A Witch's Quest

by Leigh Ann Edwards

  He shook his head furiously at that consideration as Alainn drew nearer still holding tight to the fairy who angrily attempted to pull from her grasp.

  “Giants don’t eat fairies. That’s absurd!” another fairy who flew to her friend’s aid claimed.

  “Are you certain?” Alainn questioned.

  “Entirely,” several called out in unison as the small fairy hit at Alainn’s hand ineffectively.

  “It may very well be that giants believe wicked fairies would be displeasing to the taste when you are so bitter and vile to all those around you.”

  “We are most certainly not vile, and giants have never been known to eat fairies.”

  “Perhaps it is only that giants fear fairies so greatly, they have never dared to get close enough to taste them. Close your eyes giant, and open your mouth for if these fairies are apparently beautiful and physically appealing, they must surely be tasty as well!”

  The giant eyed her with some suspicion, but she noticed he appeared less disturbed and he was no longer trembling. She contemplated climbing up the giant’s massive body, to get nearer to his mouth, but considering his tremendous size and the many thistles protruding from his body, with her holding tight to the fairy, that would be an impossible consideration. Since her magic appeared to be powerful here in this realm, she attempted another unusual feat. She allowed herself to first float, and then to fly.

  The fairies were in awe and clearly stunned at this happening. She flew up to the giant’s head and she, too, hovered in midair.

  “Open your mouth and stick out your tongue, giant, for this is sure to be the sweetest delight you have ever tasted since she is so obviously tantalizing, so very lovely and petite and therefore undeniably appealing.”

  The giant appeared unsure at first, but finally looked at Alainn with understanding and he actually knowingly winked at her with his enormous eye. He opened his mouth wide and stuck out his unbelievably long, wide tongue, and the entire ring of fairies shrieked so loudly the giant covered his ears in terror at the shrill sound.

  “Oh wait, giant,” Alainn pulled the fairy back, and the others breathed a collective sigh of relief. “I don’t know your name, and since it appears we are surely destined to be friends, I think we should introduce ourselves. I am Alainn of the line of Aine, the fairy princess, Celtic warrior and defender of all women.”

  She heard the various gasps and whispers behind her and the giant who clearly had never heard of Aine, looked at Alainn with new curiosity.

  “And your name?”

  “I am Dardangranov,” he said proudly in a deep voice that loudly resonated.

  “I am well pleased to meet you, Dardangranov!” She smiled warmly and she held her hand out uncertain how they might accomplish the feat of shaking hands. He moved his smallest finger toward her which was surely as big as her entire body, but she gently touched her hand to his fingertip and he smiled widely. Alainn was sure most creatures were not overly receptive to meeting, touching, or befriending a giant.

  Alainn continued to hold tight to the fairy as she squirmed and attempted to free herself.

  “Oh aye, I’d nearly forgotten you were about to have your first taste of surely a delicious wee tidbit, perhaps hardly worth the effort, although I suppose if you were to eat the entire lot of these wicked fairies it might be considered an appetizer.”

  Several of the fairies backed away at this, but some of the nastier of the bunch appeared not to be swayed by the fact Alainn was of the line of Aine, or that she might feed one of their own to a giant. Perhaps they simply didn’t believe she would go through with it.

  “How can you bear to be so near him, in all his repulsive and offensive ugliness?” the one who was perhaps the queen of this wicked ring of fairies questioned.

  “And how do you determine ugliness, Berthina?”

  “How is it you know our names?” she spat.

  “Do you not know all creatures’ names? Are you not gifted in regard to second sight? Should I slight you because you do not possess that ability or because we are not the same?”

  “Giants are huge and, monstrous, and hideously ugly.”

  “So all things large are ugly in your opinion?”

  The nasty fairy nodded.

  “So the sky is ugly, the sun, the moon, the mountains, and the sea?”

  “No,” the snooty fairy snapped in response. “Only large creatures are ugly,” she impatiently explained.

  “So by your assessment unicorns, magical golden stags, silver titan kelpies and gods are ugly? Is Aine unappealing in your opinion for she is considerably larger than all of you?”

  “Witch, you are impossible!”

  “You are not the first, nor surely not the last to declare such a belief. I am simply attempting to comprehend. You must explain your reasoning. If you believe all things large are displeasing or ugly, am I correct in assuming you are of the belief all things tiny are beautiful then?”

  The fairy nodded her head, but with some hesitation as she saw Alainn look down to the ground below and with the slightest wave of her hand she summoned hundreds of insects, spiders, toads and field mice.

  “Eeeeek!” many of the fairies shrieked in alarm and flew further upward distancing themselves from the crawling creatures.

  “Are they not diminutive therefore surely physically tempting and attractive?”

  Alainn was startled to see the giant hungrily lick his lips and begin to scoop up great handfuls of the insects and small creatures and eagerly drop them in his mouth.

  “Do you not see? He is entirely repugnant?” Berthina actually gagged as she watched the giant devour the creatures.

  “You should neither judge nor compare yourself to others, for always you will become either bitter at your believed inadequacy, or vain in your perceived superiority. We should celebrate diversity and be thankful we are not all entirely the same.”

  The fairy, who remained held in Alainn’s fingertips, was now shrieking and squirming when she saw the great number of tiny creatures the giant was swallowing. She likely assumed now that his appetite was whetted he might very well like to see if fairy was to his liking.

  “I tire of this tedious discussion,” Berthina scowled as she spoke. “Put Blithe down immediately and be on your way. You have interrupted our afternoon’s sport for long enough.”

  “So you mean to simply return to harming and terrorizing Dardangranov for sport should I take leave?”

  She did not respond but the deviously wicked smile upon her tiny pinched face revealed that certainty.

  “Perhaps you might prefer your meal cooked this day, Dardangranov?” Alainn glared at the despicable fairy as she spoke, and with her free hand she aptly created a fireball which she feigned placing near the fairy before she sent it flying to the nearby pond where it sizzled and dissipated.

  Since all fairies are unusually susceptible to fire, this clearly terrified them. The entire ring of fairies continued shrieking in unison so loudly that it disturbed even Alainn’s ears. The giant covered his ears again and bellowed loudly to drown out the sharp shrieking. A good many of them frighteningly stared at Alainn and then flitted away. A dozen or so remained perhaps to learn what fate would befall their companion. By now Blithe had stopped struggling and pitifully dangled limply from Alainn’s fingers as she stared up at Alainn in desperation.

  Alainn floated back down to the ground and mercifully allowed the tiny fairy to go free. She seemed relieved and flew away as soon as she was released. Her companion, Berthina was apparently not ready to let this go so easily.

  “You cannot simply appear in our realm and order us about. You have no importance or authority here in this location. Go back to where you hail from and leave us be.”

  “Leave you so you are free to torment my new friend? I think not,” Alainn declared.

  “So you intend to remain here to be the giant’s protector? Have you no life or purpose back in your realm?”

  “Of course I have a li
fe and a purpose, and in truth I have tarried far too long in this realm, but I will not simply permit you to terrorize Dardangranov or any other giants.”

  “And what could you possibly do to prevent it,” the snippy fairy queried.

  “Hmmmmm, allow me to think on that awhile.”

  She spoke a purposeful spell in a language the fairies couldn’t comprehend, but Alainn explained.

  “From this day forward should any fairies whose hearts are consumed with cruel wickedness, cause harm or terror to any giant who’s done them no wrong, they’ll see themselves turned into insects, mice, or toads. You’ll surely be far more appealing to the giants in that form, so they’ll no longer fear you, but gobble you up.”

  She noticed how the queen of the burdensome fairies stared disapprovingly at the giant. She dared to fly nearer to him. She poked his arm and then painfully pushed a thistle deep within his neck before she nastily spat upon the giant.

  “You vindictive little bitch!” Alainn snarled, and she threw out her hand and the fairy soared through the air to her hand with no ability to resist.

  “You cannot seem to listen to reason, no matter how diligently I attempt to frighten or warn you. You must be made to realize your size or your physical appearance does not dictate your position or good standing in this realm or any other. How you treat others, lowly creatures and mighty gods alike is what shall determine whether you are to be admired or respected. And since you have failed to listen or to learn your lesson, you will be judged. Since you seem so fond of spitting you’ll be fated to spit, Berthina for spiders are given to spitting.”

  The detestable fairy had no time to debate her fate, but the remaining fairies were horrified when Berthina was immediately transformed into a hairy-legged spider. Some shrieked, some wept, others simply flew away surely never to return.

  Alainn saw the spider viciously scurry toward the giant’s large bare toe with the intent of biting him. She undoubtedly would always remain a mean-spirited creature even though Alainn had drastically changed her outward appearance. Alainn narrowed her eyes at the nasty creature and lifted her foot desiring greatly to squash the loathsome little being.

  Instead the giant simply snatched up the small arachnid and quickly devoured it with a huge pleased smile upon his face.

  “Oops!” Alainn grimaced as she heard the giant swallow loudly.

  Now that no fairies remained to intimidate the giant, he stood to his full height. Alainn bent her neck backward and looked up as far as she could, but still couldn’t capably see his face. She was startled to see him bend over and place her in his hand. She felt he posed no threat to her. She was hopeful he had no inclination toward tasting witch this day.

  When he gently lifted her closer to his face she wasn’t completely confident of his intentions. But she soon realized he simply wanted to look closer at her so that she was able to see him eye to eye.

  “I thank you, Alainn. I have been trapped here within this realm for many moons now and each day the wicked fairies tormented me. I wasn’t certain how I could bear it any longer. I simply want to return to my kind.”

  “Aye, I understand entirely, Dardangranov. That is my wish, also, for I am not even certain how I came to be here. I wished myself home, only to find myself in a dark grey cold land with no light present...”

  “You have been in the realm of the gloom and hopelessness?”

  “Perhaps, for it was certainly gloomy, I know not the name of the realm.”

  “It is said that when a demon or any being who possesses evil powers attempts to lure someone to them if they are not yet powerful enough, they are left in limbo in the realm of hopeless gloom. They remain there until the evil one’s powers grow or the one kept imprisoned willingly gives themselves to the demon simply to be released from the unpleasantness. The demons are said to maintain control over whatever beings have aided them in life and they remain bound even after death for they control their souls.”

  Alainn shuddered realizing the horrific beings she had seen the previous night had surely suffered that fate.

  “Do you have a demon after you?” the giant asked when he saw Alainn’s fearful expression.

  “Aye,” she admitted.

  “I have never heard of someone escaping the realm of gloom before, not ever. You must have strong magical protection, or the gods must be looking out for you.”

  “I only know I am most thankful for whatever it was that has allowed me to flee that loathsome realm.”

  “And I am thankful for you, Alainn. Not many would stand up to the Trifling Troubles, the wicked fairies who have brought mayhem to many realms and the leader, the queen of the ring, Berthina was the nastiest of the lot.”

  “The one you just swallowed?” She tried not to smile.

  “The one you turned into a wee beastie.” He grinned.

  “It is to be hoped the remainder of the wicked fairies will have learned their lesson from Berthina’s demise.”

  Dardangranov nodded in agreement.

  “Now you must allow me to remove those thistles for they are sure to become inflamed and oozing.”

  He simply nodded his head, carefully placed her down on the ground, and sat back down obediently. She worked to pull out some of the many thistles, finally employing her magic to do so and to create a soothing remedy from the golden flowers that grew nearby.

  “They no longer sting so fiercely,” the giant declared appreciatively.

  “Good, I’m well pleased. This remedy is almost always beneficial to humans and though I have never assisted in healing a giant, I am thankful it has calmed your discomfort as well.”

  “Do you know how a giant might find his way back to his own realm?” he asked as he stood once more.

  She shrugged and from where she stood so small upon the ground, she called up to him, “Do you know how a witch might find her way back to Ireland?”

  “Ireland,” the giant said the word in a pleasing manner as he picked her up once more so that she wouldn’t be made to shout. “It sounds enchanting.”

  “It is, and I must get back to my husband straightaway.”

  “I am certain he will want you back. You are a most interesting and lovely young witch.”

  “And have you met other witches?” She smiled.

  “No,” he sheepishly grinned, “but it makes you no less lovely or interesting because I haven’t met others.”

  “And I have never met a giant before and I’m happy to learn you are a kind and gentle giant.”

  “I bid you fond farewell, Alainn!” the giant spoke and his voice suddenly shook with deep emotion. As Alainn stared up at him she noticed a single tear rolled down his huge cheek. As she remained in the palm of his hand it fell upon her and thoroughly soaked her. It was as though she had taken a dip in a sea, so warm and salty was the water. The magical tear seemed to restore her and she felt her powers grow.

  “God speed to you, Dardangranov. I wish you well in finding your way back to your kind.”

  “And you in finding your husband. Perhaps we shall meet again one day, Alainn and for your uncommon courage and kindness this day, know this, if ever me or any of my kind should be able to assist you, it will be a certainty.”

  She placed her fingers to her lips and blew a kiss to him as she smiled up at him and as he gently placed her upon the ground. She felt the earth lowly rumble as he walked away. She watched him for a long time and he turned back often to wave to her. All the while she dwelled on how she might attempt to wish herself back to Killian and not end up back in the terrifying realm of gloom and hopelessness.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Alainn knew she must attempt to magically wish herself back to her world, but every time she considered what it would be to be sent back to the realm of hopeless gloom and despair, she stopped short of using her powers. She felt paralyzed by fear and hesitant to make a move. She was reluctant to ask for help, but she knew she must.

  “Aine,” she called out loudly, “Are
you able to hear me? I am much in need of your assistance at this time.”

  A large pond appeared beside her that hadn’t been present before. In it she saw the reflection of Aine’s face. She was able to hear the Celtic goddess speak to her and the water rippled as she spoke.

  “I am not able to come to you, Alainn. You have fallen upon a portal that even gods are not permitted to enter.”

  “How can that be?” Alainn queried.

  “You have entered the middle lands through a portal that only briefly opens at certain moon phases. You are only the third human to have ever discovered the magical staircase and escaped the endless corridor.”

  “Diadra and my father were the two others?”

  The goddess nodded her head.

  “There are those who have been trapped there for centuries for time is in perpetual standstill there. The beings trapped there continue to enter one portal after another in an attempt to finally return to their world. They often meet with peril and misfortune.”

  “As I might have done in the realm of gloom and hopelessness?”

  “You were most fortunate your amulet guided you to the portal. The druid magic within the amulet is strong and your connection to your world enabled you to find the staircase. It is said those who have an uncommonly strong romantic connection to the human world are able to return. It was so with Diadra and with Teige.”

  “Do you know how I might make my way back to my realm?”

  “I am confident you have the magical ability to return, but the demon notices when you employ your magic and most especially when you use it to cross the portals. He is envious of this ability for he can only be taken to limited realms. He schemes to take your powers for with the ability to travel to many realms and to span time he would be capable of journeying to the future and learning that Danhoul is Diadra and Ardal’s son. It is surely Odhran who controls the demon. All the gods in our realm have been unable to locate Odhran in all these centuries and I assure you, it is not because we have not attempted it.”