Every day she passed that dark and tangled wood on her way to work and everyday she would feel their eyes upon her from the shadows. Whispers, murmurs -glimpses of otherworldly fragments. Of course, it was her imagination once again. –No one believed the claims she accounted, her sanity questioned every time she opened her mouth. In the end she had decided to discuss it no more. Every day she would hurry passed that dreaded place and pretend she heard nothing, saw nothing. Eventually she began to question herself too. After all, these things she witnessed –she was the only one that saw them. Was it her own mind creating elaborate events? Was her head that fragile? People's comments, harsh opinions were leading her to suspect so. "I'm crazy," she had finally admitted in great defeat one afternoon. Everything had become too much to handle.
Today however, things were different. Sun hung low overhead, hazy, warm and irritating. Tired and longing to sink into a cool bath Anna had left work on this mid Autumnal day with a sense of relief. The weekend was upon her now; she was at the furthest point from having to return to her mundane receptionist job. –Bliss. The only obstacle between her and safety was the long winding road that passed through the forest. She hated it.
As she began the slight decent along the roadside she shuddered. Huge trees sprang up, blocking out the sun's light. All felt cool and disturbing. Already she could hear the whispers, murmurs from within. Tucking her arms around her tightly she powered her legs up the hill as fast as her muscles would allow. Her heart was pounding rapidly within, hammering against her chest. It burned as she sucked in the damp air, gasping for more. Creaking and groaning sounded from beside her; she tried not to let her eyes wander into the woods. It was no use; they found their own way into the trees, scanning frantically. Something was moving beside her in the undergrowth, she was certain. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she turned her head to look. Nothing.
"It's just me, no one's there." She told herself out loud.  She cried in alarm and stopped suddenly as giggling in the distance sounded, a mocking laughter it seemed to her. Anger welled inside. Perhaps it was someone she knew out to play a prank, out to scare her? Months of fear and frustration, of endless night's sleep, of questioning her sanity erupted from deep within her like a volcano. Without thinking any further she stepped across the ditch and into the trees determined to prove she was not afraid.  It was a mistake that would cost her her freedom.
Anna stood in awe at the sights that now filled her eyes, the sounds that played across her ears and the scents that swirled about her nose. Before her lay a great and spectacular party -a banquet. Splendorous tables of every kind of food and wine and displays of flowers lay under golden bough trees, carefully presented in the wondrous of fashions. Ribbons of green and red, bells and bows adorned the trunks beautifully. Music, the sweetest sound she had ever heard came from every direction, spinning and circling as if alive itself around her. But what took her stare, what caught her gaze were the limitless entities, glistening dancers that moved effortlessly about the trees. Their clothes of the finest garments, of silks spun by skilled spiders, feathers from the tails of bountiful birds. Petals and flowers collected in summer and preserved with some ancient magic lined their luminous hair as each moved gracefully within their lover's arms. Butterflies paraded in gorgeous synchronisation. Elvish faces, weaving magic, crimson leaves and endless beauty circled her like a dream. She couldn't move, couldn't think -only stare in wonder.
Mischievous goblins, drunken from the many fine wines hung from high branches laughing loudly. Lights, ethereal forms weaved through branches, their lights trailing behind them like shooting stars. The trees themselves seemed to move also, their branches swaying with the beats of Faery drummers. Winds whipped Autumnal leaves like confetti about them. Animals: deer, rabbits, birds and foxes danced and ate, talked with the precession.
"A dream," she stammered, "I'm dreaming," she choked.
"Not a dream human girl, a tribute to summer!" came a young voice from behind her. She turned to see a small Faery child starring up at her with ghostly eyes. His giggle she recognised.
"It was you that lured me here!" she gasped in realisation.
"No not I, you came by yourself!" he laughed and took her hand in his own pulling her further into the party. His skin resembled the face of the moon, white, luminous and glorious. Before she could react she had joined the dance, spiralling and spinning wildly with the otherworldly child. All became a blur of sound and movement, laughter and merriment overwhelmed her as they danced to the magic. Hours seemed to pass her by in moments, the sun grew lower in the sky and then the stars came out to play. The forest came alive with glowing lights and roaring fires.
When her legs could dance no more, she collapsed under a tall oak tree to watch the party.
"Come along lady!" cried the Faery boy, "There's much dancing still left tonight!"
"I can move no more!" she replied exhausted.
"You humans tire far too easily!" he teased and handed her a glass of wine. "Drink and eat then! Take your fill." And before she had realised he had spun away with the dancers laughing and cheering merrily.
The wine was like nothing she had ever tasted. Various smells of berries, flowers, spices and honey filled her nose. It was cool, sliding down her throat gloriously and setting a fire within her. She thanked an extremely tall, slender goblin as he filled her glass once again and drank the wondrous liquid down. Berries, cakes, roasted nuts and fine biscuits of delicate texture she ate, their tastes lingering on her lips long after they had gone. Still the faeries danced wildly. A group of slender pixyish men came forward, juggling fiery poles and spinning flaming ribbons. The faeries danced faster. She could feel the energy, the magic they emitted; it pounded strongly like the beats of the drums against the forest. The very earth began to shake. Winds circled more, leaves carried with them growing speedily with the party. Trees shook, trembling with excitement. Faery choirs sang their ancient choruses, their high notes reverberating in her ears and sending shivers along her back. Again they grew quicker. Her body tingled, itched with magic that played against her human skin. Her eyes were blurry; the wine had taken its toll.
Glancing down at her feet she gasped and let out a loud laugh.
"What's wrong?" asked the Faery boy joining her once more.
"My feet!" she bellowed in laughter, "Look at them, they've turned into roots! I've had far too much wine!"
"My!" he gasped, "You have been here too long!"
"I've only stayed for a few hours," she chuckled, wiping the hot sweat from her brow.
"I fear not," he began. "I believe the time is different in this place. You must return to your own world if you can." He took her hand and pulled her upright. "Come, I'll show you the way back to the border."
Anna tried to take a step forward -to move her feet, but they wouldn't move -wouldn't budge from the spot where she stood.
"What is wrong lady?" he asked.
"I can't move!" she cried. "My feet, they are stuck!"
He drew closer to take a look at her feet and laughed loudly. "Your legs!" he cried, "They are turning to bark!"
"What?" she stammered glancing down at her legs. He was right; bark now covered her legs, even up to her knees. "What's happening to me?"
"Our magic, it must be too much for you human!" he grinned.
"Then stop it!" she screamed, "Before it spreads further!"
"I can't do that. This is an ancient ritual performed every year. To stop it now would be disastrous!"
"What about me?" she cried tears welling in her pale eyes.
"There's nothing I can do." He shrugged. "It's already spreading, look."
Anna glanced down at her hands as the bark grew rapidly over them, climbing up her arms and over her chest.
"Please do something!" she pleaded, her limbs growing stiff. Soon she was unable to move at all.
"Forgive us lady, there is nothing that can be done." He giggled as leaves sprouted from the branches that shot out of her arms. Her hair became a tangled mass of twigs about her head. Faster and faster the magic spun around her. Faeries, unaware of her predicament danced rapidly around her as if she was one of the many trees of the forest.
"Help me she gasped," her lips ceasing to move."
"Don't worry," he smiled, "You are a tree now. I'll take good care of you!"
"No!" she exclaimed, "I don't want to be a tree!"
"Then you should have stayed away from our world. Anything is possible here; it's your own fault!"
"Save me!" she whimpered and then her mouth sealed.
"Your one of us now," he smiled, patting her gently. "Why would I want to help you?" He took out of his pocket a long piece of crimson ribbon and tied it about her middle. "Perhaps you will awaken next year and dance with me again? For now, you'll just have to sleep," he sung merrily, then skipped off to join his fellow Fae.

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Just a short little story I wrote today -This actually may make no sense at all, have spelling and grammar mistakes by the dozen, but I put all that down to the fact that I am somewhat delirious with flu right now! -So humour me! (If you see anything out of the ordinary let me know!)

**Dont mess or take faeries for granted, you'll turn into a tree!**

© Charlotte Rose 2008.

Its just one of those days! I woke up today and the first thing i did was to fall over the piece of wood I've had to put across my door to keep the kittens from escaping into the unknown house beyond their room! And as i fell over i brought everything else in the vicinity down with me until i was a splattered wreck on the floor! Honestly i went flying! Now my leg is hurting; i think the faeries have had a good laugh at me! ;D There's a mischievous atmosphere in the air, and i know I'm in for more of their trickery! I'm now wondering whether Ive done something to upset them! -usually its pretty peaceful in my house! (so if they are reading this as i type, I'm sorry if Ive offended you!!) ;D

Thought i'd share a picture of one of the kittens! with you all! 

Much love and magic,

xx lottie xx