Fairy Night

A woman runs through the darkening day, running away. She just has to get away. Her lip throbs and her body aches from the beating that just occurred. Her breathing is heavy from pain and exertion. Her feet slip on the wet grass as she runs to the sanctuary of the forest.

Those that live in the forest watch and wait; they have waited a long time for her.

The night wraps itself around her like a lover; the dark closing in on her. There is certain wildness about the forest at dusk. As if the mortal world has drawn back so that the realm of the fae can come out and play. You can almost see the hint of a wing behind a tree or the chuckle of some unusual creature behind a bush. You can hear the crunch of dead leaves under feet that cannot be seen. In those moments you feel more alive than you ever have. Your skin is too tight and your blood rushes through your veins. To be so close to magic, to almost be a part of it.
And then....

The music begins. Notes floating on a soft breeze; almost inaudible; hauntingly beautiful. Your ears strain to find where it comes from. The song (if it can be called that) seems to surround you. Coming at you from all sides and it hypnotizes you with it's beauty. Your eyes close and your body goes lax as you let the music take you away from the real world. You can hear the flutter of wings, and whispered voices.

Others do not linger in the forest at night. Most are afraid of what lurks here. You revel in it, the wild mystery that is the forest at twilight.

The music ever constant draws you farther into the forest. These children of nature have a new playmate; they talk and laugh as they follow you.  Pixies in every color of the rainbow fly in front, darting from side to side in the cool night air. Little gnomes the color of the earth, tromp along beside of you and behind. Other creatures that you don’t even have names for are in the mix. Curious animals watch from the bushes and trees. You stare in wonder at these beings who have so readily accepted you into their world. You don't know where you are going but you go nonetheless. Could what they do to you be any worse than what awaits you back at home? Doubtful.

Tales of the forest people have always been bed-time stories. No one believed that they really existed, some like yourself had hoped but not really believed. The possibility of magic had given you hope that things could be better.
Everything seems more somehow. Colors are more vibrant and smells more pronounced. You breathe it in and soak it up with every particle of your being. Suddenly the parade stops and in front of you is an unearthly glow.

You have been brought to a clearing in the forest. Creatures of the fae are gathered here. They are perched in every tree and bush; sitting upon rocks and toadstools. Some rode rabbits and squirrels to the meeting. Why have you been brought here? It almost seems as though you were expected. You are pushed into the middle of the crowd and come face to face with the most beautiful being you have ever seen.

Power radiates from her, she is their leader.
Hair in every color of fall and a gossamer gown made of the finest spider webs. You stand in awe, silenced by her beauty and majesty. Wings of the bluest ocean fold behind her as she begins to talk.

"We have been waiting for you."

Quiet surrounds you. You can feel hundreds of eyes staring at you. Even the trees watch, waiting for your reaction.

Magic is fragile and held together by those who believe in it, in an instant it can fracture and shatter like glass. This moment is like a dream that you have had a thousand times and now it has become a reality if you choose to accept it as such.

Declining is out of the question.

Suddenly there are voices and barking. A cacophony of sound intruding on the moment. There is someone crashing through the forest, shouting.

Your body stiffens in fear and a sob is ripped from your chest, you look to the fairy queen for guidence.

The fairy queen just smiles and starts to fade away. You want to cry out for her to stay when you realizes that you are fading away along with the queen, and you smile back serenely, feeling that for once in your life that everything is going to be okay. All things ethereal evaporate into the night as a man and dogs come spilling into the clearing.

                                                        ******
A man rushes madly through the forest searching for his wife. She has run away again. He is so afraid that she is leaving him. His pride couldn't stand it.

Brambles scratch at his skin and branches grab at his clothes before reluctantly parting to reveal a clearing bathed in moonlight.


He skids to a halt, his feet frozen. The dogs bark around him but he doesn't hear them. His gaze is locked on the woman that he has stumbled upon. His legs give out and his knees hit the ground.

She looks like she is sleeping, lying among the leaves and ferns. He knows that she isn't sleeping though. Her slender body has no movement left in it. The light that was her life has been snuffed out like a candle.

It takes a moment to sink in what he has done. He was so afraid of losing her to someone else that he lost her anyway. He cries; howls at the world. This beautiful creature that was entrusted into his care is gone, and it is his fault. He crawls to her; cradling her limp body in his arms as his tears bathe her pale face. He buries his face in her soft hair and gives his sorrow and guilt free reign.

The woman watches the scene from a distance out of time and space and is sad.