Thorns & Roses

6.

Another week passed. Edric started to see a side of Lillian that he never thought it was there: the "accidental" touches, the small talks, among other things to catch Edric's attention. But he stayed indifferent to all such actions. And the day to pay Briar Rose another visit came. He went through the forest and back to the lady who stole his heart. And there she was so quiet and peacefully on a throne made of solid rock, the same of the one that was shaped like a bench. She must had changed it with magic before she fall asleep. A mighty queen resting. He tried to come near her, but before he could beat the distance, she waked up and smiled when she saw him. He returned the smile.

- Good morning! - he greeted her - Were you enjoying your dreams?

- You're late! - she stated, avoiding the question - I only fall asleep because you were delaying.

- I'm sorry, I didn't know you were so eager to see me. If I knew, I would come sooner.

- Don't get excited, human - she emphasized "human" - I just want to get this over with.

Briar Rose stood up and the throne went back to the bench-like rock. She passed him and asked him to follow her to the lake. There, she stopped at its side, waiting for him to join her. The lake's water was especially calm that day, even with the water falling on it. Edric saw her kneeling down by the watery mirror and pluck a single strand of fire-colored hair from her head.

- Mtuj Ca Yta Simy! - she whispered, the strand turning into a thread of fluid red light and floating to the water, which started to swirl, multiple blurred images popping on it almost at the same time. Then, Briar Rose offered her hand to him - Come, there's no need to be afraid! You wanted to know more about me, so I'm showing you.

He accepted her hand with pleasure, following her into the water. Many thoughts could have passed on his head on that moment, like "Is she going to kill me?" or "What if I drown?", but Edric felt safe with her. There was no need to be afraid, just like she said. His body was progressively under water, until only the head was left out. He took one last deep breath and sank with his eyes closed. When Edric opened them again, he felt stunned. He realized he could breathe under water and his surroundings looked like a water tunnel, with all the rainbow colors and a brightness he thought impossible. They were moving straight forward, but suddenly they started to descend at a great speed. The young hunter saw fragments of pictures that he thought were memories, Briar Rose's memories. And, as soon as the fall had begun, it ended. He landed on his feet, side by side with the fairy, both standing at the top of a verdant hill, covered with yellow and white flowers. At its bottom, a small village, like the one he was staying. A bright blue sky filled with few white clouds was standing above them and a smooth breeze was blowing their hair. He saw the sweet but sad look of nostalgia on her emerald eyes.

- Down there is the village where I grew up, Ayrsdale, one of many in Avalon.

Then, a pair of young girls appeared out of the blue, passing through them like he and Briar were ghosts. He was a bit scared, but she just giggled, explaining to him that they were inside a memory, that it wasn't "real", however vivid it may look. That was why they could not to be seen, heard or touched. They were, indeed, like ghosts. The two girls began their way down the hill towards the village of Ayrsdale, running faster and faster. Briar Rose let out a big smile of happiness and followed them, letting finally go Edric's hand. First, he froze in confusion, but then, just like her, he smiled and laughed and went after the children as well. At the end of the hill, they stopped, tired but excited. Now, he could see the true looks of the girls: they were both the same height, maybe even the same age, and their skin was of the same pale tone, making them to look very alike. But there were some huge differences too. While one had fiery red hair and deep green eyes, the other one had pitch-black hair and golden amber eyes. Both were wearing cotton white dresses and were barefoot. When they caught their breath, the redhead shouted:

- I won! It's your turn to do the chores.

- You cheated! - shouted the other one - You left before the start signal.

- I didn't cheated, I was faster. Admit it!

- NO! - they started to fight but quickly got tired and made up.

- C'mon, Fay, let's go home! - said the red-haired one - I'll help you.

They left, ready to go home, leaving Edric and Briar Rose alone. She was smiling, trying to hide her laugh. He suspected the one with hair like fire was Briar and the one with jet-black hair was her best friend, the one that turned to be an Unseliee.

- Did you do it?

- What are you talking about? - she questioned, even though she was quite sure of what he was talking about.

- About the cheating - she continued to stare at him with a grin on her face - I know the redhead was you. So, did you do it?

- Yes, no, maybe so... Who knows? - she shrugged her shoulders - Come, there's a lot more I want to show you.

She followed the path the girls made, pursued by Edric. The narrow streets were cobbled with black and white limestones, making beautiful draws and patterns on the ground. The houses were made of grayish stone and dark thick wood, all of them with a small backyard. The streets were filled with many kinds of fairies, mainly Elves and Pixies. There were animals everywhere and also magical creatures like basilisks, black shucks and even baby dragons. He was so fascinated by his surroundings that he didn't notice they had reached the main square. In the center, a gigantic oak stretched its huge, twisted branches and roots in all directions. The warm sunlight, passing through the leaves of the ancient tree, made light effects, turning the leaves from shamrock green to azure blue, from blue to deep red, then to bright orange, followed by lemon yellow and ending again with green. It was something incredible to see. He now knew the reason why she was homesick, with a hometown like that, even he, who was not attached to those things, would feel like that. They walked down the main square, rounding the big oak and entered another narrow street. At its end, a house made of stone and wood, just like the others, with two floors, magenta door and windows and a shop sign that read: "CURES AND CURSES". Clay pots full of flowers and plants, magical and non-magical, of all colors, shapes and sizes, were disposed around the house. From inside, the intense smell of incense and spices came out through an open window on the lower floor. She looked back at Edric, and said, moving towards the house:

- Come.

He followed her closely and both entered the house, passing through the walls like ghostly spirits. The inside was full of antiques and artifacts, furniture and crystals laying around, dry and fresh plants hanging from the ceiling. The smell became so stronger that Edric had a fit of cough. When he finally recovered, he started to inspect the space. It looked like an antique shop or an herbal store. The sound of steps thumping the floor above them and going down the stairs was coming from a simple dark wood door at the background. Before following Briar Rose through it, the young man looked a last time behind. Now, the orange light of the sunset was coming through the windows, warning that the night was coming. Then, he took a deep breath and passed through the door. Both went upstairs and began to smell other smells, smells of appetizing food, that made their stomachs growl. They got into the kitchen where the girls with distinct eyes and hair were, waiting for their dinner. An older woman with greyish white hair combed in two braids that were tied around her head like a crown and beautiful silver eyes came in the room with to woolen coats and two pair of leather shoes for each girl.

- Thanks, Granny! - both thanked while putting the extra clothes and footwear on themselves.

The woman smiled and distributed the food by the three, beginning the meal. It was accompanied by banal conversations, conversations that any happy family could have. And that's what they were, a very happy family!

- This was my family. Me, Fay and Julith - started Briar Rose, with a profound sadness in her eyes - Fay and I were orphans and Julith took us in when we were just babies. She took care of us. The others used to make fun of us, you know? But we grew strong, our bonds being more solid than those between blood. More than friends, we were sisters and Julith was like a grandmother to us. She taught us so many things... - she sighed before continuing - We were happy. Until this day.

The moment she finished the sentence, a hard knock on the door sounded all over the house, leaving it in deep silence. As no one answered, they knocked again, this time more insistently. Julith got up from the chair and asked them to stay and be silent. The two girls stayed put, not moving a muscle, while the old woman headed downstairs to answer the door. Until, the whole house was shaken by a great "BOOM!".