CHAPTER 4

—--day 13

Sarah woke and did her morning routine to get ready. She folded clothes and packed them away from last night's laundry. She put on her cloak and went down to get breakfast.

There were a few people eating at the tables but the counter was empty. Sarah sat down at the end. Yarrow came out and smiled at her. He went back in the kitchen and got her a tea with a jar of honey and a spoon. He went to the kitchen and brought her a fantastic breakfast of eggs, steak, potatoes and a stack of pancakes with jelly and butter. Sarah put two silvers out one as a tip as usual.

She said, "Wow this looks great. Thank you and tell Darill also."

Yarrow smiled and said, "Can't let my favorite patron go without a hearty breakfast. I'll miss you, Haras." He patted her arm and took the silver coins.

Sarah said, "I'll miss you too and the plumbing here." Yarrow chuckled and so did Sarah. She ate and went to get Dathúil saddled and brought up to the inn. She went upstairs and grabbed her bags. Yarrow followed her and kissed her one last time.

He said, "Be safe, Haras. I really will miss you a lot until I find a woman I can trust like you." She gave him the key and kissed his lips.

Sarah smiled and said, "You take care and be happy for me." He nodded and took a couple valises from her hands and followed her to her horse outside. She tied everything down and mounted up.

She said, "I'll always remember you too Yarrow. Blessed be, sweet man." Sarah rode off out of the city. She was headed for the town of Foraoise (forest) but had to camp overnight.

She rode through the afternoon and stopped for a bathroom break and ate some roasted nuts and a couple of cookies. She continued on until it became around dinner time and she wanted to find a campsite. Sarah saw a stream with a bunch of trees. She set up camp and went to forage for wood and kindling.

She went out to find branches and sticks. Sarah was dragging up branches and sticks to the camp on her third forage, she heard a mournful cry of an animal. She walked out and saw a half grown about six months old male black wolf laying on the ground bleeding.

Sarah squatted down looking him in the eye and said softly, "I know you're in pain but let me help you." The wolf growled. Sarah cooed and talked softly to him. She put her hand out very slowly until the wolf sniffed her finger that was extended. The wolf whimpered. She pet his nose then his head.

Sarah said, "I 'wish' this wolf was healed and highly intelligent to know what I am saying to him." The magic surrounded the wolf and healed him completely. The wolf stood up and looked at Sarah.

Sarah said, "I told you I would help you and be your friend. Are you all by yourself?" The wolf made a small bark. She smiled and said, "You can come with me on my path and follow. I promise to protect you, hunt together and we can be partners, ok?" The wolf yipped and wagged his tail with his tongue out panting like a smile.

Sarah said, "Come on and I'll catch us some fish to share." The wolf followed behind her to the campsite. Sarah caught three fish and filleted one for herself. Her wolf friend ate two raw fish for himself. Sarah started the fire and put the fish in her skillet. Boiled vegetables and barley with a bit of cheese in it. The wolf came over and laid down with his head in her lap while she ate. She patted his head.

Sarah said, "Can I give you a name?" the wolf yipped. "Ok, how about Beowulf? The legend is of a powerful man who killed a monster named Grendel and then killed the monster's mother. At the end of his life as a king, he killed a dragon but got hurt and died. He must have been a strong brave man to kill a dragon when you're an old man. Do you like that name?" The wolf yipped. She patted his head. "I like you, you're so smart and handsome." Sarah got up and cleaned her skillet, pots and cutlery in the brook. She wiped them off and put them in the backpack. She went back to the fire and wished the perimeter secure.

Sarah said, "Beowulf, I want you to meet my horse Dathúil. He is also very smart like you." She walked over to Dathúil and said, "Dathúil, this is Beowulf. Don't be afraid of him, because he is our friend now and will be traveling with us. The horse touched noses with the wolf and Beowulf licked his nose. Sarah giggled when the horse snorted. Sarah brushed out Dathúil. He looked so beautiful. They went back to the fire. She sat down and got comfortable. She noticed she had two amazing creatures as friends now. She started singing Celtic songs and folk songs she remembered until she got tired and went to bed. Beowulf laid down outside the door of her tent like a guard.

—--day 14

In the morning, Sarah packed up everything and had breakfast. She fed Beowulf another fish. Sarah told the wolf, "Now, if you get tired and want to come up with me let me know and we can figure it out. When we get around people, they might get scared of you but just stick by my side. We will be fine because I can protect you around people. You should probably ride with me before we enter a town or city." Beowulf yipped. Sarah smiled and mounted Dathúil.

They traveled until they got to the edge of the town Foraoise and Sarah said, "Beowulf, can you jump up here?" The wolf backed up and took a running jump and Sarah caught him. He sat in front of Sarah as she rode into town as people were looking at her funny because of the wolf.

Sarah said, "Stay close." The wolf yipped. Sarah dismounted and took off her gear and went inside the inn. The wolf at her side.

The fae innkeeper said, "Are you crazy for bringing a wolf in here?"

Sarah said, "He goes where I go and doesn't harm anyone or anyone's things because he's always with me. He's still a pup and won't cause a problem."

The innkeeper said, "You better put a collar on it and tie a rope on it."

Sarah said, "You mean him. I will look into it. Can I have a room for two nights?"

The innkeeper said, "Ok, but no trouble." Sarah nodded. Sarah dropped off her belongings and wished for the room to be secure. She and Beowulf went and boarded the horse. The wolf made the other horses nervous in the stables. She unsaddled Dathúil and hugged him before leaving back to the inn. The blacksmith thought she was an odd person.

Sarah got in the room and said to the wolf, "You did good. I am sorry but I think we need a collar and leash for you. I promise not to tug on it or make it tight. It's just for show in towns anyway, Ok?" Beowulf yipped and groaned. She squatted down and patted his head scratching behind his ears.

Sarah giggled and said, "I know it's not necessary but people don't always understand us, we're like family. If I can find any charms that would be beneficial to you, I'll put them on the collar to protect you from things." The wolf yipped again.

Sarah got out everything to bathe and sleep in. She made a wish to check if there were any valuables stashed inside the inn that did not belong to the innkeeper, patrons or employees. There was a box and bag that appeared. Sarah opened them and it was a coin bag of 327 gold and a box with jewelry in it. Sarah kept both.

She said, "I'll go get us two dinners, I'll be right back."

Sarah locked the door and went to the counter and asked, "May I have two dinners and two wines, please?"

The innkeeper said, "One silver, eight coppers." Sarah gave him the money and asked for a tray. He brought her a tray with two plates on it. She put the wines on it and took it up to her room. They had roasted chicken, potatoes, carrots, spinach and gravy. Sarah put the wolf's on the floor and she ate her dinner on the bed. He licked his plate clean.

Sarah asked, "Did it taste good?" The wolf yipped and wagged his tail. Sarah giggled and said, "Good. I'm glad you liked it. If you go to the door and tell me I'll take you out to poop or pee outside, Ok?" He yipped. Sarah finished eating and drinking her wines. Beowulf stood by the door wagging his tail and yipped. Sarah got on her cloak and put on her knife. She took the dishes to drop off at the counter and the wolf out to go to the bathroom.

They came downstairs, went out the front door as people watched and stared at them. Sarah took him out back behind the inn into the forest so nobody would step in it. He found a place and pooped and peed.

Sarah said, "You're the best wolf ever." They walked back up towards the stairs.

A fae man blocked her way and said, "What are you doing with a wolf in town? Don't you know they are a menace and kill chickens?"

Sarah said, "Not my wolf. I feed him well and he is smart enough not to do that."

The man said to intimidate her, "That wolf is dead if my chickens get killed again."

Sarah said threateningly, "Don't you dare threaten me. If your damn chickens get killed while I'm here, it won't be my wolf when he is with me every second. You go find the one, not mine. I'll fucking kill you if you touch him." The man lunged at her. Beowulf growled and was barking. She cold cocked him in the face. He came at her again. Sarah grabbed his arm as he took a swing at her, elbowed him in the face and kneed him in the crotch. He went down on the floor howling in pain. She turned with disgust and went upstairs to her room. As the people in there all looked at her.

She started a fire and put on some water to boil. Sarah said, "See I'll look out for you. Don't worry. By the way, I want to give you a bath too. It's just to get the dirt off of you then you can come up in the bed to sleep. I won't give you one for a while unless you get muddy. I bet you don't know what a bath is. It's like swimming. Have you ever swam in water like a lake or stream?" He yipped twice.

She said, "That sounds like a no. Ok after I'm done. It will be your turn soon. We need to get the stinky forest smell off of you then you can start smelling like your real self. I'll get you your own brush for your hair. You will love that part because it feels good to get brushed. Dathúil my horse loves it." Sarah bathed and washed her hair. She washed her clothes and hung them up. She put Beowulf in the tub and scrubbed him down then rinsed him off real good. He was a dirty wolf, the water was dark. Sarah started squeezing his fur to get the water out. She had him step out and started rubbing dry with the towel from her hair. He was wagging his tail at all the rubbing she was doing. Sarah laughed when he shook himself to get the water out of his fur. Sarah rubbed him some more and he shook again. He sat down near the fire to dry off like Sarah was doing to dry her own hair. When they both were dry Sarah went to bed and Beowulf laid down at the foot of the bed.

—--day 15

The next day Sarah and the wolf had breakfast together in her room. She went to the cobbler and had him make a black leather collar that was adjustable like a belt and a black long leather leash. She described the loop on the end for a handle. She had him put small rings on the collar so she could attach something if she could. It turned out great. The cobbler did a perfect job of it and Sarah gave him a gold coin as a tip. The old man was happy. She went to the market and bakery and stocked up on a bit of her supplies.

Sarah walked with Beowulf into the woods so he could go to the bathroom. They went back to her room. She unattached the leash and the wolf laid down. Sarah was eating a lemon cookie. She offered one to Beowulf. He sniffed it and ate it.

Sarah said, "I love having someone to talk to and you're a good companion. When we camp between towns, I'll let you hunt so you can practice your skills but let me shoot a rabbit first then you try. I don't want to scare them away before shooting them with an arrow. They won't hear it. You have to be quiet when you stalk to hunt." The wolf was listening to her making eye contact. Sarah was amazed how the magic made her horse and wolf so sentient. Sarah pet him and laid down for a nap.