The Hidden Valley

The heavily thorned brier patch the group saw was only an illusion. If not for the encouragement of the fairies none would have tried to enter. No human or even elf could possibly know that this simple spell had hid, for thousands of years, the grand entry way to the land of dreams, a land some called... Shangri-La. 1

Stephan was surprised at the lack of resistance as he went through the thick briers. He looked around as he passed through them seeing them as if they were flickers of light. Then he was somewhere else. Instead of night it was day, instead of a storm it was quite peaceful and calm. Ahead of him was something that was only a myth. A unicorn grazing without fear of anything.2

When Alex did not feel the biting sting of the thorns, nor the feel of vines trying to impede her, she opened her eyes and moved her arms just enough to see. "Interesting" she thought as she lowered her arms the rest of the way and looked around. "I thought for sure those vines were real"3

The fairies giggled and swarmed around Stephen, Mati, Alex, and the wolf. The land itself seemed almost if it were enchanted. Stephen looked over at Alex and then to Mati, a broad smile on his lips. One of the fairies flew off to the Unicorn and it lifted its head from its grazing. "Well now this is a surprise is it not?" he asked Alex.4

"Indeed it is a grand surprise," she said on hearing Stephan's comment.5

To herself she thought "It is like a dream." The fear that had settled in her during the flight from the forest had now vanished and she began to laugh as the fairies flew around them and Phantom began to play once more. She was so caught up with the fairies that she did not see the unicorn in the meadow right away, but when she finally saw it her eyes widened, "magnificent," she muttered as she looked up at it. 6

It was a warm sunny afternoon on the other side; the sky, a bright blue. A few puffy white clouds of varying shapes were drifting slowly by above. In the flowered meadow ahead stood a tall white unicorn with golden horn, his head lowered to the ground where he grazed peacefully and unconcerned. There were no sign of any other humans, or any evidence of them ever having been here before. It was a vast, virgin land. Yet it tingled with a strange serene familiarity and a touch of mystery and magic. 7

The fairies danced and giggled merrily around them for a moment before one zoomed off to the unicorn who lifted its head at her approach and looked at them all with its deep, dark brown eyes; eyes that seemed to hold a vast and ageless wisdom.8

Phantom rubbed up against Alex as he walked next to her. "I am all right," she said with a smile and looked down at him. He wagged his tail in response to her words and kept pace next to her. Phantom cocked his head to one side as he watched the unicorn for but a moment and soon turned his attention back to the fairies.9

The little fairy that had been in Stephens jerkin, and had first befriended Alex before the flight from the other side, slipped out and flew up before his face, quickly and delicately flashing in to give him a quick peck on the lips in thanks. Turning a bright red it smiled warmly for him then giggled and dashed off to join some of the others that seemed to be beckoning them all to go on and meet the unicorn. Then instead returned to sit upon Alex's shoulder. 10

Three other fairies retook their seats upon the wolf’s back as he began to play hide and seek in the tall grasses, a game he seemed a little better at then they. Yet the fairies seemed not to mind this in the least. Certainly the little ones on its back seemed to be having a great time, as they hung on to his fur for, what looked like, dear life.11

Stephan chuckled at the antics of the fairies. They were playful and adorable. The wolf was enjoying himself greatly with the little ones. One sat on Alex's shoulder and he wondered why it looked so sad. Especially when the others were having so much fun. 12

Emilia, the little fairy that first befriended Alex, now that they had entered her homeland, did not want to leave her and after retaking a seat upon her shoulder, just watched the others play. She was very quiet and a distant sadness could be seen in her eyes. She looked as if she wanted to say or explain something, but knew she could not. So, instead, frustrated and sad, she just sat there forlornly holding on to a piece of Alex's hair, watching the others' playful antics. 13

In noting some of the fairies beckoning them to come over to the unicorn, Stephen began walking forward slowly, not knowing what the creature would do if he made any sudden movements. He sure did not want to make it run away. It was so peaceful there, as well a beautiful. He looked back at Alex, and also where they had entered this place. He marked it well in his mind for he knew that soon they would have to return to their own world. He had responsibilities, the crew of three ships to look after and their welfare. 14

It seemed the fairies were very interested in Alex and the wolf, the way they buzzed around them. As he got near the unicorn, he smiled and slowly reached out to touch the head of it. "Magnificent and wondrous."15

The unicorn, pawed the ground as it continued to watch them, and waited.16

Phantom was soon crouched down on his belly in the tall grass which hide him for but a moment from the fairies that he was playing with. As soon as they passed over his head he jumped up from where he had been and ran a few feet away from them. He soon turned around to see them coming towards him again. Wagging his tail he barked as if saying 'come and get me if you can' and soon took off towards more high grass. Alex turned her attention from the unicorn for a moment and smiled as she watched Phantom playing, "your nothing but a big playful puppy," she said with a laugh17

Alex's attention was soon caught by the fairies that seemed to be beckoning them towards the unicorn. With a small dreamy sigh she began to walk towards the unicorn along with Stephan. She smiled as the one fairy came back to her. After a moment she could tell that something was wrong, "what is the matter pretty one," she asked in a soft calming voice to Emilia. 18

On reaching the unicorn she watched as Stephan reached out a hand to pet it on the head, "No!," she said emphatically yet in a soft whisper as she reached out to stop him from petting the unicorn, "Just because something looks like you can touch it does not mean you should." she continued looking at Stephan, "Just look at him. There is a great intelligence in his eyes and thus he should not be treated as if he is just a common horse. If anything, we should let him decide what we can and cannot do, before we even dare touch him." 19

She soon turned back to the unicorn with a smile and gave a polite bow, "Good evening." she said as she stood back up to see what the unicorn would do.20

The Unicorn stood patiently and sedately waiting for the new comers to approach. Raising its head high and horn out of reach as Stephen stretched his hand out to touch him, yet it did not back away or show any other sign of distress. 21

Alex's insightful warning to Stephen was unknowingly justified, for a unicorn's horn was made of pure magic and capable of disassembling the atoms of anything it touched, though otherwise its flesh was much the same as theirs. 22

Once Mati, Steve and Alex were before him his horn began to glow with a brilliant golden light and the fairies from all around stopped their play, there were more than a hundred of them now, and began to form a circle on the ground where they sat waiting like children at story time.