The Green Goddess

The Green Goddess Part 5

Kylo sat in his tent and received the visit he had been waiting for. Zuvius the tracker had come to him with valuable information. The man spoke softly, giving precise details of the whereabouts of a certain Celt girls hiding place having followed her the night before. Kylo listened intently, refusing to make any notes lest someone else should find them.

Once Zuvius had concluded his report Kylo stood and grasped the mans wrist, as Zuvius did Kylo's, in gratitude. But as Zuvius tried to pull away he found Kylo had him in a vice like grip. Kylo smiled as he saw the mans eyes suddenly fill with fear. Zuvius tried to turn and pull his arm away. Kylo's iron grip yanked Zuvius back towards him as he deftly unsheathed his sword and drove it into the mans heart. Zuvius's face showed shock and horror as the blade plunged deep into his body. He slumped to the ground, dead. Kylo had to ensure no other living being heard the information he had just been made privy too.

Kylo wiped the blood from his sword on the man's clothes and called a Centurion. "This man was a traitor to Rome!" he declared. The Centurion looked at the body and did not bat an eyelid. Dragging the corpse from Kylo's tent to be disposed of. Kylo called another Centurion to ready his horse. It was late afternoon, and he made the excuse that he would be visiting the next encampment alone and would be back the next morning.

Kylo rode quickly down the road then doubled back into the forest, he was searching for the natural markers that lead to the sweetest prize of all. When he came upon the place he had been searching for he tied up his horse. Moving quickly and as quietly as a man of his size could he crept behind the moss covered rock wall to find the hollow tree Zuvius had described. The sweet smell of dried herbs hit his nostrils, the same scent he had smelled on Rey's skin. His heart leapt. He knew this was the place.

Bending to enter and allowing a moment for his eyes to adjust to the gloom he saw her. Asleep on a tiny bed in this tiny place. Not even big enough for him to stand at full height. He kneeled down beside her, gazing at her while she slept. She looked so innocent, so peaceful. He softly kissed her cheek and her eyes flew open with a start. In an instant she had both feet on his chest and had shoved him backwards. He lost his balance, falling awkwardly and catching himself, stopping just short of falling over completely. Rey stared for a moment, blinking in shock, and then she flew into his arms, weeping and kissing his face. He wrapped his long arms around her tiny waist and squeezed her so tightly to him he worried she might not be able to breath and yet he could not stop.

"Rey," he whispered, "Now you see, I come to you." He smiled as she quietly sobbed into his shoulder. "How did you...?" "It does not matter how," He soothed, unclipping his long black fur lined cloak, spreading it on the floor and pulling her down onto it, holding her and kissing her so tenderly. He savoured the chance to undress her slowly, kissing the parts of her that he uncovered a little at a time. This night he was resolved to take his time.

All night they lavished attention on each other and finally fell asleep, exhausted, in each others arms a few hours before dawn. When the sun was beginning to rise, Kylo woke and made to get up. "Wait!" Rey's hand on his arm stopped him. His hands cupped her jaw, "I have to go," he said sadly. "No," she continued, "It's something else..." and she burst into tears. He pulled her to him, trying to comfort her. "What is it Rey?" he whispered, "Don't cry, what is it?" Rey looked up at him, biting her bottom lip nervously, "I...carry your child." Kylo stared at her blankly, trying to fully comprehend what he had just heard. Rey stared back, desperately trying to gauge his reaction.

His mouth slowly curved into a huge smile. He kissed her face all over as the tears rolled down her cheeks. Pulling her to him and cradling her head in his hand against his chest. Closing his eyes he breathed to himself, "Our child!" He lay her down on her back and lay on his side up against her with his hand on her belly. He kissed her cheeks and gently rubbed the place his child was growing. He smiled widely at her, his dark hair falling in his eyes. Rey's eyes were still full of tears. "You do not have to worry...I will take great care of our child." Kylo was staring again, "Rey! You wont be alone!" "But how?" Rey snivelled. "Let me worry about that! You wait here for me and stay safe. I'll come back for you sweetheart, I promise!"

As Kylo rode back to camp in the sunshine that morning he felt strong and determined. He had found Rey, and now his green Goddess was carrying his child. The Gods were blessing him and he had no intention of offending them. His life had been spent furthering the interests of Rome, and the Gods never challenged his convictions until now. The Gods had shown him a new path. A path he could not deviate from, and he understood their will.

Back at camp Kylo started furtively gathering items. Dried fruits and meats, wine, clothing, weapons, furs. He pawed over maps. Late in the day he rode out the gate with his horse loaded with supplies on the pretence of again visiting another camp. One further away this time. He would be gone for at least a week he told his men. He rode his horse to the site where the Romans had burned the bodies of a great many Celts and filled a sack with a skull and burned bones. In the forest he laboured to build a bonfire. When night fell he lit the fire and let it burn down, throwing his fine Roman Tribunes armour near the fire and the burned skull and bones on top of the ashes of the bonfire.

He was now dressed in a grey woollen tunic and leather belt, and looked much like any other Celt. He headed to Rey's tree on foot, leading his horse through the dark. He burst into Rey's little home excitedly kissing her, "Time to go!" He puffed, "Bring what you need, and hurry, there is no time to waste!" Rey smiled at him, producing a skin packed with items. "I already packed," she grinned. Kylo kissed her forehead and smiled, "Clever girl!" He lifted her onto his horse and jumped on behind her. His arm protectively around her belly. "Where are we going?" she asked. "A long way away from here," he answered. "To be together?" she asked. "Always!" he growled.

Years rolled by, eons.

There were two ancient legends that revolved around the Roman Tribune Kylo Ren.
This was one...

One day in the forest, the Tribune Kylo Ren came across a witch.
He took her prisoner and she put a curse on him before escaping back to the forest.
The curse put on the Tribune made him follow the witch into the night.
The witch captured the Tribune with the use of a magical spell, cooked and ate him.
All that was found were his bones and discarded armor.
It was said that on still nights Ren could sometimes be heard calling for the witch
as his spirit searched the forest for her.

The second legend went like this...

The Demon Kylo fell in love with Rey, the Goddess of the forest.
Every day the Demon prayed to the Goddess and begged her for her favours,
but she would not oblige him and the demon would rage.
The Demon was so persistent that the Goddess eventually fell in love with him.
The Goddess would visit the Demon nightly and became pregnant with the Demons child.
The Demon took the Goddess and spirited her away to far off lands,
where the Demon could just be a man and where the goddess could just be a woman.
They loved each other and had many children together. Black of hair and fair of face.
Giants they say. Kings and Queens among them.