Early the next day Mahalia was the only one awake. Everyone else was sleeping off the effects of the long night, but Mahalia was unable to stay abed any longer. Her mind was still full of thoughts, mostly about Zathan and where on earth he could be.

Stepping off the veranda of her house, Mahalia turned down the street. Last night, Zathan's mother had said he had been taken by the fairies, and while a part of Mahalia thought this was just a child's fairy tale, part of her saw how much Zathan's parents had resigned themselves to the loss of their eldest son. They really did believe this, and counted her foolish if she did not.

Still Mahalia refused to believe that it was that simple. After all, Zathan was a good friend of hers and they were probably going to be married one day, so she wasn't going to give up without a fight. If he was taken by the fairies, she was simply going to have to take him back.

So Mahalia strode off across the meadow, through the grass that was trampled by the previous night's dancing, past the tables, still littered with empty cups and into the woods on the far side. The woods were still and at first, it was easy to pick a trail through the trees.

This isn't so bad Mahalia thought to herself, no sign of any fairies anywhere.

Little did she know, the forest fairies were watching her steady progress into their domain, and, as she began to talk to herself, they listened to every word she said.

"Going to find the fairies who took Zathan," Mahalia muttered as she pushed past a rather difficult bush. "He is a good friend who I might end up marrying one day. How dare those fairies think they can steal whomever they like!"

The day steadily went on and on, and the woods around Mahalia became thicker and thicker. The trees grew closer and closer together, blocking out the sun and stretching their long branches across the path. Soon Mahalia's arms were grazed with small cuts from the sharp branches and her dress was showing signs of wear.

Mahalia herself was becoming more and more exhausted as well. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined entering the woods, or that they would extend this far. Still she kept muttering to herself;

"Zathan is a good friend who I might get married to one day, how dare the fairies try to steal him!"

As darkness fell, Mahalia pressed on through the forest, but the events of the day began to overwhelm her and despair started to settle in her mind. Surely she had been past this tree before. What if she was only wandering in circles? Would there ever be an end to these horrible woods?

Eventually Mahalia realised she was crying and pooled herself in the roots of an old oak tree. There she fell asleep, still affirming to herself;

"Zathan is a good friend who I might get married to one day, how dare the fairies try to steal him."

Soon after Mahalia fell asleep, her cut and bruised arms and dirty dress tucked around her, the small forest fairies who had been following her all day circled around her in the air, talking with one another.

They were about a third of the size of a human; only half the size of Mahalia, and very fine. They were so thin and transparent it was hard to believe they were real. Their wings were huge, in comparison to their bodies, large veils coming out of their backs and fluttering them in the air. Mops of brown hair topped their heads and moss and dark flower petals and green leaves made their clothing.

What shall we do? one asked another as they fluttered in the air.

Her cause is great, another replied swooping to land on a tree branch near Mahalia's head. She is seeking to aid her friend. We should help her.

Wee! A smaller than average fairy spiralled down from a higher branch. Helping humans is fun!

Together they fluttered around Mahalia, healing her cut arms and mending her dress. Finally the fairy who spoke first placed his small hand against her forehead and whispered;

Sleep well, sleep true, for there is one who dreams of you.

With that, Mahalia settled into the deepest sleep she had ever experienced and didn't wake up until the morning, none the wiser about her night time helpers.