James (03) A Pixie at Fairy Glen

(Welcome to my story; any similarity to any person, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. If you haven't read the first parts, 'James (01) Reach for the hold' & James (02) - Ropes, and fears, then you should; it will help explain things. The story is set in 2012, Sally is 20, and James is 40 years of age.)

Chapter One: Prologue, The Call.

James put down his mobile phone with a sigh, a small smile forming at the corners of his lips. Maybe... just maybe... his luck was changing. For once, he found himself in a rather fortuitous situation. Much to his surprise, Sally had phoned him out of the blue and... Asked him out!

She had told James that during the afternoon on Saturday week, she was giving a climbing demonstration in northern Wales. She'd explained that she would have a few free hours to kill beforehand. And she'd asked if he would be interested to meet at Betws-y-Coed, to go on what she'd described as a 'fairy hunt'. This would involve a short walk from Betws-y-Coed to the nearby waterfalls at Fairy Glen.

A gorge she insisted is 'truly beautiful.' And told him that when younger, she genuinely did think that fairies do live there, in that very quiet, secluded place.

Of course, James had immediately eagerly agreed to go on this mysterious - fairy hunt, regardless of thinking that the purpose of the adventure to be slightly weird... Internally, he was just pleased, and dare he admit it, cautiously excited to have another opportunity to see her again. It had been two months since their last encounter, and this unexpected invitation felt like a rare opportunity.

Plus, as luck would have it, he happened to be in the area for work and could easily arrange to stay locally overnight and be ready for their little adventure the next day.

After the call, he ensured that he had everything he would need for a morning in the great outdoors. And as James prepared, a long-forgotten sense of nervousness began to bubble beneath his cool exterior.

Chapter Two: An Awkward Reunion

It was just past 8 o'clock in the morning when James parked his black Toyota Hilux at the far end of Betws-y-Coed Railway Station car park. His legs were slightly stiff from his hour-long drive around narrow, winding, Welsh roads. He closed the truck door and wandered over to the contactless machine to make the £6 card payment.

The early mist, hemmed in by the deep cut valley, was still clinging to the treetops like a thick grey shroud. It was chilly, and he zipped up the front of his Gore-Tex jacket and slid his hands into the pockets of his cargo pants for warmth. Light birdsong from the trees was threading through the crisp September air, and he couldn't help but smile at the calm around him.

Across the street, the shops housed in an attractive range of stone buildings backing onto the station were mostly still closed, except for some cafés. Around the station, the village stirred quietly, a gentle hum emerging from cafés as early bird tourists ate their breakfasts. There was a slow shuffle of hikers in ones and twos wandering around in random directions, seemingly without purpose, but all slowly making their way toward the trails.

Returning to his truck, he opened the driver's door and, after putting the ticket on the dashboard, reached into the back of the crew cab to grab his walking boots. After taking off a trainer and throwing it into the cab, he slid one foot into the boot, his fingers fumbling briefly with the laces as he tied them up, his mind turning over the upcoming day. He couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and the familiar discomfort of being around Sally. She certainly caused an unsettling effect on him. Then he repeated the process for his other foot, as his fingers threaded the long laces through eyelets and hooks... He reflected that he certainly feels less nervous, this being on neutral ground.

But his stomach was still slightly twisting in knots.

Suddenly, as if from nowhere, she appeared... standing directly behind him. "Need help with your laces, old man?" Sally asked.

Jumping in surprise, James spun around, nearly tripping over his own feet. "Shit!" he exclaimed. "You're as silent as a cat. Stop doing that." Quickly finishing the final knot, he straightened. "Where on earth did you appear from?"

Sally looked unimpressed. "It's called ninja stealth. And don't swear... bad language, is a mood killer." She crossed her arms with a disproving look on her face. "Unless, of course, you want to cancel the fairy hunt before it even begins... I saw you arrive from the cafe over the road." Her eyes looked in its direction.

"Right, sorry... I'll try not to," he apologised, embarrassed at being scolded by a younger woman and dismayed at putting his foot in it so early on.

He held out his hand by way of apology. Sally accepted it and shook it, but not very warmly. Despite the awkward start, he couldn't help but look her over. She looked lovely. Her waterproof jacket hung open at the collar, revealing a light-green fleece underneath, combined with black leggings and walking boots. And a pretty face still sparkled with the same energy that he remembered from last time.

Sally watched him as he closed and locked the truck door, then turned towards her. "You're early," she said."

He looked down at her face; there was a smile there, but only slightly. "So are you. Either we're both keen, or neither of us sleeps much."

Sally's lips curve into a smirk. "I'll let you figure that one out," she replied. Then gestured toward the path leading away from the station. "Come on. The fairies aren't going to wait around, and you've got me all to yourself this morning." She zipped up the bottom of her waterproof, took a step back, and, giving him a playful look, readied herself to set off.

James performed a quick check: wallet, keys, phone. All there. "Yep, I'm all ready, let's go." They both set off uphill towards the main road. "Thanks for inviting me today. I've been looking forward to it." James said, trying to sound casual. Then, trying to sound knowledgeable, he offered. "I've looked on Google maps and reconnaissanced the route, it looks like it's straight up the A5, then right on the A470. And the objective should be a short 40-minute tab."

Sally glanced at him and smiled. "I thought you might be fun to see again." She did up the buttons on her jacket and looked more serious. "But let me take the lead. There's a better back route; the view of the river and valley isn't so good, but it's a little less busy. Follow me."

Not wanting to put his foot in it any further, James hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Sure, lead on."

Chapter Three: The Road To Fairy Glen (Quiet Paths And Quieter Thoughts)

The footway on the road was narrow, too narrow for two people to stroll together. After a brief moment of hesitation, James indicated that Sally should guide the way, and he would follow. They passed the shops to their left and public toilets on the right.

Briefly halting to allow traffic to pass at the end of the road. They used the pelican crossing to the opposite footway, then headed left, past the GWYDYR bar.

By the time they passed the PENDYFFRYN STORES, they had both warmed up and settled into a comfortable but brisk pace.

Proceeding through the outskirts of the attractive village, surrounded by natural stone walls, slate roofs, and lush vegetation. A comfortable quiet settled over them. It was the kind of silence that easily exists between friends.

After only a short while, James' gaze stopped surveying his surroundings, and his eyes settled on her bum wiggling away before him.

He noticed that every time she throws a leg forward, the material of her leggings formed three ripples on one cheek. These then vanished and were replaced by a similar set of ripples on the other cheek, as that leg was similarly moved forward.

What with its pleasing, firm roundness, James found watching the forever switching ripples quite hypnotic. And decided that he would be quite satisfied... To enjoy this view for some distance.

Reaching the start of Sally's preferred quiet back route at FFORDD CRAIGLAN, they turn right into a narrow lane as the hill steepens sharply, both dig in to ascend the incline.

After a few hundred meters, they pass the last of the village buildings, and the lane itself nestles halfway up the valley slope. The ribbon of tarmac they follow quickly narrows, the stone walls of the village disappearing as they venture further. To the right was a steep bank rising to the edge of a forest, to the left a thick hedge with intermittent gaps exposing the river some distance away in the valley below.

For a while, as they walked up the lane's gradient, they didn't speak. But soon the lanes' slope lessened, making the climb easier.

The lack of traffic also permitted them to move in step and converse. Needing only to stand aside when an occasional car needed to pass.

James soon noticed that there was something about the way Sally moved through the landscape, as if she belonged to it. As if she was naturally tuned to the outdoors world and noticed things James didn't: A lichen-covered log shaped like a sleeping fox. Or a pair of tiny but brightly feathered wagtails that hopped near a tree stump.

Occasionally, she pointed them out, but mostly, she simply walked, eyes darting around like a part of the forest itself.

Something about the woods surrounding the lane, the hush of running water hidden from view somewhere on the left, was calming, It loosened the tension in James's chest; he now felt warmed up and less stiff, the initial awkwardness of their introduction soon forgotten. But with Sally beside him, a small part of James' underlying nervousness persisted, and made him feel like he was walking a tightrope between comfort and the unknown.

They walked in silence for a while, the trees closing in on both sides around them. Slowly, as if attracted by a hidden magnetism, their paths converged until he noticed the soft brushing of her sleeve against his.

Suddenly out of nowhere, she announced... "I used to come here as a kid. Dad called it a 'reset button.' When things got messy at home, or if my head felt full of too much noise, we'd come here."

James nodded slowly. "Yeah. I get that. It's wild... But peaceful."

Sally's voice was soft, and for the first time, there was something vulnerable in it. "That's why it works."

James looked at her with interest. "You certainly look like you have an affinity with the wild outdoors. I can't imagine you working in an office. How long have you been teaching at the outdoor activities centre?"

"I've been climbing since around twelve, but until I was sixteen, I was just too small to reach enough of the holds to do it properly. But I've stuck with it, steadily progressed, and perseverance finally paid off." She contemplated for a moment. "I qualified as 'Climbing Wall Instructor' a week before my eighteenth birthday. I've since become very proficient at free climbing, you know... no safety rope! That's what I'm demonstrating this afternoon."

James raised his eyebrows. "You're always so impressive."

She replied modestly, "I get by," then added, "But I don't do it full-time. Mostly, I work at Frederick's, doing reception and admin work. It's not my passion, but it pays the bills."

James chuckled, "Frederick's, what's that? Sounds fancy."

"It's an exclusive health spa, country club, and hotel," she flips into a practised, almost automated spiel. "We pride ourselves on offering an inspiring environment for workout or exercise classes. Clients can go for a dip in our pool, detox in the steam room and sauna, and indulge in a massage. Or simply enjoy a coffee with friends in our Atrium bar or relaxing Lounge area." She gasps for breath, "We cater for special events and weddings. We focus on providing a complete service to help you achieve the healthy lifestyle you desire."

James laughed. "Wow... I can tell you have learned that by heart!"

Sally shrugged, "Yeah, I've said it like a million times!"

"Sounds like the kind of place I could never afford to visit," James quipped.

"Maybe, but I can always get you a guest pass," she replied, her smile widening.

They continued along the winding lane, then both stepped up onto the toe of the adjacent bank as two cars slowly crept past; the drivers waved a greeting as they did so.

James looked at her with curiosity. "When we were chatting before, you mentioned that you had a married boyfriend. Is that where you met him?"

"Yes, being young and, well, obviously gorgeous." She stopped and performed a playful, perfect curtsy before continuing. "I'm always getting chatted up or propositioned when on reception, I get offers at least twice a week! By both men and women," she adds with a wink and a smile. "But they are just jokes, and don't really mean anything, I never take the offers up!"

She continues, her tone light, "I've only had two proper boyfriends since I was sixteen. The latest being the married one who asked me out, and I said yes, because he seemed to be a gentleman."

James questioned her, curious. "I don't actually know how old you are?"

"I'm now just turned twenty, I like to say I'm in my twen-tease," and giggled at her own joke.

"And your married boyfriend, how old is he?"

"Forty-five, I think."

"You said before that you enjoy the company of older men?"

Sally nodded confidently. "Older men know how to treat a girl right. They know what to do, and more importantly, they know how to please a girl. In my experience, younger men... especially boys... are pretty hopeless."

She shrugged casually as she walked beside him. "Also, older men have resources and access to things that younger guys don't... to expensive restaurants, things like that. Plus, it's a way to conveniently fulfil the needs I have, like the need for access to expensive sailing yachts."

"I often get taken away by my older boyfriend for weekends on the continent, where we attend gala dinners, it's one of the rare times I dress up, and where I'm shown off like a trophy. It's enjoyable being looked at and envied by lots of men; there is lots of dancing. Flirting, and plenty of sex."

She looked over at him with a hint of mischief. "Having grown up around older men, I've, guess you could say that I've been... errrr... well-educated."

James listened, partially stunned, trying to process the openness of her words. After a moment, he asked, "So you're happy with this situation?"

"Yes, mostly, it suits me, I'm a free spirit and don't want to settle down," she said with a slight frown. "But there's one thing that's not quite fair."

Intrigued, he asked, "In what way?"

She moved her head, casting him a playful look. "Well, it's not fair that my boyfriend has a wife... to play with whenever he wants."

Then deliberately paused... "But I don't have... well, a... toy... to play with."

Sally halted and looked up at him, her grin widening. "I like you, James, and I thought you might be interested?"

James blinked, somewhat taken aback. "Oh my God, so I'm your... toy?"

Her expression shifted, eyes locked onto his for a moment, serious. "Maybe. You're on probation!" She said matter-of-factly, then resumed their journey.

James stopped for a brief moment to collect his thoughts and simply exclaimed. "Ohhhhh!" This was not a scenario he had at all anticipated, and was not as yet certain how to proceed. He really wasn't sure how he felt about her relationship with her other married boyfriend or how he fitted in with it.

He told himself, it's something yet to be resolved, but decided, for now... he should just enjoy the moment.

"Look," she said, her voice quieter now, "I do care about him. More than people think. He's... steady. He makes me feel looked after, and I like the world he brings me into. And when we're together. He listens to me. He actually sees me."

As she talked, her eyes flicked away... for the first time looking less confident, almost shy. "I know it's messy because he's married, and I'm not pretending it's perfect. But I am attached to him. I just... I don't get him all to myself. And sometimes that... leaves space. Space for someone else. Someone who makes me feel something different."

Sally stopped again, moved closer, and her chin lifted as she looked up at his face. Her eyes then narrowed, and her posture stiffened with authority. "Just be warned, James," she stated, her voice low and intense. "I won't settle for anything less than absolute... fanatical... devotion." She turned back toward the lane, and they both continued, the weight of her words hanging in the air.

At last, the gentle uphill grading of the lane reached its peak. And the road before them now crested and started to fall, the two walkers found themselves surrounded by very lush green mature forest.

The air was thick with the smell of dense wet vegetation. Soft fronded ferns and trees with dark lichen-covered trunks reached close to the road edge. Climbing Ivy clung to everything, and the branches arched above them, creating a canopy like the vaulted ceiling of a cathedral.

"So," Sally said, breaking the silence. "You now know a little about me, it's your turn to tell me your life story?"

James considered, raised his hand to scratch his head, then replied. "I was born in 1972 in Derby, an only child. My childhood was pretty normal... nothing too exciting. But I've always wanted adventure. So in 1989, at seventeen, I signed up and joined the Army."

Sally looked slightly surprised. "Oh, I didn't realise you were ex forces."

James continued. "Yeah, by the end of 1990, I'd completed my basic and Royal Tank Regiment specialist training at Bovington, Dorset. Then, till '94, served in First RTR with Challenger tanks at Theodor-Roosevelt-Barracks, West Berlin.

She looked interested. "What did you do exactly?"

"Started as a gun loader and comms tech, but eventually became qualified to perform all of the roles required to operate a tank," he explains. He paused. "But mainly I was in charge of the most mission-critical piece of equipment... the bee vee."

Sally asked with curiosity. "What's the bee vee?"

James flashed a quick smile. "It's the boiling vessel... where we brew the tea."

Sally laughed. "Do tanks really have kettles?"

"British ones do!" James chuckled. "Anyway, I met my wife in Berlin. We got married in '94 when I was twenty-two."

"So, she is German?"

"Yeah, typical blonde hair, blue eyes, she worked in a sort of bar where we met. After Germany reunified and the Army withdrew, we moved back to the UK. I left the Army in 2001."

"And since then?"

"Since leaving, I've used my specialist communications Technician knowledge and Army resettlement to retrain. Now I manage cable fibre installations for British Telecom, that's why I'm working not far from here this week."

Sally asked, her tone curious. "So, you mentioned before about arguing about the divorce with your ex-wife. What's the situation now? Are you still married?"

"No, we're officially divorced now," James admitted, a hint of frustration in his voice. "It's been over a year, but even though the split was amicable, we still niggle about small things. Like, who got the household items?"

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. Was there infidelity involved?"

James hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah," he admits softly.

Sally pushed him harder, wanting to know the answer to the next question, "Did you leave her for another woman?"

His cheeks flushed slightly. "No!" he replied quickly... "Definitely not."

Sally laughed lightly, "Well, since you're interested in me, obviously you did not leave her for another man. So I guess she left you for another man, then?"

James mumbled, "Err, not exactly," his face turning redder.

"Well, that only leaves her leaving you for another woman. Is that what happened?" Sally pressed him further, clearly intrigued.