The Ash Tree

Part 2 - Oliver

It is going to be Oliver's point of view for the rest of the story.

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Chapter 5

It has been over a month and Alice has not returned. Has she forgotten about me again?

No she wouldn't.

She gave me her word.

She promise you last time and she broke it. She is married, she waited not for you.

Enough!

I began to hammer the molten hot iron harder. Every strike my anger only getting stronger.

***

Another week has passed and Alice has not returned. What if something has happened? What if she is hurt or did not make it to Ashton.

"Ward, you alright?" Timothy asked. He is a year younger than I and my first apprentice.

"I am well..." Should I tell him about Alice?

"Ward, what is on your mind?" He sat down next to me, excepting an answer. I ignored him and continued to pound the iron. I could feel his gaze on me.

"Is it a lass?" He asked. I stiffened not wanting to talk about it. "Ahh, it is a lass. Did she steal your heart?" I didn't respond. "Or did she break it?" I began to pound the iron harder. "I see."

"Look, I am only worried about my friend Alice!" I snapped, glaring at him.

"Alice? Who is this Alice?"

"She is an old friend of mine, from when I was child." I continued to hammer.

"She seems to mean more than a friend, Ward. Why have you never mentioned her before?"

"Because I didn't find her." I admitted. He stared at me confused. "When we were young, she and her family moved away. We made a promise to wait until we found each other again, to never forget each other. I kept my word, I always thought about her, I would save money for the day when I could look for her. The day I was to be betrothed, I left home and set out to find her. When I was running low on money, I went to the nearest city, became an apprentice to a kind blacksmith and when he passed, I took over." I looked at Timothy, his sad brown eyes pitying me? "Remember when I would leave on those business trips?" He nodded. "Most of them were me looking for her. About two months ago, I had forgotten this here." I pulled the leather cord from around my neck, hanging from it a silver ring.

"A wedding band?"

"I made this for her. When I was to find her, I was going to ask her for her hand." Timothy jumped from where he was sitting. "When I came back to retrieve it, I found this lass, sleeping by the hearth. She was beautiful with her reddish brown hair and her pale crème skin. When I tried to wake her, she was as cold as death. I brought her home and you will not believe who it was."

"Alice." Timothy breathed. "Wait, why didn't you give her the ring?"

"I was going to, but I saw she already had a wedding band."

"My apologies Ward. Where is she now?"

"On her way home."

"Why? And why was she here?" He looked completely lost. So I told him everything. "What are you standing here for you big dolt?! Go after her!"

"Did you hear anything I said?" I yelled

"That's why I'm telling you to go after her. She obviously has the same feelings for you. She probably only married him because she was forced to. It was not as easy for her to say no to him as when you were betrothed. I'll watch over the forge, go after her. GO! NOW!" excitement flowed through me.

"Thank you Timothy, you are a true friend." I said before running out of the forge.

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The story is almost complete. I hope you are enjoying my story. I know you are probably tired of me, but please leave a comment of the story or a review. It would help me a lot.