"To Find the Light"

by

Debir

Chapter Three: "Lessons"

Deerdra wipes her mouth after a tasty stew dinner, "I wonder if Margret is still in her classroom. Well, there's only on way to find out." She finishes off the mug of ale and heads for the school. On the way, she spots a wiry young man sneaking into the village. Deerdra blows it off as the conclusion of a lover's tryst. She peeks in the window and watches Margret, "She's really good with the kids." Then like a lighting bolt, it hits Deerdra which direction the young man came slinking in from. "You had better not have." She backs away from the window and sprints back to Margret's house. Marching up to the front door, Deerdra can just make out footprints leading to and from the house. She compares them to her own, "Nope, too big," then flings open the door.

Deerdra knows that the intruder is gone so she stands in the doorway and scans the living room. "Nothing looks out of place. So, who were you and what did you want?"

Margret walks up from behind concerned Deerdra is just standing in the doorway, "Is something wrong?"

Deerdra whirls around, "Oh, hi! You're home."

"Yes and if you had stayed around, we could have walked home together."

Deerdra is embarrassed that she was caught. Her cheeks flush, "I didn't think you saw me."

Margret doesn't smile or tease Deerdra. She's still worried, "I did. You haven't answered me. Is something wrong?"

Deerdra turns her attention back to the living room,, "I think someone was in the house while we were gone."

Panic tickles the back of Margret's neck, "Someone? Who? Was anything taken?"

Deerdra takes a few steps inside, "I don't think so. Everything looks the same as it did before I left. And I don't know for sure who it was, but I have a good idea."

"You saw them?" Margret is surprised Deerdra let a thief get away on one piece.

"Yeah, while I was ducking you, I saw a scrawny young man hurrying back into the village. He was coming from this direction."

Margret turns and stares out of the window, angry her time with Deerdra is coming to an end because of an arrogant jackass. She clinches her fists and whispers, "Kuhhirt."

"It's probably nothing, Margret. Just some guy curious about two women staying together. Change of subject. I want to explain about this morning. Why I blew you off."

Margret faces Deerdra, her anger tempered and her tone soft, "I know why. You weren't ready."

"I should have stopped before it went that far. I apologize for putting you in that position. "

Deerdra chuckles then returns to being serious, "I don't regret what happened, it just isn't going to happen again."

Margret walks over and brushes Deerdra's cheek, "I understand."

Deerdra takes Margret's hand into hers, "I don't think you do but you are right about one thing. I'm not ready...for a serious relationship. Heck, I'm always ready to have sex. I'm just not ready to give my heart to someone. Someday, maybe, but not right now."

Margret pulls Deerdra into a hug, "Don't worry. I understand. I really do."

They hold their embrace, imprinting the feel and warmth of each others body in their minds.

Eventually, Margret pulls away. She has tears in her eyes, "Now, I need to explain exactly what happened with the enchantments I bestowed upon you. And for brevity's sake, we'll call them spells."

She leads Deerdra over to the couch. They sit and Margret's demeanor transitions from sad to dead serious, "First, to enable you to control your anger and in essence protect the ones you love, I created a spell triangle or triad."

Deerdra goes into student mode, "Three spells. Check."

Margret begins, "One. If you harm or lie to a loved one, a single lightening bolt with the strength of a thousand will shoot into your body."

Deerdra's brows arch in surprise, "Um, won't that kill me?"

Margret is very blunt, "Yes, it will."

"Oh."

Margret doesn't stop to offer her any comfort, "Two. Starting today, no other spells, no matter who casts them, will have an affect on you."

Deerdra smiles, "Cool."

Margret's tone stays serious, "Three. As evidenced this morning, you now have the ability to look at someone and tell if they practice witchcraft or not and what kind. Dark or light. The stronger their power, the brighter the light surrounding them. As a bonus, and to aid you in your journey, this will also enable you to look at a person and tell if they are human or demon."

"Wow! You really outdid yourself Margret. Toss in Michael's sword and there's no way I can loose. I'll forever be in your debt." Deerdra grins, "But I will find some way to repay you."

Margret takes Deerdra's hands into her own, "That won't be necessary. Just seeing you happy is enough. However," she squeezes Deerdra's hands, "Do not assume that you will win every battle. Arrogance and complacency will lead you to your death."

Deerdra kisses Margret's hands, "I understand. I won't let all of this go to my head. I promise."

Margret pulls Deerdra in close and they embrace. Out of the corner of her eye, Margret sees a shadowy figure standing in the window. She turns to get a better view and instantly regrets doing so.

It's an angry looking Kuhhirt. He jabs his thumb toward the barn and mouths the words, 'Barn. Now.'

Margret's heart sinks. She knows what lies ahead...and what she must do. She thinks up a way to get Deerdra out of the room, "We should celebrate your new, enhancements. I know, we can dress up for dinner." She gives Deerdra a playful shove, "Go on. Find the nicest clothes you have and put them on." She tussles Deerdra's hair, "And try running a brush through your hair. I want everything to look perfect."

Deerdra is amused by Margret's request, but concerned. 'Why is she so antsy?' Deerdra doesn't ask what's bothering her. She plays along by snapping to attention and saluting, "Yes, ma'am!" She spins on her heels and marches off to the bedroom.

Margret chuckles, then the weight of the future breaks her heart, "Goodbye, Deerdra." She inches her way toward the door and reaches for the knob. Just as she pulls it open, Deerdra pokes her head around the corner.

"By the way, what's for dinner?"

Margret silently shuts the door and spins around. She plasters on a happy face, "It's a surprise. Now go on, shoo."

Deerdra gives her a goofy salute then leaves, but she's getting a bad feeling about how Margret is acting.

With Deerdra gone, Margret slips out the door and dashes over to the barn. The door is ajar but no Kuhhirt. Margret feels the weight of dread lift, "Good, he left."

Not quite. He sneaks up from behind, "It's about time."

Margret whirls around. There's that weight again. Except, now that she sees him up close, she's just as upset as she is afraid, "You have some nerve coming here. What do you want?"

Kuhhirt bares his teeth in his grin, "You."

Margret sighs, "How many times must I tell you that I am not interested?"

His eyes twinkle, "After tonight, never again."

All color drains from Margret's face, "Deerdra will hear me scream."

Kuhhirt curls the corners of his mouth, evil-izing his grin, "You won't make a sound if you want you and your girlfriend to continue to live."

"W-what are you talking about?" She has a idea of what he means but wants to hear it from him to be sure.

He explains, "I saw what the two of you did the other night. They burn witches around here, you know."

Margret puts up a brave front, "They won't believe you. You don't have any proof plus everybody knows you have a crush on me. I can say that your just trying to get back at me for turning you down."

Kuhhirt's grin doesn't falter. He holds up the pieces of parchment, "Oh, I have the proof. These combined with the rumors about you and what I saw two of you doing and, well let's just say the end result won't be pretty. If you know what I mean."

Margret's fear takes a hike, "You bastard!"

Kuhhirt wags his finger taunting her, "Now, now. Name calling will get you nowhere. Just give me what I want and no one will get hurt."

Margret's face turns crimson with rage, "I will never give in to a slime like you!"

Kuhhirt's through playing. He lunges for Margret, "Come here, you wench!"

Margret reaches behind her and grabs a shovel. She swings it around and finds her mark- right in Kuhhirt's bread basket. It lands with a resounding yet dull whump! He and the parchments hit the deck. Margret uses this temporary break to make a run for it. Too late. Kuhhirt has gathered his senses and grabs her arm, pulling her in close to him. Margret fights back. She digs her nails into his face. He yelps then slaps her to the ground.

He stands over her checking his cheek for blood, his head ready to explode, "You're going to pay for that, bitch!"

Lucky for Margret, before he can take another step toward her, Deerdra comes in behind him. She grabs him by a belt loop and jerks up hard giving him one giant wedgie. She then spins him around and sends him flying past Margret with a solid punch to his jaw. He slams head first into a large bale of hay.

Deerdra offers her hand to Margret to help her to her feet, "Are you alright?"

Margret gathers the pieces of parchment before rising, "Thank you. Yes. I'm fine." She glances at a stunned Kuhhirt who has extracted himself from the hay and is sitting on his behind. "But you shouldn't have done that. He can cause us a lot of trouble."

Deerdra rubs her hands together, "No, he's the one who's in trouble."

Margret places her hands on Deerdra's shoulders, "No. Let him be."

Kuhhirt's head clears and he sees who hit him. Nope, he doesn't want any of that. He holds his chin and stumbles past the women. He pauses at the door, "You're going to pay for that! You'll see!" Deerdra takes a step in his direction and he trips over himself backing away. His voice is anything but manly as he runs like the dickens back to the village, saying, "You'll see!"

"While Deerdra watches him run away, Margret spots Deerdra's weapons neatly piled in a corner of the barn. "She mustn't see her weapons." She stands beside her, "He's gone now. Let's go back inside the house." As she's talking, Margret grabs Deerdra's arm and practically drags her across the yard and to the house. She does shove Deerdra inside and locks the door.

Deerdra stops herself from falling over the chair, "Sheesh, Margret. What's the rush?"

Margret is a jumble of nerves, fluttering from one window to another closing and locking them. "I have to finish telling you about the spells before the villagers get here."

Deerdra is more than a little confused, "The villagers? Why would the-"

Margret presses her fingers across Deerdra's lips, "Shh, let me talk."

Deerdra senses Margret's fear and becomes alarmed herself. She whispers, "What haven't you told me?"

Margret slowly dies inside. She knows the amount of pain she is about to put Deerdra through. She steadies herself and begins, "There is a price that comes with your spells. You cannot lie to a loved one. But, you also must do what that loved one tells you to do without question."

Deerdra stares at her in disbelief, "That's it? All this because I have to follow orders?"

Margret's eyes well with sadness, "No, for what happens next."

Deerdra grabs Margret by her shoulders, "What happens next?"

Deerdra gets her answer. A male voice yells inside, "You in the house! Come out or we'll drag you out!"

"What the-," Deerdra looks out the window. "Holy crap!" The front yard is full of angry villagers. The torches, pitchforks, and clubs seem to be evenly distributed. Deerdra glances over at Margret. "Why doesn't she look surprised?" Then it hits her. "Kuhhirt! That slime's convinced them that you're a witch! We have to get you out of here." Her eyes dart around the house as her heart races around her chest. "They probably have the back door covered as well. Damn! And my weapons are out in the barn."

Margret is the picture of calm. She takes a fire poker out of Deerdra's hand, "No. No weapons."

Deerdra looks at her like she's lost her mind, "What?"

The man yells again, "You have until the count of ten to come out!"

Kuhhirt chimes in, "Or we'll burn you out!"

The villagers punctuate his threat with a wall rattling cheer of approval.

The immortal warrior's panic ratchets up to ten, "Margret, we have got to get out of here!" Deerdra looks up, "The roof! I can use the cleaver to hack through the thatch."

Margret remains calm, "You can go, but I'm staying here."

Deerdra's panic meter just exploded, "What are you talking about! There's a yard full of people out there who want to rip us apart limb by limb!"

Margret inhales and releases a heavy sigh, "Deerdra, look at me and listen. In order for the spells to work, I have to die."

Deerdra's jaw hits the floor, "What in Hades are you talking about?"

"Your penalty for disobeying the spells will not just happen. Someone needs to be watching you. That someone will be me or to be more specific, my spirit will be watching your every move."

Deerdra can't believe her ears, "What? No. That's not what I- wait a minute. You knew all along that you had to die and you went ahead and did it anyway? Jeez, Margret. We even..." Deerdra paces and runs her fingers through her hair. "Why?"

"I love you, Deerdra. And seeing you in so much turmoil, it just broke my heart. This was the only way I knew of to help you. If I had told you, you would have stopped me and Gabrielle would have continued to torment you in your dreams."

Deerdra is almost speechless, "Margret, there has got to be another way. I don't want you or anyone else to die because of me. I'm not worth it."

Margret strokes Deerdra's cheek then clasps the warrior's hands to her heart, "Yes, you are. With my, death these hands will never spill innocent blood ever again."

Their tender moment is rudely interrupted. The villagers have taken to pounding on the front door.

Margret feels Deerdra tense up. "Please, true heart. Do not fight them. Let me be the one who saves you from yourself."

Deerdra looks into Margret's teary eyes and is torn. She cares deeply for this magical woman, but...

The mantra, 'For the good of the many' bounces around in her head. She pulls Margret in for an embrace, "I understand and I love you for it, Margret. But I can't let you do this."

Margret doesn't give Deerdra a choice. She slips out of their hug and tosses the parchments into the flames of the fireplace. Little swirls of blue smoke waft up the flue. "It is done."

Before Deerdra can say a word of protest, the villagers break down the door. Several men, the burliest of which are up front, rush in and grab the stunned women. Deerdra shakes them off like they're flies.

Margret knows that things are about to get out of control, "Deerdra, stop! Think of Gabrielle and Stephany! Never again, remember? Let it end here!"

Deerdra pauses her fly swatting at the mention of Gabrielle's name-a little too long. One of the men comes up from behind and beans her in the head, knocking her unconscious.

Dusk has arrived and the two women are paraded down the middle of the village. Well, Margret is being marched. They are dragging Deerdra by her feet being sure to hit every pothole and mud pit along the way. The mob stop at two towering poles standing side by side and situated in the middle of the village's square. Each pole is surrounded by piles of wood. They tie Margret to one pole then fasten Deerdra to the other.

Deerdra comes to right before the wood piles are set ablaze, "You're making a grave mistake. Margret's only crime is refusing that slime's advances." She nods in Kuhhirt's direction then scans the crowd, "You're going to regret this for what's left of your pitiful lives."

A few of the people near Kuhhirt cast worried looks his way. He does what he can to cover his lies and stir the pot, "Don't listen to her! She's just trying to save their evil hides! Burn them! Burn them now!"

The two lock eyes. Deerdra's anger sears through his soul, "I'll see you in Hell."

In the distance, Margret can be heard saying a prayer as each pile is set on fire. Deerdra's gaze never leaves Kuhhirt's face. The wind picks up, whipping the flames around in a swirl. Margret screams as the heat becomes unbearable, but Deerdra remains silent. She clenches her jaw, refusing to give Kuhhirt the satisfaction of seeing her in pain. Mercifully, the flames take Margret, releasing her spirit in the form of a sparkling mist wafting skyward.

The wind is gusting now, blowing smoke and ash into the bystanders' eyes. Deerdra sees that they cannot and seizes the opportunity to rip off her bonds. She pulls off the ropes and tumbles backward off of the burning pile, rolling in the dirt to extinguish the flames. Dazed and with her flesh still smoldering, she stumbles into the woods and dives into the river. Her injuries too severe to survive, her lifeless body floats down stream and into the Water Woman's domain. She sees this as her one and only opportunity to get her revenge.

The water's flow abruptly stops, coming as still and clear as glass. She harnesses the water's power to form a giant hand. Little ripples of laughter quiver Deerdra's body. The hand stands poised, ready to hold Deerdra underwater for all of eternity. She relishes the moment too long. Margret's spirit sparkles into view. She shakes her head 'No' then points to the bank opposite the road. The hand ever so slowly lifts Deerdra up and out of the water. The only 'revenge' she can take is to open her palm and let Deerdra roll out of her hand and onto dry land. The stream churns as she recedes back into its banks and starts to flow again.

Margret speaks to the unseen, "You can take her now."

Just like Gulliver on his travels, the tiny Woodland Faeries pick up and carry Deerdra deep into the forest, giving the casual observer the impression that her body is hovering above the forest floor. After much doing, the mini army and their charge arrive at at small camouflaged cave. They place her inside and cover her with a blanket. Here she will stay safely hidden and well protected while she heals.

Mornings come and mornings go before Deerdra is completely healed. When she wakes, it takes a moment for her brain to catch up to her body. As soon as her eyes open, she cries out in pain and flails around attempting to extinguish the flames. Slowly, mind and body meet and she calms down.

Her eyes adjusted to the dark, she spots a turtle watching her from the cave entrance.

"Well Titan, we're not in Carthage anymore. So... where are we and who dressed me in these clothes?"

She's been clothed in a beige tunic and matching trousers. Plus, her regrown hair has been neatly brushed.

The echoing of her voice startles the turtle and it 'runs' away. "Good idea, Mr. Turtle."

The cave isn't tall enough to stand up in so she scoots out on her behind. On the way out, her hand brushes against something soft and rectangular.

"What the...it feels like bread."

She takes it with her into the sunlight, "Yep, it's bread alright. Now who would-Oh, of course! The Wood Wives! Thank you, wherever you are. Hmm, I wonder what other goodies have been put in that cave?"

She flips over and inches along on her tummy, "Let's see. There's my satchel, my clothes cleaned and pressed, and where's my...Ah! My sword!"

She backs out with her bounty then sits up then does a quick body check. "Wow, I'm clean as a whistle. Just how many are there of you anyhow?" No answer. "I guess you only talked to Margret. Assuming you're watching me, you know I can't properly thank you right now."

They don't need to say anything. The Woodland Faeries have wriggled underneath Deerdra's sword.

They slowly unsheathe the mighty blade and aim it's tip at a letter that has been written in the dirt.

"Amazing! What are you pointing at? Is that a K? Oh, K for Kuhhirt. Don't worry. I fully intend to pay Mr. Kuhhirt a visit. Although, I'm surprised you approve."

The sword rises then plunges into the ground dead center of the K.

Deerdra grins, "Excellent."

The night after Deerdra's recovery she slinks back into the village. With her is a long rope she's draped over her shoulder, a small leather pouch and a letter opener sized dagger. She halts her slink and scans the buildings. All are dark with one exception. The horse stables. She creeps up to the door and opens it just enough to peek inside. Jackpot! It's Kuhhirt, alone, brushing one of the horses. An evil grin makes its way across her face.

She squares her shoulders and pushes the doors open, "Hello, Kuhhirt." Her tone is deep and under-worldly.

Kuhhirt spins around to she what is speaking to him. His eyes nearly bulge out of his head and his jaw hits the floor. All of his color has drained from his face, "This can't be. You're dead."

Deerdra's grin never wavers, "I told you we'd meet again." She raises the rope to make sure he gets a good look, "Welcome to Hell."

Unseen hands slowly close the door and slide the locks shut.

*CONTINUED*