Chapter 25

As Raine walked through the Magical Forest, headed toward her father's castle, she held the urn before her, lighting the way. As she neared the castle, the sun began to rise, signaling the beginning of not only a new day, but also a new era. Streaks of pink, orange, and red shot across the sky as many beautiful fairies the size of butterflies greeted her, not trying to disguise themselves.

"Well, 'tis about time that you came back home!"

Raine smiled, for when she looked over, it was Earthen, hovering in midair with her hands on her hips. "I hope you know that Father is furious!"

"Why are you back so soon?" Misty asked, her eyes wide with excitement. "Are you going to marry Bryce yet?"

"Bryce?! A human?" Earthen replied. "She could never marry a human!"

Raine laughed. "No. Not yet, anyway." She smiled. "Someday maybe, but right now, I must speak with Father."

Earthen flew before her as they headed toward the castle. "Are you crazy?" Then, she stopped and looked Raine up and down, as if noticing her form for the first time. "And why are you so ... so ... huge? I thought that you would return to your normal size once the spell wore off."

Raine shook her head. "'Tis not my wish." Still carrying the urn, she started walking toward the castle. "I must speak with Father."

Misty followed, hovering close to the urn, mesmerized by its beauty. "What is that?"

"And what do we have here?" a deep voice bellowed across the field.

When Raine looked to the castle in the trees, her father was standing on the steps with his hands on his hips. "Father," she approached and then knelt down on one knee, "I bring the Locks of Samson."

"As a gift?" King Adair asked.

Raine shook her head. "No. I am now protector of it. But there is something that I must speak with you about ..." She looked around at all of the fairies in the kingdom, watching her in awe. "... in private."

Her father nodded, and then turned to his subjects. "Leave us."

The fairies in the kingdom chattered amongst themselves as they flew off toward the castle, or went about their business. When they were alone, her father turned to his daughter and folded his arms across his chest. "So, where have you been, and why are you so ... so ... huge?"

Raine bit her lip to suppress a smile. "Father, that is what I want to speak with you about. I think it is time we came out of hiding ... from the humans."

"What?!" King Adair bellowed. "The humans are barbarians!"

"Father, they are not. At least, not all of them," Raine said. "Something happened while I was away, and I must tell you."

A crease formed between his eyes. "Tell me."

Raine nodded as she took a deep breath, summoning her courage. Then, she told her father all about Virtra, the Dragon Queen, about retrieving the Locks of Samson for her, about Virtra looking for their kingdom, and then about defeating her. "She is gone for now, but I do not know for how long," she said, finishing the story.

King Adair nodded, listening attentively.

"And if Virtra would have found the castle, she could have enslaved all of the fairies." Raine let out a deep breath. It felt good to tell her father. "Father, I want to become queen one day ... when it is time. I do not want to leave, but I think that it is time for our kingdom to come out of hiding."

Her father shook his head. "If we do, then we will be vulnerable to anyone; any human ... or witch. We will be forced to serve their purpose."

Raine bit her lower lip. "That is what I am talking to you about." She wished that she could hold his hands, but she was so much bigger than he that she thought she might squish him accidentally. "Father, we need to be big enough to face our enemies. We cannot leave ourselves vulnerable to everyone."

"No!" King Adair bellowed as he turned away. "It has been this way for years!" Then, he turned toward his daughter, pointing his finger at her. "And you must ... you must ... go back to your true size."

Raine squared her shoulders. "I will not."

Her father's face turned bright red at first, and then purple. "You dare to defy me? You do realize that I can cast a spell to return you to our kingdom, do you not?"

Raine nodded. "Yes, but that is not what I wish. You may bring me back, but I shan't be happy." She knelt down before her father. "I would like to come home, but I am tired of hiding." She smiled as she looked around her and then turned back to King Adair. "Father, there is a whole world out there. So many creatures not so unlike ourselves." She reached out her finger, and her father placed his hand on it. "I do not want to be alone anymore, cut off from our world. It truly is a wonderful world ... and I want you to be a part of it with me."

King Adair thought for a moment, and then nodded. "You are right, my dear. But I think we should ask the kingdom and give them a choice. After all, they may not want it." The king turned to a guard, standing nearby. "Call the kingdom to order immediately."

"Yes, Your Highness," the guard said, and then disappeared into the castle.

Then, he turned to his daughter. "I am very proud of you. And as far as you marrying, I want you to marry whom you wish, when you wish."

"Thank you, Father." A thrill ran through her as she smiled. Everything was working out-everything except for Bryce.

Within minutes, the kingdom had gathered in the square. True to his word, King Adair gave the kingdom the right to choose. Raine told them of Virtra, and that she had been looking for them as everyone in the kingdom gasped and chattered amongst themselves.

"Quiet, quiet!" the king bellowed, bringing the kingdom to order. "Now, it is time to vote," King Adair said, looking around expectantly.

"What of the castle?" a male fairy asked.

The king looked first at his daughter and then at his subject. "The castle will remain with the majority of the kingdom. So, what say you?"

Shouts of "Aye! 'Tis time we come out of hiding!" "I vote yes!" "Aye!" resonated throughout the subjects.

"I vote yes," Earthen said, standing near Raine.

"I vote yes, too, of course," Misty squealed. "Can you imagine? Coming out of hiding? We shall meet all of the creatures in our world!"

Earthen placed a hand on her sister's arm. "You forget yourself. There will be danger, as well."

Misty linked her arm with hers. "Well, then, we shall face it together."

King Adair turned to Raine and nodded. "We are ready."

Raine plucked the castle-no bigger than a birdhouse-from its hiding place high in the alder tree as the king and its subjects walked deep into the Magical Forest as everyone followed. Raine came to a clearing, surrounded by tall trees. She set the castle down carefully in the center of the clearing and stepped back.

"Everyone, gather around the castle," Raine instructed, every inch a queen.

When everyone was ready, she held out the urn, closed her eyes and then raised her arm. Immediately, a bright white light surrounded the castle and the inhabitants of her kingdom, causing them to morph and change, growing until the castle reached the sky and blocked out the sun, its stones sparkling in the sun's rays. The castle fit perfectly in the clearing. Over the next few months, the masons of the kingdom built a stone wall and outbuildings around it to guard against invaders. To Raine, it was perfect and it was home.

From that day on, the fairies of Cambria never hid again.