-1800's-
"Please! I just want to look around. See what it's like. They won't even know I'm there." Ardelia whined. Ardelia is the youngest witch in her coven of seven. They all treat her like she is their child. They do so because she can be somewhat immature at times. But, the main reason is because she doesn't like to follow rules. Not even to save her own life apparently.
"No Delia. It's not safe in town. If the humans catch wind of you, you'll be hung...or burned." Sienna says, the eldest in the coven. A frown emerges across Ardelia's face, wrinkling up her forehead. She huffs before stomping off. "Where are you going?" Sierra asks, partially concerned she'd ignore her, partially just irritated by her constant moaning.
"Away from you!" she shouts back as she disappears behind the wall of trees. Sierra lets out a sigh as she looks over at the other women of her coven.
One of the women shrugs before saying, "Just let her. She needs some alone time. She'll understand eventually." Sierra just nods and accepts that truth. Internally she just hopes she's right, and that she figures it out before something bad happens.
________
As Ardelia trudges through the woods alone, she continues to speak her mind. Knowing she couldn't say any of this to Sierra. She stops in her tracks when she hears the sound of a horse and wood rattling. She rushes up to the sound before it passes. Just then a loud crash sound echoed through the trees. She starts to sprint. She can hear someone groaning in pain. She stops behind a tree in order to stay out of sight.
She can see a man lying on the floor next to a tipped wagon. He looks like he might be injured. His short, dark brown hair is hanging over his face. His clothes covered in dirt and torn a bit. The wagon had clearly crashed, there are items presumably belonging to this man scattered across the road. Much to her surprise the horse is just standing there. After such a wild crash, the fact that the horse hadn't fled the scene as soon as he was released was nice. She debates internally before making the decision to emerge from the trees and make herself known.
"Are you okay? Is there anything I can do to help you?" She asks gently, pulling her long dress up a bit to squat down next to the man. He groans once more as he sits up.
"I have a box over there, inside should be some bandages and such." He says pointing to the mess in the road. She nods before rushing to the boxes and started opening them. One at a time before she finds what she's looking for. She rushes back to his side holding bandages and alcohol. He rips his pants the rest of the way exposing his knee. She begins to clean his gashes as he stares at her. She can feel his gaze causing her to shift uncomfortably. "What's your name?" he asks, resting back on his hands.
"Ardelia." she says, pouring the alcohol. He sucks air through his teeth, grabbing a fist full of grass as the liquid burns him. She attempts to hold back her laugh as she watches such a big man whine over such a small injury.
"That's a lovely name. I'm Cedrick." He sticks his hand out, "It's nice to meet you." He smiles. A blush forms on her cheeks as she takes his hand. She begins to wrap his knee with bandage as he pushes for more conversation. To which she had no problem giving. "So, tell me about yourself?" he asks watching her every move.
"Well, there isn't much to tell really. I live with my mother and aunts. We live a sort of quiet life. I love to read and learn. I love nature, it has extremely relaxing energy." She says, brushing a piece of her very long, black hair out of her face. He looks at her as if mesmerized.
"You are an interesting young lady aren't you?" he asks, rhetorically. She smiles looking down at the floor. He was definitely referring to the way she spoke of nature and loving to learn and read. This isn't very normal behavior for women around these parts.
"What about you? Where were you headed?" She asks, fully intrigued.
"I was headed back home. You see those lights just there?" He points to a group of lights ways away. She nods. "That's where I live. I just got back from a four day trip to visit with my sister and her husband."
"That sounds amazing. Do you travel a lot?" She asks resting her head on her hands.
"I do actually. I love to explore what life has to offer." he says, his voice getting lower. He reaches over to her tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Do you like to travel?" He asks.
"I would love to travel, but I haven't gotten to do much of it." She says, her smile falling right into a frown.
"Why not? It's incredible. I could take you with me sometime if you'd like. We could go wherever you want to go." he says, grabbing her hand. She starts to grin uncontrollably.
"I'd love that...but I don't think my mother would let me. She's kind of controlling. If she knew I was talking to you she'd freak, let alone if I were to leave with you for days."she says, losing all enthusiasm. His smile fades.
"Maybe if I spoke to her, I could change her mind." He suggests. "Do you live in town?" he asks.
"I'm not sure that's a good idea. I think it would only upset her." She says, her stomach turning as she begins to think of how her mother would actually react if she caught her right now.
"Well look we don't have to make any plans just yet. I mean we've only just met." he says softly. She smiles, as she starts to feel warm inside. The way he's looking at her is no longer making her uncomfortable, quite the opposite actually. He attempts to stand, she hurries to help him. "What a mess." he sighs, looking at his belongings coating the road like a blanket.
"Maybe you should head home, and come back for it with help. I don't think the two of us alone could carry it all." She suggests. He turns his body to face her.
"I really appreciate your help Ardelia. You are a wonderful woman. Would you like me to give you a ride home?" he asks, with the intention of seeming gentlemanly. She smiles at him before responding.
"That's alright. I'll be okay, I don't live far. Besides, I like to walk alone at night. Just me, the trees and the stars." She says looking up. Her attention is drawn back by a hand touching her face. He strokes her cheek with his thumb before taking a step closer. Ardelia's stomach gets fluttery instantly by the close proximity. His eyes fall to her lips right before he moves his closer. She closes her eyes as he gently places his lips on hers. She smiles into the kiss, causing him to do the same. She reaches her hands up to his face. In return he drags his down the length of her body. They land on her hips. They slowly pull away and look into eachothers eyes.
"I hope to see you soon." He says softly. He places a peck on her lips before turning and hoping on the back of his horse. He turns and waves to her. She waves back before he starts to ride off. She just stands there in shock. Thoughts flood her mind with 'what if's' and 'could you imagine'. She turns swiftly before heading back into the woods. She starts humming as she walks back to their camp.
When she returns, she attempts to hide the grin that has plastered itself across her face. She had planned to rush straight to bed so no one would be able to read her mind, have a vision, or even just tell based on her behavior.
As she walks into the light that is the fire glowing. She keeps her head down and walks straight to her bed. "Feeling better?" One of the women asks. They all turn their attention to her.
"Fine." she says, walking into her cabin.
She tries hard to clear her mind in order to sleep. But, a certain someone is taking over her thoughts. Reliving the entirety of tonights events she sighs rolling onto her back. Cedrick.
