HESTIA - The Virgin Princess

CHAPTER 4 - First Nightmare - The Queen Fairy

I

While walking on the beach, Hestia remembers Balwarte De Gapo Island. She is worried because she knows that everyone is looking for her right now. She knows that her parents are already under interrogation by her Grandfather, who happens to be Forono Dadati, the Chieftain of their tribe. She is also in a way afraid that the fairies would curse her and make her life terrible. She immediately clasps her hands and seeks forgiveness.

It’s just a day that passed but she already misses her parents so much, especially her Inah. Most probably her Inah is now mad at her, so with her Father, “I hope they will forgive me,” Hestia murmurs.

“Who?” Hestia was surprised upon hearing a male voice beside her.

“Huh, Mister, err Alex, what have you heard?” she said, a bit faltering. Her heart was trembling.

“Forget about it, so how’s your day?” Alex inquired while looking at the young lady beside her.

“ Hmm, I must say, I am fine, your place is beautiful, it is relaxing.” Hestia tried to calm herself. She cannot directly look at Alex.

“Hester, do you want to call your parents? Or any of your family members? They might be worried now about you.” Alex suddenly asked, which made Hestia uneasy.

Hestia replied by shaking her head. How can she call her parents? First, her Inah has a phone but she only uses it or can use it when she is in another country. There is no phone signal on their island. Second, her parents might be so mad at her, she has no face yet to call them. Thirdly, she doesn’t want anybody from their island to know where she is; her Loylo Chieftain will surely bring her back to the island on even by force.

“Alex, would you mind telling me about this place? Where are we on the map?” Hestia suddenly asked to divert the man’s attention.

An intelligent man like Alex knows that the lady is avoiding talking about her parents. He can sense that there is a deep reason for this, which he intends to find out. He is interested in knowing something about “Hester”.

“This place is called Cagraray Island, one of the beautiful islands of the town of Bacacay, Albay. Albay is a province within the Bicol Region or Region V of the Republic of the Philippines.” Alex smiled at the woman beside her who seems so attentive with what he is talking about.

Alex continues as he sees the interest in his companion’s face, “Besides this place, that one is the Misibis Bay Resort, which has already been featured in different TV programs. There were popular personalities who already held their wedding receptions there. It is open to the public, unlike this one which I still keep somewhat private. Only a few friends, relatives, and acquaintances or their referrals usually visit this resort.”

“This place is beautiful Alex, it made me miss our Island more.” Hestia’s voice became melancholic.

“Island? Would you want to tell me more also about your island Hester?” Alex was trying to encourage the woman to divulge more about the place where she came from.

Hestia with pride, says, “Our Island is a paradise too. It is just a small island, but it seems like it has everything the gift of nature could offer. I love the forest, trees, wild animals, flowers, our spring of water, the caves, and the secret waterfall, which my grandfather discovered when he was still young.”

“Wow, maybe one day, you can bring me to your Island Hester. Your place seems interesting. Mind telling me the name of your island?" Alex's voice was excited.

“No! I mean, not for now. An apology,” Hestia replied with a tone of alarm in her voice.

The woman’s reply brought more intrigue to Alex.

II

Chieftain Forono without any companions, visited the island’s oldest, Mirku or Babaylan. She is “Mirku Hananuya”, a 99-year-old Babaylan who lives in the forest, near the secret waterfall that he discovered when he was just around 12 years old.

Mirku Hananuya has a gift to see the past and the future. She can also perform a ritual so that the Queen fairy would come out and talk to her.

“Mirku Hananuya, an apology for my abrupt visit,” the Chieftain’s voice is soft as he bows his head as a sign of respect to the Mirku.

“Forono, I know why you came, come inside my hut and have a sip first of my newly made tea out of different tree roots and herbals,” the Mirku smiles to the Chieftain. Forono is like a son to her. His mother Natalde was her frequent visitor when she was still alive. It was through her that Forono found her place.

Even when still a young boy, Forono was already a very curious and inquisitive person. When he was around twelve years old, he became so curious as to where his mother usually went, especially when she would go out sneaking. He followed his Mother Natalde one day. At first, he got lost when his attention was gotten by a dear that he saw while following his Mother. When he looked up again, his Mother was nowhere to be found. He kept walking until he saw a waterfall, which he called his “Secret Water Fall”. As he walked further nearby, he saw a little nipa hut, where he saw his Mom get out after a few minutes of spying. The next day, Forono went to the Forest alone, knocked on the nipa hut’s door, and met Mirku Hananuya and the rest is history.

“My dear Mirku, I am worried,” Chieftain Forono said while sipping the tea that the old Mirku offered him.

“She is safe and in a good place,” Mirku Hananuya suddenly replied.

“You know where she is?, the Chieftain’s voice was excited.

“I cannot exactly tell you the name of the place but I can see its beauty and calmness. The place is serene, it looks like an island too, but I cannot tell where,” the Mirku explained.

Chieftain Forono’s heart sank as he heard the words of the old Mirku.

“Forono, Hestia found her fate in that island,” the Mirku intensely looked at the Chieftain when she said this.

“What do you mean?”

“He met the man on that island who will change her life and the forced fate that our tribe is trying to create for her.” Mirku Hananuya looks at the curious Chieftain seriously.

“Mirku, this cannot be, the Fairies will curse her!” Chieftain Forono’s voice has fears for her granddaughter’s life.

“Calm down Forono, I will try to talk to the Queen Fairy,” the old Mirku assured the worried Chieftain.

“Mirku, how can this happen?”

“Forono, you cannot change anybody’s fate. Hestia’s fate is not what you or this tribe want”, the old Mirku replied while shaking her head.

“Can you do some rituals to change that?”, the Chieftain’s voice was hopeful.

“No, I might have this little power in my hands, but I cannot change someone’s fate, ‘though I can advise what you can do to bring Hestia back here . . .”

The Chieftain's face lit with so much hope as he looks at the Mirku and asks, "Mirku, tell me, I will do whatever it takes to bring Hestia back."

"Then come again on Biernes (Friday) at midnight," the old Mirku's words is assuring.

"Mirku, I will surely come, thank you."

"Don't thank me yet, Forono, I have not said or done anything yet to bring Hestia back."

The Chieftain vows his head and holds the hand of the old Mirku as a sign of gratitude.

"Still thank you for giving me hope, my dear Mirku."

The Mirku has a soft spot in Chieftain Forono's heart. She is like her mother. He trusted the Mirku so much. She is her ally and confidante.

III

As Hestia lies in the master bedroom bed, her mind wonders about going back to her childhood until she falls asleep with tears in her eyes.

“Hestia… Hestia … you offended me most, why don’t you want to be with us?" The Queen Fairy’s voice is full of sadness.

“No, Queen Fairy, I did not mean to. I just want a free life, forgive me, forgive me.” Hestia cries as she seeks forgiveness to Queen Fairy.

The Queen Fairy shook her head as black tears dropped in her sad eyes.

“Queen Fairy, No, No please.” Hestia pleads as she knows that the black tears of the Queen Fairy mean she is deeply hurt and a curse to whoever hurt her will be coming.

“Queen Fairy! No please… No!!!” Hestia shouted, crying as the Queen fairy started to disappear.

“Hester, wake up, come on, wake up!” Alex's voice is frantic, while Aling Lilia becomes like a zombie. She stays put and cannot move because of fear.

Aling Lilia heard Hestia’s loud scream and she nervously ran towards Alex to seek help. She saw Hestia crying and banging her fists on the bed.

“Hester, Hester wake up, wake up, you are just dreaming.” Alex tries to awaken the struggling lady but she seems uneasy to wake up. He has no other recourse but to slap the woman to wake her up.

Hestia was so surprised when she felt the slap on her face; she instantly sat down holding her right face, still unaware of her surroundings and feeling hazy.

“Hester, sorry, I need to do it,” Alex held Hestia’s hands. He wanted to embrace the woman but he controlled himself. It might not be proper. Hestia might be more frightened.

“Hester!” Alex shook Hestia’s hands, which totally awakened the latter.

Upon seeing Alex, Hestia immediately hugs him tightly and cries more like a baby. It seems like Hestia is still in her dreams.

Alex was surprised; he instantly looked up at Aling Lilia, who was giggling right then. Her nervousness faded as she saw how protective her boss was of the young lady whom she dearly liked.

Aling Lilia sheepishly smiles at her boss, who in return looks at her with wide eyes.

“Aling Lilia!”

“Ey Sir, what?!” Aling Lilia panics upon hearing her boss' loud voice.

“Stop giggling, help me here,” Alex commanded Aling Lilia, who, deep inside, really liked the hugs of Hestia.

“Ay alright Sir, sorry, got carried away.” Aling Lilia frantically sat beside Hestia and caressed her back, while happily smiling at her boss. It seemed like her boss found his woman at last.

Hestia eventually pacified and was so ashamed upon realizing that she was hugging Alex so tightly. She automatically freed herself.

“Er, Alex sorry,” Hestia exclaims, feeling so conscious now about herself.

“It’s okay Hester, relax now. Aling Lilia, please get a glass of warm water, don’t just sit there.” Alex looked wide at Aling Lilia, making the old woman laugh. Alex is like her son. He grew up under her care as, most of the time when his parents were still both alive, they were always away or traveling to different countries for business reasons.

Hestia drank the warm water in one full shot. She felt so thirsty, her throat is dry.

“Hester, are you okay now?" Alex asked after Hestia finished drinking her warm water.

Hestia nodded and smiled at Alex with embarrassment showing in her face.

“Thank you. I thought it was true,” Hestia said in relief.

“I won’t ask about what you dreamt, but if you remembers and you want to tell me, I am a willing listener,” Alex jokes.

Hestia shakes her head, “I can’t tell, sorry”.

Alex simply shrugged off and assured Hestia that it was okay.

As Alex excuses himself and Aling Lilia to let her rest more, Hestia remembers her dreams and she shudders.

Alex, on one hand, became more curious and determined to fully know everything about her beautiful visitor. Aling Lilia told her that "Hester" was calling a name like the Queen Fairy when she was shouting while dreaming. He wondered why a grown-up woman would dream about a Queen Fairy.