THE PUDDLE PIXIES - CHAPTER 17 - THE PIXIE TROUBADOR

One warm bright day in early May, Puddle Pixie Katie was sitting sadly on her own in the Fair Green Forest. She was very tired, and was crying because she had lost her friend Griselda the Unicorn. They had been out walking together, when Katie spotted some pretty bluebells. She decided to pick some for her Mum. Now, you may not know that Pixie Bluebells are very special flowers. During the magic month of May, as soon as they are picked, more appear in their place, so that the forest can keep its glorious bluebell carpet for many weeks, and the Puddle Pixies can enjoy them in their own homes too.

When Katie had picked a pretty bunch, she turned to show them to her friend Griselda; but she was nowhere to be seen. Katie looked up one woodland path and down another, but could find no trace of the Unicorn; and now Katie was lost too. She sat down on a fallen log, her head in her hands and the bunch of flowers on the grass beside her, wondering what to do next.

Then, through the trees, came the sound of singing. ‘Tra la laaa’ went the song‘Where is my lady fair- O!’ Closer and closer came the voice, until at length a handsome young Pixie came into view, his voice filling the warm air; a voice so sweet that even the birds stopped their singing, the better to listen to his song. Espying Katie sitting quietly on the grass, the Pixie stopped strumming his guitar and said: ‘Hello young Pixie, why are you here all alone in this big forest?’

Through her tears, Katie explained her predicament. When her story was done, the Pixie said : ‘Maybe I can help you. My name is Justin and I am a Troubador. I try to help folk by singing songs to soothe their troubles away’. And to prove it, he strummed on his guitar and sang :

A Pixie from New Puddlington Had lost her magic friend..
She hunted high, she hunted low
Til day drew near its end.

But then she met a Troubador
And told him of her plight
Then as he sang his magic song
She knew t’would be ALRIGHT!

And indeed, as the magic of his song echoed through the forest, she returned his smile, for she knew now in her heart that everything would be fine. Justin held out his hand to Katie. ‘Let’s search together’ he said ‘I am familiar with all the routes through this wood, and have many friends who may be able to help us, for I am very well known here.’

Katie was rather reluctant to go with the Pixie, for she knew of the danger of
going off with strangers. Justin saw her hesitation, and understood the problem at once. Out of his pocket he took a small round crystal. Handing it to Katie, he said: ‘My friend Grace Mutton, the gypsy fortune-teller, gave me this. It is a magic crystal, and with it you can see and speak to anyone who also possesses such a crystal. I believe the Elder in your village has one too. Shall I call him up?’ Katie nodded in agreement, and watched in amazement as the Troubador passed his hand gently across the crystal, murmuring a magic spell:

‘MAGIC CRYSTAL SHINING BRIGHT
BRING THE ELDER TO YOUR LIGHT!’

Whirling and swirling white clouds formed inside the crystal, and when they cleared, lo and behold, there was the face of the Elder, who said: ‘Hello Troubador Justin, I haven’t heard from you for ages. What can I do for you today?’ Justin explained, and handed the crystal to Katie. The Elder said to her: ‘Now, don’t worry, Katie, you will be quite safe with Justin. He is one of my most trusted friends. Now off you go to find Griselda the Unicorn, and I will tell your parents what is happening so they won’t worry’. With that, he waved goodbye, and the crystal became clear again.

Smiling happily, Katie and Justin walked off hand in hand to search for the missing Unicorn. After much walking, it was beginning to feel a little hopeless. Then Troubador Justin had an idea. Once again he took out the magic crystal, rubbed it gently, and whispered the magic spell:

‘MAGIC CRYSTAL SHINING BRIGHT
BRING GRACE MUTTON TO YOUR LIGHT!’

This time, the face that appeared was that of an elderly Gypsy Pixie, who smiled to see her friend the Troubador. He explained the problem, and she nodded her head wisely, making the gold coins round the edge of her headscarf jingle and jangle. She said : ‘I am sure we can help you. Come right away’. ‘But we don’t know where you are; how will we find you?’ said Justin, for he knew it is in the nature of the Gypsy Pixies to travel all round the country. ‘Just follow the music, and you will soon find us’ said the good lady. As she spoke, the two Pixies heard the jolly sound of pixie gypsy violins floating on the evening air.

Justin picked up his guitar, stepped forward and played a few notes in reply. Again came the sound of gypsy violins, this time a little louder. And so they proceeded through the forest, the sweet sound of the guitar responding to the jolly notes of the violin, the music getting louder and louder, until at last they arrived at a clearing in the woods, where there was a circle of brightly painted Pixie Gypsy caravans, with frisky pixie gypsy ponies grazing nearby, and a delicious smell of food cooking on a camp fire. Best of all, there, grazing contentedly alongside the ponies, was Griselda the Unicorn!

Katie ran to her and put her arms around her neck. ‘Oh, I am so glad to see you’
she said. ‘I have been so worried.’. The Unicorn nuzzled Katie’s neck happily. Justin called to Katie from the doorway of one of the beautiful caravans. ‘Over here, Katie, come and meet my friend Grace Mutton’. Katie shook hands politely with the distinguished gypsy, and they sat down at the little table in the caravan full of wonders, and shared a pot of delicious cherry tea and herby scones. All too soon, Justin stood up saying : ‘It’s about time I got Katie and Griselda home to their family, for it will soon be getting dark’.

As they were saying their goodbyes, there came a little tapping at the door which opened to reveal a beautiful pixie gypsy standing there. Over her long curly black hair she wore a brightly coloured headscarf decorated with gold coins like Grace’s, and the most wonderful skirt of the brightest, deepest blue. A lacy blue and red shawl covered her shoulders, and big shiny hooped earrings hung from her ears. On catching sight of Justin, she blushed prettily, and lowered her mysterious dark eyes, just peeping out from under the long black lashes.

Grace Mutton said : ‘This is my granddaughter Jacquelina. Her family is staying here for the Mayblossom Fair. I think you may know her brothers, the Raggle-Taggle-Gypsies. Sometimes Jacquelina plays and sings in the band too’. They all said their goodbyes, and Justins’ cheeks glowed as red as the pretty gypsies’ as they took their leave. When Katie and Griselda had been delivered safely home, Justin sat by the Woodland Puddle, idly strumming his guitar, when he felt the magic crystal shiver in his pocket. Pulling it out, he saw Grace Mutton’s face once again.

‘I am sorry to bother you’ she said ‘But I am hoping you can help us out. My grandsons, the Raggle-Taggle-Gypsies have just arrived, and unfortunately Jacob has cut his finger on a nasty thorn and won’t be able to play in the band for a while. They are supposed to be performing every night for the next couple of weeks at the Mayblossom Fair, so I was wondering if you could take his place I know you have helped them out before!?’

A big smile lit up Justin’s handsome face. ‘Of course I will – with great pleasure. I’ll be right over’ he replied, and, picking up his guitar and his backpack, he made his way back to the gypsy encampment, where Grace Mutton had already prepared for him a comfortable little bunk bed in her own caravan. Justin the Troubador soon learned all the Raggle-Taggle-Gypsies’ songs, and spent a very happy time performing at the Mayblossom Fair in New Puddlington.

At the last performance on the last night, Justin stepped forward to the front of the stage. Glancing at Jacquelina, who was playing the tambourine on the other side of the platform, Justin said : ‘This is a special song I have written for the most wonderful and beautiful girl I have ever seen’. He picked up his guitar, and with the Raggle-Taggle-Gypsies playing their violins sweetly alongside him, he sang a beautiful and haunting song about his love for a lovely Pixie Gypsy Princess. At the end of the song, he turned to Jacquelina, and, falling onto one knee, he placed his hands on his heart and said : ‘This song is for you, and my heart is already yours, if you will have it. Will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?’ Jacquelina blushed pinker and pinker. She said : ‘Your song is about a Gypsy Princess. I am no Princess, just a fortune-teller’. ‘You may not be a Princess’,said Justin the Troubador, ‘But you are the Queen of my Heart. Will you be my bride?’

Jacquelina nodded happily, and her brothers in the band and the whole crowd of Pixies clapped and cheered.

The wedding was quickly arranged, and just before the month of June was halfway through, when the hedgerows were resplendent with wild roses and the scent of late blossoms still hung in the warm air, the beautiful bride left her caravan to marry her handsome Troubador. It was a wonderful sight; the lovely young Gypsy in her wedding finery riding on the back of a very proud Gisela the Unicorn, all decked out in a harness of silver bells and wearing garlands of woodland flowers around her neck, to match the bridal posy. The procession was led by Katie in a special rainbow gown, scattering handfuls of rose petals and stardust along the way.

When the happy couple had been married by the Elder, all the Puddle Pixies, Gypsies and other guests joined the wedding party for a wonderful feast in the forest; and once again the merry sound of the violins of the Raggle-Taggle-Gypsies filled the air.

Justin and Jacquelina, and eventually their own lovely children, lived happily ever after, making a welcoming home in a warm, brightly painted caravan of their own, making music and bringing love and joy to Pixie Folk everywhere.