A/N: Ready to learn more?

ENJOY!

Her confession shocked me and exhausted her. We both looked at each other, disbelief and pain flitted across both our faces. Laughter bubbled in my throat, choking me. Magic? What was she smoking? Maybe I had hit my head harder than I thought and I was in a coma in some hospital having some very lucid dreams. That had to be the logical conclusion. Magic wasn't real.

Before I could even assemble my thoughts, she had a long wicked looking knife in her hand. Like a lightening strike, she nicked her finger, mumbled some words and drove her bleeding finger in the ground. Instantly there was a flash of brilliant blue light and when the light was gone, in front of Ellaene stood what I could only call a toddler sized adult.

"You called, witchling?" The creatures voice was feminine, high pitched like tinkling windchimes. It stood no more than three feet, with long raven back hair filled with dozens of tiny braids. Its dress was gauzy and shimmery. As incredible as it looked, it was nothing compared to the tiny fluttering wings that were on its back.

"I require healing assistance. I rendered aid of a lost traveler and I'm unable to heal all the injuries." Ellaene then bowed to the tiny creature.

"Oh! The witchling found a traveler?" Just then the creature turned its body toward me. Its eyes were bright, unnatural shade of green and its ears were slightly pointed. "You honored the code by your actions, witchling. The Divine Ones will bless you. I will heal this human traveler."

"Thank you, Alicena," intoned Ellaene with reverence. With a snap of Aliena's fingers, all my bandages were gone. I was littered with scabbed over minor cuts and bruises. The most startling of all were the oozing wounds and the obvious fractures of my legs.

Before I could blink, the creature placed their small hands on my face, leaned down and breathed into my mouth which had been gaping in shock. Glittery particles swirled like dust and when my body demanded that I inhaled, they rushed into my body. Instantaneous heat filled my body, my muscles relaxed at its comforting warmth. It lasted only a few seconds before points of pain broke out across my body.

Several spots on my arms tingled and itched. With my own two eyes, I watched as bones shifted in my legs and skin was fused back together. Bruises disappeared, cuts healed, and wounds closed leaving perfectly unmarred skin. Not a single scar or speck of blood remined.

"It's been healed, witchling." As if it could no longer be bothered with me, Alicena turned her back on me and regarded Ellaene thoughtfully. "Its no accident that you discovered the human. He is part of the journey and destiny that you seek."

Ellaene paled. "A human? How? Why?"

Alicena smiled. "The Divine Ones do not always reveal their reasons. But as I healed him, I sensed he has a purpose and that you two are tied together. As is our custom, you should bring him to the Guardians." Alicena paused, cocked her head to the side as if she was listening to something. Then she nodded and turned towards me. "You human must protect Ellaene. You must bring her to her destiny. To help you, I bestow a gift from the Divine Ones." With a wave of her hand, a sheathed sword appeared next to me. "It will answer only to you. I wish you both safety." With that, Aliena vanished in blinding blue lights.

"WHAT THE FUCK JUST HAPPENED?"

It felt good to yell. I was confused as hell and could no longer contain my frustration, confusion and fear. Of course, my yelling caused Ellaene to cringe and scamper backwards.

"It was proof of what I told you. You're in Everlee, a land of magic. Human's do not live here. Alicena is a fairy and I am, as she called me, a witch. I sensed you would not believe anything I said, so I called for Alicena for healing and as proof of where you are." Ellaene held my gaze, daring me to try and contradict anything that I saw and heard. Trouble was, I couldn't. Unless I was in a coma, all my senses were telling me that I was in my own version of Oz.

"I'm sorry for yelling. This is just too much to take in and I'm overwhelmed."

Ellaene's eyes softened and she smiled. "I understand, Edward. To be honest, I'm overwhelmed as well. Alicena's words were unexpected and I don't know what they mean." With a sigh, she shook her head. "We can worry about that later, now I want to get you up and moving. Aliena's is a great healer, but she sometimes forgets to help with strength and energy."

She held her hand out to me and together we got me standing. It felt weird to be standing after to long. As I stretched my legs, Ellaene told me about the vegetation nearby. The trees I had noticed before were called teena tree and with a series of taps on the very smooth trunk, Ellaene managed to get a few of the fruits to fall. With a smile and a nod of encouragement from Ellaene, I bit into the fruit. It was juicy, with the taste similar to melon with a little acidic bite like orange. I ended up having three of them they were so good.

Back at the fire, Ellaene looked contemplative. She was absentmindedly throwing sticks and dried leaves into the fire.

"Penny for your thoughts?" I ask her.

"What's a penny?" she questioned.

I opened my mouth to explain but decided to goa different route. "It's a human expression. I was asking you what you're thinking about?"

"Aliena's words."

"I'm not sure I understand what she meant. I know we don't know each other well, but if you want to talk to me, I'm willing to listen. You've done so much for me, it's the least that I can do for you." Not sure what prompted me to do what I did next, but it felt right. I reached for hand and threaded mine with hers. An intense tingling sensation from our hands made me gasp and I heard Ellaene do the same. I squeezed her hand and she replied the same. That was how we stayed as she told me her tale.

A/N: I know.. I know.. a bit of a cliffie... but hey.. we have Alice.. I mean Alicena as a real fairy and Ellaene is a witch! Leave me some love!

WVG