Water Wings

We all have hopes and dreams. These things make us learn, grow, and become stronger in our own different ways. Along with our hopes and dreams, we must accept that we have different talents, abilities, and even disabilities that shape who we are and what we can do. This was a lesson learned and a lesson taught by a little fairy in a fairy clan on the sunny banks of cool lake.

Artwork courtesy of Jochabel Reese - Copyright 2014

There’s nothing more important to the fairies than their wings. Fairies need their wings to travel about quickly and escape from danger. Their wings help them rise above the ground and see the best routes to find food and other things for their homes and families. They can quickly fly away from grumpy badgers or bobcats who may want to crush them with their strong paws.

 All was well for this little fairy clan and especially for two fairies who were expecting their first baby. The day finally arrived and Maven was scared and excited to bring her new child into the world. Eilon tried to carefully tend to his wife’s needs as the nurse gave him orders. He was nervous and clumsy as he brought water and cloths.

When Maven and Eilon heard their baby’s first cry, they were so glad to see their little one’s beautiful face. But as the nurse turned their child over to clean her body, their faces fell. Her wings were not formed as a fairy baby’s wings should be. Although wings do grow larger with time, her forewings were clearly deformed and did not match the beauty of her hindwings.

“Oh dear,” said the nurse, “she’s a beautiful babe, but she will never fly. I’m sorry.” The nurse handed the baby to Maven. The nurse left the room to give the small family some peace.

Maven held her baby and cried as Eilon leaned down quietly and placed his large hand on the baby. “She is beautiful,” he whispered. “Her body may be delicate, but I feel that she has a strong spirit. We will name her Ersilia.”

Ersilia grew; her hair wavy brown, her eyes bright and green. She was slender and a bit shorter than the other fairies her age. Then there were her wings. Her hindwings grew to a lovely length. They were sharp and nearly transparent. Her forewings remained small, gnarled and curled against her back. The nurse was right—Ersilia will never fly.

Ersilia had few friends. Many of the fairies were too impatient to wait for her when they wanted to fly off and explore the nearby woods and meadows. Ersilia simply took too long getting around on foot. She often watched the others take to the sky as she stood alone in the tall grass.

Do not be mistaken, Ersilia experienced flight before—sort of. There were times when her parents would hold her hands between them and pull her into the air, but it was easier when she was smaller. She always loved doing that with her parents. Now that she was older, it was more difficult to lift her from the ground and they could only do it for short distances.

Since Ersilia could not travel far, she enjoyed going down to the lake. She loved the feeling of her feet sinking in the wet sand on the lake’s edge. Fairies only gathered water to drink and wash. They were careful not to wet their wings too much because wet wings cannot fly and most fairies do not like being grounded for long.

Maven warned Ersilia to stay close to shore because a deep lake was no place for any fairy. But Ersilia did not care if her wings were wet. Ersilia watched the ducks paddle around and tip headfirst into the water, shaking their tails in the air. They seemed to enjoy themselves.

Ersilia slowly walked down the shore into the water as she had many times before. This time she walked deeper and deeper into the water. She decided to hold her breath like the ducks and dip under the water. She got on her knees and submerged herself.

She found she could glide like the ducks using her hands, feet, and wings like fins to steer around. She practiced for days in a shallow area near the bank. She enjoyed just floating on her back while the sun warmed her wet skin.

She stood back up in her shallow pool with the water at her shoulders and felt she was ready to go further into the lake. She began to glide forward with her arms and feet, and she flexed her lower wings to give her more speed.

No sooner had she ventured away from the shore, that she noticed a large, dark figure below her. Before she could change directions, she was snatched up in the mouth of a great fish. As she was swallowed, Ersilia’s leg was cut on one of the fish’s sharp teeth and began to bleed.

The hungry fish thought she looked like a good meal until he tasted the bitter blood and felt ill. He spit Ersilia out as fast as he had swallowed her and swam away to warn the other fish not to snap at her kind. Fairy blood keeps all fairies safe from being eaten, at least by creatures who know a fairy’s blood is bitter and poisonous. Ersilia was the first fairy to ever venture into a body of water.

Ersilia swam to shore and limped home. Maven and Eilon were shocked at what happened. Maven cleaned and bandaged Ersilia’s leg and stressed how she should never try that adventure again. Ersilia insisted that no great harm was done.

“I love the water, Mama,” Ersilia explained. “It is where I feel free like other fairies do when they fly, and that fish learned his lesson not to eat fairies.”

“But that won’t protect you if he decides to take revenge and drown you with his fins!” Maven said firmly.

“I am in just as much danger on land than in the water,” Ersilia replied. “I cannot fly away from a wild cat or a snake in the bushes. Most animals have lived well alongside us once we get to know each other,” Ersilia paused looking at her parents. “Mama, Papa, I was born crippled and I cannot change it, but I can change how I live with misshapen wings and enjoy my life.”

Maven’s face began to redden and her wings twitched as she was about to respond, but Eilon stepped toward his wife and placed his hands gently on her shoulders. He said, “Maven—All parents must let their fairies fly someday. It is time for us to let Ersilia fly in her own way. If the water is her sky, then let her fly.”

Maven looked into Ersilia’s eyes and reached up to Eilon’s hands. Maven cried as his words became clear to her. “Ersilia, it scares me that you want to venture in the water,” Maven paused and took a deep breath. “But we won’t hold you back. It will make you stronger as flight does for us.”

Ersilia lit up with excitement and hugged her parents. They all cried and expressed their love for each other. She thanked them for understanding.

It took several days for Ersilia’s leg to heal, but no lasting damage was made and as soon as the scabbing had gone, she was ready to face the water again.

Word spread through the fairy village of Ersilia’s adventure and this time she was not alone when she returned to the lake’s edge. Some fairies scoffed and whispered criticisms under their breath as they hovered nearby. Others were amazed at what Ersilia was about to do, and they cheered her on.

Ersilia ignored the audible mocking and smiled at the encouragement. Her parents stood on the shore. They were nervous for her but were also curious to see how she swam in the water.

Ersilia stepped off the shore and sunk her toes into the soft, cool sand.  She smiled as she waded further into the water and her wings twitched. She took a deep breath and dove into the water.

The fairies gasped as Ersilia disappeared into the dark waters. Moments later she bobbed her head out of the lake quite a distance from the shore and waved her hand in the air. The fairies were amazed and took flight over the lake, circling above and cheering loudly.

After that day on the lake, Ersilia was not alone. Some fairies wished to brave the waters and asked Ersilia to teach them how to swim. Other fairies apologized for their harsh judgments.

Ersilia was a brave, beautiful, and confident fairy in spite of her physical limitations. Some of her hopes and dreams came true and she was content with that. She fell in love and was married to a strong, hard-working fairy, and he loved her entirely. They had three children; two of which had their own pairs of water wings, but that did not matter. They all grew and developed their own talents and were taught to be positive and find joy no matter what.