A Light in the Night

As they bumped along down the dirt road further into the green forest, Emily couldn’t help but think how far from home they were. She had spent her entire 9 years in New York and was used to those city smells, sounds, and sights. Now, here she was thousands of miles away heading into the heart of Ireland and the woods of Glenfarme. Her family had come over to celebrate Emily's great grandmother’s one hundredth birthday with a gathering of the Clan, and a chance to meet the Irish side of her family. She should be excited, but all Emily really wanted to do was go home.

Finally, they arrived at a large ancient estate home that appeared to have been here for centuries. Thick curtains of ivy entwined over the two stories of dark stone, the manor looming high above them. This was the largest house Emily had ever seen outside of a fairy tale, and she imagined all the places she might find to hide and explore. As they rolled up to the great doors, a butler appeared to usher them inside. “This way to the parlor” he announced. While they walked through the foyer, Emily noticed all the elegant decorations, mostly antiques and collectibles, filling every space. Ancient armor with weapons, marble statues, and dreary portraits of long dead ancestors glared at her from every wall. A strange feeling seemed to emanate all about this place

When they entered the grand Parlor, a deeply wrinkled, spritely yet well coiffed lady rose from her chair to greet them. “Welcome,” she said, “Welcome to Ireland and my home. I am Aileen, but you can call me Nana.” She held out her arms to all three, as they came forward to embrace her and give personal greetings. After all the niceties were exchanged, Emily’s family was shown to their rooms so they could freshen up, or rest, before dinner. Emily was given her own room across the hall from her parents. It was dank and dark, and filled with antique toys and dolls. She crawled onto the bed, hoping to take a nap. But as soon as she closed her eyes, she could feel those dolls staring at her. Eventually, Emily put those creepy dolls in a trunk to hide from their glassy glares. Still she couldn’t sleep- she was afraid they would get out, so she went off to explore the house. She crept quietly past her parents door, hearing them snoring inside. Then off she went down the corridor, past antiquities and doors to unknown spaces.

Every now and then she would try a door, to discover its secrets. Unfortunately, most were bedrooms or storage, so Emily decided there must be more interesting places downstairs. Trying not to make a sound, she slid down the bannister to the first floor. She hurried past the dining room where the servants were setting up for dinner. Beyond that was the parlor, the sitting room, the study, and the library. Since she loved to read, Emily decided to look for a book in the library. On the front of the shelves she found hand-written labels sorting books by subject, and searched for the section filled with fantasy and fairy tales. Scanning the shelves, Emily’s eyes landed on a spine such an intense deep green that it seemed to glow with an internal light. Irelands Secret Book of Sprites and Spirits. “What an interesting subject,” Emily thought. Carefully, she pulled out the book and flipped through the titles of what appeared to be fairy tales and fables - this would be perfect for bedtime tonite. Just then, the clock chimed loudly, and Emily hastened back to her room. While she crept down the hallway upstairs, she could hear the adults stirring. Closing her door without a sound, Emily quickly hid the book under her pillow for later, and began to get ready.

By seven, everyone had gone downstairs to the great hall. The room was filled with family and other friends who had arrived to join in the evening’s festivities. Emily noticed how everyone had dressed in their finest, decked out for this celebration. In the grand ballroom, she could hear a band warming up - perhaps she could dance later. But for now, introductions were in order. With a grand fanfare, her great grandmother appeared at the entryway and made her way through the room, kissing and hugging people as she crossed the hall. Finally, the butler announced dinner was ready and gestured towards the dining room. Emily got seated next to her Nana Aileen tonight; the oldest and the youngest together. While sitting next to Nana, she got to overhear a lot of stories of international travel, historical sites, family heritage, and village history. Emily even got to hear the story of this house which was built over 350 years ago. The land was deeded to some great great great ancestor who served and aided King Charles II. Eventually, he earned the title of Lord where he became influential in court and local politics. The house has stayed in her family ever since.

After dinner, they moved to the sitting room for drinks and treats before the music started. Once again, Emily got to sit next to Nana, and they had a chance to talk to one another. While everyone else went to fill their plates with pastries, Nana leaned toward Emily and whispered “You know there are magical spirits that live in this house and woods,” she said with a wink and a smile. “I saw them when I was around your age. They came to me one midsummers eve such as tonight. But be careful, never eat any food they give you, or else all will be lost”. Then she gave her a kiss on the forehead, and went off for some treats. Emily couldn’t believe what she just heard. Was Nana losing her mind? Or maybe these spirits really lived here.This wild thought got her heart pounding.

As the music started, Emily was allowed to come into the ballroom for a while. Mostly they played Celtic reels and folk tunes, but Emily still wanted to dance the night away. Way too soon, her mother said it was bedtime. So, with a few goodnights they went off to her room. After changing into her jammies, Mom tucked her into bed and turned out the lights. Emily was alone at last, and she could dive into that book of tales she had hidden. As she browsed the titles with anticipation, she found one called Sprite’s Delight. Remembering what her Nana had said, she decided to read this one. She had read fairy tales before, but didn’t know anything about Sprites.

Emily got under the blankets, pulling them over her head, and lit up the flashlight of her smartphone to read the book beneath the cover of her covers. The story started out with the main character, a young girl like Emily, who lived a couple of hundred years ago. She gets lost in the woods, and is found by some sprites. These were tiny beings made mostly of light who flew through the air. They took her back to their home, where she played with them and was no longer afraid. Wanting her to stay, they offered her food. The girl refused. She asked them to take her home, which they did. Until she was a grown woman, the sprites came to her home often to get her to return. Emily drifted off to sleep with the book on her chest, and visions of sprites dancing in her head.

Sometime in the middle of the night, Emily awoke with a start - did she hear something? All was quiet in the house now, except for a small sound in the dark nights silence. It was like someone tapping on glass, but how could that be? She was on the second floor. When she turned towards the window, she noticed a green glow around the edge. Then a speck of green light floated to the middle of her view, and was joined by another. Emily inched closers to the window to see what they could be. Lightening bugs? When she reached the window pane, the lights stopped moving for a second. Now Emily could see they were tiny humanoid beings about 2 inches long, green and glowing. They stared back at her, and then waved their arms, as if beckoning her to follow. More lights joined these, and then they flew downward. Emily hesitated. Should she follow them? She rubbed her eyes, and slapped her cheeks - yes she was awake. So she grabbed her coat, boots, and cel phone, and darted down the stairs to the kitchen and out the back door. The green light sprites were waiting for her, many more than before. She walked towards them, and they flew off down the path. Some stayed near and flitted around her head. Emily could feel their energy, there was magic in the air tonight. Before she got far, she marked the house as home on her phone to be able to find her way back. Then she hurried after the sprites, skipping down the forest path, giggling and twirling in delight as she followed them into the night. Eventually they came to a clearing near a lake, and the sprites stopped here. “This must be their home”, Emily thought. Other sprites of different colors emerged curiously from the trees, and joined in the party. As they came forth, the sprites seemed excited that she was here. Her laughter and joy made them shine brighter and their glow energized her. The sprites performed arial choreographies as Emily danced beneath them to music unlike any she had ever heard. The night air filled with sparks and the sparkling of magic dust. Emily was even able to get some pictures of the sprites and this fantastic phenomenon. Time passed quickly, and as the night was nearing its end the sprites brought forth a feast. Remembering her Nana’s warning not to eat anything, she thanked them for the delightful dance, and turned to go. They tried to stop her by blocking the path, but she went into the woods instead. She turned, waving goodbye as she ran off, and as the sprites faded into the darkness. Using the phone to find her way back, she returned to the house just as dawn was just breaking. Emily snuck into her room, then fell onto her bed and into a deep sleep with some strange sweet dreams.

When her mother woke her for breakfast, Emily didn’t say anything about her adventure that night. She wasn’t sure what she had seen was real, and didn’t think anyone would believe her anyway. At breakfast, she was seated next to Nana Aileen again. Emily ate in silence and, when no one was looking, pulled out her phone. She had to see if any of the pictures had come out, if this really did happen. And yes - the pictures were there! But they appeared nothing more than specks of green lights in the night. Her lips pursed in disappointment, but SHE knew they were real!. Unexpectedly, Nana Aileen leaned over and said “You saw them didn’t you?” Emily nodded her head. “I saw them too when I was young. I followed them into the woods more than once. Oh what magnificent mystical moments we had.” Her eyes gleamed with the spark of her memories. ”You didn’t eat the food did you?”

“NO Nana, I remembered what you said. But it was definitely an unbelievably wonderful and mythical night.”

They looked at each other with a knowing glance and a huge smile. They hugged, both brimming with joy over the shared secret of this special night and its enchanted energy. Ireland truly was a magical place. Especially for little girls who get to run off into the forest and dance in the moonlight night with bright green light sprites.