Jade and the Silver Flute. Darcey Bussell

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      Jade’s feet touched solid ground once more and she stared straight ahead in amazement. Before her stood a grand majestic palace. The sun’s rays made its white marble walls gleam brightly and the tall pointed spires glistened against the blue sky.

      It was hard to take her eyes off such a magnificent sight. Jade smiled as she shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand and looked around for her friend, the White Cat. Any moment now he would come bounding up to her. He always did.

      “Ah, here he is…” Jade said, but she was mistaken. The person approaching her was a fine upright lady dressed in a long full skirt. She probably works at the palace, thought Jade. Maybe she’s a lady-in-waiting.

      “Hello, my dear. What has happened to your beautiful scarf?”

      Jade was surprised that the lady had stopped to talk to her. She’d somehow seemed a bit snooty, walking along with her nose in the air. And it was an even bigger surprise when she began to examine the silver scarf that Jade was still clutching. “Very pretty, my dear. Very pretty indeed. But look, a thread has come loose. Do you see?”

      “Sorry? What?” Jade hadn’t been paying attention. She’d been looking round wondering where the White Cat had got to. She wasn’t all that bothered about a little thread coming loose, but politely she looked at the scarf. “Oh yes…” she replied distractedly.

      “I can mend it for you.”

      “No, it’s fine, honestly.” Jade turned her head this way and that. Surely the White Cat would be here very soon.

      “No, my dear, I’m afraid it’s not fine,” the lady started again. “You see, the scarf will unravel completely if left with this loose thread hanging. Let me take it and mend it for you. I can do it very quickly.”

      “Er…”

      “I can bring it back in an hour. Meet me here outside the palace. How does that sound?”

      “Oh… OK.” Jade really didn’t mind one way or the other whether the scarf got mended. All that mattered was that her friend turned up to greet her. “OK, well, thank you very much.” And before she knew it, the lady had turned on her heel and was walking away.

      Jade looked round again and this time her heart lurched with happiness as she saw the White Cat bounding along, a big grin on his face.

      “Jade! Jade! How lovely to see you again. I hope you haven’t been waiting long. I got delayed over a small problem, but no matter now.”

      Jade hugged her friend and straight away commented on the palace. “It’s just the grandest building I’ve ever seen, White Cat!”

      “Then the inside won’t disappoint you. Come on, let me show you. I can introduce you to King Tristan and Queen Isabella too.”

      Jade gasped. “A king and queen?”

      “The King and Queen of Enchantia, no less!” grinned the White Cat. “And today their palace is looking particularly spectacular for a very important event!”

      Jade nodded trying to take everything in. As they entered the palace she stared around at the high-ceilinged hall and the colourful tapestries adorning the walls. Through a sweeping archway she caught a glimpse of activity. Everyone seemed very busy rushing around. Thankfully the White Cat explained what was going on.

      “Preparations are being made for a special ceremony,” he started. “A ceremony that takes place at the same time every year when the First Fairy of Enchantia arrives to dance to the music of the Silver Flute.”

      “The First Fairy of Enchantia?” Jade breathed. She sounded wonderful.

      “The dance makes sure that the baby birds hatch out from their eggs,” the White Cat continued. “As long as she dances before sunset, all will be well. But if she doesn’t dance and they don’t hatch, there won’t be any new birdsong and so eventually the music in Enchantia would die out.”

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