The Weaver's Source

Chapter 20

I never left. For two days I stayed with Black Annis, doing chores and helping her with her herbal work. I would sometimes go out to collect wood and plants for her. Other times I would go to the inn to get milk or meat. I was content.

I woke on the third morning, yawning and stretching out my back, not noticing the lack of dreams I had. I then left the room, saying a quick good morning to Annis who was rummaging around a small sack in search of specific herbs before going outside. I washed in the cold air and, while I washed my body, I noticed something strange.

Before I had been quite thin, stick thin in fact with small breasts and almost no hips. Food was not something I had an abundance of so I had always been bony, even when I was child. In the last couple of days I had suddenly put on a fair amount of weight. Instead of resembling that of a pole, I now had curves and even some fat on my hips and thighs and my breasts had swelled pleasantly. I gently touched my face and was only faintly confused now that my face felt far less hollow. I knew I had been eating large meals with Annis but I hadn't realised I would be put this amount of weight on this quickly. But just as I was getting a little confused by this, a strange fog took over my mind. My thoughts became slow and sluggish and slowly I let go of the thought of my weight and the unnatural gaining of it.

I shrugged my shoulder and dressed, slightly thankfully my clothes had always been too big for me. Still, my dress was feeling a little tight. I pulled my mousy hair out of my face and wrestled into a bun as I entered the hut. Annis smiled at me in welcome.

"How're you this morning, dearie?" She asked.

"I'm well." I replied. "Is there anything you need me to do?"

She shook her head. "Nothing I can think of. You're free to do what you want."

I grinned then grabbed my boots. I intended to go see Lauran, a friend I had gained here. It felt like I had known her for years. It was strange. And I was aware it was strange. I was aware that I had put on much too much weight for only two days of large meals. I was aware that the feeling of belonging to a place I barely knew was odd. I was aware I had to leave for some reason. But it didn't bother me. Whenever I thought too much of it, my head hurt and swirled so I gave up thinking about why it was odd. 

I headed off to the town, a place I had only seen a couple of times but now felt hauntingly familiar, in search of Lauran. The folk in town welcomed me with smiles and laughter, giving me hugs and asking if I was well. I openly showed my love for this. I was so used to be ignored or abused by the townsfolk of my home that having complete strangers show such open affection for me was a little overwhelming. It made me warm inside and my cheeks glow.

I found Lauran in her house, where I was dragged inside. Lauran was a short tubby girl, all smiles and laughter. I was fond of her and, as I watched her laugh and talk with vigour, she reminded me of someone. I just couldn't remember who. All I know was it made my heart ache horribly sometimes.

I stayed with Lauran for quite some time. I enjoyed her company. We baked for her mother then spoke of the increasingly cold season. We both believed snow was coming. The sky was greyer with every morning and the air was colder with frost turning the grass white. As dusk came, I left Lauran, waving and smiling my farewell to her as I made my way down the narrow weedy path.

At first I skipped down the main road, humming to myself as I observed the darkening houses and nodded at the watchman who was slowly going about lighting the lanterns. Everything was quiet until I heard rushing footsteps rushing towards me from behind. I didn't bother to turn to who had caught up to me. The lightness of their footsteps and the small presence told me who it was.

"Good evening, Gerald." I said warmly.

Gerald grumbled beside me. I knew he was going to start on his rant again, to declare that I was in danger. He did this every day. He never gave up in trying to get me to leave.

"You're still here." He said irritably.

"I am."

He frowned and walked closer to me while eyeing the houses with caution as we left the village. 

"Why won't you leave?"

Without hesitating and continuing to smile, I replied "Because this is where I live."

Gerald frowned and a scared look took over his young face. "She's got you." He said sadly.

"What on earth do you mean?"

"She's got you! And she's even begun fattening you up." He said in despair.

"Gerald. I'm safe. Nothing is going to happen to me."

He scowled and stepped in front of me to stop me in my tracks. "Do you remember why you came here in the first place?"

My smile wavered as I thought. My head began to throb and my focus weakened. It hurt. It hurt so much to think.

"I came here because..." I began but couldn't finish. I couldn't remember why I came here originally. I just remember being here but everything before was hazy.

"You were travelling." Gerald coaxed. "You came through here, intending to sleep then leave at dawn the next morning. That was two days ago now."

My frown thickened. Was I travelling? If I was, why? Honeyed milk touched my tongue, warm hands stroking my face, a ghostly mouth against mine. Then the sickly sweet smell rushed in, pushing it away, and I groaned as my head strained as I fought to remember.

Gerald watched grimly. "She's not letting you remember."

"Who isn't?"

"Black Annis."

Shock enveloped my features and instantly a fire burned in defence for the old woman. "She's done nothing wrong."

"She has." Gerald argued back. "She knows plants and things. She puts it in the food, in smoke, and causes people to forget."

I didn't like what he was saying. It offended me. Annis was kind to me and gave me a place to stay. She gave me food and water. She would never do anything to harm me.

"You're wrong." I said adamantly.

"And you're blind now. You can't see any danger now she's got her horrible claws into you." Gerald snapped then grabbed my hand. "Come on. You need to leave."

I just about managed to dig my heals in to stop him when we heard rustling in the trees. Startled we both looked up. Shuffling out from the trees with leaves covering her hood was Annis herself.

Gerald froze and his face paled with fright. I expected him to flee but he didn't let my hand go, if anything his grip tightened, as if he was clinging onto me for dear life. Annis' face was grave and she gave him a long hard stare.

"Gerald, you've been warned so many times. More times than I care to remember." Her eyes flickered to me and her weird crooked smile took over. "Lyra, dear, let's go back shall we?"

I simply nodded and walked towards her. Gerald's hands let me go without argument. Annis continued to smile but I saw something in her eyes I never noticed before. Something dead. The horrible gaze would've unnerved me but I felt perfectly calm and trusting.

"Gerald. You come too. I want a word with you." She said firmly.

Gerald stiffened. Fear gripped him and he was unable to move but Annis didn't give him time to try. She shuffled towards him sharply and grabbed his arm uncomfortably.

"Let's go." Annis ordered and dragged the quiet, terrified boy after her.

I just followed silently, holding the gaze of Gerald's scared eyes easily. I felt nothing as I watched Gerald be dragged away. I felt no urge to step in and protect him. I frowned. This wasn't me. I wasn't emotionless. I couldn't normally ignore children giving staring at me imploringly, seeking help. I knew this. I bit my lip hard in worry and observed the hunched figure of Annis.

What was happening to me?