Rooted

Reiner

 "What are you?" she asked. The question caught me off guard, I knew from the moment that witch cursed me I had lost my humanity, but I honestly didn't know what had taken it's place.

" I cannot answer you, for I do not know myself" I said honestly. " Are you alright?" This question was more to change the subject, as I could see she was at least physically ok.

"I don't seem to be hurt, if that's what you mean," she said darkly. "Where are we?"

I looked around; I didn't even realize we were walking until she said something. We were in my clearing, or prison depending on the season.

" I guess you could say this is were I live," I answered, not sure how else to put it.

She looked at me with utter fascination, and I would have believed she was using all of her energy to figure me out, had it not been for her hand shaking. When she saw me staring she quickly crossed her arms to hide her hands.

"This isn't a home, it's a clearing. What was that?!" she asked jumping at the sound of the wind through the surrounding trees.

"It was just the wind," I said, not sure how to help her.

"No, there were voices, I hear voices." She stopped trying to hide the shaking now, and she started to cry.

I've never been good with crying, I have not really been around a lot of crying people in my life, and no one has ever walked me through what to do. Aside from the whole court finding out I lied about a quest, this was one of the most awkward moments of my life. I sat quietly and let her cry. She probably needed to; she had been through a lot, and I was probably only adding to the horror. When she stopped, I could see a resolve in her face; it made me see her differently then before. It was almost as if she had had to handle such things in life before, and knew what she needed to get past them. She wiped her tears and stood up straight adjusting her dress. It is not that I didn't see her before, but it wasn't like this. She was small but strong. Her long dirty blond braid was streaked with dried bits of blood and dirt; she was not what one would call beautiful, but her determination gave her face a lovely strength.

"What's your name?" I asked, still amazed at how she was handling the situation. When I asked her this she started laughing.

"I guess we hadn't exchanged pleasantries yet," she said with a wink. " My name is Brynn. It is an honor to meet you, sir...?"

"Oh now the honor is mine," I replied mimicking her mocking of the courtly gestures. She only smiled more at my bow, as if it wasn't awkward enough.

" And may I enquire as to who my rescuer is?" If I didn't know better I would guess she was having fun with this. I looked down, and started tapping my thumb against my leg. It was a twitch I never really got over, it helped a lot when I was scared or nervous. Now I was both. Surely she wouldn't believe I was a prince.

" I'm no one, just a passer by," I said finely, not wanting to play her game anymore. " Come we must try and find you some food.

She didn't move, her eyes stayed fixed on me.

" I cannot think that is true of anyone, least of all the most fascinating person I have ever meet." " So I ask once again. Does my rescuer have a name, or shall I just call you a knight of the wood?" She said, looking a little pleased with herself for the invention