40. The Nine Queens

                                            The Clover Queen 

 

The Violet Queen

The Lily Queen

               

The Oak Queen

      The Ivy Queen      

The Apple Queen

           

                      The Holly Queen           

The Rose Queen

                                                                                                   

                                        The Grapevine Queen             

  

Once we had concluded our business at the quarry, we had lunch picnicing in a field near the cider mills. These are among the landmarks tourists are advised to visit, like the four fairy rings, the Bards’ Club, the Spa of Light, the royal library, Chalice Hill, Silent Wood, football stadiums and other wonderful places.

We had barely finished eating what we had brought with us when Michael said we had to head back to the Southern Pier.

The girls begged to have a peek first at the fabulous greenhouses of the Nine Queens, famous for their covered orchards of appletrees that bore both blossoms and fruit at the same time. 

Michael didn’t give in, but just as we  were following him reluctantly to the pier, we were accosted  by Apple Island’s nine queens themselves.  

These nine ladies joined their hands and formed a circle round us, turning and greeting us each in turn.

“Hi!” “Hello!” “Howdy!” “How are you?” “Hey, there!” “Hollah!” “Yoo hoo!” “Greetings!” “Yo!”

It was dizzying, and I was quite relieved when they stopped spinning round us.

“Were you leaving without saying hi?” asked the Ivy Queen.

“You mustn’t do that!” said the Grapevine Queen, and they both began to embrace us with green tendrils.

The Rose Queen pointed at Fiona and Branna and asked them if they were the girls who were to be her new neighbors.

“You’re as welcome as the flowers in May, ” said the Lily Queen.

“Flowers are welcome here all year,” said the Violet Queen.  

“Do you have green thumbs?” asked the Clover Queen. She and the Holly Queen took hold of both of Fiona and Branna’s thumbs and peered at them curiously.

“Oh, of course they do,” said the Apple Queen.  

And then the Oak Queen stopped right before Don Alonso and beamed on him with her brilliant brown eyes. He was thrilled and bowed low and said, “Who are these beauteous ladies who remind me of a memory I can’t recall? Always at your feet, my beauteous ladies!”

“We have something for this gentleman,” said the Oak Queen. “Take it, sir. And please accept it.”

She handed Don Alonso a small silver casket. But before he could open it, Michael grabbed him by the arm.

“He’s sure to love it, but he’ll open it at home, if you don’t mind. We have to go! We’re out of here, everybody! Let´s go!”

“What?” cried the Oak Queen. “Aren’t you going to stay and dance with us tonight? The party is at the third fairy ring. Stay! Come with us! Come dancing!”

The nine queens began to twirl like tops around us again, all chorusing the Oak Queen.  

“Stay! Come with us! Come dancing!” 

“Stay! Come with us! Come dancing!”

“Stay! Come with us! Come dancing!”

“Stay! Come with us! Come dancing!”

“Stay! Come with us! Come dancing!”

“Stay! Come with us! Come dancing!”

“Stay! Come with us! Come dancing!”

“Stay! Come with us! Come dancing!”

“Stay! Come with us! Come dancing!”

“Run!” shouted Michael. “Everybody run to the pier!”

“What about me?” cried Alpin. “They haven’t given me a gift yet!”

Michael grabbed him by the arm. I grabbed Don Alonso and Sancho and we ran like mad all the way to the pier. Don Alonso shouted thank yous all the way there, but they were quite drowned by the nine times nine goodbyes that resounded behind us. There were nines of do returns too.

“Wait for us!” yelled Alpin’s fridge. “Me and the leprechaun shoes!”

Luckily for us the barge was at the pier. If not, we would never have left the island so easily. Because if you get involved in anything that is going on at Apple Island you never get away from there.