Clara and the Magical Charms (6 page)

The sound of trampling startled them both, and the mother deer bounded away. Clara turned quickly. Maybe it was a bear!

But it wasn't a bear at all.

“Rowan!” Clara said.

Rowan Gnome stood in front of Clara. Gnomes cannot fly, of course, so Rowan had clamped on his ice shoes and taken the slippery path to the top of the hill. Fairies don't mind if the paths are slippery and slick, because they don't need to use them much. (You wouldn't walk on ice, either, if you had wings.)

“What are you doing up here?” asked Clara. She always thought of Sunrise Hill as her own special place, especially when fluffy snowflakes were falling, as they were that afternoon.

“The other gnomes told me about Sunrise Hill. They say it's the highest place on Sheepskerry. That's why I brought my toboggan.”

“Ooh, that's a beautiful one,” said Clara, “and we hardly ever do any sledding on Sheepskerry. Most fairies prefer to fly.”

“This hill is perfect for a toboggan ride,” said Rowan. “And this snow is perfect . . . for snowballs.”

“Don't you dare,” said Clara.

“Oh, I wouldn't think of it,” said Rowan. He whistled innocently. “But I may pile up a little snow here, just in case.”

Clara beat him to it. She scooped up a handful of snow, smushed it into a ball, took aim—and threw!
Ploop!
Clara's snowball landed on Rowan's shoulder.

“Why, you . . . ,” said Rowan. He grinned. “I knew I couldn't trust you.” He made an armful of white powder into a big ball. “Watch out, Miss Fairy.”

“Can't catch me!” said Clara. “I can fly!”

“No fair!” said Rowan.

Clara had speed and grace, but Rowan could boast an excellent throwing arm. After Clara dodged several well-aimed tosses and Rowan's cap got knocked off a third time (amid a lot of laughing), they called a truce.

“Want to build a snow gnome?” asked Rowan.

“No thanks!” said Clara, her eyes merry. “I'll build a snow fairy.”

The two of them got to work rolling snow and sculpting faces. Rowan went off looking for a pinecone for a pipe. “You have lots of interesting stones on Sheepskerry,” he said, picking one up and putting it in his pocket.

“And sea glass, too,” said Clara. “Just ask Goldie about her collection. Have you found the right pinecone yet? I'm using twigs for fairy wings.”

They worked for a while longer as the snow fell. Soon there was a sturdy snow gnome and a beautiful snow fairy on the top of Sunrise Hill.

“She needs a scarf to keep her warm,” said Clara, looking at her fairy. “I'll give her mine.” She unwound her purple scarf from her neck and wrapped it around her snow fairy. “Much better,” she said.

“My gnome needs a cap, but he's not getting mine, not after I had to rescue it from your snowballs so many times.” Rowan looked around him. “Plus, the snow is coming down harder now.”

All at once, Clara realized she'd been having so much fun that she hadn't even thought about Rosy and Goldie, Sylva and Squeak. “I'd better get home,” said Clara. “What if my sisters need me? They won't even know where I am!”

“We'll send them word, to let them know you're all right,” said Rowan. He whistled a low whistle, and the doe Clara had seen earlier came bounding through the snow.

“You can talk to deer?” asked Clara in wonder.

“Och, it's not much of a skill. All of us gnomes can talk to woodland creatures,” said Rowan. He cradled the deer's neck in his arms, very gently, and whispered in her ear. The doe bounded off again. “She'll tell Queen Mab. Your sisters will be fine.”

“Let's hope so,” said Clara. “I worry about them.” And she started to fly away.

“Wait, Clara,” said Rowan. “Your wings might get bogged down in this squall. Come on the toboggan with me. It'll be the quickest way.”

Much as she wanted to fly, Clara knew Rowan was right. She climbed onto the long, slender sled behind him. Suddenly cold, she shivered.

“Here,” said Rowan. “Take my scarf.”

Clara was too chilled to turn him down. He knotted his old brown plaid knit scarf around her neck.

“Thanks, Rowan,” she said.

“Och,” he said, “it's nothing.” He paused for a moment. “Will you be all right?” he asked.

“I'll be fine,” she said.

“Then hold on tight!” he said. “Let's go!”

ten

S
wiftly, they raced down Sunrise Hill. Clara laughed as they bumped and slipped and slid their way down the hill. “I've never gone this fast on land before!” she called, her eyes bright. She would have enjoyed the ride even more if she hadn't been so worried about her sisters. When they reached the deep snow at the bottom of the hill, Clara said a hasty good-bye to Rowan. Then she flew toward home.

Under the cover of trees, Clara did not need to worry about snow on her wings. She flew straight to the Bell fairy house. All the way home, she fretted about what she would find there: Rosy overwhelmed, Goldie in tears, Sylva frozen in a snowbank, and Squeak crying her eyes out, frightened and alone. Why couldn't she fly any faster?

Finally, panting and out of breath, she arrived at her beloved fairy house. She burst through the door. “Oh, sisters, sisters, where are you? Are you safe? Are you all right?”

She looked around. She didn't see anyone. Not even Rosy. Not even Squeak!

“Goldie, Sylva—where are you?” she cried. “Rosy! Squeakie! Have I lost you forever?” Then Clara heard a very familiar sound.

“No lolo!”

In front of the fire, in a cozy heap, were Rosy, Goldie, Sylva, and Squeak. Three mugs of steaming hot chocolate were on the toadstool table (plus a special bottle of warm milk for you-know-who). Fluffy white marshmallows were roasting on sticks. The smell of popcorn was in the air. The great room was as warm as toast.

“You're all right?” Clara said. “You knew what to do without me?”

“Of course we're all right,” said Rosy. “We've had so much fun! This house was built to last.”

“Doesn't Sheepskerry look pretty?” asked Goldie. “Everything's white and fresh.”

“Queen Mab herself flew over to see us,” said Sylva. “She got a message from a deer!”

“Where were you all this time?” asked Goldie.

Clara hesitated a little. Then she said, “I was up on the top of Sunrise Hill with Alasdair's brother. Rowan.”

“Rowan!” said Sylva. “What were you doing all that time with a gnome?”

“Chatting about the Games, I'm sure,” said Rosy. She noticed the new scarf around Clara's neck. “He seems like a nice gnome,” she said to her big sister.

“He is,” said Clara. “I really think he is.”

eleven

“T
he Round-the-Island Swim begins . . . now!”

All the fairies cheered as Alasdair, Rowan, Hamish, Cam, Andy, Ethelrood, and the other gnomes dived off the dock and splashed into Sheepskerry Bay early the next morning. The fairies didn't generally participate in this race—it wasn't wise to take off their wings for such a long time.

“It must be freezing in that water!” said Sylva. “How do they do it?”