True Love's First Kiss

Chapter 4 - The Forest, The Toad and The Dream

The forest looked beautiful when Jake reached it, the leaves bathed in the orange sunshine but still glistening from the rain a couple of days back. A well trodden path crept in from the village into the trees and as Jake glanced in, he could almost imagine it trailing on forever, away from the cares of the world and into some place magical and enchanting, some place he could lose himself in. It seemed so wonderful beyond that first step but when he stood there, he felt torn almost between two dimensions, the one behind him with Will and violence and fighting and the one in front of him with beauty and dreams and imagination. It should have been an easy decision to make yet something kept holding him back every time he attempted to enter the woods.

He couldn't stop thinking of Will.

Despite the fact that he had beat him and yelled at him many a time, in the end he was his brother and he did love him very much. They had been together their whole lives and although they were completely different, there was something between them that was the same. Jake didn't know what that was but it kept him standing there at the forest's edge, red cape billowing in the wind and eyes darting into the blue sky above him, as if that would give him an answer.

Stepping into this forest felt like it would change his life. He could easily return back to the Inn later that day, even if he did enter, but there was another thing behind it all that he couldn't understand. Something much, much deeper. He didn't know what that was and for a while, he wasn't sure if he wanted to or not. Often, he got involved in situations that he hated and was terrified in and the only person that could get him out of them was Will. And he wasn't there right now. He probably hated him for good this time. Jake had never yelled at him like that.

So maybe entering this beautiful and so alluring forest was a good thing then. It'd be the life he'd always dreamt of where he could start all over again, lost in fantasies and build a world carved on imagination. Nobody telling him to step back into reality or get his head out of the clouds. This is where he belonged. In the forest, oh so similar to the ones he'd envisaged with the girl in the red cape and the tower with the singing, beautiful maiden. He'd save her this time. He'd be the prince.

But did he really want to be the prince? After all this time writing about such things, now he came face to face with what the woods, there was deep confusion. On the one hand, there was fantasy and dreams and on the other hand there was...Will. Who he loved so dearly but who beat him and lied to him. Could he live without that? Of course he could but Will...He was his brother – he couldn't live without him. He'd always been there, ever since they were young. Especially since Lotte had died. He'd blamed him for that too. Magic beans. Jake shuddered at the thought and clutched his journal closer to his chest, as if it gave him an answer to his problem. The forest. Or Will.

What was it going to be?

Jake couldn't help himself as he glanced back over his shoulder and looked back down the path at Marbaden, hidden somewhere between the rolling hills. Everybody was back there – Angelika, Cavaldi, the girls he'd saved...Will...No, he mustn't think of Will. If he went back, he'd just beat him again like the previous night. Jake didn't want any more bruises. They already ached what seemed like all over.

Yet there was something else as well. Something more to add to his troubles. This was the same forest Will and him had defeated the evil Mirror Queen in. Only yesterday (was it really that recent? It felt like years had passed), they had stepped out with all the girls they had revived from the spell and now, he was going back to that place out of his own desire. He didn't have to. But here he was. Could he really bring up those memories again? The memories of the crumbling tower, the twelve crypts, the mirror, Will – and the knife – and the kiss...

Jake whimpered, not sure if he did aloud or in his head, and rubbed a shaking hand across his forehead. Just go back to Marbaden, half of his mind hissed while the other urged him onwards into the forest, find the world he always wanted. Tears were beginning to prick his eyes as he tried to make some sense of anything but he felt as if he was rooted to the ground like the trees that surrounded him, unable to move.

'' What should I do...?'' he muttered desperately to the world around him and kept repeating that until his breathing began to catch in his throat, overcome by small sobs. The forest became hazy in front of him and immediately, he looked down, temples throbbing. Why was he even here? Again?

Yet then, as he frustratedly kicked at a stray branch by his feet, there was a rustling in a nearby bush and a familiar looking toad hopped out. Through his tears, his heart suddenly gave a leap and his eyes widened a little. Grandmother Toad. Angelika had told him and Will all about her. She showed the direction when travellers were lost. And now, he was most definitely lost.

Trembling, he bent down and carefully scooped her up in his hands before standing back up again and looking her in the large, bulging eyes. She didn't look too pleased about being plucked from a peaceful waddle around the forest yet Jake tried his best to come across as earnest and believing, holding her gently. '' Grandmother Toad...'' he began, his voice shaking as he lowered his face to the creature. '' Please...show me the way...Will...or the forest...''

And then he licked slowly down her bumpy back, wincing in disgust.

The seconds that followed felt like an eternity. Jake stayed almost utterly still, watching the toad as she paused for a while and rolled on her back a few times, looking up at her questioner with displeased eyes. But then, as the world seemed to spin around them, she finally made another move and turned ever so slowly onto one side. Jake moaned. The forest.

'' The forest...?'' he mumbled aloud. '' ...sure?''

Yet Angelika had said the toad never lied. She could be trusted. Jake, lost in the world of enchantment and spells, felt he had to go along with her suggestion, no matter how many doubts he had about it. Though to be fair, he had many doubts about his other option too. The forest it was...It had to be...

Closing his eyes momentarily to force back even more tears, he let the toad go and then faced the forest again, its trees reaching high above him in a horrible dominating way. The sky almost seemed completely blocked out because of them and as Jake adjusted his bag slung over his shoulder with shuddering hands, he felt frightened, abandoned in a cold, harsh world. Just like he had felt when he was younger after his Mother and Lotte had died. The only difference then was that he had had Will...

No. Don't think about him...

And, anyway, in this forest, it will no longer be cold and harsh...It's your world now, Jake...

Jake didn't know who was telling him this but as the words weaved around him, he found himself slowly believing in them. The forest, the forest, the forest...Right in front of him now and just asking to be walked in to. A whole new world...

And then there was no use thinking anymore.

Holding his breath, he drew the red cape further around him and took the first step, right onto the weaving path...

***

The forest was beautiful. It smelt of rich pine and fresh grass and the air was alive with bounding fireflies and dancing sunshine, even though the world had seemed grey and dull outside. There was hardly any noise apart from the gentle song of the birds and the whispering of the trees and as Jake carried on down the path, he realised he had never felt more peaceful in his life. The world was suddenly still and tranquil and he had no idea why he'd been hesitating beforehand. This felt like where he was meant to be.

Around him, there was so many tales just waiting to be told. The entire woods were brimming over with inspiration and fantasy and by the time Jake had got his journal out, pen in hand, he already had so much creations spinning around his mind. He could barely write fast enough to get them all written down. What a wonderful place!

It was so very different now to how it was the last time he had entered it, even though that was only just yesterday. There was no longer evil in the air, but pure enchantment, dripping from every leaf on every tree and flowing on the breezes. Jake took a long, deep breath and smiled at the sensations, finally feeling free. He didn't have to be careful around his brother anymore or worry about Angelika or anybody... It was just him.

Of course, he didn't intend to spend the rest of his life in this forest but as he strolled lazily and contendedly down the path, he wanted to relish and appreciate every moment. Every branch, every tree, every cloud... Right now, at this point, if Will had been there, he would have been telling him how pathetic he was being yet he wasn't there. He could do what he wanted.

Still though, deep inside, he knew he missed Will. The thoughts and worries he'd had of him on the outskirts of the forest previously were buried in his mind but he was trying not to let them resurface. They would most definitely ruin this beautiful moment and drag him back to the dilemma. For now anyway, he didn't want that to happen.

So, his book clutched lovingly against his chest, he felt a smile flicker over his face as he advanced down the worn pathway, eyes big and shining like a child's. Everything seemed as if it was greeting him and drawing him in and he couldn't help but laugh softly at the wonder of it all. He just wanted to keep on exploring and exploring all day...

Yet then, suddenly, out of the corner of his eyes, he saw something among the trees to his left and paused. For a short while, he wondered what he was staring at but it slowly became clear after staring inquisitively for a bit. It was a little cottage, buried deep in the woods. And it looked so homely and inviting, that Jake could feel his heart beginning to soar. He hadn't seen a house like that for ages, having slept in cold Inns and on hard floors and sometimes on streets for years. He suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to visit it, no matter who lived there.

And so he strayed off the path, red cloak billowing out behind him and basket over his arm, right to the cottage in the middle of the woods...

TBC