Chapters 9 & 10 "In Search of Balance"

 Chapter 9: Reckoning of the Ogres

 

The Raven King could hardly believe his ears. How could he be hearing that song? Hadn’t he gotten rid of all the meadowlarks?

The Raven King went over to make sure that the Red Ogre was still guarding the West gate. Noxus was there standing at attention, so The Raven King felt confident that gate was secure.

The Raven King then called out a loud “kraa” to verify that all were guarding their posts. He was surprised that only Rooksby, Nick and Donovan called back. Where were the rest of his guards? What had happened to them? The Raven King was ready for battle. It was time to gather all his loyal subjects for the fight. He instructed Rooksby to meet him at the East gate.

He instructed Donavan and Nick to stay guard at the North and South Gate. Though the number of guards were smaller than he had expected, the Raven King had enough to guard the four gates.

The Raven King cast a second spell on all his loyal Red Ogres. This was a spell to make the Ogres so angry that they started to destroy any creature that would get in their path. There would be a rampage of destruction in all of Etheria.

The time that he had cast this spell was just as the dryads and their fairy friends had started to celebrate Bacchanalia.  This was a celebration of all the freedom that the Raven King had given them.

They didn’t have to worry about rules or morals. They could just enjoy life in Etheria. Because of the celebration many of them were intoxicated and so when the Red Ogres came to the festival, they didn’t even notice how angry they were. They invited them to come drink with them.

The Red Ogres started to drown the fairies in the large bowls of wine. Suddenly the other fairies realized what was happening and fled in horror.

Rage and terror from the Red Ogres caused fear and panic among the fairies and dryads. In their panic they ended up being caught in traps.

These Red Ogres would put the young fairies into cages and have them watch as their parents and older friends were tortured. The Red Ogres would pull off their wings one by one.

As the younger fairies would cry the Red Ogres would warn them, “Stop crying or you will be next.”

Some of younglings would stop crying and these were invited to leave the cage. They were given a second warning that if they ever cried again, they would die. Most of these fairies found dark caves to hide in and vowed they would never cry again.

 

As the Red Ogres finished killing the fairies outside the cage. A Red Ogre would say to the fairies inside the cage, “This is your last chance to stop crying,” and then that Red Ogre would jump down on the cage smashing it flat and killing all that were in it.

Sometimes the Red Ogres would get tired of all the work it took to torture the fairies and they would simply go as a group to a village and set it on fire.

Argon wondered if there was anything that he could do. As he communicated with Clair, he was told that the best thing for him to do was to protect those in his care. Trying to stop the rampage wasn’t his job. It would be done by others.

Argon reminded all the fairies he was protecting of Goldie and how dying wasn’t the end.

Most of the fairies understood but some thought it was cowardly to do nothing and went off to fight the Red Ogres. These fairies ended up also being killed.

Noxus would hear all the screams and crying from his watch at the West gate.

As he looked down at the villages in flames, he realized that this was not the leader he wanted to support. His heart and mind seemed to fight each other. 

His mind was reminding him of the importance of staying loyal to his post. His heart was telling him that his brother’s way was a truer way of being.

Noxus realized that if he was honest with himself, he didn’t want to serve the Raven King anymore. He realized that his life would be in danger if he left his post but he didn’t care.

He came to realized that what he was doing was wrong. Etheria was not meant to be a land of terror. He was a courageous ogre not a coward. He would not just sit by and watch the carnage.

I will go to my brother, thought Noxus. Eek had told him that if he ever wanted to leave the service of the Raven King that he would find Eek at the Northwest Lake.

As Noxus traveled he witnessed the horrors of fairies having their wings pulled off.

Without their wings the fairies would lay on the ground and slowly take their last breath. The Red Ogres would watch laughing as younger fairies would cry for help.

As Noxus saw the torture of the fairies, he thought of the two types of deaths, the smashing the young fairies was more merciful. At least they were out of their misery a lot faster.

When he arrived at the lake it was easy to find Eek. After all, a tall Blue Ogre was easy to find among the fairies and dryads.

As he came to the lake, he noticed that there were fairies diving into the lake. Had they given up?

Had they decided that instead of a painful death it would be better to take their own life? Why was Eek just watching these fairies give up their lives? Noxus rushed into the lake without a thought. All he knew was that it wasn’t right for them to give up like that. While in the water his only thought was grabbing as many fairies to returning them to the dry land.

He looked frantically all around but could not find any fairies. Was he too late? Were they all at the bottom of the Lake. Noxus kept going deeper and deeper into the lake. He started to worry that he would be joining the dead fairies, because he would be taking his last breath.

Suddenly he felt his body become light as a feather and he started floating upward. It felt like a dream. As he looked at his arms, they were no longer red. His skin had turned blue like that water all around him.

As he reached the surface, he felt his body being gently thrown to the dry ground. Just before being let go, he looked eye to eye with the Lady of the Lake. He felt enchanted by her.

Was she the one that had transformed him?

Even though his body felt light he did not feel weak or helpless. Instead, he felt stronger than he had ever felt in his life.

Once on the ground he noticed a blue fairy that seemed to be encouraging the fairies to go into the lake. It was then that he saw the whole picture with new eyes.

The fairies that dived into the lake were gone for only moment. He saw as they were lifted out of the lake by the Lady of the Lake. As a fairy would fly high into the air, he noticed that the fairies’ wings were larger and stronger than before they dove into the lake.

Noxus thought that his skin turning blue was magic coming from the lake. Those must be magical waters. Clair moved next to Noxus and smiled.

Clair then explained that even though the waters are blessed by the Lady of the Lake it was his willingness to give up his life to rescue the fairies that changed his appearance.

Clair asked Noxus if he remembered what he was like as a young ogre.

As Noxus reflected on that, he realized it was only when Eek was born that he became the strong, protective brother.

 They had lost their father just before Eek’s birth and Noxus convinced himself that he had to be the strong, protective “man of the family” now that there was not a father to protect them.

Clair knew the time had arrived for these two brothers to go and stop the Red Ogres. He explained to Noxus and Eek that they were to find fairies running away from a Red Ogre and rescue them by standing between them and the Red Ogre that was getting ready to attack them.

He promised them if they would be true to their heart, they would be amazed at how quickly the Red Ogres would change back to the Blue Ogres they truly were.

Noxus and Eek looked at each other. Never had the brothers had a deeper bond. “Let’s do this,” said Noxus and off they went.

As the brothers headed into the battlefield, Clair knew that the fairies were ready to face the Raven King at the East gate. As Clair explained to the fairies that he was going to be king of the castle, some of the fairies were surprised. They had assumed that Argon would rule in the castle.

Many seemed to show doubt about Clair. As Willa observed this she said, “Even if all of fairies in Etheria fall away, I will never leave your side and fight with you until death.”

Clair looked his friend into the eyes and said “I tell you, Willa, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you know me.”

Willa was surprised by the reference to a rooster. She had been told by the fairies of the north of the legend of the Rooster. How one day they would hear the rooster crow. On that day there would only be love and light in Etheria.

It didn’t take long for Noxus and Eek to find their first Red Ogre. He was chasing a fairy through a field of sunflowers.

Even though the fairy was quite a way from him, they could tell that the fairy was getting tired.  

Quickly Noxus and Eek blocked the path of the Red Ogre. “Why would you harm that beautiful fairy,” said Noxus, with a stern look on this face. The Red Ogre looked surprised.

Eek was reminded of all the times that Noxus would chide him for getting into mischief. The look on the Red Ogres face reminded him how he would feel.

Noxus reached out and touched the ogre on his shoulder and as he did the skin turned blue. The blue spread until the only red thing was the ogres checks. The two brothers were amazed by how easy it had been.

They explained to the ogre that used to be red, that they were on a quest to change back all the Red Ogres and invited him to join them.

As they continued, they changed another Red Ogre and they split into two groups. Noxus in one and Eek in the other. They continued to split every time there were two more Blue Ogres.

It was amazing how quickly there were no more Red Ogres in all the land. These Blue Ogres became known as the defenders of the fairies.

As Clair lead the group of fairies to the East gate they passed by the north gate and were met by Donavan and a small conspiracy of ravens.

As they got close Willa pulled out her magic wand and pointing it to one of the raven’s shape beaks and changed it into one that would belong to a finch.

Quickly Clair flew over and with his wand he changed the beak back to that of a raven. Willa looked confused.

Was this not to be a battle for Clair? Why was he not wanting to fight. “Come with US”, croaked Donavan as he bound the Clair’s wings and lead him inside the castle. Willa was so confused that she stayed outside; not sure what she was supposed to do.

 As news of Clair being taken into the castle spread, Argon went to Nick at the South gate.

He knew that Nick would let him in the castle. Argon went to talk with the Blue Ogres that were approaching the West gate.

Noxus and Eek along with a group of the Blue Ogres were getting ready to enter the castle.

Argon suggested that they wait outside the castle until they hear the crowing of the rooster.

At the North gate, a raven asked Willa, “Aren’t you part of the blue fairy and dragon’s team?” and she quickly said, “I am not”.

Donavan looked at Willa and asked “Weren’t you one of the fairies with the blue fairy when he was arrested?” She denied it, saying, “I was not”.

Willa was feeling scared and alone. Why had she been so afraid of telling the truth?

She was determined that if anyone else asked she would boldly tell them that she was with Clair.

One of the ravens, who was a brother to the raven that Willa had tried changing his beak challenged her, “Wasn’t it you that tried to change my brother’s beak?” The fear was strong and again, Willa denied it. At that moment a rooster began to crow loud and long. 

Chapter 10: A New Etheria

Inside the castle a lot had happened. As Clair was brought to the court of the castle, the Raven King had mocked him for thinking he could be King of the Fairies.

Argon started to wonder if they had changed anything by coming, because it reminded him of the past that they had come from. He wondered if he had made a mistake telling the Blue Ogres to stay outside until the rooster crowed. Would the rooster really crow? Was Clair really going to be King? Was there no way to get the Raven King out of the kingdom?

Just as Argon began to sink into despair the door of the East gate flung open and here stood Celio riding his golden-winged lion, with Goldie flying by his side. Celio’s loud voice boomed like thunder.

“Louis release Clair this moment!” All the court was puzzled, who was this, Louis? Then the Raven King replied, “Why should I? I am the rightful King!”

“No,” said Celio looking deep into the Raven King’s eyes, “I only have one fairy son.” Celio then softly said, “My other son decided to turn into a raven and this is not a raven kingdom.” All the ravens and fairies were surprised. Was it true? Was the Raven King once a fairy?

“It is only through control that this kingdom can be great,” said The Raven King.

“No, it is only with being able to be free, that this kingdom will be exactly what it is destined to become,” said Celio.

“My fellow subjects, you get to be free to have fun, to make mischief and live in a kingdom of light and love,” shouted Celio to the crowd. “Clair is my beloved son. The rightful king of Etheria and he will rule by giving you the opportunity to do just that.”

The fairies and even some of the ravens began to cheer. They began to chant “down with the Raven King and up with Clair, the blue fairy being our King”

Just than they could hear the rooster crow and there was more cheering.

The Blue Ogres rushed into the castle and the Raven King looked at them in amazement. The Raven King summoned all this guard to come into the court. Donavan and Rooksby came to his side, but Nick flow next to Clair and unloosed his bands.

With no guard at the North gate, Willa entered the castle. “All those that want me as your king,” shouted the Raven King, “come and stand with us.”.

Willa looked sadly at Clair, ashamed at what she had done. Clair’s eyes were only filled with love.

There were only three ravens that joined the three in the middle of the court. Celio asked if they were sure of their choice.

“All those that would like to see these six cast in prison join me in singing,” said Celio and then he began to sing

“Before the mountains were

Before Etheria was formed

Everlasting to everlasting

Clair was Etheria’s King.”

 

As all joined into the song Nick bound the six and led them into the deep, dark dungeon of the castle. There was great lightning and thunder heard and then all could hear the rain come down hard on the roof of the castle. The singing stopped for a moment and then Clair started to sing.

“Peace

Skies may crash down

Waves on the lake may roar

Through it all

I will give you peace.”

And the sky quieted. Only a light pattering was heard on the roof. The court was silent in reverence and joy for their new king. They all knew he would bring peace to the land.

Celio placed the crown on Clair’s head and the castle was filled with light. The fairies shout Victory! Victory! Victory!

There was singing and dancing.

Every fairy was shouting praise to Clair. They knew that he was the rightful Etherian King. Just as Celio had his lion, Clair had Argon, the dragon, that would be his guard, friend and ride whenever he needed it.

Goldie would be among the fairies teaching them about the blessings that gold can bring. Clair looked around for Willa. He couldn’t see her anywhere in the crowd.

As the fairies left the castle to return to their homes, they saw a beautiful rainbow above the castle. Everything smelled so fresh and new. Argon was overjoyed with what was going on. They had done it! Etheria would now be eternally fresh and now.

With Clair on the throne, Etheria was a place very much like Utopia. There was no longer the need for the sun to light the day or Luna to light the night. The light from Clair was always on the land. There was no longer the need to sleep. All of Etheria found rest in knowing there would always be peace. 

 The Blue Ogres divided up by twos to be at every village in Etheria. They stood as a reminder to the fairies and dryads of Etheria, that anyone can change and be at peace. It was just a matter of changing one’s heart.

It took some time for Clair to found Willa. She had been crying ever since the rooster had crowed. “After all that you have done for me, I didn’t stay by your side,” sobbed Willa

Clair embraced Willa. “The reason I shared with you about what would happen was so that you would know it was all meant to be,” Clair lovingly whispered to Willa.

“You should ask Goldie and Argon to share about how they became part of my team,” Clair said with a grin.

Willa wondered, could it be true that others might have betrayed Clair. She did want to talk with Goldie and Argon. She had always assumed that they had been together since the beginning.

As all Etherians got to know Clair, the rightful king of Etheria; they realized what a true leader looks like. He was kind and gentle. There was never an angry word that came out of his mouth.

If anyone made a mistake all they needed to do was acknowledge it and Clair would assist them in knowing the best way to make it right.

What a contrast to the Raven King, when he had ruled. Everyone was afraid to say that they had done anything wrong for fear of the consequences.

Etheria remained a peaceful fairy kingdom. Besides the fairies there were song birds and even ravens but they knew who would take care of them and rejoiced that the Raven King, now only knew as Louis, was in prison and all his loyal followers were with him.

One day LaVon came to the castle. He asked Clair if he could ever be forgiven for what he had done in Azalea. Clair called out, waved his wand and two little fairies came to his side. LaVon recognized them at once. They were the two fairies that had haunted his dreams. He was puzzled at first. Clair looked into his eyes and said, “Everything has a purpose.”

As time went on The Fairy War became only a legend in the minds of the fairies. It was a challenge for them to remember anything but the beautiful Etheria that they now lived in.

There was no more weeping or crying, only joy and rejoicing.

 There was no death known in the kingdom. When a fairy would have their 100^th birthday they got to go to Utopia and sit in Counsel with Celio.

The fairies had beautiful home with gardens and vineyards and there was no fairy that would go without. They enjoyed reaping in what they had sow. If there was ever a need among all of Etheria, all they had to do was communicate that need to Clair and that need was taken care of.

Ravens, Ogres, Dryads and Fairies lived side by side, The ravens appreciated every treasure in Etheria. There was no danger anymore; no creature causing harm. 

As the Rooster crowed in the morning, the fairies would share the story of the first crow heard so many years ago. With the sound of meadowlark all realized the importance of  treating everyone kindly. Change is always possible. By letting go of bad feelings Etheria is full of joy.