The Willow Maid (One-Shot)

The Willow Maid

Once upon a time... in a land as old as the first sunrise... in the forests that sorounded a village a young man was walking with his quiver and hunting bow, he herd a young girl singing and followed the sound below, there he found the maiden, who lives in the willow.

He called her as she listened from a ring of toadstools red.

- Come to me my maiden, come from the willow's bed! - he, mesmerized by the beauty of the girl.

- See me now, a ray of light in the moondance - she started casting a spell - see me now, I can not leave this place, hear me now! A strain of song in the forest, don't ask me to follow were you lead... - as she finished she vanished in to thin air as pollen particles...

The man enchanted by the beauty of the maiden he met at the willow tree. Decided to return the next day to the willow tree and search for her.

The next morning he left home at sun rise and piked a lovely flower that was growing on his garden, wearing a geen coat, his hunting equipment towards the forest with direction to the willow tree.

When arrived to the willow he started to look for the maiden, when he looked up there was looking at him from the high branches of the tree, she was even prettier than he remembered. 

His love had hair like fire and her eyes an emerald sheen, she grapped herself in beauty, so young and so serene, he stood there, under the willow and he gave her the yellow bloom.

- Girl, my heart you've captured, oh, let me be the one who turns in to your groom- he said while getting down in one knee.

- I'm so sorry, but shall wed you never, not near, nor far, nor soon. - she said at the same time she vanished as the last time, leaving the flower behind in the man's hand.

The man on his way home cheked on his traps, and passing by the willow herd the maiden.

- I'm sorry my dear Willow - she said to the tree- I understand your anger, I'm suposed to be forever attached to you and take care of you.- said the maiden not knowing the man was around.

Irritated the man woke up and grabbed an axe, he sharpened it untill it was as sharp as a knife. It was already night when he walked in to the darkness of the forest towards the willow, "I'll take the geen-eyed fairy and she shall be my wife, with her I'll raise my children, with her I'll live my life" was the only thought on the man's head while walking towards the willow. The maid didn't had time to move when the man pulled her behind him and said.

- I shall set you free from these tree! - she wept as she listened to him, the man took his and used it to bring down her ancient tree - Now that your willow has fallen, you belong to me. - He said proudly.

She followed him out the forest, and collapsed upon the earth, her feet had walked but a distance, from the green land of her birth, she faded into a flower, that would bloom for one bright eve... he could not take from the forest, what was never meant to leave...