Righ, so I'm not going to blab on like I did at the begining of my last chapter, because if you're like me, you don't even really read the author notes at the top of each chapter so... we're almost done with the story... maybe one or two chapters left.


Chapter 8

Quickly Quilan led Roisin across the fields towards the stone circle.

"Quilan, where are you taking me? Stop this instant! What are you doing?" Roisin tried to get a straight answer out of him as they stumbled along. He refused to answer her, seemingly driven by an unknown power.

Quilan wished with all his heart that he could answer her, explain to her what was happening, but the spell was too strong. He was answering a summoning and there was no way to resist. Their hands had been interlocked when the call had been sent out, therefore forcing him to bring her along. As they approached the stone circle, a dark hole appeared in the center.


Finbar scrambled over the fields, struggling to keep up with the frantic pace set by Quilan and Roisin. He did not want to alert them to his presence, so he kept his distance. As they neared the stone circle, the air about them changed. Finbar could feel the magic in the air, thick and heavy. He was almost regretting his heroic choice to follow his love. Almost.


Desperate, Eamon ran into the local pub, crying for help.

"Please, please you must help me! They've taken her!"

All activity in the pub stopped as he burst into the room. The bartender came out from behind the bar, attempting to calm Eamon down.

"Calm down, old man. What are you talking about? Who has taken whom?" Derry, the bartender, moved Eamon to a bar stool, forcing him to sit down.

"Roisin! The Daoine Sidhe have taken Roisin!"

His claim was met with complete silence. Then suddenly the entire pub was filled with hysterical laughter.

"What are you talking about, old man? Go; find somewhere else to tell your wild stories." Derry, with the help of Lorcan, the town smith, escorted Eamon out of the pub. Roughly, they tossed him out into the street then laughing they headed back in.

Publicly shamed and embarrassed Eamon made his way back to his horse.

"Psssst!"

Eamon spun around, looking for the source of the sound.

"Pssst! Over here!"

Following the voice Eamon walked around the corner of the pub and was met by the wild girl. Her clothes were wild, muddy and dirty; her hair was matted and had not been washed in weeks

"You say your daughter was taken by the Daoine Sidhe?"

"Y-y-yes." Eamon was reluctant to answer this crazy girl. She ranted and raved through out the village about seeing the Fair Folk.

"I can take you to their fairy hill. Follow me!" and before Eamon could answer, she dashed off out of town down the coast road, leaving Eamon to scramble to follow behind.


What type of dark magic is this that creates holes in the ground and pulls people unknowingly through the dark? thought Roisin. As they drew closer to the center of the stone circle she realized that it was not only a dark hole, but an earthen staircase leading down into the dark. The moment they entered the circle, torches lit themselves, acknowledging the presence of a magical being.

Roisin clutched Quilan's hand tightly. There must be some way out of this. How could she be married to a man she had never met, a magical one at that? She didn't love him, how could she possibly marry him? Quickly they made their way down the earthen staircase. Torches lit the way, crackling merrily. Fiedhelm might be in a good mood thought Quilan. Quietly they entered the great hall, full of fairies and other creatures. Bright blues, greens, reds, golds, oranges, and violets filled the room, shimmering on the slight bodies of the folk who wore them. The crowd parted for them, whispering behind delicate hands, eyes darting in every direction. Treachery was here in the court, and the king was in a foul mood. When they finally made their way up to the dais at the far end of the large and cavernous hall, Fiedhelm loomed over them. A cruel smile upon his lips, for the object of his affection was about to be his.

"You have done well, cousin. She is even more beautiful in person."

Quilan hung his head, knowing that the comment was just another dagger into his heart. Roisin didn't love him now, how could she after he had betrayed her like this? Quilan knew that his punishment would come soon enough, for Fiedhelm had seen them together and seen the love that they had shared. Fiedhelm gestured for two of the ladies in waiting that had been assembled for the future queen to come forward.

"Take the girl to herrooms." He waved his hand impatiently. Frantically, Roisin looked up at Quilan, begging silently for some help and not to be taken away. She feared these fairies, knowing what they did do to mortals who entered their realm.

Quilan recognized the plea for help and scrutinized the waiting women, recognized them as some of his friends. He nodded to Roisin, hoping that she would understand that these were friends, and they would allow no harm to come to her.

As the door to the great hall closed behind the women, Fiedhelm rounded on Quilan, fire in his eyes.


When he reached the top of the earthen stairs Finbar hesitated. All the stories that his mother had told him screamed at him not to go down. But what choice did he have; save his mortal life, or save the life of the woman he loved? Quickly, he ran down the staircase, the torches were extinguishing just before him, leaving him in half light. As he reached the bottom of the stairs Finbar again hesitated. The great hall was full of many other worldly beings, brightly dressed, and richly decorated with glimmering jewels. Glancing around the entrance, Finbar knew that if he didn't find some sort of disguise that he would be found out right away. Luckily for Finbar, a fairy gentleman had had a bit too much to drink and sat snoring just inside the doorway. Very carefully Finbar removed the drunk gentleman's outer garments, a crimson cloak, evergreen doublet, and bright leaf green hose. Always the respectful type, Finbar removed his farmer's cloak and covered the fairy, not wanting to leave him completely without protection from the chilly air of the great hall. Going back into the hallway at the base of the stairs, Finbar quickly changed into the rich garments. Now, looking much more like one of the lesser Fair Folk, Finbar re-entered the hall.


"This way! This way, good sir! The fairy hill is just inside the stones. I've been there, I've seen them. I have. Hurry good sir!"

Eamon followed behind the wild girl, his old legs moving as fast as they would carry him.

"Are you certain this is where he has taken her?" He was loath to trust the raving girl, but who else would believe him that his beloved daughter had been kidnapped by the Fair Folk?

"Yes, yes, good sir! This is the way and if we hurry the door may still be open. There still may be a chance of getting your daughter back!" Teagan climbed over the hill and ran down to the stone circle. There in the center, an earthen staircase leads down into the dark.

"I've found it, sir! I've found the entrance to the fairy hill! Hurry, sir! Hurry!" she cried.

Eamon followed the girl into the stone circle and down the winding steps. He was frantically trying to remember the laws and ways of the Fair folk considering mortals. There must be some way that he could get his daughter back. They wound their way through the dark, down, down and further down.


Right, so only one more chapter left.