The girl squealed with delight, “Her name is just like mine.”
“Yes, sweetling, it is,” her mother answered as she continued. “The Princess Ailsa was happy to help. Along with her came the mighty Fey Army. For who better than winged warriors to teach the knights how to soar the skies?”
“It took several days, but the warrior fairies were successful and the men who became dragons learned to fly. Princess Ailsa was so pleased that she promised the day would come when a fairy princess from her own line would wed a dragon made man. The Universe blessed the Princess’ proclamation, assuring that when the time was right, it would come to pass.”
“Did it happen, momma? Did the fairy and the dragon man get married?”
“Not yet, little one, and do you know why?”
The little girl jumped from the swing, dancing in a circle and clapping her hands. She sang her answer as only a child could do. “Because I am the fairy princess! Right momma? It’s me?”
The mother laughed, picking up the child and hugging her close. “Yes, my beautiful Ailsa, it is you. You are the fairy princess that will wed the dragon man.”
Charlie stood to go, feeling as if she was intruding when the mother’s voice rang out. “Charlene! Charlene Gallagher!”
Charlie turned, not believing her ears, to find both mother and daughter motioning her to them. The closer she got, the fainter the image of the child became. Taking the final step that brought her to within touching distance of the woman, the little girl completely disappeared.
“What happened? Where did she go?” Charlie asked.
“She had to go. You and she are one and the same,” the woman answered.
“I think I’m confused. What exactly does that mean?”
“It means, here in your dream, you were able to see yourself as a child. Not the way you actually were, but the way I see you. And when you came close, your younger image had to go back where she came from.” The woman patted her chest above her heart. “You two cannot occupy the same place at the same time.”
“Well, I shouldn’t be surprised after all I’ve seen but…”
“I know, it has to be terribly disconcerting, and for that I am so very sorry, my sweetling.”
“Wait a minute. If that was me, then you are…” Charlie stopped, unable to utter the word.
Smiling a sweet smile, the woman nodded and finished Charlie’s question, “Your mother.”
Not believing her ears, Charlie just stood, waiting for whatever was to come.
“I know it’s hard to believe and I wish there had been another way. I can’t come to you in person, so I had to wait until you touched your magic and then began to dream.”
“Where are you? Why can’t you come to me?” She had almost thirty years of questions stored up for the woman that gave her life, but those were the first two that popped out.
“I am in Fairy and for now must stay. The day will come when I can walk the mortal plane again and then I will find you. I promise with all my heart that I want nothing more than to meet you and the wonderful people that raised you. I watched the Gallaghers from the moment I knew you were growing inside me. They were the best humans I’d ever seen. Your father had gone to the Heavens and because of that, I was being called home. Fairy is no place for a hybrid, even one of Royal blood. Princess Ailsa agreed. All she asked was that you be named in her honor. I was allowed the time to make sure you were cared for. You, my sweet Ailsa, are so very important to so many people.”
“Okay I have to ask…is this for real, or a byproduct of falling in love?”
The woman laughed and it sounded like the tinkling of bells, just like Charlie’s dad used to describe hers.
“I assure you it is very real. I am Brynna of Princess Ailsa’s blood, Keeper of the Hill. It is for that reason that I cannot come see you in person. Not until a new Keeper is born. I was given the freedom to find love by the Princess. Coming to the mortal plane, I found your father. His name was Matthew, a good man with a good heart… a fireman. One night while fighting a blaze, the building collapsed and he was caught inside. Thankfully, he did not suffer.”
The sadness she saw in Brynna’s eyes was palpable. Charlie felt the pain like it was her own, which she guessed it rather was.
“The following months were lonely, but I had you and the hope of your future that sustained me. The night of your birth, after I knew you were healthy, I took you to the church, made sure the priest came right to the door and persuaded him, as we fairy can do, to call Det. Gallagher. I followed you and the good detective to the hospital, waited and then watched as they took you home.”
“Over the years, as Princess Ailsa allowed others of our clan to visit the mortal plane, they would check on you and send home reports of your wellbeing. Your first day of kindergarten, your high school and college graduations, and the day you became a doctor…all the milestones were recorded in this crystal.”
Brynna showed Charlie a beautiful light green crystal with copper mountings on both ends. Each mounting was etched with the same symbol as Charlie’s pendant and birthmark.
“Those symbols?” Charlie pointed at the fairy’s necklace.
“Yes, I’m coming to that. This crystal is Apophyllite. It’s very rare and very precious. It can hold the memories of someone the owner loves. The etchings are of our clan and for protection. The four wings of the four elementals to protect us no matter what direction our foes may come. The knotted ring represents the love, faith, loyalty, and friendship we share with all fey, our allies, and the Universe. And the cross to signify the Holy Creator. I prayed for you to be marked with our sigil and also gave you one made of copper and blessed by the Princess, the Holy Ones of Fairy, a man of faith from Earth, and of course, the Universe. I am happier than you will ever know that you wear it to this day.”
“Wow. I have to admit it means a lot to know that you didn’t just abandon me. I guess I kinda knew that all along. It was just something I felt in my heart, but to hear you say the words really means something. Thank you.” Charlie spoke past the lump in her throat, trying hard not to cry.
“I am glad I can give you some solace. It warms my heart to know that even though separated, you felt my love for you. I am also overjoyed you found your magic…or should I say your mate found your magic.” Brynna smiled knowingly.
“Yeah, about that.”
The fairy laughed, “Do not worry. It is as it was meant to be. You heard the story I told your younger self?”
“Yes.”
“That is not just a tale, but a history lesson for her and for you. Your Aaron shares blood with one of the original Dragon Kings and you, my lovely daughter, are of Ailsa’s line. You are the lovers in the story.”
“Yeah, right,” Charlie snorted. “I would know if I was a fairy princess.”
“Would you?”
Charlie thought for a moment and then looked back at Brynna. Answering with a certainty she didn’t feel, the young doctor answered, “I would,” then added, “wouldn’t I?”
“Let me ask you a question. Did you know you had magic inside you?”
“No,” Charlie answered.
“And did you know that dragons existed before a few weeks ago?”
“Well, no. But…”
Brynna held up her index finger and grinned. “One more question. Was anyone ever able to explain the markings on your back?”
No sooner had the words left her mother’s mouth than Charlie’s markings began to tingle. Shrugging her shoulders, she quickly answered, “No, but now that you mention it…”
“What did you call them when you were younger?”
“My wings.”
“Because that is what they are, sweetling. They are your wings.” Brynna nodded as she answered.
Charlie felt as if the world had somehow tilted on its axis. This woman had come to her in a dream, told her she was her birth mother, told her she’d been monitoring her, and to top it off, she was now telling her that she, Charlene Gallagher, was a fairy.
Brynna laid her hand on Charlie’s arm. An immediate sense of calm washed over the younger woman and the air around them was suddenly filled with the scent of heather. “Don’t worry, Charlie. I’m not just going to drop this on you and run away. Yes, my time is almost up for now, but I cannot leave you with so many doubts, and Princess Ailsa has said she will allow me to visit you whenever I can in your dreams. Therefore, I’ll tell you what you need to know right now. First, let me ask…what is your middle name?”
It was as if a light bulb went off in her head, and when she answered, Charlie couldn’t help but sound surprised. “Well, hell, it’s Ailsa, but I guess you knew that. Here you’ve been saying it over and over and I never put two and two together.” Shaking her head, she patted her mother’s hand where it still laid on her arm. “My dad used to say it was an old family name that no one had used for years, but when he saw me he thought of it and since it fit, they made it my middle name. I guess you had something to do with that?”
Winking, Brynna only nodded. “Secondly, the Dragon Healer and the little white witch will be of great help to you. Please thank the daughter of the Grand Priestess for using her powerful earthen magic to help me find you. Tell the Healer I am in her debt for using her great intellect and wisdom to aide you and that she will find the answers to her questions. She will understand.”