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Part IV: Where Andrew teams up with a force of nature and hurts his head.

The green-eyed woman looked down from her perch at Andrew who was looking particularly defeated.

“Oh, my,” she said to herself, “I’ve broken him already” she said quickly swinging herself around to lightly drop to the ground next to Andrew. She grabbed his chin and lifted his head so that she could clearly see his face.

“Don’t be sad, honey. I’m a bit much for most men, especially someone from your side of the gates.”

There was something about her eyes that picked his spirits up a bit and he shook his head while she still held his chin. “It’s just all a bit too much, is all,” he said. “My wife, John, this place, and now… well, you. You are not what I expected to find.”

She stood up and laughed that lyrical laugh again and gave him a sarcastic curtsey. “I’m never what anyone expects to find,” she said, “but most usually find I’m exactly what they were looking for. Which, if dear old dad sent you, turns out to be exactly true in this case.”

Andrew closed his eyes and leaned heavy against the tree trunk. “He told me to find his treasure, then I’d get all the help I need. That I needed to take it…you to the Court.” He took in a very deep breath. “He said, my wife was there.”

“They got your wife?” she said, the genuine concern in her voice caused him to open his eyes and look back at her. “Queen Erie must have been bored with her décor again. Well, I suppose I can certainly help with that, seeing as dad wants me back there anyway. He did say to take me to the court, right?”

Andrew nodded. “Yes, he did, he paused studied her. He realized she was very pretty, with her dark hair and smile. “Are you one of them also?”

She laughed again and Andrew could see that it was an action she performed with ease. “One of them?? Well, I don’t know. I’m not a mush, but I don’t fit so well with the Tuatha De Dannan. They tend to be a bit too rigid for me.” She reached over and knocked a leaf off his shirt. “I’m most certainly of the Sidhe, though, if that’s what you mean.”

“So, is this what you really look like? You’re dad had a trick.”

She popped up and twirled around for him, he skirt teased up with the wind and twisted round with her. “I have little use for such glamours,” she said. “This is all me, but thanks for thinking it was magiks.” She tossed him a quick wink.

He felt a blush rising up and he quickly decided to move the subject along. He stood up and offered her his hand. “My names Andrew. I really need to find my wife.” He said officially.

Looking at his hand, her eyes crunched up almost shut and she suddenly burst into a howl of laughter. She wrapped her arms around him and gave him a staunch hug. “If we are going to be friends, then friends it is, Mr. Andrew.” She let him go and stuck out her hand duplicating his offer. “I’ll help you find your wife. You can call me Sonja.”

Andrew shook her hand quickly and said, “Sonja doesn’t sound much like a faerie name.”

She began to circle around him with purpose and giving him a quick once over. “My dad traveled a lot. Says he’s a myth from Romania or a legend from Frankia. Spent some time drinking with some Frost Giants up north and says he named me after some innkeep’s daughter. Really, though, I think my mum just picked it from a book.” She stopped her circling. “Your clothes won’t do at all.”

“What?” Andrew said looking down at his rather rumpled tux. “It’s not mine.”

“Good. Then you won’t miss it,” she replied.

He started to say “what” again, but, as he would learn well, faerie magik works faster than speech. A quick wave of her hand, a nod, and a light whisper was all it took to have Andrew standing there in nothing but his shorts.

“Hey!!” he shouted.

She grinned. “Seen it already, squire.” She said dismissively and snapped her fingers.
Andrew found himself in a something the resembled a nightgown.

“What the hell is this?” he shouted at her.

The corners of her mouth pulled up and she winked at him again. “It’s a Leine.”

He looked at her and then down at his new outfit and then back to her. “Where are the pants?”

“You don’t have to wear pants with it, silly. Besides, I like it that way. Shall we get moving?”

“Okay, absolutely not. I’m not wearing this. I want my clothes back.”

She tilted her head slightly and the smile that she seemed to constantly flash dimmed just a bit. “You have a choice. You can wear what I tell you to wear or you can travel to the court by yourself.”

“This is ridiculous. You can’t make me wear this. Can I at least have some pants?”

“I like it without pants.”

“Please?” he begged.

She turned her back to him and started down towards the path away from the tree. “Fine. You can have pants,” she said and suddenly he found himself with some rough but well fitting trousers.

He started after her at a slight run. “Thank you,” he said when he caught up with her.

Her smile was back to full force. “You are very welcome but I think you will find it will be much easier on you if you realize I almost always get my way.”

“I see that.” He said reaching up and rubbing his temples to push back the pressure that had been building since she dropped out of the tree.

She glanced over at him. “Head hurt?” she asked.

Andrew nodded.

“That happens to most men first time we meet. Don’t worry though. It starts to feel better soon.” She said and then quickly pointed down the path. “We’re going that way, Mr. Andrew.”

He nodded and followed after her, wishing that he had grabbed the package of aspirin from his pockets before she had taken his pants.