TRICIA AND FERRONA THE EVIL QUEEN FAIRY
By Ellis Peterson (AKA Ragnar Storyteller)
Tricia was awakened by the tap-tap-tapping on her window pane. She got out of the bed and went to the window. Much to her surprise, there on the outside window sill, was a little elf. He was tapping on the window with the blade of his knife. He was all dressed in green and wore a little cocked hat. She opened the window and leaned down so that he could talk into her ear, the way that she had down with Rosetta the rose fairy.
He told her that Rosetta was in trouble. He had been sent by the Golden Queen Fairy and the Council of Elders to come and ask her if she would please come to Fairyland and help.
Tricia looked at the clock on the night table. It was 2:00 AM. She smiled and agreed heartily, for she knew there was plenty of time to go and help Rosetta, and get back before the alarm rang for school.
“What must I do? She asked.
The elf motioned for her to come outside. Bare footed and still in her nightgown, Tricia climbed through the window. She followed the elf to the middle of the garden where he motioned for her to stand still.
Then, from a little green pouch that hung at his waist, he took out a handful of magic powder, flew to the top of her head and sprinkled it all over her.
The powder glowed with all the beautiful colors of the rainbow. Tricia felt a very odd sensation and looked down to see the ground rising quickly up to meet her.
Then she realized that the ground was not coming up to her, but that she was shrinking down to it. Smaller and smaller she shrank, until the yellow beach pail, that lay on the ground, dwarfed her in size.
Finally she stopped shrinking and looked around. Inside the beach pail she marveled at how large the grains of sand were.
“This is marvelous,” she thought and turned around to explore some more. Off to the right was a gigantic red, white and blue mountain, that was her beach ball.
“Tricia, please, our time is short,” pleaded the elf.
Tricia started towards him. In her path stood a large shiny metallic object. She tried to climb over it, but couldn’t.
The elf flew to her and said,” don’t climb. I will carry you. Hang on to me tightly.”
As they rose into the air, Tricia looked back and saw that the metallic object was a giant magnet that she had received for her birthday.
The elf whisked her to the top of the rose arbor and through the magical hidden door. They glided down a long, long spiral tunnel that sparkeled brightly. At the end of the tunnel, Where the dot of golden light appeared, they burst through and landed upon the green grass of Fairyland.
The elf said in a much deeper and more commanding voice that startled her, “that was the magic tunnel between your world and mine. Hurry, come.”
She wrapped her arms tightly around him as he rose into the air. They flew over beautiful fields of wild flowers, past streams and waterfalls. Tricia was enraptured with the beauty of the countryside.
She saw two beautiful water-nymphs sunning themselves on rocks below. They were slowly running their fingers through their long golden hair. They looked up and smiled and waved as Tricia and the elf flew past.
They came to a forest where she saw two brownies sitting in front of their homes, which they had made out of roots of a giant fallen tree. They passed another golden field where she saw many fairies and gnomes and other wee people at work and play.
“Look,” the elf said.
Tricia looked towards a large golden meadow where a magnificent golden casle rose majestically into the air. They landed at the gate of the golden castle and Tricia was quickly escorted to the Golden Queen.
“Welcome Tricia,” said the Golden Queen, who sat on her throne. Tricia knew exactly what to do and quickly knelt and lowered her head.
“Rise and come sit with me,” said the Golden Queen.
There was a gasp from the throats of the standing Council Of Elders as Tricia accidentally sat down before they did.
“Oh, hush, Eehia,” the Golden Queen said as she looked at the eldest elf, who looked as if he were ready to explode with indignation. “She is our guest, and we must forgive this slight offense against protocol.”
When all had finally been seated, in their correct sequence, the Golden Queen turned toward Tricia and began. “My dear Tricia, Rosetta has told us of the gracious help you gave her when she hurt herself in your garden. We are in your debt for that. But alas, you were not called here to be either rewarded or honored. No, once again Rosetta is in need of your help.”
“Where is Rosetta,” Tricia asked, as she looked all around the throne room.
“She is not here,” the Golden Fairy replied. “She is being punished by the evil witch, Ferrona.”
“Who is Ferrona? And why is she punishing Rosetta? Tricia asked.
“Ferrona was once a queen like myself,” the Golden Queen said. “But she wanted absolute power and control. So she traded all her good qualities for that bad one that we all fear. The ability to wear iron. Iron is the deadliest curse in all Fairyland. Just being in its presence causes weakness, then death to all of the wee people.
“Ferrona uses this new evil power of hers to rule Fairyland with an ironfist. Even I, the Golden Queen Fairy, with all of my magic, am powerless against her iron ring and wand.”
“But why did she punish Rosetta?” Tricia asked.
“Because she doesn’t want anyone from Fairyland to see human girls and boys, much less talk and make friends with them, as Rosetta has done.”
“That’s terrible,” Tricia shouted, “Then it is my fault that she is being punished. But why does Ferrona not like children?”
“I believe Ferrona is secretly afraid of little girls, for iron holds no power over them,” the Golden Queen said.
“Oh, my queen, how may I help?” Tricia asked.
“My child, of that we are not sure. The Council of Elders and I have been pondering this question, long and hard. It was told long ago that one with the innocence of a child would rid our land of this curse of iron. Maybe you are that child, maybe not. If you agree to help, know that it will be a very dangerous quest indeed.”
“I’ll go no matter what,” blurted out Tricia.
“Ah, the courage and innocence of youth,” the Golden Queen beamed. “First, my child, hear what it is that you will be called upon to do. Rosetta has been given to the evil stinging wasps, by Ferrona to do the bidding of the Queen wasp. She is to remain forever inside their hive. To rescue her, you will have to go into the wasps nest. Do you still wish to help?”
There was silence in the great hall as all eyes turned towards Tricia. She looked around at the Council, from Eehia, the eldest elf, to Bruno, the eldest gnome, to Naiyette, the eldest water nymph, on and on, until her eyes once more rested on the Golden Queen Fairy. With a deep swallow she finally said, “yes I will go.”
A roar of approval arose from the room, everyone present applauded and stamped their feet on the floor.
When the cheering stopped, the Golden Queen raised her hands and said, “Elrondo.”
Tricia turned to look. A powerful and determined looking warrior elf approached the throne. He bowed to the Queen and stood waiting for her orders. Tricia took a closer look, yes it was the same elf that had come to her bedroom to summon her to Fairyland. But he was now all dressed in his battle armor and held a long wooden lance in his right hand. Instead of the cocked hat, he now wore a round helmet with a golden plume.
On his right forearm, hung a round shield with the emblem of the Golden Queen embossed upon it.
“My Queen,” he said, as he knelt.
“Tricia, Captain Elrondo has offered to be your champion and to go with you into the evil forest and help you rescue Rosetta. He is our most tried and true warrior elfin and captain of my personal body guard. If anyone can help you save Rosetta, it is he.”
Elrondo rose and the Golden Queen stood and offered her hand to them. Tricia bowed and placed a kiss on the back of the Queen’s hand. Elrondo did the same.
They bowed and backed out of the throne room. Once outside, they quickly headed in the direction of the dark and dangerous evil forest to the north.
After several hours of traveling, Elrondo exclaimed, “here it is, the evil forest. Be careful. There are many dangers here and we must go carefully.”
They slowly entered the evil forest where all the sunlight was shut out and darkness prevailed.
“Ever since Ferrona and her accursed iron has come into our lands, evil and its evil things have multiplied and spread. We are helpless to stop it. Everyday this dark and evil forest encroaches more and more into our fair lands. Iron is truly the curse of our people,” he said.
Tricia walked cautiously behind him. Holding tightly onto his belt. They walked for hours. They heard strange noises and sounds coming out of the darkness around them.
Every now and then they were forced to take cover as a giant dragonfly zoomed low overhead.
“You see, Ferrona’s power is so strong that even the dragonfly you just saw, once a peaceful and good ally, has turned evil and against us,” he said.
They crept ahead slowly, looking for the hive of the wasps that held Rosetta captive. Elrondo put his hand up in caution. Tricia listened and faintly heard clicking sounds getting closer and closer.
Elrondo stiffened, grabbed Tricia’s hand and started to run, but it was too late.
“Army ants,” he whispered.
The clicking got louder and louder. From all sides of the forest a circle of army ants appeared and ringed them in. They were completely surrounded. Elrondo held his spear at the ready. Tricia turned so that they were back to back. Then together they awaited the inevitable that faced them.
One of the ants walked slowly forward and stared hard at Tricia, who thought that he was sizing her up for supper.
He raised one of his antenna and yelled, “hold, hold the attack.” He turned toward Elrondo and said, “peace, warrior elfin.” If this girl be who I think she be, then you have nothing to fear from Antilla and his men. Step forward child, let me get a better look at you.”
Tricia let go of Elrondo, who had lowered his spear, and approached Antilla.
“By the sacred mandibles of my ancestors,” the ant swore. “It is you. You are the little girl who lives by the rose arbor.”
“Yes I am,” replied Tricia, “but how did you know?”
“I could never forget you. Once, a while back, when I was on a special foraging trip into your land, you saved my life. You stopped a little boy who was stepping on my men, just for the fun of it. If you had not come along in time, then I would not be here talking to you. I too would have joined many dead brave warriors that day. When you bent down to get a better look at us, I took a long look at your face and vowed that if the opportunity ever came for me to repay you, I would.
“The God’s have given me fortune, for now I have the chance to pay my debt. It is not good to die leaving unpaid debts. How many Antilla, Captain of her Majesty the Queen Ant serve you?”
Tricia and Elrondo explained the whole situation to Antilla and what they intended to do. He nodded his head and said, “come I must get permission from the Queen before I may help you.”
He marched them to the ant hill, where they entered by one of the side entrances.
Once inside, Tricia was amazed by the amount of activity. All of the ants were busy at work. Some were bringing food into the anthill. Others were storing it away. Some were caring for the young ants and the eggs, and some were at work milking other insects. No one was standing around. It was indeed a very busy place.
Antilla took Tricia and Elrondo to the Queen’s chambers and introduced them to the Queen with much pomp and ceremony. He explained to the Queen the debt that he owed to Tricia and asked her for permission to pay it back.
The Queen agreed, but she could only allow Antilla to take twenty soldiers with him. She needed the rest to defend the nest against a rumored attack by a neighboring anthill..
Antilla bowed and they all backed out of the chamber. They made their preparations and Antilla handpicked twenty soldiers.
This time they marched boldly through the forest, there was no need to sneak around, for very few inhabitants of the evil forest wished to meet army ants on the march.
The only time that the ants were forced to stop their march and take cover was to allow a savage praying mantis plenty of room to pass. Captain Antilla told Tricia there was no sense in possibly losing half of his men in a fight with the monster.
They quickly reached the trees where the evil wasps had built their nest. They stopped and a council of war was called. The army ants formed a protective ring around Tricia, Elrondo and Antilla. It was agreed that the twenty soldiers that Antilla had at his command were far too few to try a frontal attack on the wasps nest, which might contain hundreds of soldier wasps.
Antilla, who was well versed in war tactics, said, “what we need is a diversionary tactic of some kind. We must draw the soldier wasps out so that you two can get in to make the rescue.”
Tricia’s eyes lit up with an idea and she said, “I remember reading in one of my nature books where spiders, especially tarantulas, are the deadly enemies of wasps, and they fight on sight. Is that true?”
“By the sacred antenna of my ancestor’s,”bellow Antilla, “you are right, you have it. If you ever decide to stay in Fairyland, we could use such a warrior counselor as you.”
“Thank you Antilla, but I must really get on with saving Rosetta, or I will surely be late for school,” Tricia replied.
Antilla turned towards his men and barked out some orders. They dispersed into the woods in four groups of five soldiers each.
Antilla, Tricia and Elrondo took up positions where they could safely watch the wasps nest.
Soon the sounds of clicking mixed with a horrible hissing roar filled the forest all around them. Out of the brush on the right broke a huge nasty looking shaggy tarantula, slavering at the mouth. Behind him came the army ants. They were driving the huge beast by charging in close enough to nip at his flanks without getting caught in his deadly jaws.
They drove him towards the tree which held the wasps nest. Into the jaws of death charged the brave little army ants, until they finally held the giant spider, who was fully ten times their size, at bay at the foot of the tree.
Antilla signaled for quiet and pointed to the nest. Tricia and Elrondo looked and saw that there was great activity at it’s entrance.
“The alarm has been given,” said Antilla.
More noise to the left and the right, and two more tarantulas were driven into the open by the courageous ants. Finally, from right behind them a tarantula, the biggest of the four, charged out. He still held, in his huge jaws, the lifeless body of one of the army ants who bravely but foolishly, charged in too close.
Antilla let out an oath that only those akin to the ways of army ants would have understood.
“We have done our part. Now, farewell my friends. Tricia my debt to you is paid, now the rest is up to you. I have a score to settle.” He saluted in his most formal manner and then with a terrifying battle cry, leaped onto the back of the huge tarantula that had killed his comrade-in-arms.
Tricia and Elrondo quietly watched as all the tarantulas were herded to the foot of the wasps tree.
The air above the army ants filled with the buzzing of hundreds of wings as the soldier wasps poured out of the hive and assembled for the attack. Once they formed into a massive swarm, they dove down towards the invading spiders.
Tricia and Elrondo watched as Antilla gave the huge shaggy tarantula, that he was riding, one more blow for good measure in retaliation for the death of his comrade. Then he leaped off the spider and with a series of shrill clicks, he and the rest of his soldiers gathered up the wounded and faded into the forest.
The wasps instantly attacked the spiders and the fierce battle at the foot of the tree commenced.
Elrondo gathered Tricia in his arms and as fast as he could fly headed for the entrance of the wasp’s nest. Elrondo entered first, with Tricia following close behind. Slowly they crept down a corridor into a large chamber where nurse wasps were attending the young.
They came to a fork in the corridor and Elrondo pointed to the right. The Queen’s chamber was their goal. They walked onward unopposed by the many worker wasps who were too busy going about their tasks to bother with them. They passed the honeycombs and finally came to a passageway that was much larger than the others.
Elrondo whispered, “the Queens passageway.”
They turned down the passageway and stopped quickly. A soldier wasp stood on guard in front of the Queen’s chamber. Elrondo, without hesitating for a second, charged the wasp and overpowered him quickly and quietly before he knew what happened.
Then they entered the Queen’s chambers. It was filled with newly hatched eggs that were being cared for by the nurse wasps. There, in the center of the chamber, lay the Queen wasp on her throne, oblivious to all the hard work being done all around her. She had completed her job of providing her hive with new eggs. Now all that she had to do was lie back and be pampered until egg laying time came again.
As Elrondo and Tricia secretly watched all the activity, they spotted a droop-shouldered, bedraggled figure slowly approaching the Queen wasp with a cup full of honey.
“Rosetta,” Tricia cried out uncontrollably.
At the sound of her name. Rosetta looked towards them and dropped the cup. The Queen wasp rose to her full height and emitted a series of buzzes and other sounds.
“Quickly, this way. Run Rosetta,” called Elrondo. “The Queen is summoning help.”
As fast as her tired little legs would carry her, Rosetta, the rose fairy, raced into the waiting arms of Tricia where she sobbed uncontrollably.
The Queen seeing that help was not coming soon enough, leaped to the attack. She was fully five times larger than any of the soldiers wasps and her maternal instincts against intruders in the hive was awful to behold.
“Run,” shouted Elrondo. “Back the way we came. I will try to hold her off.”
Tricia helped Rosetta down through the corridor they had entered by.
Elrondo stood his ground and tried to cover their retreat, but the force of the Queen’s charge knocked him to the ground. It was only the hardness of his armor that saved his life as she pressed home with her stinger.
Elrondo jumped to his feet and jabbed at her soft underside with his spear as he slowly backed up.
The Queen readied herself for another charge. The sheer weight of her body would soon overwhelm the valiant elfin warrior.
As she gathered to charge once again, Elrondo threw his spear, which momentarily stopped her. He then flung himself backwards and fell into the narrower tunnel used by the worker wasps. The Queen’s body was too big to fit through and she hit the wall with such a tremendous shock that it temporarily stunned her.
Elrondo scrambled to his feet and ran after Tricia and Rosetta.
They made their way to the outside, unopposed and saw that the battle below still raged fiercely.
Rosetta was too weak to fly and her wings were all covered with the sticky honey that the Queen had placed there to prevent her from escaping.
Elrondo made two trips, first carrying Rosetta to safety in the bushes, then Tricia.
Once all three were on the ground, they made their escape. They cleared the evil woods and stopped by a little stream of clear running water. Tricia helped Rosetta wash her wings, while Elrondo stood on guard.
Tricia was so happy for saving Rosetta that she gave Elrondo a big squeeze and a kiss on the cheek.
“We did it,” she yelled with joy.
The warrior elfin mumbled something under his breath and turned a deep scarlet.
“Eiiahhhahhhaahhaa,” a horrible laugh filled the air.
The three of them turned to face Ferrona, the evil witch, who hovered high above them in the air.
“So you thought you could get away,” she laughed. “Now I will have to punish all three of you.”
Elrondo and Rosetta together grabbed Tricia under the arms and took to the air.
“On, no you don’t,” screeched Ferrona as she pointed the cursed iron wand at them.
Instantly, all of the power in their wings left them and they fell straight into the cooling waters of the stream below. As they hit the water, their strength returned.
“Quickly,” Tricia said. “The running water has stopped her evil power. Let’s get away before she finds a way across.”
Off they sped.
“With her magic, she will surely overtake us,” Elrondo said. “We will never make it back to the Golden Castle in time. I will stay behind and try to stop her. Hurry.”
“No, we will never leave you,” cried Rosetta.
“It doesn’t matter if we make it to the Golden Castle or not,” Tricia said. “Ferrona is on to us and she has the iron wand and ring, and she will eventually get us. But I have a plan. Will Ferrona follow us back through the tunnel to my garden?”
“She is so evil and so angry,” replied Rosetta, “that she will follow us to the ends of the world.”
“Fine. Let’s make haste toward the tunnel,” smiled Tricia. “On the way, I will tell you my plan.”
As quickly as they could, the three flew toward the magic entrance that lead into Tricia’s world. But it was slow going, and they had to take repeated rests. Rosetta was still weak from her ordeal with the wasps and the pursuit of Ferrona with the iron drained them continually.
“It’s Ferrona,” Elrondo said on one of the breaks. She is gaining ground. That accursed iron drains our energy.”
They stopped and rested once again.
“We will never make it to the entrance,” Elrondo said. “I must stay and face her. Don’t try to talk me out of it. Besides Tricia, your mission is far more important than the life of one elfin warrior. Go and hurry.”
“Come,” Rosetta said, who knew the uselessness of argument when Elrondo made up his mind to do his duty.
As they started off, Elrondo looked at Rosetta and said, “remember me.”
This was the first time Elrondo let his guard down and showed his love for Rosetta.
It wasn’t long before Feronna showed up. Elrondo had no chance, but he stood his ground against the evil witch. Her iron wand soon had him on his knees in front of her, disarmed.
“Where did they go?” she cackled, “to humanland?”
Elrondo did not answer.
Feronna touched Elrondo’s shoulder with the iron wand, causing untold agony to the elfin warrior. But still his lips remained sealed.
“Bah. I’ve wasted enough time with you. I will deal with you later.” She hit him with the iron wand, knocking him senseless and took to the air.
She flew directly toward the magic tunnel.
The precious time that Elrondo had bought them, with his bravery, and silence was enough. Tricia and Rosetta reached the tunnel, just as Feronna showed up in hot pursuit.
“You’ll not get away this time,” the evil witch cackled.
Quickly Tricia and Rosetta entered the tunnel and sped through the lights and burst through into her garden.
Feronna was right behind them.
“Stop,” the evil witch shouted and raised her magic wand. Rosetta slipped to the ground, but the wand had no effect on Tricia at all.
Tricia grabbed Rosetta and slowly dragged her away from Feronna.
“You are just prolonging the end,” laughed Feronna. “You can’t get away.”
Finally Tricia was exactly where she wanted to be. She had her back against a shinny metallic object.
“Feronna you evil witch,” Tricia yelled defiantly, “why are you so afraid of me?”
“Afraid of you?” roared the witch. “I fear no one!”
“You lie. If you are not afraid, then come and touch me,” taunted Tricia. “But you won’t. You are afraid of all children.”
“I’ll touch you,” screeched Feronna. “I’ll do more than that. I’ll smash that silly smile right of your face, right now.”
Feronna charged at Tricia with her iron wand rose high above her head.
At the very last moment, Tricia summoned up all of her remaining strength and lunged with Rosetta out of the way. Instead of hitting Tricia with the wand, the evil witch got caught in the powerful field of the magnet, that Tricia had so carefully hidden behind her.
With a loud scream, Feronna was pulled in towards the magnet where she got stuck between the two powerful poles. She was held tight by both the iron wand in her hand and the iron ring on her finger.
“Help me. Help me,” she screamed. “I can’t move. I’m stuck. This is your magic Tricia. Let me go and I will be good.”
“Ha,” Tricia laughed. “I wouldn’t help you if I could. Only you can help yourself. Drop the iron wand and take the ring off of your finger.”
Feronna was too scared not to obey and upon letting go of the wand she fell unceremoniously to the ground. The iron ring and wand stuck firmly to the magnet.
“Go now, back to your world, and ask the Golden Queen for forgiveness,” pointed Tricia. “Though I don’t see any reason why you deserve it.”
“Oh, Tricia, this is the second time that you have saved me,” Rosetta smiled. “This means that all Fairyland will be out from under her power. Please, you must come back with me and let us reward you.”
Before Tricia could answer, the alarm clock on her night table filled the air of the garden with its ringing.
“Oh, I would love to, “ answered Tricia. “But I will be late for school and my mother would be cross. You go now and find Elrondo. He needs you. Someday we will meet again.”
Tricia and Rosetta hugged and kissed with tears of joy and sorrow flowing down their cheeks.
As Rosetta flew towards the entrance, she sprinkled Tricia with the manic sand that brought her back to human size.
Tricia waved goodbye as Rosetta disappeared into the opening in the rose arbor. Then she bent down and took a tiny iron wand and ring off the magnet and walked into the house.
Ellis Peterson AKA Ragnar Storyteller is a retired math professor and electronics engineer. He has studied astrology, metaphysics, runes and quantum physics for over 25 years. He is truly a knowledgeable gray beard. His writings are refreshing. He has combined the ancient wisdom teachings with the 21st century laws of quantum physics.
For more of his writings please visit his websites:
http://www.runes-for-health-wealth-love-now.com
Or just go to goggle and type in his pen name Ragnar Storyteller for his listings. He is a ghost writer and will write articles for you. He can be contacted at
You can also visit his informative blogs on runes, quantum physics, magic, spirituality, alternate healing methods.
http://native-american-folklore.blogspot.com/
http://quantumetaphysics.blogspot.com/
http://runesandquantumphysics.blogspot.com/
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http://norse-mythology.blogspot.com/
http://astrological-solar-chart.blogspot.com/
http://magical-runes.blogspot.com/
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