Gems

Mary-Anne had always loved Sherwood Forest. Even as a child she’d found it to be a magical place, but now she knew it to be a place of real magic. A couple of weeks ago, she’d stumbled across a doorway in the forest floor that led her down to a completely different world, that of the fae, Tír Na nÓg.  There she had been graced with magic by the Lady Nimhue.

Fourteen years previously Mary-Anne had tripped and fallen into a bonfire on Guy Fawkes night after rescuing a cat from being burned. It had left Mary-Anne dreadfully scarred on her face, upper body and arm. Now her skin was smooth and unblemished, as though nothing had ever happened.

Since then, Mary-Anne visited the forest every day with her Border Collie, Jax, hoping to find the doorway once more so she could thank the Lady Nimhue. The doorway was nowhere to be found.

As they walked the forest on that mid-October day, Mary-Anne felt there was magic there anyway. The bare branches of the silver-barked birch trees appeared stark against the pale yellow light of the late autumn sun, now hanging low in a sky painted palest blue, mingled at the edge of the horizon with varying shades of ochre. The oak leaves, still green and always the last to drop, clung stubbornly to branches and rustled as a grey squirrel leapt from one tree to another.  His bushy tail flicked when startled by the slate-coloured wood pigeon.

Jax spotted the sable brown of a rabbit rustling through a pile of crisp, yellow-green leaves beneath the mighty oak tree, black, beady eyes catching a glint of evening light under the creaking boughs.

There was no silence in the forest that evening; branches clicked, cracked and snapped in the sighing of the wind. In the distance a red fox slunk through the undergrowth, emitting a single bark to the coming dark.

As night time descended, Mary-Anne conceded that another day had passed with no sight of the faery door. But at least she’d borne witness to the magic of the forest.

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    Julie Harris
    Julie Harris(@julie-harris)
    1 year ago

    Wow, Carrie, this was like taking a walk with you through that glorious Forest with all its life and color. I envy you your close proximity to so many beautiful places. Your love of nature shines through everything you write.

    Linda Rock
    Linda Rock(@linda-rock)
    1 year ago

    What a talent you have for descriptive writing Carrie. I felt I was walking through that magical forest experiencing all the sounds and wonder. I loved the line ‘There was no silence in the forest that evening; branches clicked, cracked and snapped in the sighing of the wind.’ Beautifully written.

    Margarida Brei
    Margarida Brei(@margarida-brei)
    1 year ago

    Miss Carrie, I adore your descriptions of Sherwood Forest. You conjured up a sharp picture of its stateliness, colours and magic.

    Fuji
    Fuji(@fuji)
    1 year ago

    Really nice story, Carrie. Like the others who commented, I felt the beauty of the Forest as if I were there. Great writing.

    Lotchie Carmelo
    Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
    1 year ago

    Hello, Carrie. You made me fall in love with the beautiful Sherwood forest because of your very artistic and descriptive writing. I really enjoyed it, and I love it. 

    Lotchie Carmelo
    Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
    Reply to  Carrie OLeary
    1 year ago

    You’re welcome. And thank you also for appreciating my comment.

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