Читать Fairies and the Ice Flower. Story two - Катерина Весна

A dark, billowing cloud had gathered over the fairy town. It looked as if, in this nectar-filled valley—where cold had never set foot—it might suddenly start to snow. But then a playful breeze swept in, whisking the uninvited guest far away. The sun peeked out once more, flooding the patchwork rooftops of the sweet little city with its warmth.

From above, the town looked even more magical—a place that now, at last, had a name: Nectarville. Every resident had earned that title together. It hadn’t been easy for the fairies to relearn how to fly or to restore their Lake of Pollen. But, as the saying goes, “Patience and hard work can conquer anything.”

The fairies had gathered so much nectar from every honeyed flower in the meadow that there was more than enough to fill the lake to the brim. Now, once again, the lake was crowned with its frothy, golden foam, spilling sweet bubbles along the shore.

If you looked closer, off in the distance near a flat stone, you could spot the elder fairy, Marina, gathering the littlest fairies around her, preparing to tell them a story.

A little to the left, beside an overgrown path, Egorchik was shuffling along at a leisurely pace, arms full of delicious raspberry taffy. No doubt it was hard to fly with such a haul, so he’d decided to walk to the meeting place—though that didn’t stop him from nibbling his sweet treat the whole way.

Anya’s cottage, its roof a broad burdock leaf with a couple of prickly thorns for good measure, sat right on the lakeshore. That was no accident—she was now the chief mail sender.

When the fairies managed to revive the lake, they decided to share their nectar with the most distant magical villages, towns, and even kingdoms. Their neighbors repaid their kindness with kindness, sending their own gifts in return.

That’s how the lakeside postal service was born—fifty brave courier flies strong. Anya and the other post workers had a knack for deftly snatching up the bundled parcels dangling from each fly’s belly, letting the fly rest and sip from a puddle of nectar, then sending her off again on the return journey. The job was far from easy—demanding and full of responsibility—but it was good, honest work.

Thanks to the gifts from their neighbors, the fairies had acquired all sorts of rare treasures: little sea-stones from the Fairy King of the Seaside, soft and warm cocoons from the giant butterflies of Butterfly Island, magnificent orchid petals of every kind from the tree-dwelling fairies east of Nectarville, and much more.