| Children Fiction posted February 7, 2025 |
  |
In The Attic - Part 2
The Ogre
by Begin Again
The twins landed softly on the mossy ground, their feet sinking slightly as the warm magic of the Forest of Wonder wrapped around them. The familiar scent of blooming jasmine filled the air, and the trees whispered greetings in the wind. Birds chirped in a joyful chorus above, and the flowers along the forest floor swayed in time with their melody.
Jordan brushed a stray leaf from her shoulder and grinned. "It's always so beautiful here."
Quinn, already scanning the treetops for something edible, sniffed the air. "Do you smell pies? Maybe they are baking apple pies."
Before he could finish, the sound of rushing water caught their attention. Ahead, near the sparkling river, Lyria and Rowan stood close together, speaking in hushed tones.
"Lyria!" Jordan called, waving.
The fairy turned, her face lighting up. "Hurrah, it's the twins! We were hoping you would come!"
Rowan gave them a warm nod. "Perfect timing, as always."
Jordan tilted her head. "Is something special happening?"
Lyria clasped her hands together, barely able to contain her excitement. "Something wonderful! Rowan and I —" She paused, looking at him with sparkling eyes before turning back to them. "We're getting married!"
The trees seemed to hum in approval, and the river sparkled a little brighter as if the entire forest rejoiced at the news.
Jordan gasped. "A wedding? How wonderful!"
Quinn, however, scrunched his nose. "Married? That means a lot of mushy stuff, right?"
Rowan chuckled. "Some, but mostly, it means a great feast!"
Quinn perked up. "A feast? That's different. Okay, I approve."
"We were about to announce it to our friends, but it wouldn't have felt right without you." Lyria smiled at the twins. "The two of you helped me realize my love for Rowan."
Quinn shrugged his shoulders and looked at Rowan. "The Prince guy was nice, but you're our friends. Besides, Rowan understands a guy's got to eat."
They all laughed, and then the air vibrated with the soft hum of fairy wings as more fairies gathered, drawn by the bubbling excitement that radiated from the pair.
"Everyone's coming! Let's gather in the square."
Fireflies blinked on and off like tiny lanterns, casting a magical glow around the gathering. Happiness flushed Lyria's cheeks, and her violet eyes sparkled as she lifted her arms. "Everyone, listen!" she called.
The fairies hushed, wings fluttering in anticipation. The wind itself seemed to pause as whispers of curiosity spread among them.
Rowan grinned, his silver hair tousled by the breeze. With a grin, he announced, "Lyria and I have wonderful news!"
A tiny sprite named Tessa clasped her hands. "Oh, tell us! Don't keep us waiting!"
"Has the Prince returned?" asked another fairy, eyes wide.
"Or has the Guardian given another prophecy?" added a winged elder, hovering just above the gathering.
Lyria exchanged a glowing glance with Rowan before she nodded, her wings fluttering, scattering gold dust everywhere."Rowan and I—" She took a breath, her heart pounding, "are to be married!"
A chorus of gasps and delighted squeals filled the air. A group of pixies, their wings dusted with golden pollen, broke into spontaneous cheers. The tiny bluebell fairies clapped their petal-like hands, their bells chiming in harmony.
Tessa did a backflip mid-air. "I knew it! I knew it! Oh, this calls for a celebration!"
The fireflies danced in swirling patterns above them, and even the trees seemed to lean in, their leaves whispering in approval.
The Wise Owl swooped down from his perch, his feathers ruffling as he gave an approving hoot. "A grand occasion indeed," he said, nodding with solemn pride.
"We must start preparing at once!" declared an elder fairy. "Flowers! Lights! Music!"
"Tell us everything!" another fairy squealed.
Lyria laughed as fluttering wings and eager voices surrounded her. "All in good time! But first, I have an important mission with Jordan and Quinn!"
Fairies zipped off in every direction, calling out plans, gathering decorations, and conjuring magical sparks into the air in bursts of shimmering color. Lyria laughed as Rowan wrapped an arm around her, his joy mirroring hers.
Even the trees swayed as though listening to the news. Jordan could feel the magic humming in the air, wrapping around them like a promise of adventure.
"Then what are we waiting for?" she said, gripping Quinn's hand. "A wedding? How wonderful. Can we help?" she asked.
"I was hoping you would want to help us." Lyria smiled.
Jordan bubbled with excitement. "Anything! Where do we start?"
"Umm —" Rowan glanced sideways at Quinn. "The Ogre's Bridge."
Quinn's eyes flared wide, and he stammered, "The — Ogre's — Bridge?"
Rowan nodded. "Legend has it that a wedding with Silver Bells promises everlasting love and a house full of children."
"That sounds beautiful. Let's start picking." Any thoughts of an ogre had vanished in Jordan's mind.
"It's not quite that simple." Lyria fluttered around, unsure if she was putting the twins in danger. "The Guardian has called Rowan to complete certain tasks, and I can't go to the garden alone."
"So, we'll go with you."
"Not so fast, Jordan. The Garden where the Silver Bells grow is on the other side of the Ogre's Bridge."
"An ogre owns a bridge?" Quinn asked, furrowing his brow. "That doesn't sound like a fun place."
"I'm afraid it's not," Lyria admitted, her voice lowering. "The ogre guards the bridge. Rumor has it that he doesn't let anyone pass unless they can solve his riddles."
"Quinn and I are good at answering riddles. That shouldn't be a problem. Right, Quinn?"
Quinn shoved his hands in his pocket and shrugged. "I guess not!"
Lyria smiled. "The flowers are the key to making our wedding complete. Will you help us find them?"
The twins didn't need to exchange a word — ogre or not, they were already in.
*****
As Lyria led the way, her wings shimmered in the warm sunlight. The scent of flowers and the cheerful melodies of birds created a beautiful day in the forest.
As Lyria led the way, her wings shimmered in the warm sunlight. The scent of flowers and the cheerful melodies of birds created a beautiful day in the forest.
Quinn found Jordan and Lyria's chatter about wedding plans boring, so he often fell behind. He stopped to listen to the colorful birds perched on low branches, singing, "Little bird, oh, little bird, flap your wings."
The tiniest birds flew into the air, soaring high and flapping their wings. Quinn tucked his hands into his armpits, flapped his arms up and down, and sang along.
The Red-Breasted Robins chirped, "Open your beak and sweetly sing."
Then all the birds joined in a chorus of "Let's all sing like the birdies sing, Tweet, Tweet, Tweet. Tweet, Tweet."
Quinn laughed and continued on his way, humming the song.
He soon caught up with Jordan and Lyria. As they walked, they came upon a clearing where rabbits were engaged in a lively dance — the bunny hop. Their ears flopped, their feet thumped, and they shook their tails as they hopped. Lyria, Jordan, and Quinn laughed and danced, singing "Hop, Hop, Hop."
As they ventured deeper into the forest, the landscape began to shift. Things became darker. The bright bursts of wildflowers faded, replaced by tall grasses. The trees loomed larger, their branches stretching toward the sky, casting long, dappled shadows over the narrowing path.
A soft, lilting laughter echoed through the trees.
Jordan halted, glancing toward the sound. "Who's there?" she called.
The laughter continued — light and mischievous, followed by a series of giggles. A brown squirrel with a fluffy tail peeked out from behind a tree. It twitched its nose, chattered excitedly, and, in a flash, darted away, leaving a small trail of acorns in its wake. Three more, exactly like the first, flipped their tails and scurried closely behind him.
Lyria chuckled. "Even the dark forest has its playful moments."
The path twisted, winding deeper into the heart of the woods. The trees closed in, their gnarled roots curling over the ground like fingers, forcing the children to step carefully.
The air grew still. Too still.
A hush fell over the forest, broken only by the rustling of unseen creatures.
Then, a cool breeze stirred the leaves, carrying a whisper—not words, but something deeper, something that sent a quiet warning through their bones.
Quinn shuddered, his arms tightening around himself. "Does anyone else feel that?"
The only answer was the wind.
They had entered a small clearing where the trees stood in a perfect circle, their trunks arching toward one another like silent sentinels. A weathered stone altar rested at the center, covered in moss and creeping vines. The surface was etched with glowing letters.
Lyria hesitated, her wings trembling. "Witches!"
"Witches?" the twins gulped.
"Yes, this is a place of power," she murmured. "They come to cast their spells. We need to tread carefully."
Following Lyria's lead, the twins tip-toed around the altar, eager to leave.
Soon, the trees opened into a small, hidden glade. A crystal-clear stream wound through the clearing, bubbling over smooth stones. Fireflies drifted lazily, their golden lights flickering like tiny stars. The scent of wildflowers hung in the breeze.
For a moment, everything felt peaceful.
Then, they saw the bridge. The air seemed to shift.
The twins froze.
Jordan's grip on Quinn's arm tightened. "Do you see that?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
In front of them loomed an enormous, hairy glop.
Its massive shape slumped under the twisted roots of an ancient tree, its thick skin a patchwork of greens and browns, covered in gnarled scars. Long, wiry strands of black hair jutted from its back and arms.
Quinn's throat went dry. "That's the gatekeeper?"
Lyria swallowed. "I didn't expect him to be so — big."
And big was an understatement.
The ogre's appearance was terrifying. His jagged fingernails dug into the earth as he shifted, and a deep, rumbling snore vibrated through the ground beneath them.
Jordan's voice was barely a whisper. "Lyria — are you sure about this?"
Lyria nodded but didn't move forward. "Rowan said we needed to answer his riddles, and everything would be fine."
Quinn glanced at her, his expression doubtful. "And if we get them wrong?"
Jordan exhaled sharply, steeling herself. "Then let's ask."
She took a bold step forward. A twig snapped beneath her foot.
The ogre's eyes — murky yellow and the size of dinner plates — snapped open. His head jerked up, and for a long, terrifying moment, he stared at them.
Then, with a growl that shook the trees, he turned toward them, stretching his massive arms and rolling his shoulders. He stood at least nine feet tall.
"Fee, fly, fiddly, fum," he bellowed. "Bless me, I smell dinner has come!"
His jagged grin revealed teeth like cracked boulders, sharp and uneven. With a deep, thunderous chuckle, he reached for a massive wooden club — so large it could crush a house in a single blow.
Lyria fluttered back, gripping Jordan's arm.
Quinn took an instinctive step behind them, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don't like where this is going."
The ogre stomped toward them, the ground trembling beneath his weight. His breath was thick with the scent of something vaguely burnt. His last meal, perhaps!
Lyria flew close, praying she wouldn't anger him. "We mean no harm, sir.
Jordan squared her shoulders, lifting her chin. "We're not here for trouble," she called, trying to keep her voice steady. "We've come to pick Silver Bells for a wedding. We'll answer your riddles."
The ogre froze, furrowing his massive brow. His large, pointed ears twitched as though deciding whether he was in the mood for riddles or something else, though he didn't see much meat.
For one long, tense moment, the only sound was the distant rush of the river beneath the bridge.
Then, slowly, the ogre's grin widened. "Riddles?" His voice rumbled like distant thunder. "Oh, I do love a good game."
He slammed his club against the tree — the impact shook the ground so hard that Quinn yelped and grabbed Jordan.
"Answer true, and you may pass," the ogre said, his grin stretching even wider.
Jordan swallowed. No pressure, right?
Quin swallowed, "And if we don't?"
The entire ground rumbled beneath them as the ogre laughed and bellowed. "Then, maybe, I eat!"
You need to login or register to write reviews. It's quick! We only ask four questions to new members.
© Copyright 2025. Begin Again All rights reserved.
Begin Again has granted FanStory.com, its affiliates and its syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.
