***
Heledd’s enthusiasm waned when she started to realise the difficulty of what she’d promised. As she and Vicky left Golden Grove and started out over the fields to Aelwen’s grove, Heledd told Vicky that Tom had once known a fairy.
Vicky was amazed. ‘So Blackbird was right! He was testing you when he told you that weird rabbit story. But why don’t you save the story ’til we get to Aelwen’s? She and Blackbird will want to hear this.’
‘Because – well, I was a bit hasty,’ Heledd confessed. ‘You see, Tom wants to go to Annwn to be with his fairy friend, and the nixies are willing to take him, but Tom didn’t just want to disappear, he doesn’t want the staff to get into trouble. So I thought maybe we could put Tom’s life into an acorn, like Aelwen did when she was imprisoned, and Blackbird could take the acorn when he goes to Annwn.’ Heledd explained.
‘And you told Tom we could do this? Without even asking?’ Vicky said
‘No, no, I just said I may be able to arrange something. But you should have seen the hope in his eyes. I can’t say no to him now. But I don’t even know if we can do this – and Blackbird won’t be happy that I promised this without asking.’ Heledd replied.
‘You’re right there. But maybe we can get around that. And if the nixies want to take him…’ Vicky mused.
‘Tom said it wasn’t the first time a nixie had offered her hand,’ Heledd said. ‘He thinks his friend is sending them. It would be so lovely if they could be reunited. But the more I think of it the stupider it seems. Even if we could put Tom’s life into an acorn – and Demi would have to do the magic, and who knows if she’s good enough yet – then Tom would be some sort of tree-thing, like Aelwen – I don’t even know if he could communicate.’
‘It’s a mess, isn’t it!’ Vicky said. ‘But wasn’t there something in Aelwen’s story about an egg? I got Blackbird to tell me the story himself; Demi’s version was so garbled. I’m sure he said they could have put her life into an egg but it was the wrong time of year – stuck in my mind, ’cos you don’t think of eggs being seasonal these days, but I guess this was before hens were bred to lay all year round.’
‘So he’d be a kind of bird instead of a tree-thing like Aelwen?’ asked Heledd.
‘Maybe. Or maybe he’d be more human, just the size of a chicken? Or we could do some kind of cloning thing, but put Tom’s consciousness into the clone? Oh, I don’t know, we need to ask Blackbird – but he’ll probably get shirty because you made a promise without asking first,’ Vicky said.
‘I know,’ Heledd sighed. ‘I’ll find a way to make it seem like his idea – that usually works. And give him lots of treats – he’s anyone’s for a banana. Damn, I hope he can help – I’d feel awful having to let Tom down.’
‘Why don’t you just tell them Tom’s story, let Blackbird and Aelwen know that Tom’s friend is sending nixies, and see if they suggest anything. And if that doesn’t work, after a while I’ll ask Blackbird to tell me more about the egg spell, and whether he thinks Demi-Lee is up to it,’ Vicky decided.
Between them, they managed it. It didn’t take too much prompting to get Blackbird to suggest putting Tom’s life into an egg – and once he’d thought of the idea, he realised it could be an essential part of the spell.
‘Maybe the egg with the old man’s life in it is the empty circle we need to cast the spell,’ he said. ‘Four people as the four elements, and the egg waiting to become something new – that could be the spell which will take me back to Annwn.’
‘So is Tom “the nothing who is everything”?’ asked Heledd.
‘For his fairy maybe, but not for Tefyn,’ Blackbird replied. ‘I need to solve that riddle for Tefyn before I can heal him. But I think putting Tom’s life into an egg would be a good thing to do – if Demali can work the spell. It doesn’t take much magic, but she needs to focus right, she’ll only get one chance, and if she messes up, the old man’s life is lost.’
‘So I’ll remind her to practise her meditation and mindfulness.’ Vicky said. ‘And try to keep her away from sugar and artificial colours. She’s gonna love that.’
‘When do you think Demi-Lee will be ready?’ Heledd asked. ‘It’s not long ’til the next full moon.’
‘It may have to be full moon after – August moon, before it starts to get cold here. I don’t think she’ll be strong enough just yet – unless she’s been working very hard. But I need to leave as soon as I can, you know that, don’t you?’ Blackbird said.
‘We know. But we’ll miss you. You are coming back, aren’t you?’ asked Vicky.
‘If life allows it. And I’ll be man-sized then, it will be much better,’ he promised.
‘What can we do to help you, Blackbird?’ Heledd asked.
‘Will you talk to your old man and find out what you can about his fairy – how he looked, what names he used. Anything to help me find him when I get there,’ Blackbird replied.
‘And what should I do?’ Vicky asked.
‘Keep feeding me, please. And buy an egg.’