Legend of the Blue Wings

Legend of the Blue Wings

by Dawn Williscroft
Legend of the Blue Wings

Legend of the Blue Wings

by Dawn Williscroft

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Overview

Ella is a young fairy. For most of her existence, she's had little to worry about. She was just a normal, beautiful fairy-like all of her friends-until one day, blue streaks showed up in her wings. Suddenly, she was shunned by friends and fellow fairies. The elders know of a legend that speaks of a blue-winged fairy. In the well-known prophecy, there is significance to this added color, but Ella always thought the prophecy was mere legend, not truth. She could not have been more wrong, as she comes to realize the prophecy is about her. With this news, Ella must leave her village and go on a quest to seek the meaning behind her newly discovered gift. Ella's only companion is Brogan, a warrior wolf, sent to keep her safe as she searches the wide world for her destiny. There are those who would hurt Ella and Brogan, yet there are also those who await their arrival with joy. The legend of the blue wings is finally coming true. Ella must accept her destiny and learn to be a Blue Wing Princess. Will she live to fulfill the prophecy, or will she fall into fearful darkness, just like all the other blue-winged fairies that came before?

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781450292795
Publisher: iUniverse, Incorporated
Publication date: 02/09/2011
Pages: 216
Product dimensions: 5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.49(d)

Read an Excerpt

Legend of the Blue Wings


By Dawn Williscroft

iUniverse, Inc.

Copyright © 2011 Dawn Williscroft
All right reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-4502-9279-5


Chapter One

Ella paced back and forth impatiently. How much longer would they be? It annoyed her that she was now waiting for them! If this was so important, what was taking them so long? What were her parents doing?

She stopped pacing long enough to take another quick look in the mirror. If it weren't bad enough having to wait, she also had her hair up, and it was driving her crazy. Just for something to do, she tightened the ribbon securing her long, golden-brown hair. Her hair was so long it nearly covered her entire back. She usually kept her hair down like most fairies her age, but her mother insisted she tie it up for this meeting. Ella wasn't looking forward to this meeting at all, but she had no choice but to go; after all, it had been arranged for her sake!

All this fuss over her, because her parents were worried about her safety. Just thinking about it made her feel ill. Ella closed her eyes, took a big breath, and then let it out slowly. She felt like the entire situation was getting blown way out of proportion. She couldn't understand why such a fuss was being made; she was still the same fairy on the inside.

She hoped this meeting would clear up some of the misunderstanding and ease her parents' minds. Maybe then they could all get back to their normal lives. The meeting was being held at the village bower, a large, open building built on the ground. In fact, it was the only building in their fairy village that was built on the ground. Located on the very edge of the village's north side, it was used for weekly lessons given by Story Teller and village meetings presided over by four village elders. Ella had never dreamed it would be used for the purpose to which it would be put tonight.

When her parents were finally ready, she yearned to say something about how long it had taken them, but she didn't dare, it would only cause a fight. They left their little tree hut without a word and quickly flew to the village bower. Standing before the door, Ella took a moment to pretend to straighten out her cloak and dress. What she was really doing was gathering her courage. She couldn't believe how nervous she was!

With a confidence she didn't really feel, she stepped through the door. A sudden rush of familiar smells greeted her; she took a deep breath in and let them wash over her. How she loved the smell of the bower. There was the smell of the wooden benches and the grass from the floor. How grass could grow in there was something she never could figure out. There was also the smell of burning wood from the fire of eternal flame, located at the center of the bower. But what Ella loved most, though, was the smell of the herbs that were used to bring Story Teller's stories to life. With the smell of the herbs came the familiar sense of calm and well being that came along with entering the bower. Ella realized she needed that sense of calmness right now more than ever.

At the back of the bower awaited Story Teller and the four elders. One of the elders beckoned Ella and her parents to approach with a wave of her hand. As Ella started to move toward them, she felt her father's hand grab hers and give a small squeeze. Looking up at him, she gave him a nervous smile.

It was Story Teller, in her light, musical voice, who spoke first. "Come, little one; come forward into the light so that we might see you better." Story Teller was a good family friend, and her familiar voice helped alleviate some of the tension.

Ella stepped forward. Story Teller smiled as Ella approached; she wasn't much taller than Ella. No one in the village knew for sure how old Story Teller was, but Ella had heard her parents say they knew her to be at least six hundred years old. You wouldn't know it to look at her, her looks revealed nothing—she appeared to be about the same age as Ella's parents. Story Teller had a small round face and dark brown—almost black—hair down to her ankles; she was, in fact, quite beautiful. In truth, all of Ella's clan were beautiful. Story Teller was just exceptionally so.

Ella felt a little shaky standing in front of Story Teller and the elders. This meeting was about the blue streaks that ran through her wings. All the others in their clan had silver wings, and so did Ella—at first. In the last few months, though, her wings had started to get small, glittering, light-blue streaks through their delicate centers. Fairies' wings weren't unlike those of a dragonfly. The wing structure consisted of two top wings and two bottom wings that connected in the center, except they ran up and down instead of sticking out to the side. The blue streaks had started in the bottom portions of her wings, but now blue ran through both top and bottom. Her mother told her that others had had blue streaks running through their wings, but that the blue faded over time. Unfortunately for Ella, the blue hadn't faded; it steadily grew larger in area and much brighter. Now the streaks shot right through to the edges of her wings and would slightly glow when it was dark. The glow or glitter of the blue was something that this or any other clan had never seen. With the stories of blue-winged fairies still being told, Ella now found herself shunned by her friends. For this reason, Ella's mother had decided that talking to the elders would be the best course of action.

Ella looked up at Story Teller, unsure if she was supposed to say something or just wait. She decided to wait. Story Teller looked at her closely for a moment and then spoke very quietly. "It always amazes me how much you look like your mother, but you have your father's blue eyes. I always envied you for the color of your eyes." Story Teller winked at Ella, but then she became serious.

"Perhaps you should show us what it is that has brought you before us tonight. Would you mind if we see your wings, Ella?"

Well, of course she minded. Everyone was making such a big deal about the blue in her wings that she didn't like anyone seeing them. But she couldn't exactly say that, now could she? With a nod, Ella removed her cloak and let her small, delicate wings unfold. The bottom wings hit just a little past her knees, and the top wings reached just a little above her head. Ella turned slowly so her back faced the adults.

The elders started to murmur. Ella felt Story Teller's small hand on her shoulder, gently pushing her toward the center of the bower, where the fire crackled. "So, little one," Story Teller said quietly, "it is true, then. This makes you a very special little fairy. We must talk about some things, you and I. Have you ever heard the entire story about the legend of the Blue Wings?"

"Not all of it. I only know what everyone else knows. The Blue Wings were evil and tried to destroy the Silver Wings." Ella paused and then asked, "I'm not sure why there's blue in my wings, but because it seems to be such a big deal, maybe we could find a way to remove it? I know it upsets my parents and I'm not really thrilled about it myself." Ella's voice was a little shaky. Her mother put her hand on her shoulder in silent support.

Story Teller smiled at the spirited little fairy. "Well, little one, you are different, and being different isn't always easy. As I've already said, the blue in your wings makes you special, very special. We can't change the color, because the blue is there for a reason. The blue is your destiny! You should know that the stories you've heard about the Blue Wings are based on fear."

A stunned murmur came from the elders. Story Teller turned for a moment to look at them but quickly looked back at Ella. She continued, "It has never been very clear to me why there is such hatred for the Blue Wings." Story Teller looked at Ella's parents. "I think everyone needs to hear my story; it's a story I haven't told in a very long time. I felt it was best left in the past. It seems I was wrong, and now it must be told again. This legend, all these years later, has become a part of Ella. Please come and sit by the fire with me." As they moved toward the fire, Story Teller grabbed her leather bag of herbs and sat down beside Ella. Ella's parents sat behind their daughter.

Everything became quiet as Story Teller removed some herbs from her pouch to throw into the fire. The fire shot straight up and then slowly came back down. A shadowy picture started to emerge just above the flame.

Chapter Two

Story Teller, in her musical voice, began to tell her story. The picture above the flames became sharp and clear, just like a movie playing on a screen.

"It was so very long ago. Some believe the Blue Wings were the first fairies to ever cross the spiritual dimensions. They were the first to live happily in the spaces between the fairy world and the human world. Our world, the between space, is so similar to both the fairy world and the human world that it would be difficult to tell the difference among the three. The Blue Wings lived here for hundreds of years, neither bothered by nor bothering either world. They lived in complete harmony with all that was around them."

The picture above the flames showed a group of fairies with blue wings moving about the forest. The first thing Ella noticed about them was that they all looked extremely happy.

"After a time, the first Silver Wing clan crossed the dimension to live in the between spaces, as well. The clans knew of each other but, for the most part, left each other alone, learning to coexist. The Blue Wings had come to this dimension because the fairy world had questioned their blue wings. They also knew the Silver Wings feared their differences, just as they feared anything that was different or unknown to them. It wasn't just their wing color; it was the Blue Wings' abilities and powers that truly marked the differences between them. Silver Wing fairies are each blessed with one gift or ability. Blue Wing fairies, however, are each born with all the fairy gifts. Some believe the Blue Wings have gifts that the Silver Wings haven't even heard of."

Story Teller looked at Ella. "The Blue Wing fairies were a much more advanced group of fairies. They were stronger, wiser, and far more attuned to their abilities. In the end, what it came down to was that the Silver Wings were jealous of the Blue Wings' many abilities." Story Teller again winked at Ella.

"The first Silver Wings called themselves the Clan Stafford. As time went on, other Silver Wing clans came forth from the fairy world. It is not known exactly why so many clans moved, but it is said there had been great unrest in the fairy world. The new Silver Wing king was not a kind king. Soon there were as many as twenty different Silver Wing clans living near the Blue Wings. The Silver Wing clans were small, but, in comparison, the Blue Wings were a smaller clan yet.

"As time went on, the differences between the Silver Wings and the Blue Wings became far more apparent. The Silver Wings realized just how much more advanced the Blue Wings really were. Because of this, the Silver Wings started to question the Blue Wings' presence here. It didn't matter that the Blue Wings were the first to live here or that it was because of the Blue Wings that the Silver Wings could cross over into this world. These were not important issues to the Silver Wings. What did matter was where the Blue Wings came from, why they had moved here, and whether there could be more of them somewhere. If one of the Silver Wings had simply gone to the Blue Wings and asked these questions, the Blue Wings would have happily answered. The Blue Wings, a peaceful, spiritual group of fairies, had nothing to hide. However, fear of the Blue Wings was so great that it prevented anyone from the Silver Wing clans from going to speak to them."

Story Teller pointed to the pictures above the fire. "The most interesting thing was that the Blue Wings had tried to help the Silver Wings on many occasions." The fire showed several Blue Wing fairies helping the Silver Wings with various tasks.

"The Blue Wings knew their motives for helping were questioned yet continued to help despite this. The Blue Wings advised the Silver Wings on better ways of constructing their tree huts and on what herbs could be used for general health and healing. But the more the Blue Wings tried to help, the more the Silver Wings feared them.

"Not understanding why the Silver Wings reacted as they did, the Blue Wings felt it would be best if they pulled away from the Silver Wings. A clan meeting of the Blue Wings was called, and the problem was discussed. The Blue Wings sadly agreed it would be best if all association with the Silver Wings ended. Also, for their own clan's safety, the Blue Wings would cloak themselves from the Silver Wings."

Story Teller shook her head in dismay. "Things could have been so much better for all of us if the Silver Wings had not let jealousy and fear rule their hearts!" Story Teller let out a little sigh. "The Blue Wings hoped that discontinuing their association with the Silver Wings would help diminish some of their fears. For most of the Silver Wings, it did help a little. Regrettably, one Silver Wing fairy from the Stafford clan, Jeddah, felt this was far worse for all Silver Wings. Now their enemy was not only unknown but also unseen. If you don't know your enemy's abilities or your enemy's whereabouts, then shouldn't that be cause for greater unrest and fear? How do you protect yourself if you don't know where your enemy is because you can't see them?

"Jeddah went from village to village discussing his fears with clan elders and any other fairy who would listen. In each village, he sowed the seeds of doubt and spread the flames of fear and hate for the Blue Wings. Jeddah then arranged to have the elders from each Silver Wing clan meet and strategize a way to end the Blue Wings' potential threat. Not all the elders felt a threat existed, but with so many more voting against them, their words were not heard. A plan was made, and any elder against this plan of action was warned to stay out of the situation—or else the same fate awaiting the Blue Wings would befall them and theirs. Nothing could be done or said to deter this course of action, and the fate of the Blue Wings was sealed."

The picture above the flames started to fade.

"How can one fairy sway so many? I don't understand why." Ella was shocked.

"We were a young people then. The Blue Wings were so much more advanced that they were seen as a threat. I don't really understand it, either."

"I'm young. I don't want to hurt others because they're different!" Ella said.

"Not young in age, Ella. They were young in growth and understanding."

"What happened to the Blue Wings?"

"I was just getting to that. You should prepare yourself, Ella. This part of my story is going to be a little upsetting for you."

Chapter Three

"Two weeks later a small army of Silver Wings was sent into the forest to surround the area where they believed the Blue Wings' village was located. Five young Silver Wing fairies were sent into a small clearing and told to yell and cry for the Blue Wings' help. Before long, several Blue Wings entered the clearing, and the young Silver Wings had a story to tell them when they came. They told the Blue Wings they feared for their own lives because they'd gone against the Silver Wings' plans; they wanted to warn the Blue Wing elder about the threat against them. Those five fairies were taken into the Blue Wing village. The Blue Wing elder and the rest of the Blue Wing fairies gathered around the outdoor fire to hear the tale of the Silver Wings. Soon after this, the Silver Wing warriors entered the village and cut off all means of retreat for the Blue Wings.

"The Blue Wings were rounded up and put into a small hut that had been built in the middle of the forest, away from other villages. The Silver Wings had built it there to execute their plan. The small hut had been bound with the strongest magic the Silver Wings could conjure, which prevented anyone who entered the hut from exiting.

"Of course, the Silver Wings' magic alone was not enough. They had to borrow magic from others. They went to the witch on the hill, the elves, the gnomes, and the goblins. When asked why they needed this magic, they said they had to drive off a very powerful unknown enemy, an enemy who threatened their very existence. All who were asked, except for the witch, offered to help the Silver Wings drive off this evil. The Silver Wings declined their help, explaining that they would not ask their friends to put themselves in such danger. The truth was, the Silver Wings didn't want any of the others finding out why they really needed their magic.

(Continues...)



Excerpted from Legend of the Blue Wings by Dawn Williscroft Copyright © 2011 by Dawn Williscroft. Excerpted by permission of iUniverse, Inc.. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

Table of Contents

Contents

Part 1 The Legend....................1
Part 2 Learning Curve....................31
Part 3 Deception....................131
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