Clara and the Magical Charms (7 page)

“Queen Mab enchanted the bay,” said Rosy. “She made the water as warm as it is in summertime.”

“Even then it's too cold for me,” said Goldie, with a shiver.

“Still, I'd like to try a Round-the-Island Swim sometime. I could do it so fast my wings wouldn't even notice they were off my shoulders,” said Sylva. “Maybe next year!”

“It's all riding on this!” Lady Courtney announced with gusto. “If Alasdair wins, he takes first prize. But since this event is such a high-scoring one, Rowan or Ethelrood could snatch the trophy away from him. What will be the outcome? Who will win the Valentine's Games?”

All the fairies were crowded at the dock to watch the beginning of the race. They started flying toward the West Shore to follow the gnomes' progress when they heard a shout from Iris Flower.

“Come on, everybody,” she called. “Queen Mab sent the Royal Balloon so we can follow the race! It's waiting for us behind Clearwater Cottage! Come on!”

Queen Mab hardly ever brought out the Royal Balloon, but when there was going to be a traffic jam of fairies in the sky, it was the best solution.

The Royal Balloon wasn't really a balloon, but everybody called it that. It was an intricate straw basket, lined with deep blue velvet, that was pulled by a flock of very friendly chickadees who lived on Sheepskerry year-round. The black-capped birds chittered with excitement as the fairies piled in.

“Come on, Sylva!” cried Poppy. “Climb aboard!” Next, her own sisters disappeared into the basket. Clara heard Rosy calling her name. “Clara! Clara, where are you?”

Clara almost floated over to the balloon to be with her friends . . . but then she thought,
They'll be able to see the whole race from up there, but if I stay closer to shore, I can follow Rowan
. “Go ahead!” she called to Rosy. “Go ahead without me!”

The chickadees whistled to one another, and they lifted the balloon gently into the sky. The fairies could soon spot their favorites.

“Come on, Alasdair,” cried Goldie. “He's winning!”

“Is that Ethelrood right behind him?” asked Avery. “He's in second place.”

“Where's Andy?” asked Judy Jellicoe.

“I hope they all win!” said Rosy.

“A-blay!” said Squeak.

“Yes, Squeakie,” said Rosy. “Hooray!”

Clara did not feel sorry that she wasn't up in the balloon with the other fairies. She was enjoying the race along the shoreline. The pack of swimmers had just passed Little Crab Island and was heading south to Doe Isle.

There was an old-fashioned megaphone in the balloon's basket, and Lady Courtney used it now. “It's Alasdair in the lead,” she announced, “with Ethelrood just behind. Andy and Hamish are going strong. Rowan lags, but his stroke is steady.”

“Go, Ethelrood!” called Avery.

“And look, fairies! The school of dolphins is helping them along. Nothing more exciting than to try to outswim a dolphin.”

“There's Speedy!” called Sylva.

Climbing over the rocks near Sea Glass Cottage, Clara was urging Rowan on. “Alasdair has pulled out ahead early,” she said to a pretty mother cardinal she met on the path, “but I have a feeling Rowan will outpace him.”

And indeed Clara was right. As the swimmers rounded Foggy Bottom, Alasdair's fast pace flagged, and Rowan, who had been slow but steady, began to pull ahead. “Go, Rowan, go!” called Clara.

But then the race slowed down.

“What's this?” said Lady Courtney through her loudspeaker. “Are those . . . mermaids in the water? They promised Queen Mab they would not disturb the swimmers!”

“We don't always keep our promises!” sang the mermaids. “Surely you know that by now.” Clara watched as the mermaids swirled around the gnomes, making them lose their way in the water. Even the dolphins lost their formation as the mermaids splashed and dashed and kicked. “Over this way!” they sang. “No, here!” They held out charms made of pearls and coral to lure the gnomes off course and cause all kinds of mischief, all the way from Eel Reef to Mermaid Rocks.

Soon, most of the swimmers had gone astray. Hamish was heading back to Doe Isle and Cam was swimming out to sea. Alasdair joined the three prettiest mermaids on Seal Rock and rested for a while. “I'm still going to win,” he called to the fairies in the Royal Balloon. “But how can I resist a mermaid?”

The one gnome who was not bothered by the mermaids was Rowan. His strong, steady stroke took him easily past Mermaid Rocks, toward the shoals of Heart Island. Clara was sure he would win the race—and take the gold prize. But then he, too, stopped swimming suddenly and started treading water.

“What is he doing?” Clara said to herself as she strained her eyes to watch him from the shore. “Have the mermaids enchanted him too?” Rowan didn't appear to be hurt or tired, but he wasn't moving an inch. And now that the mermaids had grown bored of them, the other gnomes were once again on course.

“And the race is back on!” cried Lady Courtney from the Royal Balloon. The fairies whistled and cheered as the swimmers headed north to Ram Island. The Royal Balloon was all but out of sight.

Clara stayed where she was. She could see that Rowan was panting hard in the water. He was swimming over to rest on a shoal. He didn't look hurt or injured, but she couldn't be sure. And he seemed to be dragging something with him. “Shall I fly out to help him, little fellow?” asked Clara as a chipmunk scampered up a chestnut tree. “Do you think he needs me?”

The chipmunk ran halfway up the tree and pointed his nose to precisely where Rowan was in the water.

That was good enough for Clara. She gave a few strong flaps of her wings and took flight to the spot where Rowan had stopped swimming. It was cold out on the bay, but Clara bravely faced the wind. As she got closer to Rowan he waved to her, but without his familiar smile.

“What's wrong, Rowan? Are you hurt?”

Then Clara realized why Rowan had stopped. There, in front of them, was a baby dolphin, caught on the shoals of Heart Island. “Oh no! It's Speedy!” cried Clara. “She got off course. Let's take her back to her pod.” Clara landed carefully on the slippery rock where Rowan held the dolphin in his arms.

“It's not as easy as that, Clara,” Rowan said. “This wee dolphin is hurt. Take a look at her flank.”

There was a deep gash on the baby dolphin's side. “She must have cut herself on these sharp rocks. I don't think she'll last much longer,” Clara said. “Can you call the mother dolphin? The way you called the doe?”

“I already have,” said Rowan. “But creatures of the sea don't always understand gnomes. I don't think she could hear me.”

“Shall I fly off to get Queen Mab? Her magic could help us.”

Speedy's body shivered.

“There's no time,” said Rowan.

“Then I'll have to do it,” said Clara. “I'll have to try the healing charm.” She didn't want to repeat what Queen Mab had said:
It takes life to heal life.

“Will it not take too much out of you?” asked Rowan. “You told me it's not an easy charm.”

Speedy made a tiny sighing sound. Her eyes fluttered. Clara could not just stand by and do nothing. Not when there was a chance she might save the baby dolphin.

“I've got to do it, Rowan,” she said. “I've got to try the healing charm.”

She could not bring herself to say,
Even if it costs me dearly, very dearly indeed.

twelve

R
owan closed his eyes. Clara did too. They both put their hands on the baby dolphin. “Now, imagine her all well and safe,” said Clara. She thought hard about Speedy swimming away to safety, healthy and free. Then she whispered the charm:

Harm and hurt

And pain no more.

Feel this power,

From my core.

May you be

Sound as a bell.

May my magic

Make you well!

Before Clara could even open her eyes, she heard the raspy breath of the baby dolphin again. She looked down at Speedy's side—the gash was still there. Her charm had failed!

“Why won't it work when it worked before? It's so much more important now,” Clara said.

“It's okay, Clara,” said Rowan. “You can't do everything. The mother dolphin will be here soon, I'm sure.” But he did not sound so sure.

They both looked at the baby dolphin. Her eyes were closing. “We're losing her!” cried Clara. “I've got to try it again.”

Clara held out her hand and Rowan took hold of it. “Now,” she said, “think of Speedy, safe and healed, and swimming back to her pod. Think hard, Rowan!” He squeezed her hand, and then let her go.

Clara raised her arms and felt her magic surge through her. Loud and clear she said:

Harm and hurt

And pain no more.

Feel this power,

From my core.

May you be

Sound as a bell.

May my magic

Make you well!

Suddenly, magical sparks flew all around them.

“She's breathing, Clara! She's alive!”