Disclaimer: nope, the world still isn't mine. Neither is the song in this one – full details at the end.
Thanks again to Mystic, you rock!
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CHAPTER TWO: The Arrival
Just outside a small three-person tent sat a young woman; she had the look of someone just out of his or her teens and still dealing with the consequences of that. A dusty tome sat in her lap. She gazed on it with a look of frustration on her face,
"Open, damnit!" she pleaded.
The book ignored her as it had so many times before. Reaching into her bag, she pulled out the letter that had accompanied the book. Her grandmother had seen fit to give it to her on her seventeenth birthday. The letter was short and direct without being rude – her grandmother through and through.
Dearest,
I give this book to you as it was given to me. If it is meant for you to read it, the key will find its way to you. If not, then pass it on to whomever you deem fit.
Have a wonderful seventeenth birthday.
Love,
Grandma
Although the book had no visible lock, it refused to open. Sighing, she placed the book back in its place at the bottom of her pack. As she broke camp thoughts began to rise unbidden in her mind.
Flashback
"Your brother wanted you to have these," an apologetic man in uniform held out a small package. Inside laid a duplicate set of dog tags sat encased in white linen. The three-by-three inch box fell to the floor with a conclusive thump. She would have followed the box on its trip had the sympathetic officer not caught her.
"Sit here," he guided her to the nearest chair and left to bring her a glass of water. After handing it to her, he lifted the box to her lap.
"Your brother asked me to wait until after the service and burial for you to receive these. He said he didn't want them with him, this set was for you. They are to be a memorial for you of him. That is why he had the duplicates made. One for him, and one set for you," the officer smiled, compassion in his eyes "Will you be ok?"
Through a haze of tears and the lump that had taken up permanent residence in her throat she managed a small, "Yes… someday, I hope."
End Flashback
Impatiently wiping the tears away, she looked at her compass. Deciding on her path for the day was easy, N.NE the path that would take her toward…
There's something out there, something I can't explain but the time has come to find it
Her own words echoed in her mind. That something's pull was only getting stronger. She didn't need the compass to find where she was going but it would certainly help when it came time to re-trace her steps.
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Later that day:
Looking from the sun to her watch, she decided it was high time she found a place to tent out. Since she had no desire to have someone waking her up screaming about trespassing, she looked for a farmhouse.
Funny she thought there're usually a good half-dozen places to stop and ask about camping out. There's only one tonight
She paused for a moment and fished her wallet out of the middle of her pack. Continuing up the path to the battered wooden door, she knocked politely and waited for the reply.
"Who's there?" a gruff voice called from the other side of the still-closed door.
"Excuse me sir," she began "I'm a hiker looking for a spot to camp for the night. If you have some fire wood and kindling you would sell me I would appreciate it."
"You alone?"
She hesitated before answering, "Yes sir, if you have a fire-pit you won't even be able to tell I was here in the morning."
He seemed to be contemplating his answer.
"No, go away! I have no use for meddling women!" His voice became harsher with every word.
"I appear to have upset you, I apologize. I never meant to meddle. I'm simply looking for a place to camp. I shall continue on my way and seek shelter elsewhere." She replied, coolly polite.
She turned on her heel and left. Heading back to the road, she decided that she no longer had a choice. The forest looked menacing and felt dangerous, however with no other viable options she started into the forest. She prayed her instincts were correct and if she got through the forest there would be somewhere she could safely camp. The light was fading fast and the farmer's rebuff had cost her a precious forty-five minutes.
Humming a song she used to sing in school as a child, she waked carefully into the dark woods.
"Robin Hood and Little John walking through the forest"
I wonder how big this forest is?
"Laughing back and forth at what the other had to say"
Why did that farmer seem almost… frightened to have someone knocking at his door?
"Reminiscin' this an' that an' havin' such a good time"
Give me a red cape and a basket and I could be Little Red Riding Hood off to Grandma's house she snorted at that thought. She did have the red cape and basket at home.
"oo dil lal lie, oo dil lal lie, golly what a day"
These woods are thicker than I thought, it's getting really dark.
Her humming abruptly died as she rounded a bend and a set of gates came into view. She blinked and blinked again. One moment the gates appeared to be in a state of disrepair with a sign saying "Danger – condemned, unsafe" and the next well cared for with what appeared to be flying boars on top of the posts.
She closed her eyes and gave her head a shake, thinking choose one image and stick to it, this playing around is annoying me!
When she opened her eyes again to her relief, the scene had decided to stay at the welcoming one.
Good she thought 'cause I'm running this one down to the wire. I'll be lucky to set up camp before dark, let alone get a fire lit.
Starting up the path to the castle, she noticed a small hut on the edge of the woods that appeared to be occupied. After steeling herself for a rebuttal, she knocked politely. The wood-plank door swung open and she found herself facing the end of a very sharp arrow loaded into a crossbow.
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A/N:
I'm evil I know, but I LOVE cliffies, even though as a reader they do frustrate me as well ;-)
Any questions please ask – don't ask one will never know.
The song is from the animated 'Robin Hood' movie from Disney.
Please review – Jelly Slugs for everyone that clicks that little button…