The Witch's Apprentice
Chapter Three: Stalemate
"Aelita, are you sure you'll be okay by yourself in the forest?" Christopher asked, sounding almost too father-like. "I mean, I can always go along with you."
"It's okay Master Christopher," Aelita answered with a smile. She picked the woven basket off of the wooden table. "I know where all the herbs are and I know where the best places they grow at. Besides, I have Nightshade with me. I'm sure I'll be okay."
"Okay…but if one of Xana's minions comes after you, run as fast as you can home, okay? Don't stay and try to fight them," Christopher warned her, his ears pointing back and his eyes clouding up a little.
"Oh, calm down you fatherly puss…" Lady Anne's accented voice called out at the cat as she walked out of the shadows. "She'll be fine and she knows what to do."
Aelita nodded at Lady Anne. "Exactly, so you have nothing to worry about!"
Anne Marie nodded at her. "Remember to get yarrow and burdock root. We need those the most."
"Got it!" Aelita ran up the steps to the exit and looked down at her two mentors. "I'll be back before you know it."
Lady Anne nodded at her and waved in farewell. Master Christopher waved his tail at her.
"Farewell! And be careful!"
Aelita ran out of the hole and onto the hilly meadow. She whistled for the black and white horse. "Nightshade!" she called out after.
In no time, the tall black and white horse trotted towards her, coming down from a hill. She whinnied at Aelita, tossing her head in greeting. The long mane and tail danced in the winds of the meadow.
Aelita ran to the horse and hugged the horse's large head.
"Hello Nightshade," Aelita greeted the mare, stroking her hand through the horse's long forelock. "Ready to go herb picking?"
Nightshade nickered at Aelita, making the girl smile. Aelita moved to the left side of the horse, hefting her picking basket over her shoulder. With a high jump, Aelita was on the back of the horse. Riding side saddle and grabbing a hand full of mane, she urged Nightshade to trot. The horse complied and trotted towards the direction of the forest.
It didn't take long to reach the forest. The sky was overcast but Aelita could still see pretty clearly through the forest. Through the forest, Nightshade was slowed to a walk. Aelita kept her eyes open for the herbs and the probable case of a Xana minion wandering the forest. But nothing seemed to yell "Xana was going to attack". The birds were singing, the wind was felt through the trees and the atmosphere didn't feel thick or heavy or malevolent.
Aelita looked down at Nightshade's face, patting her neck. "I think we might have a peaceful day by ourselves."
Nightshade snorted, making Aelita laugh. She pulled back on Nightshade's mane and the mare stopped.
Aelita jumped off the mare's back, still holding the picking basket. Aelita turned to face the horse.
"Alright," Aelita said as she brushed off her skirt with her free hand. "The yarrow is just around here. The burdock plants are not too far away too. I think this won't take too long"
Nightshade dipped her head, as if she were nodding. Aelita smiled at the horse and went off near the bushes under a shady oak tree. Around the bush, on the other side, was a large bushel of plants with white flowers beginning to bloom.
"There we are!" Aelita said as went down on her knees. She took out a small knife, a "gathering knife" as her mentors would call it, and began to cut the stem o the plant. As she placed one stem into the basket, Aelita began to remember the time when she and Lady Anne were picking herbs on a summer day that seemed long ago.
'Do you remember what the yarrow is for?' Anny Marie asked the young apprentice as the experienced witch cut the stem of the plant with a small knife. Aelita, who was watching her mentor very carefully, tipped her head back, as if she was trying to remember the property of the plant.
"It's used to stop bleeding and to cure colds and the flu," Aelita answered brightly."But it can have an allergic reaction on some if you use too much or if you have sensitive skin."
'Nicely done, young one,' Lady Anne replied. She placed a hand on Aelita's pink one and patted her. A small smile was on her face and her green eyes glittered proudly. 'You are very well with herbs. Make sure you remember them carefully for when the time arises.'
'I will Lady Anne!' Aelita chimed loudly.
'And remember…make sure you cut the stem. If you take the root, there will be less of a chance that more will grow in the same spot. You do not want a good herb to disappear, no do you?'
'No ma'am.'
'Exactly.'
Aelita began to hum a small tune as she finished up cutting one last stem. She placed the one in the basket and stood up, brushing off her skirt once again. She looked at the basket. The basket was filled a third of the way with yarrow flowers, stems and leaves. That seemed enough for a while.
The young apprentice stood up and walked over to Nightshade. The black and white mare was grazing on the forest grass when Aelita was picking the yarrow.
"I think those two will be happy with the bounty, don't you think?" Aelita asked the mare.
The mare flicked her ears Aelita, continuing to graze off of the grass. Aelita chuckled and patted the mare's neck.
Then, the bird's stopped chirping and the wind suddenly stopped. Nightshade lifted her head, ears and eyes alert. Aelita felt her muscles tense. The young apprentice closed her eyes and tilted her head back. The air felt dense and she could feel something odd in the area. It was the exact same feeling she had the countless times at the waterfall when Lady Anne and Lord Christopher had to fight.
Xana's minions…they were coming and they were near.
Aelita gulped and looked at Nightshade. The mare was frozen and still tense. "Nightshade we need to go."
That when Nightshade began to toss her head. The mare reared up, startling Aelita and sending her back a couple of feet.
"Nightshade!" Aelita pleaded to the rearing mare. 'We need to go!"
But it was too late now. Something jumped out of the bushes and blocked the exits. Aelita knew these monsters, the giant crab-like minions that shoot water balls infused with dark, deadly magic. Like all of his other minions, they didn't have eyes but an evil symbol that represents the dark wizard in its place.
The Eye of Xana.
Aelita gasped as she looked at the crab monsters. There were four, two blocking each exit. Nightshade was still rearing but not going to run away from her human. Aelita knew that the monsters were not going to let her or Nightshade leave alive and she didn't know the magic to defend herself or Nightshade. The only thing she had with her was her herb gathering knife, which was too short and not very sharp. But she was willing to not go down without a fight.
She got into her best defensive position, sticking her knife out. She tried her best to give a fierce expression to the crab monsters.
"Stay back!" she shouted at them. "I'm not afraid to attack you!"
One of the crabs didn't take to her defense and shot one of its water balls at her. The magic got her hand, shooting the knife out of her hand and leaving a painful gash on her hand. Aelita gasped at the pain and held it close to her body. She felt the warm blood seep out of the wound.
The crabs looked like they were going in for another attack, now that fresh blood was in the air. Aelita quickly, jumped onto Nightshade's back and kicked the mare into a gallop. Immediately, the mare obliged and ran, jumping over a bush to clear away from the monsters. With her good hand, Aelita held onto the mare's mane, trying to guide the terrified horse throw the forest. She could see the monsters firing at her as the two fled. She dared to look behind to see the four crabs chasing after her. She cursed under her breath and urged Nightshade to move faster. Naturally the very loyal horse obeyed and sped up.
That was when Aelita felt a sharp pain to her right shoulder. Blood immediately trickled down from the new wound, not even giving Aelita time to growl with pain. The water ball also must have hit Nightshade, for the horse panicked, rearing up and throwing Aelita off. Aelita crashed onto the ground and Nightshade soon fell afterwards.
Feeling the shock of the pain, Aelita's eyes were wide with pain. She could see the crab monsters coming closer, Nightshade struggling to stand up, and then the world seemed to stand still. And everything went black.
A/N: Thanks again for the read! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE review this for crying out loud! That is all. Oh and someone will be making his debut next chapter. You know him, you love him, but I don't want to spoil it for you. Once again, thanks for the read!