Free The Last Fairy Tale by E. S. Lowell Page A

to.”
    Olivia looked up at him, and the corners of her mouth turned up in a small smile. She loved what little she had seen of Aeldyn and the time she had spent with Locke, but it felt wrong to be there. She felt a strong need to return to the orphanage and help everyone. But what could I do ? She sighed. “I’ll go with you to see the Great Fairy.”
     “Great!” Locke exclaimed. “I’ll get you some blankets and a pillow and get your bed fixed up. Is the couch okay?”
     Olivia giggled. She felt a sense of belonging around Locke, one that she had never felt at the orphanage until recently. “Sure, that’s fine.”
     Locke sprung from his chair to gather the pillow and blankets, looking happy and eager to please his company.
     “Locke,” she called to him. He looked around the giant stack of blankets he was carrying. “Thanks for being a good friend.”
     Locke became extra energetic as he fumbled around for a way to reply. He made her bed on the couch, holding his head high and telling her how it was the Great Fairy she had to thank and that she didn’t have to be his friend at all and that he didn’t really mean that, but he was just saying…
     
    * * * * *
     
     As Olivia lay on her makeshift bed, listening to the snores coming from Locke’s hammock, she thought of all that had happened recently. She thought about the deaths of Ms. Canterbry and Mr. Dewberry and about the desolate world that she had seen outside the orphanage. She thought about falling through the tree into this world and meeting Locke. Then she thought about the next day and wondered if she’d even be able to go to sleep. She rolled over on her side and pulled the blankets up over her face.

Chapter Six

     
    It’s Not a Dream
     
     Olivia awoke to an unfamiliar sound. It was soft and strangely pleasant, like a song that had no rhythm or consistent melody. Her eyes snapped open as she remembered where she was. She sat up and looked around. Sunlight was pouring in through the windows of Locke’s hut. She shielded her eyes as they slowly adjusted to the bright light.
     On the nearby windowsill, a bird as bright and blue as the morning sky hopped back and forth as it sang the lovely song that woken Olivia. It suddenly stopped as it noticed Olivia sitting up on the couch and watched her, chirping and tilting its head this way and that. Suddenly, it flew away, causing Olivia to jump in surprise. She looked over at Locke, who was sleeping precariously on his hammock. His head was hanging off one side while one of his legs was dangling from the other. A long string of drool hung from his mouth.
     “Locke,” Olivia said in a whispered shout. He didn’t move. She tried again, “Locke.”
     “Hmm?” he mumbled. “I like the stew, yes…I like daisies…too…” He rubbed his face with his hand, breaking the string of drool and smearing it across his cheek before dropping his hand and snoring again.
    “ Locke !” Olivia didn’t bother to whisper this time.
    “ Aaah !” Locke shouted and sprang swiftly from the hammock. He ran around aimlessly for a few seconds, a blanket wrapped around his foot. Then he looked over at Olivia. “Oh my twigs ! You’re here! It was real! Holy toadstool!”
     “Uh, I’m the one having trouble believing I’m here, remember?” Olivia giggled.
    “Yeah, heh heh .” Locke sheepishly cut his eyes to the side. He paused for a second, thinking. Then his eyes widened as he looked at Olivia. “ Twigs ! What time is it? We’re gonna be late!” He kicked the blanket from his foot and grabbed a cloth sack from under his hammock. “Hurry, we gotta pack!”
    Olivia grabbed her journal from under her pillow and watched as Locke frantically ran about the hut shoving things into the sack, including a book, a chunk of wood, a small pouch, a wooden container, and a blanket. Olivia wondered how such a thin sack could hold all the items without tearing. Probably has something to do with magic, I’m sure