Of Swords and Flowers

Chapter Three

Anastasia 

The morning after they all sat around a small wooden table eating breakfast her mother had prepared before hand. Her mother looked intently at Anastasia, she could already feel a storm brewing. 

"Anastasia, seeing as you failed to help me prepare dinner yesterday you'll help me with fetching something later on" her mother said a stern look on her face. 

Beth snickered whispering from next to Anastasia " You fell into the lake again didn't you?". Anastasia gave her a good natured shove to her shoulder, earning another reprimanding look from her mother. 

Sighing she said "It's only fair that I do, what do you need me to fetch for you mother?". She was resigned to her fate. 

"I only need you to get me some herbs from the market so that I may stock up" her mother responded. Ah Anastasia thought, that should not be too much trouble, she would still have time to go and visit the foxes burrow with the adorable kits she had found a couple days back. 

"Alright, I can do that!" She said full of energy once again. Yes she thought. She could do this easy peasy. 

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The midday sun was beating down on the cobble roads once again as she exited the small house and went on her way to the busy market. The place was tightly crowded making her feel slightly anxious and awkward not knowing where to place her limbs so that she would not have to touch every single sweaty body passing. 

Several stalls were erected all of them in varying colours offering differing goods. The stall  containing Fish stank and Anastasia had her doubts as to if they should still be eaten after having been exposed to the sun for so long.

From her right a goat gave the mightiest bleat she had ever heard resulting in her being ripped from her train of thought and exclaiming in the form of a small "eep!". She didn't hesitate to give the goat a look of admonishment. The goat  responded in kind and looked at her as if to say "your fault for not paying attention to my gloriousness lady". She shook her head and continued walking. 

In passing she gave a quick glance to a stall displaying various trinkets such as necklaces and rings - after all she may not be the most ladylike woman in the village but she was still a woman! Having arrived at her destination: the Herb stall. 

It was maintained by a odd, short stubby gentleman who maintained that everyone called him Roth. Anastasia always enjoyed his company, he was also a outsider to their village as no one knew of his actual origins. Roth had just shown up one day lopsided smile, messy gray hair and all. 

"Well hello there little Ana" Roth basically shouted in her face. Though his shout announced her presence to everyone in the vicinity his excitement always but Anastasia in a good mood to she smiled at him. 

"You know I'm taller than you, right Roth?" She responded smirking. The had this conversation ever since they had first met and it would never get old to her. 

"Ach! Pish Posh deary! I could still beat you in a sprint to the village walls and back" he exclaimed zealously whilst also righting his shirt. Anastasia had her doubts but simply agreed with the man, since she didn't actually want to race him. And she knew it would happen if she'd argue with him any further. 

"So what do ya need today? Some salve for one of your bruises? You know I just sold you your second one this month two days ago.. you really ought to-" Anastasia quickly cut off his rant by explaining yesterday's events in full detail, not omitting the truth this time. 

To this old Roth only shook his head, Anastasia knew he'd not tell anyone and believed that he would keep this secret for her as well. Roth had been the one person within the village to whom she could  confess all her misconducts without him looking down on her. It's wasn't like her family did so, but she always felt like she disappointed them when she came home with another scrape or bruise from her ventures outside. 

"Well then this is what you're searching for" he said handing her a small basked filled with fresh smelling herbs. She was ever grateful for his quick work and thanked him without waiting any longer. 

As she turned to leave the odd light within the forest that she'd seen the evening before came to mind and she twisted to look back at Roth again. His gaze had never left her, making her think that perhaps he had expected that she would turn around again. That couldn't be she decided and dismissed that thought. 

"Roth, yesterday I saw an odd like emitting from within the forest. Do you happen to know anything about it?" She inquired. Roth had been the one who had told her all those stories about the Seelie and Unseelie rulers of the past after everyone within the village had hesitated to explain more than the basics. 

He started off by saying "Well deaest, as I've told you the forest works in mystical ways..." looking into the nothingness he explained further " the times are ever changing and change is coming soon. The world is shifting once again and the connection between us and them will become something entirely new".

A small shiver traveled down her spine, it wasn't uncommon for Roth to talk in such a manner, but something about today was different, she just couldn't quite put her finger on what exactly. 

"Anywho!" Roth shouted once again having shifted his mood to lighthearted once again " You better head off or you'll miss those foxes of yours!"

The sky was darkening ever so slightly and night was approaching once again. He was right, she'd have to hurry if she wanted to catch a glimpse of the little ones today. She quickly thanked old man Roth for everything and went on her way to the burrow located at the edge of Langfell Forest.