Seeking Answers

Sated by a delicious dinner of Thom Kha Gai soup and Pad Thai, Erin, Olivier, and Charlotte returned to their cozy little home where Erin helped Charlotte lay a fire. The weather was beginning to turn from the warm ends of an Indian Summer to the crisp notes of autumn. Once they'd gotten the fire started, the trio took up the overstuffed chair and faded, but comfortable couch and began chatting. They talked about anything and everything; the rapport they'd established online thankfully translated to real life and it was like they'd all been friends for years.

"What do you think of Ireland so far?" Charlotte asked the pair in a friendly manner.

Olivier responded first, "It's fantastic when we're not getting lost in magical fairy forests," with a chuckle.

"Wait, what *did* happen to you two yesterday, surely you didn't get lost in little old Galway--it's nowhere near the size of Paris!" Charlotte said in jest, in obvious disbelief--not even touching the fairy forest quip.

"Actually, we did, and it was very strange. We still don't know what quite happened to us yesterday," Erin responded warily. She and Olivier had talked about what they'd tell Charlotte about what happened the day before and they'd agreed to play it by ear--both still uncertain about what had actually happened to them.

Olivier asked without pausing, "Is it common to have sudden fogs arise from nowhere in this city?"

Charlotte quickly replied, "Occasionally but not really in the summertime like now. What exactly *did* happen to the pair of ye' yesterday?" Charlotte peered at them, the soft lilt of her Irish accent becoming a bit more heavy with the curiosity.

Olivier looked at Erin with a bit of apprehension, but then began recalling their harrowing ordeal in minute detail, figuring if they were going to be living together for the next year, she'd best be honest. As she recounted their experience with the fog and came to the details of her encounter with the mysterious Danu, she sounded incredulous to herself, but she continued to tell the story and bit by bit, Charlotte absorbed what she'd been told.

"Very strange, very very strange," Charlotte remarked, though she didn't seem as incredulous as Olivier and Erin had expected. "You know, growing up here we have stories about strange happenings. I've never had anything remotely like this happen to me, but I've heard of others 'seeing through the veil' and other tales of the like. I always thought it was a bit of a lark when I'd heard the stories before."

"I'm still not sure what I was seeing, it was like I was dreaming and yet I could see everything as clearly as I can see you now," Erin said cautiously, not wanting to sound like she was touched in the head.

"What worries me is the message Danu gave you. It certainly didn't sound like good news, if you know what I mean? We're a country that knows magic in our lives, we live with the legends that most people hear in fairy tales as children. I won't say that I've heard anyone having quite as interesting experience as yours," Charlotte spoke in a gentle manner. She appeared to be deeply thoughtful about the situation and like she understood that Erin and Olivier had experienced something deeply unsettling and clearly they were not telling tall tales. The looks on their faces made it clear that what they had been through had disquieted them intensely.

"I've got a professor you need to speak with--don't worry, he is a believer in the supernatural and he won't think you're crazy. I had him last year and he always spoke of how these stories he told may sound unbelievable but that there was truth to every fable he relayed to us," Charlotte continued reassuringly. "If there's anyone who can help us find out what's going on, it's him," she said encouragingly.

With that, the three of them realized how tired they were from the busy day of moving in and unpacking, and the filling Thai meal. Olivier was the first to break up their little huddle stretching and yawning, "Well ladies, I don't know about the two of you, but I'm exhausted. Once we've had a full night of sleep in actual beds we'll be able to think more clearly," and with that, he took himself off to the restroom to get ready for bed.

Charlotte leaned in and gently hugged Erin, "Don't worry, Erin, I've had my own strange encounters-- nothing quite like what you've told me, but I'll tell you all about my stories, and the stories I've heard growing up after you've had a chance to get a proper rest." Charlotte rose and went to make herself a restoring cup of tea and Erin gathered her scattered thoughts and scooped them up and made her way to her bedroom with them.