Sean carefully walked along the edge of the lake. He didn't think that the kelpie would pull him in, but he didn't want to test the waters. A form shifted from under the water and came closer to Sean as he slowed down.
"Why have you come here, young one?" A deep voice boomed from underneath the surface of the Loch Ness.
"I need help in assisting King Oberon, and I humbly ask of your assistance," Sean replied and gave a deep bow to the creature.
The dark mass in the water shifted and became smaller as Sean awaited a reply. It seemed to almost completely disappear before it breached the surface. The kelpie had taken the form of a small otter and quietly stared at him.
"You… are the Leanansidhe's boy, aren't you?" The kelpie's deep voice boomed from the tiny otter.
"Yes, I am," Sean answered politely. Even in the form of an otter, Sean could tell that the kelpie was formidable. Its magic seemed to seep out of every pore. The humans called the Kelpie by the name of the "Loch Ness monster," and their belief and reverence must be how the fairy had been able to stay this powerful in the human world for as long as it had.
"Ah. How is she then? I haven't heard much of our world, and I much prefer my isolation to dealing with those despicable red caps and the like," the kelpie's tone was polite, friendly even. "I can tell that she's likely in a spot of trouble. After all, why else would her child be working for the likes of that 'king'?" At the mention of Oberon's title, its voice had become mocking.
"Yes, she used a faerie object in the human world, and it came under the power of a human. The Tribunal promised me that if I can get back the spear she'll be freed."
The kelpie's eyes now held a touch of sadness, and it replied warily, "Don't believe everything that they tell you, boy. Even if you succeed in retrieving the spear, getting your mother out of their grasp will likely still be a struggle."
"Then I will fight," Sean replied firmly, and the kelpie looked impressed.
"I believe you will, and you may even succeed. I will find the spear for you."
"You know how to find it?"
"Child, from the moment it entered this land I felt its presence," the kelpie closed it eyes in concentration. "The thief threw it into the ocean. It is deep within the water's depths."
Sean looked at the kelpie and asked, "Why would he do that? Salt burns our kind. Was he not planning on using it?"
"I doubt it. I rather think that he took it to try to lure Oberon here, and when Oberon sent you, he tossed it knowing it would be all but impossible for you to retrieve. However, for me it will simply be an adventure. It has been a long time since I left my new home, but I won't be gone for long. I will bring it here and send for you," the kelpie said as its eyes lit up with excitement. "I only ask for a small thing in repayment."
"And what would that be?" Sean asked and felt his stomach drop.
"I have been at this lake for a long time, and I have seen many things: gods, monsters, and even demons. I have heard of the human with the angelic grace. Bring her here when you come for the spear. I wish her no harm. I merely want to see what all of the fuss is about. Even the monsters are afraid of what this means. A piece of Lucifer embedded in a human child."
"She's not really a child," Sean muttered and noticed the kelpie's look of amusement.
"I can protect her while she is here, boy. Do not forget that I was once a king in our world. Angels do not scare me."
"Yes. I know. Thank you, and I am sure that my mother will be incredibly grateful," Sean responded appreciatively. He now wondered about how he would get Syd's agreement in coming to the Loch Ness let alone the Winchesters'.
"Yes, and might I ask, who was clever enough to steal one of our kind's most precious relics?"
"A disgraced leprechaun who assisted the Tribunal. He apparently goes by the name of Wayne in the human world," Sean responded.
"No, I know of whom you speak, and he is clever but not that clever. Be very wary of the Tribunal. They are up to something, and the last time it didn't end so well for many of us."
Sean nodded and decided to ask the kelpie one last question. "Do you know why the leprechaun would have stolen human firstborn sons? I don't think that it has anything to do with the spear. I'm just asking for a friend."
The kelpie gave him a look of amusement before replying, "It has more to do with it than you think. Our land is drifting slowly away from this world, Sean. As the humans rely more and more on iron, it drives us away. I suspect that someone was using those boys to try to make an anchor from our world to the human one."
"But that was why the leprechaun was cast off. Why wouldn't the Tribunal support his efforts or have stopped him from doing it in the first place?"
"Good questions and the right ones. Unfortunately I can't answer them with certainly, but I believe it's safe to say that not every fairy of the Tribunal is in agreement. Best of luck, young one, and remember: be wary."
The kelpie disappeared into the depths, leaving Sean with more questions than answers.