Thorns & Roses

3.

Every morning, at sunrise, the jackdaw would welcome the hunter at the border of the forest, becoming the constant reminder that, on the other side, there was a whole new world. Every day, Edric would wake up before the sun; everyday, Edric would go to the forest, ask for permission and it would be granted; everyday, Edric would come back home disappointed, only with his preys as a trophy. And, at the end of the day, the same nightmare would haunt his dreams. Meanwhile, on the enchanted forest, the fairy was stressing out, searching for a way to help the villagers without leaving the woods. She had searched day and night nonstop, using all the means she remembered, but it wasn't going well. Every solution which she came up with had a loop hole, some fail that would made the plan useless. Every day in the morning, she would see the catastrophe's prophecy on the lake, knowing it was coming, and she became desperate and thought to give up. But, on the third day of searching, the watery mirror gave the answers to her problem. On a moment of weakness, an unconscious spell showed on the lake the first human she had met for a long time, keeping his promise of hunting only what he needed, nothing else. The idea came as she saw him. It was her only hope and, for the town's people sake, it would better work. During the rest of the day, she made the preparations to set the plan in motion and waited for the night to come to begin the magic which would hopefully save the human lives she cared about.

Another night, another bad dream. All those nights without a good sleeping moment were being rough on Edric's body and mind. Dark circles appeared underneath his eyes, his appetite diminished, his usual good mood became grumpy and angry. Eda and Howard, the couple who hosted him, began to worry, asking him if everything was fine. He always answered yes, even if it wasn't, and they wouldn't bother him anymore. On the third night without sleep, he had the same nightmare but, at the same time, different. At the end, when his mother was supposed to appear, was the young lady of the forest who saved him. She was on a golden dress and a golden tiara was disposed on her head. No cloak nor jewelry this time, except the ring on her finger. The blackness of the nightmare was replaced for a clearing like the one where he met her, with multiple shades of green and all four seasons in one. She stood before him, looking him in the eye with a soft expression. He looked down, just to be sure he wasn't naked, but was just in his normal clothes, the ones he used every day, except when Lillian goes to the river to make the laundry. He noticed that she was barefoot, a subtle detail that intrigued him. He could also hear all the sounds of the forest: the wind blowing through the leaves of the trees, the birds singing nice melodies... And, at last, her sweet voice:

- You are in danger. All on the village are - she said, sounding worried - I came to warn you and I need you to warn them. A big storm is coming. You have two days to prepare yourself and the others.

He didn't respond. Actually, he wasn't understanding what was really happening, why she was there, in his bad dream.

- How...

- It's a communication spell - she explained briefly.

- Why? - he asked suspiciously - Why me?

- That doesn't matter. They need you.

- What do I get in return? - said him, after some time quiet.

It was her time to be shock. She was giving him the opportunity to save lives, his included, and he was trying to bargain with her over... what? She didn't even know.

- Excuse me?

- I said... What do I get in return?

- How... HOW can you be so... selfish? Trying to gain something from me putting other lives at stake.

- I don't care about the others. You warned me, I can save myself - he said like he really didn't care - But if you want to save the villagers so badly, why don't you do it yourself? - he asked, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

- Because I can't - she whispered - If I could, I'd done it already.

She turned her back to him, incapable of facing him anymore. Although she wanted, she would not cry in front of that insensitive, selfish human. How could he not care about the people who welcomed him with open arms? How could he? She would not show him her weak and soft part to him to explore. On the other hand, he was those people only hope and, if she did nothing, they would suffer because of her own pride. That could not happen!

- What do you want? Money, luck, other sorts of power? The fulfill of a vengeance, maybe?

- Do you really think that low of me? - he inquired, pretending to be offended, to what she nodded in response - No! First, I want to know your name.

He waited all the time necessary to her to give an answer, without pressuring her. She wasn't obligate to reply, but that she didn't know. After a few seconds, she spoke:

- I have many, but my given name is Briar Rose. Will you warn the villagers now?

- Not yet, I have a second demand. I want to spend a day with you every week until I leave for other places.

- That's it? - she asked, facing him again - You just want to spend time with me?

- That's it!

- You're negotiating lives for some time with me? - she was still skeptical - What is WRONG with you?

- Don't know! - he said, shrugging his shoulders.

She thought he was out of his mind and that made her not want to be with him anymore. For a whole day? Forget it! But again, he was the only one who could save the town's people. With difficulty, she swallowed her pride and accepted his proposal, with one condition: everyone, every single soul had to survive.

- Whatever you want. But how do I know you'll keep your word? I certainly will keep mine.

- I'm a Seelie - she replied with vanity - I always keep my word.

- It was a pleasure doing business with you - he said, while bowing and grinning at the same time.

Briar Rose began to walk in the opposite direction, fading away with each step.

- Wait! - Edric shouted - Where are you going?

- It's time for you to wake up, Edric. This is our goodbye.

- WAIT!

He tried to run after her, but a bright light made it impossible. He opened his eyes and realized that it wasn't a dream anymore, he'd came back to reality. He sat on the floor, thinking about the dream. It didn't seem real, but it had to be, he couldn't come up with something like that on his own. He got up and dressed, with his spirit refreshed, not tired at all. He made his improvised bed and sat at the breakfast table, waiting for the rest. Ten minutes later, Lillian walked in, with messy hair and still wearing her nightshirt. When she spotted him, she screamed so loudly that she waked everyone in the house, making Howard pop through the kitchen's door with a butcher's knife, followed by Eda with little Tommy in her arms. The three found Lillian clinging to a frying pan like it was a weapon and her life depended on it, while, on the floor, Edric had fallen from the chair with the fright.

- What the hell...?

After solving the misunderstanding, the hunter told that family the disgrace that were upon them, justifying it with excuses like odd behavior of the animals or something strange in the air, things that only a travelled hunter like him would know. He never mentioned Briar Rose, not even once, keeping to himself the real source of the information he was now sharing. Everyone listened carefully, absorbing every word. Then, Howard changed clothes and left his home, with the objective of passing the warning for all villagers. Half an hour later, every man, woman and child started to prepare for the storm: some collected wood; others closed the farm animals inside the barns and stables; farmers, the baker and the bartender distributed food and drinks for all homes... Edric himself tried to contribute, hunting all he could or helping on other tasks. Many hours passed but finally the work was done. That town was prepared for the greater winter storm in all inhabitants' lives. At last, all of them locked up inside their own homes, waiting for the catastrophe.

Two days later, it came. The tempest lasted a whole week, setting thevillagers free on the seventh day's morning. The layer of ice and snow was ameter high, blocking the doors and making anyone who wanted to leave the housespass through the windows. A whole day was necessary to clean the streets and tothe life there come back to normal. Edric confirmed himself what he desired themost: every single soul had survived and now was the time to the fairy do her part of the accord.