Thorns & Roses

1.

Somewhere in the Dark Ages

It was a hazy morning. A young man walked into the forest with his quiver and hunting bow, looking for a deer or even a little rabbit whose flesh would be his future dinner. All his life, he had been a hunter, but he wasn't familiar with those woods. Wandering from one place to another, he had hunted through almost every forest of the kingdom, living from his preys, fleeing from soldiers and bandits alike, flirting with the prettiest women who crossed his way... Until he reached a small village in the border of a great forest which surrounded a great mountain. Winter had come and he had no place to go, since the snow had blocked all the paths around the village, isolating it from the rest of the world. So, he decided to stay. The villagers were very nice and welcoming. The young hunter made a deal with the butcher: part of the flesh of his victims in exchange for shelter and other needs. That night, while he was drinking with the village's men, he heard stories about the enchanted mountain that was protected by the enchanted woods, the same woods behind the small town. Stories about fairies and another fantastic beings, terrible beasts, magic filling everything and everywhere: the soil, the air, the water, the trees, the rocks... They treated the forest as if it were a sacred place and the house of some kind of goddess. This "goddess", they said, was a being made of pure light, wrapped in beauty, kindness and justice. If they were good and left a small part of their profit as an offering, she would bring prosperity and protection. On the other hand, if they were evil, destroying the woods and provoking chaos, she would bring death and other punishments. The outsider didn't believe their words, thinking it was just another babbling of drunken men with too much imagination.

The next day, he left the butcher's house while the sun was still rising. All the town's people were still asleep, except the baker, but he was too concentrated on his own work to notice the hunter making his way to the woods. Silently, he entered and behold rays of daylight coming from the dense canopy of the trees, while on the floor, the mist started to swirl up and surround him. He didn't care, after all it wasn't the first time he hunted in a foggy morning. But with each step he took, the fog was growing thicker and thicker, until he couldn't see to where he was going. Suddenly, just like it appeared, the mist vanished, showing a bright and colorful forest. Although it was supposed to be winter, it felt like it was spring. The birds were singing, the flowers were blooming, a small waterfall whose water was falling into a thawed lake was leaving a speckled sound in the air. The only signs of the cold season were the subtle layers of snow and frost that covered everything: the petals of the flowers, the branches and leaves of the trees, the rocks and stones near the lake, all the forest ground... He was so dazzled by the beauty and wonder of the place that it took him some time to hear a serene and gentle melody. He followed the sound through the path opposite the lake and there, in a clearing, he found the maiden of those woods.

Hidden behind the bushes, away from the maiden's eyes, he confirmed that all the villagers' fantastic stories were true. She really was wrapped in beauty, with her long hairs like fire falling on her back and her eyes with an emerald sheen shinning with every ray of light. She had a very pale skin which was almost white, pointy ears and was wearing a long pale blue and white dress and a cloak of a dark blue as the sky on a full moon night. It looked like both were made of crystallized ice and snow but, at the same time, very comfortable and flexible as if they were made of velvet or other similar fabric. She was wearing a crown of flowers, sticks and feathers and some jewelry around her neck and wrists. A small ring with the shape of tangled vines with an unknown gem lied on her right index finger. In that outfit, the young lady really seemed to be made of pure light. She was smiling and singing while she was treating the wing of a tiny bird, a jackdaw. When she finished, the bird just flew up, testing the newly recovered wing, and went back to her, landing on her shoulder. She got up from the bench-like rock she was sitting on and said with a serious expression on her face:

- I do not like being spied on in my own domain, human.

The hunter came out of his hiding spot and stood before the young woman. She still had her back to him, but she could sense him bowing down in respect and admiration.

- I'm sorry for invading your realm - he responded, a bit afraid and hesitant - It was never my intention.

- Of course it was your intention - she turned around and faced him - If it wasn't, you wouldn't be here. Why did you come to my forest uninvited?

He stayed quiet. He was afraid to give the wrong answer and receive the consequent punishment.

- Answer me! â€" she demanded.

- I'm a hunter, Milady. I was doing what I do best, my job.

- You're an outsider - she stated with some contempt - The villagers didn't tell you about me?

- Yes, they did.

- If that's so, why did you come without my permission?

He stood up and looked to her, straight into her eyes. He was trying to defy her by showing her he wasn't afraid, even if it wasn't true.

- I thought they were just tavern stories, something that only a great deal of imagination and a lot of wine could make up to impress the ones who come and go.

- So... You don't believe in magic? You really believe that humans, weak and vicious creatures, were the ones who rule the land?

- Yes, I did. Until I saw you and everything else with my own eyes.

She started to walk towards him, silently, in the direction of the lake. She passed him and made a sign for him to follow. When they arrived at the lake, she looked at him and said:

- What's your name, human?

- It's Edric, Milady - he answered with courtesy.

- Edric, you're free to go, but today you go empty-handed - she raised her right hand and the stone in the ring gleamed - If you want to hunt in my woods, I expect a request or, at least, a warning. If it is accepted, the early fog will be lifted. Otherwise, you must not enter the forest. I won't be so merciful next time.

When she finished her warning, the same fog that made him get lost and enter the maiden's realm appeared again. It was covering him, pulling him out from that fantastic dimension. But before she disappeared from his sight, he dared to ask her name but the young lady only answered with a smile.