Part 2
“Well Neville?” Eigengrau asked.
“Thank you, my Lady. Harrod is a good man. Will James grow up okay?” Neville’s spirit asked.
“He will still be who he is meant to be, as long as he comes here to Palisade Bay. Harrod, Emma, Jakob, they will all be a good influence on him.”
“I just wish I could be there to see him grow up.”
“That is the second part of my surprise, Neville.” Eigengrau said, smiling. “Your soul is not ready for the afterlife. You were supposed to live for many years yet. Before you ask me, I cannot bring you back to life nor does reincarnation exist.”
“So what’s the surprise then?”
“I can make you an attendant spirit.”
“Wait, like an angel?”
“Hm. In your case, since you died wrong, I think a fairy would be more appropriate. You are a scholar so I know what you are thinking. Yes, all fairies are those who died before they were supposed to.”
“So you mean like the little pixies of folk legend?” Neville asked dubiously.
“Yes. There is but one rule, you cannot reveal you used to be mortal. You will die before the words leave your throat if you attempt to. You may choose to reveal yourself to James if you wish, but you can never tell him who you are. If he asks, just say you knew his father, or another similar lie. Do you understand?”
“It’ll be worth it, just to see him grow up. You do this for every fairy?”
“My sphere is death, Neville. It is my duty to, yes. The magic will take some time to take effect, but mortals cannot see your spirit to begin with. Find somewhere comfortable to wait.” Eigengrau snapped her fingers, and Neville’s ghost shimmered briefly. “Enjoy the extra time fate has given you, Neville. Not everyone is so lucky.” as Eigengrau finished speaking, she faded from sight, leaving behind nothing, and Neville’s ghost alone in a field outside Palisade Bay.
“A fairy huh?” Neville said out loud. “Well, could be worse I suppose. Somewhere comfortable, she said. Guess the base of that tree is comfortable enough.” he said, floating over to it and sitting down. Feeling suddenly sleepy, he dozed off.
When Neville woke, he found himself back in the world of the living, but much smaller. He had no idea how much time had passed, but the sun was just rising in the east.
“What a lovely day.” he said, but the voice was wrong. It was... feminine? He looked down. He was a girl fairy! Neville was panicking. Did something wrong happen with the magic? Then he heard a familiar voice in his head.
“I forgot to tell you, fairies are always the opposite sex. Have fun, Heather Driftdash.” the voice of Eigengrau said in his head, as monotone as ever.
“Would have been nice to know beforehand! Hmph!” Neville pouted. Well, I guess it would remove any possibilities of James figuring out a fairy is actually his father, thinking it out. Neville’s thoughts were interrupted by another fairy showing up.
“Hi!” a small male fairy fluttered around near him. “You’re finally awake! How are you? You feel okay?”
“Yes, I think so.” Neville replied. “Just trying to get used to... being so small.”
“Oh I know it’s so weird isn’t it? Lady Eigengrau told you the rule, right?” the male fairy asked, fluttering down to stand next to Neville. “My name’s Cricket Mossfall. What’s yours?”
“Yes, she did. My name is uhhh... Heather Driftdash.” Heather replied after taking a few moments to remember her name. “You said I’m finally awake, so you know how long I’ve been here?”
“Yes, I’d say at least a month went by.” Cricket replied, tapping his chin with his finger.
“A month?” Heather asked, shocked. “It felt like I was only asleep for an hour.”
“Takes awhile to shrink this much, I guess?” Cricket speculated with a shrug. “Now come on let’s get off the ground before some animal mistakes us for food!” Cricket fluttered his wings and went up into the branches of the tree. Heather tested out her wings then took off after him.
High up in the branches of the tree, Heather did feel safer than exposed on the ground. Looking around, she spotted Cricket sitting on a shaded branch near the trunk. He waved and she flew over.
“So, any living family?” Cricket asked eventually, offering up a seed from his pocket to eat.
“Yes actually, my son. Eigengrau promised to bring him here to Palisade Bay.” Heather said after a moment. She looked over at Cricket, a sad look on her face. “I just wish I could have done more.”
Cricket sat in silence for a long time before responding, a pained look on his face. “Believe me when I say I know that feeling.”
The two fairies sat in silence for over an hour, high in the branches of the oak tree overlooking a meadow. The wind softly blew through the trees, rustling the leaves as smoke rose from the chimneys in the town. The day was just starting for some, for others it had started long before dawn. Eventually, they spotted someone Heather recognized coming down the road into town.
“Cricket, I know that man!” Heather whispered, pointing at the large man strolling down the road. “That’s Harrod Bearskin! He’s the one who’s looking after my son!”
“Heather, wait.” Cricket replied, grabbing at Heather’s clothing before she could take off. “He’s going to want to know how you know him. What will you tell him?”
“That’s easy! I’ll just-- oh.” Heather slumped back down on the branch. This was hard. She had known Harrod quite well when she was still Neville, but how would she explain knowing him as Heather? She thought for a couple minutes before an idea came to her.
“You look like you got a dumb idea.” Cricket said. “So let’s hear it.”
“Well, in my youth I went on several adventures with Jakob Rawlinson. I can tell him I met who I used to be on those adventures. So that solves that!” Heather proudly stated, hands on hips.
“Rawlinson? Really?” Cricket was actually impressed. “You’re an interesting one. I think I’ll stick around. Shall we?” Cricket fluttered his wings and took off, but Heather was already way ahead of him and heading after Harrod.