The Carved Door

The Carved Door

“It has to be here. It just has to be,” said Lance as he knocked on the thick tree trunk. “I’m not making it up. I promise you, I’m not.”

“You better not be,” muttered Beth. She wrapped her hands around goose prickled arms. The slight breeze nipped through the fabric of her green sweater. “I’m getting cold, and it’s getting late.”

Lance nodded. He, too, had noticed that the sun sank low beneath the trees behind their yard. Orange and pink clouds peeked through the leafy branches. He knocked on the bark of the big oak tree yet again. Just last night, I walked through its mysterious door to a new world. Now it won’t even appear. What’s wrong?

The cold breeze nipped at his nose, as though it teased him. He wiped it with the sleeve of his leather jacket and knocked once more in the center of the trunk. A silver light outlined an arched door, just as it did the night before. An inscription in an unknown language was squiggled across it in bright, green letters. He heard a small gasp behind him and grinned. This is it, the door I told her about!

Lance backed away and ran trembling fingers through his blonde hair. The door creaked open and revealed another world. He glanced at his younger sister whose blue eyes blinked in astonishment.

“What- what is it?”

“I don’t know. I only went in so far. I was afraid I’d get lost and not find my way back,” he said and bit his bottom lip.

With timid steps, they walked into the tree. The door closed. Lance glanced behind him and shuddered when he realized the entrance could no longer be seen. He turned to face this new world.

“Well, we can’t go back now. Let’s explore,” said Lance. He removed his jacket and tossed it on a white stone bench nearby.

“Umph.”

“What was that?” asked Beth.

They whirled on their heels toward the stone bench just in time to see the jacket fall the bench onto the bright, green grass. It crumpled into a heap. Beth twisted her strawberry blonde hair around her finger. A small creature with transparent wings materialized into view. Long, silver hair cascaded past its narrow shoulders. Blue eyes stared back at them.

“Is that a-“ pointed Beth, her jaw dropped.

“I believe it is.”

“We’ve been expecting you two for many moons now. I thought you’d never get that door open. By the way my name is Deirdre, I'm the Queen’s sister. She sent me here to bring you to her, and yes... I’m a fairy.”

Lance looked all around him. This world was brighter than theirs. The colors were more vibrant, and he wanted to explore it. His face fell. There would be no exploring for them.

Deidre stood up, when she did she grew taller. Her wings fluttered feebly and came to rest behind her. She strode before them and flipped her hair. It was like she expected them to follow her. So they did.

***

'The Queen of Fairies sat on her throne of carved wood. There was a flourish of activity before her, all in preparations for the human’s arrival. She sighed, bored with it all. Her tapered fingers tapped the arm of the chair. Her palace whispered their names. Lance Beth.

From the pocket of her glittery, white gown, she produced a green jeweled necklace and a jeweled hilt dagger; one for Lance, the other for Beth.

Her mother’s voice filled her head: These items must be kept safe. For human twins will find the door to our world and rescue us from destruction. Remember that my child.

For many years, after her mother’s death, Queen Tatiana did like she was told.

She had waited, and the wait was almost over.

***

They arrived at the Golden Palace with only a few scratches and trembling legs. The world before them was new territory with dangerous swamps and talking trees.

They stepped through the doors of the palace. Beth shivered from uncertainty, while Lance stood in awe of the splendor. Chandeliers made from the tear drops of dragons adorned the translucent ceiling, they could see the sky. They strolled to the throne room.

When they stepped into the throne room, they were greeted with a long table filled with meats, custards, pies, and anything else that looked edible. Before them, a Queen sat and smiled. She fluttered down to them, her white gown and silver hair flowing after her. A flowered crown rested on her head. She was thin and tall. Beth thought she looked like an angel.

“Welcome, children to the Golden Palace. You must be famished. I’m Tatiana. After we eat, we’ll talk.”

After they had eaten their fill, Queen Tatiana beckoned to them.

“You must be wondering why I’ve summoned you here?”

They nodded.

'“Well, I have two objects to give you. They are very powerful objects, and must be used with the right intentions. Otherwise they could destroy you,” said the Queen. She brought forth the jewel dagger and the necklace from her pocket. “You are to use these to protect the fairies from a very real threat. In your world, humans are cutting down the entrances to our world where children come to play. You must find a way to stop them, at any cost. Understood?”

“Yes,” they both said. The queen handed Lance the Dagger and the Necklace she gave to Beth. “You may come here as often as you wish. If you do not do this, all will be lost. Even your world will notice the changes.”

Beth gulped and shuddered.

“Remember use these items with care, and protect our world. It is precious to us. There is no other like it in the world. We need the children to keep our world alive. I trust you two, don’t break my trust. Now go, Deidre will show you where the children play”

1,000 words
Writer's Cramp Entry