THE FOREST FAIRIES ASK FOR HELP

Enchantress, Queen of the Snow Fairies

Annalisa, Arabella and Annie were enjoying a hearty breakfast by the fire and planning what would come next.  Poor Gerda was still wandering around Lapland with that reindeer looking for Kay.  How would they get to that distant country?  They could not remember the spell!

"Annie, dear, what country is this? said Arabella.  "Is it near Lapland?"

"We are in Denmark, Arabella, but I don't know where Lapland is.  I've never been to school so I am very ignorant," said Annie.

"Nonsense!  You're smart as a whip; you just don't know things.  Annalisa, doesn't Mama's cousin, the Queen of the Snow Fairies, live in Denmark?"

"Enchantress?  Indeed, yes.  Goodness, I haven't seen her since Briar Rose's christening and we know how that turned out!  I think she gave the little princess the gift of music.  She would help us surely--she has her own Book of Spells!  Enchantress could transport us to Lapland AND help Annie.  She could set up regular deliveries of food and firewood....

"Have new clothes made for Annie!" cried Arabella.  "And thick boots..."

"Send Annie to school so she can learn where Lapland is!"

The sisters were filled with excitement and turned to Annie, knowing she would be overjoyed.  But the little girl was crying.

"I don't want you to go!" she sobbed.  "I have no other friends."

Immediately, the sisters threw their arms around Annie and kissed her. Their fairy kisses felt like soft, warm breezes on her face and Annie began to smile.  "You will come back and visit me, won't you?"

"Of course, we will, of course," cried the sisters.  "We will have wonderful times together.  We will have raspberry tarts with whipped cream!"

"Do you promise?" said Annie.

"Yes, we promise you we will return," said Arabella.  "And now we want you to meet our Aunt Enchantress who is very lovely.  We will wish for her and she will appear."  The sisters closed their eyes and wished very hard.

And Enchantress appeared before them.