Witch of the Marigold Forest

prologue

The Northern Lair. Its nickname was apt. Miles beneath a frozen surface, the dungeon was a room of nightmares. The floor was freezing rough stone, the ceiling of the cavern dark with soot from the torches burning in their holders. The sounds of faint shrieks could be heard, echoing off of the walls of every chamber.

Everything hurt. Her head hurt, her chest hurt, her feet hurt. It was exhausting and the pain took its toll. Tired, but unable to sleep and unable to stop the biting pain of her wounds. Her leg throbbed, blood seeping through what was left of her dress. 

"Heavenly Mother, creator of heaven and all its stars, hear my despaired prayer. Guide me so I may repel these evil forces, o brightest of lights. Bless me with your sacred grace, Mother." She chanted faintly, eyes closed, lips cracked and bleeding.

Three days had passed since she had seen another soul, but she was grateful. She hoped that she had been forgotten about, anything better than the torture she faced at the hands of the guards. Cruelty barely began to cover the vicious treatment she had faced. 

"Heavenly mother," She began again, her voice fading until she could only chant in her head. The cold set over her, seeping through her tattered dress and into her bones. She sighed softly as she drifted off, the bite of frost nipping at her skin.

She awoke with a start. Sun shone brightly on her raw and damaged skin, and her eyes throbbed with the sudden exposure. Fear set in as she tried to remember what had happened. The world before her spun before she shut her eyes tightly and returned to her slumber. 

She dreamed listlessly, plagued by the shrieks of her fellow inmates, flashes of bright lights and the feeling of a cool cloth being placed tenderly on her forehead.

"Stop," She whispered, the whip that had so cruelly broken her skin cracking in the distant landscape of her dreams. Voices whispered somewhere close and she was awakened from the daemons she battled. Eyes pressed tightly shut against the light, she listened.

"Who is she?" Someone in another room muttered urgently.

"I am not sure," Another replied, sounding pleasantly unconcerned.

"Where did you even get her? Her kind are not supposed to be brought here," The first voice asked again, this time sounding exasperated.

"She was locked up with your siblings, Elorin, and I couldn't just leave her there, her neshfelete was dying," The second voice responded.

"But why bring her here, Pae, when you know the trouble you could get in," Elorin, the first voice said.

So the person who had taken her was named Pae. Who were they? What did they want with her?

"She has awoken," Pae said, sounding cheerful. She barely had time to wonder who they knew she was awake before she could hear the sound of footsteps. She wrenched open her eyes, a profound sense of panic settling over her, and being temporarily blinded by the bright light of the sun didn't help. The ceiling above her stretched on for what seemed like miles, huge windows allowed bright light to stream into the circular. She lay comfortably on a soft cot, swathed in blankets of pure white. Her body ached and her right leg felt heavy, as if it was broken.

The doors on the far side of the room opened and in stepped two figures. Clothed in long flowing garments of white, the first gazed sweetly at her, their deep brown eyes twinkling. Both had matching hairstyles plaited away from their faces, exposing long pointed ears. Elves.

"Hello there, I see you're awake," The first elf smiled and opened their mouth to speak again when were cut off by the second.

"Who are you? What were you doing in that dungeon? Do you mean us harm?" This must be Elorin. Their stance was defensive, gloved hands balled into fists, and their dark eyes furious. Their willowy ears were pressed firmly against their head like a cat hissing at its prey.

"Nonsense, Elorin, stop your badgering. My guest is welcome to recover here, free of your questioning." Pae countered.

"My name is Paeris Daegarien. And this young one behind me is Elorin. You are in my home." They smiled again, showing brilliant white teeth.

She tried to speak, but her throat was dry and the words got caught. As if sensing what she needed, Paeris gestured to her bedside.

"There is water and tea with honeysuckle if you would like, you must be parched from your long sleep. You have been out quite a while," They chuckled.

Arms heavy as stone, she reached over, shaking hands trying to grip the cool glass. Water felt like a breath of life to her throat, and she gulped thirstily.

Wiping her mouth clean with the back of her hand, she sighed contentedly, looking up again.

"My name," She started shakily, "My name is Winifred Killian."