Keira and the White-Robed Fairy

Keira removed her shoes and stockings and stood to feel the leaves between her toes. She smiled as she squished a few of the leaves with her two big toes, leaving big green spots on her feet. Her mother would scold her for slipping out the house and down to the woods, but Keira wasn’t afraid. She was on an adventure, away from home and her mother’s subjection. She began to walk toward a stream a short distance ahead.

The day was warm and clear, with bits of sun escaping between the leaves of the overhanging trees, warming Keira’s shoulders. The tree branches hung in the air like restless arms. The air carried the woody scent of the trees, shrubs, and leaves, as well as the rumble of the stream.  Keira became aware of a heavy silence; no birds were singing in the branches or flying through the air and there was no breeze rustling the trees. The sound of the water was the only thing breaking through the quietness.

Keira stepped cautiously over leaves and pebbles, careful not to cut her feet on sharp rocks. She almost lost her balance once but caught herself. Mother always told her that if she stumbled, it was the angels telling her not to go any farther. She warned Keira of evil beings, including the Bean-Fionn, who seized children when they went too close to a river or stream and dragged them under the water, to their deaths. How could Keira not go any farther, though, after she had gone to great lengths to slip out of the house unseen and come exploring here? When she reached the stream, she knelt on the soft bank and looked into the water.

The water was so clear that Keira could see not only a distorted reflection of herself, but also every colored rock in the stream bed. She shuddered at the mangled reflection, then reached down with both hands, scooped up some water and drank it. The water was frigid, but it tasted better than the well water they had at home. She took another scoop and drank it as well.

Keira began to be aware of a strange presence in the air. The babble of the stream became louder.  

The sun slipped behind a cloud, and darkness enveloped the place. Keira began to tremble.  She tried to move, but felt herself rooted to her spot, held there by a combination of curiosity and dread.

The air began to feel heavy and oppressive. The darkness was frightening. The silhouettes of the tree branches took on a menacing aspect, as if preparing to attack. Keira was finally able to stand up, but, in the darkness, she couldn’t see the direction from which she had come. She was afraid to walk away for fear she would end up deeper in the woods. She began to breathe hard, overcome by fear.

She looked up and saw, across the water a little way upstream, a tall, auburn-haired woman in a long, white dress, surrounded by an eerie light. The woman was too far away for Keira to see her features, but she appeared beautiful. She was standing shin-deep in the water. Keira wondered if this was one of those dreaded fairies her mother had warned her about. She picked up her shoes and stockings and backed away in the darkness, leaving a short distance between herself and the water. Unable to go any farther in the darkness, she stood and watched the distant figure.

The woman in white began to wade downstream. Her steps were easy as if she were walking on a paved street. The water moved to make way for her. When she was directly across from Keira, she began to cross the stream. Keira was paralyzed, unable to move. When the beautiful woman reached the bank, she stopped, as if unable to go any farther. Her flowing white dress was dry. She smiled at Keira.

“Hello,” said the woman. “I’ve been waiting for you. Welcome.”

“Who are you?” asked Keira, her voice trembling.

“I am the good spirit of the water,” the fairy answered. “Don’t be afraid. If you come with me, I will bring you into a place of enchantment, where you will have good things to eat and plenty of woodlands where you can play forever. The weather is always pleasant there, and there are beautiful flowers and lovely music. You can dance all day long, and you will never have to work.”

Keira stood without moving. She wanted to believe what the fairy was telling her, but her mother’s warnings held her back.

“I see that you doubt me,” said the fairy. “Do not fear, little one. I will never hurt you.”

The fairy looked fixedly at Keira, and her eyes began to emit a soft glow, which grew in intensity until Keira’s mind and spirit were pierced and enveloped by it. Keira began to stumble toward the water.

“Come, come,” said the fairy, and her voice was the most beautiful sound Keira had ever heard. The fairy began to sing in tones that no human voice could produce, and Keira felt as if she no longer had control of her feet; a force outside of her was moving them. “I am under the power of a Bean-Fionn,” she thought. She no longer felt fear.

All of a sudden, another sound broke through the fairy’s song.

“Keira! Where are you? K-E-I-R-A! Dear God, help me find her!”

It was the voice of Keira’s mother.

The Bean-Fionn stopped singing.

“Go away! I don’t want you here!” shrieked the fairy. Keira stopped and turned around to see who was calling.

“Keira! Answer me! Keira!”

Keira suddenly snapped out of the fairy’s spell.

“Mother!” shouted Keira, as loud as she could. “Help me! A Bean-Fionn has me, and I can’t get away!”

Mother and Keira shouted back and forth until Mother burst through the nearby trees, ran to Keira, and clasped her in a tight embrace.

“Let her go! She’s mine!” shouted the fairy.

“No!” said Mother. “I’d rather you drown me. Leave her alone!”

Mother began to murmur a desperate prayer. She urged Keira to join her. As the two continued to pray, the fairy slowly morphed into a hideous old hag. She gave a long, loud wail and disappeared.

The sun once again appeared between the trees. A few birds began to sing, gradually joined by others until a full avian chorus filled the air with joyful music. A cool breeze moved the leaves, and the place seemed filled with life.

Keira could move again. She embraced Mother and said, “Oh, Mother! I will never slip away from home again!”

“Well,” said Mother. “I would punish you, but you have had enough. I am going to give you an early supper and put you to bed. You have had a bad fright.”

“Will you keep the bad spirits away from me?”

“Don’t worry, Baby. I won’t let anything hurt you again.”

Mother took Keira’s hand and they walked home.