The Girl in the Forest

The sound of hooves pounded on the hard ground. The people ran in terror unsure of what to do. Soon they would be surrounded. The strangers began to set fire to a small hut nearby.

A young woman knelt down to two young children and pulled them close.

"Run, run! No matter what happens get as far away from here as you can and don't look back." She pushed them away from her and hoped in her heart that they would survive.

So that is what they did. The young children ran as far as she could and did not stop even when they entered a thick set forest.

The young girl awoke from a deep slumber with a headache. She put her head in her hands and suddenly remembered what she was doing just a few moments, minutes..? How long had she been here?

She started to get scared and called for her brother but he never came. She walked for hours but she never found him. Eventually she sat down by a tree and began to cry.

"It's okay, there's no need to be frightened. "

The little girl froze at the whisper. She couldn't see anyone.

"Who is that?" There was a quiver in her voice."

"I am the tree you are sitting on." It almost seemed as though the tree was giggling.

The child got up startled and stared at the tree.

"But you, you're a tree!"

"And you are able to understand me."

"How can you talk?"

"We can all talk" Scoffed another tree.

"We are speaking our own language."

"Oh. Do you know where my brother is?"

"He is still here but he is to far away for you to find him. He is looking for you. We will take care of you until it is time for you to leave us."

"Oh, okay."

The little boy had run far ahead before he realised his sister was missing. Panic arose in his throat. Even though they were twins he felt a large responsibility for her.

He traced back as far as he could remember but there was no luck until he thought someone say something to him.

"She is safe with us." He jumped.

"Your sister is on the other side of the wood but she will be safe. We can protect her. You can stay as long as you want but there are elves here who may not take kindly to an unknown elf if you are caught here. It would be safer for you to travel onwards to Rivendell where you will be better taken care of."

He wasn't sure but was a tree just talking to him. There was nobody else around so he supposed they must be.

"As long as my sister is safe I will go."

"Safe travels, Silva." The boy made a face at the unknown word and left.

The little child sat softly in the lower branches of her favourite tree.

"Mother tree?"

"Yes, little tree."

"Can you tell me a story please?"

"Alright. One day there will be a little girl born from the woods. She will be strong in heart and mind. For many years she will have been alone but when the time is right she will be found."

Mother tree finished her story there having found her young one asleep in her branches.

"You look thirsty little one, there is a stream a little ways away. But make sure you are not found for there are travellers nearby."

The child went to get some water, the forest thickening to hide her.