Newly appointed Head Witch of Spear Hill, Medeia, is only just getting used to her duties as the first elected Witch of the Wood without a prominent lineage to back her. Yet, when a shadowy figure emerges from the darkness and warns of a Storm, so t...
The terrain grew bumpy as we neared my next destination for the day. The different mounds of dirt and grass grew up to differing heights and even though I had been here many times before, it was still nearly impossible to spot the right one. So I waited for my friend to find me.
I was finishing my first stuffed pumpkin and on to my second, when a voice spoke from behind. Dranios reared in shock and had I not been riding for my entire life, I would probably have fallen off.
"Oi, what are you doing up there?" Asked a dwarf with feet as silent as Death. I swore and looked down at him.
"For Fury's sake, was the necessary?" I countered, blowing my jet-black hair out of my face and easing the iron grip I had on my last pumpkin.
"Hey! I asked you first, witch!" His accent was strong and his stubbornness even stronger. I sighed, not wanting to fight with the creature, since their grudges lasted millennia and swung off Dranios. He had calmed down again, but was shooting daggers at the dwarf with his midnight eyes.
"I'm here for Beau" I said, facing the medium-sized creature. He had multiple coats layered over each other, of all colors and three satchels all overstuffed with odd items. His brown unruly hair had streaks of grey, but the dwarf showed absolute no signs of slowing down. His crooked nose sat smack dab in the middle of his face, right between two furrowed brows and light blue eyes. They shifted between me and Dranios, the horse still shooting daggers.
"Ok, aye. Follow me, but tell your horse to knock it off. It's freaking me out" He blew out a breath, right to fear the powerfully muscled Friesian and turned. I followed him, throwing a quick wink at Dranios as we walked over a few mounds. Sometimes I could hear dishes clattering, music playing or even voices deep below, the mounds underneath me home to countless dwarves and smaller creatures. The hobbling creature in front of me finally came to a stop by a familiar mound and gave the wooden door built into it a sharp rap. We were still near enough Dranios for me to hear his restless nickering and to see a cluster of faeries sneak up on him. They jumped on his back and rode him, bucking and rearing. I snickered and looked back at the door, when I heard shuffling on the other side.
The stout wooden door opened slightly, revealing a large pink nose and one big brown eye. It was squinting in apprehension, but when it landed on me it opened wide. The black-haired dwarf it belonged to, tossed open the door. He grinned widely, leaning his weight on his right leg and jutting out his hip.
"Medeia, my friend! You're here!" Beau yelled happily, receiving looks from the creatures crawling atop these mounds. He jumped up and down merrily, his numerous belts of weapons shaking and creating a raucous. I laughed and embraced him. His strong arms pulled me close and popped a few knots loose in my back. We pulled away as he eyed my guide.
"What are you doing here, Jarhael?" Beau puffed out his chest, "You lookin' for a beating?" My friend took a menacing step forward and to my surprise, Jarhael balked. Red spread over his features as he backed away and looked at his worn boots.
"S- sorry, Beau. I'll be on my way" He said and nodded his farewell.
"If I hear you were rude to Medeia, I'll have your skin, you hear!" Beau shouted after him and my guide shuffled away quicker. I turned to my friend.
"What happened between you two?" I asked.
Beau stood proudly, "Nothing yet, my good friend. But soon. So soon". He shook his head and from beneath his beard, I saw him biting his lip. I laughed and he welcomed me into his home.
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"Did you forget the way again?" He asked as we sat down at his table. The shelves around the main room were stacked high with all kinds of trinkets and weapons. There was a makeshift sink and clay oven off to the side, underneath a small circular window. The view showed the misty outside and the sink was filled with pots and pans. His bed was around the corner, blankets and quilts all messy and strewn about. I swore I saw something glinting from over there.
I grunted in response and nodded to the obvious mess. "You're usually so neat. It looks like a flock of pixies went wild in here" I took a deep drink of the mead he had given me and put down the wooden mug.
He grinned, showing off his white teeth and nodded. "Haven't been home enough to clean up. Typically Citrine tidies up for extra coin, but she's been off with some Elf" He sniffed and ran a big hand through his long black hair. "It's a wonder how quickly the home fills with filth when you live alone".
"Oh, yes. That I don't miss" I remarked, thinking back to the days when I was the only soul residing in the cottage. Before Vira, there had been dishes everywhere and so much dust it would choke every visitor, if any would dare come knocking, knowing full well the mess that awaited them. "Anyway, what was it that you needed? A potion, of some sort?" I inquired, watching him finish his mead and slam the mug on the table.
"Ooo, yes! I remember now!" He slid off his chair and ran to the nearest shelf, throwing some things over his shoulder until he found what he was looking for. Some of what he threw were potions and I haphazardly fell out of my chair, catching them. He turned back at my sprawled form and continued unfazed, "I need a potion of susceptibility or at least a spell of binding". I furrowed my brow and placed the glass vials on the table, righting myself in my chair.
"May I ask what you need those for? Are you.. trapping something? Or interrogating it?" I asked puzzled.
"That something is Jarhael actually, the dwarf you met earlier and I need your help. Since I know love potions are forbidden, I was planning on catching that particular fish with a more.. um-"
"Stockholm syndrome method?" I asked incredulously when he was lost for words.
"Yes! Exactly! I'm so glad we're on the same page" he nodded enthusiastically. I honestly didn't know what to say to that.
"Um.. Beau, you don't need to hex your peers to earn their affection, you know," I said slowly, my face still caught in a grimace, "You are quite a catch".
"Oh, pah! I know that! It's just that Jar Jar has been quite elusive, the bastard. He is still hung up on that husband of his that died last Harvest" Beau harrumphed and crossed his arms. My jaw still hung in the air.
"Uh, I don't think I can help you with that," I said finally and he sighed.
"I figured as much. Guess I will just have to stick to my old charm. But it was worth a shot" He shrugged his shoulders and abruptly changed the subject, "Do you want to see my new ax?" He hobbled away to where his bed was and pulled the ax from beneath a pillow. It was bronze and gleamed in the candlelight. I brushed off the growing suspicion that my dear friend had committed a murder only a few months prior and eyed the ax.
"Gorgeous handiwork, but you know I have to ask. Do you sleep with it?" I asked and he turned from admiring the weapon.
"Why yes of course. I sleep with all my most prized possessions" He scoffed and pulled back a quilt with a flourish, showing off the numerous items nestled in his mattress and blankets.
"Er- ok." I took a closer look, eyeing the trinkets, jewelry, and weaponry. To my left, he was eyeing his belongings. "Quite a collection."
"Thank you. Soon Jarhael, as well." A small smile grew on his face and I looked at him worriedly.
"Ok, then. I will take that as my sign to leave," I pulled on my long leather coat and threw a nod to Beau, "Just promise me, you will only use your dashing looks and intoxicating charm to get Jarhael?"
His grin grew from something creepy to pure delight. "Of course, my friend!"
As I was climbing up on Dranios and Beau was waiting for me to leave, he stood in a warrior stance, swinging his ax back and forth.
"Can't wait to scalp someone!" He exclaimed and then he spied a faerie eyeing his weapon, "Oi, don't even think about it Sasha!" He took off running after the frightened creature, swinging at it wildly as it flew above his head. I just had to laugh.
"Bye, Beau!" I called and he took a brief pause on his assault to wave at me, before continuing again.
