Down by the river near the waterfall, with the moon shining brightly, the air filled with magic. Nothing could I hear, just the river as it moved across the rocks. In the distance looking through the trees, lanterns began to glow. The faerie were coming my way, patiently and quietly I sat on the rock. They skipped along a path that seemed to wind around each tree. One was playing a pipe, others jingled some bells. The girl faerie had dainty white flowers in their hair, which flowed as they danced around. The boy faerie's were dressed in green with tiny trousers made from leaves, with hats made from the flowers of foxgloves, some wore mauve, others had yellow, whilst the ones playing a merry tune wore white, swinging lanterns as they merrily skipped along. I watched the light from their lanterns fade into the wood. I felt it safe to move about. I wanted to see more of these faeries, watch them dance and listen to their sweet music. Without thinking I moved towards the path that they had taken. Quickly I followed the glow of their lanterns, that cast a shadow, making them look very tall. I kneeled down by an old tree, that had fallen and was laying in the long grass. I could see the little faeries sitting in a ring each had their own mushroom to sit on, in the middle of the ring sat a beautiful faerie, her hair was darker than the others, it was platted with tiny blue flowers, I could see her talking to them. I leaned forward to hear what she was saying. "Now my young fae." she began, "We have a new rule in the faerie kingdom, I want you to listen carefully." All the faeries leaned forward and listened with interest, I could even feel myself doing the same. With little legs crossed, backs straight and eyes fixed, to what I thought was their faerie queen. "The faerie king and I thought it was time to use our magic on the poor and weak folk from the land that is on the other side of the wood." The little younger faeries muttered to themselves. "Hush!, Hush!" said the older faeries. "Do you mean the land of the large people?" asked one of the elders. "Yes". said the queen. "Some of you faerie's will be visiting them and sprinkling faery dust over there homes." she continued. "But where will we get all the dust from." asked a little young faerie. "Well", the queen began, "I will need some of you younger faeries to come and work at the faerie castle, more and more dust can be made there." A lot of muttering was going on between the faeries now, and I could sence there was some excitement between them. The queen clapped her hands saying, "quiet now my little ones, we do not want to disturb the silence of the wood tonight." All became quiet again. The king moved from his throne to the center of the faerie ring, "Good evening my faerie people." The faerie's bowed their heads. I shall be choosing the young faerie to come and work with me in the castle. I will place my hand on the ones I have chosen." Whispers sounded from the younger faeries. "My other loyal faeries will each have a duty, whether it be dusting homes or helping down at the castle." The king moved towards his chosen faeries, then tapped them gently on their sholders with his hand. After the King had chosen his helpers, the Queen asked "Are there any questions?" A loud muttering filled the night air, it seemed as though the faeries where quite happy with the new rule, the wood fell in silence once again. The queen gave another rule to her people. "You will not use your real names, nor will you leave any clues to where you have come from. We can not have all those large folk entering our tiny world now can we!" I sat leaning over the old tree, thinking what a wonderful idea. I would have liked to have been a faerie myself at that point. The moon started to fade across the night sky, the sun was awakening slowly, lightening the dark woods. It was time to make my way back home, I walked along the faerie path to the waterfall, headed for my home. Days past by, which turned into weeks, I had been so busy I'd forgot about the night with the faerie's. I felt it was about time I got out for some fresh air. I packed some lunch and headed down to the waterfall for a picnic. The woods on the opposite side of the bank looked dark, the trees were heavy with leaves. It was very quiet so I began to eat some lunch. As I gazed around taking in the moment in time I noticed something caught up between a rock and a broken branch of a tree. It looked like a shoe, not a dolls shoe, it was too well made for that. I pulled it out from where it had become lodged. It was so tiny, there were little laces made of some green coloured twine, the sole was well worn too. I could not quite make out what it was made of, nothing I had seen before. I was wondering if I should leave it where I found it, or to keep it, I decide to keep it. So after my lunch I headed home again to do some house chores. That night I decided to go to bed early. It was a warm evening and I did feel very tired. The tiny shoe sat on my bedside table. The last thing I remember seeing before drifting off to sleep. I awoke to the sound of music, it seemed to be coming from ouside my little bedroom window. I got up from my bed and moved to the window, I could see down on the grass a ring of faeries dancing to the music. The faerie queen fluttered up to the window, and stood on my window ledge, she held out her hand, I touched it with my finger. The next thing I remember was being down on the grass and dancing and laughing with the faerie's in my nightgown. The music came to a sudden hault, the queen moved towards me once again, she held out her hand and she smiled gently, I could see a large mound of glittering dust, she took a deep breath and blew. All I could hear was a jingle sound, like the breaking of glass on a stone floor, as the dust fell around me. I felt so happy I could have danced and laughed forever. Suddenly, with not enough time to take in all the magic, it was gone. I was back in my bed and the sun was beaming through my little bedroom window. To this day I have been happy and healthy, the faerie dust has given me much joy. The tiny shoe I found still sits on my bedside table, on special nights when I am needed, the faerie pay a visit on the grass infront of my little old cottage. The faerie queen, Jasmine, hands me a tiny scroll with names of persons needing some help or a little cheer in their lives. On special occassions, I visit their homes, leaving a message of goodwill, or a little token from the faerie's. There is no better place I'd rather be, than in the footsteps of a faerie. By Holly Return Home