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about ten minutes to walk to the other clearing where they were holding the feast. Nuallán spoke to her about her life and family as they walked slowly, but she had a feeling that he was keeping her distracted from the creatures and Fae, who stared at her intently, wherever they went. It was rather disconcerting to see and feel eyes upon her, to look around, and see glowing orbs of silver, red or green in the darkness of the bushes and trees.
    The soft glow of torches on thick staves of wood lined the dirt path, and she often lost sight of the moon when she looked upwards, and saw nothing but dark birch branches and leaves softly swaying in the breeze.
    Chelsea did not see all the creatures that she sensed around her. It seemed as if every mythical being of Irish origin—and other nationalities—were gathered there. She could not put a name to many; some walked and some flew. Some were as tiny as a firefly and others, she sensed, were a monstrous size (and she often mistook them for a tree).
    One of these creatures that resembled a tree and was made entirely of wood, shifted slightly, and her heart nearly jumped out of her throat, as her eyes jerked upwards in horror, meeting his glowing green orbs.
    As they approached a break in the path, her attention was caught. Chelsea could already hear the sound of many voices raised in conversation and the scent of absolutely mouth-watering food. She discovered, to her surprise, that she was quite ravenous. Something about the smell of the feast made her eager to eat, though she had had dinner with her family only a few hours before.
    And then the tree-line abruptly ended, spilling out onto a large clearing. She briefly glanced at the many Fae and creatures gathered about a huge long table, and the flash of firelight, but her green eyes were immediately drawn to something else.
    In the centre of the glade was the most massive tree she had ever seen in her life. She could not even see the top of it as it vanished into the night sky. At the base were two large doors made of light coloured oak, inlaid with jewels, golden leaves and branches were carved into the surface.
    It lay open to reveal…
    Daylight.
    The sparkling clear water of a large lake, a crystal blue sky with puffy white clouds, trees, beds of flowers, and beyond, a city of white marble. “What…where is that?” Chelsea gasped in awe, taking a shaky step forward, as if helpless to control her own feet.
    That place is so beautiful!
    Nuallán’s hand clamped over hers, which was still laying on his arm; his fingers crushed hers in a vice-like grip and a feeling akin to icicles seeped into her skin, and held such hostility, it made Chelsea shrink behind him, all his warmth vanished.
    “It is not for you!” he snarled, ripping her hand, still holding it tightly in his grasp. He glared down at her till she cowered back in fear.
    His head turned, and he called out something in his language, his voice deep and guttural.
    Six armoured warriors, who stood by the doors, stepped forward. They set their hands against the wood, laboriously swinging the doors shut. The two halves of the golden and jewelled edging of the doors came together almost seamlessly, with a huge boom.
    “I’m sorry, I wasn’t going to go in there!” Chelsea cried out, trying to wrest her hand from his cruel grip. Till now Nuallán had been gentle and kind to her, but now she saw a different man; cold, and angry, and dangerous .
    She was suddenly terrified of him and shrank back Please don’t hurt me. She pleaded silently.
    His silver eyes narrowed angrily on her face for a long, tense moment, his golden eyes penetrating as if into her very soul, and then he very slowly relaxed.
    Ignoring her instinctive shudder, and the manner in which the mortal flinched in fear, his hand went to her face, and cupped it gently.
    “Forgive me, Maiden. The land through that portal is the home of the Seelie Court. They are a very cruel and dangerous race, especially to