Chapter Five: Back to Emerlin Forest
(edited version)

Tania soared above the city of Déoras. Down below, she could see nothing but flickering orange flames amidst the vast darkness. The city was ready to fall asleep.

She looked ahead and saw that she was finally near Emerlin Forest. The looming shadows of the trees soared up like castle towers, and the leaves rustled loudly against the wild breeze. It looked so much darker and eerier there than where the houses, manors, taverns, and shops stood.

For a brief moment, Tania wondered if she was doing the right thing, for as she neared her destination, she felt an unusual feeling creep up her skin. It wasn't comforting at all.

She landed on the ground gently, at the outskirts of the cold woodland. She peered inside, as if expecting something, maybe a large beast, to pop out of the ancient-looking trees. Her heart beat like loud a war-drum. She felt as if it was sinking to her stomach, making her nauseous.

Then she heard it. It was a soft voice in the wind—the same one she had heard before. The melodic voice spoke in the same, strange tongue that she had mysteriously understood before.

"You have come. I am glad."

"I need some answers," Tania replied out loud, using Geldrin's common tongue. Had she been seen and heard at that moment, she would have been branded a lunatic girl who had conversations with her own self. Fortunately, no one was around.

"Enter my forest, Tania. I promise that no peril shall fall upon you. I have the answers for you, but first, you must learn how to trust."

Tania hesitated. She debated to herself. Why should I trust someone who I have never even seen? She frowned. But, on the other hand, she knows things about who I am.

The womanly voice spoke again. "You wish to know who you are, do you not, Tania? Do you wonder about your heritage, your kin?"

"I do," Tania said angrily, "but I am not a simpleton. I have no knowledge on who you are or what you are, so why should I believe every word you say?"

There was a brief gust of wind all of a sudden. Tania winced slightly when the uncommon iciness reached her cheeks.

"I admire your courage and your wariness, Tania. Yes, it is unfair for me to lay such a burden to you. I understand." There was a pregnant pause. "Hence, I shall tell you who I am and how I am connected to you."

Tania felt a bit better. "Thank you."

"I am—"

"Tania!" cried someone.

The voice died down instantly. Tania wheeled around, her eyes burning angrily like wild fire.

Darrin, again, had managed to creep up behind her without making any noise, despite the brown stallion he was on. Well, she wasn't paying attention to her surroundings anyway.

There was hardness in his eyes. He was staring at her with cold impassiveness on his face. Even when he dismounted, he did not break eye contact.

Tania glared at him as he approached her silently. "You just scared her away, you idiotic fool!"

"Who?" he asked quietly.

"The woman!" Tania yelled. "The woman who was just talking to me!"

Darrin's blank expression was replaced by an angry frown. "I saw no one."

"That's because it was just a voice!"

"Well, I heard nothing."

Tania scoffed. "Well, you didn't hear it yesterday either. Darrin, didn't you ever consider the fact that maybe I'm the only one who can hear it?"

"That's a sign of insanity."

Tania's eyes flashed. "Stop it. I am not crazy." She looked at him exasperatedly. "I knew you wouldn't believe me."

Darrin's gaze softened, and he released a defeated sigh. "All right," he said wearily. "Let's say that there is such a person. Why won't she show herself? If she's in that forest, why won't she come out to talk to you?"

Tania was startled. "I…I don't know," she said weakly.

"That is exactly my point."

She frowned. She hated to admit it, but he was right. Why wouldn't that woman come to her instead of the other way around? Darrin was starting to make sense, but she wasn't willing to stop arguing with him.

"She has answers, Darrin," she protested angrily.

"Maybe you can get them somewhere else," Darrin suggested.

"Like where?"

"Haven't you considered looking at your manor's library? I'm sure there are books there that can help you."

Tania frowned. "But what if she never talks to me again?"

He sighed. "If she really wants you to have all the answers, and if she does actually have good intentions, then she will talk to you again. But do not enter Emerlin Forest,Tania," he said sternly. He paused and looked at her sharply. "Don't you feel it?" he whispered. "Don't you feel its unsettling coldness?"

Tania started as she remembered the unusual feeing that crept up her skin before. "Y-yes," she replied shakily, "I do."

Darrin's small, relieved smile made her stare numbly at him, but after realizing exactly what she was doing, turned away quickly.

"Let's get out of here," she mumbled.

He chuckled. "Good idea." He turned and mounted his horse. "Want a ride?" he said, offering his hand.

She froze. Ride with him? Be close to him? I don't think so.

"That's all right," she replied a little too eagerly. No…she would never sit that close to him. "I'll just fly beside you."

He grinned. "Show off."

Tania managed a weak laugh. Then she bent her knees and jumped off the ground. She turned and floated right next to his horse.

"Impressive," Darrin commented, eyeing her pointedly from head to toe.

Tania started when she felt her cheeks flame. She scowled. WHY am I BLUSHING!

"Let's go," she said grumpily.

"All right, there's no need to be angry," Darrin said, grinning widely. He then kicked the sides of his beast.

They began to move. Unfortunately, it was at a slow pace, and slow paces always required conversation. Darrin's horse was trotting, while Tania was flying oh-so-slowly.

She groaned inwardly. This is going to be just lovely.

"You shouldn't overuse your powers, Tania," Darrin said on the way back to the manor. They were passing through a forest, but it was nothing like Emerlin Forest. This forest didn't even have a name since it was a small, very tame, and insignificant area. The only creatures that dwelled in it were hares, squirrels, chipmunks, and the harmless like.

Tania frowned. "What do you mean?"

He shrugged. "If you overuse them, you might feel a little dizzy and lose energy. It's common sense, you know. You need to let your powers rest, the same way you need to sleep. You can't just use them every second of the day."

She glowered. "Well, how I am supposed to get home? Run while you ride that stallion?"

He stared at her. "Are you implying something? You think there's no space for you on this horse?"

"I'd rather not."

He frowned. "Why?" Then his frown turned into a grin (a grin that was dangerously close to a smirk) when a thought came to him. "Don't worry, Tania," he said cheekily. "I won't make any moves on you." Then he added, "Even though you want them."

Tania shot him a fierce look. "Are you asking for a painful death?" she growled.

"I'm asking you to rest your powers."

"Look," she said angrily, "can we just drop this? I'm fine. Wait a minute…why don't I just leave you and fly off? You know the way home, don't you?"

"That's very nice of you to say so," he replied. "Fine, leave me alone here in the middle of the night."

She snorted. "I thought you were supposed to be a good bodyguard. You can handle it."

Darrin scowled. "You know, Tania, I…"

He trailed off all of a sudden. He pulled the reins, and the horse stopped abruptly. Tania watched him as he looked around warily, while straining his ears for any suspicious noise.

"What is it?" she whispered.

"Do you hear that?" he asked quietly.

Tania frowned. "Hear what?" Then she heard it. She groaned loudly. "Oh no…not voices again…"

"Well, this time, I can hear them too," Darrin replied. "But they're very faint…"

The two quieted, wondering where those voices were coming from.

Suddenly, Tania's eyes glazed. "Oh, they're beautiful voices!" Without thinking whatsoever, she landed on the ground and started to look for the source.

"Tania," Darrin said. "We should go. Now."

"But I wanna hear those voices!" Tania wailed like a two-year-old. She pouted and wandered about, searching aimlessly for…whatever it was.

"Tania," Darrin said more urgently as he got off his horse, "let's go!"

Too late. Right after he said that, nine shadowy figures jumped from the trees suddenly and landed in front of them.

Ogres. Disgusting, greasy, foul-smelling ogres.

Darrin reacted fast, unlike Tania, who was already enchanted by the ogres' melodic voices. He dug his hand into his pouch, one that he always had with him, and took out beeswax. (His job was to fight and protect—of course he had beeswax. It was inevitable.) Wasting no time, he placed them in his ears.

Tania, on the other hand, was already approaching one of the ogres. He was using his magic on her with a devious smirk planted on his face. She wore a dazed smile on her face, and her eyes were glassy.

What pretty people. They're so nice. Must give them a hug… Must give each of them a big hug. What's that you say? You're all my friends? Of course, silly! I know that already! We're all buddies! Buddies, buddies, buddies! I can't wait for our little feast! What are we eating? Meat done to a crisp? Yuuummmy!

"Owww!" she screamed as she felt a sharp pain in her back.

She blinked.

She turned.

She saw Darrin, a bit bruised and battered, with a sword in his hand.

"About time!" he yelled loudly as he fought the ogres.

"Thanks for punching me, you jerk!" Tania hollered.

Then she paused. Wait…ogres? OGRES!

She panicked. What are they doing here? I'm going to be their supper! Wait a second…they were using their magic on me! It was them…

The ogres tried again. "We're your friends, dearie."

Friends? Of course you are…

"Owww!" Tania screamed again as she felt another pain in her back. She blinked and went back to reality.

"Here!" Darrin shouted as he thrust something to her abruptly, while fighting at the same time.

Tania looked at her hand. After registering in her brain that she was holding beeswax, she put them in her ears quickly.

The hypnotizing voices vanished. Now, she was ready to fight.

Two ogres were lying dead on the ground. Seven more to go…and Tania could see that Darrin was already tired as he fought his third and fourth opponent.

The other five advanced towards Tania, their sharp, stained teeth clearly visible, despite the blackness that surrounded everyone.

They formed a circle around her, grinning crazily. The circle became smaller as they advanced slowly.

Tania just stood in the middle, biding her time. Then, when she saw two from the circle jump forth, she jumped off the ground and floated above their heads.

The ogres hissed and cursed. They even tried to claw her, but she was too far up.

Tania closed her eyes to summon her power. She could feel it in her, flowing within every vein. She could even hear it humming softly in her ears.

When she finally opened her eyes, the ogres saw that the violet orbs were burning. It was as if there was actually fire in them. When she glared, a few found themselves cowering back a bit.

Tania could feel a strong, icy wind surrounding the ogres and her. She had no doubt that she was the one causing it. Knowing that her power was at its peak, she lifted her hand. A split second later, three white sparks shot out of her palm, striking one ogre with a loud and disturbing crack. At that precise moment, Tania felt an odd pinch in her windpipe, causing her to lose her breath.

But she couldn't give up. She lifted both her hands, and three powerful sparks from each palm struck the two repulsive ogres in front of her. She gasped loudly, hardly able to breathe as she felt a sharper squeeze in her windpipe. It was a lot like choking. But there was still one more to go…

Barely able to lift her hand, she gathered her power, and three not-so-powerful sparks shot out. However, they were enough to finish off her fifth ogre, who, like the others, groaned and collapsed on the ground.

Still floating in the air, Tania looked at Darrin. He was still fighting an ogre, one who was taller and more fierce-looking than the others. Without a doubt, he was their leader.

Even from afar, Tania could see that Darrin was ready to collapse from exhaustion. She had to help him.

The very last ogre. You can do it. Just one more try, she encouraged herself.

Groaning, she lifted her hand forcibly one last time, and one pathetic spark struck the ogre. However, since Darrin had already weakened him a lot, the spark was able to finish him off.

He moaned and plummeted to the ground.

Tania groaned as her head spun uncontrollably. Her vision dimmed and grew hazy. A sharp pain was beating the side of her head.

With a soft cry, she went into darkness…

…and fell.

But Darrin acted fast. He ran and was able to catch her in time.

He held her in his arms easily as he looked around frantically for his stallion. It was gone. He whistled loudly, praying that it was not far off.

His prayer was answered. The horse answered with a neigh, and a few seconds later, it appeared from the trees and stopped right in front of Darrin.

Darrin lifted the unconscious Tania and positioned her correctly on the unmoving horse. Then he mounted and sat behind, wrapping his arms around her immobile body to prevent her from falling off. Finally, he took the reigns and dug his heels at the horse's sides.

The horse neighed and began to canter, with its two riders safely on its back.

They left behind a scene of nine dead ogres on the ground.

Tania's eyelids opened slowly. Her vision was slightly blurry at first, but gradually came into focus. She was aware of lying on something soft and wrapped in something wonderfully silky. And, she was in a very familiar place…

My room, she realized. On my bed. How did I get here?

"Finally, you're awake," spoke a voice.

Tania turned her head. "Am I…dead?" she asked groggily.

Darrin, who was leaning against the wall, laughed. "Hardly," he said with a smile. "But you would have been, had those ogres been able to capture you last night." He chuckled. "I don't know about you, but dying as someone's supper is not my idea of a good death."

Tania looked at him curiously. "What is your idea of a good death?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. Dying in a battle for freedom is one. Or dying to save someone you love. Those kinds. I wouldn't want to die in a desert because I ran out of water. Or die because I accidentally lit myself on fire."

This made Tania shake with laughter. She regretted it after feeling a wave of pain coursed through her. She winced slightly, which Darrin noticed.

"Are you all right?" he asked worriedly.

Tania shrugged. "Fine. I'm just tired. Like you said, I shouldn't have overused my powers."

Darrin stared pensively at her. Then he said, "You know, fairies can do big magic, but they don't do it. Remember that, Tania. You can only use small magic. If you use big magic, harmful consequences will happen."

"Small magic?" Tania echoed.

"Simple and harmless magic," Darrin replied with a shrug. "If what you did to those ogres was big magic, I'm not really sure what the negative consequences are. Personally, I can't think of any."

"Me too," she said. Then she asked him about the big purple bruise on his cheek, and the cut on his lip.

"I'm fine," he said breezily. "Don't worry about it."

She frowned. "Are you sure? You look…more horrible than usual."

He smiled wryly. "I've had worse scrapes before. This is nothing."

Tania scoffed. "Overconfidence in yourself isn't good, you know. You're not invincible, Darrin."

"So? Neither are you."

Tania sighed. "You're so stubborn." Then she sat up slowly, waving Darrin away when he reached out to help her. After managing to situate herself comfortably against the headboard, Georgia came in, carrying a tray of food in her thin hands. She smiled when she saw Tania awake and sitting up.

"Oh, I know it isn't my job to bring you food, Lady, but I wanted to see if you were all right," she said, placing the tray on a nearby table. "When Darrin came in last night with you unconscious, I was really worried. By the way, I burned your dress after I changed you into that comfortable nightgown." She smiled. "It's comfortable, isn't it? It's made out of very fine fabric. Anyway, you didn't want to wear last night's dress again, did you?"

"No," Tania replied, shaking her head.

Georgia grinned. "Good. Did you have a good rest?"

"I did, thank you," Tania replied.

Georgia smiled. "Great!"

A heavy silence followed. Tania raised an eyebrow as she watched Georgia shift uncomfortably from one foot to the other.

"Do you want to say something, Georgia?" she asked. "Just say it."

Georgia fidgeted. "Well…uh…you…I mean…what about…uh…" She looked sheepish as she stumbled over her words.

"What, Georgia?" Tania asked.

Georgia swallowed nervously. "Well…what about your…uh…parents?"

Tania froze, then paled. Of course…

"I'll take care of it," she said curtly. "You may leave."

Georgia was immediately gone.

Tania sighed, her mind (andheart) aching terribly. Of course there were still her parents to deal with…

I can't, she thought miserably. I can't see them like that.

She sighed and rose from her bed. She walked to her wardrobe and took out the only black dress she owned. She turned to Darrin and gave him a look. "Do you mind?"

He gave her a look, then shrugged. He left the room and closed the door behind him.

When she was alone, Tania quickly changed into her mourning dress. Then she brushed her long, dirty hair and secured it into a tight bun. She felt disgusted at her filthiness from lying on the ground last night, but taking a bath was currently at the bottom of her list.

When she opened her bedroom door, she was surprised and irritated to see Darrin, who was calmly and patiently waiting in the hallway for her.

He noticed her somber attitude at first glance. "How are you holding up?" he asked softly.

"Drop it," Tania replied angrily. "I don't need your concern."

"Fine!" Darrin said with equal anger.

She began to walk away from him, but he followed close behind. Tania, not wanting to exchange more words with him, completely ignored his presence.

They walked briskly in tense silence. Only their footsteps and (maybe even breathing) could be heard.

Finally, Tania spoke up. "You may leave this manor, Darrin," she said quietly.

Darrin started. He took hold of her arm, preventing her from walking any farther. Gazing intently at her, he said with a low tone in his voice, "What did you say?"

"You heard me," she replied seriously, looking straight into his eyes. "Your services are no longer required. You may leave this manor."

"But you can't—"

"Darrin," she said impatiently, "I'm the mistress of the manor now. To begin with, I never agreed to let you be my bodyguard."

"I—"

"Besides," she cut in again, "I can protect my own self."

This time, Darrin was able to put in a few words. "Just because you are immortal and can do magic doesn't mean that you are safe from everything!" he yelled furiously. "Besides, your parents knew of your fairy blood, and they still hired a bodyguard!"

"My parents aren't here!" Tania shot back. "Leave, Darrin!"

His grip on her arm strengthened. "No."

She glared at him, and pulled away. "Yes. Leave."

Darrin shook his head. "No, Tania…" he said weakly.

Her anger vanished upon hearing his distress. She looked at him sadly, and for a while, it was silent. Then she sighed heavily and whispered, "I have nothing against you, trust me. It's just that…how…" She took a deep breath. "How can I gain independence if I always have you to get me out of situations?" She gave him a confused look. "I thought you'd be happy. Don't you want to leave?"

"I am not going to leave you," Darrin said, his temper rising once again. "Your parents hired me because they knew something. Something that can happen later on in the future. You need me, Tania."

She stared at him in surprise. Then a frown appeared on her face. She shook her head vigorously and said quietly, "You're wrong. I don't need you. And I never will. You are going to leave, Darrin." She looked at him dubiously. "Why do you want to stay here anyway?"

His lips thinned. "Because believe it or not, Tania, I…I…"

He trailed off. Then he released a frustrated sigh and looked away, avoiding her questioning gaze. Finally, he said it: "I shall be gone by noon."

He gave her a final look, a piercing look that seemed to read right through her, and went down the stairs without another word.