Chapter 2 - Violets
With some reluctance, the slim being nodded his head slightly, acknowledging the mortal's request.
The Cat King stood with staff in hand, his arms raised for attention. "It has been decided. Baron may take the high place."
The figure that was not quite human or feline turned the force of his gaze onto the bewildered girl, frozen in place from the look in his eyes. Haru shivered but not from the cold.
Baron, his name was Baron.
The focus of everyone's attention cast aside his cloak as he took the leader's position. He was dressed in a debonair white suit with red vest and blue bowtie (how cool, she breathed). He gave the staff a hard strike against the ground. Rather than the delicate ice crystal staff shattering into a million pieces, the rod shuddered before transforming into a solid oak branch, leafy greens decorating the top. Power filled his hands, brightening his face with a luminescent glow. His eyes blazed with amber light. He raised the staff towards the bonfire which grew and sparked like a fire demon. The icy wind stopped, snows began to melt giving way to a lush, green grass, and to Haru's delight wildflowers began to bloom in earnest in the hidden grove.
Snowdrops, crocuses, tulips, and there, the sought after violets!
Haru gasped but did not move wondering if she should disturb this unblemished landscape.
"Go on," her rescuer nodded to her. "You may pick as many as you want, but do it quickly." His voice was a gentle tenor, slightly accented and pleasing to the ear.
She met his eyes shining with gratitude and for the first time gave a bright burst of laughter. The spell caster could not help but smile too. Haru grabbed her basket and crouched down by the bushes only picking the brightest of the blooms and some which were yet to open.
Stepping down from his high perch, Baron was approached by his brethren.
"Is it her?"
"I can see why you sent me to guide her here," the bird interjected.
"I'd recognize her laughter anywhere!"
"It is her," Baron said motioning to the girl busy with the purple blossoms. "She greets the spring time with a smile and takes care not to break a single branch in cruelty. She sings happily even during the cold winter months."
"She could use some voice lessons," the grumpy large white cat scoffed.
"Muta!" Yuki, the lone female chided him. "No one would believe me when I described her to you all. She's been wonderful to all the animals in the town and forest. Her family is so cruel to send her out in this weather. They'll want more." Others protested and soon began to argue on their interference in a human mortal's life.
"She deserves far more than she receives," the figure with the staff spoke softly against the chattering voices. The entire group turned, but Baron was already off walking with long steps towards the girl.
Haru finished with the flowers, brushing her hands off and turning towards him, her face alight with curiosity, "I don't think we've been formally introduced. My name is Haru Yoshioka."
Baron, as before during their moment in the woods, took her hand and bowed low before it. "My name is Baron Humbert Von Gikkingen, but my friends call me Baron."
She hoped her face wasn't flushing as he spoke. He just exuded confidence with barely any effort!
The enamored girl hid her nervousness by asking the question most on her mind, "How is this possible? It was winter only a few moments ago."
"What do you think?" Baron offered in return.
"Why it's magic of course." She gestured out to the forest edge, "Out there it's still snow and ice, but it's bright and cozy here." She looked at the gathered assembly. "Each of you represents the months of the year." She gestured to the Cat King. "He must be January, bringing ice and snow. You're March, and Spring but –" She turned back counting the representatives. "There are only 11 beings here."
"That is another story." He gave her a sideways look, "You are not afraid?"
"No! Only amazed. To create such beauty is wonderful."
Baron looked on her with delight. It was not often that humans understood their nature so easily. He cleared his throat, "A gift then and a word of caution. We fear for your safety, Haru. The cats speak of your family's cruelty."
He leaned close, whiskers gently brushing against her cheek with a light touch, "I have seen your tears by the riverside."
She drew back shame and betrayal showing plainly on her face. Had he been spying on her without her knowledge? "Who are you? Do you watch all of the village girls without their knowledge?"
"Only the fetching ones," he attempted to joke. Seeing her displeased look he continued on, "I am exactly who I appear to be - a friend. Did you not ask for someone to hear your worries?" he spoke, seeking to reassure her.
"Yes, yes I did," she admitted. She had wished it, but not from someone as unexpected as him! "You must have so many duties to attend to without bothering with a mere nobody from the village."
"For you Haru, I have all the time in the world."
Transfixed she watched him take off a white glove, then the gold and emerald ring which rested on his little finger. "You might be in danger now that you have seen us. A few mortals have passed by this area but we allowed them to merely travel on through the woods without showing ourselves. There are many who try to hunt us. Take this ring. If you are ever in any trouble, throw it to the ground, and it will find its way back here. We'll find you, but only use it in the direst of circumstances."
Haru winced, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to discover your secret hiding place! You should have left me in the snowstorm."
Baron shook his head, "None of us will ever leave you unprotected." He gave a hesitant pause, "Except maybe Muta." He gestured to the large white cat. "But bribe him with some cake and he'll be as happy as a cat on catnip jelly."
She laughed and promised faithfully to keep silent on their location. Baron smiled as he took her hand in his and led her back to the group. Both bowed and curtsied low before the eldest. "Thank you, Cat King, for the use of your time."
The cat with mismatched eyes gave a small sniff and a not so subtle preen of his shaggy fur. "My pleasure, but a kiss from the pretty lady would do for a reward."
"Hmph, there's no way on earth I'd ever kiss you," she scoffed.
The other large white cat present in the group let out a boisterous laugh.
"Haha! I knew I liked you kid! I respect a woman who stands up for herself!"
Ignoring the death glare from the Cat King, Muta snagged an apricot from a low hanging limb, munching at it absentmindedly.
Haru laughed again with ease and joyfully as she clutched the brimming basket to her chest. What a bunch of characters everyone was! She blushed to see Baron still holding her arm as she was led to the edge of the woods.
"Safe travels Haru."
The great white cat finished his fruit throwing the stone into the bushes. "Let me help with that." He gave a big shout to the skies, "Yo Brother Moon! Help the little baby return home."
The moon, waning and covered by the winter clouds broke through turning bright and full. Like a great lantern held high, the young girl could easily see the pathway. She bowed gratefully again to the assembly thanking them profusely for the flowers. She held Baron's shining eyes for half a heartbeat before turning her steps towards home.
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"Stupid girl! Why did you send her out for violets in this blizzard?! She'll freeze to death out there!"
The hoggish girl snorted disdainfully, "But mother, you always wanted her out of our hair."
"And who would cook and clean and farm the land for us?"
"Oh," the girl said dully, "I didn't think about that." She didn't think a lot at times.
Lin's mother glanced down at her daughter. The child wasn't blessed with an abundance of intelligence, and she had neither the beauty nor charm to make up for it. One could say that Haru had none of the blessings either, but she made up for it in kindness. The girl often gave her aid to others in the village, and never had a cross word to say to anyone. A loud creaking of the frozen door had them jumping in their seats. A shivering Haru stepped inside with an over flowing basket of purple blossoms.
"Violets!" they exclaimed as they rushed towards her, ripping the basket from her cold hands. "Where did you find them?"
Haru thawed her numb fingers by the roaring fire. "Out in the meadow," she half lied. There was no way she was telling them about the bonfire and the mysterious group.
Lin and her mother greedily dug through the flowers, trying to find the prettiest blooms to put in their hair. Their clumsy fingers crushed some of the delicate sprigs, but the pair paid no mind to the mess they had made. The found their treasures and scampered off into the town hall to show off their "beauty" without even a thank you to the poor girl.
"It's like dressing a cat up in clothes," the tired waif muttered, but she had to amend her thought knowing whom she encountered in the woods. There was indeed one handsome cat out there. Haru sighed, taking one delicate flower to press between the pages of her favorite book.
Baron. Who was he to watch her so closely? What was she to him? He had cut quite a dashing figure in real life. She had sometimes felt the wind caress her cheek when she was crying over her misfortune. Had it been him instead? Now that she knew of his invisible presence in her life, she wished to see him more in person.
Now was not the time for such fanciful thoughts! Haru glanced around at the deplorable state of the house. She had only been gone for a few hours and Lin and her mother had already trashed the place. She tidied up their mess and hung the remaining violets up in bouquets to dry them.
As she rested wearily for the night, glad her cousin and aunt were still out of the house, Haru closed her eyes wondering if it was all a dream. The weight of Baron's ring on her hand and the scent of the purple blossoms reassured her it wasn't.
The fire demon is from Howl's Moving Castle. Their affection is probably a little too fast paced but for some reason I didn't want to drag it out with too many pages.
Thank you YarningChick, my first reviewer! Yes it's not exactly the smartest plan, but the bad guys never are intelligent in fairy tales. Albino RJ Stingray, your enthusiasm makes me happy. To the Guest reviewer, I try to post weekly on Wednesday, but real life sometimes gets in the way. This story is complete. I always finish my stories even if it takes me years (*cough* Sound of Music *cough*).
Thank you to all those who read and reviewed,
Grignard