"I have to get out." Braveheart declared for the hundredth time. Undine sat watching as he paced up and down the floor of the small cottage. It had been four days since he had come crashing out of the wood. He had let himself heal little before stomping around the clearing declaring war on all inhabitants of the forest. Undine didn't understand his threats; for it was more than obvious he had not won the last battle therefore his threats couldn't hold much weight against such a foe.
Undine's apprehension of Braveheart soon faded away for he paid her little attention other than to include her in his pending escape. At first she reasoned she must stay behind but then she thought of her jailers face once he became aware of her escape. Many of her people had gone and lived among the humans for a time and come back unscathed, why shouldn't she?
She couldn't long think on these things without remembering her time in the forest. She concluded that the thing she met and what had attacked Braveheart were one and the same. So, with all thoughts of escape came thoughts of what must await them within the forest.
For all his ranting Braveheart was shook to his very core, the man or rather that thing, had stripped him of everything his pride, his dignity. How was he to go home after such a defeat? Assuming he could even make it out of the forest for a second time. Braveheart walked back and forth his mind grasping at straws trying to figure a way out, but in truth there was no way. They were very nearly at the center of the whole forest, there was only one way out and he knew it, but he was like most men when left without ample things to do or conquer, he grew absurd. And as for his feelings toward Undine, they were noble in their way, she was the damsel of the story and he would carry her back to his castle after destroying the horrid beast of the forest.
Undine spent her days as she always had while inhabiting the clearing, she watched for the little men but they had not returned since the arrival of Braveheart. She liked him for the most ridiculous of reasons he was rather good looking and his voice had a very pleasant tone, and he was civil, she could only wish he were more so. He stomped and ranted all day long but she didn't mind as long as he did find a means of escape. She thought they would probably enter the forest eventually and whether they would make it out or not would not be known till the moment of its occurrence.
Braveheart though silly and vain and ridiculous was not intolerably stupid. And given a less powerful foe he would have made quick work of their escape. But the Wizard had powers that far exceeded his training with his sword. He soon became aware that he would have to enter the forest again if he ever planned on returning home, his plan from there sprouted. Though not a very good plan it was really the only one left to him, he would enter the forest with Undine in tow and either that thing would let them go or he would fight it once more, with a more favorable ending he hoped.
He then told Undine of his plan and awaited her approval, not that he really thought he needed it, but women always do like feeling as if they are at the center of things, he thought. Undine was lying on the grass staring at the forest, as she did quite often he noted. He thought her rather strange but left it to the duration of her stay in the clearing and thought much of it would evaporate once their escape was complete.
Undine thought his plan though not at all awe inspiring, as well as any and had already long ago decided to accompany him. Undine proceeded to act as if she had no plans of following him to get his reaction. His reaction was not quite what she would have wished for he only deflated a little and then turned to walk away before turning back to explain to her rather coldly she was to go in any case. She was filled with indignation, for now her acquiesce would superfluous and she must go.
He thought better of forcing her for it would not shine good light on him if she arrived at the castle in low spirits so with as much charm and grace as he had within him he joined her on the ground and asked in the sweetest tones:
"Fair Undine, please accompany me through the forest and then to my castle which awaits us."
Undine was not quite convinced for though she had planned on going before, his forcing her to go had muddled her plans and she was now unsure. Braveheart sensing her mood took her hand s and kissed them, whispering lovely words to her.
She was already half convinced when he got on one knee and asked very sweetly if after they had taken the forest together if she would consent to be his wife. She like the idea very much and took his gallantry as love he had began to harbor for her, and being so young and inexperienced she agreed heartily.
It might have seemed odd for their affection to have sprouted so suddenly but in a way it was destined from the start. Braveheart upon finding Undine had immediately added her into his plans as his damsel and later his queen. He thought only of the stories that would be told of the prince that went into the enchanted forest and brought back with him after defeating all foes within, a beautiful girl whom he then made his wife and they ruled for many years to come.
Undine was not blameless in this decision but this being the first time she had ever been crossed in anything like love she soon forgot his transgressions for they held little weight next to his princely charms, and that of a castle and the world of wonderful unknown things. She very much wanted to visit the world of the humans and knew not of all Braveheart's flaws, she had seen only his preoccupation with their escape and that as well as him intending to force her to accompany him could be written as his love for her driving him to protect her by all means.
And in the days approaching their escape they grew closer in the time it took to prepare, Braveheart who was a courtier by birth was rather charming and Undine was lovely in ways no human girl ever could be, her beauty complimented him and he was well versed in the language of winning a young woman's heart. They soon thought themselves very in love and were perfectly happy. By the time they ventured into the forest they were convinced nothing could touch them, for their love and happiness must protect them from all evils.
The Wizard of course thought little of their new found relationship and had a plan of his own that was very different in nature.