Jacob

                 And the Secret of the lost well

                                                                 

                                                              By Ian Duquemin

                       

                        

      

                                   

                                    Jacob

            And the Secret of the lost well

    

                                                 

                                       Foreword

        Many years ago a wishing well was discovered. The well was surrounded by green hills and the most beautiful flowers; it was designed by fairy folk to help the human people overcome their problems and worries. From the moment it was found by the first human being the well was abused. Every single wish that was made was a selfish wish and the land around the well became cursed and began to die, being strangled with weeds and thorny vines. The fairy folk were forced to move away from their land and the well was lost under a fortress of thorns.

      The well had run dry of wishes and only one wish remained. Before the fairies moved to a new land, the king of the fairy folk hid the last wish deep in the well hidden from greedy humans and protected by a guardian.

      The secret of the lost well was buried a long, long time ago... and may never be found.

                                      
                                                               

                                   

                  

                                     Chapter 1

    The young boy sat by his father’s bed on a rickety old chair that would creak each time that he moved. Looking at the man that was asleep on the bed he could see himself in his father’s strong features, the same shaped nose and brow were the most obvious and he knew that under the man’s closed eye lids he had the same blue eyes that matched the colour of a warm summer’s sky. The man stirred and coughed a painful cough and the bed shook. He was very ill and his son knew it but there was nothing he could do to make him better. He did what he could though and gently squeezed his father’s hand to let him know that he was there and that he loved him. The boy reached down to a bowl of water beside the bed, he rung out a cloth and placed it on his father’s forehead. Jacob knew that if his mother had still been alive then she would be caring for the man that she had adored but a fever had taken her to heaven when he was an infant. It was up to him to look after this man now, though he did not mind as he loved his father very much.

     

     It was a wintery day and the snow that had stuck to the window outside made the room seem much darker and smaller than usual. It was cold in the house and the boy’s breath hung in the air for a few seconds before disappearing in a hazy mist. He pulled up the blanket around his father’s neck and tucked him in, he then sat back down on the creaking chair and looked over at the large empty fire place. It was so bitterly cold that he rubbed his hands together and then blew into them to catch the warm breath before it vanished into the cold air. A large black cat jumped down from the top of the cupboard, he lazily walked across the room, pushed his face into the boy’s ankles whilst purring the loudest of purrs, he then jumped up onto the boy’s lap and made himself cosy.

The boy fell asleep.

      

    “Wake up... Wake up Jacob! Look what I’ve found!”  Jacob opened his eyes in a daze and looked around the room. His father was fast asleep and still snug under his blanket. He must have been dreaming he thought to himself as he gave a stretch, the chair beneath him creaked and groaned. As he made himself comfortable again his attention was drawn to Dino who was prowling around in circles on the bare wooden floorboards. The black cat sat down and looked over at Jacob. “Look what I’ve found!” said Dino excitedly, lowering his nose to a crack in a floorboard. Jacob rubbed his eyes trying to make sense of what he had just seen and heard. He got out of the rickety chair and walked over to where Dino was acting very peculiar. Jacob got down on his hands and knee’s and looked into the dusty crack in the wooden floor. Something shiny was glistening in the darkness below the old floorboard. “Do you see it?” said Dino. Jacob got up and rushed to the nearby cupboard and opened it up, he rummaged around before finding an old crowbar and then returned to where his cat sat looking up at him, now wearing the most bizarre smile on his face. Jacob knelt down and carefully inserted the crowbar into the crack, gave a little push down on it and the floorboard easily popped up, just enough to put his arm in. The boy lay down on his tummy and reached inside. At first he couldn’t find anything, he fumbled around trying to find the thing that was shining, old tangled cobwebs stuck to his hand which he didn’t like. “Come on!” said Dino excitedly, “What is it!’’.... ‘’What is it?”  Suddenly he felt something, he flicked it up with his fingertips and it landed in his palm. Jacob slowly pulled his arm out and then let the floorboard spring back into its natural position with a thud. “Let me see!’’.... ‘’Let me see!” Dino asked impatiently. Jacob opened his clenched hand slowly and in it was a key. “It’s just a key” said Jacob, holding his hand out and showing Dino his find. “It’s just a tiny little key!” Dino looked up at the boy and smiled the goofiest of smiles.

       

    “Jacob!”.... The boy jumped. His father had woken and Jacob ran over to see him, he looked weak and tired. The boy sat on the bed next to his dad and held out his open hand, “Look what I found dad,” he showed the little key to his father; it was the smallest key that they had ever seen. Dino jumped up onto the bed and purred the loudest of purrs. “It was Dino that found it dad; he told me where it was!” “Did he now!” replied the frail man in a soft spoken voice amusing his son, “Well, he’s always been a very clever cat. Go and get me that ball of string and a knife” he asked the boy, pointing to a dusty old table in the corner of the room. Jacob got up and found the items his father had asked for and then handed them to him; he feebly cut off a length of string with the knife and weaved it through the tiny hole in the tiny key, finally, he tied a knot and then asked his son to come closer. He gently lifted his arms and placed the necklace over Jacobs head and around his neck. “There! One day you may find the lock for this little key “he told his son, ‘’and here!’’ he stroked the young boy’s chest “Is where the key will be when you do.” He coughed and an agonised expression crumpled his face. Jacob tucked him back under the blanket and kissed him on the cheek. “Get some rest dad!” he said. His father rolled onto his side, closed his eyes and soon fell back to sleep. Dino looked up at Jacob, smiling the most ridiculous smile.

                                                       
                                                                 

                                      Chapter 2

    Jacob woke up with his father’s foot in his face, he had fallen asleep at the bottom of the bed and Dino too was curled up in a furry cosy ball. When Jacob pulled himself up, Dino raised his head, yawned, then looked to see what the movement was that had woken him up from his sleep. Jacob studied him; there was no strange smile and no words came from the black cat’s mouth, nothing unusual about him at all in fact, he was just the normal sleepy looking animal that he always was. Maybe it was just a dream; it must have been, as cats don’t talk thought Jacob. Then he remembered the key that Dino had found and he felt for the string that his father had put over his head. He found the string, pulled it from beneath his shirt and out popped the little key attached. He looked at Dino again with a puzzled look on his face...still nothing.

       

    Jacob climbed out of the bed and put a kettle of water onto the stove, he placed a couple of logs underneath and set them alight, the glow from the flames danced over the logs and made the room feel warmer. Soon, the kettle whistle blew and Jacob made two cups of piping hot tea, he took a sip and the hot drink warmed his insides. He picked up the other cup and placed it on the little bedside table next to his father’s bed and then gently shook his dad’s big hand. “Wake up dad!” he said in a husky morning voice. Jacob watched as his father opened his blue eyes. They didn’t seem to be as blue as usual he noticed.

       

    It was Christmas Eve and outside the window the snow fell like crystals from the sky. Jacob threw an armful of logs on the fire; set them alight and soon the room was cosy and warm. Dino jumped from the bed and curled up in front of the fire, purring the loudest of purrs as usual; he licked at a paw and then washed around his face. Jacob puffed up his dad’s pillow and helped him sit up,  he then went to a cupboard , took out a loaf of bread and cut off a couple of slices with the knife that his dad had cut the string with the night before and then returned to the bed. They ate their breakfast and drank their drinks. “It's Christmas eve!” said the man to his boy, “Pass me that box under the bed Jacob,” he said with a smile on his face, Jacob did what his father asked and handed him the old cigar box, he put it on his lap and opened it up. His smile dropped and sadness replaced it. “Times are getting pretty hard son! But here, take this money and see if you can buy a Christmas tree down at the market! Let’s see if we can cheer this room up a bit.” He tipped the coins into Jacobs hand and his son jumped up and grabbed his coat. He put the money in his pocket, slipped into his shoes and ran for the door, stopped, ran back to the bed and kissed his dad on the cheek again. “I’m going to buy the biggest most beautiful tree in the world dad!” he told his father. They smiled at each other and then he ran with excitement and opened the door, the frosty ground crunched under his feet as he closed the door shut behind him. Dino looked up... and smiled.

     

    The snow had been lightly falling for days and was now quite deep, much deeper than when he had gone to the old shed at the back of the house yesterday and taken out the pile of logs for the stove and fire. It had stopped now and the sky was the most beautiful blue. The crisp air stung his nose as he breathed in and it came out of his mouth in little white clouds; he looked back at his home and the roof was covered in snow, the little chimney exposed, billowed a trail of smoke from the fire he had lit earlier, the wooden walls were frosted and icicles hung like crystal chandeliers from the doorway and windows. Jacob turned and made his way to the market. It wasn’t that far but in the snow it would be quite a slippery hike. A bluebird flew overhead and swooped in the sky in circles and then flew down and landed on a nearby fence, Jacob stopped and looked at it... the bird perched on the fence seemed to be looking back at him... watching him. The feathered creature took off again, flapping its wings in frenzy; it flew towards Jacob and then hovered in front of him. “Quickly Jacob... follow me!” she said to the boy.

        

    Deep in a nearby wood was a crooked looking house which was surrounded by a crooked fence, on top of the roof from a crooked looking chimney, smoke rose from it making its crooked trail up into the sky. Inside lived a little old lady, she had a very long nose and the greenest eyes that twinkled like emeralds when she was angry and today... she was very angry. “What do you mean you lost it?” she shouted in a shrieking voice. The little grey mouse that was stood in front of her lowered his head and muttered his reply, “I don’t know what happened to it or where I dropped it. I was on my way to the well like you asked me but on the way a big black cat saw me and chased me into a house. I found a crack in the floorboards and hid there until it fell asleep then I made my escape. When I got to the well I went to take off the key from my back and it had gone!” “You imbecile!” the old lady screamed. She paced up and down the large room, her long grey hair hanging over her face as she stamped her feet back and forth. She stopped at the roaring fire and threw on another log; it hissed and popped before bursting into flames. She poked at the fire until the poker turned a glowing red and then she span around and pointed the poker at the mouse. “I ought to brand the word fool on you. I ask you to do the simplest thing and you lose the key... you FOOL! Get out!” The mouse scurried off and left the old lady pacing back and forth again. Her eyes blazing green.

                                       
                                                                 

                                  Chapter 3

         

     As Jacob walked past the woods he felt a little scared; it was dark and creepy in there and it sent a shiver down his spine. He ran as fast as he could in the snow until he passed the spooky looking trees, which seemed to sway and creak even though it wasn’t windy. Once he had passed he headed towards the market which wasn’t too far now. The blue bird landed on another fence and waited until Jacob had caught up and then flew back up into the sky leading the way. As he approached the village were the market was held something hit Jacob in the back of the head, cold water dribbled down his neck and back and he turned around and saw two chubby boys. Billy and George were smirking and kicking snow at each other; these twins were horrible children and always taunted him at school. They laughed out loud after hitting their target, jumped on their home made wooden sled and then they disappeared down a hill into the fields below.

       The market was set up in a large field and it was busy today, people were buying Christmas gifts, food and Christmas trees, getting ready for the big day tomorrow. A man pushed past dragging a massive tree, leaving a deep path in the snow behind him. Jacob jumped into the path and walking became much easier. Looking around the market Jacob noticed a stall selling hot soup; he thought of his dad lying in bed, probably cold now as the fire had more than likely died down to a few burning cinders. “I will buy my dad some hot soup” Jacob thought to himself “that will warm him up and might make him feel better.” Jacob approached the stall and handed over some money to the large woman behind the table top, she was wearing the silliest woolly hat that was far too big for her head and her big red cheeks and nose glowed bright red in the cold of the day. The lady poured the steaming soup into a big jug, plugged a lid on top and handed it over to the boy. “How’s that handsome dad of yours Jacob? I haven’t seen either of you in a while!” said Mrs Upton. “Fine”, Jacob lied; he turned and left the plump school dinner lady to serve her next costumer and as he walked away Mrs Upton called out “Don’t forget to bring my jug back Jacob!” then began a conversation with another large woman.

      

     Jacob couldn’t see the bluebird anywhere; there were too many people, so he walked over towards the tree seller. The snow was all slushy and wet under his feet and his toes were beginning to get damp and cold. When he got to the stall he saw Mr Bishop standing behind it rearranging the trees that he had left, which wasn’t very many. Mr Bishop turned and gazed down at the young boy. “What do you want?” he bellowed”. He was very unpleasant just like his twin sons. Jacob reached into his pocket and took out the money that he had left and handed it to the big man “Can I have a tree please?” he asked politely. The angry man looked down at the money in his hand and gave a quiet growling laugh. He was just about to throw the money back at the boy and tell him to ‘’get lost!’’ but instead he put the coins into his coat pocket and told Jacob to follow him ‘’this way!’’ he grumbled to Jacob.  This was his field and Mr Bishop led Jacob towards an old barn. They walked around the big wooden barn and came to an untidy plot of land at its rear. There was a small pile of rubbish in a heap and on top of it was what looked like a tree, all ready to be burnt with all the other rubbish left lying around after the market was over. Mr Bishop pulled the little tree off from the heap by it’s chopped off trunk and threw it at Jacobs’s feet, “There you go, that’s the best you’re going to get with that kind of money!” He walked back towards his stall laughing again, only this time much louder. Just then, Jacob noticed the bluebird sitting on an old rusty plough. “You found it, I knew you would!” said the little bird, “Quickly Jacob, get the tree home safely” and then the bluebird flew away.

     

      The tree was not much bigger than Jacob, it was bushy but the pine needles were already beginning to die. He picked it up by its twiggy trunk and threw it over his shoulder whilst in his other hand he carried the jug of soup and then he set off on his hike back home.

     

     As Jacob left the field the twins were walking in, Billy was pulling the sled by its rope handle while George sat on it having a ride. Just like their dad before them they roared with laughter. “That’s a nice tree!” said Billy. “Isn’t that the one dad was going to burn tonight?” George mocked to his brother, again they both laughed. Jacob passed the horrible twins and as he began his journey home the two boys threw a snowball each... but they were laughing so much that they both missed their target.

       

     Jacob hurried passed the woods and trundled through the snow and he could soon see his little house, the smoke from the chimney was barely visible and puffed up into the darkening wintery sky.

    

     Jacob put down the tree and he pushed open the door, he could hear his dad coughing. He put the soup on the now slightly warm stove and went over to the bed. His father was asleep again; Jacob pulled up the blankets and tucked him back in.

   

     “Did you find it?” Dino asked, still sat by the dying fire. “Find what?” Jacob replied. “The tree!” the smiling cat said with a yawn. “A scrawny little blue bird said that you would find the right tree. I don’t know what she was talking about but she seemed very excited.” Jacob went back to the door and opened it; he picked up the tree and brought it into the house. He then went out to the shed and filled up a tin bucket with logs and carried them back into the house, shutting the door behind him to keep out the cold. He hanged his coat on the back of a chair, then took out the logs and placed them onto the burnt black cinders. It didn’t take long and soon the smouldering fire flickered to life again and the flames began to dance once more.

   

     Jacob picked up the tree and placed it in the now empty bucket. “Is that it?” Dino said with a smirk, “What’s so special about that tree? It looks pretty dull to me!” Jacob looked puzzled and said “I don’t know! The bluebird didn’t say. She just told me to get it home safely.” Dino stretched out all fours, rolled onto his back and with a ridiculous smile he said, “Maybe it’s a magic tree!”

    

      Deep in the woods in the crooked old house the old lady stood in front of an army of rats... her eyes shone like emeralds. She banged down her fist on a crooked table and loudly she shouted, “Find that key and make sure you throw it down the well!'' she stamped a foot on the dusty floor and then in a quiet low cackle she said ''and keep a lookout for that annoying little mouse. He can show you the route he took before he lost it and then once he helps you find it... throw him down the well too!”. The rats turned and ran out into the cold. The sun was going down and the snow began to fall.

                                                        
                                                                  

                                                                           

                                    Chapter 4

      Under a holly bush the little grey mouse jumped as high as he could trying to grab a berry that was out of his reach, it was too high so he picked up a twig and hit it, the berry fell off and dropped to the ground, he picked it up and threw it above his head and it came down and landed in his open mouth, he chewed it and swallowed the sweet fruit. “I will show her!” said Dizzy to himself out loud, “I will find the key and hide it so it will never be found!” He would retrace his footsteps from the previous night... hoping he wouldn’t bump into that crazy looking cat again.

      Dizzy was about to set off on his journey when the bluebird flew down and landed on the branch of a tree above him. The mouse looked up at her and she called down to him, “Are you Dizzy the mouse?” she asked. “Who wants to know?” the mouse replied still licking his lips. “My name is Daisy and I need your help!” “Why? .... and how do you know my name?” Dizzy asked with a frown. “A friend of mine overheard Eleanor, the old woman in the woods, she was shouting at you and said that you had a key and that you had lost it. We must find it Dizzy! It’s very important, please try and think where you could have dropped it!” The mouse scratched his head. “I was just on my way to see if I can find it actually!” he told her, “If I do find it! What’s in it for me? And what’s so important about the key anyway? And why did the old witch want me to throw it down the lost well?” “I can’t tell you right now” answered Daisy “but you will be greatly rewarded if you help me!''. Dizzy thought for a few seconds, swinging the long twig back and forth and then he tapped it on the frozen ground at his feet. “Ok!'' he said to the little bird, ‘’I will help you! But first you have to do something for me. Can you shake down that big juicy berry up there on that high branch for me’’, he pointed with the twig, ‘’I can’t reach it and I’m very hungry!''. Daisy flew up and landed on the branch that held the berry, she gripped it tightly with her clawed feet and then flapped her wings as hard as she could, pulling the branch up with her. When she let go of the branch it whipped back like a spring and the berry shot off towards Dizzy which hit him smack bang on the head like a big red snowball, the juice ran down his face and he licked himself clean. Daisy giggled and then so did Dizzy. Suddenly they heard a noise, “What’s all the racket?” Dizzy said. Daisy flew up to a higher branch and then came swooping back down. “Quickly Dizzy... hide!” cried Daisy, “Some rats are coming and they don’t look very friendly’’.  Dizzy gave a shrug “I’m not scared of a few rats!” he bravely replied, holding up his little fists and punching the air. “How many are there? I’ll take them all on”, “About twenty... maybe thirty!” said Daisy in a panic, ‘’hide behind that rock... quickly!” The little mouse bolted and hid. Daisy flew back up into the tree and watched as seconds later the witch’s army came crashing through the brambles and bushes.

     

      ‘’Stop!'' ordered the big black rat at the front of the pack. The other rats all came to a sudden stand still behind him and the leader stood on his hind legs and sniffed at the air. Dizzy peaked over the rock he was hiding behind to see what was happening. The leader looked very menacing; he was covered in scars and as he sniffed and turned his head towards Dizzies direction, the little mouse noticed that the rat only had one eye. Up above Daisy sat perched on a branch and she watched quietly as the leader whipped his long tail from side to side scouting the area for any sign of movement; she could see Dizzy cowering behind the rock below. ‘’I know your here somewhere mouse’’, the rat shouted before he growled between clenched teeth ‘’I can smell you!’’, Dizzy quickly ducked back down. The rat’s nose twitched as he slowly followed the scent in the air and he prowled closer towards the little mouse’s hiding place, flicking his tail like a whip. ‘’I know where your hiding mouse’’ he said in a deep rasping tone circling the rock, getting closer and closer. Just as the rat caught a glimpse of the mouse he felt an almighty whack on the end of his nose which took him by complete surprise; he rolled over and onto his back and then turned his head and looked over to see the little mouse holding his twig above his head... ready for a second strike. ‘’Why you...,'' growled the rat as he twisted quickly and rolled back onto his feet. Dizzy raised his twig higher into the air, he gulped and then stuttered ‘’ w- w- want some more?’’ in a trembling squeaky voice. ‘’I’m going to...!'' before the rat could finish his threat Daisy swooped down from the tree and grabbed Dizzy by the tail just as the rat was about to pounce. With all of her strength she flew back into the air carrying her new friend to safety. The angry rat looked up into the sky above and shouted at the top of his voice, ‘’I’ll get you mouse... and your friend too... and when I do!'', the leader licked his lips and gave a menacing scowl. As they soared up into the sky above, Dizzy threw his twig at the rats below.

       

     Daisy glided through the sky though Dizzy was getting quite heavy, ‘’Look Dizzy!’’ she called, ‘’ Down there!’’. The little mouse tried to focus but he had been spinning around so much that he really was dizzy. ‘’It’s Jacobs house... were here!’’. ‘’Who is Jacob?’’ shouted the mouse. ‘’Jacob is a very special boy Dizzy’’ she replied and then she swooped down towards the little wooden house below.

                                                                         

                                     Chapter 5

      It was a cold frosty evening and Jacob threw another log onto the fire, inside the little house it was cosy and warm. On the stove a pot of soup bubbled and steamed and the aroma filled the room. The Christmas tree stood in its bucket, standing at a slight angle and although it wasn’t the biggest most beautiful tree in the world, it did look very pretty in the warm glowing light of the fire.

      

     Jacobs’s father sat back on the pillow that his son had puffed up behind him. ‘’Well son, that’s a mighty fine tree!’’, he sniffed at the wonderful smell coming from the stove, ‘’Mmm, something sure smells good’’ he said with a smile. Jacob smiled back then leapt off the bed and ran across the room. He took two bowls from a shelf and filled them with soup; he placed one on a tray, laid a spoon at its side and then carefully carried it to his father’s bed, placing the tray on his lap. ‘’There is plenty more for tomorrow too dad!’’ Jacob said with a grin. ‘’You are a good boy Jacob’’ his proud father replied. They ate their meal in silence. When they had finished Jacob gathered the dishes and put them in the sink, then returned to his father’s bedside, he sat on the bed and looked at his father; Mrs Upton was right Jacob thought, his father was a handsome man, his wavy black hair and heavy beard were tinted with speckles of grey, his eyes shone a light shade of blue and his powerful chest, arms and shoulders were toned and muscular even though he had been ill for a few months, ‘’You had better get some rest dad!’’.  Jacob stood up and turned towards the dirty dishes. Before he could leave his father gently grabbed him by the wrist and asked him to sit back down for a moment; he leaned over and picked up the cigar box that was on the bedside table, he placed it on his lap and opened its lid. His face saddened as he took out his wife’s wedding ring, he lovingly pressed it to his lips and then returned it back to the safety of the box. He then rummaged around inside again and picked out the gifts that he had for his son, ‘’hold out your hands Jacob’’ he said with a smile. The boy did as his father asked and the man carefully placed a shiny compass into the palm of his son’s hand and then placed a pen knife gently down next to it, ‘’I want you to have these Jacob!’’. Jacob looked down at the items in his hands and then looked back up at his father’s smiling face, ‘’but these were granddad’s!’’ he softly replied. His fathers smile broadened and he gave the boy a wink and replied ‘’and now they are yours!’’. The man wrapped his big hands around the boys and closed them together; Jacob smiled back at his father and kissed him lovingly on the cheek.

       

     Outside up on the roof of the house next to the smoking chimney, Dizzy and Daisy sat warming themselves up. ‘’That rat was so lucky you pulled me away’’ said Dizzy to the bird, ‘’he was messing with the wrong mouse this time!’’, Daisy giggled. ‘’I’m hungry’’ the little mouse moaned rubbing at his tummy. Daisy stood up, fluttered her wings and then flew down and soared towards a bush where she picked off the biggest, juiciest berry she could find then returned to the rooftop and placed the berry by Dizzy, ‘’there you go!’’ she said with a grin, ‘’such a brave warrior needs to keep his strength up’’, Dizzy picked up the berry in his tiny hands and crammed the fruit into his mouth whole, he swallowed, licked his lips and then let out a burp. The two friends laughed.

      

     Jacob washed and dried the last bowl and put it back on the shelf, he heard his father snoring softly and returned to his side, pulled up the cover and squeezed his father’s fingers gently. The boy sat down by the fire and looked at the compass and pen knife. His grandfather had given them to his son many years ago and now they were his. He turned over the compass and inscribed on the back were the words - Follow your heart. Jacob didn’t know what these words meant but his grandfather must have put them there for a reason, ‘’Follow your heart’’ the boy softly whispered. Dino appeared from under the bed; he stretched, he yawned and then curled up next to Jacob in front of the fire. Jacob lay down on the floor and stroked his cat, his eyes grew heavy watching the hypnotising flames dance over the burning logs... and soon he fell into a deep sleep.

                                                      
                                                                     

                                                                     

                                    

                                 Chapter 6

        Prod... prod... prod. Jacob opened his tired eyes; the fire looked blurry and then slowly came into focus. He rubbed at his eyes and then batted them open again. He felt something tapping on his head and he turned to see what it was. Dino was sat next to him on the floor and his cat gave him one more prod on the forehead with a paw. Dino placed a small furry foot onto the boys mouth, ‘’Shhh!’’ he whispered, ‘’listen Jacob!’’. Jacob sat up quietly and looked around the room, there was nothing unusual... except for the crazy looking cat with a smile and the strange gaze in his eyes; one was its usual green colour whilst the other was red from the glow of the fire. ‘’What is it Dino? I can’t hear anything!’’ Jacob asked in a whisper, ‘’listen!’’ repeated the black cat.

        Jacob sat in silence for a moment; the only thing he could hear was a faint snore from his father and a crackle and hiss from the fire. ‘’Help me!’’, Jacob looked down at his cat, ‘’did you hear it?’’ Dino asked.

       

     The boy stood up and the cat did the same ‘’Where is it coming from?’’ Jacob asked. Dino looked up at him, raised a paw and he pointed, ‘’over there!’’ he replied staring towards the Christmas tree. They both tip toed across the room quietly and stood in front of the tree, ‘’Hello!’’ Jacob called out. The tree shook, only slightly but it definitely shook, the boy and the cat took a step back and looked at each other, ‘’did you see that Dino?’’, the cat nodded his head, ‘’help me!’’, the voice called out again. Dino looked at Jacob with a cheesy grin, ‘’I told you the tree must be magic... it can talk!’’ said the smug smiling cat. ‘’It’s not the tree silly! I’m in here!’’ the voice replied. Jacob got down on his knees and carefully parted the bushy branches; inside tied to the thin twisted trunk, a little fairy pleaded, ‘’please get me out of here Jacob!’’.

         

      Jacob opened his pen knife and cut through the twine that had been bound around the tiny fairy, he then held out his hand and she jumped into his palm, ‘’thank you!’’ she cried out before her wings unfolded and she gave them a flap. ‘’Who are you?’’  The boy asked. ‘’My name is Lolly’’ she said with a smile ‘’I am very pleased to meet you Jacob!’’.

         

     Lolly was beautiful thought Jacob as she looked up at him from his hand; her hair spiralled in curls over her shoulders and back and it was the colour of gold. Her clothes were made from leaves that had been sewn together with the finest of silk and her jewellery made from the most delicate tiny flowers. Her bare feet danced and glided over Jacobs’s palm.

      

     Outside the night was closing in, it was getting dark and the snow had stopped falling. Up on the roof of the house Dizzy suddenly let out a shriek, ‘’what’s the matter Dizzy?’’ Daisy questioned. ‘’I know where we are!’’ he said excitedly, ‘’this is the house where that crazy looking cat lives!’’. He stood on his hind legs and studied the area from above, it had looked different in the daylight but now it was evening he recognized it and remembered being chased into this very house by the big black cat. ‘’The key might be around here Daisy, I came this way yesterday’’, he jumped with excitement and as he jumped Dizzy lost his footing and let out a ‘’yelp!’ The journey to the ground was a painful one, he tumbled down the roof and landed in the gutter, being frozen he slid down the slippery surface before falling down the drainpipe. The drainpipe was broken and bent at an angle and the little mouse shot out of the end and disappeared into a deep pile of snow. Daisy flew down and put her head in the hole he had made on his landing and then pulled her friend out by the tail, ‘’ouch!’’ Dizzy moaned rubbing his head... the bluebird and the mouse burst into laughter.

         

     Jacob was just about to ask Lolly why she had been tied up in the tree when they heard the noises coming from outside... first the crashes and bangs and now the laughing. They went to the door and Jacob opened it, the boy, the cat and the fairy stood on the doorstep and looked outside. ‘’Daisy! Is that you?’’ Lolly called out. The little bird looked up and then flew over to Lolly, ‘’you are safe!’’ she said with a joyful smile. Lolly hugged Daisy and they jumped with joy holding each other. ‘’Jacob, Dino, this is my good friend Daisy’’, Lolly said with a chuckle. ‘’We have met already!’’ said Jacob to the fairy, ‘’she told me to find the tree and bring it home’’, ‘’and we have spoken too’’ Dino replied. Daisy jumped up and down excitedly ‘’I want you all to meet my new best friend!’’, the bluebird giggled, ‘’everybody, I would like you to meet Dizzy!’’. Dizzy trotted over to the doorstep and looked up at Dino. Dino looked down at the mouse and they both smiled the goofiest of smiles. 

                                                                          

                                      Chapter 7

        Skar knew that Eleanor would be angry and he was right; he and his army had returned to the old crooked house in the woods empty handed and the woman’s eyes glowed like burning emeralds. Eleanor paced back and forth mumbling to herself under her long limp hair. After a few minutes she stopped in front of Skar and then banged her hand down on the old crooked table. ‘’So... you say you saw Dizzy? Hmmm, why would that fool of a mouse be heading towards the lost well again? I bet he is trying to find the key himself. Skar! I want you to find him and bring him to me!’’. The big black rat ran his tongue over his lips and then through clenched teeth he growled his reply ‘’that will be a pleasure!’’.

     Together by the fire, the five new friends sat quietly. ‘’Is your father very sick Jacob?’’ said Lolly with a frown. ‘’Yes’’ the boy sadly replied, ‘’he is getting weaker and weaker’’. ‘’ If only I knew where the key to the lost well was!’’ said the fairy. Dizzy, whose little hands were propping up his chin lifted his head, ‘’key!’’ he said curiously, ‘’you don’t mean the key the old witch told me to throw down the well... surely?’’. ‘’Eleanor told you to throw a key down the well Dizzy? Please say you didn’t do it!’’ asked Lolly, ‘’or it will be lost forever!’’. ‘’I didn’t do it’’ the mouse answered sheepishly, he took a large gulp and cracked a smile, ‘’I lost it!’’. ‘’Where do you think you lost it?’’ said Daisy, wrapping a wing around her sad looking friend. ‘’It could be anywhere!’’ he replied with a heavy sigh, ‘’I didn’t know I had lost it until I had actually got to the well’’. They all sat in silence for a moment or two and then Dino suddenly jumped into the air; he wore the silliest smile that any of them had ever seen. ‘’Ok... what’s with the crazy cat routine?’’ Dizzy mocked. ‘’ When I chased you yesterday... which I’m sorry about by the way! But I am a cat and you are a mouse! You hid from me right? You hid so well that I couldn’t find you... you hid in that crack in the floorboard over there didn’t you? Didn’t you Dizzy?’’. ‘’Yes!’’ answered the little mouse. Jacob cottoned on and jumped to his feet, he pulled the string from beneath his shirt which he held out in front of him and said, ‘’do you mean this key?’’.

       

     In a clearing on the outskirts of the woods, Skar turned to inspect his army who were all stood to attention as he looked at them proudly, this was his platoon and they knew it... they feared him and he liked that. He climbed on top of a tree stump over looking his soldiers. ‘’ Our mission... is to find that key!’’ he barked in a powerful tone, ‘’so here is the plan of action. Half of you will go that way!’’ he pointed in one direction, ‘’and the other half come with me this way!’’ he pointed in the opposite direction. ‘’We will meet up at the lost well. If... you should happen to come across Dizzy on your patrol?’’, Skar stood on his hind legs whipping his tail back and fourth as he finished his speech in a deep rumbling rasp, ‘’bring that mouse to me!’’.

                                                     
                                                                       

                                   

                                    Chapter 8

    ‘’Tell me about this lost well Lolly? I have never heard of it before!’’, Jacob asked excitedly as he threw another log on the fire. Sparks leapt up the chimney and then the fire crackled back to life.

     “The well has been hidden from humans for a very long time Jacob’’ Lolly answered, ‘’many have tried to find it... but all have failed! It is not far from here and if we leave right now we will be there soon’’.

     

      ‘’You say you can help my father if we go to the well?’’, Jacob looked over at the man on the bed, a bead of sweat trickled down his fevered forehead and he breathed in a slow pained breath. ‘’Only you can help your father Jacob!’’ the fairy said to the boy, ‘’but we will be there to help you and show you the way but we must go now!’’.

       

      ‘’Ok!’’ said the boy, he put on his coat then walked quietly to his father’s bedside. He bent over and pressed his lips to his father’s cheek and then whispered into the man’s ear. ‘’I will be back soon, don’t worry! I love you dad’’.

      

      Dino had wanted to join his friends on their quest but Jacob needed someone to watch over his father. The big black cat wished them well and watched as Jacob quietly closed the door behind him, then, without the hint of a smile Dino returned to the comfort of the warm crackling fire.

      

     The boy, the fairy, the bluebird and the mouse stood on the doorstep for a moment, Jacob buttoned his coat to keep out the cold and then they headed towards the lost well.

       

     Not far from Jacob’s home in the opposite direction a pack of rats were approaching and without their leader were a little lost without his guidance. They stopped to gather their bearings. The moonlight reflected off the pure white snow and an owl hooted from a nearby tree, the rodents panicked and quickly found cover in a disused rabbit warren; they would rest there until the owl had left and then continue on their hunt.

       

      Although it was night time the moon light was so bright that it was possible to see where they were going. Jacob stomped through the powdery snow while Daisy and Lolly zipped through the air just inches above swooping over obstacles that appeared in their way. Behind them, poor Dizzy scampered across the surface, occasionally stopping to catch his breath. ‘’Slow down!’’,   he asked in a tired panting voice. The three friends hadn’t thought about the struggle he was having keeping up and the little mouse was shattered. Jacob stopped and waited for him to catch up, the boy bent down and carefully picked Dizzy up in his palms and then placed him on his shoulder. ‘’There you go Dizzy... hold on tight!’’. The little mouse smiled with relief.

        

      ‘’How far is it?’’, Jacob queried. ‘’Just over this hill!’’, answered Lolly. They climbed to the top of a hill and then stood looking down. ‘’We are here!’’ Dizzy said with a worried frown.  In the valley below, hidden beneath the weeds and the thorns... was the lost well.

                                                    
                                                                       

                                                                                     

                                    Chapter 9

       Dino was woken by a shuffling sound from outside; he gave a tired yawn then stretched out his front legs and dug his sharp claws into the wooden floor. The big black cat pulled himself up on his feet; he trotted across the room and then leapt up onto the window sill and pushed his nose to the glass. The moon shone down and the snow glistened in its light and he could see clearly into the yard at the front of the house.

      

     Outside, sniffing around a hole, one of the rats called to the others, ‘’Over here!’’. The group gathered to examine his find. ‘’He was here!’’ the rat said whist scratching and sniffing the small hole in the snow. Another scruffy looking rodent named Grim, who had taken the lead in Skar’s absence, barged his way through the pack and he pushed his head into the hollow; the scent was still strong in the fresh snow. ‘’Right! The mouse could still be close by, we will circle the house! Check every nook and cranny” Grim ordered “he may be hiding!’’.

       

     As Dino looked from the window he didn’t see anything out of the ordinary at first, then suddenly, what looked like a shadow moved steadily across the snow in front of the house. He pressed his nose closer to the glass and the pane misted from his breath. The black cat jumped to the floor and crossed the room; he pushed his head against the flap on the door and slowly crept outside into the cold night, prowling in the direction that the shadow had gone. Dino tip toed across the snow not making a sound when he came across some tiny footprints and he followed them stealthily.

       

     Grim and his team clumsily stumbled around the outskirts of the house looking for any more signs of the mouse. ‘’I’ve found some fresh foot prints!’’ said another rat aloud, ‘’Human and mouse!''. ‘’Lets follow them, they can’t be far!’’ Grim ordered. Suddenly, the whole pack of rats stopped as every one of them felt very uncomfortable. Their animal senses told them that something was right behind them and very close, slowly and nervously they turned their heads to see what it was. ‘’Boo!’’, said the cat with a big crazy smile on his face, ‘’Run for your lives!’’ Grim shrieked in a panicked scream. The rats scattered in all directions, some crashed into one another trying to escape while others just bolted as fast as they could and didn’t look back. It was every rat for himself and in no time at all they had all disappeared out of view. Dino smiled a triumphant smile and then returned to the now dying fire.

                                                   
                                                                       

                                   Chapter 10

      Jacob looked worryingly at the tangled vines covered in thorns that twisted out in front of him; the thorns glistened like razor sharp teeth that even the snow dare not land upon. ‘’I can’t walk over all that!’’ he said disheartened ‘’I would be cut to pieces!’’, he took Dizzy from his shoulder and placed him on the ground next to Lolly and Daisy who were resting their wings from their journey. ‘’Who said anything about going over them Jacob?’’ Lolly smiled ‘’these thorns grew to stop humans from ever finding the well!’’. The little fairy fluttered her wings and flew up in the air excitedly, ‘’this may feel a little strange!’’ she said to the boy, ‘’but don’t worry! It won’t be permanent’’. Lolly flew around his head several times then span around his body until she reached his feet, when she had finished she sat next to the bird and the mouse and then let out a laugh. ‘’What’s so funny?’’, the boy asked, ‘’what did you do? I didn’t feel anything!’’, Lolly laughed harder. ‘’It’s a little fairy magic!’’ she giggled, ‘’it won’t work until you spin around Jacob, but be careful, do one spin at a time and it must be to the right not to the left’’. Jacob looked at the fairy a little apprehensive then span in a circle, at first he felt a little strange, something was very different but he couldn’t put his finger on it, he looked at his friends and they too looked a little odd, they seemed to have grown slightly. He twisted to the right a second time and then on the third spin he fell to the ground, he felt light headed and very peculiar indeed, he stood back up on his feet and dusted the snow from his clothes, he turned to his friends and in the shock of what he could see he fell back onto the ground; Lolly rushed over to him and pulled him back up and then she gave him a hug, ‘’how do you feel?’’ she asked with a smile. Jacob looked around in amazement, he walked over to Dizzy and wrapped his arms around the mouse’s neck and then turned to Daisy and hugged her too and she folded her wings around his body giving him a gentle squeeze. Jacob was the same size as his friends; ‘’we go under the vines!’’ the fairy explained.

       In the crooked old house surrounded by trees, Eleanor looked into the mirror; she parted her grey hair that covered her face and stared at her reflection for a moment or two, from an emerald eye a tear rolled down her cheek and she wiped it away.

        

     Bang. Bang. Bang. Eleanor turned and marched to the door, she opened it slightly and peered through the crack, ‘’who is it?’’ she snapped. ‘’It’s me Ma’am, Grim!’’ the rat replied, she pulled on the door handle and the scruffy rat collapsed onto the floor at her feet. Out of breath, he pushed himself up on his feet and entered the candle lit room; Eleanor slammed the door shut behind him.

     

      ‘’Did you find the key?’’ the woman asked in a croaky deep voice, Grim cowered before her and panted, ‘’No Ma’am’’, Eleanor lifted up a leg and then stamped on the floor, a cloud of dust rose, Grim held his hand to his nose and he muffled a squeaky sneeze. ‘’Where is Skar?’’ she shrieked ‘’ have you at least found that pathetic little mouse?’’. Grim lowered his head, ‘’Skar headed towards the lost well Ma’am’’, he replied, ‘’my troop were ambushed by a cat and were separated but we did find some footprints that were leading towards the well’’, he straightened his shoulders and brushed off a patch of dust from his chest, when he looked up, Eleanor was bent over him, her hair hung down like hundreds of rat tails and her eyes were staring the most ferocious gaze, ‘’I will find them myself!’’, she growled at the rat, ‘’get out of my way!’’,  Eleanor pushed Grim aside with her foot and he rolled and tumbled across the dusty floorboards and crashed into the crooked table leg. Rubbing his head Grim looked up to see Eleanor slamming the door shut behind her.

                                                                       

                                                                            

                                       Chapter 11

     Deep under the labyrinth of barbed vines and twisting weeds, Daisy, Lolly, Dizzy and Jacob were nearing the well but this time it was Jacob falling behind. The bird, the fairy and the mouse moved freely through the thorny, jagged corridors with ease. Jacob stopped for a moment to catch his breath. Dizzy scampered back to the boy and gave him a nudge with his head, ‘’It’s my turn to carry you now!’’ he said with a smile, ‘’Jump on my back!’’. Jacob leapt up onto the mouse’s back, grabbed a hand full of fur from around Dizzy’s neck and then off they ran to catch up to their friends, ‘’Hold on tight Jacob!’’ Dizzy shouted.

     Not far behind them a group of rats began crashing through the vines. ‘’We are close!’’, Skar growled to his pack, ‘’keep moving!’’.

   

      The four friend’s came to a clearing and the thorny vines spiralled upwards instead of tangled cavern’s along the ground. They were now standing in what looked like a cathedral of twisted and knotted barbed wire. ‘’We are here!’’ Lolly cried out to the others. They all stopped at the tower of stone, ‘’Lets rest awhile before we carry on’’ she said, ‘’we still have a long way to go!’’. Jacob climbed off Dizzy’s back and then looked up at the well, if he was his normal size; he would be taller than the giant wall that stood before him he thought, but at this size the well looked like a giant’s castle. They all sat down and rested their feet or their wings.

     

      As they rested for a moment Jacob turned to Lolly and asked the questions that had been on his mind since finding her tied to the tree trunk. ‘’There are a couple of things I don’t understand Lolly!’’ Jacob sat up straight and looked at the fairy. ‘’Firstly why did Eleanor want Dizzy to throw the key down the well? And who tied you up in the tree?’’ ‘’Hmmm, it’s a very long story Jacob’’ she replied to the boy, ‘’so where do I start?’’. The four friends gathered around and Lolly began to tell them the tale of Eleanor.

       

      A long time ago the fairy folk lived in perfect harmony; their land was the most beautiful and was filled with laughter and love. The king of the fairies ordered a well to be built; he wanted to share this happiness with the humans, giving them the chance to wish for peace and harmony in their own world. When it was finished, the human’s discovered the well and from the very first wish, all that were made were selfish or cruel... not one was worthy of granting, but the humans received what they had wished for. The wishes that they asked for only brought them sorrow and sadness and the well of good fortune soon became known as the well of despair. The king, for the first time in his long life let a tear of sorrow spill from his eye and the tear fell to the ground, from this tear the thorny vines began to grow and the fairy folk became frightened. The king counted the wishes that remained and only two were left. He locked the two wishes in a box before they were wasted on more greed and unhappiness. Eleanor was the king’s only daughter and was the most beautiful fairy in the kingdom, but she was a very bitter vain princess and dreamed of being human. One day whilst her father was sleeping, Eleanor crept to his bedside and she stole the key and then made her way to the wish chamber where the box of wishes was kept. When she opened the box she took one of the wishes and then ran to the top of the valley and looked down upon her home which was no longer the beautiful land that it had always been. She could have wished for the peace and harmony to return but she, like the humans before her wished only a selfish wish. ‘’I wish I was the most beautiful human being in the world’’ she had asked. The king heard what his daughter had wished for and he hung his head in shame and although he loved the princess more than anything in the world, he let her have what she so desired but the punishment would be harsh for her betrayal. Up on the hill the beautiful fairy began to grow; her wings turned to dust and drifted away in the breeze. She laughed and danced and then ran to a nearby stream to look at her reflection and to see how beautiful she had become. Eleanor looked into the watery mirror; gone were her bright blue eyes and green ones looked back at her. Her once wavy golden hair now hung limp and grey. She touched her once pretty face, which was now craggy and old and then the woman cried until she could cry no more. She held out the key in her palm and vowed that she would one day return for the last wish. But the vines and the thorns had grown to keep out the humans and now that she was a human... she could never return. Eleanor ran away and hid deep in the woods and spent her life planning a way she could get her hands on the last wish.

    

     ‘’Eleanor was a beautiful princess?’’ Dizzy mocked in disbelief “you have got to be kidding me! So why did she want me to throw the key down the well if she needs it so bad?’’ he asked. ‘’The guardian would have kept it until she found a way of returning Dizzy!’’ Lolly explained, ‘’I visited her a few days ago, we were once the best of friends, I begged her to give me the key and I told her that I had been shown a way to put things right but she blankly refused, saying the wish may be wasted and she would never get her beauty back... it was hers she had insisted!’’.

      

      ‘’So how did you end up tied in the tree... and why?’’ Jacob queried! Lolly continued, ‘’I returned to her house that night and while she slept, I searched for the key. I looked everywhere but I couldn’t find it, of course, she had already given it to Dizzy to take to the well, guessing that I might return. As I was looking for it she had awakened and then she crept up behind me and grabbed me in her hands, she pushed me into a jar and screwed on a lid. I watched as she picked up an axe and went outside. When she returned her eyes were blazing, she grabbed me again and then tied me tightly to a tree trunk. Eleanor then dragged the tree to the farm and threw the tree on the fire heap, she tried to light it but her matches were damp and they wouldn't strike, so she left me there thinking the farmer would do her dirty work in the morning’’. ‘’That’s when I found you Lolly!’’, Daisy spoke up ‘’and you told me to find Jacob’’... the fairy nodded.

   

      ‘’You say you have been shown a way to make things better Lolly, how and by who?’’, ‘’I can’t tell you the answer to that question yet Jacob but soon you will be shown for yourself!’’. The fairy stood up, fluttered her wings and said ‘’we had better be going!’’. The four friends stood up and Jacob looked back up at the well. ‘’How do we get up there?’’ he asked, ‘’that’s easy Jacob!’’, Lolly replied. She stood behind him, wrapped her arms around his waist and then they floated gracefully to the top of the wall. Daisy grabbed Dizzy by the tail; she lifted him up into the air and then plonked him down next to the boy.

       

     Below them hidden under the vines, a dozen and one eye’s glistened in the moonlight... watching their every move.

       

     Jacob looked into the deep black hole, Dizzy looked down too and swallowed a loud gulp, ‘’this looks scary!’’ he said in a shaky voice, ‘’how do we get down there? It is far too dark and deep to fly down!’’, ‘’in the bucket of course!’’ Lolly said with a chuckle. The fairy flew to the rope and then began to push and pull on it, the bucket swung from side to side ‘’Get ready!’’ she called out, ‘’Jump in when it gets close enough!’’. Daisy flew to the bucket to help her friends. Jacob jumped first and Daisy grabbed his arm and pulled him onboard. ‘’Come on Dizzy! It’s easy...easy...easy!’’, he called out as his voice echoed below. The bucket swung away and then swooped back towards him, the little mouse was terrified, he wasn’t good with heights and as he looked down at the endless black hole below his heart banged like a drum in his chest. ‘’Come on Dizzy, we will catch you...you...you!’’ Jacob shouted, hearing his voice repeat and disappear down into the darkness. Dizzy closed his eyes tight and then counted to three, ‘’One...Two...Three!’’ He ran a few steps and then leapt towards his friends, but he had timed it completely wrong and as he reached for their hands, the bucket was swaying away. He hit the wooden bucket with a thud and he tried to grab anything he could claw onto, but there was nothing... Dizzy plummeted into the darkness below. ‘’Dizzy!’’ screamed Daisy in a panic. She dove out of the swinging bucket and darted as fast as she could into the enormous black hole. Jacob and Lolly waited, calling out to them ''Dizzy...Dizzy...Dizzy! Daisy...Daisy...Daisy!'', their shouts echoed and they listened for any signs that the two friends were ok. Suddenly the bluebird came swooping out of the darkness with the mouse’s tail between her little clawed feet; she glided in a circle and then landed in the bucket. ‘’Well done Daisy!’’ Jacob said with relief. Dizzy hugged his feathered friend and gave her a kiss on her beak ‘’thank you!’’ he said before collapsing onto the floor of the bucket.

     

     Once everyone was safe and secure Lolly flew around the hanging bucket several times and then rejoined her friends. Slowly, the bucket started to descend and they lowered into the darkness, holding each other’s hands as they travelled down...down...down.

     

      The bucket hit the bottom of the well with a bump and came to an abrupt stop. ‘’I can’t see a thing!’’ called out Jacob. In the pitch black silence Lolly clapped her hands and all of a sudden a light warmly glowed, then another and then many more. Soon, hundreds of lights lit up the darkness; in fact it became quite bright. They climbed out of the bucket and Jacob looked around the bottom of the well, he curiously looked closer at one of the lights and raised his finger to touch it. The light moved and Jacob jumped back as Lolly laughed ‘’it’s only a firefly!’’ she giggled ‘’they won’t hurt you’’.

      

     Skar and his remaining army exited the vines and gathered in the clearing, ‘’we have them now!’’ he snarled at the pack. They climbed up tangled vines on the wall and then circled the top of the well looking down into the darkness below. Skar wasted no time and leapt fearlessly grabbing the rope with his claws, ‘’follow me!’’ he ordered. Just then, a shadow flew over head and a hooting sound warned of the danger. Scar’s remaining platoon scrambled for the safety of the thorny vines, jumping from the wall in a panic. ‘’Get back here you cowards!’’ Skar demanded of his squad but they disappeared, leaving him dangling on the rope alone, he snaked his long tail around the rope and slowly lowered himself... abseiling towards the lights below.

     

      The bottom of the well was a labyrinth of tunnels; the only sound that could be heard was the faint drips of water that echoed in the distance. Old broken cob webs hung down from the ceiling and they eerily swayed to and fro. Lolly led the way and Jacob, Daisy and Dizzy followed carefully behind, ‘’we have to go to the wish chamber!’’ she whispered to her friends ‘’we must be quiet... the guardian will be close’’.

      

     At the entrance to the wish chamber Lolly turned to the others ‘’we’re here!’’ she smiled. As they were about to enter Daisy felt a sticky piece of cob web stuck to her feathers, she flapped out her wing attempting to shake it off but it wouldn’t release, so she pulled at the clinging piece of web. Her wing tugged and she felt a pain as all of a sudden she was catapulted up into the air. Frightened she began to panic and she fluttered around trying to free herself... the more she panicked the more she got tangled. ‘’It’s a trap!’ shrieked Lolly, ‘’Daisy! Stay as still as you can’’, she turned to Dizzy who looked very worried about his friend, ‘’you must hide Dizzy!’’ she said in a stern tone, ‘’you too Jacob... hide now!’’. The boy and the mouse bolted for cover behind some nearby rocks. Being high above her friends it was Daisy who was first to see the guardian, she let out a terrified squeal and struggled to let herself free but to no avail. Lolly looked up at her from behind a rock and put a finger to her lips ‘’Shhh!’’. Daisy could only watch as from a darkened corner the giant spider crawled slowly down the tunnel towards her.

     

     Skar lowered himself to the bottom of the well, he climbed over the wooden bucket and then he jumped to the ground, he then looked up at the rope to see if any of his pack had followed him... but he was alone. ‘’Cowards!’’ he growled to himself. His eye glistened in the light as he looked around the well, then he sniffed at the ground and silently made his way down the tunnel.

    

     The guardian crept down the corridor menacingly slow taunting his captive. He raised his legs high and then placed them silently on the ground with each step forward. Dizzy peeked over the rock that he hid behind wondering what he could do to save his friend dangling out in the open. The spider stopped in front of the wish chamber watching as the bluebird began to panic in fear; the more she struggled the more she caught up in the sticky web. Dizzy could not bear to watch Daisy in such a fright... so he made his move. The little mouse jumped out from behind his shelter and he landed in front of the monster before him. The guardian had not seen or expected another intruder and took a step back in surprise, ‘’Ha! Scared eh!’’ Dizzy shouted out bravely, he held up his little fists in front of him and punched at the air, ‘’so you have eight eye’s and eight legs.... but I only have one butt to kick!’’ he shouted up at the spider. ‘’You had better run while you have the chance!’’ he continued with a renewed feeling of confidence. Jacob ran out from his hiding place and he tried to pull Dizzy back. Seeing yet another intruder the spider crawled speedily backwards and returned to his dark corner, he had to re-think his plan of attack. ‘’He is scared of us!’’ cheered Dizzy the warrior. ‘’I’m not scared of anyone!’’ growled a familiar voice, ‘’especially of you... mouse!’’. From around a corner, Skar appeared; he at last had them cornered, he flicked his tail from side to side and it lashed at the ground like a whip, ‘’your mine now!’’.

    

      Skar revelled in the frightened look on the faces of the mouse, the boy and hanging bird; Jacob and Dizzy stood for a moment frozen in fear and then began backing away quickly. The black rat drew back his lips in a menacing smile smelling their fear as he crouched, getting ready to pounce... Skar didn’t have time to attack; he heard a noise from behind him and turned his head to see what it was, his one eye opened wide in shock. It was too late to run and it was too late to hide. The giant spider charged down the corridor and was upon him in seconds, the rat was sprayed in a sticky web. Skar put up a fight but just ended up tangled in the struggle to free himself as the guardian crawled slowly back down the tunnel and into the darkness... dragging his captive behind him.

    

     ‘’Quickly Jacob, take out your pen knife!’’ Lolly said as she wrapped her arms around his waist, he took it from his pocket then Lolly batted her wings, she carried the boy to the ceiling and Jacob cut at the sticky cob web that held their friend. Dizzy stood on his hind legs below with his arms out ready to catch her. The knife sliced through the web and Daisy dropped through the air... she landed on Dizzy’s head and they rolled to the ground. Lolly floated down and she and Jacob landed gently next to their friends. Daisy pulled Dizzy to his feet and threw her wings around him, ‘’thank you Dizzy, you were so very brave!’’ she lovingly told him with a smile. Dizzy looked down bashfully then raised his head with a cheesy grin on his face and replied ‘’he just picked on the wrong mouse!’’. The four friends laughed.

                                                                       

                                  Chapter 12

      The wish chamber looked nothing like Jacob had imagined it would, it was just a big square gloomy cave. The four friends stood in the centre of the large murky room and they slowly turned their heads and looked around; the chamber was empty, except for on three of the walls, sitting in an arched alcove sat a golden box, ‘’Three boxes!’’ Jacob said aloud ‘’I thought there was only one!’’. ‘’There is only one Jacob!’’ answered the fairy, ‘’only one holds the last wish, the other two boxes hold nothing... they are empty! If you choose the wrong box... the wish will be locked away forever’’, ‘’How do I know which one holds the wish?’’ Jacob asked the fairy, ‘’only you can decide that!’’ she replied. The boy looked at each box closely and all three were identical.

      ‘’Can’t you help me Lolly? Don’t you know which box it is? You are a fairy!’’ Jacob pleaded. ‘’The boxes were mixed up and placed in the alcoves by the king of the fairies... even he does not know which is the right one Jacob!’’ answered Lolly. Jacob hung his head wondering how he was supposed to choose the right box. Whilst looking down he noticed a part of a picture on the ground, ‘’what’s that? The boy queried. The picture was buried in dust; he knelt on his knees and brushed aside a layer covering the hidden image. Lolly turned to Daisy, ‘’help me!’’ she said to the bluebird; the fairy began to fly around the room skimming the ground as she flew. Daisy joined her and they darted in a circle as fast as they could and the dust began to blow to the edges of the chamber. When they had finished they landed next to their friends. ‘’It looks like a giant compass!’’ said Jacob.  In the centre of the room was a large circle in which they were stood. Four long triangles pointed outwards from the circle, one towards the exit and the others pointing toward each box. Jacob searched in his pocket and took out his own compass... 'Maybe this was a clue!' he thought. Jacob held the compass in his palm and looked at its needle; the needle began to spin, slowly at first and then faster and faster. ‘’We must leave you to work this puzzle out for yourself now Jacob’’, the fairy said to the boy, ‘’we will be right outside waiting!’’. Lolly, Daisy and Dizzy turned towards the exit and slowly walked away. Before leaving the boy by himself they all turned in his direction and the fairy called out ‘’I know you can do it Jacob!’’. Daisy wiped a tear from her eye with a wing ‘’we believe in you!’’ she said aloud. Dizzy stood on his hind legs and shouted ‘’good luck... my friend!’’. They left the room and Jacob was alone.

    

     Jacob looked at his compass again and the needle was still spinning in circles. Standing in the centre of the wish chamber the boy turned to each alcove, hoping that the needle would suddenly stop and point to the correct wish box... but nothing happened and the needle just kept spinning. Feeling defeated Jacob sat in the circle on the ground and he dropped his compass in front of him. He closed his eyes to help him think.

    

     As Jacob sat trying to work out the puzzle a shiver ran down his spine, he knew that something or somebody was standing right behind him; he was too scared to turn and see what it was. The darken room began to brighten and then the boy heard a gentle voice call out his name, ‘’Jacob!’’. Jacob stood up slowly, he was not afraid any more as he knew the voice that called his name and he turned around with a tear in his eye. Standing before him was a beautiful woman; surrounded by light that glowed all around her. She was dressed in a white flowing dress and she wore the most warming smile, ‘Mother! Is that really you?’’ Jacob called out as the tear rolled down his cheek. The woman’s hand wiped the tear away and then she replied ‘’yes Jacob’’. The mother wrapped her arms around her son and then she placed her lips on his forehead and gave him a gentle kiss. ‘’I am so very proud of you Jacob!’’ she whispered in a loving tone. The boy looked up at his mother and he said in a trembling voice ‘’are you going to leave me again?’’, the woman crouched and put her hand on his chest. She felt her child’s heart beat beneath her touch and she replied, ‘’if I am in here... then I have never left you and never will!’’. ‘’But dad is going to leave me too!’’ the boy began to cry, ‘’he is very sick’’. ‘’No Jacob!’’ his mother smiled, ‘’your father will be fine!’’ she assured him. ‘’Every kiss that you gave him, I gave one too and our love will make him better... I promise you! But now you must finish your quest... it is your destiny Jacob!’’. She held her son’s hands and then kissed him once more as her fingers slipped out of his. She then began to float into the air in a twisting, swirling mist. ‘’I don’t know what to do!’’ Jacob cried out. Before she disappeared his mother smiled down at him and said ‘’look at your compass Jacob!’’... And then she was gone.

     

      Jacob stood looking up at the ceiling for a moment or two, ‘’my compass doesn’t work!’’ he called out to himself. He lowered his head and then bent down to pick it up from the ground, the needle was face down and the back of the compass glistened. It was then that he saw what his mother had meant, it wasn’t the compass itself. It was the words on the back of it... Follow your heart.

    

      Jacob pulled the string from around his neck and raised it over his head. He held the key to his chest, walked over to a box and stood in front of it. He closed his eyes and stood for a moment; his heart felt empty... so maybe the box was empty too. He moved to the next and again felt nothing at all so moved to another. The boy approached the third box and once more stood before it, clutching the key to his beating heart as he closed his eyes tightly shut. This time Jacobs’s heart pounded in his chest. Behind his closed eyes he saw visions of himself as a baby held by his mother in her loving arms. He saw his father playing with him as a boy and he watched as his little black kitten chased a ball of string. Wonderful memories filled his heart with joy.

     

      Jacob opened his eyes and a smile beamed across his face. He lifted the key and pushed it into the lock and turned it clockwise. The boy lifted the lid and the dark room filled with a golden light. Jacob carefully picked up the wish in his palms and then closed his hands around it. Before leaving the wish chamber Jacob looked up into the air and smiled, ‘’I love you mum!’’ he whispered.

                                                                        

                                  

                                  Chapter 13

       As Jacob exited the chamber his friends rushed over to meet him, the boy opened his hands and the dark tunnel shone brightly in the wishes glow. ‘’You did it!’’ said Lolly jumping with joy. Daisy and Dizzy smiled ‘’well done Jacob!’’ cheered the bird as the mouse patted him on the back, ‘’I knew you would do it!’’ he said to his friend.

     ‘’We must go now, your wish can not be made down here Jacob... you must be outside!’’, they turned to leave guided by the bright light held out in Jacobs hands.

    

     As they neared the bucket at the base of the well Jacob carefully placed the wish in his coat pocket. They didn’t need the light any more as a steam of sunlight beamed down the once pitch black hole. The four friends stood by the bucket and looked up at the sky high above them, it looked a very long way up. ‘’Everybody in!’’ said Lolly. Dizzy, Daisy and Jacob jumped into the bucket as Lolly flew around it several times and then leapt in too. The bucket began to rise towards the bright blue sky. Suddenly, nearly half the way up they came to an abrupt stop and then slowly began to descend again ‘’what’s happening?’’ Jacob said to the others with a frown. The boy looked down into the well to see if they were caught on something. It was then that Jacob saw the string of web, stuck to the bucket. He followed the web down with his eyes and at the bottom of the well... the guardian slowly pulled them towards him.

     

      ‘’Daisy! Do you think you can carry Dizzy to the top?’’ Lolly panicked. ‘’I don’t think I can Lolly! I twisted my wing in the trap and it hurts a little’’. Jacob took out his pen knife and leaned over the buckets edge reaching towards the web to cut it loose, but it was out of his reach. ‘’Grab my feet Dizzy!’’ he called to the mouse; Dizzy held him by the ankles and began to lower him down but Jacob’s weight was too much and the mouse’s feet began to slip and slide under him, ‘’please be careful!’’ shrieked Daisy! Lolly grabbed Dizzy by the tail and she held on tight. Jacob reached down and sawed at the web with his knife, it snapped free and he watched it spiral down to the pit below as the bucket began to rise once again. Lolly pulled Dizzy’s tail, Dizzy pulled Jacobs ankles and they all fell onto the wooden floor of their elevator. Daisy let out a sigh of relief and then they all cheered with joy as they rose higher and higher.

     

     When they reached the top of the well the bucket came to a gentle stop. All four friends smiled to each other. ‘’We did it!’’ Jacob laughed... and then Dizzy, Daisy and Lolly began to laugh too.

      

     In their moment of happiness they didn’t see the giant hand grab hold of the rope attached to the bucket. They were yanked out of the well and thrown to the ground. Shaken, they gazed up to see Eleanor who was covered in cuts and scratches looming down on them. ‘’You have something for me?’’ she cackled with blazing green eyes.

       

     ‘’Eleanor!’’. A voice called out from behind her and she turned in surprise and looked around... but no one was there. Then she heard it a second time. ‘’Eleanor... stop!’’. She turned again looking for the familiar voice that called out her name. From under the thorny vines all around her the fairy folk suddenly appeared; dozens surrounded her as a tear filled her eye. The king looked up at the woman and he gave a loving smile, ‘’Let Jacob make his wish Eleanor!’’ he said to his daughter. She fell to the ground in defeat and as the four friends climbed from the bucket... all eyes were on Jacob, Eleanor put her hands to her eyes and she began to cry. The king approached Jacob and the wise old fairy placed a gentle hand on the boys shoulder, ‘’what is your wish Jacob?’’ the king softly asked. Jacob took the wish from his pocket and he held it out in his hands and gazed at its beautiful glow. He closed his eyes tightly shut and once again he saw his mothers smiling, loving face behind his closed eyes, ‘’follow your heart Jacob!’’ she whispered to her son and then she blew him a kiss that warmed his beating heart. Jacob opened his eyes wide and he smiled the biggest smile, ‘’I don’t want it!’’ he said aloud ‘’I already have everything that I need’’. Jacob walked over to Eleanor and held out his hands, ‘’I want you to have the wish Eleanor!’’. Eleanor looked down at the boy, her eyes softened and she smiled her first smile in many years. She gently took the wish from Jacob’s outstretched hands and she held it to her heart. She gazed at her family below her and then she closed her eyes tightly... ''I wish...I wish...  peace and harmony would return to this land''. Eleanor opened her eyes and a tear of joy spilled from her eye and it splashed on the ground. Her father looked up at her and with pride in his eyes the king shouted for everyone to hear, ‘’your wish is granted Princess Eleanor! Everything will be returned to the way that it was’’.

       

     Jacob sat with his friends by the well and looked across at the most beautiful land; it looked like an oasis surrounded with snow. Gone were the thorns and vines and in their place flowers swayed in the breeze, the green grass was peppered in snow and a celebration had begun, music played and fairies danced to its rhythm. Jacob stood up and turned toward Lolly, Dizzy and Daisy. ‘’I really must go now! My father will wonder where I have been all night and he will be very worried!’’. They gathered together and Lolly threw her arms around Jacobs’s neck, she pulled him close and held him tight. Daisy stepped up and wrapped her wings around the boy and then Dizzy stood up on his hind legs and took Jacobs hand in his, ‘’it has been a pleasure knowing you Jacob!’’ he said as they shook hands firmly, ‘’How do I get back to my normal size Lolly?’’ Jacob asked the fairy, ‘’you just spin three times to the left!’’ she giggled.

    

      The king approached the now full size boy and holding onto his hand was the most beautiful princess. ‘’Thank you Jacob’’ said the proud king. Princess Eleanor flapped her wings and then flew up to the boy and she kissed him on the forehead. ‘’This well shall now be known as Jacobs well! It holds no more wishes but instead it is filled with love, thank you very much Jacob’’. The fairy princess rejoined her father. ‘’You are always welcome’’ said Princess Eleanor.

       

     Jacob said his farewells and as the boy ran up the hill as fast as he could Dizzy turned to Daisy. ‘’You said I would be highly rewarded for helping you!’’ he mocked, ‘’and you have been Dizzy!’’ replied the bird ‘’true friendship is your reward and that is the greatest reward of all’’. Dizzy smiled and then hugged his friend.

     

     Jacob stood on top of the hill and waved down to his new friends, and then he turned... and ran towards home.

                                               
                                                                       

                                                      

                                 Chapter 14

       As the boy descended the hill he leapt and jumped in the icy snow, it crunched beneath his feet and he skidded and slid.

      On his way home he rubbed at his weary eyes; he was very tired from the exciting night and he remembered that it was Christmas day!

     

      Shortly, Jacob could see his house and he quickened his pace. He ran and he ran until he reached his wooden home. He expected to see Dino sat in the window waiting on his return but his cat was not there. The boy kicked off the snow from his shoes and then opened the door and entered the room. Not wanting to wake his father if he was still asleep, he tip toed towards the bed... his father was not there and the blankets were thrown aside. ‘’Dad!’’ the boy called out...nothing! ‘’Dino! Where are you?’’. Jacob did not understand where they could possibly be. ‘What if something has happened to them!’ he thought to himself; worried, he ran outside and jumped from the doorstep. ‘’Dad!’’ he shouted as loud as he could. He circled the house where he noticed footprints all around him. He followed them in all directions and then he saw a steady path heading towards the market where he had bought the tree the previous day... confused, he ran following the steps.

     

     As he approached the spooky woods the footprints disappeared into the trees and he called out again, ‘’dad!’’. Jacob heard a crashing noise coming from the woods. ‘’Jacob... Jacob!’’ a deep voice cried out. His father ran out from the woods and then he swept the boy into his arms, his strong hands gripped him tightly and he span around in circles. ‘’Where have you been? I have been looking for you everywhere. I have been so worried!’’ he said in his son’s ear. ‘’It’s a very long story!’’ Jacob replied, ‘’where do I start?’’. ‘’Its Christmas day son!’’ said Jacobs father, ‘’let's go home and get a fire burning, have some food and a hot drink and then you can start at the beginning, that’s always the best place to start’’. The man put his boy back on his feet with a warm smile and ran his fingers through his hair; he looked well Jacob thought and he hugged his father around the waist. Just then from out of the trees Dino came bounding towards him. Jacob crouched and stroked the big black cat... who purred the loudest of purrs. ‘’Let's go home!’’ said Jacob. The father and son headed towards their house and the cat trotted behind in the snow.... Dino turned to your story teller... and gave the most ridiculous smile.

                                                           

                                        The End