CHAPTER 10

The following morning everyone was awakened to a strange sound and the buzzing of little voices. Gene and Shannon looked out the window to find, to their amazement, leprechauns hammering and putting up tents. They looked at each other and quickly throwing on robes, turned to hurry out the door, headed for downstairs. In the hallway they ran into Paul who also in a robe, was headed downstairs. Shannon checked on the kids to find that Evan, Sophie, and Nick were not in their rooms.

The three met Lady Kathryn in the hall at the top of the stairs.

"Lady Kathryn, what is happening outside?" Asked Shannon.

"What do you mean?" she replied in a surprised tone.

"Outside. What….who….are those leprechauns?" stammered Paul.

Lady Kathryn laughed. "Of course. They are getting ready for the festival tonight."

Just then, Sabrina came flying up the stairs followed as closely as possible by Sophie and Evan. She stopped in mid flight when she saw Lady Kathryn and the other adults.

"I have told my father how The Paul saved me from the evil demon." She announced proudly.

Paul and Shannon burst out in laughter.

"I do not think that is funny." Gene grumbled. "I am not evil."

"Then you should not have put that spell on Sabrina." Shannon grinned.

"But I…."

"It is no use Gene. The truth has come out. You are the evil demon and I am the good spell breaker." Paul laughed at his friend.

"Sabrina, where are you going in such a hurry?" inquired Lady Kathryn. "I thought you would be busy getting ready for the festival."

"We are. I wanted to show Sophie and Evan how to fly from my window." Sabrina explained as she started toward her room.

"Fly?" Gene, Paul, and Shannon said at the same time.

"Sabrina. There is time for that later. The children cannot fly with you right now." Lady Kathryn scolded.

"Oh." Sabrina hung her head, landed on the stairs and walked back down with the two younger children.

"Lady Kathryn," began Shannon. "I know we said the children could go to the festival, but flying? I don’t know if I like the sound of that."

"King Greagoir has promised Sabrina that he would give the children the gift of flight so that they can fly with her tonight at the festival. They will be fine, I assure you. No harm will come to them." Lady Kathryn told the anxious parents. She continued, "Although you cannot attend the festival…"

"Not attend? What do you mean we cannot attend? Our children are going to be going to some festival alone?" Gene interrupted.

"Humans are not allowed to attend the festival." Michael started to explain as he joined the group in the hall. "King Greagoir has made an exception for the children as a gift to his daughter. Even we cannot attend the festival but the King has given permission for you to observe with us from the top of the castle. Your children will be completely safe, trust me."

Gene, Shannon, and Paul exchanged glances, not sure of this arrangement, but also knowing it was a privilege for the children to be allowed to attend. Trusting the McGregors, the adults agreed.

There was much activity around the castle that day. The children ran in and out telling their parents of all the activity going on. Even Nick got into the festivities when he told his parents of helping the leprechauns construct the stages for the performers. Lady Kathryn was in the kitchen most of the day, preparing snacks.

Finally, sundown was upon them.

Michael was now giving instructions to all his visitors. "Nicholas, Sophie, and Evan you must remain here by the entrance until King Greagoir has announced your presence and invites you to the festival. Your parents, Lady Kathryn, and I will be watching from the top of the castle. Sabrina must enter with her parents and Thaddeus must enter with his family so you will be on your own for just a little while. Will that be alright with you?"

"Yes" all three children answered in unison.

Michael smiled, "Fine. We will see you soon." Turning to the concerned parents, "Come it is time to take our places." He ushered them away from the children and up the stairs to the top of the castle before they could rethink this situation.

As everyone took their places on top of the castle there was a trumpet sound.

"The festival is ready to begin. Watch." Lady Kathryn said out loud, with a gleam in her eye.

Again a trumpet sounded and two leprechauns walked into the clearing with torches and began to light the lamps that had been set in place that afternoon. After the lamps were lit the faerie kingdoms entered the clearing. First came the faeries, the leprechauns, the dwarfs, the elves, and even a few trolls. Then came King Seamus and Queen Fiona. Behind them came their sons and daughters with their families. At the end was Thaddeus and Breanna and their children all taking their places on the side of their kingdom. Sophie waved at Thaddeus who only smiled at the little girl. This was a regal procession and he could not speak to her just yet.

Next to enter was King Greagoir and Queen Leanna. Behind them, in her most beautiful gown of lavender and white, was Sabrina.

The adults on the castle roof stared at the beauty of the procession and at the Princess they had begun to care about. They were in the presence of royalty and each was awed.

King Greagoir stood at his throne, "Tonight is a special night for our kingdoms. Today we celebrate my daughter's birthday." A cheer rang up from the inhabitants of both kingdoms. "And, as a birthday gift to my daughter, I have allowed the human children to come and celebrate with us. Nicholas, Sophia, Evan please join in our celebration."

The three children left the entrance of the castle and walked to King Greagoir. Sophie held on to Nick's hand, this was a little scarier than she had originally thought it would be. After all, there were trolls here too. She had not counted on that.

The children stood in front of King Greagoir. "My daughter has requested that you be allowed to attend our festival. She has also requested that you be allowed to fly with her. Is that also your request?" King Greagoir asked the children solemnly.

"Yes, that is our request." Nick replied as Sophie and Evan nodded their heads.

"Then let the celebration begin!" with that, King Greagoir waved his hand at the children, there was a spark of light and in the blink of an eye the children were transformed into small 6" faeries with their own wings. At the same time Sabrina also shrank down to the size of the other faeries. Festival was the only time her size changed, allowing her to be with her family and friends without the fear of hurting them because of her size.

"Shit." Gene uttered in total shock. No sound came from either Paul or Shannon as they watched their children transform into faeries.

Music started, the dwarfs and leprechauns began to dance as the faeries flew around them.

"Come on!" Sabrina said to the children and took to the sky.

Nick, Sophie, and Evan all followed Sabrina into the night sky turning and twisting as if they had been flying all their lives. Thaddeus joined them as they darted in and out of trees. Their laughter could be heard all over the meadow.

"Breanna, you and the children come and join us." Sabrina sang out to Thaddeus's wife.

Breanna hesitated in joining them. Sabrina realized her discomfort and flew to her side.

"Breanna, please join us. This is the only time I can spend with my best friend and his family." Sabrina smiled at the woman who, after all these years, still felt guilt for marrying Thaddeus. But, she knew that Breanna loved Thaddeus and she was a good wife to him.

Breanna smiled at the Princess and took to the air with her children close behind. Thaddeus' children were curious about Nick, Sophie, and Evan. They flew close to the children and laughed when Nick turned somersaults in the air and got dizzy and started to fall. Sabrina, Thaddeus, and Breanna were there to help Nick regain control and they all laughed at him. Of course, Gene and Shannon were upset as they watched their only son fall from the sky, just to be caught by Thaddeus.

"I do not know if I can watch this." Shannon was concerned.

"They will be all right." Gene replied with a quiver in his voice, wanting to believe what he just said.

The children flew to the castle roof to their parents.

"Did you see that Dad?" asked Nick. "Thaddeus caught me just in time."

"Yes, I saw. And do not do that again." Scolded Gene. "You scared your mother."

"And maybe his father too." Added Paul.

"Dad, look at what I can do." Evan called to his father. “Just like you do on stage, right?”

"You be careful, okay? Don’t fly into a tree or anything." Paul was trying to encourage his son even though he had the same concerns as Gene and Shannon.

"I wish I had a camera." Gene said.

"Gene, This is no time for Polaroids." Laughed Paul.

"You cannot take pictures of faeries." Lady Kathryn informed them. "It would only look like a blur, they move too fast."

The adults continued to watch as the faerie festival went on, music, dancing, eating, and entertainment. It was a perfect night.

Just before dawn, the trumpet sounded. All the faeries, including the children returned to the clearing from their flights. King Greagoir stood up next to his throne.

"I decree this festival a success." Cheers rang up from all others gathered around. "Now, with joyful heart I announce this celebration has come to an end." With that there was a spark of light and the three children were once again their normal size and the faeries were gone.

Nick, Sophie, and Evan stood in the meadow now vacant and looked at each other. Had they all been dreaming? There was no sign that a festival had ever taken place.

Smiling, Sabrina walked from the forest into the meadow. "Did you enjoy last night?"

The children looked at each other and simply nodded, too stunned to say a word.

"Come, I will walk with you to your rooms. You must be very tired. Festivals always make me so sleepy. I could sleep for a week." With that Sabrina and the children entered the house.