Eternal youth had seemed like a good idea at the time. He had been in the prime of his life, a handsome, strong warrior, and he hadn’t been looking forward to getting older. But now, just because he had insulted what had turned out to be the Seelie ambassador, he was going to be stuck, with no glamour, in the mortal world. Unfortunately, what had been the prime of his life back in the Bronze Age happened to be sixteen. He stared dubiously at the large brick building he had appeared in front of. Although it was barely past dawn and this was not farmland, the courtyard swarmed with mortal youths. His splitting headache from Realm transit was only exacerbated by that infernally ringing bell. And his odd mortal clothes didn’t fit right as well. He hoped there would be enough gold left in his sack to get a proper tunic and cloak after he had secured lodgings.

Rhia paused to flick a strand of hair out of her eyes before entering the school. She admired the color as it caught the light: it was green this week. She thought it went well with her brown eyes. As she did so, she caught sight of a new boy, standing tentatively by the stairs. He was dressed oddly, in jeans, a black t-shirt, and what appeared to be an eighteenth century frock coat. He had a black knit cap forced over his head almost to his eyebrows, which held his black hair completely over his eyes. He looked up at her, and with a shock she realized that he was the most beautiful boy she had ever seen. Suddenly, he ran up to her and grabbed her by the shoulders. She shrieked and jumped backwards, but she could not escape his grasp.

“How hightest thou? From which court hailest thou, Rowanschild? Ye’ve got the glamour, verily, tae have sae dull a face, sae ye must have a Realm key as wail?” he demanded, with a thick and unidentifiable accent.

“What are you talking about?” she asked, backing away. She mentally ignored how strong his hand were…

“Ach! That fool of a Sidhe’s taild ye not to talk to me, han’t he? Ye needn’t talk, but if ye’ve got a key to Unseelie lands fair the sake of Rhiannon the unjustly accused take me back!”

“How did you know my name? What the hell are you talking about?” She didn’t even think anyone but her parents knew her full name was Rhiannon.

“Wi’ hair the color o’ grass, ye expect me tae believe that ye’re a mortal? The glamour’s a fair good job, lass, but don’t ye know that mortals don’t hae green hair? Ye’re a dryad plain as I’m Sidhe!”

She stared at him.

“I…dye…my…hair.” she explained slowly.

“You mean you’re a mortal! Oh, by the Wild Hunt, I’ve said it again,” he said miserably, now strangely bereft of the accent.

“I still have no idea what you’re talking about. And what the hell happened to the accent?”

“I’m sorry, I thought you were…somebody I knew.”

“You’re a bloody lunatic!”

“Look, I’ll explain everything if you would just tell me where the Winter Lady’s housechambers are,” he said awkwardly.

“Ummm….you mean Ms. Winter’s homeroom?”