4. Prince Marvel
It is easy to imagine the astonishment of the three girls at hearingthis strange request. They gazed in a bewildered fashion upon thekneeling fairy, and were at first unable to answer one word. ThenSeseley said--sadly, for she grieved to disappoint the pretty creature:
"We are but mortal children, and have no powers of enchantment at all."
"Ah, that is true, so far as concerns yourselves," replied the fairy,eagerly; "yet mortals may easily transform fairies into anything theywish."
"If that is so, why have we never heard of this power before?" askedSeseley.
"Because fairies, as a rule, are content with their lot, and do notwish to appear in any form but their own. And, knowing that evil ormischievous mortals can transform them at will, the fairies take greatcare to remain invisible, so they can not be interfered with. Have youever," she asked, suddenly, "seen a fairy before?"
"Never," replied Seseley.
"Nor would you have seen me to-day, had I not known you were kind andpure-hearted, or had I not resolved to ask you to exercise your powersupon me."
"I must say," remarked Helda, boldly, "that you are foolish to wish tobecome anything different from what you are."
"For you are very beautiful NOW," added Berna, admiringly.
"Beautiful!" retorted the fairy, with a little frown; "what does beautyamount to, if one is to remain invisible?"
"Not much, that is true," agreed Berna, smoothing her own dark locks.
"And as for being foolish," continued the fairy, "I ought to be allowedto act foolishly if I want to. For centuries past I have not had achance to do a single foolish thing."
"Poor dear!" said Helda, softly.
Seseley had listened silently to this conversation. Now she inquired:
"What do you wish to become?"
"A mortal!" answered the fairy, promptly.
"A girl, like ourselves?" questioned the baron's daughter.
"Perhaps," said the fairy, as if undecided.
"Then you would be likely to endure many privations," said Seseley,gently. "For you would have neither father nor mother to befriend you,nor any house to live in."
"And if you hired your services to some baron, you would be obliged towash dishes all day, or mend clothing, or herd cattle," said Berna.
"But I should travel all over the island," said the fairy, brightly,"and that is what I long to do. I do not care to work."
"I fear a girl would not be allowed to travel alone," Seseley remarked,after some further thought. "At least," she added, "I have never heardof such a thing."
"No," said the fairy, rather bitterly, "your men are the ones that roamabroad and have adventures of all kinds. Your women are poor, weakcreatures, I remember."
There was no denying this, so the three girls sat silent until Seseleyasked:
"Why do you wish to become a mortal?"
"To gain exciting experiences," answered the fairy. "I'm tired ofbeing a humdrum fairy year in and year out. Of course, I do not wishto become a mortal for all time, for that would get monotonous, too;but to live a short while as the earth people do would amuse me verymuch."
"If you want variety, you should become a boy," said Helda, with alaugh, "The life of a boy is one round of excitement."
"Then make me a boy!" exclaimed the fairy eagerly.
"A boy!" they all cried in consternation. And Seseley added:
"Why--you're a GIRL fairy, aren't you?"
"Well--yes; I suppose I am," answered the beautiful creature, smiling;"but as you are going to change me anyway, I may as well become a boyas a girl."
"Better!" declared Helda, clapping her hands; "for then you can do asyou please."
"But would it be right?" asked Seseley, with hesitation.
"Why not?" retorted the fairy. "I can see nothing wrong in being aboy. Make me a tall, slender youth, with waving brown hair and darkeyes. Then I shall be as unlike my own self as possible, and theadventure will be all the more interesting. Yes; I like the idea ofbeing a boy very much indeed."
"But I don't know how to transform you; some one will have to show methe way to do it," protested Seseley, who was getting worried over thetask set her.
"Oh, that will be easy enough," returned the little immortal. "Haveyou a wand?"
"No."
"Then I'll loan you mine, for I shall not need it. And you must waveit over my head three times and say: 'By my mortal powers I transformyou into a boy for the space of one year'."
"One year! Isn't that too long?"
"It's a very short time to one who has lived thousands of years as afairy."
"That is true," answered the baron's daughter.
"Now, I'll begin by doing a little transforming myself," said thefairy, getting upon her feet again, "and you can watch and see how I doit." She brushed a bit of moss from her gauzy skirts and continued:"If I'm to become a boy I shall need a horse, you know. A handsome,prancing steed, very fleet of foot."
A moment she stood motionless, as if listening. Then she uttered a lowbut shrill whistle.
The three girls, filled with eager interest, watched her intently.
Presently a trampling of footsteps was heard through the brushwood, anda beautiful deer burst from the forest and fearlessly ran to the fairy.Without hesitation she waved her wand above the deer's head andexclaimed:
"By all my fairy powers I command you to become a war-horse for theperiod of one year."
Instantly the deer disappeared, and in its place was a handsomecharger, milk-white in color, with flowing mane and tail. Upon itsback was a saddle sparkling with brilliant gems sewn upon fine dressedleather.
The girls uttered cries of astonishment and delight, and the fairy said:
"You see, these transformations are not at all difficult. I must nowhave a sword."
She plucked a twig from a near-by tree and cast it upon the ground ather feet. Again she waved her wand--and the twig turned to a gleamingsword, richly engraved, that seemed to the silent watchers to trembleslightly in its sheath, as if its heart of steel throbbed with hopes ofbattles to come.
"And now I must have shield and armor," said the fairy, gaily. "Thiswill make a shield,"--and she stripped a sheet of loose bark from atree-trunk,--"but for armor I must have something better. Will yougive me your cloak?"
This appeal was made to Seseley, and the baron's daughter drew herwhite velvet cloak from her shoulders and handed it to the fairy. Amoment later it was transformed into a suit of glittering armor thatseemed fashioned of pure silver inlaid with gold, while the sheet ofbark at the same time became a handsome shield, with the figures ofthree girls graven upon it. Seseley recognized the features as thoseof herself and her comrades, and noted also that they appeared sittingat the edge of a forest, the great trees showing plainly in thebackground.
"I shall be your champion, you see," laughed the fairy, gleefully, "andmaybe I shall be able to repay you for the loss of your cloak."
"I do not mind the cloak," returned the child, who had been greatlyinterested in these strange transformations. "But it seems impossiblethat a dainty little girl like you can ride this horse and carry theseheavy arms."
"I'll not be a girl much longer," said the little creature. "Here,take my wand, and transform me into a noble youth!"
Again the pretty fairy kneeled before Seseley, her dainty, roundedlimbs of white and rose showing plainly through her gauzy attire. Andthe baron's daughter was suddenly inspired to be brave, not wishing todisappoint the venturous immortal. So she rose and took the magic wandin her hand, waving it three times above the head of the fairy.
"By my powers as a mortal," she said, marveling even then at thestrange speech, "I command you to become a brave and gallantyouth--handsome, strong, fearless! And such shall you remain for thespace of one year."
As she ceased speaking the fairy was gone, and a slender youth,dark-eyed and laughing, was holding her hand in his and kissing itgratefully.
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p; "I thank you, most lovely maiden," he said, in a pleasant voice, "forgiving me a place in the world of mortals. I shall ride at once insearch of adventure, but my good sword is ever at your service."
With this he gracefully arose and began to buckle on his magnificentarmor and to fasten the sword to his belt.
Seseley drew a long, sighing breath of amazement at her own powers, andturning to Berna and Helda she asked:
"Do I see aright? Is the little fairy really transformed to thisyouth?"
"It certainly seems so," returned Helda, who, being unabashed by themarvels she had beheld, turned to gaze boldly upon the young knight.
"Do you still remember that a moment ago you were a fairy?" sheinquired.
"Yes, indeed," said he, smiling; "and I am really a fairy now, beingbut changed in outward form. But no one must know this saveyourselves, until the year has expired and I resume my true station.Will you promise to guard my secret?"
"Oh, yes!" they exclaimed, in chorus. For they were delighted, as anychildren might well be, at having so remarkable a secret to keep andtalk over among themselves.
"I must ask one more favor," continued the youth: "that you give me aname; for in this island I believe all men bear names of some sort, todistinguish them one from another."
"True," said Seseley, thoughtfully. "What were you called as a fairy?"
"That does not matter in the least," he answered, hastily. "I musthave an entirely new name."
"Suppose we call him the Silver Knight," suggested Berna, as she eyedhis glistening armor.
"Oh, no!--that is no name at all!" declared Helda. "We might bettercall him Baron Strongarm."
"I do not like that, either," said the Lady Seseley, "for we do notknow whether his arm is strong or not. But he has been transformed ina most astonishing and bewildering manner before our very eyes, and Ithink the name of Prince Marvel would suit him very well."
"Excellent!" cried the youth, picking up his richly graven shield."The name seems fitting in every way. And for a year I shall be knownto all this island as Prince Marvel!"