"Commander Oisín there is a woman here to see you."

    "Does she have an appointment?" The Commander didn't even look up from the paperwork his pen scratched over.

    "No, but she's insisting and claims she won't speak with anyone but you."

    He sighed and set down his pen. "Send her in."

    Grudgingly he turned off the jazz music playing from the radio and leaned back in his chair. Being promoted to Commander of the Knights of Saint Patrick at so young an age was an honor. Truly he'd wanted the job. Of course paperwork verifying authenticity of artifacts, overseeing allocation of personnel, and budget approval meetings weren't as exciting as globetrotting in search of historical treasures, but what he did was the heart of the organization. That fact wouldn't take away the boredom. When it got too much to bear there was always the training and exercise rooms of the lower floors but even still an ever growing stack of paperwork would await him.

    "Commander Oisín MacCumhail my name is Niamh; you have something that belongs to me." A woman with dark red hair and piercing blue eyes stormed into the office. She carried herself with a noble air and wore a flowing dress more suited to a beauty pageant or a ballroom than everyday routine.

    "Miss Niamh there are proper channels one can go through if you feel my organization has removed something from your land without authorization. If your case can be proven in a court of law whatever item or items you are entitled to will be given back." He reached into a drawer but before he could withdraw the files there was a whistle in the air and a knife landed on his desk. It stuck into his freshly completed paperwork and wobbled back and forth gently.

    "There's no time for this. Lead me to your vaults."

    Oisín bit his tongue in anger and stood up. His fists dug into the wood of his desk and he itched to draw his gun and escort the rude vixen to the police station. However that story would quickly be circulated around town and he didn't need bad publicity on top of his already stress filled life.

    Instead he pressed a button on his phone. "Derek get security in here, please."

    "Right away." Two women in blue uniforms with gold shamrocks on their shoulders denoting their rank entered the room.

    Niamh drew a baton from her boot and the Knights slowed their approach.

    "Back off." she hissed.

    "Ma'am there's no need-Ahhh." A vine erupted from the marble floor and tangled the two women.

    "Finally." Niamh shouted triumphantly. With a wild grin she turned to a stunned Oisín. The two women were alive but completely immobile and silent as the vines clamped their mouths shut. "As I was saying Commander, if you would please lead me to your vaults I have something to find. Also a proposal I'm sure you'd love to hear."

    "Release my Knights and I'll do as you ask."

    "Fine but make them swear to stay put and not alert trouble."

    He nodded and with a wave of her hand the women were released from the bonds. The vines shriveled back into the floor but the hole they made still remained. Grabbing a set of keys, Oisín swiftly led the woman out of his office and down to the catacombs; where they stored all relics until arrangements could be made for them to be transferred to museums in their country of origin.

    "What I need was found by your group in 1698. If my research is correct it never left your vaults."

    Oisín unlocked the door with a key and then a seven digit number code followed by a retinal scan. "It'll take some time to find it–"

    Niamh rushed ahead as if compelled by an unseen force. She ran past rows and rows of safety deposit boxes until she came to one of the oldest sections. Contrary to popular belief the Knights kept everything in up to date storage instead of cardboard boxes and torch light as illumination as many imagined. In the event of fire all the oxygen in the room would be sucked out, this room was sound proof, water proof, and guarded by the best security money could buy both technological and human. Anything put into these vaults would be safe and well cared for. It was the mission of the Knights of Saint Patrick to study history and find hidden treasure carried away from its homeland by invaders, or buried by the locals so long ago the tales of treasure became nothing more than legend.

    Niamh went to reach for a box but stopped suddenly. "Is this made of iron?" she asked.

    "No."

    She yanked the box out of the wall and flung open the lid. Inside was a necklace of silver with a large Celtic charm pendant. Before Oisín's eyes the necklace rose from the box with a soft blue glow. The woman's eyes also began to glow and a gust of wind blew through the room which knocked Oisín to his knees. The necklace placed itself around Niamh's neck and in a instant her flowing green dress was covered by armor decorated with Celtic symbols.

    "Who are you?" Oisín basked in wonder.

    "Princess Niamh of Tír na nÓg and I ask you to help take back the kingdom that was stolen from me."

    A while later Oisín and Niamh sat in his office. He'd sent the two Knights home with extra pay and a few days leave to recover from their otherworldly visitor. Niamh was drinking tea and nibbling on lemon cakes while Oisín poured himself a generous whiskey.

    "I can do what I promised. If you lead your men with me to Tír na nÓg and take back what's mine, I will give you the ultimate relic-a vial of water from the fountain of youth."

    Oisín downed half his whiskey and poured some more.

    "How did you come to lose this kingdom? Your offer is enticing but I won't commit my people to this fight without having all the information."

    "It began when my father received a prophecy from the High Druid. He claimed that I would marry a mortal and he would sit the throne beside me as king. My father didn't take kindly to the idea of being surpassed by a mere mortal. In his anger he cursed me so that I would be invisible to mortals for as long as he lived. I didn't know about the curse for some time as my duties as keeper of the fountain of youth allowed little leisure time."

    "Sometime after that a lord from the Unseelie Court, Kamlu, came to ask for my hand in marriage. It was rejected and in retaliation Kamlu led an army against us. It was then my father told me of the curse. A curse like that from the ruler of Tír na nÓg can only be broken by the death of the one who cast it. The curse was the least of my worries as the battles raged. Eventually I was captured and Kamlu grew angrier each day I refused to marry him so he banished me to earth. He knew that if he killed me the fountain would have sealed itself off forever but he believed that my absence would force it to choose a new keeper. I imagine he's long since found that's not the case."

    "Before my banishment he sealed the majority of my magic in this necklace and cast it away which left me without the power to open the gate to Tír na nÓg. I've searched the earth five hundred years. Fifty years ago I became visible to men so the only conclusion is my father lost the fight and died. Now an invader sits on my throne and I want it back."

    Oisín chewed his lip. "Your tale is a sad one but my men are mortal; we wouldn't survive a fight with fairies if magic is involved."

    "True," the Princess admitted. "The second I cross the border into my world I will be in my full power again. The land of Tír na nÓg is bound to my blood. While I live Kamlu will never be able to use the full magic of my land even though he is king. I can protect everyone from the magic used against us at least for a time. My power even then will have limits. However nothing of your modern technology will cross the border. If you come with me you will have to fight with sword and shield. If rumors are true you are trained in that."

    "We've kept the traditions alive," he confirmed. "A single vial of the water from the fountain doesn't seem like enough on our end."

    "What more do you want? No mortal has ever been gifted the waters."

    "I can see it's a very unique honor but I can't risk my men for it."

    "Alright, Commander. In addition I'll give each of your men a vial of the water, a pouch of gold and if they wish they may stay in the land as my subjects. Although you should be aware that time passes differently in Tír na nÓg. One year spent there is the equivalent of one hundred years in your realm nor will the waters give men eternal life without my blessing. That's a blessing I can't bestow lightly and will not. If they were to drink the waters it would heal them of any ailment and extend their life beyond that of a mere mortal while remaining in good health. Without my presence the fountain would have stopped flowing. The waters grant all fairy kind eternal life that's true but not with a single drink. We must continually drink it, myself being the exception, as the fountain is connected to me by blood magic. Kamlu will not have been able to keep his entire army alive which means we will be facing reduced numbers. This quest of his was against the wishes of his mother who is Queen of the Unseelie and she vowed not to assist him in any way. Odds are very much in our favor."

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    Cold swirls of breath rose before the men and women as they camped out on the beach. Many people in town thought they must be part of a re-enactment of some ancient battle as they marched down to the beach in armor with swords on their backs and horses in tow.

    Niamh stood just out of reach of the waves and stared into the distance. Her armor gave off a faint blue glow in the starlight while the Celtic symbols pulsed a faint green. Oisín sat around the camp fire with his commanders sipping coffee and not listening to whatever tale was being spun.

    Half of the order had thought him mad when he announced a Princess from a land of fable waltzed in and asked them to participate in a battle for a kingdom. Even after a display of her unearthly power and the promise of the gifts she'd offered it'd taken three days for the first volunteer to sign on. Their force was small only a few hundred strong. Niamh was confident in the numbers they would be equal or slightly superior. Oisín poured another cup of coffee and excused himself from the circle.

    "Something to warm your hands, Princess?"

    "Thank you, Commander."

    "Call me Oisín."

    "Oisín." Niamh held out her hand and a green shamrock bloomed. "For you."

    "I'm honored." Oisín pinned it to his lapel. "Does the sea hold charm for you? You've stared at it ever since we arrived."

    "No," she chuckled. "I'm just trying to see what lies beyond it. The gate of Tír na nÓg can only be opened at dawn over a large body of water. I fear what's been done to my home. You should have seen it before the war; a land of green grass and pale gold buildings. Trees line the way to the fountain and it sits in a grove of berries."

    Oisín put a hand on her shoulder. "I have every confidence you will make it so again."

    "The second I open the gate Kamlu will feel it. We'll be met by a war party of whatever's left of his forces. I'm sorry we had to travel so far but there are very few places on earth the veil between worlds is thin enough for me bring over so many of mortal blood at once." Niamh sipped her coffee and sighed.

    "Nervous?"

    "No. I've waited for this day so long and been overcome with despair and fear often that it would never come. I half expect to wake finding this all dream." Pink and orange steaks began to color the sky. "It's time."

    Oisín rallied his soldiers while Niamh recited words in a tongue he couldn't understand. The men and women of his forces mounted their horses and readied their weapons. Oisín rode up beside Niamh.

    "Grab on, Princess." He offered his arm so she could ride behind him as she'd done over the two weeks it'd taken them to reach this place.

    "I will go on my own mount." A melodic cry of a horse rippled through the dawn. Oisín didn't think he could be astonished after all he'd seen of Niamh. The animal charging at them was large, jet black, with glowing blue eyes and carried itself on eight legs.

    "It can't be," Oisín whispered.

    "He is." Niamh grinned. "Sleipnir, son of Loki, once mount to Odin." Sleipnir reared before the Princess. Rods of green lightning hit the horse twisting into a saddle and bridle as they made contact with the body of the animal. Niamh held out her hands and Sleipnir put his giant face between them. "After the fall of the Norse Sleipnir wandered the world looking for a rider to challenge him for the right to saddle him and all failed until I." Niamh swung herself into the saddle. Niamh held out her hand and another strike of lightning hit her palm and transformed into a glowing golden sword. She looked at Oisín giving him one last chance to back out.

    "We're ready, Princess." Oisín assured her.

    Sleipnir walked on top of the ocean water followed by Oisín and his forces. On the other side of the veil they were met with a bleak land. Everything was dead and so brittle that the air currents of their passing made the dead fall shatter and blow in the wind.

    "Where is the army?"

    "If any are alive they will have gathered before the fountain." As she'd promised someone did await them at the fountain and it was a gruesome sight to behold; one living being surrounded by the old bones of fairy kind. Those that were dead wore armor and held weapon hilts of blades rusted to orange dust.

    "Kamlu."

    The man before the fountain raised his head. Cruel cold eyes and a face so angular with stretched skin that looked like it would rip if he spoke or made any facial expression.

    "Niamh," the voice of Kamlu was deep and strong. "I've waited a long time. Banishing you was a mistake. I should have chained you to the fountain and drank deep from the waters while you watched your kingdom burn." He stood and drew the long sword at his side. "My army is long since dead and no court will share their store of fountain water with me. I'm the closest to death I've ever been and have nothing to lose. If I die here I'm taking you with me and with your death so will all fairy kind be extinguished as so many have gone before us."

    Niamh jumped off Sleipnir and a crack of thunder sounded above them as her feet hit the ground. The grass around her tried to come back to life turning a yellow shade and becoming fuller with each step the rightful ruler took toward the usurper. The fountain glowed blue and pale golden water began to run from its spouts.

    "We may go the path of the Norse someday but today is not that day." Niamh charged Kamlu and the combatants moved so fast that Oisín's mortal eyes couldn't follow. The crack of their swords echoed around the valley louder than the charging of a thousand horses. Here and there some strange silver liquid would fall to the ground and those spots would become a small green oasis in the sea of grey that covered the land.

    "No!" Niamh's voice shouted. Before Oisín could blink the point of a sword was just centimeters from his heart. Kamlu had lunged at him and the Princess had stopped the blade by getting in front of Kamlu and plunging her sword through his body. In order to do so she had put herself in front of Kamlu's sword. The silver liquid had the smell of blood and it dripped onto Oisín.

    Kamlu's eyes went wide as he lost his grip on the sword and fell dead before the Princess. She gasped and fell backwards. Oisín dropped his sword and just managed to catch her. As her blood dropped to the ground the grass became green.

    "Niamh! Fetch the surgeon!" Oisín ordered his men.

    "No mortal remedy can save me." Each word was growing fainter as she struggled for life. "Fountain. Put me in the fountain." Her eyes fluttered closed and Niamh's breathing became shallow. Oisín awkwardly picked up the Princess as the sword was still in her body and ran for the waters of the fountain which were becoming thinner and thinner in its spout. He dropped her roughly into the water and yanked the sword from her body.

    Silver blood mixed with the pale gold waters until he could barely see her body. Two circles of blue appeared and the land began to rapidly change into a lush green. Slowly the Princess rose from the waters once again made whole as the blue glow of her eyes faded. The Knights of Saint Patrick began to cheer as Oisín helped her out of the water.

🧝🏻‍♀️☘️

    "The last of my men are leaving today." Oisín stood before the luminous throne of Tír na nÓg. "We've performed our duties faithfully the last three months helping your people back to your land. They are anxious to get back to their families as nearly a year has passed on earth."

    "Thank you Oisín. I couldn't have found better. As reward I've ordered that each Knight be given two additional vials of water and an extra bag of gold. My agents will go back and forth until each of your men has been given what they are due." Niamh stood from her throne and the fairy court bowed before her as she made her way towards Oisín. "Will you follow me Commander?"

    "Of course."

    It was easy to figure out where she was taking him. The grove of young saplings he'd help plant made a shady path to the fountain of youth. The sun was beginning to set over the hills and the pink and purple clouds made a beautiful picture. However Oisín thought that as beautiful as the land was it couldn't hold a candle to its Queen.

    "I haven't been here much since the day I killed Kamlu." She ran her hand over the fountain and it seemed to sing a sweet melody.

    "It was a traumatic experience. You nearly died."

    "My death isn't what scares me." Niamh's hand went to her chest where the scar of Kamlu's sword sat. "When I threw myself in his path it wasn't my land or people I thought of. Kamlu saw the truth in my eyes the second his plan formed. I read his thoughts from his body language and my actions confirmed my weakness since before he even moved I did. I almost didn't make it. You were far closer to death that day than you knew."

    Oisín put his hand beside hers on the fountain but didn't touch her. "Why did you put yourself in front of me like that?"

    "Is it not obvious?"

    "I'd like to hear you speak the words to confirm what I believe I've seen."

    Niamh turned toward Oisín and put her hand over his. With her other she dipped a vial into the waters. "Oisín MacCumhail I love you. I have since the moment I saw you. My feelings have only grown stronger over the last year. If you would have me," Niamh held the vial to her lips and spoke soft words which turned the water from a pale gold to a very bright gold, "I ask you to sit beside me on the throne of Tír na nÓg, as its king, as my friend, husband, and partner for eternity."

    "I thought you'd never ask." Oisín took the vial and drank faster than he ever had in his life.

    "How do you feel my King?" Oisín smiled and placed his forehead against hers.

    "Better now that I can be by the side of my Queen forever."

    "And so you will be."