The Marsh men and Fairies were making their home, tired and hungry from their long journey and their fight to get here.
Blodrog the elder was shouting out orders and everyone was running around finding twigs and branches to make their homes. Klastra his wife, was gathering berries and anything that she could find to feed the hungry band. It was a long time since they'd had a proper meal and everyone was tired, hungry and extremely stroppy.

'DON'T DO IT LIKE THAT!' shouted Keeberon 'IT'LL ALL FALL DOWN IF YOU DON'T TIE IT PROPERLY!'
Chrystalase burst into tears and ran further into the woodland to get away from him. She is the youngest of the family, a pretty little fairy with the most beautiful purple wings. Keeberon and her were always on the best of terms and as her big brother she idolised him and he protected her from everyone and everything.
It had been a very long journey. They'd had to fight off the evilness that surrounded them and the “Others” who had been bewitched.
'There was no need for that, we're all doin' our best' said Klastra
'Sorry mum' said Keeberon 'CHRISY WHERE ARE YOU?' he shouted 'IM SORRY, I DIDNT MEAN IT, YOU CAN KICK ME IF YOU LIKE TO MAKE UP FOR IT!'
'No she can't!' said Klastra 'here, I've made you all something nice to eat and there's some nice warm muschoc for you to drink'.
Muschoc was their favourite, it was always nice and frothy and left them all with moustaches of milky brown.

The woodland was a hive of activity where Marsh men from all over were chopping down branches and covering them with leaves to make hideaway houses that no one could see.. The women were all looking after their youngsters and making blankets and bedding from the wonderful soft moss that was all around the marsh.
It had been a long journey to the only place that the evil witch Hadrana could not penetrate with her evil spells. There was no way to know how many had made it or how many had not. It would take a month of Sundays to get everyone together and although the woodland was relatively small, the Marsh fairies were tiny creatures, only 5 inches tall when fully grown. Before the evilness, the fairies could fly around and cover a large area relatively quickly, but now they had to be extremely careful not to be seen and until they knew for certain that the woodland was safe they had to stay on the ground and hide.
The woodland had been blessed by the greatest Marsh fairy that had ever lived and was made a safe haven if ever the evilness returned, and indeed it did!

The next few days went by like a blur and the woodland had changed beyond recognition. There were mounds of small houses appearing all over and in the trees there were lookout posts and signal boxes all manned by the Marsh fairies using leaves as umbrella camouflage. A small stream had been diverted to give clean water to the newly built village and the craftsmen were going about their daily business of making cooking bowls and plates, carts and barrows and anything else the village may need.
The children were running around playing and laughing, for the first time in a long time they were happy and free.
Everyone was starting to relax into their new environment and it was starting to feel more like home. Everyone that is except Blodrog. He knew that they could not relax until Hadrana had been defeated or her spell on the “Others” had been broken. But he kept his fears to himself, for now at least. His people needed to feel the freedom of lack of fear. They had been frightened for far too long now and it was rest and a feeling of peace that they needed and it was coming, bit by bit as the settled in.

Keeberon was up early. Looking for something to do he followed a trail left by a passing snail. As he walked further into the woodland he became aware of the sound of water and birds singing louder than in the rest of the woods. He walked into an opening and was greeted by the most magnificent of views. A waterfall flowed gracefully into a fantastic clear pool of water. Birds of all colours and sizes flew around singing at the top of their voices, and at the very top of the waterfall the most beautiful rainbow he had ever seen. Keeberon stood and watched in awe of this wondrous sight. He moved closer to the pool and looked in at the clear water. He could see magnificent fish swimming around and although the waterfall was high there was barely a ripple in the pool where he was looking.
He jumped back in fright as he saw a face appear in the water looking up at him.
He edged back towards the water with one hand on a tree for comfort and support. As he looked back into the pool the face looked back up at him, and it spoke
'Hello Keeberon, are you all settling in?'
'Hhhh how do you know my name? Whho are you? Wwwhat are you?
As he looked the face became clearer and he could see that it was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. In her eyes he could see his reflection and the reflection of a million stars.
'My name is Selfinyo'
'I I knnow who you are' said Keeberon astounded 'I have been brought up with your name in a million stories by my father and mother. You are the greatest fairy who ever lived. You are the one who prepared this woodland for us and made it safe. You are the one who fought off the evil when it came before. Hhow are you here? How are you in there? What is it that I can do for you?'
'One thing at a time' she said in a voice that sounded like the gentlest, sweetest, calmest and most loving of all beings. 'I know of you because you know of me' she said 'You have within you all of the truth that is love and peace, all of the knowing that is rich and pure. You are young and do not know what is within you, but you will be a great leader one day and it is here that you will learn of yourself.'
Keeberon stood with is mouth open 'Bbbut how do.. wwhat do.. Iii don't.. ' '
It is all OK, you do not need to understand at this time, all that you need to know is that to see me you have to have the purest of hearts. Many have come to this place, but their hearts are not pure and they do not understand what it is to give without taking, to think of another and and act upon what is the right thing to do. You are not perfect that is true, but your heart is in the right place and once you have the understanding of what it is to truly be, you will be ready to lead your people as your father and his before him. You are from a special breed of people. They come into this world to teach of love and goodness and to protect the world from the evilness of greed and hatred. You do this by simply being your truth, doing the right thing even when you do not want to. You may say and do harmful things to others, but in this you are only harming yourself. You always put right the wrong that you do and it is this that makes you unique.'
Keeberon saw his reflection for the first time in the pool. He looked at himself long and hard.
'How can she say these things of me, I can be hurtful and cruel. I made Chrisy cry just the other day and look at me, I am nothing special, I am just me.'
'Your thoughts can be heard by me' said Selfinyo 'you are special because you have these thoughts. You did not get all big headed and run around to tell everyone. You doubt what I say because you do not see what I see, but you will. Your father and mother are looking for you and are anxious, go to them and reassure them that you are alright. We will speak another day.'
and with these words her image blended in with the water and disappeared. Keeberon stared at the water for quite a while before he was brought back to reality with a start as there was a noise of people shouting in the woods behind him. They were calling his name, he called out after them 'OVER HERE, I'M OVER HERE, I'M ALRIGHT!'
His father came running out of the trees
'Keeberon what are you doing? We have all been searching for you, I thought ...' and he stopped. He pulled his son to him and said 'do not wander off like that on your own, we were worried'.
'Sorry father' said Keeberon 'I didn't mean to frighten anybody, I just went for a walk and then found this place. Look father, look how beautiful it is here!'
As he turned round he saw that the view had changed. The birds had stopped singing and the waterfall was no longer there. The beautiful clear pool was simply a muddy pond. 'Bbbut I don't understand he said, it was all different, there was...'
'Come now son, we had better get back to your mother she will be fretting and worrying, you know what she's like'. said Blodrog.
'Yy yes iim sorry' said Keeberon.
Blodrog called to the others to let them know he had found his son and they all returned to the newly formed village. Klastra came running over and threw her arms around him 'Are you alright? What happened? Where have you been?'
'Now now Klastra' said Blodrog 'the boy is fine, he just went for a walk that's all'. He looked at his son and winked 'I know you met her!' he said in whisper 'we'll talk about it later when there is no one to hear'. and off he walked.
Keeberon could not believe his ears, his father was always too busy to talk about anything. He had never winked at him before in his life, in fact he had never winked at anyone or anything as far as Keeberon was aware. His father was always so serious and strict. What had made this change in him and how did he know? Did he really know or was he just..... Before Keeberon could finish this thought he was being dragged along by his mother
'Come on now my boy, you must be hungry, goin off like that withou' nothin to eat. I dunno what you were thinkin I'm sure..'
Her words faded into the distance as Keeberon thought about this morning's experience. He had a sense of wonder and joy, of excitement and fear all wrapped into one. Did it really happen or did he fall asleep and dream it? Was she really real and how did she know all of those things?
Chrystalase had finished her breakfast and was clearing the table when her mother came in dragging Keeberon behind her. 'KEEBY' she screamed and ran over to him and leapt into his arms. 'Where have you been?' Keeberon was knocked off his feet and Chrystalase landed on top of him. They both fell about laughing and rolling around on the floor. Keeberon tickling Chrystalase and lifting her into the air above him. Chrystalase fluttered her wings and giggled uncontrollably.
'Now now you two' said Klastra, but she could not be cross, they were laughing so much that she had to join in. Chrystalase has the most infectious giggle that nobody around her could ever keep a straight face.

The rest of the day was one of great joy. The mood of the village had been lifted and everyone was going about their daily chores with a smile on their face and a warm glow in their hearts. For the first time in a long time they could relax and be happy, and they were. The evening was spent around the fire, singing the old songs as they generally do, but this time they seemed to be more in tune, they FELT the words as they sung them, they had found their strength again.
When Keeberon went to bed his father came in to tuck him in (something that he hadn't done since Keeberon was about 2!)
'Well son' said Blodrog 'you actually saw the face in the pool!'
'How did you know that father?' asked Keeberon.
'I was young once you know! said Blodrog 'She came to me too. She told me that I was special and that I would lead the people. Just I suspect as she has told you'.
Keeberon stared at his father his eyes wide open 'So it was real then' he said 'I wasn't dreaming after all!'
'No' said his father with a smile 'it was extremely real and believe me when I tell you that Selfinyo is your teacher and you need to listen to what she has to say. But next time you go down there let me know so that I can keep an eye out for you and know that you are safe, although now that you have met her I have nothing to worry about, she will protect you now that you know.'
'Now that I know what?'
'Now that you know she is for real and that all of the stories I have told you aren't just a load of old fairy tales, they actually happened and you needed to know. Go to sleep now, its been a long day and I'm sure you've got plenty to dream about.' He kissed his son on his forehead and walked out of the room. Keeberon lay with his arm behind his head, pictures of Selfinyo and her soft wonderful voice floated in front of him and before he knew it, it was morning.

He'd had dreams of things tumbling and falling, of people screaming his name and him yielding a sword. He was fighting a dragon, but it wasn't a Marsh Dragon, it was HUGE! He couldn't remember all of the dream but he remembered the feeling. He did what he had to do and he knew he was protected and that he really COULD win. There was no fear, just a sense of going through the motion. It was as if the event had already happened and he had already won and all that he had to do was just do it because it had to be done.