Fiction Short Story

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Fiction Short Story

by Joan McNulty Pulver

A Dream of Love

Deep in the heart of the Emerald Isle is a hidden forest where the fair folk live and play. Within this forest is a beautiful glade where wild flowers of every hue and shade grow. I, Sean O'Malley, know this because I went there on the eve of Ehtele'mele. For those of you who do not know, it is the vernal equinox, the celebration of the renewal of life.

I woke slowly with memories of stolen kisses shared with a beautiful redhaired woman still lingering on my lips. I have been sharing dreams with her since I was a child. I dreamed of a far away place where she and I played together as children and fell in love, as we grew older. It was a place where all your dreams could come true.

Sluggish, I rose from my bed yawning and stretching to limber up my body. After eating a hearty breakfast, I stepped outside to a beautiful day, full of sunshine with just a touch of a breeze. I decided to walk to the village to get some supplies for a trip I planned to take. As I strolled along the road a green mist began to form, first around the bottom of my feet, then slowly working its way upward until I could barely see a few yards in front of me. Startled, I tried to turn toward my home, but whichever way I turned I always seemed to be heading west, away from the rising sun. Suddenly before me was a huge tree, so tall and leafy that I could not see the sky. Looking around I realized that trees surrounded me on all sides. Where had I gone and how had I gotten here? Panic started to overtake me when, from out of nowhere, I heard the sounds of harp and ocarina music coming from afar. Curiously it calmed me down. I decided to investigate.

I followed the sound of the sweet music until I reached a wide and spacious glade. There I saw a wondrous sight, tiny fairies flitting around the ocarina musician's head. Beautiful, tall and graceful people with pointy ears were dancing round a pole. I knew in a second that these were the legendary elves of old. Sitting around the cooking fires were gnomes, dwarfs, and trolls. The aroma wafting from the food tantalized my tastebuds and made my mouth water in anticipation. In the trees were hundreds of dryads swaying in the branches to the beat of the music. I stood frozen in my steps, staring at this amazing sight. Somehow, I felt I had seen this place before. Was it only in the fairy books of my youth? Or had I been here before? If so, how and when? What was I doing here now?

Looking around, I spied a little man dressed in green sitting under the weeping willow tree by which I stood. A large circle of mushrooms surrounded him. In his hand he held a tiny little hammer. He appeared to be making a pair of golden slippers.

Not knowing what to say as he doffed his cap to me, I simply asked, "Whom are you making the slippers for, little man?"

"Why for the Fairy Queen, of course. Who else would be able to afford them? She must have them for the feast tonight."

"Feast?" I asked, glancing at the cooking fires again.

"Yes, sire, the feast in honor of Ehtele'mele. Tonight there will be dancing and singing and the biggest feast you have ever seen. On this day sixteen years ago, the Princess Teranika was born."

"That is an unusual name. Where does it come from?"

"It is a name from the old tongue. It means earth's victory. Today is her coming of age celebration, as well as that of the vernal equinox. Tonight she must pick a life partner but her parents and she disagree on who that should be."

"Why? Is the elf she has chosen of ill repute or has he some other bad flaw to his personality?"

"No, it is because he is not an elf. The princess claims to have fallen in love with a human in her dreams. She claims his magic is very strong and he is in love with her, although they have never met on this plane of existence."

"Her parents told her that if his magic is as powerful as she claims, he should be able to find her here and they have forbidden her to venture forth to find him. I have been set the task of guarding this gate to the meadow to see if he comes. Only if he steps into this fairy circle can she speak to him. He must come tonight at the witching hour and declare his love if he truly wishes to make her his bride."

"Which one is the Elfin Princess, may I ask?"

"Over there," said the leprechaun, pointing to the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.

"I know her...I know her, from somewhere. I don't know how or when but I have met her." I knew where, but could not bring myself to say that I had been here before in my dreams."

"Oh my," said the little green clad man. "You are the man from dreamland. You are the man she wants to marry."

I stepped over the mushrooms, thinking, "This is the fairy circle from all the tales my mother read to me as a child? I sat upon the ground, by the tree. "I wonder if that is why I have never married. Could it be that all other women have fallen short of my dream of the ideal woman?" I felt very tired. I leaned back against the tree, intending to rest for only a moment. Sleep overtook me and again I dreamed of the beautiful red-haired maiden. She came to me, clad in a flowing white dress; the trim embroidered with flowers of every color imaginable. She wore silver shoes and jewelry and silver ribbons studded with pearls were woven into her hair.

She came toward me holding out her hands. "When the moon is high you will awaken and the leprechaun will ask you to make a decision on either coming here to me or returning to your home. If you step out of the ring of mushrooms to your left you will find yourself on the road home. If that is your choice you will never see me again, not even in your dreams. If you step to your right you will be in my world. Beware; if you choose to come to me you will not be able to return to your world, as you know it. Every day in here is a lifetime in your world. If you were to go back, even after one day everyone you know would have aged greatly or have passed on to their just rewards. Rest now and think well and hard, my love, for the choice you make will determine the course of our lives."

As I slept, I dreamed of emerald green seas, beautiful cities of ivory, silver and gold which held the most spectacular gardens full of flowers, trees and water fountains. There, in the midst of all the splendor my beautiful Princess Teranika awaited me. She was a picture to behold, smiling brightly as she watched the festivities going on around her.

The scenery changed and I could see how my life would be in my world. I would live as I always have. My life would be full and happy but I would never find the right mate, for no one could measure up to my dream. My family had all gone on to the other world and I was alone. That was when I knew what I would do. My decision was made.

When I awoke I asked the Leprechaun if he had any writing material. He gave me some parchment, a quill and some ink. Then I penned this account of my day. I laid it outside the fairy ring as I stepped to the right to join my one true love.

© Copyright 2003 Joan McNulty Pulver

About the Author:

Joan McNulty Pulver was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. She moved to Florida about 30 years ago and decided to stay. She has four children (two girls and two boys) and four grandchildren (three boys and one girl). She works as an Administrative Secretary for the State of Florida and plans to retire in about seven years. That's when Joan wants to start her real career, writing. She hopes to have at least one novel finished and published by then. She does a little volunteer work here at WVU and enjoys this community of writers. She says she has learned so much here and likes helping others learn along with her.