Green Grow the Rushes Oh

By Ev and Donna

It was an uneasy morning at Carol and Marie's house. Little Fabienne hadn't slept much overnight and Carol was feeling somewhat less than calm and pleasant at breakfast. Dani, unfortunately, picked that particular morning to be in an especially cheerful, mischievous mood. It was *not* a good match.

It took a lot of effort, but Carol was still holding Fab and didn't want to scare her with shouting. The tone of her voice left no doubt whatsoever about her intent, though. "Dani. When you're done with breakfast, I *need* you to go out and gather a few things for us. Some of the farms promised to
save us onionskins for dyeing and there are some things we need you to gather in the woods. If you don't get out of my sight, I will not be held responsible for whatever happens." She glared at him.

Dani forced himself not to grin and hurried through the rest of his breakfast. Marie handed him a list and a stack of baskets. "You might want to eat lunch somewhere else today," she whispered to him on his way out.

"But...but...but...," he gasped as the door was shut firmly in his face. With a deep sigh he looked at the list of plants that he was to find. "What in the world does bracken look like," he grumbled to himself. "Hell, I've never even heard of most of this stuff! How am I supposed to find it?"

He was suddenly startled as the door opened again and Marie came out after him. "Dani! I almost forgot! I have drawings of all these plants for you. I hope this helps." She gave him a wink and a swat on the rear and hurried back into the house.

He stared open mouthed at the door for a moment. "I can take a hint!" he yelled. "I know when I'm not wanted!" Turning on his heels, he headed across the fields towards Katherine's. She would know where he could find most of the stuff on the list. Who knows, she might already have them all! He was upset, but he never stayed that way for long. Soon, he was whistling and humming to himself. Maybe it was really better not to be around if Carol was in a bad mood. He would just get into trouble. Before
he knew it, he was at Kat's house.

His bad luck was holding. There was no one home. Apparently they had gone to town or something. With another sigh, Dani turned to head towards Gideon's cottage. Maybe he would find Shannon there. Who better than a faerie to help him? But alas, no one was at the cottage either. "I guess I'll have to do this the hard way," he sighed, looking at the pages with the pictures of the plants on it.

He didn't have the slightest idea where to look, so he just tramped into the woods and started looking at all the plants he could see. The whole time he kept a running grumble going. "What the hell is oat gall? If I bring back the wrong thing will anyone know? Bracken? Never heard of this stuff...."
Once or twice, he thought he heard a giggle, but each time he turned around, he saw no one. Of course, that gave him something else to complain about!

The longer he tramped in the woods, the more it felt as though someone was following him. He couldn't be sure, though. It wouldn't be Carol or Marie. They were home, working. Who or what could it be?
Tired and hungry, he sat down by a bubbling stream. "At least they could have packed me a lunch!" As he rested against a tree, he closed his eyes and almost immediately, drifted off to sleep.

He was dreaming. At least he thought he was dreaming. He was in a flower filled meadow, and there was singing. Beautiful singing.

The voiced trailed off and Dani sighed happily this time. How lovely! Suddenly his nose twitched. Bread? Fresh baked bread?

He carefully opened his eyes and blinked. There was a cloth laid out with practically a feast! There was a loaf of fragrant, fresh bread, still warm with butter melting on it, a small pot of a good, hearty stew, a wedge of cheese, and some apple pie. He heard that soft giggling again.

"Thank you!" he called out as he dug into the food. "Who ever you are, thank you!" He just about choked though when a tiny red headed girl appeared out of nowhere in front of him, curtsied and said, "Yer're welcome," before disappearing in a poof of bright sparkling dust.

He was startled, but not nearly enough for him to stop eating. He had seen magic in this place enough not to let it bother him by now. Maybe this was one of those Fae girls he had heard about. "What's your name?" he called.

"Nickel," the voice came from behind him. He turned, but there was no one there. "What is it ye are lookin fer here in these green woods?" There was a sound of giggling again, but this time, it was on the tree limb above his head.

"Nickel. I like that." He grinned. "I was sent to find some things for dyeing yarn. I don't even know what this stuff looks like. I think they just wanted me out of the house today." He smiled, looking around for her. "Can you come out where I can see you?"

"Maybe," she said, "If ye were to be sayin' the magic word, perhaps!" Her voice was
now coming from a log off to his side.

"There's a magic word?" He took a bite of cheese and chewed thoughtfully. "Well... Marie says the magic word is please. Is that it?"

"Got it in one!" she giggled, popping out of thin air in front of him. "Let me see your list!"

Dani was struck speechless. She was beautiful. No that wasn't right... perfect! Her hair was bright coppery red, her features perfect, and her eyes blue and full of mischief. He handed her the list, still trying to remember how to speak.

The paper was half her size! Barely two foot tall, if that, she laid it on the ground and bent over to study it. She was wearing brown ankle boots, a green skirt and top, with a brown vest laced tight over her breasts. Since her skirt wasn't that long, her bending over the way she was was giving him a
good view of the back side of her thighs.

He sighed happily. She was heavenly to look at. Too bad she was so small. This could be a wonderful day and maybe even a great night too, if only she was normal sized.

"I know where some of these are!" she said merrily. "Finish yer food and let's go!"

"Really?" He dove back into the food, then paused, trying to swallow before speaking. "This is really good. You want some?"

"No thanks," she giggled. "I've already eaten." She pointed at one of the plants on the list. "This makes a lovely green. I like green."

"You look good in it," he smiled. "You're beautiful." He wondered if he should say something more, but he couldn't help himself.

"Thank you, little man," she giggled, dropping another curtsey. "Ha' ye finished yer tea?" When he nodded, she waved a hand and everything left over vanished without a trace. Including her! But as Dani looked around, almost panicked that he might have lost her, she reappeared further up the trail.

"This way!" she called out, waving her hand at him.

He chuckled and started after her. "I can't go that fast!" he called and narrowly avoided falling on his face when a tree root reached out for his foot. For the next several hours, she led him on a merry chase through the woods, stopping only to let him pick the plants that Carol and Marie needed for their dyes. Just about the time he was beginning to regret all the soft living he had been doing at their place, Nickel announced that that was all she would show him that day. "But if ye like, I'll take ye dancin' on the morrow!"

"Dancing?" He was thinking he'd be lucky to be able to walk, but he had a feeling that with her for inspiration, he could do a lot of things. "I'd like that. But won't it be a little tough to do? I'm more than twice your size." He pointed this out, obviously disappointed.

She giggled. "That's no problem." There was a flash, and suddenly she was around five foot tall! "Is this better?"

The look of delight on his face made her giggle again. "Wow! That's great! How did you do that? Are you one of the Fae girls?" He could feel all sorts of responses going on, just from looking at her.

She whirled around. "Do ye see any wings on me back?" she chided. "I'm a leprechaun, silly man." And then she vanished. "See you tomorrow!" a disembodied voice called out.

He stared after her in astonishment. "A leprechaun?" Then he chuckled, gradually it turned to a laugh of delight. "I met a leprechaun!" Then he remembered his manners. "Thank you, Nickel! I'll see you!" He hummed and whistled all the way home.