returns to her garden. She is sad to leave fairyland, but Lily promises her by the name of fairy dust that they will meet again.
In the morning, at Rosevale number 9, Mrs Ivy was in a panic about her missing daughter. Little Marigold Mandy Ivy had been missing all night, and there was no sign of her anywhere. Back in Fairyland, Marigold said Goodbye to the Queen, Lily and Almond, and Lily whispered “We will meet again in the name of Fairy Dust, I promise" but she was cut off. “Hurry, Marigold, your parents must be in a panic.” Said the Queen. There they were, in Marigold’s Mother and Father’s garden. “A well kept garden, this,” remarked the Queen, “Bye bye, Marigold, and be good.”
“I will” called back Marigold, racing towards the house just as Mrs Ivy came out. “Marigold! Where ever have you been?” Cried Mrs Ivy as she ran to her daughter, but then she stopped. For a moment, she thought she saw a curious flicker of light just behind Marigold’s shoulder. “Oh, guess what, Mummy! I’ve just been to Fairyland and I met the Fairy Queen too and and and...” Marigold’s voice tailed away in a flood of excitement. But Mrs Ivy was so happy to be reunited with her daughter that she didn’t care.
The End
© Copyright Ayaka Sarah Yamaga-White 2013 (aged 8)
In the morning, at Rosevale number 9, Mrs Ivy was in a panic about her missing daughter. Little Marigold Mandy Ivy had been missing all night, and there was no sign of her anywhere. Back in Fairyland, Marigold said Goodbye to the Queen, Lily and Almond, and Lily whispered “We will meet again in the name of Fairy Dust, I promise" but she was cut off. “Hurry, Marigold, your parents must be in a panic.” Said the Queen. There they were, in Marigold’s Mother and Father’s garden. “A well kept garden, this,” remarked the Queen, “Bye bye, Marigold, and be good.”
“I will” called back Marigold, racing towards the house just as Mrs Ivy came out. “Marigold! Where ever have you been?” Cried Mrs Ivy as she ran to her daughter, but then she stopped. For a moment, she thought she saw a curious flicker of light just behind Marigold’s shoulder. “Oh, guess what, Mummy! I’ve just been to Fairyland and I met the Fairy Queen too and and and...” Marigold’s voice tailed away in a flood of excitement. But Mrs Ivy was so happy to be reunited with her daughter that she didn’t care.
The End
© Copyright Ayaka Sarah Yamaga-White 2013 (aged 8)