Fiona had been to Ireland many times. One can't visit Ireland just once; once you fall in love with the place, it is impossible not to return. Fiona was partial to the countryside, where the people were genuinely friendly, the fields rolling and green, and herds of sheep were likely to block the narrow roads for half a mile. The drivers seemed reckless to her, but that could also be because she inched along on the wrong side of the road, terrified of a head-on collision. There could be little more charming than cruising through the winding roads, past quaint little churches and fields of livestock. Whenever two drivers passed, they waved to one another cheerily, like friends, even though they had never met.
Having already done every possible tourist activity -- visiting local pubs for music and Guinness, hiking in the Burren, shopping in the nearby cities, touring the Aran islands -- Fiona was enjoying the remainder of her vacation. She had rented a cottage for three whole weeks. It was tucked away all by itself in the middle of a field, where the farmer who maintained the place grazed his cattle. The farmers in the area knew one another well, and while friendly to the tourists who stayed in the cottage, they left them alone for the most part, mostly because that's what people who rented such an isolated house preferred. Fiona had allotted plenty of time to herself, for solitary strolls through the fields and woods, and for reading by the fireplace. The weather was unpredictable; on rainy days, she curled up in an armchair with a romantic novel, munching chocolate biscuits and drinking tea. On sunny afternoons, she donned a pair of boots and went off into the fields, imagining all sorts of marvelous scenarios as she walked. She fantasized about tumbling into another time, meeting some handsome gypsy in a painted caravan, and experiencing with him the kind of one-time, blistering, dreamed-about sex that occupies every woman's dreams at one point or another.
It was during one of these pensive strolls that Fiona came upon the place. From the outside, it looked like any old ruin, its walls crumbling down, former grandeur choked by tall grass and weeds. But something drew her closer to that gutted skeleton, and after jumping over the makeshift fence that separated it from the road she approached what might have been the main entryway. Two gaping holes stood on either side of a door-shaped space, leading into the shadowed interior. Curious, and a little apprehensive, Fiona stepped over the fallen stones and into what once had been a wealthy mansion. There, her mouth dropped open in wonder. Though it looked like a tumbled-down ruin on the outside, with the roof long torn off and only the outer stone walls still standing, the inside of the building was a fantasy land. Piles of stones formed the mysterious landscape, with fallen beams bridging the gaps between them. Everything was verdant with greenery -- not a stone was uncovered by bright moss, flowers, and plants. In several places, bushes had sprung up, some heavy with unidentifiable berries. In the very center of the open space a trio of trees dominated the space. They must have taken root long before, because their trunks extended smooth and tall towards the sky, their trembling leaves replacing the roof that once was.
Fiona stepped into this enchanted place, staring at the beauty of it. She was at once reminded of the palace of the fairy King and Queen: surely, if they were to hold court in any house, it would be this one. The selfish building of humanity, once destroyed, was reclaimed by sweet Nature, who increased its beauty tenfold, and made magic of a mundane thing. Taking slow, precise steps, she penetrated deeper into the charmed forest that had sprung up within the walls of the ruined mansion. The closer to the center she got, the stronger was her feeling that this was a spot of true enchantment. At any moment, she expected fairies to burst from the trees and swarm around to warn her from their sacred grove.
Despite the sensation that somehow she had invaded a secret place, Fiona was so delighted that she pushed all apprehension to the back of her mind. Bending down, she breathed deeply, inhaling the emerald scent of moss and wildflowers. Nearby, she spotted some miniature wild strawberries pushing up between a pair of cube-shaped stones, which must have at one time formed the walls which separated the rooms. Reaching out, she plucked the bright red fruits and slipped them, one by one, into her mouth. The flavors emanating from the diminutive berries surprised her with their ferocity -- it was unlike any store-bought strawberry Fiona had ever eaten. She could not suppress a moan of delectation as she consumed them, closing her eyes in an ecstasy of taste.
The berries left her lips tingling for more, but Fiona resisted the urge to search on hands and knees for the hidden strawberry plants, so she stood and looked around some more. The walls extended high above her, opening onto a sky that was bluer than any smiling Irish eyes. A soft breeze rustled the leaves of the three trees, whispering secrets to each other. On an impulse, Fiona climbed over the uneven ground until she stood between the trees.
"This is where the fairies would dance," she declared to herself, "They would dance in the nude, of course, and the fairy King and Queen would sit on their thrones and judge the dancers. The best ones would be given flower tiaras and dandelion wine!"
Laughing at her silly ideas, Fiona looked around pensively. Now that she had imagined it, she wanted to dance too. However, the house did sit right next to the road, and if a car should happen by, they might see into it, and spy her there. Not only was she trespassing, but surely it was some kind of misdemeanor to prance naked in broad daylight. However, listen hard as she might, Fiona did not hear the rumble of an engine, nor had she passed anyone on her walk earlier that day. She decided to take her chances, just this once, just because it was fairyland.
Leaning against the strongest tree, she unlaced her boots and set them aside. Peeling off her socks, she wiggled her toes on the soft rocks. The moss felt so cool and good beneath her, and her feet rejoiced to be freed from their sweaty confines and allowed to experience the texture of the outdoors for once. Taking her time, Fiona unbuttoned her jeans slowly, and shimmied out of them with the ease of someone who isn't being watched. Unconscious of her appearance, she jerked her hips from side to side to free the tight pants, before finally tugging them off. The crotch of her panties grew suddenly damp, as her body reacted to the unexpected sensation of a light breeze on her legs. Feeling a freedom unlike any other, she grasped the bottom of her tee-shirt with both hands and lifted it over her head, tossing the shirt away with a gleeful swish.
Standing in her bra and underwear, Fiona felt daring and sexy. Though no one was there to see her, she slid the straps of her bra down her arms seductively, smiling to herself as she arched her back to release her breasts from the cups. Her nipples immediately hardened as they were ticked by the moving air. Another gush of excitement wet her panties as she reached down to remove them, separating herself from the last connection with civilization. Excepting her glasses, whish she carefully slid from her face and placed atop a visible nearby mound.
Naked, she lifted her arms to the heavens, letting the Earth caress her in its subtle way. Her feet had never been an erogenous zone, but now they tingled with sensuality, thrumming their connection to the ground. The sun was just warm enough to tantalize her skin, which was all exposed to the sky. She could feel her tight stomach muscles stretch as she pulled her hands higher, and her breasts followed along, practically singing with joy at being freed. Between her legs, the entirety of her sex was alive with sensations, quivering with surprise and desire to experience this mystic world that Fiona had discovered.
Laughing aloud, she began to dance, humming a simple Celtic tune as she moved. Her legs flexed and skipped along in time, her breasts jiggled softly as she spun and dived, joy filling her heart and her body as she let herself be transported to fairyland.
