It was a few days later when Belle was in the marketplace of their little village. Her mother had sent her to go pick up some small items and Miles was watching the sheep today instead of helping Father and Dorian with the farm work.

Belle thought it was nice to be able to go to the village for once instead of being all alone with only the sheep for company. She was equally pleased that Miles had tired of trying to teach Cassie how to hunt and had returned her shortly after Seamus had left.

Now there was an interesting thing. Belle hadn't quite decided yet if she had dreamed the entire affair up, or if it really was real. She hadn't tried to contact Seamus again, not knowing if he was real or not. Besides that, Belle couldn't really think of anything that she could possibly want to wish for.

She pushed those thoughts out of her mind as she walked into the local tavern, which also served as a general store and an inn. Gwendolyn, who was the daughter of the man that owned the place, smiled and walked over to her.

"Hello, Belle! I haven't seen you or any other O'Learys in a while. How are you?" Gwendolyn had her golden hair tied back with a blue ribbon that matched her dress. It looked very fetching on her, and Belle nearly sighed at how pretty she was. Belle had always longed for golden curls like Gwen's, but instead she had strawberry blond hair that hung perfectly straight.

"Oh, I'm fine Gwen. Could you get these things for me…" and she ticked off the things that her mother had sent her for. It was mostly things that they couldn't make at home: coffee, sugar, flour, those sorts of things.

Gwen was very chatty as she got the things for her. Belle talked with her, she had always liked Gwen. Gwen was the only child of the widowed tavern owner, and around the age of eighteen years, the same as her brother Dorian. Just as Belle thought about her brother, Gwen seemed to also.

"So, how is Dorian? He never gets out anymore, I haven't seen him in ages…"

Belle thoughts she heard a twinge of longing in the older girl's voice. Everyone in the village knew that Dorian was sore for Gwen, and she felt the same about him. But Dorian was so shy that he'd never have the nerve to as Gwen's father for her hand in marriage.

"Oh, Dorian's fine," Belle said distantly, an idea forming in her mind. "Gwen," she said confidentially, leaning close as the older girl handed her the purchases, "If my brother – Dorian, that is – were to ask for your hand in marriage, would you marry him?"

Gwendolyn's pale cheeks turned rosy. Not a single freckle marred that flesh, unlike on Belle's cheeks. "Why would you ask such a thing, Arabella? Didn't Clara O'Leary teach you anything about being polite?"

The way that she had acted after giving Belle her answer was an answer in itself. Mr. Seamus had said that she could wish for anything and he would be able to do it…so when Belle got home that afternoon, she went outside to the barn on the pretense of giving her father a glass of lemonade.

Although she liked to think that she and Dorian were close, their father was the only person that he would really talk to. On occasion Dorian would have a full length conversation with Belle, but none of them had been about Gwendolyn. Belle was trusting in the likelihood that Dorian would talk to his father about Gwen.

Her father thanked her for the lemonade and guzzled it all down right there. He smiled at her and ruffled her hair, asking her how it was to have the day off from her tasks.

"I like it well enough, I guess," she said, smiling impishly at her father. He was the only one that she would smile like that to, her mother would scold her for it and her brothers would roll their eyes. "I saw Gwendolyn Mac Toole at the tavern, she's the one that got me the stuff Mother sent me for. I think she really likes Dorian. How come Dorian won't ask her father if he can marry her?"

Rueben was a large, intimidating man. He was bulging with muscles, and stood over six feet tall. But now, as gentle as one of the lambs she cared for, he sat down on the milking stool and pulled his only daughter on his lap, running a fond hand down Belle's hair.

"Everything's not as simple as you think, Belle. Dorian's a shy fellow, and doesn't handle social situations well. He'll come around and ask for Gwen's hand eventually."

"So he does want to marry her?" Belle asked, looking at her father with eyes that were the same shade as his: an eerily light blue.

Her father laughed and kissed her on top of her head. "You know," he said critically, "You're getting a bit old for this. You're already fifteen, I can't believe it." He smiled at her, and considered her question. "Yes, Belle, I do believe that our Dorian is ready to settle down."

Their conversation continued on, and ended in short manner. Since Belle was at home instead of Miles, she had his chores to do, and her father of course had his own to tend.

So the next day Belle convinced Cassie to stay with the flock while she went into the nearby woods. This was no small feat, considering how fond Cassie was of her. She walked more slowly then she did the other day, able to enjoy the forest at her leisure.

Belle slipped her hand into her apron pocket when she heard the cheery sound of the brook. She had the rose petal Seamus had said she would need, and an extra one just in case. Belle stopped in front of the brook, struggling for a moment to remember the words Seamus had told her.

"I seek one of the fay," she said clearly after tossing the petal in the water. After a moment of tense anxiousness, a little point of light zoomed at her and pulled at her hair. The…thing…startled Belle enough that she nearly fell over.

"Don't be frightened," the little light said, "I won't hurt you. I'm Kessa, the fairy. Who sent you?"

Belle licked her lips nervously. "Mr. Seamus, the leprechaun," she said, using the same form of address Kessa used. "He said I could talk to him if I did…" Belle gestured at the brook and noticed that the petal had disappeared. "Whatever it was that I just did," she trailed off uneasily.

Kessa laughed, a sound that was a match for the merriment of silver bells. "Yes, that's Seamus for you. Come here now, girl," Kess said affectionately, and flew in front of her face. "Now, close your eyes and don't open them until I say you can."

Belle was expecting Kessa to begin leading her in some direction or another, but instead she suddenly felt warm all over. The air was filled with the scent of spices and cinnamon, and Belle couldn't help but inhale deeply. She heard Kessa giggle and tell her to open her eyes.

She was somewhere in a cave perhaps, but it was a very nice cave. Seamus and the most beautiful woman Belle had ever seen were seated quite near the fire, taking tea. The woman had flowing silver hair, but she was far from old. The cut of her dress showed off her perfect figure, and her violet eyes surveyed Belle. A woven crown of flowers topped her hair, and her ears were delicately pointed.

"Oh, what's this, Seamus?" the woman asked, setting down her tea cup. "A charmed mortal girl?"

"Nothing of the sort," Seamus said quickly, barely glancing at Belle. "I have an agreement with her." Then he did look at Belle, and arched an eyebrow. "Well, lass? Do you want to make a wish or not?"

"Yes," Belle said quietly, finding herself blushing. "Just one."

"Well then, spit it out!"

"I wish that my brother, Dorian, would ask Gwendolyn Mac Toole to marry him."

The woman sitting with Seamus smiled the sweetest smile Belle had ever seen, and said, "Aren't you the dear one! Come here, child," she beckoned to her.

Belle walked forward, carefully, looking at the ground. The woman tilted her chin up, so Belle was looking at her. "What pretty blue eyes you have! And such nice clean hair and cute freckles. You are a darling thing…"

"Emmeline," Seamus said fitfully, "Leave her alone. Go, lass, I've granted your wish, see if I haven't."

"Oh, do stay," Emmeline said in a teasing manner, catching Belle by the hand, "And do take tea with us. You're so pretty. Do you have a wit about you too?"

"I'm not sure, madam," Belle stammered out, seating herself in the stool that suddenly appeared behind her. "I should like to think so, anyway."

Emmeline poured her a cup of tea and offered it to her. Belle took it and sipped, it was cloyingly sweet and tasted of honey. "So, you've spent a wish on your brother! Tell me of him, and of this Gwendolyn too," Emmeline cooed, turning Belle on her stool and beginning to braid her hair.

"My brother's name is Dorian, milady," Belle said. "He's about eighteen years old, and still lives at home. He took after my mother in looks, with blond hair and green eyes. Dorian's rather quiet, and a very hard worker."

"And what of the maid, Gwendolyn? And what makes you so sure that she'll want to marry your brother?" Emmeline's voice had a lilting quality to it, as if she was pleased that Belle had called her 'milady.'

"Oh, Gwendolyn's the greatest beauty in the village, and the richest too! Her hair is curled naturally, and such a glorious golden color. Gwen's eyes sparkle with kindness and cheer. Everyone in the village loves to be around her. As for her wanting my brother, I know it's certain. I made sure before I came here to make my wish."

Emmeline asked her questions about her family and herself, lulling her into a sort of trance. Belle felt safe as long as she heard this woman's voice, and felt her fingers in her hair. Seamus, directly across from her, puffed sedately on his pipe. The heady smell of tobacco filled her nostrils and she sighed, contented.

Belle's eyelids drooped over her light blue eyes as Emmeline asked her, "And what of you? Have you not a proper following of lads in the village?"

"Oh no, ma'am, I don't usually see persons my own age, except for Miles."

"What a pity! That such a great beauty as yourself should be wasted on naught but her own family."

Belle sighed and sipped her tea, still in a dazed set of mind. "It's not a waste, Lady Emmeline…although, sometimes I do wish that I may meet someone to my liking, and who would love me. Sometimes I have these fantasies where a prince would come and whisk me away, and make me a princess, and that we would live happily ever after. I do so wish that something like that could happen!"

Belle didn't see it happen, her eyes having closed again, but Seamus tensed as soon as the word wish came out of her mouth. When her proclamation was over and she was humming lightly to herself, Emmeline threw a mischievous look over the young girl's head.

"Damn you, Emmeline," Seamus said quietly, but not without a smile of his own. Then in a much louder tone, "Don't you think you should be getting back to your flock, little lass? They're bound to be mighty lonely without you."

"Oh!" Belle said, sitting up quickly. She had been half lounging on Emmeline's lap, but now she was standing with her long hair plaited into two braids. The braids had flowers intertwined in them. "I forgot about the sheep! Oh dear, I hope Cassie kept them safe!" Belle looked around, trying in vain to find a way out of the cave.

"Kessa will take you back, just the same way you came lass." Seamus said, and the little point on light flew towards Belle from where she had been sitting on the mantle over the fireplace.

"Close your eyes, Belle," Kessa said, and soon enough Belle was back in the meadow, anxiously counting the sheep.