Forest Gods

A bicylette - Yves Montard, French songs, There's a place for you (from the new Narnia movie)

We can be kings and queens

It came to me, one day, after the BPRD recounted how they battled the Beanie thing- otherwise known as the Creator or Destroyer. I had browsed through the archives.

"Then saw Waifie up on some building, kept psychoing me to join him. Humans suck, don't save them. I was all confused. Also, I am a follower shit." Hellboy was griping.

What? I was indignant. "No way, he wouldn't! Nuada is not a psycho."

"At the time, he was. Fine if ya don't believe me," the friendly agent shook his head, sounding hurt. His tail swished.

"He was just very angry. I'll ask him about it."

"Huh? Be sure not to mention me. He isn't angry with me now." HB's eyes widened. I laughed.

When prince was done with meetings, I sprung the question. "What is a beanie becoming a giant? They said you threw a beanie which grew very tall." His brows arched and he chewed his lip. Nuada tilted his head to the left, and his ambers intensified.

"Who mentioned this?" He let out a long breath and motioned for me to walk with him. "I have almost forgotten, friend. Not a good memory."

I debated if I should give the game away. "Well someone. You acted all pompous, join me in my…. Mission to destroy humanity. Charge! (I made the motion of running) Really it happened?" Nuada smiled, though he had been quiet and brooding before. He touched my forehead. I always stopped when he did so.

We got stuff to eat first. He said he would collapse otherwise. After a full supper, since having nothing before the official meetings and the outdoors session, Nuada began to open up. He combed his hair, grimacing at the tangles. "I was trying to think if it really happened, dainin. To be honest, I may have been like that. But I told many people, even my friends. Who was it?" Elf faced the mirror.

I stood behind him, fingers gently pressing his shoulders. He smiled. "Hmm but not charging forward. I don't. I guess it has to be one of the gang, Abe or Red."

I nodded. Nuada stared at me in the reflection. Accepting the conditioner- honey flavored and labeled organic- I held out to him, he started to squeeze a little onto the comb. "Who?" he repeated.

"Redguy. Haha. He was telling me the story when we looked at the archives. One of it was coverage on how the big beanie destroyed the city. Then had so many flowers flying." I projected the picture to him.

"Oh? If he did, then it was true. Hellboy cannot tell lies. That is a forest god. We have some of their…. Young to repopulate the forests. Magical beings."

I held out my hand for the comb. "No need, it's fine. I can manage." I did not withdraw, so elf put it in my hand. I was very careful not to hurt my 'client', hehe. It's my dream to help elves relax, they've been through so much.

"Wow! But you can actually order, command them to destroy things? If it's a god, won't it have its own willpower?" I felt confused.

My soulmate blinked, and he seemed to tremble. Fatigue slumped his shoulders and he bowed his head. I apologized. "No. I realize that the seed had been one of the last. Instead of using it wisely, I squandered the chance, and the forest god died. Red shot it. He shot it twice." The elf said in a thick voice, which was more irish than usual.

"Oh no." I stopped combing and patted his back.

"I taunted him, must be mad. He only shot it on its arm and the creature fell. Its roots began to prop it up again. Then, I don't recall what more I said, something that he should not follow the humans. I cannot believe I did that, it was a sin! To take life of a forest god." Nuada did not weep. He gestured for me to comb again.

For sometime, it was silent, except for our respiration and the wind. I didn't answer about the freewill, the god word is a translation. It's cute that you call it Beanie. This beanie does not obey but when one is angry or emotional, it picks up on that current…and acts upon it. It listened to me, because I was prince. And now he did not feel worthy of the title.

I see. Thank you for explaining. I feel bad that you're in pain now. I just…. I clasped his calloused hand. Nuada shook his head.

He rose, turning to face me. He was not weeping or angry, just neutral. I am fine. I was caught offguard. It's been a long night. The prince climbed into the bed and soon did not move, except for his snores. I watched Nuada for a moment, guilt curdling my stomach. The rational part of me was still hungry for answers. Then the red light flashed ahead.

Stupid timing, he had just fallen asleep! Someone knocked. Nuada frowned and covered his face with the pillow. I told him not to bother and told the agent, "He can't go for this one. Hey Liz. Shh, sleepy." Liz smiled her understanding and marched with the man. I found a 'do not disturb' sticker, pasted it on the door outside and came back in.

Nuada was scratching his head and yawning. "Redlight. Shit." I shook my head and explained what I had said. He just gazed at me blearily, and then lay down. I touched his hair.

Alarm in my ear. Ahhh! What is it? I stretched out a hand to press it off but felt something soft and warm. A chuckle and then tickle. "Nnngh," I muttered.

"How to make this stop? Here, hold it," someone familiar said closer to me and a button was under my fingers. I just pressed blindly.

Silence.

Nuada folded his arms when I was more conscious. He did not wear a shirt, pale chest. "You imp, why was the alarm set? I got a heart attack and don't know how to switch off. For the past hour, have been shaking you. I held it near your ear." Oh man! I checked my phone, yes it was daily alarm set for 6.30. I had not turned it off.

"Sorree. Why not lie in? I've made it off. Look, totally off now." I beamed, and made my phone blackout. It was near my… what! "Hey! So mean, elfie."

He grunted. "I don't sleep so soundly. Feel jealous. Never mind, I just did some stretching. This is first time I didn't go for the redlight mission." Nuada studied my phone curiously, then placed it on the table. Haha, fortunately he did not break my phone when it was shrilling.

"Um. Figured you didn't want to. So sleepy. Liz said ok. " I wiggled my toes. He thanked me for that. "So I am forgiven? For the sound?"

"Not really, but I don't mind. Probably need to explain to the people, supposed to assist. Who came to call me?" I described the young guy. "Oh him, Paul. He's with the scientists. After I talk to them, I will be free."

I nodded. Nuada got a black shirt to change into. "Hey sorry for mentioning beanie. I was just… um. don't go through the pain again." He clasped my shoulder and whispered he'd explain more. His mood was a rainbow. We embraced and I kissed his cheeks.

Nuada came back with a thick volume on the beanie people. "I think it would answer more of your questions. Come, let's read. I will translate the foreign parts." So we pored over it. The book was crisp, relatively new. I loved the autumn smell. I was the eager student listening to his patient voice reading to me.

These guardians were tree spirits, not gods who controlled heaven and earth. If the wielder of the seed commanded, they would usually obey. So when Nuada ordered it to kill, it did as told. I tried to console him, "Hey it wasn't your fault entirely. What happened?"

He sighed. "Thanks, but it was my fault. I hated them, for taking sister away… it had been her choice to follow them. I saw her standing against me. I felt so alone." Nuada rested his fingers lightly on my hand at the page of illustrations. "If we had only considered all the consequences…"

"Or met me earlier, then you won't be consumed by rage. I wonder how small I would have been then, haha." I made a height. Elf chuckled.

"Just like you to make it light. Let's see, so tiny? Not even walking yet. How to talk to me?"

I beamed. Anything is possible. I may have been a special baby. His amber eyes glinted and he was distracted by this topic. Flipping the pages, I found another subtopic of the Forest gods, but he was not dwelling on the past. We had a neutral discussion of the essay shown. Elf's heart was filled with an inner fervor. He cupped my face and whispered that I had a special place inside him. My pulse rate quickened.

"Thank you. Er, what about this? I haven't seen how your friend's bookstore is like yet."

My cheeks must be so red. Nuada smiled and watched me, then he said yes, he would see about it.

Which friend? We did go to a bookstore at Bethmoora before, some months ago. You didn't remember. He added in amusement. Don't be shy, we've known each other for so long.

I am not… aww because I'm blushing. Let's go to another bookstore ok? I love the ambience, it's special there, like among the forests. And the nice smells.. are there cafes inside? Starbucks has drinks, food while people read.

Nuada shrugged. He did not think so. I finally stopped my cheeks being hot and squeezed his hands. He returned the grip and I yelped. Then I called him 'waifie'.

"I'm Not a waifie. Not a cake. Halfling, hobbit. Yes, that word!"

After much namecalling, we had laughed so much tears spurted out. "Stop," I gasped. He sniffed and rubbed his eyes.

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