Chapter 4: The game
"Clean my chamber," Beira said quietly to Hena.
The hag bowed deep.
"As you wish, oh, Dark One."
Beira watched with satisfaction as Hena obeyed. Absorbing the power of her last child restored one of her most useful divine abilities - being able to control the minds of mortals. This included hags who were very weak-willed creatures and who have now become her loyal servants, just like in the past. It felt exhilarating to have at least this one divine skill, to feel like herself again. Life was going to be so much easier now, especially since this skill wasn't encumbered by the seasons.
More winters passed and Beira had not found a new mate yet. She needed a powerful being, one she had not mated with yet. She kept a journal where she wrote down her experiments, including details of successful and unsuccessful pairings, what type of child was a result, its abilities and what she gained from it. From her findings so far, she deduced that children of elemental beings had given her the best boost of powers and so in her hunt for a mate, she now focused on elementals.
Beira walked the mountainside touched by the hand of spring and sat down in a flowery meadow. She started to weave her chaplet out of wildflowers and hummed an old tune to herself to pass the time. Her charm was irresistible. Males could sense her aura from afar, and were drawn to her unknowingly. It was a leftover of her divine presence which now she could amplify with her ability to control minds. Stronger beings were difficult to manipulate directly but even if all they felt was her charm, it was enough to attract them.
She felt magic of an elemental being approach but remained unphased, hiding her excitement that her bait had worked. His energy was around her for a while - he was observing her before he made his presence known.
"I don't think I've ever seen anyone weave a chaplet," a young voice spoke above her.
"Some traditions are worth bringing back," Beira answered, not looking up from her work.
He crouched down to her level and handed her a few pink thrifts. She looked at him shyly and took the flowers, gently brushing her skin against his in the process.
"Thank you."
He was a very young male with short curly brown hair, brown eyes and an elongated face which slightly failed at looking human. She made an effort to not look at him long but from that short glance, she guessed that he was a shapeshifter and this wasn't his normal form. She managed to attract a powerful being and was excited at her luck.
She wove his flowers into the chaplet and noticed that he was watching the graceful movement of her slender fingers.
"You are really good at this," he complimented, sitting down comfortably across from her.
"I've done it before."
He picked more flowers and handed it to her one at a time. She brushed his fingers a little more on each hand-off. He did not comment but continued to supply her. She snuck a shy look at him and he grinned broadly.
"I'm Enlin," he offered.
"That's a nice name."
She appraised her chaplet - it was now long enough and could be finished.
He chuckled and rubbed his neck.
"You didn't give me your name."
She tied the two ends of the chaplet together with colorful ribbons so they would stream behind her in flashes of green, white and yellow.
"That's true."
He chuckled again and reached for it.
"May I?"
She gave it to him and he leaned to place the chaplet on her head. She shyly raised her eyes and made contact with his. His hands lingered on the flowers while framing her face but then he blushed and dropped them to rub his neck again.
"So, you mentioned a tradition?"
"Chaplets used to have several uses," she offered and looked out over the mountainside, feeling that this was a perfect angle for the gentle breeze to caress her golden locks which now mixed in with the ribbons. "They were considered to be good luck, worn as charms to protect from demons."
He stood next to her, also looking at the horizon, and snuck glances in her direction.
"What other uses?"
She bit her lip and could feel the strength of his gaze on her. She answered quietly, "It was a sign of purity, of maidenhood."
She heard him swallow loud and bit her lip again to suppress a chuckle at how easily he fell for her act.
They stood there together in silence and she felt him draw closer. Her exposed arm was just millimeters away from his and his hair stood up in response as if trying to close the distance.
"Will you tell me your name?" he asked in a deeper, quieter tone.
"What would you do to hear it?"
She played with the folds of her long gown and noticed that his eyes tracked the movement.
"What would you like, my fair maiden?"
He stood proud and tall and she resisted an urge to laugh at how comical he looked. He probably thought of himself as a young man but really, he was still a boy. No matter what, he was old enough and powerful enough and that was all that mattered.
She looked up at a nearby hill.
"I wanted to climb up there so that I could see the full view of this beautiful meadow but I'm afraid I won't make it."
"I'll carry you there!" He offered enthusiastically. "If you let me?"
She looked down shyly and played with the folds of her gown again but then bit her lip and nodded to him.
He put his arms under her legs and back and she wrapped her arm around his shoulders. He started climbing the hill while grinning broadly without showing any fatigue.
"You're so strong," she commented and he blushed. "I couldn't even carry myself up this steep hill and yet you carry me with ease."
"You're light as a feather."
"I'm Bei," she said.
He grinned in response.
"That's a nice name."
They arrived to the top but he didn't put her down yet. She played with the collar of his shirt and her finger brushed his neck. He shivered.
"If you don't mind me asking," he said while looking over the meadow, "what type of being are you, Bei?"
"I'm a winter spirit, and you?"
That wasn't a complete truth but it was the easiest answer. He swallowed and nodded but didn't answer. He continued looking over the horizon and she felt a smidge of insecurity, not knowing what he was thinking about.
"Will you show me your true form?" she asked and he looked at her with wide eyes, surprised that she saw through the mask. "Yes, I know that you're a shapeshifter."
He chuckled and adjusted the grip on her legs.
"You're pretty observant. But I couldn't show you even if I wanted to."
"What does that even mean?"
"So, what is a winter spirit doing here in such nice weather?"
"What is there to do when you have to wait for your season?"
He chuckled in response.
"I suppose you're right."
They stood there a little longer, he didn't put her down the entire time and she was glad the he wasn't ready to let her go but then, his face became more serious and he recited.
Magical meadow
Carries my heart's desire
But not my fate
She looked at him puzzled.
"Was that poetry?"
He smiled in response but it didn't reach his eyes and she didn't understand what put him in this melancholy mood.
He sighed heavily and spoke, "If you're done here, I'll carry you down."
She didn't understand what was happening. She was sure she had his interest so why did it sound like he was about to leave? She did not give up easily though. He was a powerful being and she was determined to have him.
"I need to go, Bei," he said as he sat her down at the foot of the hill.
She very slowly released her hold on his neck and looked down to the ground, pouting.
"Will you visit me again?"
"Bei..." he sighed and rubbed his neck again.
"No one ever comes to visit me. I have no family or friends," she produced a tear which slid down her rosy cheek. "Promise me, Enlin," she looked at him through tear-filled eyes and he finally agreed.
"I promise."
He smiled at her kindly, but then, with a flash of magic, he disappeared from her view. She was careful to still appear sad because she could feel his energy around. He was invisible and was now watching her. She tried to remember what type of beings were invisible but then decided that the time would be better spent on enticing him, which he probably wanted anyway, since he lingered.
From his poetic burst, she guessed that he was a romantic fool who loved the image of the innocent maiden she portrayed, so, she called over her herd to show him just how innocent she could be. The deer bounded over obediently.
The herd leader approached her and bowed deep. She returned the gesture of respect and patted his back. Two little does hesitantly left their mothers' sides to approach her.
"Look at your youngest!" Beira cooed and scratched each doe's neck. "May you find green pastures and safety of the trees."
She felt Enlin's presence nearby so she continued with her show.
"I wish you could talk," she said with sadness in her voice, "I could use a friend right now. I met a nice young man today and thought he would stay but he left me like everyone always leaves me. And so I have only you again."
She walked among the herd and let each of them touch, sniff, even lick her hands. They were excited and honored that she allowed them.
After she felt his presence disappear, she sent them back and made her way home.
She came back to the same meadow every day and made a new fresh chaplet. And every day, she felt his presence. He was checking on her and so she made a new show of purity and grace. She danced in the breeze for him, she played with foxes and braided flowers into her hair. But it wasn't until she sang for him that he transformed himself into his not-completely-human form so that she could see him.
"You have a lovely voice, Bei," he grinned broadly. "How could I resist your call?"
She pretended to be embarrassed.
"I didn't know you were listening. I'm not a good singer."
"Nonsense," he approached. "It was so touching that the grasses that surround you were swaying to the melody. You have a natural skill of adding emotion to your voice and that is where true art lies."
And so she began her teasing game with young Enlin, making him believe that he was courting her. Another week passed and she could sense that he was finding it harder to stay away. She worried how long her youth would last and that he would notice physical changes in her appearance and so she had to take drastic measures to speed up the process.
One day, when she felt him invisibly watch her, she made her way to a small stream. She dropped her green gown, and entered the water wearing only a sheer white slip. She could feel him follow above her as she leisurely swam. She hoped he would join her but as he did not, she came out, and fully aware that her wet slip was now transparent, she laid down in the grass, looking up at the sky. She didn't have to wait long.
"You can sense whenever I'm here, can't you?" she heard his voice behind her.
She didn't answer but continued staring at the small clouds overhead, waiting for him to get the courage to approach her.
He slowly walked up and paused, seeing her like that. She knew what he saw. She was a vision of perfection, waiting to be taken.
He sat down next to her, but now, that he was so close, he seemed too shy to look at her.
"Am I not beautiful enough for you?" she said in a cracked voice, pretending that she was about to cry.
He closed his eyes and shook his head.
"The opposite, Bei." He finally looked at her face and she could see the longing in his chocolate-brown eyes. "I love you with all my heart but..." he paused but she had heard enough.
She sat up and cupped his face.
"That's all it takes and that's all I want. Love," she whispered and kissed him.
And she had him. He was unable to resist her further and gave in. They made love at last and the wind sang in triumph at their union.
They laid on the bank of the stream, their bare legs entwined together, and his fingers combed her hair, tangled by the earlier swim.
"Bei," he said softly, "I need to tell you something."
"Don't," she put a finger to his lips. "Because it sounds like a goodbye and you must return to me, Enlin. Do not abandon me now."
He kissed her finger and whispered.
"There is no future for us."
"Why would you say that, my love?"
"Because of what I am. This isn't my real body, you know this. I can't stay like this for long."
"It matters not," she whispered, "what you are when you are away from me, as long as you always return, my love."
And that was all it took.
She saw him for several more weeks and made love to him every day until she was sure that she was with child. Then, she stopped coming to the meadow.
Summer came to an end, fall began and her beauty was fading. She was not a crone yet but it was clear that the youth given to her by the last child had wore off. It was going to be a while before this new child was old enough, so come spring, she would have to go back to the Well again.
One afternoon, she was gathering herbs in the woods when she felt the familiar feeling of being watched by Enlin.
She turned around and there he was. A range of emotions showed on his face but finally settled on shock.
"Bei?" he asked incredulously. "Why do you look so… Are you pregnant?"
Beira sighed in exasperation, cursing her fate for having encountered him again.
"Enlin, how have you been?"
"What happened? I couldn't find you and... " he stared at her large belly and approached. "Is this mine?" He tried to touch her belly but she smacked his hand away and he winced. "What happened to you?"
He was looking at her face, which she knew now resembled a middle-aged woman. She turned around, furious that he stared. She did not need anyone to point out how old she looked.
"Talk to me."
"You need to leave, Enlin," she said with her back to him.
"But I love you."
"You said it yourself, there's no future for us."
"But… we can make it work, Bei. Please, what happened?"
She brushed past him, heading to the closest mountain and he followed her.
"Please, talk to me. Is this my child? I deserve to know."
She wished that it was winter already so she could blast him away, but since that wasn't an option, she had to get rid of him with her words.
"You gave me a child. Thank you for that. Now, I won't be alone. Now, you may go, Enlin."
He followed her and continued begging her and even started unconvincingly threatening her on the way. It was clear that he was placing a claim on her child and she would not have that.
She finally made it to the mountain and pulled out her hammer. She smirked at him one last time and tapped the rock with her tool, revealing a tunnel. She stepped inside and said her final farewell.
"Forget about the child, Enlin. It's mine."
She walked inside the dark tunnel, knowing well that he wouldn't follow her because over the last few months she had figured out what type of being he was, and knew that an elemental like him would suffocate underground. She was free of him as long as she stayed there.