Fantasy Irish tales for Children

By james J. Deeney

Contained within this collection are, Goblins, Elves, Wood nymphs, Water nymphs, and the most powerful Fairy of them all, Queen Aoibe. These tales will be enjoyed by children who love magic and wonder. Set in an Ireland before HUMAN came, they will enjoy stories like, The Magic of the Unicorn, The Magic of Great Oak Tree, and other tales.

Another magical collection from one of Ireland's best fantasy authors.

• Language: English
• Publisher: james J. Deeney
• Release date: May 20, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393011460

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All rights reserved. No part of this book may be utilised in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including, photography, filming, recording, photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, or shall not by way of trade or otherwise be lent, resold, or otherwise circulated in any All rights reserved. No part of this book may be utilised in any form or by any means, electronic or form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published, without prior permission in writing from the publisher, James J. Deeney. The moral rights of the author have been asserted.

The Magic of the Balls

It was well known, by all the elves that during the hottest days of the long hot summers Ireland had back then, King Brin would go to a lake in the center of the great pine tree forest to swim. It was also well known, by all the elves that only their king was allowed to swim there.

****

Early one morning, at the beginning of summer, as Brin was removing his clothes to go for a swim in the cool clear water, he was startled to see a light blue mist suddenly appear in the center of the lake. All of a sudden he saw four glowing golden balls, each as big as a football, float from the mist and drift quickly towards him. When the strange balls where about thirty meters from the bank they suddenly speeded up. Seconds later they were floating above the King's head. As one of the balls floated in front of Brin’s eyes he was about to push it away when all the balls began to sing. Their singing was so beautiful, and so moving, that tears of happiness were soon running down Brin's pale face. But when the balls floated nearer, almost touching his head, he grew faint. Unable to stand, he flopped to the ground. Instantly the golden balls dropped beside him and began to hover around his head, still singing. Enchanted by their music, Brin lay there all that day, not wanting the balls to stop their singing. But when the sun began to set, the balls did stop and slowly floated back to the mist.

****

That night, when Brin returned to his palace, he felt so weak and tired, that after telling two of his counsellors to waken him early in the morning, he fell into a deep sleep. As he slept he dreamed about the balls.

****

In the morning, he hurried back to the lake. It was another bright beautiful day. Already ducks and a family of swans were swimming in the calm water. Walking to the edge of the lake, Brin gazed towards the blue mist. Seconds later he saw the four golden balls floating towards him. As they passed the ducks, the birds quacked loudly in anger and flew off. With their beady eyes, wild with fear, the swans swam quickly to the far side of the lake.

When the balls floated out of the water and around him, the King of the elves didn't notice that they were bigger than before, four times bigger, and they were glowing much brighter. Smiling, Brin sat down when the balls began to sing. Their singing was even more beautiful than before. He remained sitting at the edge of the lake all day listening to them.

But again, when the sun began to set, the balls floated back to the mist.

****

When Brin finally rose to go back to the palace, he was exhausted and weak. When he eventually reached the palace, he stumbled towards his bedroom.

As he passed by, one of his counsellors noticed how tired his King looked. Brin had just had time to tell him to waken him early in the morning before stumbling into bed.

****

In the morning, without taking his breakfast, Brin hurried to the lake again. He was longing to hear the singing balls.

After a few minutes they appeared. This time Brin was astonished to see how big they were. Each glowing ball was as big as a donkey. Once more they floated around the smiling King and began to sing. Their singing was even more beautiful than the day before. With a contented sigh Brin sat down.

****

All day, he sat by the lake listening to the ball's captivating, beautiful singing and again when the sun began to set the balls floated back to the mist.

****

That night Brin was so weak he only just made it to one of the secret entrances to his palace where he immediately fell asleep. There, two of his counsellors found him and carried him to his bedroom.

He is very weak, exclaimed one of the elves, after they had left their King's bedroom.

Yes, said the other thoughtfully. I wonder why?

****

Next day, the elves had to shake their King very hard to waken him. When he was awake he quickly dressed. Without eating he hurried to the lake again. I have to hear their music, he thought. Oh, I hope they come again. I hope I am not too late.

When the golden balls floated around Brin they were as big as horses. But Brin was too weak to notice and smiled as they floated just above his regal head and began to sing.

****

Late that night, the elves found Brin lying in the forest. Horrified, they studied their thin, pale-faced King. He was hardly breathing.

Is he dying? one of the elves, who helped carry him back to the palace asked. The others shook their heads, too worried to answer.

All through the night, Brin’s six counsellors stood guard around their King's bed. They watched as he tossed and turned as he dreamed about the balls.

****

In the morning, they let him sleep on. Brin slept all that day and right through until the next morning, when he woke early. I must get to the lake, he said. He was surprised to see his counsellors standing around his bed. Where are my clothes? he shouted. Bring me my clothes! I must get to the lake!

But your majesty, exclaimed the oldest of his counsellors. You are very weak. You must have something to eat. You have been sleeping for two nights.

Two nights? gasped Brin. Why didn't you waken me? He glared at the counsellor as he shouted again. Where are my clothes? Bring me my clothes now!

A few minutes later, he was hurrying from the palace. As he ran through the trees, he thought, I’ve been away too long, maybe the balls will not come again. He reached the lake ten minutes later, unaware that one of his wisest counsellors had followed him.

****

Brin stared towards the mist. Oh, I hope the balls come again, he thought. I wasn't here yesterday. Maybe they've gone. I'll never hear their beautiful singing again. With tears in his eyes he sat down on the edge of the lake.

The counsellor, hiding in the trees behind Brin, saw the balls at the same time as his King did. Each ball was as big as an elephant. They quickly floated towards Brin. In a few moments they were floating around him.

The counsellor could not hear their singing, but his eyes widened with horror when he saw magic flicker from Brin up into one of the glowing balls. As the magic entered the ball it glowed brighter. As it did, more magic shot from Brin into the other three balls.

Horrified the King’s counsellor realized what was happening. Those balls are draining my King's magic from him, he thought. No wonder he is weak. I must stop them. Suddenly running from his hiding place, he shouted, Your majesty! They're stealing your magic! Your majesty!

But Brin didn't hear him. He just sat with a smile on his face, as the singing of the balls grew even more beautiful.

When his counsellor tried to get near Brin, the huge glowing balls blocked his way. In a panic now, the counsellor began to scream at his King. Your majesty! Wake up! They're stealing your magic! Your majesty! He gasped, when he saw even more magic shoot from Brin into the balls. Looking around the edge of the lake the counsellor tried to see what he could use to chase the balls away. He spotted some sharp, flat stones near the water and began to throw them at the balls. But just when it looked as if the stones would hit them, magic shot from the balls turning the stones to dust.

All that day, the counsellor tried in vain to wake his King and chase the balls away. He was afraid to leave and go for help in case the balls would try to carry his King away.

Later, as the sun began to set, the balls, glowing very brightly, left Brin and floated back to the center of the lake. When they did, the counsellor now saw his King fall over. For a long time, the counsellor tried to waken him. When he realized, he couldn't, he ran for help.

****

That night, two of the counsellors hurried to the fairy glen to see Queen Aoibe. She was sleeping when they arrived.

Your Majesty, whispered Onagh waking her. I am sorry to have to disturb your slumber. Two of King Brin's wise elves are outside. They say their King is very ill.

Brin? Ill? exclaimed Aoibe, rising from her down-filled bed. Quickly she dressed.

A few moments later, she was sitting on her throne looking down at the elves. "My