AN: I told myself I would only upload a chapter a week but it looks like I'm going to break that little self-promise! As of tonight, I have written 23k for this story in the past 8 days. I am so close to being a quarter of the way done with my goal of 100k for NaNo. Remember, coz I'm insane? Haha. I don't let myself forget it, so I have to tell anyone and everyone I see that 'I'm doing 100k for NaNo and clearly I'm insane.' So yes.
Snaps and claps and happy shnapps (butterscotch flavour, mmm!) for the awesome Kaitlyn Fall for betaing. Sentences tend to make a whole lot more sense when she prods them with her magic editing fingers. I must have stumpy fingers with no magic whatsoever hahaha just enthusiasm!
Don't own anything, none of the characters or the idea for the story but I do own the right to write my little ANs I believe.
The Enchantress
Serenity spent most of the day in that small, wooden boat. The river's current took her downstream at a steady pace and she watched in wonder all the beautiful things she passed. She saw grassy meadows with cows and sheep, and willow trees that dipped their tangled roots into the water's edge like a toddler would with their toes. Eventually with the sun's relentless warming rays and some of the bread settled in her stomach and the water rocking her boat like a cradle, Serenity's senses were lulled into a relaxed state, and she soon fell asleep. As she slept, the boat continued to carry on the river.
Serenity awoke with a start as the boat jerked to the left, breaking its soothing rhythm. She saw it had avoided a wooden dock that lead up to a matching wooden gate, which bordered a picturesque little cottage. Serenity inhaled deeply at the fragrance of all the beautiful flowers that spilled out over the fence as if beckoning her to tend to them. She grabbed the rope at her feet and tethered it so she could lasso it to the dock. The boat jerked to the left again, taking her further away from the house. Serenity did not realise that the boat was trying to keep her from the cottage.
She threw the rope and it missed, but she was able to catch one of the mooring posts on her second attempt. She pulled the boat closer to the dock. The boat rocked and struggled, as if trying to get away, and just as the rope snapped, Serenity jumped, landing waist deep in the water. She threw her bag onto the shore to keep it dry and waded up to the dock, climbing on to it and lying on her stomach for several moments to regain her energy.
"Are you all right?" a female's voice said from over the gate. Serenity looked up to see a young woman smiling down on her. She wore a large brim hat, a soil covered apron, and gardening gloves. Her freckled face broke out into a smile. "You look weary, come in for a drink and some cookies." She opened the gate and Serenity got to her feet.
"Thank you, that sounds lovely," she said, following the woman into the garden and closing the gate behind her. A wave of energy rippled over the gate as it was closed but Serenity did not see this.
"So you have been travelling?" the woman asked as she took off her gloves and tucked them into her apron pocket. She removed her hat and apron and hung them on hooks by the door. "Tell me, what adventure are you off to?" They stepped into the cool shade of the cottage's kitchen.
"I'm looking for a friend," Serenity said as she seated herself at a small round table. The woman smiled and placed a plate of still-warm cookies before her. They smelled delicious.
"Oh? And is this friend a boy friend?" The woman had a knowing look to her eye as she surveyed her young guest.
"Yes. My best friend. His name is Endymion and he disappeared from our home three years ago in the winter. I'm looking for him so I can bring him back home where he belongs."
"That's very sweet of you," the woman said in a sympathetic voice before shaking her head as if she'd just realised something. "Oh! My name's Lita by the way. It's nice to meet you...?"
"Serenity," the blonde replied. She looked around the kitchen for any sign of another person, but all the kitchen revealed was that someone who lived here liked to keep things neat and tidy. Everything was gleaming clean and in its place. "Are you here with somebody else?"
Lita shook her head. "It's just me I'm afraid. My parents died some years ago and left me only this cottage and the family cow. But I've made it work for myself. I sell flowers and have traded well enough over the years to provide more than enough for myself."
"That's awful," Serenity said. "I'm so sorry to hear that. Living all by yourself must be terribly lonely." She looked carefully at Lita and decided she could not be more than only a few years older than herself.
"This is my cottage of cooking and gardening. I am surrounded by my two loves. What is there to be sad about?" She sighed. "But you are right, it does get lonely."
Serenity reached out and grasped Lita's hand in both of her own. "When I return home with Endymion, we will visit you. And maybe you would like to come home with us. You shouldn't live so out of the way by yourself. Surely it's not safe."
"That's very kind of you," Lita said. "But I can protect myself." Her eyes fell on the plate of cookies. "Eat, eat, girl! You look positively famished. How do you expect to find your Endymion if you look like you're going to collapse from hunger any second?"
Serenity grinned toothily at her and reached for a cookie, shivering as she did so. Lita jumped to her feet. "I'll get you a towel," she said. "You wait right here."
Serenity bit into the cookie and felt its soft texture melt on her tongue. She closed her eyes in delight and marvelled at the taste of heaven that was in her mouth.
And watching from a crack in the doorway was Lita, spying as her new guest let down her guard. She raised her hands and whispered,
Memory fast and memory quick,
soon this girl's resolve will stick.
Keep her here and make her mine,
a slave forever stuck in time.
Faint green light swirled from her fingertips, passing through the crack in the door and floating towards its unassuming victim. Just as Serenity reached for her glass of milk, she felt a tingling sensation up her spine. She gasped, knocking over the glass and sending it crashing on the floor.
"Here is your towel," Lita said as she returned. "Oh, are you all right?"
"I'm so sorry," Serenity said as she looked down at the mess. "I'll clean it up; just show me where I can find a mop."
"Don't worry about it," Lita smiled. "It was my fault for placing it so close to the edge."
Serenity felt a wave of gratitude. "You're so kind."
"That's what friends are for, aren't they?" Serenity felt another wave of gratitude, this time mixed with excitement. Lita thought she was her friend? Really?
"Your hair is beautiful," Lita said as she wiped up the milk and broken glass. "It's so long and shiny. How do you keep it so healthy?"
"I don't know," Serenity said honestly, saddened that she couldn't give Lita a more definite answer. "It's just like this."
"It's an unusual style," Lita noted, tilting her head. "Did you come up with it?"
Serenity nodded. "Yes, to take my mind off Endymion."
Lita smiled and picked up a comb – which unbeknown to Serenity, was enchanted to lull the user into such a relaxed state, they couldn't help but tell the truth – and asked "May I?" to which Serenity nodded. "So tell me about Endymion," she said as she stroked the comb smoothly through the long blonde hair. "What was he like? And how do you even know where to find him?"
And so Serenity began to spill her secrets. Encouraged by Lita's appropriately timed gasps of shock, dismay and even occasional laughter, she told her about how they grew up together, their love of roses, his sudden change in demeanour and his even more sudden disappearance.
"I tried to chase after him and make him see reason, but I couldn't find him." Serenity sniffled. "He was gone and I didn't know how to find him."
Lita made a sad noise. "That's so heartbreaking." She stopped combing and handed the younger girl a tissue. "You look tired. Why don't you have a nap and I'll see about cooking us up something wonderful for dinner."
"I can stay for dinner?" Serenity's eyes lighted up with hope even as they looked drugged with sleep.
"Of course," Lita said. "That's what friends are for, aren't they?" And she showed Serenity to the spare bedroom and let the young girl sleep. Once she was certain her guest was otherwise occupied, she marched back out to the garden, right into the centre where her beloved roses grew. With a wave of her hand and a hiss of her tongue, she sent the red blooms back under the earth to hide from Serenity's eyes. "I can't have you breaking my spell now, can I?" Lita said to the now bare soil. "That wouldn't do at all."
Shorter chapter than last, but I promise they get longer again lol. Am currently finishing up chapter 19 and still have tons to go, so feel free to stick around coz this story is going to be long. Also, reviews make me giggly and happy!