Garthalan: Mother of the Wood

Borcoleindae Forrest

Adaya pov

I hid just at the inside of the treeline, examining the soldiers. It was the order again, though less this time they all hid in the dark in view of the gates, but out of the sight of the gairds on the wall. I count two hundred men, I suspect they are skilled and carefully chosen after the last attempt. Hiding here also means they are waiting for something. They didn't make another bomb did they? I don't think the last hole is repaired yet.

Ok, I'll just trap them in the vines. No they'd hack them apart I don't think I have the energy to keep it up at the moment.......I do have my own army, imaginary or not they did seem to want to help me eagerly. But would that be right? Asking the animals defend people?

Helena pov

I ran towards the military tents hoping to find the commander gambling or speaking with the soldiers. I was caught by surprise as I was passing the tavern he walked out the door leaning heavily on a woman dressed as a tavern waitress. Not a whore thankfully. But he seems to be drunk. Of course he's drunk, there are assassins and enemy soldiers running amuck.

"Hellannaa, iitss nicce to meett you heerre, care too have a drrink for the lost?" The woman shifts under his arm.

"Careful my good man, if you fall I won't be able to get you back up."

I ran and grabbed his other arm, he can still give the order to defend, even in this state. "Commander we are under attack again, a shadow made an attempt at killing me and my sister. Are you sober enough to give orders?"

"Yeea course I amm. Back to the tavern lady shel we have monsters to kill!" Slowly we turned and head back, after this we'll head to the camps . By the sound of it the bulk of the army is here though.

Adaya pov

I can tell that my voice sounds a bit shy as the words come out. "I only ask because I believe if we do it right then there will be no loss of life in our end." I speak to a fairy, who in turn will hopefully bring an army of different animals.

"Mother of the wood, Why do you not speak with the animals about this?"

"you are the first Forrest creature I've come across."

"Ah I see, try this. Close your eyes and send the call through your mind. All capable of this task will come."

"so what? I'm telekenetic now?" Kinda cool, still not believable.

"Mother of the wood, you can touch the ground and make the earth bend to your will, you can understand an alligators words, the Forrest counts you as our mother and protector. Do you really think this impossible?"

I opened my mouth to argue only to find that that actually made sense. Or I'm still in a dream and still being eaten by a demon. "......Ok then, I'll try it out." The fairy nodded her approval and I closed my eyes.

I let the words form in my mind. 'I need help. A village I am staying in is being attacked, I expect the army to be very skilled. I ask that only those completely willing, and capable come to aid me in this.' I concentrated on spreading it wide and far to get to everything close enough. When I opened my eyes the fairy was smiling.

" All you need ask is that they come. We require no explanations or convincing, if you fight so do we. You did send it a little far though. Some won't be able to respond." At that moment my head was filled with voices acknowledging that they heard and are on there way to me. There were so many and yet it was as if there was an order to it because I could hear every single one of them clearly.

Garen pov

"The Borcoleindae Forrests. The smallest and most dangerous wood in our path." Shey mumbled to the mother and daughter riding next to her, then spoke up so we could hear. "Be wary friends, bandit archers made this their haven from the law."

I slowed so I was next to the warden. "What do you know of these bandits Shey?" She was already watching for archers.

"A knight in the kings army, he is their leader. His name is Robert longstrider. He showed the king up in a battle, not intentionally, but the king put a high reward on his head. He took all loyal to him into these woods and here they've become bandits. They will most likely try to rob us."

I turned to the woman we had saved. "How did you two get past it all?" She looked up at the woods.

"Got lucky I suspect sir."

Good enough for me. "Shey, will he still attack us if we tell him of what we do?"

"possibly, yes."

I rode back to the front. "As Shey has said, be wary here. If we are attacked hold off killing and we may find a peaceful way through."