Gaia raised her eyelids to a dimly lit room. Her head throbbed in time with her heartbeat, which picked up rapidly as she peered through the lace curtains surrounding the bed. The soft mattress and gossamer silk blanked did nothing to comfort her, and she snorted when she spotted the unfamiliar fruit and what appeared to be some sort of cheddar cheese plated on the carved table beside her pillow.

I can't eat this. I won't be trapped. Did I really see the Goddess Gaia? What was it she said? I'm fuzzy, and I'm surely not in County Cork anymore. Am I safe to eat this? I choose, it isn't offered, but I am not certain.

A light knock sounded, and Gaia scanned the room. The door beside a large mirror eased open and she clutched blanked to her chest. Where were her clothes?

"I see you're awake. I think I might be your great aunt. You look enough like my sister to be her."

Gaia wrapped the blanket with its fine silken texture around herself. Tucking the corner in over her breasts, she parted the lace curtain and stood on the marble floor.

"Curious, it's not cold."

"Nothing is as it should be in the fairy realm. My name is Aumia. Has your grandmother ever mentioned me?"

Gaia shook her head.

"She knew the fairies took you. But the family refers to you as the stolen sister. Never by your name. It's beautiful."

"Ah, but they didn't take me. I went by my own choice. And even though I knew it would hurt them, I ate the food my fairy lover fed me and never regretted it. Aumia suits me."

She twirled, her long golden hair swirling around her hips. Her violet-blue eyes sparkled when she spoke again.

"Aumia means golden lady. My mother had a love of the old Irish names. Carolinn meant slender and bright. I think as much for her hair as anything else."

Gaia nodded.

"Grammie is still slender and bright, although her hair is more the shake of a sun-kissed peach now."

Gaia paused, and pulled at the blanket which silhouetted her body.

"I can't be wearing this, can I?"

"I'll get your clothes. With you arriving in a thunderclap of Goddess magic, we weren't sure how long you would sleep. Or would you rather wear one of my dresses. They never get mussed, or dirty."

"Do you have one in green? I hope?"

Gaia knew blue would do as easily. Her eyes gave her the option. Deep blue, they went black when she visited with the spirits and ghosts who called her name.

"Blue to match your eyes. Exactly like I remember Carolinn's. I'll get it. By the way, eat. The fruit there is an ambrosia apple." She pointed to the golden plate. "Cheese was stolen from one of the farms nearby. Nothing conjured by them to bespell you. I promise."

Aumia disappeared out the door, leaving it ajar so she could see the flurry of fairy children running by.

Where am I? In the fairy realm, but why? What is the problem I need to solve? They are long lived.

She bit into the fruit. An explosion of flavors flowed over her tongue. Orange, tart lemon, apple then pear, as she rolled the crunchy morsel between her teeth. Snatching a slice of cheese, she chewed quickly. Her stomach growled its thanks, and she pulled the lace curtains to one side. Sitting down she continued to eat, and more food appeared as she sated her appetite.

Where was Aumia?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Harry watched Grandda Robbie as his sister Erin climbed into the coffin like box in the middle of the stage. She wore a costume like the ones they saw in the newspaper from France. No one could read French, but the scandalous pictures brought hissing disgust from the grannies after mass. He smiled when he remembered his mother grabbing the faded brown tinged pictures before they could be destroyed. Sister Bernadette from school was headed right for the offending document.

When Grandpa Robbie decided to put a magic show together, his mother dealt with the costumes. Erin's skimpy little ballerina tutu showcased long slender legs.

Murphy\s pub volunteered to let him test his act. With no real stage it was much harder to pull off the close timing, but Harry knew exactly what each nod of Robbie's head meant. Grandda lowered his right eyelid, and Harry moved the false bottom just enough for Erin to withdraw her legs before her grandfather sawed through the center of her box. He replaced her feet with their dance slippers with the fakes as Grandda pushed the coffin forward splitting it at the cut, where he slid pieces of stainless steel into the ends.

He wiggled the fake toes when Robbie turned the box the other way around and Erin smiled at the audience from where her head bobbled almost upside down from the other side.

Gasps came from the audience. And Robbie reversed the process, until he helped Erin climb down. She twirled up on her toes and danced away, to hoots of approval and applause.

Harry walked out in his black tuxedo and tails to play a quick game of three card monte with his grandfather at the table in the grand entrance hall of the theater. Shifting the winning card into the Mayor's jacket just before Robbie spoke.

"Mr. Mayor, please reach into your pocket. I believe you will find what we are looking for." He pointed to his left hand.

The silver haired gentleman patted himself and gingerly reached inside his jacket to check.

"How?" He withdrew the king of hearts.

"Magic!" Robbie bowed.

A smattering of applause from those standing close by, made Harry smile. It really was magic. Let them wonder at how it was done.

"Are we going to travel to London?" Harry asked as they packed up their equipment.

"No, my boy. Let them come to us. In the village, in the pub. We'll stick to the close up magic, my nimble fingers will do the job there. This was just a way to make a splash and gain a reputation. I'll be glad to be home again."

"I wonder if Gaia will still be there? She was meant to journey from what Papa says." Harry closed the hasps on the last box.

"I expect she will be. But don't push your luck yet my boy. Be patient with her."

"How much longer, Grandda? I knew she was the one the first time I laid eyes on her." Harry pointed his wand at the cases and boxes and they vanished.

"You'll know when the time is right. You sent them back to our barn?"

"I did. Mama will know we are coming home shortly. I sent a note with them, she'll find it when she gathers the eggs in the morning."

"You are a handy man to have around, Harry."

Harry straightened his shoulders. His Grandda's words gave him a boost. At twenty, he was only four feet six inches tall. His face a bit off kilter, with a tiny twist which put his chin off center to the left. His shamrock green eyes were startling against fair skin and inky black hair. He kept it longer, tied back in a tail or braided tightly when he wanted it out of his way.

His small stature belied his strength and the power of his talent. He hoped no one ever figured out what he could do. The wizard's council called him the youngest ever to be confirmed, and charged him with extra care. He was never to use his power for harm, lest he have to come before them for judgement.

"I wish I could move people too," Harry said.

"But you can't, so we'll take the night train home. Did you let Sorcha know?"

"Erin wrote the note," Harry said as she joined them.

"I told her we would be in Galway by morning. Papa will fetch us I'm sure. That was fun, but I don't think I'll be able to contort myself like this for much longer." Erin's smile was ear to ear as she twisted the rings on her left hand.

Harry took a wild guess. "Are you expecting?"

"In six months. Sean is over the moon."

Harry looked over to meet Grandda's dark blue eyes.

"I guess you are right to move us back to the village. I hope the audience follows."

"Aye, Harry. Erin, I'm so pleased for you. I can't wait to meet my first great grand child." Robbie enfolded her in a tight hug.

"Congratulations!" Harry added his approval.

"Thank you. I was scared to tell you. The magic show is so much fun, and we make a great team. But this baby is special too. We were beginning to think it would never happen." Erin's chin trembled and her eyes welled with tears.

"Don't worry. You and Sean have the farm. Grandda and I will deal with the show. He's right, I think. We'll make sure word gets out as to where we have decided to perform."

Harry couldn't shake the feeling he was in the wrong place. He needed to get home.

"Let's get to the train station. We'll sleep on board. I booked us berths." Harry went out the brass doors of the theater and opened the door on one of the taxis.