A Princess Of Ireland free porn video

This is my longest story to date, nearly 27,000 words. Some may complain that it is too long. For those that do, I have a number of shorter stories for you. Just look them up under the author, Want2BaGirl. I wanted a chance to really build the characters and tell a full story. This is my most ambitious story to date. I welcome any and all comments and criticisms. It is how I can ultimately become a better writer. I hope you enjoy the story. ---------- A Princess of Ireland You might think it ironic that a man would travel thousands of miles to find a potential cure for cancer only to wind up lost in the Irish wilderness, likely to die six months earlier than expected due to nothing other than sheer stupidity. Yet, here I am, lost, sitting in a windblown, cold, wet, and desolate part of northwestern Ireland. The foggy, misty weather was rolling in and the temperature was dropping fast. I had no food with me, and I was certainly not dressed for an overnight stay in this exposed and frigid landscape. There was not even a dry place to sit and the moisture laden moss-covered rocks offered little comfort. A little over two weeks ago I received my confirmatory diagnosis that my cancer had spread to all parts of my body. The doctors had given me little hope I would survive even six months. They ruled out treatment of any kind due to the rapid spread of the disease and my advanced age of seventy-six. Six months is a short time to do everything I had on my bucket list, but I'd be dammed if I was going to sit around and watch myself decompose. I'd lived a full life with not many regrets. It was not an easy life, but also not a bad life. I survived two deployments to Vietnam, earning me a Silver Star and a Purple Heart. I had lost my wife, Mabel, about twelve years ago due to a Hodgkin's disease. We had no children so I had no worries about anyone being overly concerned about my passing. This time, these six months, was all the time I had left to enjoy myself. Believe me when I say I was not giving up. I still had some hope that I might find some cure. Thus, my bucket list was emptied out and I added new items to it. I purchased an around the world airline ticket and mapped out all the places I wanted to see. Each place I had scheduled a stop held some very remote chance that I might find a cure along the way. I was planning on visiting bubbling mud pits in New Zealand, swimming in a cenote in Central America, feasting on rare tropical edibles in Thailand, and many other stops and adventures that suggested some form of curative healing properties. If one of them worked, then great, otherwise, I would visit places I always wanted to see. So why, I am sure you are asking, am I lost in the middle of the Irish wilderness? As it turns out, I had always wanted to see Ireland. It was part of my ancestry. The added benefit of coming here is that in the Irish county of Co Cavan, it is said that there is a lake for every day of the year. These mythical lakes were supposedly created by water filling them from the Otherworld. Drinking and bathing in some of these lakes are purported to have magical healing properties. So, I traipsed into the Irish wilderness to find one lake in particular. As you can imagine, one hill and one tree and one lake all look surprisingly like another after a while. After four hours of hiking from place to place the clouds rolled in and covered the tops of the hills making it difficult to find my bearings and, thus, I became utterly lost. As I sat with the wet, cold moss soaking my pants, I finally deduced a course of action. I would follow the clouds as they usually traveled from west to east. Eventually I would come to a road if I could just keep moving in the same direction. I stood and picked a point of reference, which I assumed was due east, and started walking. After maybe thirty minutes, I came to a large depression in the bottom of a valley. It appeared to be a place where a lake used to be. Actually, Ireland is known for transient lakes in some places, where lakes appear one day then disappear the next. Geologists explain this has something to do with rapidly changing water levels and the porous limestone in the area. Regardless of whether this was a transient lake area or not, I needed to get to the other side, so I started straight through the depression. I was perhaps halfway across when the weather really took a turn for the worse. It was supposed to be warm, being August, but the temperature dropped about twenty degrees and it started sleeting heavily. I really needed some kind of shelter or I would freeze to death. As it was, I was already soaked and shivering. Along with the sleet, the clouds dropped into the valley and obscured just about everything I could see with the exception of a ten foot radius. It was then that I saw her, or at least I thought I saw her. She appeared briefly in the fog, not too far from where I was standing. A young, absolutely stunning woman dressed in what appeared to be almost translucent clothing. I noted that she had a silver bracelet and ring on her left hand. Funny the things we focus on. I had never seen anyone so beautiful. She beckoned me towards her, and then vanished. One moment she was there, the next she was gone. I moved in the direction I thought she was when I stumbled upon a large stone outcropping. Within the stones there appeared to be an entryway for a natural cave which, if there had been a lake here, would have been well underwater. I did not hesitate as I needed to get myself out of the weather and under cover. I squeezed through the opening and into the cave. I just happened to have a flashlight with me for a just-in-case type of situation. Funny how I thought to bring a flashlight but not food. I turned on the flashlight and scanned the cave. The cave had opened up inside and I could easily stand and walk around in it. At the back of the cave there appeared to be a man-made door. This was a very strange place to put a door. The door was heavy, made of metal, and surprisingly ornate. It looked very old. My curiosity getting the best of me, I looked for a way to open the door, but I could find no handle or any place to hook an object in to pull the door open. I was about to give up when I spotted a Gaelic design on a stone beside the door. It had been partially covered in roots so it had been difficult to see. When I put my hand on it, I could feel the stone slide into the cave wall. I heard a metallic click from within the stone wall and the door swung open. Throwing caution to the wind, for I was already dying from cancer, and the weather outside would kill me anyways, I decided to forge ahead. I stepped through the doorway and into a hallway that descended deeper into the earth. Feeling a little like Indiana Jones, I started to whistle the theme song and walked boldly ahead. That was until I heard another click and the door slammed behind me. This time I saw no way to open the door. My boldness ebbed a little, but I reminded myself it really did not matter, so I started down the long hallway. I descended for several minutes before the hallway leveled off and then started to climb. By now I figured I must have been on the other side of the depression and heading up into the hillside. The hallway continued to rise until I must have been well above any water level that might settle here. As it was I could tell the ground was much less moist. The hallway leveled out again then turned and another doorway stood in my path. This time I saw the Gaelic stone on the wall and pushed it. I heard the click and the doorway swung inward. I stepped into the room beyond only to see the door close quickly behind me. Again, there was no door switch I could find. I was locked in so I decided to explore the room more thoroughly. The air smelled musty, but at least it was dry. The room I was in was very large. Gaelic paintings were still clear and visible on the walls of the room. They depicted scenes of war and heroines fighting both man and beast. I did not spend a lot of time looking at them as I was focused on trying to find a way out, which, only appeared to be the way I came in. Being entombed was not what I had planned on doing with my final days and this turn of events made things look rather desperate for me now. It certainly was not on my new bucket list. Using my flashlight I scanned the center of the room to find what appeared to be a sarcophagus. I moved over to it and looked down to see the carved face of a beautiful woman. The stone's carved hands held a large, rusted broadsword. In a reverential way, I reached out and touched the sword. The room darkened as my flashlight flickered and blinked out. I felt nauseous and very dizzy, as if the room itself had begun to spin. Still touching the sword, I had dropped to my knees in the darkness as the wave of dizziness slowly began to ease. The light suddenly came back on in the room, but it was not from my flashlight. Torches along the walls burst into flames. I had not noticed they were there before. I heard a click and the door opened leading back into the hallway. Not wanting to take any more chances, I got up, grabbed a torch, and exited the room. I rushed as fast as I could back through the long hallway. Upon reaching the other doorway I was relieved to find it open as well. I quickly found the cave entrance and noted that while I was in the cave the sun had returned. I also noted that the depression was quickly filling with water. I had just squeezed out of the cave entrance when the water started to lap at my ankles and was rising at a rapid pace. Within moments the water had risen up to my waist as I tried to make it to the far edge of the depression. I had to swim the last hundred yards or so before I climbed out onto shore. Looking back at where I had come from, the stone outcropping was no longer visible, buried beneath forty feet of water. I lay on the side of the newly formed lake trying to recover my breath. My heart rate was dangerously high. The sun was warming me but I was still soaked through. As I caught my breath and let my heart rate slow, I looked around to see a thick forest. Certainly this was not there before but with all the cloud and sleet it could have been easy to have not seen it. The real confusion came when I looked to the far side of the lake where I saw even more trees and forest. That had definitely not been there a few hours ago. At first I thought I must have exited the cave at a different place from where I went in, but there were no changes to the doors, hallway, or the cave entrance. It was all very perplexing. I took off my shirt and pants and wrung them out as best I could. At seventy-six years old I had no fear that if anyone saw me butt naked they would think I am some kind of threat. I lost my modesty a long time ago when I realized I was not much to look at anymore. I needed to take advantage of the remaining daylight and so I put them back on hoping they would dry out quickly. I started walking away from the lake and into the thick forest and, hopefully, towards my car. I had not gone far when I saw and old woman in front of me. She was breathing heavily while sitting on a log. It was clear she was distressed. "Is something wrong, Ma'am?" She turned to look up at me. While her face and body appeared to be very old, there was something about her eyes that spoke of ageless wisdom and youth. "I need water. Would you go down to the lake to get me some?" She pointed to an old wooden bucket on the ground next to her. "Certainly. Perhaps you could help me find my way back to my car?" "Water first, then I'll see if I can help you." "I'll be right back, Ma'am." I was no spring chicken anymore and I was not looking forward to walking all the way back to the lake and then lugging that bucket of water, but it looked like she could use some help, and I never turned anyone down that needed help. I walked back to the lake and filled up the bucket with water then retraced my steps back to the old woman. "Here you go, Ma'am." "Thank you, sir. You see the trail? Follow that trail and it will lead you to your 'car'." I turned to look at the trail verifying it was indeed there and when I looked back to thank the old lady she was gone. I shrugged and began following the trail she had pointed out. I turned a corner and saw a campfire and an old man sitting in front of it. As with the woman, his eyes seemed ageless, yet full of youthful vitality. It was a little disconcerting. "Sir, I have no energy left to gather food for supper. Would you look around in the woods to see if you could catch me dinner? I'm very hungry." I was about to say no, but something in his eyes made me believe him. I began scouting the area to look for some form of wildlife. In a few minutes I spotted a pheasant that appeared to be wounded and lying on the forest floor. I moved closer so that I could catch it, but when I did, I looked into it's eye and felt a deep connection to the bird. I just could not kill it. I found a nook in a tree and carefully placed in there hoping it would heal before the next predator came along. When I went back to the fire and the old man, both were gone. Sighing, I started to wonder if perhaps I was still in the cave and I was simply dreaming or hallucinating. I continued down the trail until I came across a girl that was alone and crying. "My mother sent me to collect flowers for dinner but I got distracted. Now I don't have time to collect them all. Will you help me pick and gather some?" Again, I was torn between getting to my car and helping the poor girl out. My heart got the better of me and she led me to a clearing in the forest where a spectacular field of flowers existed. I spent a few minutes picking some of the most beautiful flowers I had ever seen, but when I went to give them to the girl, she too had vanished. I started noticing a trend here. Back on the trail I was determined to have no more stops when I heard a woman's scream. I rushed towards the sound to see a beautiful young woman with her back pressed against a tree. A wolf with barred fangs was stealthily creeping towards her. Looking around, I found a branch and rushed forward swinging the branch at the wolf. The wolf turned on me and jumped straight for my chest knocking me down, but I still managed to get the branch up in time and hit it on its head. The wolf yelped and ran off into the forest. Shaken, but not hurt, I got my aching, disease riddled, aging body up and dusted myself off. I looked around for the young woman, but, like the others, I could not find her anywhere. I continued down the trail until I came into another clearing. Within the clearing were four large standing stones. In front of each of the standing stones stood the old woman, old man, young girl, and young woman. I approached them slowly. I was confused. The young woman began to speak. "We welcome you, James McKesson." "How do you know my name?" "We are of this world, and not of this world. We have been watching you since this morning. We know all who enter our land." "Who are you?" "We are the Aos Si, or, more commonly known to you as the Sidhe, or, the Fairy Folk." "The Sidhe are mythical godlike beings from Celtic history. How can I believe this is who you are?" The four of them shimmered and changed before my eyes. They all became beautiful young women and all of them appeared ethereal and partially transparent. "Maybe this will help you believe. These are our natural forms." I began to wonder if I was indeed dreaming, or even dead. "You are not dreaming, and you are not dead. As I said, we have been watching you since you came into our land. You were seeking a place that no longer exists. The lake you were looking for vanished over six hundred years ago. Which is why we brought you here." "What do you mean, brought me here? I've been here all along." "Perhaps my choice of words were not well selected. You are correct that you are still 'here', it is more of a when that we brought you to. Our magic barely exists in the present. When you touched Muirisc's sword in her tomb, a tangible, magical connection formed between us and you so that we could bring you through time to us now. A time when our strength is still strong. We have tested you here to see if you are worthy." "I'm sorry, but when is this and why were you testing me?" "The when is approximately one thousand years before you were born. We tested you to see if you were worthy to help us. In your time the forests have been ravaged and the lakes spoiled. Our magic and our lives are almost gone. We've been looking for a hero to come back through time to aid us. By fulfilling a series of quests you will restore our magic to your present time. If you agree to help us, then we can also help you be free of your disease." "I'm an old and dying man. Unless this quest could be completed in a few days and involves sitting in a recliner, then I'm not the right person for the job. I'm sorry." "As I said, I believe we can help you based upon how your chose to help each of us." I sighed resignedly. "Tell me about the quests." "When you touched Muirisc's sword we were able to create a connection with you since the sword is of this time and retains some of its magical properties. The four of us each have an item in this time that needs to be recovered. I, Cliona, need water from the spring that is the source of water for the Loch S?odh Linn, or Lake of the Fairy Pool." The second Sidhe woman then spoke, "I, Moira, need the bark of the willow tree in the middle of the forest of Lessiter." The third Sidhe woman spoke, "I, Neala, need Yohand's Horn from his tomb." The last Sidhe woman spoke, "And I, Blinne, need the pearl encrusted conch shell from the bay of Celista." Cliona spoke again, "Each of these items must be brought to Muirisc's tomb on the fall equinox, four weeks from today. When you bring them there they will then become available to us in your present time. By having those objects in your time, we can re-establish our magical connections and begin healing the land and restoring our power in the present. I must warn you that each of these objects is protected, and you will need all of your strength and courage to gain them." "This sounds all well and good, but look at me. I'm seventy-six years old and I am dying of cancer. I cannot be of much help to you when I grow weaker by the day. Believe me in that I would help you if I could." "If you truly wish to help us, then we can each grant you gifts that will give you the ability to accomplish that which we ask of you. I warn you that these gifts would alter your life forevermore, but that you would be fit, youthful, and strong again, with no disease." It was a no brainer. I had nothing to lose, and if they could do for me what they said, then I would be free of the cancer. "I choose to help you." "Then please stand on the mana stone before us." I moved forward until I stood on a large round flat stone with Gaelic symbols on it. Cliona spoke again, "For your willingness to aid me against the wolf, when you were weak and dying, I grant you the courage of the Aod Si, strength beyond mortal man, skill with sword, dagger, and bow, the agility of the lion, and health in every cell of your body." Moira then spoke, "For your willingness to aid a young girl by taking time to pick flowers, I grant you immeasurable beauty, beyond what any flower could compare, and beyond that of any mortal." Neala spoke next, "For your willingness to aid an old man in his quest for food and yet having the heart to protect the pheasant, I grant you the ability to heal yourself and others, and the knowledge of the land, no matter what land you find yourself in." Finally Blinne spoke, "For your willingness to aid an old woman and bring her water, I grant you purity of heart, more pure than any water from its source. I also grant you grace and fluidity of motion, just as the water has as it flows around objects. Finally I grant you the song of the water, as listening to the water as it flows brings peace, so your voice and song will bring restoration and peace to all who hear it." "We rename you Aine Kearney. Aine means brightness and glory and Kearney means warrior." The women all spoke together. Light began streaming upwards from the mana stone and tendrils of light wrapped itself around me. The brightness grew and I felt myself floating a few feet off the ground. There was no pain as the light penetrated my innermost being. The cells of my body transformed. The light became so bright that I could no longer see myself. In a few moments, I felt myself being lowered to the ground and my bare feet made contact with the cold of the stone. I no longer had any clothing on me. The light began to diminish and I was starting to see again. I felt a weight on my chest and light, feathery touches down my back. When the light vanished I looked upon myself. My hands were small and delicate looking. My fingernails were long. Long, auburn and gold colored hair with a hint of curl to it floated in front of my eyes with the passing breeze. I looked down to see two perfectly formed breasts protruding from my hairless light colored skin. I looked to the women in front of me. "You made me a woman?" "Yes, Aine. Our magic, the magic of the Aos Si, is feminine magic. What we granted you transformed you into our likeness, and yet you are a mortal human. Let me show you." She waved her hand and a mirror of water formed in front of me. I stared in awe at the young woman reflected back at me. My eyes are what captivated me first. Large, brilliant green eyes that sparkled with life and energy. They set a beautiful contrast against my coppery-gold and lightly wavy colored hair. Hair that fell all the way to my lower back. If the face of Helen of Troy could have launched a thousand ships, then my face could launch a hundred thousand, as it was far more beautiful than any female face I had ever seen. My body was flawless. Large, but not too large breasts, topped a perfectly hourglass figure. Wide, but definitely not fat hips were accentuated by a narrow waist. A perfectly flat stomach ended in a short close-cropped golden triangle of hair framing my new womanhood. Long, athletic legs, shapelier than any runway model's completed the glory of my new body. I stood naked and unashamed in front of the Sidhe women. I felt strong, confident, and fit, yet at the same time, emotionally vulnerable. The water mirror vanished. "Why is my mind not rebelling at being turned into a woman?" "While you will remember who you were, our magic transformed you completely, as if you have always been a woman. You are very young by our Aos Si standards, and today, August 21, is your eighteenth birthday. You will need clothing befitting a Celtic heroine of this age." She waved her hand and I was now clothed in an extremely fine gossamer silk dress skirt with leggings, a buttoned top that showed an enticing amount of cleavage, belt, and knee-length leather boots. On my left forearm was a leather bow guard. It was all beautiful and extremely functional at the same time, yet it accentuated my beauty and hugged my form closely. "You will also need some weapons, some supplies, and a horse." A bow and quiver of arrows appeared on my back, a dagger appeared on my right hip and a fine, silver, longsword with a black leather wrapped hilt appeared on my left hip. A magnificent black stallion appeared behind me with saddle and pack of additional belongings. Finally a map appeared in my belt to show me the way to each of the quest items. "As you approach each quest item we will appear to you to give you more information. We cannot get these items ourselves as a great evil that has tried to rid the world of the Aos Si took them from us and put them in places we cannot go. We rely on you to help us regain these items and our strength. The world of the present time, while they may not know it, needs us as well. We have provided you with food and gold as you will need for your journey. Beware, as our enemy will recognize you, as you are marked by us; but also know that you will meet companions that will aid you. Remember, you have four weeks and must be at Muirisc's tomb by the fall equinox. May you be blessed, Aine." With that, they vanished. I stood in the middle of the clearing. My horse waited obediently nearby. I brought my hand to my face and touched the delicate smooth skin. I brushed my full lips with my fingertips feeling their sensitivity. My hands went to my breasts and squeezed them gently through the fabric that covered them. My nipples grew hard at the touch. The slightest touch anywhere on my body set my passions and body ablaze. I pressed my hand to the area between my legs. No longer did I have my 'bits' dangling there. Although I wanted and needed to explore my body, I also knew I needed to get moving. I looked to the sky and noted where the sun was starting to set to get my bearings. I felt confident in my surroundings and knowledge welled up within me about the land and everything within it. The transformation seemed to have made me tired and I was looking forward to a good rest. I pulled out the map and plotted my course towards the Loch S?odh Linn. The map also indicated that a short distance away was an Inn, the Icky Deer. I'd head there on my first leg of the quests. Grabbing the saddle horn I easily hopped up with new youthful strength and energy onto the back of the horse. "I think I am going to have to give you a name." I rubbed the horse's neck and he looked back at me. "You look very regal. How about Ahern, lord of horses?" The horse neighed its approval. I recognized I was speaking Gaelic. "Let's go find ourselves a place to stay for the night then." As I rode towards the Icky Deer, I was acutely aware of how my body was moving with the rhythm of the horse. My glorious and shiny, long hair floated behind me and gently tickled my neck. Every movement made me more and more aware of the sensitivity of my new body. I started to realize why women loved horses so much, as each movement in the saddle pressed lightly against my vagina, enticing me more and more and building very pleasurable feelings. The sun had begun to set and I tried to focus on things other than my body and what it was wanting from me. Within the darkening forest I spotted flowers, animals, and trees, all of which I seemed to innately know what purpose they had or could be used for. Ahern and I had traveled for several hours. Just as darkness settled I spotted the light of a lantern outside of the Inn. I jumped down from my horse and was surprised that I was not stiff or sore in the least. A stable boy, upon hearing my arrival, came out to take Ahern to provide him shelter and food for the night. I thanked the young boy who seemed absolutely smitten by me and gave him a copper piece for his efforts. The knowledge of the land also seemed to include wisdom on what things and services were worth. This provided a comfort to me. I opened the door to the Icky Deer and walked inside. The smell is what hit me first. A combination of smoke from the roaring fire in the corner, roasting meat, steaming soups, and the heady smell of ale assaulted my nose. The Inn was sparsely lit, and the wood walls were dark from years of smoke. A cacophony of sounds met my ears. Men and women sat at large wooden tables. Some sang, others were drinking dark ale, and more were eating and simply being boisterous. It seemed like a warm and inviting place. At least it did until people started noticing me standing at the door. The room went silent, and all of the men turned to openly gawk at me. In all my years, I've never really been noticed before, but tonight it felt like I was the first female flesh men had seen in twenty years. Women slugged what I gathered were their male partners who openly ravaged my body with their eyes. I looked back over my shoulder making sure it was actually me they were staring at. It was then that I was rescued by a tall, sensual young beauty with luscious, thick black hair. She was wearing a tight-fitting red bodice with black, shiny leather pants that hugged every curve of her voluptuous, yet lean body. She grabbed my arm and pulled me towards the Innkeeper. I noted that I was several inches shorter than her as I looked up into her eyes. "My name's Maeven, sweetheart. You look a little lost standing there, and I'd hate for any of the male riff raff around here to give you a hard time. What's your name?" I almost said James but then Aine came to mind and I told her. "I'm Aine. Aine Kearney. I'm just looking for some food and a place to sleep for the night." "Well, Aine. You've come to the right place. This is Stenhy, the Innkeeper of the Icky Deer. Feel free to sit with me when you are settled." Maeven gave me a light smack on my bottom and a wink before taking her seat again at a nearby table. "Stenhy! Stop staring at the girl and ask her what she needs." "Y-Yes, Molly." Stenhy was a portly, aging man, but appeared to have a warm and friendly disposition. "So, uh, Aine is it? How can we service you tonight? I mean are you looking for a room or food?" "Both actually, and perhaps a mug of your ale." "The cost is two silvers for the room, food, and ale. If you want a hot bath, that'll be another silver." I thought about that for a moment handed him four silvers. "I'll definitely have the bath. The extra silver is a tip knowing I will be well taken care of tonight." "Thank you, miss." The term 'miss' being used for me caused me to pause. There was something endearing about the sound of it and I found I enjoyed it. I wandered over to Maeven and sat beside her. The men were still looking at me like I was a piece of fresh meat, ready to be devoured. I dropped my eyes a little as to avoid eye contact with any of them. I had not ever realized just how disconcerting it could be to be a beautiful young woman in a world of strong men who mostly thought with their organs rather than their brains. As I waited for my dinner to arrive Maeven started up a conversation. "So what brings a pretty young lass like yourself to this neck of the woods? Perhaps you are escaping a marriage proposal, or maybe even here to find one? You are obviously new here as I would remember you, even if I was half unconscious from ale." I could feel myself blush a little. "Definitely new here and just passing through. Not escaping any marriage proposals and not really looking for one either." "You don't look at all like the normal folk around here. You are far too beautiful to have come from any of the breeding stock in these woods. Maybe you are a succubus sent here to lure unsuspecting men and women into your bed so you can feed on them? You have the look of the fair folk about you." I looked at her incredulously, seeing that she actually believed what she was saying could be true. "I'm just passing through on my way to Loch S?odh Linn." Maeven raised an eyebrow and a few other people at the table stopped talking. "I gather you are not familiar with that area?" "Not really. Never been there." "Aside from roaming bandits and a monster that lives near the water there, why in the world would you be going there?" "I understand that water from the lake source has magical properties, and I've been sent to retrieve some. I was not aware of the other things. I imagined there would be some challenges, but I still feel compelled to go." "Listen, Aine. That is not a place to trifle with. You are all of what, seventeen, maybe? You will need training and experience to go there, let alone a small army. I'm only saying this because I do not want to see that pretty face of yours face down in a bog somewhere, or worse. Believe me when I say there are many things out there that could be worse than death." "Thank you for your concern, Maeven. This is something I must do. I've got a knife, sword, and bow. I think I can handle myself. Besides, I'm eighteen today, not seventeen." Maeven smiled at me. "I'll tell you what, sweetheart. We can go outside right now and if you can beat me in a fight with a knife, I'll personally lay my blade at your feet and go with you. If you can't beat me, you give up on this ridiculous idea." A man from across the table interjected, "You can't be serious, Maeven. There is not a man for a hundred miles that could beat you in a knife fight, maybe not in all of Ireland." "I'm willing to try. I'm sure having company along for the ride would be nice if I won, and, if not, then I know I am not fit to go anyways." The man just shook his head. "Let's go then, Aine. This is nothing serious. We will not try to hurt each other. Stenhy, hold up on Aine's food for a few minutes. We will be right back." Maeven led me outside with no small number of people following. This was exciting entertainment for them. Once outside the people formed a large ring around Maeven and me. Maeven reached behind her and drew her knife and I drew mine. I was a little more than nervous, but felt strong and confident as I hefted the blade in my hand. "I'll go easy on you, sweety." "Please don't. I need to know if I am good enough or not. If you go easy I will always question my abilities." "Okay, love." Maeven began circling to my left. I felt my feet moving in perfect rhythm with hers. She lunged forward with incredible speed but I was faster. I dodged to my right letting her arm and knife slide harmlessly between my body and my left arm. I brought my left arm up and around, pinning her arm against me. I quickly closed the distance between us so I was face to face with her, my blade under her chin. A cheer arose from the crowd and Maeven looked at me like I was something totally unnatural. "Lucky move, Aine. Let's try again." I let her go and we began circling again. This time Maeven faked a lunge, tossed the blade to her left hand and started to attack. Somehow I was able to see what she was planning to do before she moved. I met every attack with a block of my own. We fought back and forth for several minutes. I could see the frustration and concentration on her face and she tried move after move to trip me up or to find a hole in my defense. I could feel the strength in me and my incredible agility. I was moving so quickly and effortlessly that Maeven could not get a blow landed. After a series of quick attacks I saw an opportunity to get inside Maeven's defense. I ducked backwards letting her blade swish the air a mere fraction of an inch in front of me. I brought my arm up to continue to push her arm in the direction it was going and using her momentum and body weight, I slipped my leg behind her and pushed myself into her. The move was flawless. Maeven collapsed down on the ground with her arm pinned and me laying on top of her with my knife once again at her throat. Maeven locked her beautiful, piercing blue eyes on mine and smiled. I could feel myself getting very excited with my breasts pressed against hers and my thigh between her legs. My hair had fallen over our faces shielding us from the crowd. Maeven lifted her head slightly and brushed her lips against my neck. "I guess I am yours to command." She whispered. "I beg to differ. I think you could ask me to do anything and I would do it for you." The crowd was cheering and our brief moment ended. I stood up and offered my hand to Maeven's. We were both flushed but I don't think anyone really knew what was going on. Maeven acknowledged my win and laid her blade at my feet. People clapped me on the back. "I've never seen anyone so fast and nimble on their feet before. I was a novice in your hands and you could have taken me down at any moment. There is only one thing I can say, and it is that you very much remind me of the tales of Ireland's greatest heroine, Muirisc. Perhaps, finally, Ireland will see a new heroine. As promised, my blade and my service are yours." She spoke not to me but to the entire crowd. She took my arm and dragged me back to our seats inside. "Stenhy! Ale for everyone. Tonight we raise a glass to the only person who has ever bested me in a knife fight! To Aine!" A loud chorus of cheers erupted from the crowd. It was a rather emotional moment for me and also somewhat overwhelming. I drank the dark, heady ale and could feel it burn into my empty stomach. Stenhy arrived with my food and I quickly and gratefully ate the roasted meat, barley, and bread. As I ate, animated conversation was happening all around me. I could feel Maeven's leg pressed against mine. We had space so I knew it was deliberate. I did not mind in the least and the touch sent warm excitement coursing through my body. "I meant what I said, Aine. I'll go with you to Loch S?odh Linn. Even though you can handle yourself, you cannot be everywhere at once and when confronted with a host of bandits, having an extra pair of hands and eyes will be needed." "It would be my honor if you would join me, but I will never command you. You are to be my partner and companion, my equal on this journey and free to leave whenever you so choose." I reached over and grabbed her hand and felt a tangible connection. I could see the heat rising in her and felt it rising in me. I deliberately let go and rose from the table, grateful that, at that moment, I was not a man that would be embarrassed by his trousers. "I'll see you in the morning then. I have a bath and bed awaiting me yet tonight." She nodded and let me go, for which I was both grateful and saddened. It had been twelve years since I had intimate relations with someone and the thought of holding someone and being held was an irresistible intoxication to me. I made my way upstairs feeling the warm tingling throughout my body. This body seemed to be so sensitive to every touch and movement. I noticed the room Stenhy had indicated and went inside. I latched the door behind me providing some level of privacy. The room was rustic, but clean and comfortable. A large wooden tub had already been filled with steamy, hot water. I unbuckled my belt and placed that and my weapons on a nightstand by the bed. I unbuttoned my top and unwrapped a cloth band around my chest that doubled as a bra. My skirt had buttons down one side that I released and let fall to the floor. I unstrapped and stepped out of my boots and slipped off my leggings to find myself naked once more. The air was slightly cool and my nipples hardened and became extra sensitive so I stepped quickly into the wooden tub and water. The water felt so different as a woman. The unique female distribution of muscle and fat caused my breasts to float in the water and the extra padding I had on my butt caused me to be more buoyant than before. I laid my head back and let my hands drift casually across my body. I thought of Maeven, with her perfect body and the warmth of her breath against my neck. I imagined her sucking on my breast and I moved my hand to one and lightly squeezed its nipple. A moan escaped my lips. It was almost as if I could feel her in the tub with me as I fantasized about her thigh pressing between my legs. I slipped my fingers between my wet lips and found my clitoris. Slowly and deliberately I stroked it. I continued my ministrations and my imagination ran wild. With a sudden rush of heat and convulsions, my body exploded in ecstasy. It felt like I came for minutes and it was definitely the most powerful orgasm I had ever had. I continued to soak in my post-orgasmic bliss and determined that life as a woman could be very pleasant. Well satisfied and clean I climbed out of the tub and used some rough cloths set aside for drying to dab myself dry. They were too harsh on my sensitive skin to drag across like I used to. I wrapped my long hair up in a large cloth to dry and found a comb with which I could remove any tangles. I was entirely grateful at that moment to feel like I knew what I had to do to take care of my mass of hair. After about thirty minutes my hair was dry and tangle free. I looked at a mirror and could see the slightly red but mostly golden colored hair shining brightly. The woman in the mirror was so beautiful. I placed my hands on my face again to feel the smooth skin under my fingertips. I could get used to this. I smiled at myself then crawled into bed. The morning sun streaming in my window woke me. I was slightly disoriented at first. Waking in a strange place, in a strange time, and in the body of a breathtakingly beautiful woman would do that to most people. I could feel the smoothness of my legs under the sheet and how the slightest brush of my nipples would cause them to grow erect and become more sensitive. I thought about the intense pleasure from the night before and knew this body was ready to go again for more. First and foremost though, I needed to attend to my morning libations. I walked over to the privy and sat down, recognizing my days of freewheeling by standing up to go to the bathroom were over. It really did not bother me much, as it was a small sacrifice to be young, fit, and healthy again. I'd gained almost sixty years of my life back. Although I wanted to spend more time getting used to my new body, I decided I should get some breakfast, meet Maeven, and get going. I headed downstairs to find Maeven waiting for me. She looked delectable in her tight fitting clothing and her blue eyes with her long black hair. I bit my lower lip and thought about my fantasy from last night as I looked her over. I was quite positive she was giving me a similar look to the one that I was giving her. "Good morning, sleepyhead. Have any trouble sleeping?" The flirtatious lilt in her voice was turning me on. "I was a little cold last night. It would have been nice to have someone stoke my fire." I flirted back. "Really? I'm sure Stenhy would not have minded servicing you in that way." "I think I might have just lost my appetite." We both laughed. Within a half hour we were astride our horses and moving away from the Icky Deer. "You know, Maeven, you do not have to go with me." "That was our bet and I honor my word. Besides, you want me." The rocking back and forth in the saddle, the lovely beauty next to me, and the flirting were all almost enough to want me to turn us back to the Inn. I decided to change the subject. "Tell me, Maeven. Where are you from and why would you want to go through a bandit infested area and help me fight some mythical monster by the lake?" "I was orphaned as a young girl and grew up on the streets. I was a thief, and a very good one. Being a young girl, in that situation, made me very self-reliant. It is how I learned to protect myself so well with knives. I soon graduated from being a thief to being an assassin. As my fame grew, so did my income. I did what I had to do to survive, but I am not proud of any of it. When I saw you last night I saw something I thought I had lost long ago in me." "What was that?" "Innocence and a sense of purpose. There is something about you, Aine, which compels me to strive to do something worthwhile. When I am near you I feel a sense of goodness and peace that pervades my very being. It is something I need in my life." It was at that moment that Cliona, the first Sidhe woman, stepped out from behind a tree and appeared before us. "Hello, Aine. I see that you have gained your first companion for your quests. Well done." Cliona nodded towards Maeven. "Today you will face your first obstacle on your way to Loch S?odh Linn. I can only give you this advice. Watch the trees. May you be blessed, Aine." With that she disappeared. Maeven looked towards me. "That was one of the Aos Si. Before we go any further I need to know how you came to be involved with them." I could not explain my entire story to Maeven. That I had been a dying, seventy- six your old man from a thousand years in the future a day ago, and that had been transformed by the Sidhe. Nope, that would not elicit confidence in her. I decided upon a condensed version of the truth. "Yesterday, I was lost in the woods and trying to find my way home when I came across four people needing help. An old woman needed water from the lake, an old man needing me to hunt for food, a young girl needing help to pick flowers, and a young woman being attacked by a wolf. Even though I had been concerned for myself and was very tired, I did my best to help these people. Every time I helped them, they vanished. A little later I came across a field with standing stones. The four people were there. They said they had been looking for someone like me and needed my help once again. I had explained to them that I was dying and weak and that, while I wanted to help them, I could barely help myself. You see, I had a disease and did not have much time left to live. They transformed themselves into what you saw a moment ago, ethereal, beautiful, young women, and told me they were the Aos Si, the Sidhe. That because I chose to help them, even though I was dying and weak, they would help me. They asked me to collect four items, the first of which is the water from the source of Loch S?odh Linn. Once all items are collected I am to bring them to Muirisc's tomb. Although they warned me of the dangers, I felt compelled to aid them in these quests. They restored my health, renewed my body, and granted me skills to help me complete the quests." "I know how this must sound to you and I release you from your obligation to join me. You did not have the whole story." I got down from my horse and Maeven did the same. She came close to me and ran her fingers through my hair as she stared into my eyes. "Now I understand. Your extreme beauty, your skill with the knife, your strength, and agility came from the Aos Si. The Aos Si do not choose mortals lightly. It is what I sensed in you from the beginning. You showed them true depth of character and empathy by being willing to aid them, even when you were dying. You are exactly what I have been looking for. I need to be with you." Her fingers moved to lightly caress my cheek. "I've never seen anyone so beautiful before. You are truly Aos Si touched." A blush bloomed on my face and I could tell she wanted more but she turned and mounted her horse. "Let's go, Aine Kearney, Aos Si heroine." Stymied and flustered I mounted Ahern and rode after Maeven. It was about midday when I began to notice movement and sounds within the forest. I motioned to Maeven to be at the ready, but I saw she already was. A short time later we were quickly surrounded by ten men with swords drawn. "You will both kindly get off your horses and lay down your weapons." Being on foot in a sword fight would be preferable, so we both dismounted. "Men, will you look at these two? Have you ever seen two such beautiful young lasses? We are going to have fun tonight!" Their leader turned back to us, his brazen confidence showing. "Now, I told you both to remove your weapons. Do as I tell you, and I'll only let the men have one go at you apiece tonight rather than multiple times." I took a step forward and made it look like I was removing my bow to put on the ground. As I did so, I recalled Cliona and her warning about the trees. I looked up and I spotted two men that had their bows trained on us. "You have two choices." I spoke clearly for all of them to hear. "You surrender now and be free to leave unharmed, or you can choose to fight us and many, if not all of you, will die." "Well, darling, we are not surrendering to two young women." "I'm sorry that has to be your decision." Within the span of five seconds I had drawn two arrows and shot both men out of the trees. I had a third arrow now trained on their leader. "Last chance." "Get them!" He yelled. I shot the leader before he took a step then drew my sword. Maeven had drawn two long knives as the rest of the men closed in on us. I perceived a man rushing me from my right side and I parried his blow and spun around to cut him down just as another man ran straight towards me. I managed to duck under his swing and lunge forward to thrust my sword into his chest. I glanced at Maeven who was holding her own against a pair of attackers. Her ability to get in close and cut and slash was truly inspiring. She had one down and two others under control. Then I heard it. A whistling sound. I barely managed to spin out of the way when an arrow grazed my throat. Several of the men had backed off to draw their bows. My throat stung and I could tell I was bleeding. I shouted a warning at Maeven as another arrow let loose and was flying towards her back. I dove as I watched her turn at my warning. I reached for the arrow and caught it mid-flight, mere inches from her chest, but I was too late to save her from the sword that tore through her side. I grabbed my bow and with two quick shots dispatched the men that had been shooting at us. Maeven sunk to the ground holding onto her side. Grabbing my dagger I threw it into the chest of the man that had stabbed Maeven. I took up my sword and stood protectively over her. Three men remained and all were closing in on me. I felt Maeven move behind me and I saw one of the men drop with a knife in his chest. She was bleeding heavily but spoke, "I couldn't let you have all the fun. Just take out those last two and we should be good to party tonight." Maeven coughed. It was not looking good for her. I rushed the two men, parrying one attack and then the other. I fought them back until they stood close to one of their fallen comrades. With an extra push they both tripped over the body and while trying to regain their balance I finished them off. I looked around to see no threats remaining and I ran back to Maeven. I placed my hand on her side and willed her to heal. Tendrils of light came up from the ground and wrapped around my hand and her body. Maeven gasped a breath as her side knitted back together. The tendrils of light infused her body with renewed energy. When I knew Maeven was safe I pressed my hand to my neck but I was surprised to see that I had already healed. Maeven looked up at me with incredulous eyes. She reached up and placed her hand on my cheek. "You saved me. You truly are a heroine born of the Sidhe of the caliber of Muirisc." I pulled her to me in a hug. "I thought I lost you. I'm so sorry I got you into this." Maeven pulled back and smiled. "I would not want to be anywhere else but at your side. It is where I belong." "You rest here. I'll grab our things and whatever we can use from the bandits." "I'm fine. Whatever you did to me is making me feel amazing." Maeven, who had been laying on the ground, grabbed my wrist and pulled me down on top of her. Another quick move had me pinned underneath her. She moved my hair away from my face and traced where the arrow had cut me with her fingertips. "I've never been so attracted to anyone before in my life. I hope this is not a mistake." I was about to say something when Maeven kissed me. She pulled back and looked into my eyes as if to make sure I was ok. My lips were on fire and my breath came in heated gasps. My breasts were heaving with each breath and I was so wet. I wanted her touch. I wanted her completely. I could barely speak. "Don't stop." Was all I could muster. I felt Maeven's lips against mine again. This time there was so much more emotion and feeling. My lips parted and I let her tongue entwine with mine. I could have come right then and there with one touch, but Maeven, smiling like a Cheshire cat, rolled off of me, leaving me panting on the ground. "My only desire is to take you to bed right now, Aine. However, I want our first time together to be in a place that is not littered with a dozen dead men. We also don't want to be interrupted in case more of them come by. Besides, I don't give myself to anyone lightly, and I want you to make sure you want me just as much." She reached down and pulled me to my feet. I fell into her and let her arms encircle me. She was taller than I was. I realized for the first time how much smaller I was than before. The feeling of being held and protected was truly wondrous. "You sure now is not a good time?" I pleaded. She placed her hands on my face and kissed me deeply. "Don't tempt me, my love. Have you seen what we are standing in the middle of?" I looked around at the devastation I had created. A dozen bodies bleeding out all around us. I leaned in and nuzzled her neck, feeling completely grateful to have been given this chance to live a life from another gender's perspective. I had already fallen into the role of wanting to be protected and desiring to be cuddled. As a man, I was not given the choice. It was expected of me to be the provider and protector. Years fulfilling that role, not allowing myself to feel vulnerable, had worn on me. I nodded my acceptance and turned to collect our things. Maeven reached and grabbed my hand before I could go too far. She pulled me to her once again and kissed me. "Don't ever think I do not want to be with you, now, or always. I want to touch you and to be at your side, even now as we do what we have to do." Her words warmed my heart. We quickly gathered knives, swords, arrows, and anything of value we could find and were on our way. Maeven expressed the need to go to an Inn. The closest one to us was aptly named the Needy Huntress. It was all I could do to not put the horse to a gallop. Dusk had fallen when we reached the Inn. Two young boys collected our horses and took them away to be fed, brushed down, and given water for the night. The Needy Huntress was much like the last Inn. Maeven introduced me to the innkeeper and ordered the first round of ale for us both. Even though there was lots of space I practically sat on her lap, preferring to have some part of us touching each other. The men were more than eager to introduce themselves to us and Maeven was more than eager to let them know we were not interested. After a hot and hearty dinner and several mugs of ale that made me a little tipsy, Maeven spied a musical instrument in the corner and decided to play us all a few songs. As she sang, I found I was able to recognize the tunes. I even sang along a few times which caused Maeven to hesitate during her playing. "You never told me you can sing so well. Why don't you grace us all with your lovely voice, Aine?" I was immediately nervous as I never had a singing voice throughout my life. "I'm not even sure I know a song." Suddenly a brawl burst out a few tables over and the place went crazy. People were throwing mugs and plates, food was flying, and worst of all, knives were drawn. The innkeeper came over to Maeven, "Quickly, play something to see it will calm everyone down. They are tearing this place apart!" Maeven looked at me. "You have to sing, love." She started to play and the music filled my body. The words came to mind. I closed my eyes to focus on the music, tune out the clamor, and started to sing. Within the first few words the fighting began to stop. I poured out my heart into the song feeling like the magic of the Sidhe flowed through me as I sang. Within a minute the place was dead silent and everyone sat with wrapt attention. At the end of the song everyone cheered and clapped and shouted they wanted more. Some came up saying they had never heard anything so beautiful. The innkeeper came by and told us he changed our room to the best room in the place and that our stay, ale, and food were on the house. He was very appreciative of what we did for him. At long last the evening had come to a close. Maeven led me upstairs to our room. With the door latched behind us I stood nervous as a bride on her wedding day. We both knew what we wanted but I was slightly frightened and did not know what to expect. After all, twelve years of not having intimate relations with someone, and now being in the body of a young woman, made this very much like a first time experience for me. Maeven, sensing my pensiveness, pulled me to her. "I would never force myself on you, love." "I want you, Maeven, more than anything. This is my first time." It was not really a lie as much as a statement of my current condition. Maeven brushed my hair back from my face with her fingers and let her lips ever so gently brush mine. The touch of her lips on mine was as if someone had connected me to electricity. I wanted more. I needed more. I went to kiss her back and she held me at bay. "I want to savor every second with you. Let me treat you like the beautiful princess you are." I wanted to touch her but at the same time letting her initiate and lead was such a welcome treat to me. Maeven began kissing me lightly then moved to my neck to nibble on my ears. She kissed the nape of my neck as she pressed her body against mine. I felt her hand slide to the small of my back to pull me closer to her. She pressed her thigh between my legs and slowly rocked back and forth. I was in heaven and every touch by Maeven seemed to drive my passions higher and higher. Slowly, one by one, she unbuttoned my top and kissed her way down my chest, my top dropped to the floor exposing my arms and shoulders. Her fingers traced up and down my arms. Wherever she touched me my skin tingled. I've never experienced anything like this before in my life. It was the height of love making. Slow and deliberate with each moment eliciting new pleasures. I was breathing heavily, my hands caressing Maeven's hair and back. I felt Maeven's fingers begin to unwrap and expose my breasts. As the binding cloth fell to the floor my nipples seemed to grow even more with the cool air. She moved one of her hands to my breast. Her hand softly caressed it. She let her fingers brush my nipple while she kissed down my neck to my breasts. She pressed herself against me, I could feel her thigh rubbing back and forth between my legs. I was so wet. When her lips closed in on my nippled I gasped and came. I squeezed her to me as my body shook and convulsed. Maeven moaned with me as I came, my orgasm making her even more excited. Yet, she still continued to make love to me slowly. I felt like a treasure being handled by an expert curator. Maeven knew just what to touch and kiss to make me keep my passions high. She moved back up to kiss me, letting her tongue press past my lips. It was the most passionate kiss I had ever experienced. I could feel the depth of her passion and emotion as she kissed me. I felt her hands slide down my back to my side as she began to unbutton my skirt. Moments later it fell to the floor as Maeven kissed her way back down my body. She kissed my breasts, and my flat stomach. I could smell my sweet juices that lubricated my vagina. The smell continued to enhance my arousal. Maeven slowly pulled my leggings down, making me now totally naked in front of her. She stood back for a moment, her temporary lack of touching me suddenly made me yearn for her embrace. She looked at me like I was the most beautiful thing she had ever set her eyes on. "Aine, you are absolutely perfect. You are so beautiful I feel I am almost unworthy to touch you." "Maeven, please touch me. I need your touch. I want your body next to mine." Maeven placed her hands on my face and kissed me again before scooping me up and laying me on the bed. She still had all her clothes on which I tried hard to remove. "We've got all the time in the world, my love. Let me touch every part of you first." She laid down next to me letting her hands lightly touch and roam my body. She kissed back to my breasts, taking time to suck on each nipple. I was moaning loudly again. I felt her hand slide over the flat of my stomach, her fingers brushing my hair there. I waited with anticipation the first touch on my womanhood. Maeven continued to suck on my breasts as her fingers grazed over my vagina. I pushed my hips towards her hand and spread my legs a little wider. I wanted to feel her finger inside me. Sensing what I needed, she slipped her finger between my wet lips. I gasped as she moved her finger back and forth exploring in and around my swollen clitoris. I was already close to coming again and Maeven knew it. She sucked harder on my breasts and pushed her finger deeper inside me with each stroke. I thrust my hips involuntarily in time with her finger until, with a sudden rush of warmth and pleasure I had my second orgasm. My thighs clamped down on her hand as I gasped for air and moaned. As the waves of pleasure ebbed, I pulled Maven up to my face and covered her in kisses. I could tell she was in need of release herself, her hips rocking and pressed against my thigh. We sat up in the bed as I continued to kiss her. I slid my thigh between her legs and I began unbuttoning her bodice. I knew she was close to coming but I, like her, wanted to savor the time and the moment. I pressed my hand against her breast, noting that they seemed to be larger than mine. I stroked her breast through her bodice. I could feel her back arch as the continued to rub herself against my thigh. Slowly I completed unbuttoning her bodice and slid it off her shoulders. She wore no breast wrap so her breasts were fully exposed to me. They were glorious, with large dark areola and nipples. I teased her nipples with my fingers as I caressed her breasts. As I knelt in front of Maeven, I pulled her up so that her legs straddled my thigh and her breasts were within easy access of my lips. I moved my arms around her so that I could help her move her hips, increasing her range of motion against my thigh. I sucked on her breast, enjoying the intimate embrace. Maeven slid her arms around my head. Hugging me to her breasts and chest as we rocked back and forth. With a little scream of ecstasy, Maeven had her first orgasm. I slowed our rocking and held her tightly as she shook with her waves of pleasure. When her orgasm subsided, she smiled and kissed me. "That was the most amazing orgasm I've ever had." "Mmmm. You are so gorgeous, Maeven! I'm not done with you yet." I pushed her back on the bed with me falling on top of her. Our breasts pressing into each other's. I kissed my way down her body and unbuttoned her pants. I peeled them back, leaving her completely naked. Her musky and sweet scent was driving me wild. I slid myself back over her, enjoying the sensations of our fully naked bodies touching each other. We slid our thighs between each other's legs and I could feel her wetness against my skin. I was amazed how after two powerful orgasms I felt myself getting turned on yet again. We rolled back and forth, kissing and feeling each other's bodies. I wanted to taste Maeven so I moved slowly down her body, kissing her breasts and stomach. I kissed her thighs and legs working my way towards her moist vagina. When my tongue touched her lips, she gasped and arched her back. One of her hands moved to massage her breast while the other reached down to stroke my hair. I pushed my tongue deeper into her, finding her clitoris. She tasted so sweet, it was as if I could not get enough of this dark- haired beauty. I continued to move my tongue in and around her clitoris. As she tensed for another orgasm, I gently held her clitoris in my lips. She moaned loudly and pressed my head harder into her. Her back arched as she shook. I climbed back up her body and wrapped her in my arms. She kissed me passionately, tasting herself on my lips and tongue. "You are an amazing lover, Maeven." "Aine, that was the best love making I've ever had. Nothing else in my life has ever come close." She held me close and we both drifted off to sleep. I awoke to a light kiss on my neck and my body enfolded in Maeven's arms. It was a truly glorious feeling. "If I could stay like this forever, I'd be happy. Good morning, my lover." Maeven rolled me towards her so we could kiss. "I'm not sure how you have captivated me so, Aine. Don't ever leave me, for I don't think I could live without you. It has not even been two days since I met you, and I can't imagine how I lived before you." I snuggled further into her arms and stroked her face before kissing her. "Perhaps this is some Sidhe magic,