But when Rowan turned to Clara, he saw that all the color had drained from her face.
“What is it, Clara?” asked Rowan.
Clara’s wings were white as sheets. Her head hung down. She was trembling all over.
“Clara, what’s wrong?”
Clara could only speak in a whisper. “Queen Mab told me, ‘It takes life to heal life.’ Now I understand what she meant.”
“No!” cried Rowan. “Clara! We’ve got to get you home!”
thirteen
Rowan Gnome was out on a rock in the middle of Sheepskerry Bay with a very ill fairy who had to get to safety. If he plunged into the water with Clara, she might be too weak to get to shore. If he left her there to get help, something terrible might happen before anyone could come to her aid.
“Go, Rowan,” said Clara in a low voice. “Leave me here and get some help. It’s all you can do. Oh, and your race—”
“That’s not important now,” said Rowan. “I’m not leaving your side.”
The dolphin pod circled around them. Speedy nuzzled Rowan with her nose. “Not now, Speedy!” said Rowan. “Clara already helped you. She needs help now.”
Speedy tried again. This time, she made a little nickering noise. The other dolphins joined in.
“What is it, dolphins?” said Rowan. “What do you want?”
Then all at once it was clear to him. Come ride on our backs, they seemed to say. Clara helped us. Now we’ll help Clara.
In a moment, the strongest mother dolphin circled the rock where Clara lay. Rowan climbed onto the dolphin’s back and pulled Clara tight behind him.
He paused for a moment. “Will you be all right?” he asked.
This time, she could barely say the words. “I’ll be fine.”
“Then hold on tight!” he said. “Let’s go!”
And through the water they glided toward Sheepskerry.
fourteen
Of course by now, the Fairy Bell sisters had spotted their big sister out in Sheepskerry Bay. The chickadees carrying the Royal Balloon spun around and dropped down to where Clara was borne on the dolphin’s back. The mermaids saw them coming and for once made no mischief. In fact, they reached their arms up to steady the basket of fairies.
“Here she is!” called Rowan.
The Royal Balloon hovered just inches above the water. Rowan was almost forgotten as Rosy, Goldie, Sylva, and even baby Squeak helped Clara into the basket.
“They have me now, Rowan,” said Clara. “I’ll be all right. You could even finish the race if you want.”
“The race!” said Rowan.
“Don’t use up your strength talking,” said Golden. “Take us home!”
“To Queen Mab’s palace, quickly, birds!” called Lady Courtney. “There’s no time to lose!”
“She’ll be better off at the palace, Goldie,” said Rosy. She was cradling Clara’s pale face in her hands. “Queen Mab will know what to do.”
“Please go quickly, please!” said Sylva. “I’ll do everything right from now on, I promise. Just please get Clara better again.”
“Jojo!” said Squeak.
And like lightning, the birds flew Clara away.
fifteen
I don’t want to keep you in suspense about Clara for too long. I’d like to say that she recovered her strength in the Royal Balloon. Or that she was better once she landed on Sheepskerry soil. Or even when she first arrived at Queen Mab’s palace.
But none of that would be true.
Instead, Clara could barely lift her head to thank the birds who flew so fast. She could not manage to smile at Lady Courtney, who carried her through Queen Mab’s palace toward one of the inner chambers. She could not even summon the strength to squeeze her sisters’ hands when they clustered around her, hoping she might show some sign of recovery. And she did not see Rowan, who forfeited the swimming race and paced back and forth in the Great Hall of the palace, waiting for news.
“Shall we send for Tink?” Rosy asked Queen Mab.
“Tink cannot do anything for Clara now,” said Queen Mab. “Clara will have to draw strength from within to heal herself. I will do my utmost to help her.” Then she added gently, “Sing her a song so she knows you’re outside.” And she turned toward Clara’s chamber.
Rosy, Goldie, and Sylva lifted their voices in song, and Squeakie swayed in rhythm:
Let the circle be unbroken,
As we wait here, by her side.
Let the circle be unbroken,
We’ll abide here, we’ll abide.
Queen Mab flew silently into the chamber.
“Dear Clara Bell, you used too much magic, too soon, to help another creature in need. Now you are the one who must heal.”