AWAY WITH THE FAIRIES

Continued …

“Okay.” Not quite what I was expecting. “Why don’t you start at the beginning?”

“Well you see, that nice young chap next door called in on Saturday and offered to cut the grass for me while the weather was fine. He’s good to me like that is Mr. Boylan. Always checking in to see if I need anything.”

I bit back my smile at the description of her neighbour. Mr. Boylan was in his late sixties; he’d be tickled pink to hear her refer to him as a “young chap”.

“I never thought to warn him not to cut that part,” she continued. “Sure, everyone knows not to touch a fairy ring.”

Do they?

Despite my growing confusion, I nodded in encouragement.

This wasn’t the first time Granny O’Meara had mentioned fairies. She’d adamantly declared at our recent annual family gathering that they’d returned. Considering I’d accidentally released an ancient magic into Ireland only a month previously, her claim could very well be true. Hell knows I’d encountered enough unbelievable things in recent weeks that it was getting harder to remain sceptical.

“If it was Mr. Boylan that damaged the fairy ring, would the fairies not be angry at him?”

Granny shook her head adamantly. “It was on my land. It was my duty to protect it. The fairies trusted me.”

The words all formed coherent sentences, but I still didn’t understand how it all pieced together. The fairy ring had been damaged and so the fairies were now tormenting my granny?

Apparently taking my silence for doubt, Granny wagged a finger at me. “Oh, no. Don’t you start as well,” she warned. “I told your mother about the fairies being angry when she came to visit yesterday, and she looked at me like I was losing my marbles. Well, I’m not. I know exactly where my marbles are. Or at least I did before the fairies started moving things,” she muttered, more to herself than to me.

I held up my hands placatingly. I was the last one here that could afford to point fingers and call people crazy. Considering the turn my life had taken recently, I’d happily take a few angry fairies over secret societies and sacrificial murders.

“Tell you what,” I offered. “Why don’t I call Teagan and see if she has any suggestions? She lectures on mythology and ancient civilisations so if anyone knows how to deal with fairies, it’ll be her.”

Somewhat mollified, Granny settled back to enjoy her tea. She’d always liked my best friend, and the mention of Teagan’s help seemed to ease some of the tension in her hunched frame.

Taking my phone out of my pocket, I dialled Teagan’s number and put the phone on loudspeaker in the centre of the table. She answered on the third ring.

“You better not be calling to cancel.”

Huh?

Belatedly, I remembered my promise to join her for her training session this evening. She’d been trying to get me to come along all week, and I’d finally run out of excuses.

“Oh, no. That’s not why I’m calling. I’m here with my granny –”

“Hello, Teagan dear.”

“Hi, Mrs. O’Meara.”

I waited to be sure they’d both gotten all the pleasantries out of their system before continuing. “She has a bit of problem we were hoping you might be able to help with.”

“What happened?” Teagan’s tone turned wary, and she drew out the words reluctantly.

I couldn’t really blame her. I’d lamented more than once lately on the blissfulness of ignorance.

“Granny’s neighbour cut the grass for her at the weekend, and it seems he damaged a fairy ring. A few strange things have been going on since and she’s worried that the fairies are angry with her.”

A long silence met my words, and I glanced at the phone to see if the call had somehow disconnected. Just as I was about to ask if she was still there, Teagan spoke.

“That’s probably not ideal. Fae typically don’t like iron. Could you put an iron boundary around the property to keep them out?”

Granny looked aghast. “Heavens, no. I couldn’t do that. I pride myself on having a good relationship with all my neighbours.”

I grimaced. Her caring nature was commendable, but given the state her house was currently in, I didn’t think she could afford to be too choosy.

“Do the stories say anything about how to get back on their good side?” I asked.

“Well, fairies are supposed to be partial to milk and honey. You could try leaving some out as a peace offering?”

Granny nodded. “I’ll get some ready right away.” Spurred into action, she stood and shuffled towards the fridge.

I had to squash the urge to get up and help. Granny prided herself on being self-sufficient. While she wasn’t opposed to accepting help when needed, she made a point of doing basic day-to-day tasks without assistance. She claimed it was the secret to staying youthful, but I often wondered if she was afraid we’d stop her from living alone in her own home if she didn’t prove her continued capability.

“Is there any way to repair the fairy ring?” I asked, turning my attention back to the problem in question.

Teagan laughed, but there was little amusement in it. “I have no bloody idea. This was all meant to be make-believe stories I discussed with my students as a way to frame the development of society. If fairies really do exist and fairy rings are magical, you’re better placed to figure that out than me. You could always try to recreate the ring in some way. They’re said to like shiny things, if that’s any help?”

I chewed on my lip, considering her words. My control of magic was still very much in its infancy. Could I use it to help bring some life back to the scorched earth that had once been a fairy ring?

“Thanks Teagan. I think I have an idea.”

“Glad I could help. Oh, and Aisling…”

“I’ll be back in time,” I promised, studiously ignoring the little voice at the back of my mind that urged me to use Granny’s predicament as an excuse to cancel.

We said our goodbyes and I hung up the phone, turning my attention to Granny. She was putting the finishing touches to the plate she was preparing. I blinked as I took in the chocolate digestive biscuits that were stacked neatly next to the puddle of golden honey.

“I thought Teagan said fairies like milk and honey?”

“Pah,” Granny said, pouring freshly boiled water into a mug. “Everyone probably gives them that. They must be sick of it by now. I figure they’ll appreciate a good cup of tea and a few biccies.”

I laughed, shaking my head. It was hard to fault her logic. As a child, I’d quickly learned not to tell my mam if I liked something. She’d inevitably make it for every single meal if I did, and after a while, even the mere mention of it would make me want to puke.

A glance at the clock on the wall warned me I needed to be heading back soon, so I pushed away from the table and stood.

“I have an idea for the fairy ring, but I’m not sure if it’ll work.” I told my granny. “Do you have any shiny things you wouldn’t mind parting with?”

She was thoughtful for a moment, then without a word, shuffled out of the kitchen. A couple of minutes later, she was back with a small mahogany jewellery box in hand. Beautiful mother-of-pearl inlay glistened in the sunlight that streamed through the kitchen window, and when she opened it a delicately carved ballet dancer pirouetted around a mirrored stage at its centre.

A variety of jewellery and trinkets filled the compartments on either side of the stage, and they too glistened in the sunlight.

“Many of these are even older than you,” she told me with a wistful smile. “I used to wear them when your grandfather took me dancing.”

My stomach dropped. “Oh, Granny. I can’t take these from you. I’ll think of something else.”

“Nonsense.” She pushed the jewellery box into my hands and gave me an affectionate pat on the cheek. “You make this right for me, Aisling. I won’t have those fairies thinking I meant them harm.”

I hesitated, terrified now that I would let her down. But when her beseeching gaze didn’t waiver, I sighed.

“I’ll only use as much as I need.”

Butterflies skittered nervously around my belly as I took the box of treasured memories and made my way out to the garden. I had no idea if this would work, if my magic would even be enough. I just knew I had to try.

Before heading to the patch of scorched earth where I’d found Granny standing not so long ago, I made my way to the side of the cottage. Colourful flowers bloomed in orderly rows, vibrant and full of life despite the fact summer had passed. Granny had always taken such pride in her garden, and though she now needed help with the upkeep, it was still as beautiful as ever.

I chose an array of colours, plucking the most perfect blooms I could find. Carefully cradling them so as not to damage the petals, I set to work.

By the time I’d recreated the circle, the damaged patch of earth was no longer visible. In its place was a ring made of flowers and the shiniest trinkets. As pretty as it was, however, I somehow doubted it would be enough to appease fairies angry at the ruin of their home. So, I dropped cross-legged to the ground and closed my eyes.

The magic had been a constant low-level buzz at my core ever since Killian had helped me break down my mental walls and learn to access it. The strength of the connection varied depending on my location, with man-made developments acting like a dampener between me and the natural magic of the land. But here in my granny’s garden, there was nothing to impede the energy that surrounded me.

I focused on the makeshift fairy ring and was shocked to find a strange void. It was almost as if the energy had been drained completely from the spot. Not too sure exactly what I was trying to do, I reached for the energy that remained in the land around it.

My skin started to tingle, and when I opened my eyes, the trinkets I’d woven through the circle were glowing. I was so surprised that my concentration faltered.

I grasped for the magic a moment before it slipped through my fingers.

Heat built in the centre of my chest, and I channelled all the positive thoughts I could into a single intention: Heal.

There was no explosion of light, no chorus of birds singing. The heat simply receded, and the glow faded. I blinked in confusion.

My stomach clenched at the realisation that I’d failed. Then I saw it.

The colourful flowers that I’d used to form the frame around my granny’s jewellery had embedded themselves into the earth. Rich brown soil surrounded them, and the flowers bloomed like a fragrant masterpiece that nature had put on display.

Wow. Had I done that?

Half afraid that I’d breathe wrong and break something, I carefully stood and backed away.

“Is it better now?” Granny asked from behind me.

I leapt in surprise. It wasn’t often my almost ninety-year-old granny could creep up on me, but I’d been so absorbed by my connection to the land that I hadn’t even notice her approach.

“I think so,” I said quietly.

The thrum of energy still ran through my veins, and some deep, instinctive part of me felt the truth in the words.

I returned home later that evening, mentally drained after accompanying Teagan to her training session. While I was happy to see the progress my friend was making, I couldn’t help but feel uneasy any time I stepped foot into that place. Collapsing on my bed, I pulled out my phone for some mindless scrolling.

An unread message flashed up on the screen from Granny O’Meara. Quickly, I opened the message and read. A wide smile split my face.

They prefer the tea and biscuits.

*****

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