Arrows and Visitors
I emerged from the depths my beloved lake of Avalon, my home and namesake. I was ten at the time, and my mother had asked me to collect some herbs from the surrounding forest. I didn't mind I loved to explore the forest, play with the animals, and just talk to them, they always have something interesting to say. Basket in hand I made my way into the forest.
I walked through the many trees and other plants. I stopped when I came to herbs and picked them before wrapping them into cloth and placing them into my basket. My long, wavy, brown hair created a curtain. I began to walk again until I came to a clearing.
In the center of that clearing lay a beautiful grey wolf, her fur nearly glistened like silver in the suns ray. She lifted her head as my footsteps approached. She did not snarl she did not run she simply looked me in the eyes and spoke to me mentally.
"Hello little one," her voice soothing.
"Hello Leilia," I replied
"Collecting herbs?" she asked referring to my basket.
"Yes Mamma said she would teach me a new potion," I said excitedly. Before Leilia could reply, an arrow pierced through the air and into my friend's back. A cry of pain filled the air.
I stood up and looked to the arrows origin, to find two boys, one was about the age of fifteen and had short black hair, brown eyes, and was currently knocking an arrow; the other appeared the same age as me his hair was golden and fell to his shoulders, and his eyes were a piercing blue and they stared into my bright green ones.
Before the elder of the two could finish what he started, I pulled a silver handed dagger, adorned with blue jewels from its hiding spot in my boot and stepped in front of her.
"Don't you dare" I said in my scariest ten year-old voice.
"Move you silly girl," the boy said.
"No."
"Arthur get her out of the way," he said to the younger. The boy whose name I now knew was Arthur walked over to me. Leilia barred her teeth at him, but he put his hands up in a way that told her, he meant no harm to her or to me. He stood beside me and helped shield my companion.
"Arthur step aside," the boy said.
"No Kay, can't you tell the wolf won't harm her," Arthur said.
"What do you think father will say to this?"
"Father always tells me to follow my instincts," said Arthur.
"He also tells you to follow orders, and since I'm eldest you must follow mine," Kay said.
"No," replied Arthur firmly.
"Very well then you shall walk home," and with that Kay turned away and left, the sound of hoof beats followed not long after he was out of sight.
I dropped to my knees and franticly searched through my basket, quickly looking at each small fabric wrapped bundle of herbs until I found what I had sought for, moss. I unwrapped the bundle before pulling the arrow from her body. As fast as I could I applied it to her wound. Then I tore the sleeve from my tunic and tying it around her body, the knot directly over the wound.
I heard muttering coming from the direction of Leilia's head. I turned to see Arthur cradling her head in his lap, gently stroking it and whispering comforting words. For a moment I simply stared, mesmerized by his gentleness to an animal that most men feared. He caught me staring and I quickly looked away.
I placed both my hands on my companion's body both on either side of her wound. I closed my eyes and muttered "Airmid I implore thee, though the water from your springs must flow, rivers of blood should slow to a stop, this is my will so mote it be." After I had cast the spell a silver-blue energy came from my hands and embraced Leilia's body
"Thank you little ones," she said to me.
"The arrow didn't go too deep, you should be back to normal In a weeks' time," I said.
"Make sure the boy gets home safe," she said before she took off in a gentle run into the forest, to her pack.
"You can speak to her can't you," Arthur asked after a moment of silence.
"Yes, she said thank you by the way, and she asked me to see you home," I told him.
"You don't have too," he said.
"I want too, after all you did help save my friend, that was very brave of you by the way," I said.
"I'm sorry, Kay can be mean sometimes,"
"It's okay, now which way do we go?" I asked.
"This way," he said pointing to the west.
"Then let's go," I said. We ran almost the whole way there, laughing and playing as children do. I was having so much fun with my new friend I hadn't noticed that the sun had begun to set, until we had come to a small castle surrounded by a quaint village.
"I should be getting home my mother will be worried," I told him, before I stood on my tippy toes and gave him a kiss on the cheek, as I had read of a woman thanking a man in such a manner. I pulled away and noticed his cheeks were slowly turning a shade of red. I giggled then turned away and started running back to the trees, but his voice calling to me stopped me.
"Wait, I don't know your name,"
"It's Avalon," I said before continuing to run through the forest, I knew the later I was the longer of a lecture my mother would give me.
I was about a minute away from the lake before I could run no longer. I walked panting from the cover of the forest, but started running again when I saw a man of about thirty years of age, with the hair slightly darker then my own, add the same green eyes I had.
"Papa," I shouted with joy running into his now open arms. He pulled me close and spun me around and around.
"My sweet girl," he said cradling me in his arms, "you know you've given your mother and I quite a scare," he said.
"I'm sorry, but I was helping a friend," I replied.
"Why are your hands covered in blood?" He asked.
"Well you see I was talking with Leilia, and there were these two boys and one of them shot her with an arrow, then the other one helped me shield her," I told him, "and then the one with the arrow left him, so after healing Leilia I took him home."
"Sounds like someone had quite an adventure, what was the boy's name?" Papa asked.
"The nice one?"
"yes," he replied.
"Arthur," I told him. My father seemed to recognize the name, his face seemed to show a look of pride.
"And just what sort of time do you call this?" My mother's voice came from behind me.
"late," I replied sheepishly.
"Yes it's late, you best have a good reason for this," she lectured.
I told the story all over again and I could tell that my mother wasn't angry with me. How could she be she always told me when a friend was in need, you help them.
"I'm glad you helped your friend, and made sure that boy got home," she said pulling me into her arms, "I'm going to teach you long distance mental communication, if something like this happens again I want to know about it."
"Okay mamma," I said
"Now let's get some food in that belly," she said tickling my said belly, making me giggle.
The three of us walked into the lake, although Papa had to say a spell first. I walked with them until my feet no longer touched the ground. I swam the rest of the way to our underwater kingdom.
The palace finally came into view. The palace was carved into large dark stone. There was seaweed and other water plants here and there, but my favorite part were beautiful clear crystals, that shined like beacons leading me home.
Naiads, mermaids, and other creatures of the water swam around; some playing, some gossiping as they walked by, and others rushing to get where they needed to be.
We reached the dining hall where many foods from both the water and the land laid out on a large table. My mother sat at the head of the table and my father and I sat on either side of him. We said a blessing before we started eating.
We were almost finished eating, when my father spoke. " I have a surprise for you darling."
"What is it?" I asked excitedly.
"I find myself with the need of an apprentice, your mother and I talked it over and who better than my own daughter to be my apprentice," he answered.
"Really?" I asked.
"Yes," he replied. I quickly left my place at the table and ran to my father. I jumped onto his lap and hugged him tightly. At that time I didn't get to see my father very often, and I was excited at the idea of spending everyday with him.
After giving my mother a hug as well, I was sent to bed, for I was leaving the next day. Before, I closed my eyes, my thoughts came to my new friend, Arthur; I had a feeling that we would meet again and share many adventures together. I could not wait.
cument here...