SWNOVELS Chapter 3: Jar-Ed
“K-King Simon?” Molly stammered. Her dark green eyes opened wide in surprise.
Jar-Ed seated himself at her table before he answered. He smiled at her, appearing quite friendly. However, Molly noticed that his eyes remained cold and glittering, his smile reflecting no warmth at all. Molly’s sensitive ears quivered as she listened to the strange man.
“Don’t look so frightened, my dear. King Simon would like a meeting with you to discuss a plan he has undertaken.”
“A plan? What would your king want with me? I don’t live in your kingdom.” As she scurried to heat her favorite cherry pit brew, Molly wondered how he had managed to come through the Invisible Divide. No one had ever done so before except the Spungle fairies and only when the moon was full. Without warning, she felt a stab of fear and a sudden feeling that her life was about to change.
They sat in her sun porch, sipping the aromatic brew and nibbling on honey biscuits before Jar-Ed explained further. He cleared his throat, put down his cup and proceeded to tell her of the reason for his visit. “Oh, but you do visit our kingdom, Molly, once a month, on the full moon.”
“We only stand on sacred fairy ground which has always belonged to the Spungles,” Molly defended herself.
“There is a great dissatisfaction among our people as a result of the Invisible Divide falling. They are afraid of the magic you possess and that there may come a time when it will be used against them. They want the two worlds to remain separate at all times.”
“There is no need to be afraid,” said Molly, surprised at the advisor’s words. “Our magic is for use only within our own population. It is not evil and is used mostly for the health and longevity of our people. We never touch ground in your kingdom, always fly above it. We have no wish to cause harm to anyone. Why would your king want to see me?”
Jar-Ed cleared his throat before he answered carefully. “It seems he has a plan to bring his population together with yours and calm his people’s fears. He requests you meet with him following the vanishing of the Invisible Divide, two days from now, I believe.”
“I suppose I could,” said Molly, hesitantly, her fingers nervously playing with a small tendril of red-gold hair. She had no way of knowing what would be expected of her if she did. “I can’t imagine what I could do to make peace.”
Jar-Ed rose and prepared to leave. “Have no fears, Molly. The king will explain. It is after all a privilege to have a private meeting with King Simon.”
When the door closed behind him, Molly moved to the corner of the room where the mystic receptacle stood. Deep in thought, the fairy absent-mindedly stirred the magical brew that created new fairy wands. It never failed to calm her whenever she had a problem.
Molly told herself that everything would turn out well and she was foolish to worry. However, she was filled with a strong sense of foreboding that would not leave. The young fairy wrapped her arms around herself as if she could ward off the chill that remained long after looking into Jar-Ed’s glittering blue eyes. She could not shake the displeasure of it no matter how hard she tried.
Two evenings later the moon was full, round and yellow. Molly’s dancing ended and she was preparing herself for the meeting with King Simon of the World Outside.
Leaving her friends at the partially lit fire, the Spungle fairy flew directly to a large group of rocks that jutted black against the sky. She had arranged to meet the king there. She carried the note in her pocket with his personal seal. He was pleased and thanked her for consenting to meet with him.
Molly was still nervous, wondering why he had chosen her. She could hear the strains of the rose tree music which helped to soothe and calm her. The fairy sat quietly waiting for the king to appear, wrapped in her favorite green cloak to ward off the chilly night air.
Molly did not have long to wait. Shortly, a figure appeared beside her. When he dropped the hood of his cloak, she realized it was Jar-Ed.
“Where is King Simon?” asked Molly, looking around.
“He is on his way,” Jar-Ed told her as he seated himself beside her. His cold, blue, glittering eyes lingered on her and Molly felt the same sense of foreboding she had when he first came to her door.
“What is that music, Molly?”
She stared at him in stunned surprise. “You can hear it?”
He nodded his dark head and began to laugh. He reached out, smoothing the red gold hair that shimmered in the light of the full moon, away from her face. She shrank away from him, hating the touch of his cold hands.
“I have something to tell you, Molly. I am afraid this meeting is only between the two of us.”
Molly immediately felt afraid and trembled at the look in his eyes. “Why did you arrange this meeting?”
Before she could question him further, she felt a rope slip over her head, pinning her wings tightly against her. She struggled to free herself but could not move. “W-What are you d-doing?” Molly stammered in fright. Her eyes grew wide with fear upon seeing he was not alone.