THE WEEK AFTER THEIR VISIT TO THE WHISPERING TREE seemed to pass by ever so slowly. School had dragged on forever,  and the evenings filled with endless school work and such. George had found himself grounded for lying about his homework and they had not had a chance to explore the woods again and seek out the Elves.

But the weather had been a bit hit and miss. Monday and Tuesday were hot and dry, but by Wednesday evening, heavy rain was once again falling. It had rained almost persistently until Friday afternoon, then the ragged grey clouds cleared away and glorious sunshine appeared once more.

On Wednesday evening, with little else to do, Danielle and George had typed The Warlocks Chair into the computers search engine to see if any more information about the area could be found.

Myths and Legends of Shropshire had seemed a good place to start, clicking on it, they scrolled through looking for any obscure references to the area. They re-read the stories about the history of the house and its surroundings. There were plenty of tales of magical beings, of giants and other strange creatures, stories which they now knew to contain some truth in them. Then another story caught her eye. It seemed that down through the ages, many children had mysteriously disappeared from the house or its surroundings. One account told of the Harcourt family that had owned the manor house in the early eighteenth century. Their three young children, Dorothy, Henry, and Alice had returned home one afternoon telling their parents of a meeting that they had had in the woods with some faerie folk. They went out again the following day and were never seen again. Despite a thorough search, no trace of them was ever found. It was thought that wild animals had taken them, but nothing was ever proved. That was not the only occurrence though, other families told of their children disappearing never to be found. The last incident happened during the Second World War. Children had been evacuated from the big cities to the countryside. Some came to stay in Ravengaard Manor. One day several of the children returned from a walk; they told the housekeeper that they had met some fairies who had taken them back to their city deep in the woods. She had not believed them of course. But a couple of days later the children went for a walk and did not return. They, like the others, were never seen again

'We know that most of these stories are likely to be true.' George said after reading the accounts.

Danielle shrugged. 'Yes, they could be, but if so what happened to the children that disappeared.'

'Maybe that's what the Tree was trying to warn us about,' George reminded his sister. 'He did say the Elves had a dark secret.'

'Well we've met the Elves, and we're still here.' Danielle said trying to sound reassuring. 'But let's be careful in the future. And don't mention anything about this to Jessica; or to the Elves when we next meet them.'

'Don't worry, I won't,' said George.

Friday had finally arrived. The evening sun was a crimson ball falling gently towards the western horizon, casting its rosy glow over the house and gardens. The children were enjoying the last of the days pleasant sunshine when Meriol and Captain Thrax called to them from the overhanging bushes that ran alongside the wall.

The children went over and greeted the Elves. Sitting together on the low wall surrounding the fish pond and talking about what had happened since the last meeting. They were out of sight of anyone in the house, so it would look like they were talking among themselves to anyone happened along

Danielle spoke of their visit to the Whispering Tree and what he had told them of the Dwarves. She did not mention the warning he had given them — about not trusting the Elves. It may have just been Oaktooth's way of getting back at the Elves for whatever injustice he perceived had been done to him. Nor did she mention anything about what was learned from the internet. Danielle decided more information was needed before saying anything. Until then she would keep a close eye on their new friends.

Meriol greeted the news about the Dwarves with some hope and said she would convey the information to her father and the Elven Council.

When they had finished the conversation, Meriol summoned three Elven hunters from their concealment in the bushes. They each carried an object wrapped in a length of cloth. The children each received one of the mysterious gifts.

The Princess looked at each child in turn. 'My Father has bequeathed each of you a unique gift. Use them wisely; they will help you through any dangers you may find yourselves in.'

The children accepted the gifts and unwrapped them.

Danielle's was a small wooden bow, and a quiver made of supple leather. 'It's a toy bow.' she said a hint of disappointment edged her voice.

'So it would seem,' smiled Meriol. 'Take the bow in your hand.'

Danielle picked it up. As she did so, it shimmered and miraculously transformed into a slightly larger version of the bows used by the Elven archers. Constructed of a flexible, lightweight wood, it seemed to have been made especially for her use.

'The Spellcasters have warded each with magic. To anyone looking at them, they will appear to be harmless children's toys,' Meriol stated. 'But when held by you, and only you, will they reveal their true form.'

George also appeared to be a little disappointed when he opened his gift. It was a small dagger made of wood and string. But when he picked it up, he felt the weight shift and was surprised to see it transform into a small sword made of shining metal. He hefted it, swinging it back and forth in front of himself.

'Be very careful, George,' Meriol cried. 'It is a dangerous weapon. Practice first, get to know the power it holds. Captain Thrax will explain the way you should use it.'

The Captain nodded and took George to one side.

'This is not a normal sword,' he warned. 'It is called Frostblade and is infused with a powerful magic. You can use that magic against any enemies that you may come up against.' he indicated towards some flowerpots that were stacked against the garden wall. 'Point the blade at those old pots.'

George turned and did as he asked.

'Now concentrate,' Malin ordered. 'But keep the blade pointed at the pots,'

George cleared his mind of everything except the sword gripped in his hand and the flowerpots. At first, nothing happened. He tried concentrating harder. Suddenly he experienced an unusual sensation. A shiver pulsed through him—coldness seemed to emanate from deep inside his body—flowing towards the blade. Then a burst of white fire exploded from the sword, lancing towards the flowerpots.

In shock, he dropped the blade. It landed on the stone paving with a clang. He looked down, once again it looked like a small wooden dagger.

'What happened?' George gasped.

'Look!' Captain Thrax exclaimed pointing towards the pots.

George walked over. He leant over to touch one, surprised to find it coated with a layer of glittering frost.

'Do not!' Malin called out a warning. 'They are frozen, you may get frost burn.'

George abruptly pulled his hand away.

'How... did I do that?' he asked hesitantly.

'The magic in the sword draws upon the latent forces that we believe lie within your body. It focuses them and releases them in a burst of energy. That...' he pointed at the frozen pots. '...is the result.'

'Well done George,' called Meriol. 'Now Danielle, try yours.'

'I don't think I can,' Danielle said sceptically.

'Of course you can,' the Princess urged. 'Just reach into the quiver, try it you will be surprised.'

Danielle looked confused. The quiver was empty.

Wasn't it?

Danielle reached into the container, amazed when she found she could feel something there. Grasping it, she withdrew her hand.

Nothing.

She looked puzzled, it certainly felt like something in her hand. Then she noticed a faint ripple in the air, long and thin, arrow-like.

'Fit it to the bow as you would an arrow.' Meriol said helpfully.

Danielle looked across at the Elven Princess. 'But I've never fired a bow and arrow before.'

'Do not allow that worry you. Let the magic guide you,' Meriol reassured her. 'Go on.'

She tried several times to notch the invisible arrow to the bowstring before she finally managed it. She drew back the string.

'Aim at the same flowerpots George used.' Meriol advised.

Danielle swung the bow in the direction of the pots, aimed and released the arrow. To her surprise, there was a rush of air and the flower pots shattered into pieces.

Meriol smiled. 'They are called wind arrows and very rarely miss. All you need to do is aim towards your intended target.'

Jessica held up her gift. She had unwrapped the cloth and discovered what looked like a small plastic wand. Holding it aloft it transformed into a highly polished length of reddish coloured wood. An intricate design flowed along its length etched into the surface with what looked like silver wire.

'What does mine do?' she shouted excitedly, waving the wand around.

'This will act as a conduit to channel your magic,' Meriol explained. 'The magic you used against the dark witch. Focusing the energy through the wand will make it more powerful.'

Jessica tried summoning the magic she used in the ghostly tower, but nothing happened.

She shook the wand, pointed it, and tried again. Still nothing.

'You may be too exhausted to concentrate properly. Sleep, then try again tomorrow.' Meriol advised.

'Maybe.' Jessica acknowledged with a shake of her head. 'But I don't feel any different, besides, I don't know how I did that thing in the tower.'

Danielle placed a comforting arm around her sister. 'Leave it, for now. We've got the weekend to try it out,' she told her. 'Some supper and a good night's rest will do us all good.'

'One last thing,' Meriol said to Danielle. She reached into a small pouch on her hip and pulled out a ring.

She held it out. Danielle reached out and took it from her. It was beautifully made of silver metal, set with three small emerald stones.

'It is called The Ring of the Unseen,' Meriol told her. 'Put it on your finger and gently rub the stones.'

Danielle slipped it on her finger. The world around her blurred slightly and faded into twilight grey. She rubbed her eyes. It reminded her of looking out through one of those old thick pieces of glass. Only when she saw George and Jessica looking around and calling her name, did she realized that she had become invisible to them.

'I'm still here,' Danielle called out.

She reached out for them. It was a strange feeling; things appeared to waver in front of her and she had trouble gauging distances. But she saw the look of shock on her brother and sister faces when she lightly prodded them.

Meriol laughed. 'If you are holding on to anyone or anything whilst you are invisible they will also become invisible. When you wish to become visible again just rub the ring once again.'

Danielle did so and reappeared in front of her brother and sister.

She staggered slightly as things jumped back into focus.

'It takes a bit of getting used to.'

'Yes, but as with the other gifts, you will find it becomes easier with use.' Meriol pointed out.

'That!' George giggled. 'Will come in very useful at school.'

Danielle gave him a look of disapproval. 'Meriol said to use them wisely.' She turned and winked at the Elven Princess.

'Yes George,' Meriol chided.

'But seriously children,' she warned. 'Ravengaard has tried once he will not give up easily, so be on your guard.'

'We had best be leaving now Princess,' insisted Captain Thrax. 'The King will be worried if you do not return soon.'

They thanked the Elves for the gifts and said their goodbyes.

'Hadn't we better leave these outside somewhere,' Danielle suggested. 'Mum and Dad will wonder where we got them from.'

'Okay,' said George, looking around for someplace to hide the gifts.

'We could hide them in the shed around the back of the house,' Jessica said matter-of-factly.

'Good idea Jess,' shouted George.

They walked around the house to where a long low stone building butted up against the rear wall of the property. Once upon a time, it had been a stable, but it was now being used to store some of their belongings while the house was being decorated.

The rear of the house was in shadow.

George pushed the door open. It was gloomy inside, but they could make out the shapes of the furniture stored beneath the plastic sheeting.

'They should be safe here until the morning,' George said, motioning to a gap behind a big wardrobe unit. The gifts were carefully rewrapped in the cloth and pushed into the hiding place.

Danielle hesitated. 'One moment,' she said.

Pulling the bundle free she unwrapped it and took out the ring.

'I think I'll keep this with me. It might come in useful.'

Slipping the ring into her pocket, she replaced the bundle.

'Come on, let's go and get some supper.' 

The Raven lifted from its perch in the tall trees that overlooked the gardens. For some reason, the bird felt it needed to observe the meeting between the children and the Elves. Now, with darkness approaching it flew back to its roosting place among the craggy outcrops of rock, high on the slopes of the Warlock Chair.