Realm of Galderia

chapter 8

                                                                      the other witch

 Seeing him made her feel so alive.  This was all so new, so exhilarating for her. She cut through the forest saving her a quarter of a mile off the walk, a good fifteen minutes. Even though Gwen wanted to get there as soon as possible she always tried to take a few moments to watch the forest . To watch the birds fly or the gnomes dig their tunnels, her favorite was when she would spot a fairy they were so beautiful, fluttering in the forest, like a magical dance of some kind. She also loved the way the forest looked just before sunset, it was majestic. 

 It was like a child catching fireflies, a magical moment in time. Gwen knew to pay attention to the time. She had a habit of losing herself in the forest between the wild plants blooming, animals scurrying around the gigantic sized trees. She watched a little orange bird build a nest in one of the tall oak trees. She could not help herself she was more at home out here in the vast never ending forest. She had gotten lost out here before and it honestly did not bother her in the slightest bit. 

She sat down on a log in the middle of the forest. She watched both mundane and magical creatures scurry around the forest ground. She smiled as bright as the sun. She enjoyed being in the forest just natural elements and her own thoughts. It made her very relaxed almost too relaxed. She knew she could not plan to sit in the forest all day long. She had to meet Edwin very soon. Then suddenly something felt a little off for her. She sensed she was not alone in these woods.

                            Veronica was getting a touch of cabin fever being bored in the castle just a little too long. She was beginning to feel  as if she were a Siberian tiger in a cage meant for a large dog. She could not take the stir crazy boredom. She was just sitting in the castle waiting to be married off just so she could get out of the house. That was not Veronica. She checked her bedroom in the tower in case she may need any supplies before venturing out into the woods for a long overdue hike in the woods. 

Today she planned to just go whatever direction would call to her. A nice long walk through the forest would probably do more good than harm she thought to her. Her visions sometimes were clearer when she was in the forest. The memory of her last vision came flooding back to her. She thought it may be a prophecy of some kind. The phrase she remembered from her vision was of the great adversary coming to her. She shook it off until the vision could tell her more of her adversary. She did not take this vision to heart, some visions were just a vision, and it's meaning to be revealed later.

This time, for a change Veronica walked into the dark forest and past its boundaries. She wanted to go further, see what was out this way, perhaps she would find something interesting. She eventually ended up being  lost out in this part of the forest. She didn't really care if she was lost out here.  She didn't know where she was trying to end up; she just kept going through the other side of the forest. Veronica could not help it she had a wicked sense of adventure and she knew it.

 She would rather battle an army of goblins than host a dinner party, or wander the castle like a mindless twit pretending to be stupid in the ways of the world to impress some male who wished to court her. The few who tried were arrogant and nothing more than over grown spoiled brats. They were nothing that she would truly want anything to do with. Veronica shook these thoughts away as she headed further into the deep woods. She wondered if she would ever find her way back to her mother's castle.

Gwen noticed the sound of something in the woods with her. The sound was getting closer to her. She  climbed up the closest tree so that  she could see who or what was in the woods with her. Climbing the tree swiftly just like  a small child. She looked down once she got far enough up the tree.  There was another girl in the woods, who was probably close to her own age. She loved to make new friends, always. She slowly started to climb down the tree, careful not to fall from too far up. Perhaps this girl was lost or in need of some help. Gwen jumped down from where she was in the tree, but she did not pay attention when she jumped down from the tree. When Gwen leaped down she nearly knocked into the other girl.

Gwen upon landing realized she could have hurt the girl, probably scared her if nothing else. She instantly stood up and began to apologize to the girl. Knocking her down was not the best way to make a friend.

"I'm so sorry are you alright? " Gwen asked.

"I think I will live. Were you up there spying on me?" She demanded, furious with this girl.

"Oh no of course not I was just-" She began to explain but the strange girl had cut her off.

"It does not matter. " she told the girl in the forest. Veronica then kept walking forward.

"Hey there wait a moment I did not get your name" Gwen called to her. Veronica turned her head and yelled back to her.

" I did not give it out to you."

 Gwen caught up to her, obviously not getting the hint. Veronica hated that with a deep aversion.

" I am Gwen , it's nice to meet you." She spoke softly with the best intention.

"How nice for you now if you do not mind I have better things to do" Veronica told her in a nasty tone of voice.

Veronica then shoved Gwen out of her way. Then just loud enough for Gwen to hear her she grumbled the words "stupid wench" .

 Gwen's face turned beet red and then with anger in her heart she yelled back to the girl.

"You don"t need to be rude to me whoever you are!"

"Obviously when talking to the village idiot, I do ." She retorted back to the twit.

"Who are you and what have I done to deserve this?" Gwen yelled back as she ran to catch up to the rude girl in the woods. Out of annoyance and frustration she finally told her what the stupid wench was so desperate to know.

"Fine, if it means so much to you I am called veronica. Will you leave me alone now?" She asked the twit.

"Yes, thank you so much." Gwen replied to her before heading back town.

Veronica had zig zagged through the forest. She ran quickly through the forest and off of the trail. After a good fifteen minute run she looked behind her. The little wench was no longer following her. That was the last thing she needed. In disgust she headed back to her own side of the forest. She hoped the short cut would help her get back to the castle. She wanted to get the twit out of her mind, to shake off the day she wasted out here for nothing. She wanted to get back to her tower her sanctuary. She ran faster hoping to get her home faster. She just wanted to get back, get away from people like the little shrew she had just met. She couldn't wait to get back, she hoped she wouldn't find anymore surprises before she returned to her tower.

What a strange rude girl Gwen thought to herself , as she walked through the forest. She then looked up and saw the sun was hanging really low in the sky. She thought for a moment and then suddenly remembered that she was meeting Edwynn. She dashed through the forest she did not want to make a bad impression with him or his family. She ran faster and faster, hoping she would not be too late getting into town again. She ran as fast as she could and eventually made it out of the thick forest terrain.

 Once she had made it out of the forest, she took a moment to catch her breath before making her way to the blacksmith shop where Edwynn would be. She hoped she had not kept him waiting for too long. She did not wish to disappoint him. Gwen reached the front door to the shop and walked in. She saw George was there going through a few boxes on the counter when he looked up to see her standing there with a smile.

"Gwen, hello there dear." George greeted her. He then smiled back at her.

"Hello sir is Edwynn around anywhere?" Gwen asked him politely.

" He will return very shortly." George informed the girl. He then noticed a look of panic in her soft eyes. He smiled at her while he worked.

 "Don't you worry girl, he talks about you at home quite often since yesterday ." She blushed just slightly. She waited patiently for him to return. She engaged in polite conversation with George for a little while longer. Then not long afterwards he  came into the shop. He saw that she  was there. He was worried and immediately tried to make things right. He knew he shouldn't make anyone wait for him, especially a woman.

"Gwen I am so sorry I hope that I have not kept you waiting too long." Edwynn apologized to her.

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