A Pinch of Moonlight

  ***

  Blackbird and Vicky were sharing some fruit and nut mix in Vicky’s room when Demi-Lee rang Vicky’s mobile. It was late on a Thursday evening, the clouds reflecting the sun’s golden-pink light, although the sun had slipped behind the hills some time before.

  As the cousins were in constant contact, Demi-Lee was aware of all that had happened since she’d left Tanybryn, as well as the story of Blackbird’s exile. Her reaction to that had been predictably feisty, and she’d wanted to go straight to Annwn to ‘kick the butt’ of everyone she believed had wronged Blackbird. But it hadn’t taken Vicky long to talk her down.

  Demi had also been working on her magic and mindfulness skills, and as she reeled off the list of what she could now achieve, the results of her hard work were apparent.

  ‘And Aelwen told Heledd the incantation she used when she moved her own life into the acorn,’ Vicky said. ‘Heledd’s translating it into English for you – Aelwen reckons it won’t work if you don’t understand it.’

  ‘Cool! I can’t wait, I sooooo nearly let off some magic in school yesterday,’ Demi said. ‘Cheeseface has been looking at me funny ever since. I wonder if she’s a real witch, not just an ‘Old Witch’!’

  Blackbird gave Demi-Lee a good scolding for her carelessness. Vicky could tell her cousin was upset, so she told Demi she was ‘doing great’.

  ‘Thanks, big cuz. I’ll text you when I’m on my way over, come and meet me at the bus station, yeah? Be about 3 o’clock.’ Demi said.

  ‘Sweet. See you Saturday. Take care, kiddo,’ Vicky replied.

  After the call had ended – following lots of ‘bye’s between Demi-Lee and Blackbird - the fairy asked Vicky what she’d meant by ‘sweet’.

  ‘It’s just a way of saying, “okay”, or, “that’s fine”, I suppose. And it means “sugary” too.’

  ‘I knew it meant “sugary”, but never heard it said that other way. We got a word in Annwn means sugary, but also means the way fairies are supposed to be – always smiling and looking nice, not making a fuss and not getting involved in serious things. Just staying pretty and light-hearted. Pefryn used to get a lot of nasty talk for not being like that – me too,’ Blackbird said.

  ‘Ugh!’ Vicky shuddered. ‘That’s awful. It’s bad enough making children act like that, let alone adults. Are fairies supposed to be ‘sweet’ all the time?’

  ‘Yeah, some elves say fairies should be sweet ‘cos all we eat is fruit and flowers. They used to tell Tefyn to make me and Pefryn eat honey to sweeten us up. But we’re not pets or children, and the way fairies get treated we got plenty to be sour about,’ Blackbird said darkly.

  ‘I get the same thing. People telling me to lighten up, not to worry my pretty head about things – they say it as a joke, but you can tell they mean it really. Didn’t take me long to realise a lot of old men can’t handle it when a girl is so much smarter than they are,’ Vicky brooded. ‘I’d love to meet your cousin, she sounds awesome.’

  ‘I think she’d like you too,’ Blackbird said. ‘She’s very clever, like you. Speaks many languages too, not just yours, mine and Elf language.’

  ‘So you speak three languages then? That’s pretty impressive, even Heledd’s only fluent in two. Tell me,’ she said teasingly, ‘who’s smarter, me or Pefryn?’

  ‘Ow, I’m not gonna judge that! You just have to meet her, decide for yourself.’