As I am going to be in full on writing mode for the next couple of months and it is a over two years since I last shared Tales from the Irish Garden.. I thought I would it bring it out of mothballs for those of you who might have missed the first time around..
In the first volume of stories (Tales from the Garden), we left Queen Filigree, and her magic kingdom of Magia, recovering from an attack from the Winter Fairy who had threatened to disrupt the final summer ball of the year and here is a reminder of the danger the court faced. These are stories for ages 10 to 100+
The Winter Fairy inhabited a garden deep in the heart of the Emerald Island. It had been his kingdom for a hundred years, and in a fit of pique, a number of winters ago, he had frozen everything within his realm, including the humans and animals. He was now bored, but on the grapevine, he heard of a place where the sun shone for three hundred days a year, and this fired up his imagination. Timing was perfect, as he was told that if he could freeze the ancient fairy kingdom on the night of the summer ball, when all were dancing above ground in the gardens, they would be frozen into statues and visible to humans for all eternity.
Although it was only October, he had left his kingdom and blown on westerly winds towards this sun-filled country. The lands that he passed over experienced bitterly cold winds and frosts that made the people huddle in their homes around hastily lit fires. Weather experts predicted that this unusual early freeze was without a doubt, the sign that a new ice age was imminent.
The Winter Fairy however, had underestimated the power of a secret underground movement in his own kingdom. There was a rat in his organisation and a rabbit and a vole.
The rabbit and his family, had cousins who enjoyed the patronage of Queen Filigree in the magic kingdom, in fact one of them played in the royal band. He was a bit too fond of the Amber Nectar, but a good sort all the same. On the outskirts of the frozen lands was a forest that had refused to be turned to ice and, to be honest, the place was a thorn in the Winter Fairy’s side. The Elms and the Oaks claimed superiority and rights over the land, erecting a barrier of pollen that made the Winter Fairy sneeze and his eyes run. Finally his discomfort had encouraged him to look in other directions for his fun.
In the forest, the birds and animals that had been driven out by the cold from their homes, lived and thrived. Among them were the Messenger Birds, an elite flock of white and black pigeons who carried notes around the globe for the price of a handful of seed. As soon as the Winter Fairy left his kingdom, icicles began to melt and slowly the long frozen land began to thaw. The rabbit whistle-blower had overheard the evil being muttering to himself about his plans to invade the sunny south, and knew that he had to warn Queen Filigree and her Guardians of the danger approaching. He went around the underground folk and managed to scrape together a handful of seed, although he had quite a job getting the rats to give some out of their plentiful store, most of which had been stolen from travellers passing through the forest.
The head messenger came down to the sorting office, which was set up at the boundary of the forest and listened carefully to the rabbit’s message. Within minutes, a young and eager pigeon was winging his way by the express route across the mountains, to get ahead of the Winter Fairy, and warn those he intended to freeze. Worn out, and almost at the end of his strength, he reached the Kingdom of Magia a few hours before the last summer ball of the year, just in time for the Queen and her Guardians to put a plan in place to thwart the frozen- hearted demon.
With the help of Fluffy the Dragon, who blew hot winds to the north, The Winter Fairy arrived to find the garden deserted, and his intended victims partying the night away beneath the old magnolia tree. Despite his best efforts, he failed to breach the defences to the palace and was left stamping his foot in frustration as the snow fell all around him.
In a huff, he flew ever southwards, only to find himself in the middle of a desert so barren of life, it refused to freeze. Harsh sandstorms pummelled him, whisking him skywards where his wings melted, and he fell to ground on top of a waterless dune. He found an abandoned lizard’s burrow, and sat at the entrance, with all eternity stretching before him to contemplate his wickedness.
Meanwhile… Back at Magia the snow melted and the weather returned to its normal windy autumnal pattern. The guardians settled down for a quiet few weeks until the Winter Festival, when the fairies and the inhabitants of the garden would again be out-and-about to celebrate.
To be honest they needed little excuse for a party. However, little did they know that more changes were on their way, and that this time the Queen, and her guardians would be unable to stop the resulting devastation.
The story continues in Tales from the Irish Garden…tomorrow…..
©Sally Cronin 2018
My latest short story collection is Life is Like a Bowl of Cherries: Sometimes Bitter, Sometimes Sweet.
One of the recent reviews for the collection
Short stories have become “the thing” now. Until recently, short stories didn’t receive that much respect, particularly compared to novels. But in the past few years, more readers are appreciating the sharp intake of breath that can be delivered by a well-written short story. And that is exactly what Sally Cronin delivers here in her Bowl of Short Story Cherries. Like life, each story does not end up happy. But neither do they all end up bitter or sour. In fact, Cronin offers her readers a glimpse into “real life” with characters who could be your next store neighbor. Characters who search for love or money or happiness and find it, perhaps, in the least likely places. A few of Cronin’s stories caught me with a tear or two, as well as with a burst of laughter. That’s the kind of stories I like, where the characters’ emotions mirror mine, and we all learn our lessons in unexpected ways
Read the reviews and buy the collection: Amazon UK – And : Amazon US
You can find out about my other books and their most recent reviews: Sally’s books and reviews 2019/2021
I love both books of tales in the Garden, Sally. It’s always a joy to read them again. ♥
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Thanks Olga and glad you don’t mind reading again..♥
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Not sure that I liked the sound of that last line. I did love the tale of them all coming together to defeat a common enemy and I think the little dragon is adorable! Looking forward to the next installment. xx
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Thanks Trish.. and if you believe in magic then there is hope…hugsx
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Ah yes, life in a fairy’s world isn’t always light and lyrical, eh?
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It is not Annette.. but at least at times they have some magic on their sides..♥
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I’m so glad that the series is beginning anew! Good stories (like yours) need to be told over and over again. Count me in!
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Fabulous Jennie thank you very much… have a wonderful week.. ♥♥
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You’re welcome, Sally. Hugs! 💕
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🙂
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This book and its predecessor makes me look at gardens differently.
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Thanks Jacqui… you never know what you might find..xx
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Enchanting, Sally 🧚🏻
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Thanks Alethea..hugs
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🤗
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Oh, cliffhanger!!
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only for 24 hours…xx
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Whew!
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xx
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Reading these stories just feels wonderful. Simply relaxing! Honestly, i always also need little excuse for partying. :-)) Michael
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Thanks Michael.. I hope you will enjoy the rest of them.. very fond of my fairy family..hugsx
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Seems you have to extend your garden, giving them more place. Or they will conquer whole Scotland too. Lol xx
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Will probably have to look for a bigger place you are right lol..xx
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:-)) You could start to pile up around Great Britain, like with the Palm Island in Saudi Arabia. xx
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I think I need sunshine Michael.. so they will be tropical fairies… an island in the Caribbean perhaps..xx
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Yeah, but without the pirates. LOl xx
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Yeah.. they can walk the plank..xx
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:-))
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These are so lovely and magical, Sally. Toni x
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Thanks Toni.. I hope people don’t mind seeing the again..hugsxx
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Great, because I’ll be back to join the party 🙂 ❤
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Will cook up a batch of margs..♥♥
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🙂 ❤
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