Oak & Mistletoe

by McCauley, J. Z. N.

  As Catherine walked deeper into the dark woods, she realized there was no turning back. If she dared to try, the wee folk would likely attack, perceiving the move as an offense. There was no escape for her, and so with each pensive step she kept her slow pace.

  Catherine kept wishing Bowen was next to her, or Danny. But such thoughts were pointless. If she was going to die, then she might as well just do it. So she walked faster, with deliberate strides. They carried her past more trees, passing other skittering animals of the dark woods. If they weren’t afraid, then she wouldn’t be either.

  Faded sunlight pushed past the thick matted leaves above. Catherine stepped into the dappled light, and noticed a tiny bulb that appeared from thin air. Its circular form looked illuminated from the outside while somehow getting fainter in its core. It twinkled, as if to wink at her.

  As Catherine stood still, amazed, the light grew uncomfortably brighter. The miniature star lit up the woods, and Catherine squinted as she cowered down to protect her eyes from sudden blindness. Finally she adjusted and looked up. The light was strange, not like anything she’d seen before. Not like a light bulb of any wattage, not the powerful light of fire from the sun. It wasn’t even like the moon at its fullest, as she expected in connection with fairies after all. No, it was more like starlight, yes that was it, that distant and dull white fire. As if a star in its marble shape was in midair before her, somehow maintaining its distant appearance and illuminating a place where no light had been for centuries at a time. The ball shape had rings of brightness. The inside was faint, the first ring surrounding that a bit brighter, the next ring brighter than the last, and so on. It seemed to grow with intensity, drawing her in. Catherine imagined it shone from another universe. If it were here, then its fire would consume her.

  Nothing happened at first, as the ball of light floated. Catherine was not afraid, for once. But she was beginning to be uncomfortable as it lingered. Was she supposed to do something? Speak to it perhaps? She opened her mouth to speak but stopped herself when she contemplated that this might be considered too forward. Respectfully she waited; patiently she stood.

  Suddenly the light flashed out and the woods went black again. Then suddenly they were unnaturally bright as though blanketed in blindingly white snow. But Catherine’s eyes were not blind. Looking down at her hands, she saw they blended impossibly with everything else. She grabbed her hair and pulled the twist out to look at it. It too appeared white as snow. The eerie starlight consumed and melted into everything. Amazed, she looked around her and found everything had lost its color and seemed to be flowing, reverberating, as though she could actually see them living. The plants, the trees, the very ground all had an ever-so-slight tremor about them, their own kind of breathing. Though strange it was at first, but only because she had never seen it before, it quickly became normal to her, as if it was always there and she had only to notice.

  “You seek us?” Catherine heard an eerie voice speak behind her and spun around.

  The voice came from a sleek creature of small build. It was incredibly fair, matching the starlight. The appearance in the face was feminine, but she couldn’t be sure of the gender, simply that their features appeared gentle, like that of a small girl. Sleek and thin, too thin to mistake for human. Beautiful kind eyes looked out of the narrow face that was framed with long hair. This was not what Catherine had imagined when picturing the wee folk. Definitely not the size that you could hold in your palm, nor the Norse tall standing kind. But this being seemed like a child.

  “Yes,” Catherine answered as steadily as possible. She wrapped her arms around herself to control her shaking body. She hoped desperately it wasn’t noticeable to the creature.

  “You are a druid,” the eerie voice was almost melodic, a kind of echoing perhaps. Catherine told herself she would find out if she survived this.

  “No, I was given the ability of a druid,” she stated honestly.

  “You are a very young, human woman, how is it you have this power? The druids have been gone since long ago.”

  “There was a curse, and I was the one to break it. The great oak tree gave me power to recast the curse,” she answered as plainly as she could.

  The fae creature rolled its head oddly, then nodded in reply. “Why have you come?”

  “I have to protect innocent people. But I need help to use the power first. For that I was told to find you. Please, will you help me?”

  “Humans are not innocent,” the creature quietly remarked, and searched Catherine’s face with a frightening stare.

  The creature was dressed in translucent garments that looked as frail as a spider’s web. She waited and gazed at the gorgeous figure before her. Though the creature was kind, and beautiful, she felt somehow it could all go sour rather easily, and therefore was still holding onto that bit of fear in the pit of her stomach.

  “Our knowledge is precious to us. We do not share it with others. There must be something equally precious that you must give of your own free will,” the fae said, breaking the silence.

  “Equally precious?”

  They nodded.

  “How can I judge that?”

  The creature looked over Catherine, and she felt its eyes moving across her. They stopped. “Your hair.”

  “My hair? You want my hair?”

  “I can see it is important to you, though not for vanity.”

  “How can you know that?”

  “Your hair is a part of you, and you are alive. Therefore, I can see it.”

  “You want all of my hair?” Catherine asked anxiously.

  “No, only a lock.”

  Catherine nodded slowly. “May I ask, what you will do with it?”

  “That is not your concern.”

  Catherine hesitated. But what choice did she have? Without their help it would take too long for her to learn enough to enact the curse, and Conall would overrun them. No, she had to do this, they didn’t have any time to spare. Perhaps it was already too late. Also motivating her was her deepening concern for Danny. She had to keep taking action, she couldn’t get stuck and lose momentum. She blinked back the urge to cry when she thought of him, but told herself inwardly that he was still alive, she just needed to hurry.

  “A lock of my hair is yours,” she said, palms up in submission.

  “I see you are very strong. There is great power within you. More than what was given to you. Do not think it is another’s power you use. It is yours alone.” The creature walked a few paces over, all the while gazing at Catherine with an eerie air surrounding their body.

  Stepping close to Catherine, the fae creature grew taller and leaned over her. It gave off an overwhelming fragrance, a combination of fresh fruit and springtime after a rainfall. She felt feeble and lightheaded as breathing became a minor struggle. It reached its hand close to her neck, and she felt a small tug on her scalp.

  The fae looked pleased then, and said, “It is done.” They stepped away from Catherine. She could breathe normally again.

  “As promised,” it said, and waved an arm in front of them. The starlight ball reappeared out of thin air at the creature’s command.

  “To help you hone the necessary skills, I give you this to bring them years ahead,” the fae spoke, and the circular object holding the light of distant stars floated to Catherine, who couldn’t help but lean away at first.

  “Place your hands under it.” Catherine did as she was told. It hardened and crystallized in form, as it descended into her palms. It felt warm and somehow comforting.

  “Take this. It has been bound to your will. Be warned, starlight cannot be contained forever, it will eventually return to its place of origin. It is your tool now, use it as you must.” The creature moved away as Catherine tore her gaze from the hardened bulb. “Heed our words, we warn you, it will increase your power by years but without the discipline that comes with time and practice.” Suddenly, the creature disappeared.

  Catherine swiveled around to find
it hovering behind her. Relieved the creature hadn’t left and yet terrified at the same time, she realized she had difficulty swallowing. Her throat was parched. “How do I use it?” she asked through a scratchy throat.

  “It cannot be told; it must be felt. You will know when you try. Now go from this place.” The fae disappeared again. This time no sign of them remained.

  “Thank you. I will treasure and use it as you say,” Catherine said, hoping they had heard.

  Catherine turned back and walked along with the warm bulb cradled in both hands. After a while she realized the forest’s brightness dimmed dramatically but it wasn’t as dark as before. It was still slightly infused with the eerie light. She wondered if the wee folk had lit her way. Looking back, she saw that the light was slowly dissolving as she passed through. When she neared the edge of the wood, thankful to see normal light and colors ahead, the darkness quickened. Just as she stepped onto the green grass the light disappeared completely, and darkness fell like a curtain behind her.

  Seeing the black forest now made her feel like she had stepped in and out of time. Relieved that she had survived and that it was over, she walked back to the ruins. Pulling her hair around, she saw less now where the lock of hair had been cut. She was thankful it was easily hidden under the rest of her hair. Remembering how alarmingly white it had looked in the strange light, she was thankful to see color returned to it, as well as everything else. Once more, she glanced back at the forest and hoped never to go there again.

  The sun was still high in the sky and she reveled in it, letting her skin and hair absorb every ray. Bowen was in the distance, waiting in the ruins. He spotted her soon after she saw him and ran to meet her. He reached for her with both his arms.

  “I’m so glad you’re back at last!” he said happily, obviously relieved.

  “It wasn’t so long as all of that, but me too,” she said smiling.

  “A full day isn’t very long to you?” he laughed.

  “But the sun hasn’t moved that much,” she said, gesturing a hand upward.

  He squinted up for a moment then back, realization striking his face. “You didn’t know?”

  “Know what?”

  “You went into the woods yesterday, Catherine.”

  Catherine pulled the star bulb tightly against her chest. “But how? It was only a couple hours, tops,” she said astonished.

  “The wee folk must have known you were coming and enchanted your path to watch you,” Bowen speculated.

  “But I don’t feel tired, or even hungry!” she said, then remembered her throat was parched and grabbed above her collarbone.

  “It was not uncommon for the women who went missing for a time to have no idea how long they were gone when they returned,” he answered.

  “Oh my, Bowen . . .”

  He hugged her over the bulb and pulled back to look into her eyes for reassurance, “It’s okay now. They returned you safely. Though—” he stopped short and pulled away looking puzzled, “you seem different somehow. Did they do something to you?”

  “They gave me this,” she moved to show him the star bulb.

  “Hmm, no, it’s something else . . .”

  “No? Different how then?” she touched one of her cheeks quickly.

  Bowen looked her over momentarily before his eyes widened as he saw it. “They took your hair,” he said, reaching for the shortened piece tucked behind and sticking out from under her ear.

  “Yes, they did, they wouldn’t tell me why they wanted it.”

  Bowen contemplated as he ran his long fingers through her hair. “Was it purely payment, an exchange for this orb?”

  Catherine held out the warm bulb, “I think so,” she answered.

  Bowen’s eyes glowed as he examined it. He raised his eyebrows as he quietly gasped at the beauty. “The light from distant stars,” he said, as mesmerized by it as Catherine had been when she first saw it in the woods.

  “Yes,” she answered, and pulled it back to keep her chest warm again. Even though it was sunny, the wind was cold on her skin and made her shiver. Bowen shook his head and looked at her.

  “I’m relieved they didn’t do anything else to you,” he said.

  “What do you mean? I thought you said they wouldn’t do anything to hurt me?”

  Bowen’s mouth twitched, “They wouldn’t break their oaths. But if they really wanted to, they could have found a loophole without having to actually harm you themselves.”

  Catherine cringed. Absentmindedly she moved her thick waves behind her shoulders. “Why do you think they wanted some of my hair, Bowen?”

  “You seem worried,” he said.

  “Well yes, it seems like voodoo.”

  Bowen chuckled slightly. “Yes, well. I can’t say I know for sure why they wanted it. But it may simply have been the only way they could make you different upon your return. To take something forever away from you. It’s what they do with humans. Every woman who returns does so in worse condition than when they were taken.”

  “Since they couldn’t harm me, they took some of my hair?”

  “So it seems,” he said looking ahead as they walked slowly together.

  “You know, some of those folk stories, I don’t believe were women being taken by the wee folk. I’m pretty sure they were being abused by men.” Catherine said conversationally.

  “I know,” he said.

  “You know?” she asked.

  “Yes, some the wee folk took and returned. But some men preyed on the superstitions of their village in order to hurt or kill women for whatever purpose. Sometimes it was their wives. It happened a lot over the centuries. I stopped a few from happening. It was such an evil thing. Another reason to avoid superstition. Religion and its branches become corrupt; people can’t be trusted,” he said.

  “You trust your ultimate being?” she asked.

  “Yes, our God. Belief, and devotion is our place. Not human religion and superstitions. Very few of my people believed that. Rituals, and tradition without reason is man’s obsession,” he said, his eyes searching the ground as they walked on. He seemed far away in thought.

  Catherine imagined he had many reasons to feel the way he did. Seeing history repeat its own horrors would certainly be depressing and upsetting. Being forced to watch, helpless, must be a terrible thing. She felt the same way, as someone who tried to solve the mysteries of the centuries for a living.

  Catherine stopped walking, and kept her eyes on Bowen. Bowen felt the tug on his arm and turned to face her. “The wee folk . . .” she said.

  “Hm?” he said, mildly interested.

  “There was only one.”

  “That they let you see . . .”

  “She-they looked nothing like I imagined,” she said, her voice quiet.

  “There are many different kinds of wee folk, the same as humans,” Bowen said.

  “The one I saw, she, or he, I don’t know which, they seemed lonely. Do you think they live all alone in that big wood?” she asked.

  “They do have both genders, but it isn’t something humans can easily decipher. Both are startlingly beautiful.” He paused for a moment, “I don’t know if you encountered only one of them. The others may have been around you, but only one showed themselves. You see, they need each other to maintain long life,” he explained.

  Catherine shivered when she considered she may have been surrounded by them, camouflaged in the eerie light.

  “The ones with wings, the ones that can stand on your palm, I wonder if they exist,” she said as they set out again.

  “I’ve been told they do. The ones I saw were not like that,” he said.

  As the two neared the old cottage, Mary emerged from her back garden, running towards them. “You’ve done it!” she exclaimed.

  Catherine smiled at the old woman, and showed her the glowing crystal between her palms. Mary was shocked to see the eerie, yet lovely object. “Why, Caty!”

  Catherine realized in that moment she no longer mi
nded the nickname, as long as Mary was the one to say it. She laughed out loud, and hugged Mary tightly. “Thank you,” she whispered in her ear.

  Mary winked happily in return. “I knew you would find them, my dear. They didn’t hurt you, yea?” she asked.

  Before Catherine could answer, Bowen interrupted. “We need to prepare,” he said, his jaw set.

  “Aye, of course, you two go. Take this.” Mary handed Bowen a small basket filled with sandwiches and water bottles. “I’ll be in the house if you need me,” she said.

  Catherine spotted the water and guzzled one down completely. After the two ate the delicious sandwiches, they prepared for what was next.

  “What did the wee folk say?” Bowen asked, looking at the star bulb.

  “They said they couldn’t tell me, that I must feel it myself,” Catherine explained.

  He looked curiously at her. “You’ve experienced some of the power now, haven’t you?”

  Catherine sighed. “Yes, but I don’t know how it happened. I don’t understand it!”

  “When did it first happen?”

  “I—I’m honestly not sure,” she answered. She couldn’t be certain whether it had been her overactive imagination, or if it had been the power leaking through the whole time. “But it happened for sure before I went into the forest.”

  “What did?”

  “I saw the great oak tree alive and tall above me, among other things,” she answered, reluctantly thinking of Conall and his wife.

  “Have you experienced any other heightened senses?” Bowen wondered.

  Catherine thought about it, and couldn’t think of anything different besides her heightened emotions. “Just my moods really, but that could be from all that’s happened,” she said.

  “Yes, you’re right . . .” he gently massaged his shoulder. The soreness was gone now. All that remained was an occasional ache. “Catherine?”

  “Yes?”

  “Has anything become a need for you?”

  Catherine wrinkled her nose, “What do you mean?”

  “Like something you absolutely must have, and once you do you feel better instantly? Almost like an addiction,” he replied.