Odyssey of Olympius

Lady of the Wood

"Who goes there?" A voice from the forest called out to the two travelers. They stop the crunching of leaves and one of them responds awkwardly.

"Olympius..." He says, overcome by a pause, then asking "to whom do I sp--" he is interrupted by the assertive tone of the forest.

"Who is the other?" The voice asked, shaking the trees around them.

Olympius nods to his friend, whom jolts to life and introduces himself under the falling leaves.

"Lucifer." He says quietly, hiding under his dark robes. Another pause leaves the two travelers in anticipation for what seemed like minutes.

"Why have you come?" The forest asked the travelers.

"We seek refuge." Olympius responds to the trees, uncertain where to look.

"We have traveled far and our bones grow weary." Lucifer adds emerging from his cloak before retreating once more under his hood.

A small opening is made from the treetops, and a cottage is revealed by the penetrating rays of the sun. The cottage door opened and a lady cast a shadow from the vibrant light radiating from inside the cottage. She methodically proceeds towards the travelers with patient steps. From her approach, a green robe is revealed with a hood down, and a diadem of sticks lay on her crown. Her bright blonde hair is free from the shadow and waves gloriously in the wind. Her cyan eyes approach Olympius and Lucifer.

"Hello." The woman introduces herself with a calm and soothing voice.

Both Olympius and Lucifer are curiously stunned by her presence, but Olympius must explain his venture. As he began to speak, he felt he had known this mysterious woman his entire life.

"We are exiled knights of Turalyon's Kingdom." Olympius says, explaining himself, but also feeling disappointed he had to explain himself in such a way.

"I am unfamiliar with that kingdom." The lady says, "Why have you been exiled?" She curiously asked Olympius.

"We did not believe in their brutality" He says honestly. "Therefore, we were considered traitors against my fathers army." He tells the Lady his story.

"Your father?" She asked turning her head.

"Well..." Olympius says looking down. "The closest that I've known to a father." He says, looking back up at the Lady.

"I see," the lady says solemnly. "It is noble of you to openly preach of your compassion." She says to Olympius; understanding his confliction before turning to his friend. "What is your story?" She asked the quiet bystander.

"He is my best-friend." Lucifer shyly responded. "I could not stay in that kingdom without his company." He says, sharing a smile with Olympius.

"So it is attachment that drives you?" She asked the traveler.

"Uh.. no." Lucifer says nervously retreating under his hood.

"He is my companion." Olympius confidently interrupts. "He swore his loyalty to me, as I have inspired him to live a better life." He says resting his hand on Lucifer's shoulder.

"And justly," The lady says "I will honor him the same as I would honor you." She says and leads them inside the cottage under the moonlight.

Within the cottage, they pass a radiant light serving as an entryway of sorts. Inside however, was humble. A bed lay openly in the far corner of the room, white as the light radiating from the entry. A bookshelf covers the opposite wall holding many books of ancient leather bindings; some, fragile with gloriously faded engravings of symbols, neither Olympius or Lucifer could comprehend. The lady sits the two travelers at a smooth wooden table and hands them mugs of water, and seats herself and taking a gentle sip of her own mug.

"This, father." she says between her sips "tell me of him." she strikes a conversation with her two travelers.

"Tiberius." Olympius says, taking a drink of his own.

"Son of the ruthless Tyrannus." Lucifer adds to the conversation with quickly muttered words.

"Yes." Olympius said looking down, feeling empathy for his father. "Tyrannus was overthrown by compassionate men within his ranks." he explains to the lady. "Perhaps my father felt the same." He quietly said, thinking to himself that he was taking the wrong path; or that he could have handled past situations more appropriately.

"How did you happen amongst the ranks of these knights?" The lady asks, interrupting Olympius' train of thought.

"It was my punishment for worrying my father." Olympius said "Lucifer has been the only friend that I've had in my childhood." He explained "We wanted to explore the Deontoro Forest in our youth, but we were caught" Olympius said--reflecting. "So my father sent us into the order; So we could defend ourselves." He told the lady.

"What did you find in the Deontoro?" The lady asked, turning to Lucifer. He sat in nervous silence for a short while, fearing the lady, as if she knew everything about him.

"Nothing but trouble." Lucifer said, feeling scared and vulnerable. The lady sat in a silence after his reply, seeming to read Lucifer. She felt as if he had something to hide, and forgave his unusual behavior.

"If that is how you choose to see it." The lady responded, instead of prying the dark secrets that were inside of Lucifer.

"Who are you?" Olympius finally asked the lady, eagerly waiting his turn to speak.

"I am a lady." She says "and I live in the woods; For I, am the lady of the woods." she presents herself with a grand smile of sparkling white teeth, so calming and contagious; Olympius shares a smile with the lady's absurd introduction.

The door opened suddenly and another, much younger woman enters the cottage. Greeted quickly by the lady herself, who hugs the younger woman tightly. Their love was endless and intoxicating. The lady then turns back to the travelers.

"Dear, me." She says "This is my beloved daughter, Grenada." the lady introduces her daughter. "She slipped my mind just long enough during our encounter. I simply had to express once more, a reminder of my unconditional love." The lady says with her arm still tightly holding her daughter close.

The two travelers stare in awe--the beauty of Grenada's presence--soothing and peaceful. Dressed in more vibrant, and expressive colors of green and yellow, with dark brown hair and violet eyes; Bright white teeth pierced through her soft lips as she grabs a book from the shelf— faded, and engraved with gold and silver trim on the binding. The daughter read shortly before dipping a raven's quill in ink and begging to write the book. Paying little mind to the two travelers.

"Darling," The lady interrupted "We have guests, dear." the lady says. The daughter paused for a split second before shutting her book quickly and apologizing.

"Blessed be." She laughed coming back from her thought "Where are my manners?" the daughter says embarrassed. "I have been studying the forest all day, I apologize for my absent mind." She apologizes to the two travelers.

"Worry not." Lucifer reassures. "We'd nary wish to be a burden." Lucifer says with a charming smile.

"What have you been studying in the forest?" Olympius asked curiously.

"Nothing of importance." The daughter shyly replies under her robes.

"It's getting late." The lady said to the table, "Let me show you to your room." She said leading the two travelers to their acquaint rooms above the barn that house the horses. Small and open, two beds lay on either side of the open roof barn. Before the two were excused the lady told the boys-- "If you wish to stay longer, we can arrange responsibilities. Two women could surely use some help with the daily chores that keep the animals alive and healthy."

Olympius agrees confidently, as he was not one to not shy away from getting dirty. After contemplate staying longer with Lucifer, but it was clear they were both fond of the Lady and her daughter.