Chapter 2: Meeting the other one

The hours passed on, and now Sir Niles was seated, putting some sticks in the fire to keep it alive. The brunette, Fran, was asleep, and he had stayed to guard her during the night.

For some moments he considered approaching her and showing how enchanting she seemed to him, but his reserved nature made him hesitate; and hesitation was all he needed to be sure she was not what he was looking for.

On the other side, it would be fun to invite her to the castle and introduce her to the King. They would probably hit it on the spot.

Niles had a feeling she could be an important part of his life, even if she would not be the one who would fulfill him as he wished.

Her simple existence was proof there was hope for him.

His thoughts were interrupted by a very faint sound.

So faint, in fact, he was sure there was someone close by, and trying to be discreet.

The knight pretended not to hear it, stood up calmly, stretched his arms, calculated his next moves and what he had to do to go into the right direction of the muffled sound, turned slowly, yawned, acted indecisive and entered quickly the closest dark region.

He made everything right, but the presence was quick enough to dislocate itself far enough to force him to act openly.

It was a difficult chase: he seemed to know the forest better, but the creature was amazingly aware of his moves and choices, and surprised him with unexpected turns and illogical moves.

No one has ever been so successful in running from him in this environment, and he was feeling… delighted.

Finally, a worth adversary! Finally, someone who could make him sweat and feel the thrill of facing an intelligence similar to his own.

However, his pleasure could not be over his duty, and he acted on making the person run in circles for a while. Niles was able, then, to surprise the figure and make it trip, giving him the advantage of being on his feet while his enemy has supporting itself in a nearby tree.

His sword was inches from a chest.

A chest that, under the weak silver light of the moon, was remarkably curvy.

'Take out your cap', he ordered, and was surprised by the way it sounded – more curious than authoritative.

The person obeyed, and he was rewarded by the face of a blond woman with a glare that could make any other man run in fear.

'I'm Niles, the Clever, knight of…'

'I'm not interested. I don't believe a word you say'.

'I'm a man of honor, not a liar'.

'I don't care'.

'And you, what are you?'

'A woman'.

'That I can see, for sure'. He didn't know if he should have said that. He wouldn't want her to think he was a womanizer.

She started moving to stand up. 'Good to know you're not blind'.

'Stop moving'.

'You don't give me orders'.

'My sword gives'.

'Don't be a fool. You won't kill me, and that's the only way your sword can talk to me'.

'I can harm you', he felt a bit ridiculous at saying that and seeing her smirk.

She had a beautiful, arousing and irritating smirk.

'Listen, Lancelot', now she positively grinned, and the show of her teeth was something between a heavenly promise and a menace 'if you get close enough to hurt me, your only option will be kill me, or I'll destroy you'.

That was too much for him.

Niles simply threw his sword on the ground and gave one step back. 'Now my sword is out of it. Can we talk?'

She kept grinning. It was like her grin could light up that dark forest.

'I'm really a knight, and I am in this forest to find the strangers who have been seen by our people'.

'I was never seen. Your friend, was', she nodded in the general direction of the campfire.

'You are right. It was me who noticed there were two different things going on, by the stories I've heard'. As an afterthought, he added, 'In a way, it was like I didn't need anyone to tell me you existed. I just knew it'.

There was a strange silence, like an acknowledgement.

'I may be a spy', she said, suddenly, challenging him.

'No matter what you are, I intend to take you with me to the castle'.

'You may try'.

'I never fail'.

'Neither do I'.

They both got a step closer, going against their own instincts.

He gulped. Her eyes were wide.

'It seems we have reached a dead-lock', he murmured, touched by the study of his face she was doing.

'I don't believe in dead-locks', she smiled, 'and it gives me the advantage'.

'Humility wins against pride'.

'Self-confidence wins against everything'.

'Who are you?'

'I'm Nemesis'.

'What?'

'Weak in mythology, you Catholic useless knight?'. There was a dangerous spark in her eyes.

'Nemesis was the Greek Goddess of Vengeance', he said, a bit offended. 'I don't see what it does have to do with this situation'.

'You claim to be the spirit who wanders the forests… You listen to the sounds of nature, you guide yourself by the light of the moon… as Artemis, the hunter Goddess'. She gave a step back, as if he was repellent to her. 'I'm a follower of the sun, and I came to claim you to my warmth'.

Niles gulped. 'You don't have to claim what is already yours… I desire your warmth…'. Again, he didn't know if he should have said that.

'You don't understand', her answer was full of contempt. 'I am an emissary of the kingdoms around your lands. They sent me to either kill you… or provide that you will never wander through the forests at night again. The decision was given to me'. Her expression was softer, 'I decided to observe you before I act'.

The knight opened his mouth to ask the reasons of that, but realization hit him: King Maxwell's grand-grandfather was jealous of this particular forest, that was full of herbs, wild life and beautiful landscapes. Other kings asked nicely to visit this part of the land, but the Royal Family was positive they should prohibit any foreigners, and Niles' family received the burden to guarantee that decision stands, no matter what.

He never truly questioned the reasons behind it (and probably King Maxwell didn't do it, either), but now the price for his blindness was high: he didn't know what to say in his defense. In fact, he had a feeling he was fighting for a wrong cause all of his life…

That woman was making him evaluate his own life without nothing but words and a superior stance. There was something about her that excited and disturbed him at the same time – she had that spark he was looking for, but she brought with her a taste of danger the companion of his dreams never had.

'Are you a witch?', he asked, confused by the fact she seemed so secure and at easy, with no sword or any other weapon at sight, while he was feeling defeated and incapable of reaching the sword he had thrown away by his free will. He never felt so dominated in his life, and never so attracted.

'You can say that', she answered.

Niles gulped. 'And… now that you've met me… What's your decision?'

The woman calmly took the sword from the ground and analyzed it curiously. 'You could have shown me the arms of your family, instead of saying nonsense things to introduce yourself'.

'It is not usual the people I find in the forest to know details about my family'.

She came closer, took his hand and put it around the handle of the sword, closing her hands around his and bringing her face closer to his. 'You don't have to take me to the castle. I'm not afraid of your king now that the two of us have an understanding'.

Her eyes were on his for what seemed an eternity. Again, he didn't need to ask, the answers came to his mind easily: he would never harm her; she would never kill him without giving him the opportunity to discover what he really wanted to do.

They trusted each other deeply, and knew that they would do just what they feel right. No matter the sacrifices it required.

Sir Niles sighed and nodded, showing her it was all clear to him.

The smile she gave him back was dazzling.

Some more moments of eye contact, she let go of his hand, turned and walked away into the dark forest, leaving him with a strange feeling of being alone but not lonely anymore.