The Little Drummer Bird#14

Not once did he see her

This is a little seasonal serial, some festive merriment, a gift of an advent calendar to you who reads this from this teller, a sculpture and a bit of story each day.

Part#1 , Part#2 , Part#3 , Part#4 , Part#5 , Part#6 , Part#7 ,Part#8 , Part#9 , Part#10 , Part#11 , Part#12

Today is the fourteenth, who waits beyond?

Drummer dreamed that he was back under his little blanket in his little nesthouse, however a giant hand kept gently trying to tug him out of his warm bed.

"It's time to get up little bird"

A voice that brought to mind a loving mother or older sister.

"Up, up, up, the night is not yet over!"

Reluctantly, he opened his eyes, and there before him, glowing with moonlight and starlight were the wings of a swan, while there were lots of wings, not a swan was to be seen, rather seven wings were covering a maiden rising from the lake that Drummer found himself floating in. Two wings hid her face, only her lips to be seen. Her skin was a watery blue and hair a verdant green.

"Ah! the Lady of Lake!"

She who out of consideration for those that would be charmed and drown, hid her body with her wings.

Drummer's attempts at bowing while floating in water sent him spinning around. He had not the presence of mind to wonder at how the waters didn't chill to the bone

She lifted a wing slightly and Drummer stopped spinning, not only that, but the ripples vanished from the surface of the lake.

"Ah, where did everyone go?" Drummer asked, seeing from his spinning not another soul in sight.

"Over here birdbrain"

So called the Drum from the Lady of the Lake's delicate hands.

"Lady here washed the rest out to the Lord's Manor."

"Everyone, e-even Nutcracker?"

The Drum scoffed, but the Lady's smile grew gentler still.

She lifted a wing but slightly revealing the soldier strunk to tiny size, sleeping peacefully against her bosom.

"His is a weariness far deeper than what your adventures have given you, so he can rest a little longer, don't worry he'll be as large and valiant as before"

If one ignored his hairy face, sleeping there he looked more like some wee fairy boy. Though Drummer wanted to sit on those shoulders once more, he simply nodded his head.

"What do I now great Lady?" Drummer asked.

"What were you bid do little one?" The lady asked.

"Be the herald of the Lord of the Manor, and tell all of the winter feast and open doors, Oh!"

Drummer looked the Lady of the Lake up and down.

"You surely already know, but there's no way if a monster, villainous goose and that rotter Jack Frost are invited that you aren't, you will come won't you?"

Beautiful laughter that rang in Drummer's skull sounded, before she put hand to mouth and apologised, her joy was of course a bit much for a little Drummer Bird, even one acting as Herald.

"Of course I will, and since you have been so pure, I shall answer before you ask, remember little one of who first guided you, and who you missed in the Undergrounds?"

He frowned at that, wondering what he had been going to ask, and just as the Drum was beginning to chuckle, he shouted out.

"Why the Guiding Star and the Lord of the Undergrounds! But..."

He looked a little awkward and ashamed to be asking for more, but still the Lady smiled.

"I will tell you little Herald, the Lord of the Undergrounds did pass this way, thinking that the Snow Queen, long reformed was back to her old ways, for Cold and Dark are like children unto her"

"You're far too indulgent" The Drum complained.

"You're far too sour" the Lady replied.

"Has she? Has she gone back to her old ways? " Drummer shivered at the very thought.

The lady gave an enigmatic smile, but the Drum cackled.

"You don't need to worry your birdbrain, just flutter about telling the good news" he said.

"Alright!" Drummer chirped, saluting.

"While we let your friend rest, the Drum told me a little and I know some things, but why don't you tell me of your adventures little one?"

Few were birds who didn't like an excuse to chatter, and soon he had gotten all the way from his bed, back to the lake, the Drum only needed to correct him a few times, when he got overly excited.

After that, the Lady of the Lake laid Nutcracker out on the bank of the lake, tapping him until he was exactly the size he was before. She even fished Drummer out, pulling the water away from his feathers, leaving him dry and placed the Drum's strap around his rotund form once more.

She left then, before Nutcracker could ever gain sight of her, and when he woke, Drummer spared his dignity by not telling him of how he had sleep like a tiny curled babe on the bosom of the Lady of the Lake.

With reminding the Nutcracker of the Guiding Star and the Lord of the Undergrounds, soon they were off again, into the darkness of night.

Would the Star guide them to the Snow Queen's Castle or had the Lord of the Undergrounds not made it that far?

Both at least, felt very refreshed.

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