The Witch's Spring
Magic can be a powerful thing, but as Hilda will soon learn, when it's mixed with love, it can be something special.
At the Pilqvist house, Hilda and Frida were quietly meditating in the basement, breathing in and out, slowly. Tildy was nearby, lightly banging on a drum in a slow and steady rhythm. The smoke from incense filled the air, and candles lit the room. All of this served to create a relaxing ambience to put the two girls in a deep trance. Hilda sat cross-legged on a pillow while Frida chose a seiza position. Both of them were facing each other with their eyes closed, arms out, palms together, and humming with the music, creating a low droning sound. There was little furniture in the basement. The only objects in the room were rows of books, an altar decorated with an eclectic array of magical items, and a small pet bed where Tildy's familiar, Cornelius, quietly slept nearby. All in all, the basement mostly existed as a quiet place for meditation and spell work.
"Very good!" said Tildy. "Feel your energies coursing through you."
Psychic energy invisibly coursed through the air, causing the room to grow warm. Hilda and Frida intertwined their fingers and leaned closer. As they did so, their hair stood on end like static.
Suddenly, Hilda could feel her psychic energies open up, and for a second, she caught a glimpse into Frida's mind and Frida peered into Hilda's mind. It was like looking into a hole to glance at the wealth of emotions, memories, and dreams of another. And when Hilda peered inside Frida's head...she panicked.
Hilda immediately let go of Frida's hands. As soon as she did, the flow of energy stopped and the connection was lost.
Tildy stopped drumming and looked down upon Hilda with concern. "What's wrong?"
"I guess I got nervous," said Hilda, truthfully. "Maybe I shouldn't be doing this."
"Hilda, these meditations are an important part of Frida's training," said Tildy. "A witch cannot achieve her full potential unless she has a firm connection with her familiar."
"Why can't we just talk?" asked Hilda.
"Because magic between a witch and her familiar requires intimacy," said Tildy, "the kind you can't achieve through talking."
Hilda blushed.
"It seems clear to me that you two need a little...oomph in your relationship, and I know just the way to do it." A map magically appeared in her hands. "This map will show you the route to a magical hot spring. It's a sacred place for witches, and it will be the perfect place to improve your psychic connection."
Frida took the map from Tildy and looked it over. "It's not too far outside of Trolberg. Hilda, maybe your mother could drive us there."
"Tomorrow is a Sunday," said Hilda. "I'm sure Mum would be happy to drive us."
"Once you get to the hot spring, you will both bathe together in its waters for as long as you feel comfortable," said Tildy.
"Bathe?" asked Hilda, blushing. "How does bathing in a hot spring improve our psychic connection?"
"The spring has special properties that can enhance magic when one bathes in its waters," said Tildy. "The minerals in the water will soak into your skin, and the steam will be breathed into your lungs, enhancing your minds to each other. It's naturally occurring warmth will relax you both and make you feel at peace, further improving your connection."
"Did you and Cornelius bathe in the hot spring?" asked Frida.
"Oh no, Cornelius doesn't like water," said Tildy.
Hilda was still blushing profusely, and rubbing her arm in a bashful way.
Frida noticed Hilda's discomfort. "Hilda, if you're not comfortable with this, maybe..."
"No, I-I can do this," said Hilda.
"Okay, I just don't want to cause you discomfort," said Frida.
"Now, you girls go on home and get some rest," said Tildy.
"Thank you, Tildy," said Frida.
"Yes, thank you," said Hilda.
Frida and Hilda went out of the basement and out the front door, and when they were just outside the door, Hilda said, "I'm sorry I was such a bother today."
"That's all right. You're just not used to this kind of magic. That's all."
"Do you ever have doubts about having me as your familiar?"
"Of course not. I couldn't think of anybody else to be my familiar."
Hilda blushed again, and at that moment, she wanted to reach out and hold her hand but couldn't.
"Well, I better get going," said Frida. "See you, Hilda."
"Yeah, see you," said Hilda, yearningly watching Frida go. As she watched her best friend disappear behind a corner, she couldn't help but feel strange and confused about her feelings. She wished Frida could stay, desperate for her to stay, even. However, she also felt afraid of her growing feelings.
#
When she got to the front door of her own home, Hilda opened the door and went inside. Right away, Twig came up to her and leaped into her arms.
"Hey Twig, it's good to see you too," said Hilda, cuddling her pet. She put Twig onto the floor and called out for her mother. "Mum, are you home?" She could hear someone slurping in the living room. "Mum, is that you?" She turned a corner, expecting to see her mother sipping tea, but instead she saw the Raven on the couch sipping a cup of hot cocoa.
"Hey Zelda," said the Raven.
"Her name is Hilda," said Alfur, standing on the coffee table.
"Raven, how did you get into the house?" asked Hilda.
Tontu suddenly poked his head out from between the couch cushions. "I let him in."
"Yes, thanks for that," said the Raven, "and thanks for the cocoa."
"Have any of you guys seen Mum?" asked Hilda.
"She's out again," said Alfur.
"Again?" asked Hilda, annoyed. "Just when I really need her."
"Perhaps we can help," said Alfur.
"I don't know," said Hilda. "It's...complicated and I don't think you guys could help since it's a human matter."
"Hey, I've spent my whole life around humans," said Tontu.
"Do you talk to them much?" asked Hilda.
"Well...no...!" said Tontu.
"But why don't you have a seat anyway," said the Raven. "We're all ears."
"Well, all right."
Tontu scooted over to allow Hilda to sit down beside him.
"Lately, I've been feeling...strange," said Hilda, bluntly.
"Maybe it's gas," said the Raven.
"Not that kind of strange," said Hilda. "I've been feeling strange every time I'm near Frida."
"Maybe it's Frida who has gas," said the Raven.
"I told you it's not gas," said Hilda, annoyed. "Whenever I'm around Frida, I just feel so happy. In fact, I want to touch her, hug her, even want to..." Hilda blushed, "kiss her."
"Does she smell nice?" asked Tontu.
"Like a bed of roses," said Hilda, growing even redder.
"Does her touch feel like electricity?" asked Alfur.
"I held her hand today, and I never wanted to let go," said Hilda, looking positively radiant at the memory.
"Well, then there's only one explanation," said Alfur.
The Raven enthusiastically said, "It could just be bloating and—"
"IT'S NOT GAS," shouted Hilda.
"Okay...okay..." said the Raven. "So what's going on here?"
"Hilda has a crush on Frida," said Tontu.
"Well..." Hilda could feel her face growing hot, this time out of embarrassment. "Yeah...I think I do."
"So...why do you have a crush on Pida?" asked the Raven.
"Her name is Frida," said Hilda, "and I don't know why I have a crush on her. I think it all started when I became Frida's familiar. When I first saw Frida master a new spell and I saw her smile with delight, it sparked something in me. Ever since, I wanted to see her smile again. Then I wanted to be around her more. And just today, I felt a desire to hold her hand."
"Sounds like a crush to me," said Tontu.
"So she's in love," said Raven, matter-of-factly. "What's the problem?"
"Well, she's a girl," said Hilda. "Is it normal for me to fall in love with another girl?"
"I don't know," said the Raven. "Before I met you, I didn't know that many humans in person."
"What about you guys?" asked Hilda. "How does romance work for you?"
"Well, amongst elves, romance tends to lack the metaphorical bells and whistles," said Alfur.
"Do elves get married?" asked Hilda.
"Oh no, elves don't bother with such rituals, but we do work it out with contract negotiation."
Hilda facepalmed. "I should have known."
"When two elves want to join a life partnership—as elves would call it—they first need to negotiate the terms of the partnership."
"This is going to be boring, isn't it?" whined the Raven.
"Uh...oh look, you're cocoa is gone," said Tontu.
"No it's n—"
Tontu grabbed the mug before the Raven could finish.
"I'll go get more," said Tontu before he disappeared in-between the couch cushions.
"When two elves want to join a life partnership, they must first negotiate how much property is divided up," explained Alfur.
"Don't elves just share ownership of property?" asked Hilda.
"When elves set up a life partnership, those agreements are sometimes temporary, lasting only as long as the partnership is beneficial to both parties. As such, the two partners always include a prenuptial agreement with the contract."
"But how do you elves decide who keeps what?" asked Hilda.
"Well, there are a lot of factors that go into such a decision," said Alfur.
"Uh, it won't take you long to explain what those factors are, will it?" asked the Raven.
"Oh no, it won't take long," said Alfur.
#
It took 30 minutes...
"And once the child is born, the parents must choose a name and a godfather or godmother for the child before filling out the birth certificate," said Alfur. "So, that's how elf relationships typically work."
The Raven was so bored, he was absentmindedly chewing on one of his feathers. He was sprawled out on the couch, looking up at the ceiling with one wing to his beak.
"That was..." Hilda hesitated, her half awake head struggling to think of how to respond to a lecture on elf domestic partnership politics, "interesting, I guess..."
The Raven smacked his beak together. "I'm thirsty."
Tontu popped out from in-between the couch with a hot cup of cocoa. "Here you go."
"What took you so long?" asked the Raven as he sat up and took the cocoa.
"Oh, no reason," said Tontu, holding a superhero comic book in one hand.
"So...do elves allow two elves of the same sex to form a life partnership?" asked Hilda.
"As long as the terms are fair, agreed upon by both parties, committed to writing, and signed in triplicate," said Alfur, "then yes, it is considered acceptable."
"If only it was that simple for humans," said Hilda. "What about you, Raven?"
"Me?" said the Raven, blowing on his hot cocoa.
"How does romance work for birds?"
"Birds are monogamous," said the Raven. "When Spring starts, birds go find a mate, they lay eggs together, and once the chicks are old enough to be on their own, the parents split up only to return the next year and do it all over again."
"So you don't have life long partners?" asked Hilda.
"Most birds return to the same partner a few times so long as they are available. Otherwise, no, birds don't have life-long partners, we don't get married, and we certainly don't bother with overly long contracts."
"Not even a license registration?" asked Alfur, baffled.
"Nothing!" The Raven took a long sip from his cocoa.
"But what about same sex couples?" asked Hilda. "Do ravens have those?"
"Of course we do," said the Raven. "Males only stick with females to have and raise chicks while homosexual relationships tend to be more long term."
"I wonder if Frida would want kids," muttered Hilda to herself. She looked toward Tontu who lay in-between Hilda and the Raven. He was on his belly with a comic book larger than he was spread out on the couch. He idly read the comic, his nose buried in its pages.
"Tontu," said Hilda, "how do nisse find partners?"
"Admittedly, nisse don't usually have domestic partnerships or mates like elves and birds do," said Tontu, his nose still buried in the comic.
"But then how do nisse procreate?" asked Hilda.
"Well, it's a bit complicated," said Tontu as he sat up. "First of all, nisse live a lot longer than humans do, so we don't need to procreate as often."
"How old are you?" asked the Raven.
"I'm pretty young for a nisse," said Tontu. "I just turned 103 last week."
"You're younger than I am," said Raven.
Alfur and Hilda gawked at the two.
"Anyway, nisse are notoriously antisocial, but once in a blue moon, two nisse who can tolerate each other get together to have a baby."
"But what about gay couples?" asked Hilda.
"I doubt they exist," said Tontu. "The only reason why two nisse would live together for an extended period of time is to conceive and raise a baby. Once the baby is old enough to be on its own, the two parents often fight each other and sometimes their child to determine who gains control of the nest."
"That's horrible," said Hilda. "Why would you treat each other so badly?"
"That's just the way we are," said Tontu. "Without a child to care for, I can't think of any reason why two nisse would tolerate one another."
The front door unlocked and opened.
"Hilda, sweetie, I'm home," said Johanna.
"I'm in here," said Hilda.
Johanna came into the living room with bags of groceries in her arms. She went into the kitchen to set the bags down.
"Hello, what's going on here?" she asked.
"We were all talking," said Hilda.
"About what?" asked Johanna.
"About relationships," said Hilda.
"Oh..." Johanna stared at her daughter with a smile of enraptured curiosity on her face. "Tell me more."
#
"So that's it," said Johanna. "I thought something might be going on between you two. Does Frida know?"
"No, I haven't worked up the courage to tell her," said Hilda.
"Why?" asked Alfur. "What do you have to be afraid of?"
"Are you afraid Frida will peck out your eyes?" asked the Raven.
"What? No!" exclaimed Hilda. "It's just that I'm afraid of how she'll react. What if she doesn't love me back?"
"But what if she does love you back?" asked Tontu.
"I don't know..." Hilda curled up on the couch. "This is just so new to me. Maybe I shouldn't tell her anything."
"But will you be okay going about your life with that on your conscience?" asked Johanna. "Is the pain of rejection so bad that you would risk the pain of not expressing your feelings?"
"I don't know," said Hilda on the verge of tears. "What do I do? How can I make Frida love me?"
"You can't," said Johanna. "You can't force someone to love you. All you can do is be someone worth loving and hope for the best."
Hilda sat on the couch, not sure what to say or do in response.
Johanna sat on the couch next to Hilda and held her close. "I know it may seem scary now, but I promise, no matter what happens, you'll feel better if you confess your feelings to Frida. Just tell her tomorrow at the hot springs."
"And then what?" asked Hilda. "Are we going to start dating, talking about marriage, or raise kids, or..."
"Now you're just over thinking it," said Johanna. "Hilda, you and Frida are just kids still figuring yourselves out. You two don't have to think about these things just yet."
"But I'm not just her friend," said Hilda. "I'm her familiar. Once our psychic connection gets stronger, what if we see into each other's heads and don't like what we see."
"Again, don't worry about the what-if's," said Johanna. "The best thing to do when starting a relationship is to live in the moment. If you're not comfortable, then be honest about your feelings. If there are any troubles, work it out between you and her. Promise me that tomorrow, you will do that."
Hilda wiped a tear from her eye. "Okay, Mum, I will."
#
The next day was beautiful, the warm sun beaming down from a clear blue sky upon Hilda, Frida, and Twig. Johanna had dropped off the girls on the side of a road, giving Hilda a wink and whispered "be yourself" before driving off.
However, despite her mother's encouragement, Hilda could hear her heart hammering in her chest. Her mind was racing. "What if Frida doesn't love me back? What if she thinks I'm weird? What if she wants someone else as her familiar? What if she doesn't want to be my friend anymore?"
"Hey Hilda," said Frida, "are you listening?"
"Uh...sorry, I was daydreaming."
"I was saying the hot spring should be right over that hill according to Tildy's map. It also says the spring was once a sacred place for witches who venerated the natural world..."
Hilda could only quietly listen as she followed close behind Frida. Twig mostly tagged along, sniffing every bush and scaring off every bird he came across. Hilda shivered. At first, she thought it was from nerves, but she quickly realized it was something else.
"Hey, is it getting cold here?" asked Hilda.
"It's probably just a nice cool breeze," said Frida.
Having grown up in the forests, Hilda had an inkling this cold was not normal, a suspicion that only grew more certain when she noticed a shadow blanket the area. She looked up and saw what appeared to be two clouds moving faster than normal. "Wait, are those...?"
"We're here," said Frida.
They walked up the hill, and upon reaching the peak, they were amazed to see what looked like a wide-open pool of steaming water. Natural walls made of 6-sided rock surrounded the area, and the spring itself was made up of natural stone pools that flowed into one another in a gentle cascade, moving in twisted directions in accordance with the patterns of erosion. The water flowed from a waterfall spilling from in-between two overhanging protrusions of hexagonal stones cemented together by natural forces. The steam let out a salty fragrance in the air. Plants and moss decorated the stones, growing from every little crack available or clinging to the walls, adding speckles of bright green amongst the gray stone.
"Oh, it's beautiful," said Frida.
Frida carefully walked down the hill, avoiding slipping on the loose rocks. Twig cantered alongside Frida with Hilda close behind, looking up at the sky, which was getting darker by inexplicable cloud over.
"We might as well get started," said Frida. "This water looks so inviting."
"Frida, maybe we should..."
It was too late. Frida was already removing her blue sweater to reveal the equally blue swimsuit she wore underneath.
"Uh..." Hilda stood there, paralyzed from shock...and something else.
Frida carefully took off her socks and shoes, placing them next to her neatly folded sweater. As Frida slid her pants down her legs, Hilda got a clear look at her friend, which caused her heart to race. Frida wore a one piece that accentuated her body's shape. In Hilda's eyes, it was like staring at a truly untouched beauty, one she longed to get closer to, but was afraid too.
"Well, aren't you coming?" asked Frida, leaving her folded clothes aside.
"I..." Hilda could clearly remember her mother's words of encouragement, words that were quickly snuffed out by fear. "I can't. I can't do this."
"Why not?" asked Frida. "You've been so nervous about this trip since yesterday. What's wrong?"
"The truth is..." It was at that moment when Hilda saw a single snowflake float down passed her face.
"Snow?" exclaimed Frida, noticing even more snowflakes coming down. "That's impossible. The weather report said it was going to be warm and sunny all day. There can't be snow."
"Wait, can you hear that?" said Hilda.
Frida listened. "Are those...voices?"
The voices started quiet at first, but were increasingly growing louder, as did too the increased snowfall.
"I told you there is nothing wrong with blowing westward over the mountains."
"Oh sure, it is fine if you want to violate all common sense."
"Common sense? You wouldn't know common sense if it bit you in the cumulus."
"Oh sure, resorting to insults when losing the argument."
Frida looked up in shock. "Are those weather spirits?"
Hilda let out a groan. "Yeah and they're arguing. If only I had the Raven. I could go up there and moderate them."
"I guess we have to wait until their argument is done," said Frida.
"That could take a while," said Hilda. She shivered. "It's getting so cold. You should put your clothes back on, so we can get out of here."
"Or you can take your clothes off, and get into the spring with me," said Frida.
Twig, feeling the cold, dove into the water. His fur drooped off of his body as he swam.
"I don't..." Hilda could feel goosebumps forming on her back. "Maybe you can go ahead without me."
Frida, despite getting goosebumps too, just stood there without even holding her arms across her chest. "Hilda, we're supposed to do this together. What's wrong?"
"I can't do this."
"Why not?"
"I just can't do this?"
"Tell me what's wrong."
"I can't because..." Hilda took a deep breath, "It's because I've been...developing feelings for you...and it scares me."
Frida blushed and it wasn't from the growing cold.
Hilda once again took in a deep breath to calm her nerves. "The truth is that I love you, and I want to be with you, but this is so new to me, and I don't know how you will react."
"You're my best friend," said Frida, her teeth beginning to chatter. "I wouldn't even be here right now if it weren't for you."
"But do you even love me the same way as I love you?"
Frida hesitated. "I don't know yet. What you're talking about is new to me, too."
"I'm afraid that when I get in the water with you," said Hilda, crying, "that we build a psychic connection and we don't like what we see, or worse, we get hurt."
Frida smiled. "And what if it turns out well?"
Hilda glanced at Frida, smiling back.
"You don't have to do this if you're not ready," said Frida. "Maybe we can do this another time."
"But if we don't get into the spring, we could freeze to death," said Hilda.
"That's true," said Frida, trying her best to keep a straight face in spite of her clattering teeth. "But you're wellbeing is more important. You can either get into the spring with me or you can face the cold. Either way, I will support you."
Hilda's whole body was shaking from the cold, but her heart felt warm. "To be honest, I don't know if I will ever be truly ready, but if I don't do this soon, I might never work up the courage to do it at all. Okay...let's do this. Although...would you mind taking the lead?"
"I would be happy to," said Frida, approaching Hilda.
At this point, a thin blanket of snow was on the ground. Frida was noticeably shivering, but without hesitation, she reached for Hilda's hat, slid it off, and placed it on the ground. She grabbed the hem of Hilda's red sweater and pulled it up and over Hilda's head, revealing her red swimsuit underneath.
In an attempt to keep each other warm, Frida wrapped her arms around Hilda, pressing her chest against hers. She nuzzled her cold nose against Hilda's shoulder, letting out warm puffs of air. Hilda responded by putting her right hand behind Frida's head, her left behind Frida's back, and pressing their cheeks together. Although the snow continued to fall, the mere contact was warm and electrifying.
"I love you so much, Frida," Hilda whispered into her friend's ear.
Despite how cold it was, Frida was slow and methodical. She knelt down to Hilda's shoes, and carefully removed them and her socks. After setting the footwear aside, she then pulled down Hilda's pants, careful to fold it and put it away with the rest of Hilda's clothes. Both girls were shivering, now completely unprotected against the snow that piled on their heads and shoulders. The cold wind only increased their discomfort. Holding her hands, Frida led Hilda to the spring.
Twig was nearby, lying in a shallow end of the spring, watching as the girls got into the water.
Compared to the freezing cold air, the waters were scalding. In spite of the heat, the two quickly soaked themselves, submerging up to their necks. Within a minute, the shivering stopped and the two sat there, enjoying the water and each other's company. As the girls relaxed in the water, it soaked into every pore, and the steam easily sent natural minerals into their lungs.
Hilda gave Frida a dreamy look. Frida didn't have to say anything. She felt it too. They held out their hands, intertwining their fingers together. A psychic connection gradually formed between them. Like before, the girls could peer into each other's heads, and they could feel each other's thoughts and emotions.
Frida could feel Hilda's fears, excitement, and love with an intimate exchange. She could even see Hilda's recent memories, seeing her racing thoughts, her conversations with her mother, Tontu, Alfur, and Raven, and she saw her nervousness when they tried to meditate yesterday.
Hilda also saw into Frida's head. As she expected, Frida was logical and driven. She could see Frida's love for learning and her unwavering desire to improve her skills. However, amongst all the countless hours Frida spent studying for school, training to get the next Sparrow Scouts badge, and studying magic, there was a hidden affectionate side, one that was long buried.
After a while, their psychic connection deepened, and it went from strictly mental to physical. They could feel and hear each other's heartbeats, breathing, and their racing pulses. Hilda opened her eyes, and so too did Frida, looking at each other with an empathetic connection like nothing they felt before.
"This is amazing," said Hilda, telepathically.
"How do you feel?" asked Frida, also telepathically.
Hilda blushed. "I feel like I'm so...safe...with you."
Frida gently cupped Hilda's cheek with one hand. The two slowly leaned forward. Their lips connected. They wrapped their arms around each other, drawing themselves closer, pressing their chests together so their beating hearts could beat in tune with each other.
At that point, the weather spirits were done arguing and drifting off into their own separate directions. The girls barely noticed. They said nothing else. Just lay there in the water in each other's embrace.
#
Hilda didn't open her eyes again until she felt Twig pawing at her back. She stirred awake, finding herself still clutching Frida who quietly snored.
"Hey, Frida..." Hilda gently tapped Frida's cheek with the palm of her head.
Frida opened her eyes. "Oh...Did I fall asleep?"
"Yes and I think I did too. What time is it?"
"Judging by the position of the sun..." Frida lifted her hand out of the water, "and the wrinkles on my hand, we were probably not in here too long. Thirty minutes to an hour, I would guess."
"I suppose we better get out," said Hilda, "Mum is probably waiting for us."
"Yeah, we better."
By now, the snow around the spring had already melted, leaving shallow puddles everywhere. Grabbing their towels, the two dried themselves off, Twig in particular shaking himself.
"Twig, watch where you're shaking," said Hilda, shielding herself with her towel.
"So Hilda..." said Frida, "where do you think we should go from here?"
"Well, we should get back to the road so Mum could pick us up."
"No...I mean..." Frida blushed, "what I meant was where should our relationship go from here? I enjoyed bonding with you today, and want to do it again. Outside of magic, where else should our relationship go?"
"Oh!" Hilda was also blushing. "Mum told me to just live in the moment, and don't worry about the future just yet."
"Sounds good to me," said Frida.
They leaned forward and kissed. When they separated, Frida said, "I am so lucky to have you as my best friend and as my familiar."
"But do you think we could be more than just that?" asked Hilda.
Frida affectionately took Hilda's hand and said, "I believe so."
The End