Manidoch

The little girl with the long, black hair and a patched, hand-me-down
dress that her older sister had left her, ran and skipped along the
grassy glen as she chased errant blossom petals shed by blooming apple
trees. She skipped along, laughing gaily as the wind swept the petals
teasingly out of her grasp. So absorbed in her solitaire game that she
almost did not hear the thundering hoof beats of the approaching
warriors.

The laughter of a carefree 9-year-old girl changed to screams of terror
when the mob of horseman began thundering down toward her. Though they
were more than a hundred yards away, she heard one of them call, "Kill
that girl before she warns the village!" A pair of them turned off from
the rest and came directly toward her, obviously intending to trample
her to death.

"Caitlin! Warriors are coming! Help!" she managed between gasping
breaths as she ran as fast as she could for the sheltering protection
of the trees.

She made it to the trees moments before the horsemen could catch her,
but the undergrowth in the old forest here was thin and the tree limbs
high. It proved little enough of an obstacle to the pursing horsemen.
She ducked and weaved, but all seemed to soon be lost.

Then came the bright little light, fluttering in front of her face. She
thought she heard the words, "Follow me, Fianna. All will be well,"
whispered in her ear. Recognizing the light for what it was, she sped
after the flitting little light with new hope and energy while the
horsemen thundered somewhere behind her. The swept around a tree and
disappeared inside. The little girl named Fianna was confused for a
moment, and then saw there was an opening she had not seen before. She
quickly dove inside.

She stayed within her hiding place for some time, listening quietly for
signs the horsemen would give up and go away. The light stayed with
her, dancing slightly as if moved by a breeze, although no wind stirred
within the ancient oak that made their sanctuary. She watched it,
unafraid and armed only with a child's belief and acceptance of all
things magical.

"Thank you Master Light, for saving me," she whispered. It flickered in
response and grew into the shape of a young boy, for there was easily
space for both within the bowel of this tree.

"Manidoch!" she cried in a relieved whisper as she recognized her
friend. Though he looked like only a boy, she knew he was really no
more a boy than a duck was a fish. She threw her arms around him and
hugged him. "Those bad men are going to hurt people in the village,"
she told him. "I have to go and tell my brothers and my sister!"

Manidoch shook his head and smiled. "No, little Fianna." He reached up
and touched her chin. "It is too late; for already now they have
arrived there and began burning the village."

His eyes widened and he looked nervously about when he saw the girl's
tearful reaction. "No, no, do not cry child. You know I hate it when
humans cry, don't you?" He patted her on her back. "Do not be afraid
for them. For I saw your brothers and your sister leave the village an
hour ago. But you were far away and they could not find you. No, you
should stay right here with me. Then tomorrow or the next day when it
is safe you can go find them." Fianna didn't stop crying. "Okay okay
okay! I'll take you there tomorrow, just stop with the tears, okay?"

She sniffled but stopped crying. Hugging Manidoch, "Oh thank you,
Manidoch! You are my best friend in the whole world."

The fey creature patter her gingerly. "Yes. Ah. Well. You are welcome,
Fianna. Besides, it's the least we could do, considering what favor you
have done for us in the future."

"What?" she asked, confused.

"Never you mind, child. Never you mind."