Beyond the Veil of Yonder (Book 1)

25. The Tea Time

"Will you come for a cup of tea?" Niamh asked Elizabeth, smiling warmly as they strolled past the charming fairy houses and through the lush gardens, now bathed in twilight. The tiny lanterns, lit at this hour, hung from doors, and along with the fireflies, lit their way.

"Sounds great!" Elizabeth's eyes sparkled with impatience and curiosity. There were so many questions she wanted to ask the fairy princess. Maybe the casual atmosphere of Niamh's home would encourage the princess to open up, as the fairy still hadn't told Elizabeth much about herself. Elizabeth was dying to know how she and Edward had met, and how she knew William, his brother. Of course, the princess might know more about William. 

'No,' Elizabeth decided, trying to fool herself. 'I won't ask her about William.' 

But one question had been nagging her since they arrived in Iorlainn, and she couldn't wait until they reached Niamh's home to ask it. "Can fairies really do magic?" Despite the stunning surroundings, she hadn't seen anything out of the ordinary.

"Isn't everything around us already magical?" Niamh replied.

Elizabeth gazed around in awe, breathing in the fresh evening air that left a savoury taste on her lips. "It's true, Iorlainn is incredibly beautiful!"

"The magic here is subtle," Niamh explained. "It's not always obvious, but it's always present. You might need some time to feel it."

"I did see something strange in the forest outside, though," Elizabeth said. "There were golden sparkles in the air."

Niamh nodded. "We take care of that forest too. That's how we can reach it quickly without having to go through the caves all the time. But it takes some effort, and we need to recover afterwards."

"And what about when I was sleeping? Somebody touched me, but I couldn't see them. Was it one of your people?"

Niamh smiled. "Probably. Fairies can be curious about humans. But we can sense who we can trust and who has bad intentions. We work to keep the latter away. Our magic lets us be invisible, but only at the edges of the enchanted forest."

Intrigued, Elizabeth's eyes sparkled. "Can you show me more magic? I mean real magic."

Niamh didn't respond, instead leaning toward a small sprout poking out of the ground. She stroked it gently, and to Elizabeth's amazement, it started growing rapidly. The sprout transformed into a radiant blue bud, then bloomed into a stunning flower with a soft blue glow.

Elizabeth was left speechless, gaping at the magical sight.

"Is this the kind of magic you were looking for?" Niamh's eyes twinkled with mischief.

"Exactly!" Elizabeth smiled back at the princess. "This is what I was hoping to see!"

༺ ✧ ༻

"The children are already asleep, so we can talk freely," Niamh said as they entered her tree house. "And Edward will be late. He went to see William."

Elizabeth's gaze swept the interior with keen interest while Niamh busied herself preparing tea.

"Make yourself at home. Touch anything you like," Niamh called from the kitchen, pouring water into a copper kettle.

Elizabeth took Niamh up on her offer, picking up objects that caught her eye. She had noticed this collection on her first visit but had hesitated to touch it. Now, with permission granted, she carefully examined the pots, vibrant stones, whimsical fairy and animal figurines, and many other captivating items on the shelves, table, and fireplace.

Soon, Niamh returned to the room, carrying a tray with two steaming teacups. She moved with a light, graceful step, as if her feet barely touched the floor. Before the princess even set the tray down on the intricately carved table, Elizabeth caught the scent of tea. Along with it, there were pots of jam and exquisite pastries. The treats gave off a range of tempting aromas that made Elizabeth's mouth water, and when Niamh invited her to sit, her eyes darted eagerly from one treat to another, ready to taste each delightful offering.