And, most astonishingly, she had wings. Long, delicate, gossamer wings that looked so very fragile, and one of them was bent at an angle that must have been painful.
"Oh, you poor dear," I murmured, afraid to speak loudly and scare her. "Can I help? Do you even understand me?"
I slowly and unthreateningly held out my hand, hoping she'd be willing to step onto it so I could take her inside where it was warm. I was suddenly aware I was shivering in the chilly November morning, wearing nothing but a shirt and underwear, and she must be almost frozen. Her tiny lips were blue.
Or maybe they were supposed to be blue? I'd never encountered anything—anyone—like her before, so I didn't know. Maybe she was a pixie? Or a sprite?
I shook my head, impatient with myself. There was no time to sit on the porch and muse about who or what she might be. The poor faery was trembling.
"Please, if you understand me, will you step onto my hand, so I can get you inside to the warmth? And find you some food, if you can eat anything I might have. I'll keep Lou away from you, I promise."
My cat had been staring, unblinking, at the faery this entire time.
The faery made that trilling sound again, and then she delicately stepped into my hand, looked up at me, and spoke. "You need not keep the cat from me. Cats are beloved of the Fae, for they are wise and regal, and they are guardians of secrets. I accept your offer and will hold to all laws of hospitality; I will bring no harm to you and yours whilst I dwell in your domicile."
I blinked.
"Okay, then. Let's go inside."
She looked at me, not responding, and I got the feeling more was required.
"And … I promise to hold to the laws of hospitality, as well. While you are my guest, I will not harm you, nor cause you to be harmed, nor allow others to harm you. You're welcome to any food and drink you require." I thought about that for a few seconds. "Unless it's blood. Then we have to talk."
She trilled out a laugh. "No blood will be required, fair lady. I so swear."
With that sorted out, I stood carefully so as not to jostle her and then went back inside, Lou on my heels. I headed to the kitchen, grabbed a clean towel, and carefully lowered my hand to the table so she could step onto the towel. She immediately wrapped a fold around herself, still shivering.
"Please tell me how to help. Do you drink hot tea? Would that warm you? A warm bath? I could put water in a mixing bowl …" I tried frantically to think of how I could help my tiny guest.
She held up a hand. "Tea would be lovely. Do you have dandelion tea? And honey?"
"I'm sorry. I only have peppermint tea. But I have honey. I'll heat some water right now."
I made a pot of tea and then uncapped a bottle of water and used the cap as a tiny teacup. A drop of honey and a miniscule amount of tea fit into it, but I could always refill it as often as she liked, and I couldn't think of anything else small enough for her to hold comfortably.
Again, I apologized. "I know this isn't elegant, but it's all I have that's small enough. I promise to find a nicer cup in the future, in case you ever visit me again."
She gave me a thoughtful glance and sipped her tea. "Oh! This is lovely. Thank you. I can feel my insides warming already."
I poured myself a cup of tea and then excused myself to get dressed. When I rushed back into the room, half afraid I'd dreamed the whole thing, I found the faery leaning against my cat, who was curled protectively around her. On the kitchen table, where Lou definitely wasn't allowed, but I figured it wasn't really a morning for rules.
Because there was afaeryin mykitchen.
My fingers itched to get my phone and take a picture, but I didn't know if that was allowed, and I didn't want to ask and break our fragile peace. Instead, I poured her more tea and sat down to drink mine.
"Is there anything I can get you to eat? Oh! My name is Tess, by the way. I'm sorry. I'm a little frazzled this morning."
She sat up. "Oh! I like that word. Frazzled. Frazzled.Frazzled. It sort of zings on the tongue, does it not?"
"I'd never thought of that, but you're right, it does." I watched her, feeling delighted by everything about her. She was so tiny and beautiful, and her voice was like silvery bells whispering by a mountain stream.
Suddenly, I wondered if she were glamouring me. Nothing said that size mattered when the Fae cast their particular brand of enchantment.
"Um, I mean no offense, but do the rules of hospitality preclude glamour? Because—"
She laughed. "Yes. I shall not try to cloud your mind, Tess of the Callahan."
I tilted my head. "How do you know my last name?"
