A Brief Introduction
By Felicia Ferguson

Rating: PG

Spoilers: True Spirit

Author's Note: I just saw "True Spirit" and, after reading the spoilers about it, the ideas that several people
mentioned on the board suddenly solidified at 4:00AM while I was watching the meteor shower. This is the
result....any thoughts?

Disclaimer: Not that I wouldn't want it if I could have it, but right now the writers and actors are doing a superb job
so there's no need to take it away! :-D

1/1

A dense morning fog shrouded the North, blanketing the night and offering the cover he needed to make his escape.
Giving a quick glance back over his shoulder to the manor house, Young John gently nudged Bavarius, his gelding,
urging him across the field. The horse balked, uneager to leave his warm, dry stall, but his master was insistent.

John had never cared for the Southern coastal area of England and was surprised even disappointed when his father
stated the family would be staying the winter. John preferred London and school, where his friends were, but with
the impending holidays, school had been dismissed and there was nowhere else for him to go. Giving the area one
last look, he smiled, knowing that one day, he would be free from all of this. His position as the younger son
afforded him much welcomed freedom and he didn't envy his older brother a bit. As they moved further away from
the house, John urged his horse into a slow trot. The moon hung heavy in the night sky, and afforded minimal light
to pierce the morning mists. He would have to be cautious lest he injure Bavarius.

A slight sound brought him to a standstill. Quieting the horse, he peered into the darkness barely discerning a figure
in the distance. He held his breath as the moonlight reflected off the fog and illuminated the figure. He knew little
about this area of his family's holdings, but as the haze began to lift, he saw the outline of rocks. Stones standing on
end in some sort of circle formation. Clucking softly to Bavarius, he moved closer inexplicably drawn to the scene.

As he neared the rocks, the figure once just a hazy imagining took on life. It was a little girl, no more than seven
years old. Her heavy dark hair was loosely gathered at the back of her neck and her face possessed an otherworldly
look. He was rapt, scarcely able to breathe. She twirled and jumped amid the stones humming a haunting melody,
unmindful that she was no longer alone. And yet, when she paused mere minutes later, she wasn't startled by the
intruder.

"Are you spirit or flesh?" he stammered out, nervous under the knowing gaze of the child.

Her fey eyes softened as she replied, "I am both."

She turned as if to leave, and John, for some unknown reason, desperately called, "What is your name?"
The girl stopped and glanced back, surprised by the request, and answered, "Marguerite. But you may call me
Madge, if you like."

John shook his head intuitively knowing he could never call her that. The nickname didn't suit such a creature. "I
prefer Marguerite."

Her face lit up with pleasure, but a moment later, the light faded and she turned to leave once more. "Will I see you
again?" John continued hoping to stay her for even just a moment more.

This time, she didn't turn back to him. Instead, she walked toward the far edge of the stone circle and then without
pausing, she answered, "We will meet again, Lord John," her words, like herself, fading into the rising mists.