Someone was crying in the darkness. In the tunnels of the mines, the sound traveled far, and as it echoed off the walls, it turned into a shriek, a terrifying giggle that sent shivers down the spine.
Morley was a dwarf and didn't know much about shivers, so he pretended that the sound coming from the nearest side tunnel didn't scare him at all. Only the hair of the beard bristled up for some reason. Fortunately, the candles propped on the ledge of the helmet hadn't burned out yet, let alone the lantern dangling near his shoulder, which hung from the beak of a pickaxe protruding from his knapsack.
Morley stopped, picked up the lantern and held it up in front of him. The tunnel was like a tunnel, only stones and rough walls in front. The only problem is that the cry was coming from exactly where he was being chased by today's destination. Maybe there's just some lost goblin kid? And what if the Screamer of the Deep is crying there...
The beard bristled even more and Morley hurriedly grabbed it in the fist of his free hand. Everyone knows that Screamer of the depths weeps quietly, almost without a sound, and the unfortunate person, who meets him, screams as if he is being slaughtered. At first metaphorically, and if you can't escape - literally.
Morley strode forward, furrowing his bushy brows. Right on the wailing side. He did not want to meet with Screamer at all, but the purpose of the trip overcame this reluctance. After all, there, in one of the lower galleries, behind the Old Staircase, the real treasure was waiting for him...
The cry grew louder and more and more resembled the sounds of a gurgling goblin. Undoubtedly. In the worst case, he will run away from the Screamer, as he has done many times before. The most important thing is not to fall into the monster's nest. By no means. No, no, and no again.
The sob leveled Morley's left ear. He stopped, raised his lantern, and began to examine the creature in a niche in the wall.
The fairy was tiny and cried piteously.
"What are you doing here?" asked the dwarf.
The little girl in the night sky dress didn't answer. Squeezing the smiley face in her small palms, she began to cry even louder.
"I ask, why are you weeping here?"
The answer was once again a deep sob. Morley pointed out that the fabric of the fairy's dress had little stars shining like diamonds here and there. Very nice dress.
"It's okay, don't cry," Morley muttered, not knowing what else to say.
But the fairy did not answer this time either. Her shoulders twitched helplessly, and her transparent wings quivered like the leaves of aspen.
"Goodbye, I won't stop you from crying," Morley turned to leave.
"Poor me, unhappy."
"What happened?"
"It's so dark and cold here."
"But I have a lantern and it's not cold here at all."
"All alone, among rocks and monsters!"
"You are no longer alone. And I'm no monster."
"Lost, lost forever. This is so wrong!"
"Life isn't fair," Morley observed.
"I do not agree! I immediately want to see the sweet Sun and find myself in the Humming Meadows," Confirming that she really wants it very much, the fairy patted her small but very graceful foot commandingly.
"The upper world is way overrated. It's so bright and windy there.."
"I want to go home!"
"So stop blabbering and act like a human being."
"I'm not human," shot back the fairy.
"Me too," Morley realized. "Then behave as befits a well-bred fairy."
The crying stopped. The little girl finally showed her smiley face and began to look at the dwarf standing in front of her.
"Oh! You have so much light."
"Hello to you too."
"You don't look like a monster at all."
"Morley. Morley Goldfinch."
"I am Ray from Humming Meadows. The ones by the Fluffy Willows. Nice to meet you," she was a little embarrassed and wiped a lingering tear from her cheek.
Morley nodded and tried to smile. This sign of friendliness was shown through the curls of his beard.
"Why are you showing your teeth? I hope, you don't want to eat me... "
"I am smiling."
"Ah, thank you," - Ray flapped its wings and performed a modest curtsy, rising a little in the air. "You won't leave me here alone, will you?"
"Chm."
"Please. "
"Looks like I won't leave," sighed Morley. Until recently, he only cared about the treasure waiting for him, and now he will have to take care of this little fairy.
"Hurray, we will travel to find the treasure!" Ray was very happy.
How? How does she know about the treasure? Morley was about to utter a voice, but held back and widened his eyes expressively. Suddenly, his dwarfish self felt that he was involved in matters that good bearded men usually avoid. Fairies and their fairy stuff... Little flyers are sure to come up with something!
I can write news and that's it, it seems.
