"Princess…wha-what happened to you?" Penelope squeaks.
I laugh. "I am only to expect happiness for now on, Penny."
"You're human, and it's day light!" She says frantically. "You're not happy, you're going to die!"
"Penny, notice anything different? The curse has been lifted." I reply. "But I can still talk to you by day."
The young squirrel still trembles. Her brother sighs.
"Pippin,"
"Yes?"
"I have a favor to ask of you." I smile.
"Yes?" He repeats.
"Do you by chance, know how far four miles is from here? About four miles north, perhaps?" I ask with hidden glee.
"Eh, I could give you a rough estimate, that's all." Pippin nods off, thinking.
"I'll take anything you've got." I lean in closer.
"Um…maybe to the bay, I would say. You know, that large river by that big stone building you wanted to go to about a month ago." Pippin scowls at me. "But I could be pushing it. I'm a squirrel, Misty, not a mathematician."
"You are the smart one, Pip." I whisper behind my hand. "That's why I asked you." Then gestured my head towards Penelope, who was occupying herself with a cattail by the lake.
We both chuckle slightly and he hops unto my shoulder as I stand up. "Beautiful afternoon, I must say. The sky is a prism blue." My mouth chits to Pippin. It felt weird…speaking all the different animal talks.
"Yes, indeed." Pip agrees. Moments pass. "Well, Princess…Penelope and I better get going. We will see you tomorrow."
"Okay, have a nice night." I reply as he bounds off of my shoulder and into the woods with his sister.
I return to that small cliff by the lake's shore. The one I sat on the first night I waited for my prince's return. I, finally, plan to forget that night. That lovely blue sky clouded over with very thin wisps of cotton. Then I felt it—rain. The light rain that comes in a perfect mist. I adore this type of weather. You can't see the droplets falling from the sky, but you can feel them landing on your arms, face, and feet. You could stand in it for hours and never get drenched. It lightly pricks your lips and cheeks and cools your skin. I sit there, enjoying the sky's tears. A collection of these tiny droplets combine into a ball of water and roll down my face and onto my bare leg. What I would do for a change. I've been wearing the same mistletoe green dress for these three years. It had been ripped and torn and scuffed and battered with dirt. The lace on the very low set collar has long vanished. The sleeves are nothing but leaves of cloth ejected from my shoulders. My midriff shows and my shirt is short. I then know, I love my life. Something then sparks my attention. A lightning flash from overhead. This was amazing and it left me stupefied. It never thunder stormed here! Never! Lord Altrogge must be angry. With that, I feel a cold hand on my shoulder. I turn to see the Lord's bushy, rust colored, mustached face.
"Come with me." He mutters.
"Why?" I say right away.
"This forest isn't safe when there is a storm. I may hate you, but you are still my key to power." The Lord replies and starts to drag me towards his castle. We get to the large doors. "Leave that outside." He points to the spear I still carry in my hand.
"Yes, my Lord." I stick the point into the ground, right outside the entrance.
"Get in, dry off, and then go to the North Tower." Lord Altrogge commands.
"Yes, my Lord." I repeat and shake as if I were a dog. I climb the spiral staircase and to go the North Tower. It was almost identical to the one I stayed in before—which was in the east.
I sit at the window and watch the Earth shake. The clouds rumble and shoot out their spears of lightning towards the forest. Rain pelts the side of the castle with deep thuds. I lean a little bit out of the window and tilt my head towards the sky, with my mouth wide open. I try to drink as much water as I can, but it still doesn't quench. When I level my head, I see it once more. A black stick running along a path by the lake. The one that is used to go to Lord Altrogge's castle. The stranger has returned. He must be crazy! In this storm, it was very dangerous to travel. That imbecile, thinking he can brave the lightning through the trees and rain through the mud. I laugh at him for his idiotic choice to come here. My heart leaps. He can not come here. That puts him in even more danger. He will then be like me, cursed by the Lord that acts all kind and gives you shelter. He must not knock on these doors for once he enters, he may never return home again…as I. He comes closer, and closer, his black cloak rippling behind him. I quickly exit the North Tower and tip-toe quietly down the spiral staircase. My bare feet make hardly no sound and my experiences in the woods finally come in handy. I creak open the front doors and slip out, grab my spear and then hide behind a neighboring tree. The man in black comes jogging up to the castle. He is very close to me now, but I still can't see his face because of his hood. I tighten the grip on my spear and wait. He coughs and coughs, wiping the water from his eyes. His shoes squish against the muddy ground. He stares up at the castle and finally reaches out a hand to knock on the door. I hurdle from behind my tree and in front of the stranger, my spear pointed at his throat.
He screams.
"You dare enter?" I slyly ask.
"I seek shelter from the storm, oh maiden of beasts." The stranger replies. Oh, he called me a maiden.
I smile materialistically. "I can sense your fear, boy."
"Please, I only ask for refuge from the rain." The stranger begs. "I wish to come into your castle."
"First of all, this isn't my castle. The person inside is a lot more fierce then me." I say. "Plus, and believe me on this, you are better off with me then inside there."
"I wish to inform you, maiden, that I am only here on good intensions. I mean no harm to you, or your forest. If you so desire to destroy me, I can probably understand your feelings." The stranger said.
"Hush up." I almost yell. "Follow me."
I move swiftly and softly down a different path, enclosed with more trees. Their branches cast a nasty glow against the forest floor. I can hear the stranger's footsteps behind me. My spear remains tightly held in my right hand. I will take care of this man, and make sure that Lord Altrogge doesn't see him, or harm him in any way. It was easy to see that this stranger was no ordinary man. The way he spoke to me was well chosen. He used words with great dialect and superior kindness. He will not meet my spear yet, but I will not leave it, for it is my protection and threat towards anyone who mocks, demands of, or abuses me and my ways. We finally reach the lake and the rain lets up slightly. I retrace my steps and start to dig in the ground. I find my hide bag and open it. I take out a hefty piece of dried venison and approach the stranger, who is trying to stay as far away as possible.
"Here." I hand it out.
"What is it?" The stranger asks.
"Food. Eat it." I toss it to him and he catches it.
"May I ask what type?" The stranger questions. Man, this guy is picky!
"Try it, then maybe you can find out for yourself." I reply and have a seat on the ground.
He sits down as well and rips off a piece and chews for a long time. "This is tough, but good. I can't tell what it is."
"It's dried venison." I take out a piece of my own.
To my abhor, he spits what he had in his mouth out. "Venison? Deer meat?"
"Yes, is that a problem?" I take a bite myself. I could feel his stare as he still holds onto the piece of meat. He breaths hard and full of hate. "What did I do?" I ask coolly.
"If I told you, I would only be ridiculed and scorned." The stranger sneers.
I swallow my last bite. "Very well then. I will not ask any more of you, stranger. Now, you must sleep. I don't intend to let you go in the morning, so get some good rest."
"Fine then." The stranger said and lied down, tucking the cloak around him. "See you in the morning."
"'Night." I wish and curl up on the ground myself as the rain slowly stops.
I get to sleep quite easily, can't say the same for my guest. I could hear his reckless sleep, the tossing and turning. He mumbles to himself occasionally. When he finally feel quiet and didn't stir, it caused me to arise. I sit up and look over to the stranger. All I can see is a black ball. Oh, stupid me for being so ignorant. His cloak was soaked from the evening rain. He must be entirely freezing. I stand up and make my way towards him. The hood he wore always covered his face. I was very curious what he looked like. I wonder if he is handsome, or some peasant boy. My hand inches to the robe and my fingers tremble.
"Come back." He moans in his sleep and I jump. His voice is muffled from his cloak, and he shivers.
"Poor kid." I whisper to myself.
I untie my deer-skin cloak from around my neck. I drape it over him and it makes a pretty suitable blanket. I hope it makes him warmer. I watch as he resituates himself on the dirt and sighs deeply, before drifting back into slumber. There was something about this stranger that made me feel different. A bad different. I felt that I must always keep my guard up and never put it down for he might strike at any moment. His shadowy appearance and odd personality always left me thinking. He hides something from me. I know it. How he reacted when I told him he was eating dried venison. Why was he so concerned about what he ate? Maybe he was just some vegetarian. I didn't care. If he didn't eat, all he would do was starve. I finally forget all my thoughts, and find the softest bit of ground I could. I fall back to sleep. I wake up about four hours later when the sun had rose in the east sky. I open my eyes and see my deer-skin cape on top of me. I look over and see the stranger standing by the lake's shore.
"You're not as smart as I thought." I say.
He looks over to me. "What do you mean by that?"
"You could have escaped once I had fallen asleep." I reply, standing up as well.
"I didn't want to run away." The stranger turns away. "I still haven't gotten what I came for. Yet, I feel I should leave because what I did come to retrieve is probably gone."
"Who or what are you searching for?" I ask.
"Does it matter to you?" The stranger shoots back.
"If I know, I may be able to help you out." I cross my arms over my chest.
"I'm looking for a someone…a girl, around your age perhaps. But she looked a lot different. She was my love…and she's most likely gone now. That you may know, but you will never know what hard times I've gone through."
That makes me angry. I lunge at him with my spear. "Don't you dare say I haven't been through hard times! Don't you dare mock me for what love I've lost as well!"
"You talk of love as if it were something you came across in a forest and happen to pick up. Or something you buy at the market, or get as a reward. Well, princess of the wood, you have no idea of what true love is like! You will never know what the experience is and how good it feels to be holding her in your arms, and to comfort her when she cries. Or of that wondrous knowledge that they love you back! You will never know of love, because you never loved to begin with!" The stranger yells at me.
I thrust my spear at his throat in a loud scream and run the cold stone against his skin. "Take this as a final warning, stranger. I have felt true love like no other and now it is gone never to return to me! You will pay for your mockery of that man who once rest his lips on mine in such a passion I started to cry. You will pay for the way you talk of this woman as a prize you keep on your shelf, that you happen to misplace in the time of dusting. I feel sorry for that girl, for having to deal with such a man like you who says he's found true love. You say I've never loved, well, the day my prince denied my love for him … I died that day! I died that day!" I go to inject my spear into his throat, but my sobs stop me and I collapse to my knees.
To my surprise, he kneels next to me and embraces me in his arms. "I know how you feel."
I just sit there in this stranger's arms, letting him say he knows how I feel. On top of that, I am crying. He has now seen my weak and soft side. That can not be good. I am supposed to strike fear into people's hearts! When I wander the forest, I hear local hunters who've seen me call me the Forest Goddess. They make up that I have some supernatural powers and can kill someone by just looking at them. This man is supposed to be afraid of me! Now I'm afraid…that he'll reveal my secret some how. I finally work my way out of his embrace. I look up at the shadow, that is his face. I slowly, and with uneven breath, take both hands and hold onto the edges of his cloak top. I close my eyes and feel that strange and scary aura surround me. I then, gradually, take off the stranger's hood.
I laugh. "I am only to expect happiness for now on, Penny."
"You're human, and it's day light!" She says frantically. "You're not happy, you're going to die!"
"Penny, notice anything different? The curse has been lifted." I reply. "But I can still talk to you by day."
The young squirrel still trembles. Her brother sighs.
"Pippin,"
"Yes?"
"I have a favor to ask of you." I smile.
"Yes?" He repeats.
"Do you by chance, know how far four miles is from here? About four miles north, perhaps?" I ask with hidden glee.
"Eh, I could give you a rough estimate, that's all." Pippin nods off, thinking.
"I'll take anything you've got." I lean in closer.
"Um…maybe to the bay, I would say. You know, that large river by that big stone building you wanted to go to about a month ago." Pippin scowls at me. "But I could be pushing it. I'm a squirrel, Misty, not a mathematician."
"You are the smart one, Pip." I whisper behind my hand. "That's why I asked you." Then gestured my head towards Penelope, who was occupying herself with a cattail by the lake.
We both chuckle slightly and he hops unto my shoulder as I stand up. "Beautiful afternoon, I must say. The sky is a prism blue." My mouth chits to Pippin. It felt weird…speaking all the different animal talks.
"Yes, indeed." Pip agrees. Moments pass. "Well, Princess…Penelope and I better get going. We will see you tomorrow."
"Okay, have a nice night." I reply as he bounds off of my shoulder and into the woods with his sister.
I return to that small cliff by the lake's shore. The one I sat on the first night I waited for my prince's return. I, finally, plan to forget that night. That lovely blue sky clouded over with very thin wisps of cotton. Then I felt it—rain. The light rain that comes in a perfect mist. I adore this type of weather. You can't see the droplets falling from the sky, but you can feel them landing on your arms, face, and feet. You could stand in it for hours and never get drenched. It lightly pricks your lips and cheeks and cools your skin. I sit there, enjoying the sky's tears. A collection of these tiny droplets combine into a ball of water and roll down my face and onto my bare leg. What I would do for a change. I've been wearing the same mistletoe green dress for these three years. It had been ripped and torn and scuffed and battered with dirt. The lace on the very low set collar has long vanished. The sleeves are nothing but leaves of cloth ejected from my shoulders. My midriff shows and my shirt is short. I then know, I love my life. Something then sparks my attention. A lightning flash from overhead. This was amazing and it left me stupefied. It never thunder stormed here! Never! Lord Altrogge must be angry. With that, I feel a cold hand on my shoulder. I turn to see the Lord's bushy, rust colored, mustached face.
"Come with me." He mutters.
"Why?" I say right away.
"This forest isn't safe when there is a storm. I may hate you, but you are still my key to power." The Lord replies and starts to drag me towards his castle. We get to the large doors. "Leave that outside." He points to the spear I still carry in my hand.
"Yes, my Lord." I stick the point into the ground, right outside the entrance.
"Get in, dry off, and then go to the North Tower." Lord Altrogge commands.
"Yes, my Lord." I repeat and shake as if I were a dog. I climb the spiral staircase and to go the North Tower. It was almost identical to the one I stayed in before—which was in the east.
I sit at the window and watch the Earth shake. The clouds rumble and shoot out their spears of lightning towards the forest. Rain pelts the side of the castle with deep thuds. I lean a little bit out of the window and tilt my head towards the sky, with my mouth wide open. I try to drink as much water as I can, but it still doesn't quench. When I level my head, I see it once more. A black stick running along a path by the lake. The one that is used to go to Lord Altrogge's castle. The stranger has returned. He must be crazy! In this storm, it was very dangerous to travel. That imbecile, thinking he can brave the lightning through the trees and rain through the mud. I laugh at him for his idiotic choice to come here. My heart leaps. He can not come here. That puts him in even more danger. He will then be like me, cursed by the Lord that acts all kind and gives you shelter. He must not knock on these doors for once he enters, he may never return home again…as I. He comes closer, and closer, his black cloak rippling behind him. I quickly exit the North Tower and tip-toe quietly down the spiral staircase. My bare feet make hardly no sound and my experiences in the woods finally come in handy. I creak open the front doors and slip out, grab my spear and then hide behind a neighboring tree. The man in black comes jogging up to the castle. He is very close to me now, but I still can't see his face because of his hood. I tighten the grip on my spear and wait. He coughs and coughs, wiping the water from his eyes. His shoes squish against the muddy ground. He stares up at the castle and finally reaches out a hand to knock on the door. I hurdle from behind my tree and in front of the stranger, my spear pointed at his throat.
He screams.
"You dare enter?" I slyly ask.
"I seek shelter from the storm, oh maiden of beasts." The stranger replies. Oh, he called me a maiden.
I smile materialistically. "I can sense your fear, boy."
"Please, I only ask for refuge from the rain." The stranger begs. "I wish to come into your castle."
"First of all, this isn't my castle. The person inside is a lot more fierce then me." I say. "Plus, and believe me on this, you are better off with me then inside there."
"I wish to inform you, maiden, that I am only here on good intensions. I mean no harm to you, or your forest. If you so desire to destroy me, I can probably understand your feelings." The stranger said.
"Hush up." I almost yell. "Follow me."
I move swiftly and softly down a different path, enclosed with more trees. Their branches cast a nasty glow against the forest floor. I can hear the stranger's footsteps behind me. My spear remains tightly held in my right hand. I will take care of this man, and make sure that Lord Altrogge doesn't see him, or harm him in any way. It was easy to see that this stranger was no ordinary man. The way he spoke to me was well chosen. He used words with great dialect and superior kindness. He will not meet my spear yet, but I will not leave it, for it is my protection and threat towards anyone who mocks, demands of, or abuses me and my ways. We finally reach the lake and the rain lets up slightly. I retrace my steps and start to dig in the ground. I find my hide bag and open it. I take out a hefty piece of dried venison and approach the stranger, who is trying to stay as far away as possible.
"Here." I hand it out.
"What is it?" The stranger asks.
"Food. Eat it." I toss it to him and he catches it.
"May I ask what type?" The stranger questions. Man, this guy is picky!
"Try it, then maybe you can find out for yourself." I reply and have a seat on the ground.
He sits down as well and rips off a piece and chews for a long time. "This is tough, but good. I can't tell what it is."
"It's dried venison." I take out a piece of my own.
To my abhor, he spits what he had in his mouth out. "Venison? Deer meat?"
"Yes, is that a problem?" I take a bite myself. I could feel his stare as he still holds onto the piece of meat. He breaths hard and full of hate. "What did I do?" I ask coolly.
"If I told you, I would only be ridiculed and scorned." The stranger sneers.
I swallow my last bite. "Very well then. I will not ask any more of you, stranger. Now, you must sleep. I don't intend to let you go in the morning, so get some good rest."
"Fine then." The stranger said and lied down, tucking the cloak around him. "See you in the morning."
"'Night." I wish and curl up on the ground myself as the rain slowly stops.
I get to sleep quite easily, can't say the same for my guest. I could hear his reckless sleep, the tossing and turning. He mumbles to himself occasionally. When he finally feel quiet and didn't stir, it caused me to arise. I sit up and look over to the stranger. All I can see is a black ball. Oh, stupid me for being so ignorant. His cloak was soaked from the evening rain. He must be entirely freezing. I stand up and make my way towards him. The hood he wore always covered his face. I was very curious what he looked like. I wonder if he is handsome, or some peasant boy. My hand inches to the robe and my fingers tremble.
"Come back." He moans in his sleep and I jump. His voice is muffled from his cloak, and he shivers.
"Poor kid." I whisper to myself.
I untie my deer-skin cloak from around my neck. I drape it over him and it makes a pretty suitable blanket. I hope it makes him warmer. I watch as he resituates himself on the dirt and sighs deeply, before drifting back into slumber. There was something about this stranger that made me feel different. A bad different. I felt that I must always keep my guard up and never put it down for he might strike at any moment. His shadowy appearance and odd personality always left me thinking. He hides something from me. I know it. How he reacted when I told him he was eating dried venison. Why was he so concerned about what he ate? Maybe he was just some vegetarian. I didn't care. If he didn't eat, all he would do was starve. I finally forget all my thoughts, and find the softest bit of ground I could. I fall back to sleep. I wake up about four hours later when the sun had rose in the east sky. I open my eyes and see my deer-skin cape on top of me. I look over and see the stranger standing by the lake's shore.
"You're not as smart as I thought." I say.
He looks over to me. "What do you mean by that?"
"You could have escaped once I had fallen asleep." I reply, standing up as well.
"I didn't want to run away." The stranger turns away. "I still haven't gotten what I came for. Yet, I feel I should leave because what I did come to retrieve is probably gone."
"Who or what are you searching for?" I ask.
"Does it matter to you?" The stranger shoots back.
"If I know, I may be able to help you out." I cross my arms over my chest.
"I'm looking for a someone…a girl, around your age perhaps. But she looked a lot different. She was my love…and she's most likely gone now. That you may know, but you will never know what hard times I've gone through."
That makes me angry. I lunge at him with my spear. "Don't you dare say I haven't been through hard times! Don't you dare mock me for what love I've lost as well!"
"You talk of love as if it were something you came across in a forest and happen to pick up. Or something you buy at the market, or get as a reward. Well, princess of the wood, you have no idea of what true love is like! You will never know what the experience is and how good it feels to be holding her in your arms, and to comfort her when she cries. Or of that wondrous knowledge that they love you back! You will never know of love, because you never loved to begin with!" The stranger yells at me.
I thrust my spear at his throat in a loud scream and run the cold stone against his skin. "Take this as a final warning, stranger. I have felt true love like no other and now it is gone never to return to me! You will pay for your mockery of that man who once rest his lips on mine in such a passion I started to cry. You will pay for the way you talk of this woman as a prize you keep on your shelf, that you happen to misplace in the time of dusting. I feel sorry for that girl, for having to deal with such a man like you who says he's found true love. You say I've never loved, well, the day my prince denied my love for him … I died that day! I died that day!" I go to inject my spear into his throat, but my sobs stop me and I collapse to my knees.
To my surprise, he kneels next to me and embraces me in his arms. "I know how you feel."
I just sit there in this stranger's arms, letting him say he knows how I feel. On top of that, I am crying. He has now seen my weak and soft side. That can not be good. I am supposed to strike fear into people's hearts! When I wander the forest, I hear local hunters who've seen me call me the Forest Goddess. They make up that I have some supernatural powers and can kill someone by just looking at them. This man is supposed to be afraid of me! Now I'm afraid…that he'll reveal my secret some how. I finally work my way out of his embrace. I look up at the shadow, that is his face. I slowly, and with uneven breath, take both hands and hold onto the edges of his cloak top. I close my eyes and feel that strange and scary aura surround me. I then, gradually, take off the stranger's hood.
