*********

“Where’s Rhiannon ?”

“Off casting her spells again,” she heard the taunting voices. With an exasperated sigh she left the village behind.

“This won’t do me any good,” she said to a little brown bird nearby. The bird just flew off.

“Don’t let it get to you,” Heather comforted her.

“See, you’re the problem. Heather, you’re a bird. Yet I understand you and you understand me,” Rhiannon picked up a stone and threw it as hard as she could. The stone disappeared into the darkening sky.

“Hey, easy on the insults here. You aren’t too featherless yourself,” Heather flew just above Rhiannon’s head.

“Atleast I know how to conrtol my bird-dom,” Rhiannon snapped. At this comment Heather flew away where Rhiannon could no longer see her. “Oh Heather I’m sorry! I didn’t mean it. Just this whole evil thing has me under its spell!” Rhiannon yelled up. Heather reappeared and landed on Rhiannon’s shoulder.

“Look Princess. It isn’t my fault your brother had to get big headed. Not my fault it’s up to you. Not my fault you own-”

“Enough! Just stop it okay? I don’t want to hear anymore,” Rhiannon hushed her.

“Let’s hurry. We have to be at Scotland Square. You know how rowdy those leprechauns get with you if they have to wait,” Heather took off of Rhiannon’s shoulder. Rhiannon closed her eyes and in a flash as bright as daylight the entire forest was left animalless.

*************

Kieran pushed ahead of his brothers and sisters. Even his parents couldn’t stand in his way.

“This is so exciting! We’re in Scotland!” he squealed with joy. His coat was zipped up to chin, just like he had promised his mom but their was no way he was going to a Celtic Faireand sticking with those slow pokes the whole time. Music so festive rang out through the clear night and as he squeazed his way through the crowd he could see dancing.

“Kieran, where do you think you’re going?” he heard his Dad call from behind.

“To listen to the music,” he answered and was gone before his Dad could disagree. Sure enough, in the middle of the square a live band was playing and people in weird clothes swirled all around. “It’s just like in the stories,” Kieran said aloud.

It really was with the music and the people and the stars overhead. WIthout even noticing it he began to tap his feet to they rythmn of the music. He was completely lost in the music when something caught his eye. Someone had run straight through the crowd without disturbing anyone and had disappeared through a building without opening the door. Curiosity overtook him and he walked towards the building, only to find it locked.

“There is another way in,” something whispered into his ear. The pitch of the voice almost sounded like a bird calling. Without even considering the consequences he ran around behind the building.

He saw the person, a girl, doing the same Scottish dancing the people in the square had been doing. The girl looked up and her eyes were so bright a blue ,they were like when you shine a flashlight into a raccoon’s eyes. The girl took of running and Kieran ran to chanse her. She was very fast and by the way she kept stopping Kieran knew she could easily have outran him. And yet it seemed as though, even if she was running, she wanted him to catch her.

“Wait!” Kieran yelled, even though he knew that would be no good. He continued to chase the mysterious figure, which only looked like a black blotch since they were away from the lights of town. Losing track of where he was was not easy for Kieran to do, yet he completely forgot that he was in a strange country chasing a strange person.

All of a sudden Kieran felt himself falling. He reached around but found nothing to grab onto. Kieran felt a presence near him and reached out to grasp a hand. As soon as he was pulled of the cliff he had physically felt himself falling off he looked around to see the bright lights of town.

“Wha- where am I?” he asked the strange girl in front of him.

“Curiosity kiilled the cat,” she stared into his eyes so hard he almost felt himself freeze over under the blue glaze. But just as soon as it had come, the bright eyes disappeared and he could not see clearly. Kieran stood up with the help of the stranger. “My name’s Rhiannon.” Rhiannon stuck her hand out.

“Kieran Flynn,” Kieran shook it, Rhiannon already knew who he was. “What just happened?” Kieran asked completely mystified. Rhiannon smiled a mischevious smile and for a moment her eyes glowed white. She walked out into the street and Kieran followed her, not knowing what else to do.

“Scotts have many tales, some true and some not. It all depends on the storyteller and the believer,” Rhiannon led Kieran toa table.

The entire table was covered in different sized and shaped amulets. Rhiannon picked up small shell and held it up to the sky sky. Looking at it Kieran saw a pod of dolphins jump into the sunset. On closer inspection the image had vanished. Rhiannon threw the shell into the air and caught it. Placing it back on the table she picked up a tiny ruby prism and handed it to Kieran. He held it up and looked but nothing was there.

“There isn’t anything in it,” he said to Rhiannon but as he said so he saw something out of the corner of his eye. A knight gallantly riding a completely black mare raced off to battle.

“Expect what isn’t there and don’t expect what is there,” Rhiannon said in a way that made Kieran even more curious. “Come on,” Rhiannon laughed at his expression of total confusion and led Kieran to another table where swords were lined up next to each other. She picked the biggest one up and swung it expertly through the crowd withouth hitting a peron.

“For hundreds and thousands of years warriors have fought for what the believe is right. Historians study that. But they don’t have the whole story.” She handed the sword to Kieran who dropped it becuase of its weight. He wondered how Rhiannon could lift it if he couldn’t. The next and last table they stopped at was a table of mirrors. “In a time where mermaids and dragons and fairies were accounted for some small thing happened. Something that even historians found so small they overlooked.” She held up a mirror so that Kieran could see both their faces in it. He watched as both their eyes got the same glow hers had earlier. With every syllable they flashed a different color so bright that Kieran was sure it would blind him.

“But that’s all going to change.”

And with that Rhiannon was gone and the mirror placed back on the table as if it had never been moved.

1. Hm...how old was I...I honestly don’t remember, but I’m guessing eleven. Judging by names and what it’s about, that’s probably about right. I went through a HUGE Celtic mythology craze and did all sorts of research then.
2. I still love the name Rhiannon. (as can be seen in Taren Luthien en Atara)
3. If you know anything about Celtic mythology, Rhiannon was falsely accused of killing her son and so sat outside the city gates for years, waiting for her son who was actually stolen by faeries. She is considered the goddess of music and matron of birds (hence, music) and white mares, since she was first seen riding one. For a pretty good version of the legend, see the links page.
4. This is actually a pretty strong beginning for a fantasy story. I’m impressed, lol.

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