CHAPTER 1
OF PEBBLES, MOONLIGHT
AND GATEWAYS
Giles Barnes lived together with his family in the little village of Lonsglade
His sister Molly was an obedient little girl, but sadly there
was never much work to be gotten out of Giles. Although his mother would set
him to work on his chores, he preferred to spend his time lolling under the
trees or walking through the long grass of the fields catching field mice and
lizards. When he could, he would escape to the little ponds that bordered the
village and fish for crabs, frogs and fish.
Above all else, Giles loved listening to his Grandfather’s
stories. During the cold, snowy winters the old man would come to stay with the
family and after supper would build up the fire until it blazed and then slowly
light his ebony pipe. Within the billows of aromatic tobacco smoke, he would
regale the family with the most fantastic stories ever told. Many was the night
when Giles would drift off to sleep to
the sound of Grandpa Barnes’ raspy voice and awake briefly as his mother and
father tucked him into bed with light kisses.
One fine day in early spring, Giles got home to see his
father talking with a very somber looking gentleman. The man was dressed in an
expensive black suit and he held a long coat over his arm. Not wanting to
disturb the men, he slipped into the house through the back door and washed up
for supper. When he arrived at the dinner table, he was surprised to see that
his mother had been crying and carried a very worried look on her face. Sitting
down at his place, the family held hands while his father said grace. They ate
and discussed the day together and after the plates had been cleared, their
father told the children that Mr Greyvenstein, from the bank, had popped by
today with bad news. The family had been struggling to keep up with the
repayments on their home for some time now and had fallen into arrears. Unless
Mr and Mrs Barnes could bring the payments up to date within the week, the
family would need to move.
Molly suggested that they go stay with Grandpa and Giles
offered to build a fort in the woods where the family could move. At hearing
this, their mother began to cry quietly. Father gently took her hand and gave
it a tender kiss.
That night as the children said their prayers Giles asked
God to send one of his Angles to help the family gather the money they needed
so that they could stay in the house and that his parents would not be so sad
anymore. With that done, he kissed his Mother and Father goodnight and tumbled
off to sleep, unconcerned now because God would look after them.
The next day, just after lunch, the strangest man Giles had
ever seen knocked at the door. He had large gold hoop earrings in both ears and
a colourful banner wrapped around his head, out of which four beautiful
feathers hung. His skin bore an olive tinge and his teeth showed themselves to
be white and straight when he smiled, which was often.
‘Greetings, young master’ the gypsy greeted. ‘Is the lady of
the house perchance home?’
It took only an instant for his mother to arrive at the door
and gently enquire how she might be of assistance.
Lifting a heavy string of onions, the man said, ‘Fresh
onions Madam. Fresh and aromatic onions for only ten cents.’
‘Oh my!’ Exclaimed Mrs Barnes, ‘That is cheap and I was
meaning to go to the green grocer this afternoon to buy some. You will have
saved me both time and money. Please hold on while I get my purse.’
She left Giles gawking up at the Gypsy as she went into the bedroom.
No sooner was she gone when the man turned to the boy. ‘Well
you’re a strong young lad. What is your name?’
‘Giles’, the boy replied.
‘Well lad, no doubt you are as likely an adventurer as ever
I met isn’t that so?’
Feeling a burst of importance, the boy agreed heartily that
he was indeed a terrific adventurer at which the merchant laughed and ruffled
his hair.
‘What if I could sell you an adventure Master Giles? An
adventure that you will never forget, though you lived a thousand life times, would
you buy it from me?’
‘Yes sir, I certainly would.’ Suddenly the boy’s face
dropped, ‘Although I don’t have any money… How much would such an adventure
cost me?’
With a gentle wink the man said, ‘Why all I ask is that you
give me whatever you happen to have on your person right now.’
Immediately the boy put his hand into his pocket and pulled
out a small white pebble. He had picked up that morning thinking it would be
perfect for his sling. Having slipped it into his pouch he had promptly
forgotten about it until now.
A look of greedy delight shot across the man’s face, ‘A
stone chosen for a sling but never shot! My word, what a treasure! I dare say
dear boy, it is a deal and I have made the better bargain for it.’
Without hesitation, he drew a very ordinary looking key from
out of his waistcoat.
‘This, Master Giles is a key into the world of the faerie
creatures. The doors to the magical realm can be found on every hill in the
world. However, they can only be seen in the light of the full moon by those
who believe. I tell you truthfully, tonight is full moon and if you were to go
outside to the hill on the field there yonder, you will see a sturdy rock door
on the north side of it. This key will unlock the gate and grant you entrance.
If you have courage enough, you will meet with adventures that will astound and
delight you. Have a care though, you will only possess the power to use it
until you cease to believe and become a man. After that time, the doors of the
kingdom will be barred to you.’
Hardly believing his luck, Giles gave his pebble to the man
and in return accepted the key.
It was at that exact moment when his mother rushed back into
the room and purchased a number of the delicious looking brown onions.
Their business concluded, the gypsy said farewell and after
winking at the boy left with a whistle on his lips.
Giles could not wait for bedtime that evening. After he had
said his prayers and the lights had been put out, he quietly put on his gown
and slippers, opened the window and slipped out into the night. At first, he
was a little bit scared but finding his courage, he clasped his key tightly and
headed out towards the small hill on farmer Spencer’s field.
By the time he reached the hill, his slippers and the bottom
of his gown were drenched with dew. He had no idea that adventures could be
such uncomfortable affairs. Nonetheless, he squeezed the key once again, and
moved towards the north of the hill. He arrived there just in time to watch the
wind gently blow a cloud, which had been hiding the moon, away. Its soft light
trailed downwards and it did not take long before it had illuminated the whole
world in its’ gentle glow. As it shone upon the little knoll, the boy let out a
gasp. There, just as the onion seller had promised sat a perfect little stone door.
Giles’ heart was beating like a drum and although he always
tried to be a brave boy, he felt frightened. Nonetheless, he reminded himself
that an Englishman never gives into fear and forged onwards. Before long, he stood
before the entrance and placing the key into the keyhole, he deftly turned it
and heard the lock click open. For a brief moment, nothing happened and then
with a gentle whoosh, the door swung open.
Leading from the door was a small passage, lit cheerfully
with little mounted lamps. It looked so warm and clean that without any further
hesitation Giles stepped through the door and walked a pace or two along the
glittering path. When he looked back, he saw the open doorway and deciding that
he was as safe could be, began to do some exploring.
As he moved through the winding passage, he caught snatches
of friendly laughter from up ahead. At the same time, wafts of the most
delightful smells ever teased his nose. Presently, he rounded a corned and to
his utter surprise, he saw, seated underneath a dusty archway, two small
creatures that made him gape. The little people had very pointy ears and sharp
little noses. Their hair was long and small sparks floated from it every time
they moved their heads. For clothing, they both wore brown pants and crisp
white shirts. Their shoes curled up at the front and hanging from their
shoulders were course brown cloaks that looked remarkably warm and comfortable.
Giles thought them very handsome indeed.
As the boy approached, they interrupted their conversation to
stare at him. One of the little men took his long pipe out of his mouth,
stroked his long white beard and pointing the mouthpiece at the boy said,
‘Hello there. Why I believe we have a visitor. What’s your name dear boy?’
‘Um… I’m Giles Sir…’
‘And so it is, and a finer name I don’t believe I have ever
heard. It has been some time since we’ve had a human visitor in these parts.
Why, I was quite convinced we had been completely forgotten by the big people
who live in the outside world. How ever did you happen to find your way here?’
Giles, who feeling quite tired from his long walk, sat
himself down on the floor and answered politely, ‘I bought a key from the onion
seller, Sir. He explained to me where I might find the door into your land. I
do certainly hope I am not intruding on you wonderful gentlemen.’
The other little man who sported no whiskers whatsoever,
piped up, ‘The onion seller you say? Why yes of course, we know him quite well
around these parts. Might I ask what you paid for your key?’
He was a bit shy to tell the two little men as it seemed a
very cheap price to have paid for such an extraordinary item. Nonetheless, he
told them about the stone he had traded. Both looked at him in amazement and
the little man with the beard let out a long whistle.
‘Make no mistake, the onion man certainly has made the
better deal. My dear boy, why did you not rather give him a small piece of
string or a dead beetle? That would have been a much fairer price to pay, make
no mistake. That stone was far too valuable and far too dangerous to trade, far
too valuable and dangerous indeed.’
Giles explained that he had not known it was so valuable and
had thought it quite useless when he had given it to the strange man.
The two had taken to puffing on their pipes again and the
tobacco smoke, which floated down to their feet, smelled of apple pie fresh out
of the oven. Once again, the bearded one spoke, ‘That’s the problem with you
out-worlders, you have no concept of the value of things. Never have and never
will. You will have to learn the value of important items if you ever hope to
get by in this world, you hear?’
Giles nodded eagerly, ‘Why yes indeed! I will try to do much
better next time Sir, I promise.’
Looking very smug with himself at having done something to
further the boy’s education he introduced himself and his companion. ‘I am Fionn
the bearded and this here, is my brother Fiann the fair. And you needn’t sir us
so much you know.’
‘Why yes Sir, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance Sir’,
said the boy politely.
‘Might I be so bold as to ask what you two gentlemen are
doing here at this gate?’
‘You might be so bold and we have no trouble telling you
that we are the gatekeepers of this archway.’
Fiann chipped in excitedly, ‘Appointed by King Sigurd
himself we were.’
Not to be outdone Fionn stuck his chest out and proudly gave
it a hearty thump, ‘Mentioned by name in front of all fairieland we were...’
Fiann cut in again, ‘…We had just finished our supper when
you happened along. Here now, there are some left-overs if you would care to
take a small midnight snack.’
As he spoke, the friendly gnome reached into the arch and
pulled out a small wicker basket. Setting it down he happily poked his stomach,
‘I myself, still have a small little hole right here which could do with some
filling. What about you Fionn? I know talking always makes you hungry.’
His brother’s eyes lit up and he nodded eagerly saying that
he could certainly do with a small bite.
It did not take long to unpack the contents of the basket.
Giles clapped his hands at the spread of food that lay before him. Cold beef,
pickles, fresh, spicy sausage, a whole assortment of cheeses and fresh
biscuits, fig preserve sticky and so sweet that little goblets of crystalised
sugar lined the rim of the jar, freshly baked bread, crispy duck and plum
sauce, green apples, golden pears and a few bottles of ginger beer to wash it
all down with.
Without ceremony, the three attacked the feast with gusto.
The brothers had such healthy appetites that Giles found it hard to believe
that his hosts had just finished supper. For a while, all that could be heard
was the happy sound of eating. From time to time one of the brothers would
point and ask, with mouths crammed full of food, to be passed something. The
sounds they made was unintelligible and although a generous amount of food
would be sprayed across the blanket, nobody seemed to mind too much.
At last, full to bursting point, Fionn let out a little burp
and asked the boy to pack what was left over back into their basket. While
Giles cleared the blanket, the two men packed their pipes and smoked
contentedly.
Having finished cleaning up the boy asked the two, ‘Who do
you gentlemen guard this archway against? I would imagine it can be a tricky
business guarding archways if one didn’t know what they were about.’
‘Indeed, young Giles’, answered Fiann, ‘To be sure, it’s not
just anybody that can guard these doors. We must ensure that none of the folk
of the dragons’ dark dreams enter our domain.’
Letting out a little shiver the boy said that those
creatures sounded very scary.
‘To be sure, they are a vile lot but no match for us. Isn’t
that right Fionn?’
His brother made no answer to this question since he had
slipped into a contented sleep and even now was gently snoring.
Not wanting his brother to singe his beard, he took his pipe
out of his mouth and slipped it into his pocket.
Giles was also feeling incredibly sleepy and with a great
big yawn he lay himself out on the blanket, thinking to close his eyes for a
brief moment before heading on home.
With a bit of a start, he woke the next morning with dappled
sunlight on his face. The birds sang brightly in the trees while the squirrels
chased each other through the boughs of the trees. He had spent the night
between the roots of a gigantic tree, nestled on a soft mossy patch. Everything
was green and in the distance he could hear a little brook bubbling cheerfully
as it crashed over the pebbles on its’ bed. Beautiful ferns grew up everywhere
and small insects buzzed about gathering pollen. Standing up he let out a loud
yawn and stretched. He was just beginning to wonder what to make of his
surroundings when from behind him he heard a familiar voice.
‘Well hello there sleepyhead.’ Coming up from the river was
Fionn, carrying a wooden pale of water. ‘Now that you’re up, you’ll be wanting
your breakfast, I suppose?’
Giles hadn’t been thinking of his stomach up until that
point but suddenly he realised that he was very hungry.
‘Well follow me then, Fiann’s up at the gate and we might as
well go join him there. No point in eating alone, I always say.’
As they walked through the tall ferns, the boy and the
guardian fairy spoke amiably about nothing in particular. It was not far before
Giles saw that they were heading towards an old ruined wall, of which only the
archway remained. It was covered with thick moss and bright flowers and the boy
could see the foliage happily swaying in the breeze, through it. All in all,
Giles thought it looked very pretty and was bit surprised to see that they were
set to pass through it. Without pause, the two walked through the ancient
gateway and with a startled yelp, Giles discovered himself back in the passage
from last night. The stone arch lay before him and Fiann sat comfortably on a
wooden bench in front of the opening as he had last night.
‘Ah, well now, good morning dear boy. Sleep well I dare say
and famished for your breakfast?’
With great excitement he nodded and set about folding out
the blanket while Fionn stepped up to the gateway and drew out the whicker
basket. This morning, it gave up a pot of hot creamy porridge, thick rashes of
bacon, poached eggs and golden brown toast drenched with salty butter.
Insisting that it would be terrible manners to let their
guest eat alone, the two brothers enjoyed their second breakfast of the
morning. Towards the end of the meal, spicy, black coffee was poured into large
tin mugs. While they sipped at it Fionn explained, ‘The gateway is magic of
course, what here isn’t?’ It is the only ways to get from the forest to the
passage leading into the outside world and vice versa.’
‘The onion seller said that there were doors on every hill
in the world, where do they all lead to.’
Fiann laughed, ‘Here of course! Where else?’
‘So before anyone can get into the land beyond, they must
get your permission?’
Both brothers puffed their chests out proudly, as was their
habit, and nodded importantly.
It was right about then when, with a sudden pop, another
little man appeared. He was short and stocky and unlike the boy’s new friends,
his ears were not pointy, nor were his features sharp. He had large ears that
hemmed in a large square jaw peppered with black stubble. A thick leather apron
covered over his clothes and at his belt sat a sturdy little axe.
‘Well hello, look its Oison, stopping by for a visit no doubt!’
exclaimed Fionn with delight.
The little dwarf’s visage broke into a large toothy grin at
the warm welcome. He told the brothers how glad he was to see them again and then
very politely greeted Giles, ‘Glad to know you old son. My but it’s been too long
since we’ve had the pleasure of a little boy’s visit round these parts.’
In reply the young visitor told the Dwarf how pleased he was
to be there.
At last, the introductions out of the way the three little
fellows began to speak of the news of the world beyond the gate. By the sounds
of things, it was a busy place and the three had a lot to say pausing only for
some tea and a mid-morning snack. Mostly Giles sat and listened with awe. At
one juncture, he was asked to recount his tale of how he had come by the key
and Oison agreed with both brothers that the price had been ludicrously high
and the risk too high. He cautioned the boy to keep alert and learn the true
value of things. Once again Giles humbly promised to do all he could, to do so.
At length the conversation began to wind down and Oison said
to the brothers, ‘Well best we get the boy some proper clothes to wear. We cannot
have him traipsing around in his gown and slippers. Shame on you two for not
looking into it sooner. Why, I believe his gown is quite torn from the
shrubbery.’
Giles protested that this was not necessary but the others
wouldn’t hear of it and in a flash Fionn had taken a neat little bundle of
clothes from out of his whicker basket and handed them to Giles apologizing
profusely at his lack of bad manners..
So as not to be rude, Giles accepted the bundle and was soon
dressed. The clothes were comfortable and consisted of a neat brown pair of
leather boots, brown pants, a crisp white shirt and a soft woolen traveling
cloak.
All of his new friends were in the process of commenting on
how grand he looked when there was the sound of another pop and suddenly in
their midst appeared a new creature. She was about the size if Giles’s hand and
hovered about as her beautiful wings kept her aloft.
‘Well, well look here now if it isn’t Esmarael.’ exclaimed
Fiann, ‘What a busy morning we seem to be having.’
The little fairy gave those before her a little bow,
sprinkling fairy dust all around as she did so.
‘Oh dear me, oh dear, dear me.’ The beautiful little
creature uttered.
‘Tis no social call I’m afraid dear Fiann. I am sent to
summon Oison, one of you brothers and the boy child before King Sigurd. We have
ill tidings from the onion seller. He was waylaid by one from the shadow lands
and had the pebble stolen from him.’
The mood immediately became somber.
‘These are ill tidings indeed,’ said Fionn.
‘Foolish onion seller!’ Cried Oison, ‘How silly to walk
around with such a powerful item in his pockets. But for his greed, this would
never have happened.’
Giles was feeling very confused and a little nervous as it
appeared that the little pebble he had sold had caused some sort of trouble.
Esmarael was fluttering around furiously, ‘We dare not
tarry. We must leave at once!’
Fionn and Fiann were busy whispering furiously as to which
one of them would leave their post to attend before their king. Both knew that
the one who remained would be in grave danger and as such both were trying to convince
the other to go. Eventually, after both had solemnly promised not to employ the
use of magic they decided the matter by casting lots. The dice determined that
it would be Fiann who would attend their king’s request and that Fionn would
remain to guard the gate.
As the party gathered at the gateway to leave, the brothers
stoically shook hands. In less than five seconds they had lost all reserve and
taken to hugging each other with tears in their eyes.
‘Nothing to be done about it I’m afraid,’ said Fionn with a
cheerful voice, ‘Off with you Fiann, I’ll be fine and dandy. You wait and see,
stone or no stone, nothing will pass through this gate without my leave. Now
off with you.’
Fiann, pulled out a bright red hanky, dabbed his eyes, blew
his nose and said, ‘Right then, let’s be off shall we.’
The others who had been politely waiting all nodded their
heads in agreement and together holding hands the little party stepped through
the gate together.
