Part the Third:

    “Here ye, here ye! Attention all fellow fairies of Moon Stone Kingdom! I thank you for gathering in this meadow with us for an important celebration!” King Aspen stood on a large, moss-covered stadium which had been recently erected in Sun-beam’s meadow. The night breeze swayed the garments that hung from the handsome, slender fairy King. Throngs of fairies gazed at their illuminated leader while they sat at pleasant tables supplied with dishes of berries and strewn with acorns filled with wine. Hanging lanterns had been strung from tall twigs stuck into the soft earth. Butterflies flew gracefully about through the hazy, golden light, dropping down now and again to escort a very drunk fairy from the festivities to a quiet patch of daisies some way off. It might be added that not jut a few had been thus dealt with by the time Aspen took his stand. The sober fairies, or at least the tipsy ones who could maintain composure, were listening contently to their King as he continued to address them at the party. “As you all know, we celebrate tonight the 17^th birthday of our beloved daughter Sun-beam!” A thundering applause went up at the mention of the royal princess. “I want to remind all of you that although she is from the human-world, my Queen and I have raised her with the hopes that she someday will succeed us (along with our blood-sons Twig and Olive) as ruler of this empire!” Applause flooded in once more, this time mingled with a few laughs. As if knowing the cause of the scattered chuckles, King Aspen added, “We intend to build a human-size castle just for her! She loves this meadow but it is time she gets to live with her family in a mansion as beautiful as can be built!” There was even more applause and this time shouts of approval from the tipsy going on hammered fairies. As the butterflies swooped to gather another batch of woozy sprites, Queen Moss appeared. Even though nearly on-third of the guests were now piled high, unconscious on the other end of the field, enough were left to give her Highness a standing welcome. After being seated, they waited expectantly for their queen. “Hello my friends! As you all know, Sun-beam has not been present yet at this party, even though it be her own birthday we celebrate. We asked her to wait on the other side of the meadow, until we could announce her in a proper fashion. We figure the best way to do this is to greet her with her birthday gift. But first, King Aspen and I have to make it!” The Queen stopped and looked amused at her people who were muttering in confused voices. What could her Highness mean? They soon got their answer. Without another word, Queen Moss turned her back to the audience until she was facing a dark unoccupied section of the meadow. Taking out a silver wand from her hair-bun, (the wand fastened it), and letting her glittery hair fall to her shoulders, the Queen swished the wand back and forth, stepped down off the moss-covered stadium and stood expectantly toward the shadows ahead. In moments the crowd gasped as sparkles started to appear and all at once a gigantic, man-sized castle formed in he distance! The crowd was still in shocked staring at the transforming wonder, when the king and Queen, quite pleased, gave the order to send for Sun-beam.

      The messenger soon cam hurrying back and pulled the King aside with visible terror. “Your Highness, there must be some misunderstanding! She’s not there! I’m afraid something has happened to our dear Princess Sun-beam!”

Part the Fourth:

       Sun-beam had been sitting on the other-side of the meadows, weaving a flower wreathe in the fading evening light. She wore a delicate woven white dress that her mother had woven her.  Almost a grown youth, the girl was petite for her age, but still towered over her adoptive fairy family. Perhaps it was the pure result of living with fair, bright-eyed sprites, but in any case, Sun-beam had the glow about her that would make any human question if she wasn’t really part elf. Her Irish red hair was still the same however. At the moment the sun-light fully vanished, Sun-beam crowned her head with her workmanship: The most beautiful flower wreath in the entire fairy kingdom. “Now I am ready for my celebration, I hope they call me soon.” She mused aloud. But just that moment, as the first star twinkled over head, a stout cord entwined itself around the waist of the girl with such force, she could only utter a low gasp! Before she could begin to question what was happening, as if a snake, the cord wrapped itself around and around her so that her hands where fastened by her sides and she could hardly move her upper-body. In a desperate attempt to stop this sudden binding, the princess heaved herself to a standing position and fled down the flowery field. Panic-stricken, she didn’t notice the evil, gleaming eyes peering at her from the thick darkness. Or did she catch the hushed voices and flitter of wings which perused her in her flight. “Come on Thorn! The Princess isn’t down yet, drat her!” One throat coughed hoarsely. “But Thistle, you said the magic Rope would take care of the binding and we would just have to use the dust to get her to the tower.” A whinny, younger voice said. “Oh hush Thorn!” The first voice snapped. “Go back and get Mom and Dad, tell them this isn’t a two fairy job like they planned!”

     As Princess Sun-beam fled in terror far from her resting spot, the fairy page sent to fetch her came back to report she wasn’t there. Immediately the Queen and King left the party, dismissing the confused guests and calling for their trusted advisers. Back at their fairy-sized castle, in the throne room, the king was pacing in worried anger. “It is not like dear Sun-beam to run off!” He exclaimed loudly. He didn’t hear one of his advisers try to clear his throat. “Your Highness if I may?” A slender wide-eyed fairy piped up. But the king kept muttering in frustration, sometimes walking, sometimes flying about the golden room. His attention was finally caught when Queen Moss gently, but firmly, pushed him into his throne. “Listen to Hyssop.”  She ordered kindly. “Thank you my Queen.” The advisor began. “Now, King Aspen, I have reason to suspect your daughter hasn’t run-away but has been kidnapped.” Hyssop stated firmly. Queen Moss gasped and flew straight into the air for a second, clutching her hands in shock, but she soon settled back down in her seat, bidding Hyssop to go on. “As you know, one of my jobs is making sure suggestions and comments made by your citizens are looked into, in order to maintain peace and be informed if trouble is at hand.” The attendant paused, “Go on.” King Aspen demanded, now worried rather than angry. “Anyway, more than several comments have come my way suggesting that someone is plotting to kidnap the Princess and lock her in a tower to make sure she never attempts to go back to her human-world. It seems Sun-beam is regarded as the key ingredient for a prosperous empire and without her-” The King suddenly cut in, “But who?!?” Hyssop glanced down for a moment than replied softly, “Your brother, Lord Tangle-web and his wife Lady Ivy.”

           Back in the pitch-black meadow, the evil fairies had been outdistanced by the fleeing Princess. Sun-beam, unaware of the direction she was headed in, suddenly tripped and fell on her face, unconscious. Little did she know in her slumbering dreams, that her mischievous cousins had been chasing her and that she now rested safe beyond the boundaries of pursuit. For in Sun-beam’s flight, trying to rid herself of a tangling cord her Uncle had woven so she might never leave the kingdom, she had stumbled on a mushroom and coincidental entered into the human-world! Thus began the confused adventures of a human from the fairy-realm, who accidentally entered into the unfamiliar land of her birth.