By Sharp.
Thursday night &Friday 19th July 2008.
The show at the Futurist theatre went on a lot longer than expected Gaby and friends expected. At one point Ken had wanted to crown one of the four small tinys Fairy Queen. They insisted that the job went to somebody taller than a tiny. Ken looked around. “Do all you diddymen & tinys agree on that.”
The tinys at the front shouted “We want Queen Gabriel.” The noise from the shouting got louder and louder. Even Ken could not fail to hear what they shouted.
In the Royal Box Gabriel had decided to go down to the stage as requested. “Bridget & Justine you both can accompany me down to the stage. As this is a theatre nobody would think it odd if we flew down to the stage.” Wings appeared on their backs and the three of them flew down to the stage. Those in the audience who were not part of Gabriel’s group thought they were part of the act. There was a lot of clapping and cheering. Wee-Wee and companions were scanning the remainder of the audience. Ken was a little surprised at their mode of arrival. He soon recovered and was joking again. “Apparently I am no longer the Diddy King, but the court jester.”
The three ladies sat down on the three thrones that that were brought in. Gabriel found Baby & Tiny had scrambled on to her knee while Lucinder got Tiddler and Brigid got Wee-Wee. Then the diddy people started dancing again. One of the dancers spoke, “Please your majesty may we bring up some children from the Audience to help us dance as we are four dancers down now.”
Gabriel. “Well as I am the Fairy Queen I think I should have some of my court up here. I will start with the Princess of the Sea.” Isolde’s hand shot up in the air. One of the Diddy people went and collected Isolde.
Isolde did a curtsy, “Your Majesty I am called Isolde & the old man called me a Princess of the Sea.”
“In that case will somebody bring the Old Man up here? Now I need some Giants have we any giants here that are above 6ft.” The daughters of Rumbletum & Inga put their hands up. More Diddy people collected then. “Children we have mermaids, Giants what else do we need for my Fairy court?”
“Fairies.”
“Yes you are correct. Will those children in seats A1,B5,C7,D9,E1,A3,B7,C9 &E3 all stand up. I want you all to find me a fairy each and bring her to the stage. I will give you a description of my missing fairies. They are very thin with long blond hair and blue eyes.”
With that all but one went round the theatre asking girls if they were fairies. The one that had hardly moved was on crutches and stumbled into one of the Fae. She held her hand up “Your Majesty this child caught me in fact she caught two of us.”
“Children please stop for a moment. This girl did not move far but she managed to catch two of my fairies. As you can see what they look like please go and select one.”
One child payed no notice and made his way to White socks. “Please will you accompany me to the stage? I only see shades of black and white and for me your dress stood out like a beacon.”
White socks smiled. “I also see the world in the same colours as you.”
Herne. “I think young man you had better take my daughter up to the stage and say Pan wishes to play the pipes for you.”
White socks and another girl in a white dress took hold of the boy’s hand.
“Come you have us instead of a Fae princess.”
Oberon held his hand up. “This boy has found two princesses of the fields and forests and Lords Herne & Pan.”
Gabriel, “Greetings Lord’s of this Land. Lord Pan Will you join with my fairy harpists and play for us while the others dance.”
Herne approached the young boy’s mother. “Madam your child dances with mine. Will you be so good as to dance with me? Is your husband not here with you?” The woman burst into tears. Eventually the tears subsided.
“My husband is with us in spirit only. He arranged for this holiday and we were looking forward to having a good time together. William our son sees the world differently from other children. Most children do not want to play with him as he sees the world in shades of black and white. My husband and eight others got killed in an accident when a mill chimney came crashing down at their place of work. I was in two minds if I should leave Worksop and look for a new start elsewhere.”
“This show is a lot different to what I was led to believe. The three ladies I actually thought they flew. They must have had harnesses on to land safely on the stage. The Piper who answers to Lord Pan must have to take a long time to get ready for this show. As for the tinys I saw them playing on the beach earlier today. William wanted to go across and say hello then. Later we saw some of that group running very fast to the helicopter and others ran to the Yorkist. That sped away very fast. Shortly after that the lifeboat was launched.”
Oberon tapped Herne on the shoulder. “Excuse me brother it is my turn.”
William meanwhile was now dancing with two of the Fae. He kept looking across at the four small tinys. “Oh do you want to dance with our little sisters?”
“Earlier today I wanted to play on the sands with them. Mum stopped me by saying their parents might not like a strange boy coming to play with them. I keep getting an urge to go across to them and hug, kiss and cuddle all four of them.”
William ran back to his mother in tears. “Mum it is getting worse. Those four draw me to them. It took all my control not to rush over and kiss all four of them. In addition I could have easily kissed the other four girls. Mum what is wrong with me? I do not feel drawn to the girls at school like I have in Scarborough today. Take that girl over there, I heard her say she came from near Colne in Lancashire. She is another I could kiss all day.”
Aurora. “Oberon continues to dance with the mother. I will look after this child. He obviously has Tinyitis very badly.” As Aurora touched William he fell into a deep sleep. “That is better now child perhaps I can see what is going on in your mind.”
Ariel came across. “The mistress wishes to know if he is ok?”
“Ah Ariel I put him to sleep. Apparently he has a very bad case of Tinyitis combined with Meritis. Normal girls do not affect him but the younger Fae do. You saw how he was attracted to White socks and then Tinkerbell. I was just about to do a mind probe to see why he is affected like he is.”
Whilst his mother danced Aurora took the child back to the hotel. William talked in his sleep. “Granny I am trying to be good.”
Aurora stroked William’s hand. “I am here for you child.” Aurora then heard another voice.
Ma’at “Sister you have him. He has been under my protection for some time. Unfortunatly I could do nothing for the father. Set caused the father’s death. The child and mother both are wearing protection of some sort. Whilst he is sleeping we could look.”
Nena entered the room. “Gabriel says you are to leave the charm in place. The four will get all the information out of him while he sleeps. Her Majesty informed me about the accident that killed his father.” Nena kissed the sleeping child. “Now the rest of his bed mates can kiss him if they wish.”
The four girls who had danced with William entered the room. “Our fathers instructed us to stay with him. The rest of you may go to bed.”
Aurora though slept in a chair. The four girls got into bed with William and promptly fell asleep. Not before each one gave him a good night sleep. Aurora herself did not see the four tiniest of the tinys enter the bedroom and scramble into the big bed.
William awoke around 07.00. He looked around and then saw Aurora smiling. “Sorry for a moment I thought you were my Nana. I seam to have grown lots of arms and legs in the night.” William found managed to extract himself from the bed. He looked at himself in the mirror and burst out crying again. “They are still there and seam to be even bigger now. I was trying to hide them before. My hair has even got longer overnight as I slept.”
Aurora. “I want you to go and take a bath. Use as much bubble bath as you like and I will find you some clothing to fit. Leave the door unlocked so I can bring in your towels and clean clothing.
William looked at himself in the full size mirror. He twisted round. He started to talk to himself again. “Nana my tummy has gone but by bottom is bigger and Mr Winkie has almost vanished. My hair has got lighter and longer. I am massive up top they look like a couple of mountains. What am I going to do? William got into the bath and started to cry again.
Wee-Wee heard the crying and went to investigate. “Hello do you mind if I join you in the bath?”
“I do not mind. Should you be getting in a bath with a boy though?”
Wee-Wee scrambled into the bath. “Oh that is just right. Now to set your mind at rest. We all saw you last night when you were sleeping. If you are a boy then we all must be boys. Boys would not be seen dead in a scented bubble bath & they do not grow breasts like girls do.” A naked Tiddler entered the bathroom and got in the bath.
“This is great, usually I have to wait until Tinkerbell or one of the others wakes up. I am too small to be allowed in here on my own. Wee-Wee did you tell her?”
“No I only just got in myself. We have a confession to make when we got into bed we could not help noticing you had sprung a leak. So all four of us took turns at reducing the pressure.”
“I had intended asking mum how to stop the leaking.”
Aurora held a towel out. “First we get you dressed and dried. For most of the tinys it is the beach again with their sisters and cousins. Tiny & Baby are going with Gabriel in the Helicopter to check something out.”
Tinkerbell and companions got unto the bath. “Mother Baby & Tiny have already gone. Gabriel summoned them. We have to help look after you.”
William patted himself dry and then as he was doing so his mother came in with Constance.
Constance. “Wee-Wee you have to come as Queen Gabriel wants the two of us in the helicopter along with all the senior Fae. William your mother will stay with you, Tiddler & Sisters. They will want to play on the beach for most of the day. I have to give this to you it needs signing with your name. No doubt the remaining Tinys will all need Drinks, Ice-cream or similar. When it is lunch time you are all booked in at the fish restaurant across the road.”
Wee-Wee held her arms. “Mama, Mama.”
“Come on we have not got time for games. I will wrap this towel round you and then we are going.”
“Mum I have been thinking. How I am looking now I can hardly be called William. So with that in mind will you call me Wendy? Also how do I stop these mountains from leaking?”
Tiddler decided to hold her arms up and say the same as Wee-Wee. Wendy picked her up and wrapped a towel round her.
Tinkerbell. “Tiddler will stop you from leaking. I suggest you sit down in this chair and let her feed. Then I will get a sling so you can carry Tiddler.”
At the St Petersburg & on Rombald’s Moor.
Gaby and the others laughed as Constance arrived with Wee-Wee still wrapped in a towel. “Constance we would have waited while you got her dressed.”
“I will dress her after she has fed. I am fair bursting after she has been neglecting her duties. So as soon as I get strapped in I am going to feed her.”
Two of the helicopters set off. The first stop was Rombald’s Moor near Keighley Gates. The journey time was about 15 minutes. The pilots noticed the television transmitter and landed close to it. The first thing Dave Bond noticed was a strip of land laid bare. He went over to talk to a work man about what he was doing. It transpired the man was reseeding the area after the gas pipeline had gone through.
Dave Bond. “We have come to inspect the Bradup stone circle as we heard a rumour that the pipeline had removed it.”
“Oh I know nothing of the stone circle. I can give you my bosses telephone number if that will help.” Whilst Dave was talking to the man the others searched and found no trace of the missing stones.
Dr Payne was immediately on the Telephone to Yorkshire Archaeology to inform them to start proceedings against the gas pipeline company for criminally damaging a listed Archaeological site.
The workman overheard the conversation and got on to his boss immediately. “Look it is fine for you to say calm down. You are not the one with Armed Soldiers and archaeologists wandering about. I told you I thought those stones were part of a listed site. You would not listen and informed the men to dump the stones in the Quarry and nobody would know any different.”
Dr Payne. “I asked my friend if he would meet us by the Great Allotment with his cousin. He should be there by now. Apparently it is only a very short journey down this road.”
As they walked down the road they saw two men stood by the roadside talking. “Hi Andi this is my cousin & he will show you the stone himself.”
Brigid when she saw the site said. “Oh it is a mother stone. That workman is in for a shock once this is in position again.”
Richard on whose land the stone was. “So do I take it that this is an important site?”
Brigid. “Important site is an understatement. Do you have a tractor that could lift this stone back and scoop some of the earth out?”
“Sure it is just round the corner. That is what we came up on.” Richard trundled off and a short time later returned on a bright red Case-Brown tractor. Using the hydraulics’ he scooped out two bucket loads of earth.
Dr Solomon’s, “That should be deep enough. Can you slowly lift the top of the stone?” As Richard did so the stone slid into the hollow created for it. Richard then filled in the remainder of the hole with some of the soil he had dug out. Dave Bond and the two doctors started to brush the soil of the stone. They discovered some strange scratching on the stone. As they read the stone the weather changed. Dark Clouds started to roll over the sky.
“I do not know about you folks but we are heading back to the farm. That looks to be one stinker of a storm heading this way.”
Dr Payne was busy transcribing the scratching on the stone. “Right I have all I need for the moment.” As they left they saw flashes of lightning. One of the flashes hit the re-erected stone and it started to emit a golden glow. The group had just got back to the helicopters when they heard a terrified scream.
Gaby went to investigate. The first thing she noticed was that a complete stone circle far larger than Stonehenge now occupied the site that the workman was reseeding. He was in a hut that was on top of one of the stones that had grown out of the ground.
Gaby shouted. “You had better jump or else you will end up as a sacrifice if that lightning strikes the stone.”
The poor man looked terrified. “The circle you asked about just started to grow out of the ground.” No sooner had the man jumped than the centre stone with the hut was hit and the hut burst into flames. Then the whole circle turned a golden colour. Shortly after that concentrated beams of light left the circle in the eight directions of the compass.
Gaby spoke to the troops. “Can you take him to the nearest hospital? I think he might have damaged some bones when he jumped. Then you are to rejoin us for lunch at Percival Hall near Appletreewick.”
As the helicopters took off they could see the band of gold as it streaked then more golden rays left that site.
Dr Payne double checked her notes. “It appears that some sort of energy source has been activated. Some of it is heading for the direction of Stonehenge .”
Gaby. “From what I was told in a dream it will be weeks before all the sites are active. I will then need all that energy on Mount Sharphaw. Loki will make his move on Earth at that time then. Now we need to get to our next destination.”
Trollers Ghyll and the Barguest.
A short flight later the helicopter put down in the car park of Percival Hall. This was an ancient manor house that was used by the Diocese of Bradford as a retreat centre. At the sound of the helicopter the ladies of the centre came out to see what was going on.
The manager of the centre held her hand out. “We normally do not get guests arrive by Helicopter.”
Nena. “Actually there is another helicopter due with our security team. After our lunch we intend to visit Trollers Ghyll.”
“Oh are you sure? There is supposed to be a pack of killer dogs that roam that valley. We have heard them howling like wolves. They have never bothered us here. Perhaps it is because we are a religious organisation that they have avoided us. However I would not go up in that valley without protection. I do not mean your security guards either. What I mean is supernatural protection.”
“You mean like rabbit’s foot or silver bullets. Rowan or Yew. Or perhaps a charm provided by a coven. Is that what you mean?”
“So you have then thought about extra protection then.”
Nena. “We will be going without the soldiers. They will stop here and have their lunch and guard the helicopters.”
“On in that case I better come with you and show you the quickest way to Trollers Ghyll.”
The first thing both Gaby and Nena noticed was there was a well made footpath towards Trollers Ghyll. After a walk of 30 minutes the manager said, “We need to stop here and I will ask for safe passage for your group.”
The manager went to a small stone circle and started to dance and sing.
Gaby. “Apparently Brigid she is calling for the Earth mother to protect us from evil.”
The manager got a shock though as she danced the stones of the temple rose out of the ground and there was a humming sound. Like the stones at Bradup this temple also took on a golden colour.
Briget. “Child you call to me the Earth mother to protect those you call your friends. That I cannot do as they already have my brothers’ & Sisters’ protecting them. To even the smallest of the group the Barguest will appear to be a puppy dog.”
Briget & Lucinder walked into the circle and took hold of the woman. Lucinder. “Child thanks you for the request for help. However we are with the group you the leader of the daughters of Truth sought to help. Ma’at our sister is pleased with you. Now perhaps you will take us to the place where the Barguest resides.”
Another 15 minutes and they arrived at a hidden cave. “This is where we leave food for the dogs. Other than that I can help you no further.” The four tinys asked to be placed on the ground while the others investigated the cave.
Lucinder started to laugh. “No wonder they like it here there is a strong smell of sulphur. So I presume there are sulphur springs round here like there are at Harrogate and several other places across Yorkshire.”
Meanwhile the four tinys got a visitor. A very black shaggy puppy came up to them and sniffed at them. Then the puppy rolled over and they started to rub its tummy. The puppy gave a series of yelps and another three puppies bounded over and immediately rolled over to be stroked. Gaby and the others emerged from the cave. At the same time two of the biggest dogs Gaby had ever seen bounded over to the Tinys. Tiny stood up and growled at them and then went back to playing with the puppies. The two massive dogs looked at the Tinys with their blood red eyes. Then they gave of a series of barks. More dogs bounded up and then went over to the tinys to be stroked. Wee-Wee and companions started to sing the song of the Valkerie. This certainly got the attention of the adult dogs. They went and laid down either side of the Tiny who were sat in a row.”
The two older dogs started to wag their tails when they spotted Lucinder and companions.
Draconaris. “Some Hell dogs you are when you act like puppies for the smallest of my children.” One dog went up to Gaby and another Nena. The next second the two of them were on the back of the great dogs. Both Gaby & Nena found they were flying through the air. The puppies followed the example of the older dogs. Even the manager found she was seated on one of the more mature dogs. Shortly after that the dogs took off. The tinys started to sing again. This caused the dogs to travel faster. Eventually they returned to Trollers Ghyll.
One of the Great Dogs approached Draconaris. “That was to prove that even the smallest of our breed can carry the daughters and Sisters of Lord Draconaris or what ever name he goes by these days.”
Baby came across and hugged the great dog. “He goes by the name of Grandpa Draco saviour of princesses. I am Baby and one of the smallest of the Tinys.”
“When the ground trembled, and the great stone temple arose out of the ground we knew our time of isolation was over. That is the first time in over 1000 years we have flown like we did with the Valkerie. The tiny ones know our song of old. Mistress there is one in your midst we wish to thank for bringing us parcels of food every day. We heard her pray to the Earth mistress every morning and night. Today was the first time she got a reply.”
Briget. “It is only recently my powers returned to me. The keeper of the temple though failed to spot me for what I am. She though now has ridden the Barguest around the world. I ask her to return to the temple and all the Barguest enter with her.”
The female and dogs did as requested. A short time later the priestess exited the temple followed by quite a few females with blue eyes and jet-black hair. The group started making its way back to Percival Hall.
David found he was talking to one of the women. “I was told a legend about the Barguest recently when talking to a client on what was my boat. What actually happened to those people who strayed into this valley?”
“David. By now you of all people should realise some of our people can shape shift. We can all smell the scent of fish on you. That means you have been in contact with a Mer cousin of ours. It also means you must have other Fae blood or you would not be here now. Initially there was only two of the Barguest here. When somebody wandered into the valley we went to them for help. Instead of helping us they were transformed into more Barguest so we ended up with quite a pack that is all female.”
Dr Payne spoke to Gabriel. “With your father Dave Bond & Dr Solomon’s we have our own Archaeological team. I am including myself as apparently one of your goddess relations has made me her daughter. I presume my new sisters and Dr Solomon’s new partners will be giving us a hand. I was wondering if we could also have an underwater unit.”
Gaby. “Ariel I was wondering what we could find for you and your sisters to do to occupy your time. Dr Payne here has come up with a super suggestion that I create an underwater archaeology team to recover lost artefacts & ships. How would you feel about working with Dr Payne?”
“I know father and all my sisters would be interested. We put something similar to father a while ago. We wanted to buy a shipyard that was almost derelict and recover ships and repair and sell them.”
Gaby. “Ariel that is a super idea. However this is still a bonding exercise and as such we will pay a visit to Teeside tomorrow to see what is available. I also heard of a place in Hartlepool that I which to visit. Dr Payne you will run the land archaeology unit and Ariel the under water. I also suggest that somebody approaches Lloyds of London to see about purchasing the recovery rights to the Viking that recently sank in the North Sea.”
Dr Payne. “It was not what I had in mind however what you suggest does have possibilities as mermaids can dive to depths that would be impossible for mortal divers. It appears in a matter of minutes we have created several companies in theory at least. I suppose we could say we were recycling ships. That is if they can be recovered and taken to Teeside. Also there is the pollution caused by wrecks. The insurance company also stands to have countless claims for environmental damage caused by such as the Viking doing down.”
Off the East coast salvage companies had already sent divers down to see if it was possible to recover the Viking on behalf of the insurance company.
David had gone back to the cave with Helen. Helen pressed the cave wall and part of the wall swung back revealing a treasure horde. This belongs to the Barguest and needs to come with us. David spoke into his telephone and asked for plastic bags and an additional helicopter.
Nena came up the path leading the soldiers along with her came Brightflame. Brightflame looked at the still glowing temple. “The treasure only needs moving to the temple. There is no need for it to be taken to the Helicopter.”
Nena noticed none of the soldiers entered the circle. Only Brightflame & Helen did that. David & Nena oversaw the removal of the treasure. Eventually Brightflame and Helen returned to double check the cave. Helen watched as the men saluted David. “All ist in Ordnung Kaptain.”
Nena looked at Helen. “David this Barguest also known as Helen is desperate for you to kiss her. She already knows whom you are promised to.” As they all exited the cave the temple grew brighter and brighter until a golden beam appeared in the centre where the treasure had been placed. The next second the beam and the treasure were gone.
Helen flung her arms round David’s neck & planted a kiss on his lips. As she did so Helen changed to a fully clothed tiny. “So you are another Tiny now and I suppose you need to be transported back to the hall.”
Helen found that as a tiny she could read David’s mind. He was thinking of his girl friend and the recent statement made to him that he would also eventually become female. He then started to think of his girl friend back in the fishing tackle shop. The group quickly caught up with the main group back at the Hall.
After having an evening meal the group returned to the helicopters and their flight back to the St Petersburg in Scarborough. As they flew back they could see the golden streaks flashing across the kingdom. As the helicopters landed on the deck of the St Petersburg David noticed his girl friend was waiting for him. Gaby and the others watched as she made sure all the others present knew he was hers. “Well where is she then David?”
David tried to play dumb. “Yesterday it was a daughter of Neptune. Today it will have been the Barguest who tries to get a kiss off you.”
David grinned. “Well I somehow seam to have acquired a tiny. She needed me to carry her as she was tired. You know how the tinys are.”
“Yes David I know how the tinys are and I also know how the Barguest are. So you found a tiny did you?”
“No David found lots of tinys. Some of the others had to carry us to the Helicopter. If David is our Daddy you must be mummy.” David’s girlfriend’s mouth was opening and shutting with no words coming out.
Gaby. “Did you go and get the special licence as I asked you two?”
“Actually Inga & I both did as we decided as there was to be one wedding on Saturday we could have ours at the same time. I thought David might be bringing the Barguest back. I did not expect him to discover more Tinys.”
Dr Solomon’s started to laugh. “At least I got several partners who can look after themselves. I thought it was puppies the tinys were playing with. My eyes must have deceived me as we had no puppies in the Helicopter only the extra Tinys.”
David’s girlfriend took the tiny from David. “So I am mummy to a pack of Tiny’s am I? In that case mummy had better feed you. David this tiny thought she was being clever getting you to carry her. They are all locked on to you and now to me. Although this one I think I will keep as a baby. There was something I was going to tell you before we got married. Gaby & some of the others already realise like you I am not of mortal blood although I look human. I can shape shift to anything as can my sisters. A long time ago two of my sisters went missing. I would know her scent anywhere as she would know mine. My missing sisters seam to have multiplied in the years since they went missing. I may be your legal partner. However all of these new tinys now think of you as their mate.”
Both Draconaris & Oberon started to laugh. “David they will keep you on your toes. Now you have your own set of Tinys.”
Greta was giggling away. “David I got Solomonitis quite badly after two of my sisters had a relationship with him. Your fiancé has already ensured all the Barguest will get an acute case of Daviditis.”
David. “I think I must have a dose of Barguestitis as after I talked with the person I kept getting the feeling I had to go to Trollers Ghyll.”
“David I know full well you have that particular disorder as I was responsible for giving you it. Now my sisters can stop playing games and return to their human state.”
Tiny looked at David and his fiancé. “If they wish to revert to being puppies we do not mind & we will take them walkies. We though prefer it when they are Tinys. Then we can play on the beach together.”
Gaby noticed an area of the beach had been roped off. There appeared to be people watching. There was a teenage girl in a wheelchair. She was drawing a bow and then fired at a target. She hit the centre. There was quite a considerable amount of clapping from the watching people as she put three more arrows in the centre. Diana also known as Artemis was watching. “She is good Gaby. Perhaps one day she will join me in a hunt.”
The girl asked the man to take the target down and he did placing it in a large estate car. “Hello I am Danielle Brown as you can see I was getting a bit of practise in. I hope to be going to the 2008 Paralympic Games. My speciality is Archery. I will be one of the youngest in the British Team. This will be my first time at the games. I am here with some of my cycling friends who also are hopeful of getting medals in September.”
The man returned. “Danielle we have to get you back to the hotel and changed. We have an audience with Queen Gabriel of Northumbria. She wishes to meet all the prospective Paralympic team that come from Northumbria. I know we still will represent the UK as a whole.”
“But daddy I was just talking to my new friend.”
Gaby. “Mr Brown I am the person your daughter is supposed to meet.”
“Young lady whoever you may be. I hardly think Queen Gabriel of Northumbria would be on the beach with my daughter Danielle. Now if you do not mind we have to go and get ready.”
Danielle got into the Ford Galaxy and it drove away. Baby mimicked the man. “Young lady whoever you maybe?” This brought a giggle from the other girls.
Gaby along with the recent additions took the sea lift to the Royal Hotel. Waiting at the Royal was Maria. “Hi Gaby you should be due some guests. I took it upon myself to invite the Northumbria section of the British Olympic & Paralympic teams.”
“Ah I thought it was perhaps mum’s doing. I have just met Danielle Brown who was practising her Archery on the beach. Her father apparently did not believe who I was.”
“Sorry about springing them on you. Originally Nichol Cook asked your mother if it was possible for members of the cycle team to come and raise some funds for the Paralympic team. Everything got passed to me to sort out. Now we have four teams in Scarborough. The events will have to be on Friday and Saturday as we have several weddings on Sunday.”
Gaby. “In that case I will go and put on team Gaby Bond colours and I expect the rest to do likewise. On second thoughts full official dress regalia. I have something to prove to Mr Brown. As William & Harry are not here Draconaris & Brightflame can accompany myself and Maddy to our seats. I expect them also to be in dress regalia as princes of their respective realms.”
Around 19.30 the respective guests started to arrive and the Tinys took them to their seats in the Great Hall. For half an hour this continued until all the guests had arrived. Then the great doors of the hall opened. Trumpets were blown and everybody who could stood up. Somebody announced “Queen Gabriel of Northumbria accompanied by Prince Draconaris of Moldavia & Transylvania and members of the Royal family.”
Gabriel glided down past the guests and they either bowed or curtsied as she passed them. Gabriel noticed the smirk on the face of Danielle as she went past. Mr Brown on the other hand looked slightly embarrassed. Gaby along with her court took her seat.
Draconaris. “Her Majesty bids you welcome to her court of Northumbria. You are all here because Nichol Cook of the British Ladies cycle team suggested to the ladies world champion Jenny Bond, that they do a fund raising event for the Paralympic team. Jenny as she was busy passed the task of organising the event to Maria a cousin of hers.”
Maria. “I thought about the question Jenny had landed me with. I also realised recently we had two days of fund raising for Martin’s House and the Yorkshire air ambulance. This time I think though perhaps the junior and senior Apollonaris teams could ride against the British Olympic & Paralympic teams. I also know some of our group are into target shooting. So I thought perhaps we could also arrange some target practise on the beach.”
Saskia one of Draconaris Tinys’. “I for one would like to welcome the teams. I know her majesty actually met at least one team member today. To the security man with that team member. Her Majesty like other teenage girls’ does like to spend time on the beach. When down there she is more likely to be in a Bikini or shorts and t-shirt. Up here things are rather more formal and formal dresses or uniforms maybe worn. Usually though if you see a bevy of Tinys. (That is me and my sisters.) Her majesty will not be far away. Today she could not take us all as she had to travel a long distance. However even then the four smallest of my sisters went with her and provided the smallest security team you will ever meet.”
All the guests burst out laughing as four very tiny girls dressed in Lincoln green and carrying bows and arrows entered the room. The four marched up to Danielle.
Tiny. “Thank you Saskia for that introduction. As you can see we are also archers. While we are far too small to ride those giant bikes. We can fire arrows at targets. So the smallest of us has decided that we will challenge both sets of Archers from your groups.”
Mr Brown. “Earlier this evening I made a big mistake. I apologise. I honestly did not believe you. This time I am not making the same mistake. I would though like to see the tiny army each fire three arrows at a target before we have a competition.”
Wee-Wee with a grin across her face. “The Tiny army accepts your request. You may have heard the “YES from our tiny sisters as they all want to show what they can do with bows and arrows. Queen Gabriel have we permission to bring in our targets now and show that we are tiny archers?”
Mr Brown. “They have been watching my daughter and friends for most of the day. I for one would like to see what Tinys can do.”
Baby. “As we are Tinys we tend to tire easily. So we have three stances. Kneeling, Seated and Standing. Apparently you are to get a demonstration from all the Tinys. We four are the smallest of the tinys and people often mistake us for babies. I was one of the four who did not get to see the others as I was guarding Queen Gabriel. I did though see Danielle and she would be good enough to join the tiny army if she was no so big.”
This brought a giggle from Danielle and friends. Gabriel & companions moved as four targets were placed in front of the throne. Then some tinys placed ropes to create a space they could fire through. There was the sound of a flute and the Tinys lined up in rows of four. Mr Brown realised they intended to start with the smallest Tiny and finish with the Tallest one. The first four fired from the positions they stated. All twelve shots hit the inner bulls eye. The four tinys went and retrieved their arrows and then the next four showed what they could do.
Captain David was rather bemused with the tinys. He then spotted the tinys with black hair had increased by one. The last tiny spoke. “Well you have seen what our tiny sisters can do. I will demonstrate what else we all can do. All the others fired plastic arrows. I am using traditional wooden arrows for this demonstration.” The first arrow hit the centre and the second arrow split the first and the third split the second. Danielle was clapping like mad.
The flute sounded again. This time there was a group of tall skinny girls with long blond hair and blue eyes. They all were dressed in light green dresses. “Well you have had a demonstration from our tiny sisters and cousins. We all use the long bow. For our demonstration we only need two targets the two outer ones can be lowered. We have decided to give you our version of rapid fire. One of the girls knelt while the other stood. After they had all fired once the Tinys alternated with them and the rate of fire was even faster.
Oberon took hold of the microphone. “As you all can see all my daughters and nieces are quite good at archery. Some are also quite good at swimming & cycling.”
Danielle asked if she could try one of the bows the Tiny’s had been using. “Oh these bows need more strength to pull them than my usual bow.” Still Danielle pulled the string back and the arrow flew to the inner centre. She then took two more wooden arrows and like the black haired girl split the previous arrows.” She turned round to considerable clapping.
Oberon. “Young lady if you can do that now using our bows I can see you doing very well in China.”
