Chapter four, King Dagda's house before dawn. King Dagda called an emergency meeting
at one hour to sunrise, just before the fairies went to bed. Zaraa
counted five fairies sitting around the long kitchen table. Queen Maeve was sweeping tools
and bits of timber into a basket. You might have cleared the table.
How were we meant to have an important meeting amongst all this clutter. It's
not clutter, grumbled King Dagda. I'm in the middle of these projects and
you were mixing them up. Zarara knew King Dagda was cross because a little,
dark gray cloud started hovering above his head. Well, this breakfast project
seems to be finished, Queen Maeve said, carrying a pile of plates and
mugs over to the sink, little flames flicking out of her nose. She
tutted as she stepped over our tour the fitness fairy, who was doing a
set of press ups on the floor. She swept a pile of timber shavings
into the fire and set them alight with a big puff of flames from her
mouth. They say she's related to an actual dragon, whispered Jenny. The
fairy secretary to Laura the wishing Well Fairy. Laura yawned. King Daggeda picked
up a hammer from the basket and banged it three times on the table to
silence the chattering. This is an emergency, fairies, I need everyone to
focus now. The noise around the table died down. Gracious the Rainbow Fairy
stopped testing out colors on the walls and sat to attention in her chair.
We Zarara swung the length of the table. Zarara, get down off the
chandelier. You can't practice your acrobatics now. We are trying to have a
meeting, said Queen mave. Zarara swung one last time across the table,
hanging by her knees on the twisted wood, and did a double somersault to
land expertly in her seat. Arthur did a few more stretches and sat down.
King dag declared his throat and began slowly m Ever since Princess Moppett dropped
her ice cream on the nature Walk when she was a toddler and had that
enormous tantrum, we have had a large supply of Princess's tears, the magic
ingredient in dust. Jenny stopped writing her dinner party shopping list and started to
concentrate on what King Dagda was saying. The fact is we have run out
of tears. Laura, who was falling asleep on her arms after a long
night of well diving, sat up straight. Everyone was concentrating now, and
he paused dramatically, we are out of dust. There was total silence.
You could hear a leaf drop. The fairies looked shocked. Now, Princess
muppet, he continued in a businesslike fashion, trying to keep the group calm.
Is our nearest princess. She is about eight years old. Now,
hopefully it will still be easy to make her cry. I know it sounds
a bit mean, but she is quite a spoilt little girl, so it
shouldn't be too difficult. And to cheer her up, gracious can decorate her
room with a nice, colorful painting. This is my plan, he announced,
picking up his clipboard. All the fairies leant forward on their elbows eagerly.
One I will make a submarine boat out of this abandoned plastic water bottle.
Zarara could hear the excitement mounting in his voice. He is brilliant at
up cycling. She thought. Two, we will launch the boat down the
sinkhole in the disappearing lake and float down the underground river to dun Goura Castle.
Three Zarara will climb up the ivy into Princess Muppet's window and attach a
rope ladder to the window latch. We will all follow her up. Four
we will make Princess muppets cry and collect the princess's tears. Five we will
catch the incoming tide and float home. Arthur, I want you to mind
the village while we are gone. We don't want a crowd of gnomes moving
in or evil elves stealing our stuff. Okay, your kingdom is thief in
my hand, said Artur. King Dagda looked around the table, confidently,
simple job done. Any questions? He rolled out the large, well worn
map with a flourish showing the route. What about the wicked lazy elves from
the Black Mountains they sometimes travel on that river, said Jenny. They are
always stealing food and clothes. They can't be bothered to do any work themselves,
going around in their birthday suits half the time. They really are frightful.
And what about the seals by the castle. They might mistake us for
a fish and eat us, said Laura. And what about those otters that
live on the rocks that captured a fairy and kept her in their smelly fishy
den for a week, said Queen Maeve. And what if we can't make
Princess Moppet cry added gracious, Well, that is the least of our problems,
said King Dagda. Maybe we should bring an onionjust in case, suggested
Queen Maeve. The King rolled his eyes. Could you fit me in for
a color and cut before we leave, whispered Jenny to Arter. The fitness
and part time hairdresser Fairy Zarara bounced up and down with her hand up.
When can we go? When can we go?