Princess Isabella and her mother had been busy picking berries in the forest. They had followed the berry bushes off of the trails and deep into the woods. They were so focused on the berries, that they hadn’t noticed the sun steadily drifting lower in the sky.
The queen stood and arched backward with her hands on her hips. “I think that’s quite enough berries for one day, don’t you?” she asked sweetly.
Princess Isabella nodded after inspecting her basket. They held significantly fewer berries than those of her mother’s, and there were telltale purple stains on her fingertips and lips. “Do we have enough to make a pie?” she asked hopefully.
Her mother smiled and replied with a nod, “And muffins.”
If possible, Princess Isabella’s large, brown eyes grew even wider. She split a matching grin and hopped excitedly, sending ripples through her once neatly woven braid.
“Pick up your basket; We must be on our way. Night is falling, and I did not think to bring a lantern.”
“Okay, Mama.” Princess Isabella replied cheerily as she grabbed the handle of her own small, woven basket (mostly) full of berries.
They made their way back to the path, but as they walked and the darkness grew, nothing looked familiar. Eventually they came to a crossroads and had to make a decision.
“Mama, I’m tired.” Isabella said through a yawn. “Can we go home now?”
“Not yet, sweetheart.” her mother responded as her eyes darted between the paths. “We got a little turned around, and I just need to figure out which way to go.” As she spoke, she spotted a glow farther down one of the paths. “This way, then.” she murmured as she gently pulled her daughter by the hand in the direction of the light.
“Is that the castle?” Princess Isabella asked sleepily.
“I’m not sure, to be perfectly honest. But even if it’s not, it will be someone who can help us find our way.” the queen replied.
The path did not lead to a cabin or village, as she had imagined. Instead, it led to a clearing with a large tree in the center. The light they saw earlier was coming from the pear-shaped fruit, some as large as gourds, that hung from the tree’s broad branches.
Princess Isabella was so captivated by the luminous fruit that she hadn’t noticed the tiny, winged person hovering in front of her mother. When she finally did, she brought her fists up to her mouth. “Fairies!” she squealed breathlessly from behind her knuckles.
“Good evening, your highness.” came the diminutive voice of the pixie. She was clad in a dress made from a pair of leaves bound together by spider silk, and wore a wreath of flowers on her head. A pair of buzzing, gossamer wings kept her aloft.
The queen curtsied politely. “And a good evening to you. I don’t suppose we would be able to have one of those remarkable fruits?”
“You may take as many as you like, so long as you promise to return them when you are finished.”
The queen nodded regally in response. “You have my word.”
The fairy – whose name, they learned, was Fwinkle – helped them each carefully harvest their own fruit, and wove a strap of braided grass around the stem for easier carrying.
Though it was a long walk, they had no trouble making their way back to the castle with the help of their natural lanterns. By that time, it was very late, and Princess Isabella went directly to bed.
The next morning Princess Isabella was woken by a sunbeam on her face and the smell of fresh baked muffins. She climbed out of bed and followed the smell down to the kitchen where two pans of muffins were cooling on the window sill.
“Mama,” Princess Isabella said sleepily, “May I please have a muffin?”
“Yes you may, but -” her mother stopped Isabella’s outstretched hand with a wave of her wooden spoon, “we must first return the fairies’ fruit.”
Princess Isabella groaned, and her stomach growled. “But that’s so far.” she whined.
The queen untied her apron and took Princess Isabella’s hand. “Come now. We made a promise.”
They each retrieved their lantern fruit and walked through the castle gates and down the path. But when they reached the end of the road leading from the castle, Princess Isabella’s mother stopped. Without a word she crouched down and produced a small spade from some concealed pocket.
“Mama, what are you doing?” Princess Isabella asked, perplexed.
“Keeping my promise.” she replied squarely.
Princess Isabella continued to stare at her, clearly confused as to why her mother was now digging a hole next to the path. After a few moments of digging, she dropped her fruit into the hole, illuminating all that normally lives in darkness. She then covered the fruit with the remaining dirt and patted the soil flat.
“But Mama,” Protested the princess, “we’re supposed to return those to the fairies!”
The queen smiled. “The fairies are not like you and I. They are of the Earth, and possessions don’t mean the same to them as they do to us.” she explained. “So by returning the fruit to the Earth, I have fulfilled my promise.”
Princess Isabella’s mother then handed her the spade. “Now you plant yours on the other side.” she instructed. Princess Isabella did as she was told and planted her fruit on the other side.
She came back often to check on the plants, and take care of them. After a few years, the trees had grown considerably, and began to bear fruit. Travelers to the castle were encouraged to take a fruit for their travels, provided they also promised to plant them when they were finished.
And though only her mother believes her, Princess Isabella swears she has spotted a fairy flittering around their trees.
The Meandering Mind 