1. It is so
A most curious thing happened throughout the Empire.
As the veil fell and the fairy world spilled back over into the human realm, there came to most a sense of wonder and delight. They regarded everything the Elves, Fae, Nymphs, Sylphs and Leprechauns had to offer as curious, most curious indeed. What possibility was there in what these magic creatures could see, tell, show, and create together with humans.
Others called didn’t call it curious, they called it confusion.
Because finally it was so, now the veil was lifted between the worlds, that whatever humans wanted, they could have. Whatever they imagined, they could create. Whatever land they wanted to visit; they could reach. All was possible with the help of the fairy and all manner of magic creature that had now come into the unified world.
The cook wanted to finally create a cake that was so gorgeously scrumptious, if only he could have strawberries the size of melons, and so with the help of the Fae he indeed grew strawberries he had dreamt of for many years, in his own garden. The swordsmith wanted to create finally the most stunningly resilient sword ever made, and so he did, with the help of the Sylphs, who showed him the magic properties of the ore that was never before known to humans.
The builder had wanted for a long time to build a house inside his most beloved waterfall, where fresh water would flow freely throughout and catch the sunlight like brilliant mirrors in all its rooms, and so with the help of the nymphs who could build from inside of the water, he built that palace and built it for whosoever asked of him. The songstress who had dreamt of finally being able to have her voice carry over an entire valley even through wind and rain now gathered hundreds and thousands of people to hear her songs with the help of the Elves who granted her a wand made of fire that matched her burning heart.
Humans discovered they could talk to animals, and so they did. Together, they made each others life richer and more wondrous. The smith helped the mouse kingdom with tiny mouse armor. The farmer built wonderful towers for the birds to live in who in return helped him plant the seeds in spring without him having to lift a finger. The brewer - … TBD
All was possible. All means to create everyone’s heart’s desire was given. The human realm had become the space and the place of infinite possibility.
Yet the little elves and the fae who offered to humankind everything they wanted to reach and create were surprised to find that there were some who... didn’t know what they wanted.
When they asked them: what is it you want, what is it you dream of, what is it you want to do?
They replied: I don’t know. I want to do what I have to do.
The little Elves and the Fae said: Those days are over. You don’t have to do anything anymore. If it is food you want, you can have it. If it is rest you want, you can have it. If it is shelter you want, you can have it. We offer all to you, finally the day has come for fae and humans to live together again, so tell me, what is it you want to do?
They replied: I simply don’t know. I only know how to do what I have to.
The Fae said: What is it you want to be.
They replied: What is it that I can get?
The Fae said: Whatever you want, is yours to have. If you can imagine it, if you dream it, if you want it, we will show you the way, we will help you create and bring it to you.
They replied: Tell me then, fae, what is it I have to do to get what I want?
The fae replied, surprised: There is no thing that has to be done. You are cared for in any and every way. All is given, because love is given without needing to do anything, love is always given freely. This is like that. If there is nothing you want, then you must have found peace in living just as you are. This is great indeed. We rejoice with you!
But they weren’t peaceful at all. They still had the burning fire inside them to do what had to be done so as to have what they were told they deserved. Now that there wasn’t anything that really had to be done, and the only thing that was done was whatever people dreamed and imagined, they fell into even deeper confusion.
Now there was one land on earth where people were still nervously doing what had to be done in order to get what they were told they deserved, and this was the land of the queen of mirrors and her three-headed hound.
Her land, which had grown from what once was known as the City of Stars, was guarded by the giants. People from all over earth flocked there, and so the place grew and grew. As she was the Queen of Mirrors, her land was now called the Land of Mirrors. A thick mist hung there, the mist of industry that takes things and makes them into other things that can be had and traded and given but most importantly of all... taken away so that some people had a lot of those things and other people had to go without. Those who went without in the land of the mirror did what they had to do to have some of these things they didn’t know why they needed it except that they were told to.
Once inside the land of mirrors, there was no going back, at least not without facing the giants at the gates or the three-headed monstrous hound that frequently paraded through the land, scaring people into doing what they thought they had to.
People here are free to decide that they can’t decide at all what they want to do and so find their comfort in doing what they are told to do. This was the cread of the Queen of Mirrors. So long a people are comfortable in doing what they are told, they are comfortable here. If they are no longer comfortable... they can either face the giants, face the hound, or face the consequence.
Now there was the Empress and her daughter, the Princess, who kept a watchful eye on the land of mirrors, for there could never have been a land of mirrors, were it not built on the Empire that was built by them, ruled by them, kept by them, for the good of all – or so they tried - for better or worse. They could hardly stand by and let worse become the norm for the people, which they still regarded their people, in the land of mirrors.
If they so choose to stay there, then what harm is there to it that they choose to live in the land of mirrors, it was said to the Empress and the Princess.
There is harm, said the Empress, surely there is. To themselves. It behooves us to not let them harm themselves unnecessarily.
They have chosen a new ruler, it was said, they have chosen to serve the sorceress, the Queen of Mirrors who has shrouded the place in a thick fog and to solve this veil of their own making, she installed many lanterns and lampposts all over what used to be the City of Stars, so they can see only inside their own land and not beyond to where things are vast and wonderful.
It is no longer called the City of Stars because the Stars cannot be seen from there anymore. Surely you must see that this tragedy that has befallen my home and my people, I cannot stand by and watch as it falls deeper and deeper?
Let us ask the Fae and the Elves.
And so the Fae who lived upon the clouds with the Sylphs and the little Elves who lived in the forest and all gardens, came forth into the Empress’s palace – the palace that was known as Countess’ Rock, built upon the ruins of the Count’s Castle – were invited into the throne room to advise the Empress.
What is it you want, said the Fae, little Elves in tow – as they were known to say.
The veil has been lifted between our two worlds and now we live in peace and harmony with the fairy folk and creatures. Yet there is a place that resists this harmony and unity. It is my home, the former City of Stars, now known as the land of Mirrors that is ever growing and guarded by the giants who were made by the serpent just before its defeat by the Enchanted Deer and the Hermit that rides it.
This we know. This we have seen. So said the Fae.
Can you please give us council about what to do?
What you ask of me at this moment, is what leads people to the land of mirrors. It is not about what to do, it is about what you want. This is always our question. Because all are free to want what they want, you cannot be free until you say what you want and know what you want. Knowing what you want is the fertile soil from which to grow. All starts there, even if it is that you want nothing, which is in fact the greatest freedom of all.
It is not nothing that we want, said the Princess. What we want is to have the land of mirrors returned to us. There in the middle of the land of mirrors is my home, my throne, my palace, my gardens, my land, which I have had for one single day in my life. I claim it for my own because this is my birthright to have and to be.
It is everyone’s birthright to be free from strife, abundant in all aspects, loved in every way, growing and blooming in who they are, this is the fairy way. So answered the Elves.
What we want, then, said the Empress, is to free this last stronghold in exactly this way you have said.
Empress, you have your Empire. Princess, you have built this castle in honor of the Countess and sit on its throne. You have lived through the catastrophes and you are still standing.
Stand proud. Stand happy. Stand grateful. But hear this, you can ask for what you want for yourself, you cannot want for someone else to want what they do not themselves want. You can see that this is not freedom in the fairy way.
Even if they don’t want this freedom? Asked the Empress.
They want not the choice to be free to choose, replied the Fae, this is still what they want.
Then there is nothing to be done, said the Empress.
The Fae replied: Empress, indeed there is not. You can want to see the people freed. You can want it for yourself, but you can’t want it for another. This is a wish. Wish it. You are free to.
Then, by all the stars, I wish it. I wish it so dearly. So exclaimed the Empress.
Now the Seer came forth from the company of fairy folk in the throne room.
Be not saddened by they who choose the land of mirrors and the fog. I know they still have a place in your heart and therefore your heart is hurting. But remember this. Once you were stone, Empress. It was because of a wish, the wish of your daughter, the Princess, that you were freed from its cold grip – without our intervention. The Emperor, the Bard, the Fool, all had their part to play. And it so happened as it happened. Wish upon all the stars, Empress. All will happen as it happens.
It is so, said the Princess. Then I have one thing to ask, my beloved Seer.
Ask your question. Said the Seer.
Where is the Enchanted Deer, where is the one riding it who is known as the Hermit?
The Seer smiled and conjured a vision before all in the throne room.
The one you call Hermit and the Enchanted Deer, they roam the land ever since defeating the serpent, showing to all they meet the fairy way. To help all create what they want, to grow their inner beauty like budding flowers, all blooming together creating a beautiful garden that only gives, gives, gives, like love only gives while asking for nothing. So do they roam far and wide, together, spreading this joy wherever they go.
All who looked upon the vision, marveled.
This is wonderful, said the Empress.
The Princess smiled and without knowing why, she shed a tear.
Said the Seer to all in the throne room: Anything you wish for yourself, it will be so. Anything you wish for another, wish it upon your stars. May it be so. Anything you marvel at in life and all its wonders. It is so.
Having said this, the Seer, Fae and little Elves made their leave, as Empress, Princess and all subjects bowed, answering: it is so, it is so.
I wonder indeed, said the Princess to herself, after retreating to her rooms, with her companion, Huntress. I wonder about the Hermit. I wonder why I seem to know him, that old man.
Hearing this, the Huntress gathered her things she used to gather before going on the hunt.
Asked the Princess: where are you going?
To bring you the Hermit, replied Huntress, so you can ask him yourself.
