Matilda walked against the wall of the wicker house. She stopped to watch inside between the blooming branches. Ferry and his Guardians followed, afraid of some reckless gesture of her.

"Matt, what are you doing?" Ferry whispered.

The girl didn't answer. Instead, she kept on watching between the branches. Ferry also looked inside. He discovered the strangest room—the wicker house was, in fact, a nursery full of baby cribs. Cryings, growls, and giggles came from the tiny cribs. Several fairies entered the strange house; the mysterious woman was among them. Each one of the young women picked up a baby in their arms; each one was wrapped in a blanket of leaves and herbs, just like the one they found wrapped around Matilda.

But the babies were the ones to catch Ferry's eye; fairy babies with eyes as dark as stormy skies; their arms were thin and bony and their hair tangled and bristled up.

The mysterious woman came closer to one crib next to the wall behind they all hid. They could see her clearly, now. She was young, beautiful, and she looked just like Matilda. With the most gentle gestures, she picked up a fairy baby and rocked him. The little creature was tossing about in her arms, scratching her face and spitting. But the woman looked at him with so much love and longing, her eyes full of tears. "Matilda, my sweet, beautiful little girl..." she whispered.

An older fairy stepped closer to her, "Why can't you let go, Ella?" she asked her with a soft voice. "You've been here for so long... If you could just try to stop thinking about her, perhaps you'll forget... You won't have to go the Blind Alley anymore. You could live here, with me. We could take care of the babies, enjoy the light and warmth... And maybe, you could accept Doruh's love and live in the Palace one day."

"I can't, Mamma Leena," she said between sobs. "I can't forget... I already have a baby and a husband. Their memory is all I have left... I remember this just as clear as I remember that my name it's not Ella."

"But you have so much love to offer... Why can't you give it to the children of this place?"

"But I'm giving them a part of my heart each time I come here," said the young woman. "Poor babies," she said while watching the little creature that was now sleeping quietly, glued to her chest. "Not knowing who your mother is... growing up without her love..."

"But that is the meaning of this place," Mamma Leena answered. "That each baby can have dozens of mothers, each one with so much love to give."

Ella shook her head, "Growing up without a mother of your own is the biggest curse of a child," she said, wiping a tear away.

That moment, Matilda, who watched the whole scene without even breathing, sobbed. A deep sob, filled with love and so much longing. The young woman looked right at her as if the wall between them vanished.

"What is it?" asked Mamma Leena.

"I don't know," she whispered, coming closer to the wall. "I just thought--"

That moment, Ferry knew it was time to go. He slowly took a few steps back, dragging Matilda after him. When they were far enough from the Nursery, they all could finally breathe easily.

"Matt, what were you thinking? You could've given us away," he said, gasping.

"My mother is in there," Matilda whispered, staring at the Nursery behind them.

Ferry and his Guardians exchanged worried looks.

"Matt..." Ferry tried to calm her down, putting his hand on her shoulder. But at his very touch, Matilda throbbed. Then she looked at Ferry dead in the eye. He's never seen her so determined.

"I'm not leaving without my mother!"

Ferry tried to say something, but choke on his words. This time, Shadow was the one to talk, "Mattie, try to understand... This mission we all have is hard already. We can't save your mother now. It's too dangerous," he gently said.

Yet, they both knew how stubborn Matilda could be. "I'm not leaving without her!" she said. "I can't let her go in that horrible place, Shadow," she whispered, her eyes flooded with tears. "She hasn't forgotten me... She still loves me. My Mum loves me," she sobbed.

Shadow caressed her hair. "So be it, we'll take her with us when we're going to leave this place," he eventually said.

Yet, Baldie was the only one to be in two minds, "To do that, you still have to go to Fae Queen's Palace," he said. "And to have the odds working for you, you need to know about this place. I've been trying to learn about it, as best as I could from above. I couldn't fly too low because a bald raven would've drawn everyone's attention, of course."

"And what did you see?" Izzy asked him.

They all gathered around Baldie. The raven-man opened his arms widely and they could all witness how flowers, pebbles, and twigs slowly started to lift in the air, floating in front of them like in a dance. When Baldie moved his hands, the floating objects began to trim up around an ebony branch which lifted above the others.

"You might know by now this land is larger than you imagined. The whole Shepherd's Forest it's a door between the worlds, not just the rock you went through. The trees, bushes, rocks, even the air can turn into doors between the worlds, this time of the year. They will close soon, once the summer solstice is over and the Moon will go down.

"Well, in this land, everything is built in circles. It's a whole land built in circles within other circles and right in their center there is ─"

"Fae Queen's Palace..." whispered Ferry.

Baldie nodded, "You are in right, Ferry. There are nine lands stretching around Fae Queen's Palace. And we're in this ninth land and the closest to the Palace. Everything you've seen so far is part of this ninth land. The Shepherd's Forest, the hidden forest where we found Matilda, the Dryads' Forest, the Nursery, the inns, and napping shelters. They are all part of this land. Medley Paths it is called."

Ferry repeated the name in his mind. It sounded melodic and playful. It looked melodic and playful, too. Yet, he couldn't help but think that this place was still deceiving, with secrets hidden in front of their very eyes.

When Baldie stopped talking, a bundle of leaves flew in the air; then, each leaf slowly placed itself around the black branch.

"And then, there are the other eight Great Lands of Tenalach. The Land of the Fields of Gold where farmer fairies live. The Land of the Ring River on the bank of a great river that springs and sloops in the same place. Then, there are the Shimmering Woods, the brightest you've ever seen. Then, the Lonely Mounds where the solitary fairies live, each one minding his own. Then the Land of Boundless Tunnels, deep within the depth of earth and the Land of Crossing Winds. And the Land of Shifty Sands, the realm of desert and mirages. The last one is the Land of the Mountains of Mist which separate Tenalach from the Endless Seas."

As Baldie was talking, more and more elements began to form circles around each other, dancing in the air: wildflowers, dew drops, blades, pebbles and sand, and twirls of air and water. There was a giant map floating right in front of them, magical and curious at the same time.

"Yet, we must act with great care," Baldie continued. "These lands are dwelled by beings of which not even we, the fairies of Akna, know much about. Not guiding themselves by the Book of Fairies and taking as a guide their own laws makes them even more curious. And more dangerous," he sighed. "Of what I've seen, they are peaceful beings, in love with nature. And nature loves them back, offering them such a warm, bright home. I've never seen a fairy around here carrying weapons. Most of them are domestic and trooping fairies. And yet... I don't know why, but I have the feeling this place is more than it shows. As if nothing is what it seems..."

Ferry was lost in thought. Baldie was right. He could almost feel the mysteries and secrets floating in the air. He could almost feel the dangers.

"The only place I've studied from above is the Palace," Baldie continued. "It's higher than any other citadel in Tenalach. It's also the only place that's watched over. The only hidden place from sight. There are only a few fairies who are allowed to set foot in that place. And there is also the Blind Alley. I could only see a black cloud floating above it. Bugs and birds would never dare flying above. "

"But how am I going to get in the Palace?" Ferry wondered.

"You'll be having the magical feathers, of course," said Baldie. "And we'll be around. But you're going to have to get in from above. You can use the blue feather to fly and enter through the highest tower. But once you get in there, you are alone," he said, avoiding his look. "All you have to do is find Fae Queen's chest, take the scissors and get out the same way you went. We'll always know where you are as long as you have the raven's stone."

Ferry nodded, although not convinced.

"I wish I could come with you," said Matilda. "Why can't I come with you?"

Ferry forced a smile. "I'm sorry, Matt. This time, I'm on my own."

⃰

The road to Fae Queen's Palace was long and ponderous. They were all heading to the unknown, some of them walking, whilst others flying. The Guardians changed into their animal shapes again. Baldie flew above them, scanning the darkness. The others tried to walk as fast as they could, hiding behind trees each time a magical creature passed by. The Moon shone brightly, spreading moon dust over the trees and grass. Its light lightened their path and, if they wouldn't have gone to the Palace, they would've certainly joined the fairies of Tenalach in their dancing and laughing.

They finally reached in front of the tree oak trees which served as the walls of the Palace. They watched it from the distance; the Palace looked like waiting for them, dark and patient.

Just like the first time, the three guards were laughing and singing, enjoying the sprightly dance of two nymphs. Ferry recognized them; they were Oona's sisters. But no sign of Oona. Her missing was worrying him. But now he had other things to worry about.

They went around the high wall of branches that surrounded the Palace and stopped somewhere where the guards couldn't see them.

"It's time," said Baldie, now in the shape of the raven-man. "But first, you should give the boxes with iron filling to Matt. It will slowly take away your energy without even you knowing. "

Ferry took the iron filling out of his backpack and handed it to Matilda. Then he took out the green and blue feathers. Baldie tried hard to encourage him with a smile, but Ferry could read the worry in his eyes. Shadow looked a little bit more optimistic, "Remember, if you need any help, you whistle two times short, three times long and then make pigeon sounds, in that order," he said. "We'll be there before you know it."

"Of course," added Izzy, "I can sneak in so fast, no one would notice, human or fae. I'm as slippery as a... lizard," he said, winking.

"And if you ever feel tired, drink this water," said Rosemary, the hare-woman. "It's brought from far away. It will give you strength."

The only one to stay quiet was Matilda. She slowly came closer to Ferry and put her arms around him. 

Ferry forced a smile. "Don't worry, Matt, I'll be back before you know it..." he whispered in her hair.

With trembling hands, he attached the green feather to his leg and took a step forward. Nothing happened.

No! Not again! he thought.

He needed the magic, now more than ever. He thought that maybe he didn't have any magic. Maybe he wasn't a fairy at all and the special powers they were all waiting for were just an illusion. Even Billy could fly!

"Close your eyes," said Baldie, sensing his uneasiness. "And think about something that makes you feel good and safe. A special place in your heart."

Ferry did just so. He closed his eyes, thinking he was home in his swing, in the backyard. He could almost feel the fresh air and the sound of the rustling fresh-washed sheets.

Then, he could feel how his feet slowly lifted from the ground and dangled, clumsy and disobedient, in the air. When he opened his eyes, he was already floating above the others. Matilda watched him, her eyes wide with wonder. So were his Guardians. Only Baldie took his raven shape back and joined him in his flight. They slowly rose. Baldie led the way and Ferry followed, trying hard not to lose him from sight.

Flying turned out to be hard. He didn't feel as light as a feather, carried away by the wind. Instead, he felt the branches scratching his face; he clashed into insects and other flying creatures he didn't even have the time to see. He flew chaotically, trying to avoid the trees and branches that came on his way and to stay away from the moonlight at the same time. They lifted higher and higher, above the trees and above everyone and everything. All they could see were the treetops.

After a while, Baldie stopped, studying the heights; then, he descended slowly, his wings wide open, like a kite in the sky. Thick clouds floated above them, keeping them safe from the moonlight. The knotty arms of a giant tree rose towards the night sky like in prayer. Soon, Ferry recognized the mighty tree beneath - it was the Fae Queen's Palace.

Baldie croaked, a sign they had arrived. Ferry attached the blue feather to his head. He could feel himself lighter, all of a sudden. As if he didn't have his backpack anymore. He stretched out his hand and ─ He couldn't see it! He was invisible. Even his clothes were invisible. He could tell Baldie couldn't see him anymore.

The raven bowed his head and then took flight, rising high until he became a dot on the night sky. Ferry stood still in the air for a couple of moments, unable to move or think. He was alone.

He studied the dark tower, the highest one of the Palace. Through the narrow windows, the shape of tree hollows, he could see a flicker. He cast a look inside. The room was empty. He descended slowly and entered. The room was built in the shape of a circle. It was a small room. Somewhere in the middle, there was only a fairy flame burning. Her pale blue light flickered in thousands of sparks; thousands of shadows stretched on the bark walls. He could feel a faint scent. He knew that scent--it was the scent of an old drawer, unopened for ages, where old letters just lied there, forgotten. He had felt that scent before. It was the scent of old memories and regrets.

Ferry gently detached the blue feather from his leg, breathing easily when he felt the floor under his feet. The room had no doors. Somewhere, in front of the biggest window, there was an opening in the thick bark at the end of which he could see sinuous stairs, also made of tree bark. He was ready to go down those stairs when fragments of a song reached his ears. The song that brought him there from the very beginning. And the fairy who's been singing it all along. Oona. 

Last chapter of The Moonlight Boy in 2016! There are no words to describe how I feel when writing this story. Thank you for supporting this story yet another year. You are AMAZING!