Kelpie (Come Love a Fey) (29 page)

She
sighed and tilted her head back to catch the thin warmth of the watery sun that
shone down on us.  A bird called in the forest, and its voice seemed to echo
forever in the immense openness, not drowned out by traffic or machinery.  “The
old stories about me say that I steal human children.”

I
shrugged.  “Don’t all fey?”

She
nodded.  “Your kind does tend to paint us all as evil.  We are all judged by
the actions of a few.”

I
plucked a stalk of long that grew by the water’s edge, and ran my thumbnail
over the seed head while she spoke.  Obviously, she had something she wanted to
say to me.  I didn’t particularly want to hear it, but it’s not like I had
anything better to do with my time, what with being trapped in Faerie and all.

“Even
in all the human stories, I was never accused of actually harming the
children.  At least they got something right.”  She tilted her head.  “I am a
mother, you see.  Though I’ve never given birth it is my…talent….my affinity,
to be a mother.”

I
rolled my eyes.  “So you decided you’d just steal other people’s children?”

The
old woman pulled a small bag out of her dress pocket and began feeding bits of
bread to the fish.  The blue monstrosities came eagerly to the surface,
smacking their mouths loudly as they gulped at the food. 

“Yes,”
she said, matter of fact.  “When they didn’t deserve the dear souls, I took
them.”  Her eyes looked sad.  “You have never seen an abused child, one who is
starving, or alone, or in pain.  I took them and gave them a better life- love
and food and shelter- so that they could grow into good people and have good
lives.”

I
stared at her, not knowing what to say.

“Leith
was one of my children,” she said softly.  “His parents were old, even for fey,
when he was born.  Old fey- they don’t ever really die, but they sometimes fade
away.  Some turn into trees or stone, some just fade- they go somewhere else. 
His parents had faded away.  When I found him, he was nearly grown but he was
very alone.  I gave him family, brought him his clan and his followers so that
he would always be surrounded by those that cared for him- and so his darker
nature wouldn’t overwhelm him.”

A
chill breeze ruffled my hair and I pulled my knees up, wrapping my arms around
them.  I listened to Mair as she spun her tale, utterly rapt at this glimpse
into Leith’s past. 

She
shrugged.  “I should leave after that, after I knew he was cared for, but
somehow I just couldn’t.  I had grown too attached to him.  So, I became one of
his clan as well.  Apparently, I still had some motherly duty left to perform.”

I
nodded.  “So you cursed Leith and his clan and hid them from Adhene.  It must
have been so lonely for you all those years.”

She
smiled, a sly, tremulous thing that didn’t belong on her old face.  “I knew I only
had to bide my time until I had them back again.”  She gave me a look.  “But
there was another part to the curse I cast back then.”

I
arched my eyebrows at her.  She had alluded to something like that before, and
I seemed to have something to do with it.

“I
am a mother,” she said again.  “One of the greatest gifts I could give my child
is love.  I prayed that when he awoke, he would find his soul mate- but not
just any woman would do.  I asked for a woman with strength, an open mind- the
ability to love all creatures unconditionally, and above all, loyalty and the
ability to fiercely defend what she holds dear.  I asked for all the qualities
of a mother- but in a mate.”  She cackled.  “It didn’t occur to me to specify
that it should be a fey woman.  I could have died when I saw you the first
time, a human!”

I
let out a short laugh.  “Well, maybe you’ll get it right next time.”

She
cackled again.  “No, no…I don’t think so.”  She reached out and patted me on
the shoulder.  “I don’t think any magic could be more perfectly executed. 
Everything I asked for was granted, and he went right to you in his confusion. 
You saved his life.  Thank you.”

She
stood and looked toward the house.  “I am entrusting you with my most precious
child,” she said softly.  “Keep that in mind while you are breaking his heart.”

*****

  I
sat on the edge of the bed, stroking Cat.  I weighed my feelings, ending up
confused and conflicted.  I took a deep breath and stood, leaving Cat pooled on
the bed in a sleepy pile.  Going to my little bathroom, I slipped a bathrobe
over the ridiculous, lacy nightgown Bethany had given me.  Then I made my way
downstairs.

The
house was still and dark.  I padded across the kitchen and out onto the porch. 
The late fall air was chill and crisp.  The moon was full, and it painted the
world in silver and black.  A towel was draped over the handrail.  There was a
soft splash from the water in front of me as I sank down on the wooden steps
and pulled my knees up under my chin.  It was chilly outside, and I huddled
under my robe.  This place was so immense and quiet.  I closed my eyes and
breathed in the night air, feeling like I was the only person in the world.

The
bottom step creaked, and I opened my eyes to find Leith standing there, a
looming figure, half shadow, half silvery light.  He toweled off and came to
sit next to me.  “What is it, Ada?”  His deep voice was full of concern and
understanding, but he sounded tired. 

I
shrugged in the semi-dark.  “Nothing.”

He
tilted his head, and his sharp profile was outlined in silver.  “Were you
scared?  I’m sorry; I should have told you I was leaving the house.  But no one
will harm you here.”

I
picked up my head.  “I’m not scared.”

He
sighed.  “Ada, I know you are angry, and I’m sorry.”  He shifted to sit closer. 
His big hand took mine and I didn’t protest.  “You’re right.  I should have objected
more to the king’s orders.  I should have fought for you to keep your old life.”

I
shrugged.  “Like you said, there was really nothing you could do.  The king gave
you an order.”

He
stroked the back of my hand with his thumb.  “It’s true- but that’s only part
of it.  I didn’t
want
to talk him out of it.  I have been selfish.  I
wanted you here at my side.  I’m sorry.”

I
sighed.  “Well, you’ve been selfish, but then I’ve been stubborn to the point
of idiocy.”  I squeezed his hand.  “I missed you constantly after you left.  I
regretted sending you away the minute the words left my mouth.”

He
turned to me in surprise.  “Can you forgive me?”

I
laughed.  “Well… maybe.  But you’re gonna have to work for it.”

He
chuckled softly, a deep, rich sound.  “Ah.  That sounds fair.  How should I
start, then?”

His
lips met mine.  I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him closer and his
hands slid inside my robe, pushing it off my shoulders.  He drew me to my feet.
 Stooping, he ran his hands up my thighs, pushing the nightgown up as his hands
skimmed over my body.  He stood and pulled it off over my head.

I
tugged the towel loose and let it drop to the ground, running my hands over his
hips and up across his broad chest.  I giggled in surprise as he lifted me into
the air and made his way back toward the water.

“You’ve
got to be kidding, it’s freezing!”  I clutched at his shoulders, clinging to
him for warmth.  He reached the water and waded in, carrying me with him. 

Cool
water- not nearly as cold as it should be- lapped around my ribs and Leith’s
big, warm hands glided over my skin.  I wrapped my legs around his waist and he
bent his head to draw my sensitive nipple into his warm mouth.  I gasped and
ran my hands through his tangled hair, holding him close.

His
hands settled on my hips and he urged me down to meet him.  He slid inside me
smoothly, and I moaned as he pressed deep.  He pressed his forehead to mine. 
“I love you,” he murmured. 

I
looked into his glowing eyes and moved with him, losing myself in his world. 
“I love you, kelpie.”

The
beast beneath me slowed to a walk and I pushed a branch out of our way.  I
turned so that both legs were on one side of the huge creature, and then slid
to the ground.  Landing in what I hoped was a graceful maneuver, I paused to
shake out the skirt of my light sundress.  I was getting more coordinated, I
thought happily.  I tucked my thumbs into the straps of the old backpack I wore
and waited for Leith to shift.

Once
he was a person again, I unzipped the bag and handed him his clothes.  He
slipped into the loose fitting pants and shirt and slung the bag over one
shoulder.  I took his hand as we stepped out of the sheltering arms of the lush
forest and into my parent’s back yard.  I looked back, seeing only a few
saplings and some privacy fence where moments before there had been towering
ancient oaks. 

“I’m
never going to get used to that,” I said, shaking my head.  Leith, like most
fey, could use his magic to travel, connecting Faerie and the human world like
a child’s dot-to-dot.  It was only after spending time in Faerie that I could
see the scenery as we traveled.  Before that, my narrow human perspective had
only seen darkness.

Leith
chuckled and reached out to ruffle my hair.  “You’re like a child.”

I
narrowed my eyes at him.  “Watch it.”

Turning
toward the house, I took a deep breath and tried to brace myself for what was
to come.  Today was going to be a long day, but I couldn’t wait to see my
parents.  My loser brother had moved back here to be close to them while I was
gone, and I suppose I was excited to see him as well. 

There
was a movement near the back flowerbed and I lifted a hand in greeting, getting
a grudging wave from my Mom’s garden gnome in return.  “Well,” I said,
exhaling, “should we go in?”  Leith laughed and propelled me forward with a
hand in the small of my back.  

*****

Stepping
out onto the wooden stage, I made my way to the little podium in the center and
tried not to look like I was hiding behind the thing.  I tapped my note cards on
the podium while I took a moment to center myself, then I looked out at the
room full of curious attendees and reporters.  This situation was as new to
most of them as it was to me.  I smiled and took a deep breath.

“
Hello.  My name
is Ada Burke and I am a human representative for the fey.”  I cleared my
throat.  “The world was awed when the first of the fey began to show themselves
to us after hundreds of years in hiding.”  I paused to breathe.

“I
know that many of you were baffled by their revelation- maybe even a little
scared.  We’ve all heard the fairytales and stories that have been passed
down.  There is the grain of truth in these stories.  The trouble is, with any
tale, the story morphs over time, and with each telling becomes less like the
original.  This has happened with fairy tales and stories about the fey- to the
point where their race is categorized as either silly and whimsical, or
terribly evil. 

Rest
assured, these are just stories.  The real fey are the guardians of all life
here on our planet… on the planet we share.  They are gentle and beneficial…
and we are killing them in our ignorance.”  I kept smiling, not letting myself
think of the things I was glossing over.

“Now
more than ever, it is our time to step up and take responsibility for our
actions.  We can no longer hide behind the thin excuse of ignorance as we push
our world toward extinction.  We have so much to learn from the fey; and they
are ready to teach us.”

“There
will undoubtedly be many challenges as we seek to find balance with our good
neighbors.  I urge you all to go forth with an open mind.  The fey have lived
alongside us in secrecy since the beginning of time.  They are new to us, but
we are not new to them.  They have seen all the mistakes we’ve made in the past,
and they are justifiably wary.  I urge you all to keep a clear head and a sense
of fairness.  Legislators may try to enact laws that restrict the freedom of
the fey.  Let’s make sure those measures fail.  Segregation and discrimination
cannot be tolerated.”  Half-truths again.  It couldn’t be helped.  If a bunch
of ignorant, angry humans went in, guns-a-blazin’ we would all die.

“As
a human who has interacted closely with our good neighbors for some time now, I
can tell you, wholeheartedly, and without any reservations, that full cooperation
and acceptance of the fey will be unimaginably beneficial to both races.  We
stand on the brink of a new horizon, limited only by our own visions of the
future.”

I
caught a glimpse of Leith at the edge of the crowd.  He nodded and I smiled in
return. 

“
Thank you for
your time.”

Clapping
started somewhere in the crowd, probably instigated by the intermingled fey. 
It spread to a dull roar and every hand in the reporters’ section went up at
once.  It was going to be the longest hour of my life.  I had to weigh my words
carefully.  The human world knew about fairies, and sprites and garden gnomes. 
They didn’t know about pooka, and goblins and kelpies.  They knew about the
hastily established panel of fey representatives that was involved in all
decisions regarding the fey.  They didn’t know about the king who made their
decisions powerless.