Witch Of The White Wood

And this is where our story begins

Upon a grassy green hill, deep within a Fairy forest bordering Elven land, littered with luscious leaves which covered the floor alongside marvellous shrubbery and gorgeous specks of light dribbling in through the canopy of white trees sat a beautiful white band stand where moss and vines grew happily. And on the inside of it a young girl was seated with hands in her lap. Singing a sombre song alongside the Lyrebirds in the trees which mimiced her tone perfectly, creating a beautiful harmony between human and nature, almost as if they knew the meaning behind the sylables they sung. Almost bringing life back to the forgotten place that was always filled with music. She stared upwards into the trees and onto the clouds, moving slowly and forming shapes along the sky. Wavy (H/C) strands cascading down onto her shoulders which were clad with a white dress which breathed an air of surrealism and perfection.

The atmosphere was peaceful and calm, wind blowing steadily through the leaves and picking a few off and carrying them through the wind. Everything was bathed in golden light and serenity as the young girl continued her song onwards, voice echoing through the wind catching the pointed ears of a young boy nearby. A boy with a head full of messy black hair mostly hidden underneath a hard helmet which had room cut out for his pointed ears to just out from creeped around the woods, avoiding branches or patches of dried grass to keep him from being heard caught the tips of a song being sung not to far from where he stood.

Elven borders had been dangerous territory for any Human who dared to set foot in it without permission from the King, but the boy knew that no voice this sweet belonged to a Human. Between the major cities lay ruins and abbandoned statues of old villages or towns which had been evacuated as the war for the Stick of truth raged on. Whole families slaughtered in the battle and complete towns left desolate. For a trained soldier the sight was nothing new, but as the boys ocean blue eyes scanned over the wreck and buildings which had been consumed by nature he held a deep sigh. He was no trained soldier, just a thirteen year old boy who had been bred for adventure, to follow in his fathers large footsteps as captian of the guard, the kings right hand man.

He had been kept away from this part of the wood, for fear of what he might find. The adults, namley his father thought he wasnt ready to see what the war had done to the people, his people. Stepping closer to the song of mourning he noticed a strange feeling of security, a stillness deep within his chest as though he was supposed to be here, meant to have snuck out at the break of first light when the town was the quietest. Stepping around debris he drew himself closer to the young maiden, never once making a noise or any indication he was nearby.

But what he saw made his heart almost stop, there surrounded by sunlight sat an ethereal being. A figure of grace and beauty, with pointed ears similar to his and doe like (E/C) eyes which looked up into the sky from her seat in the bandstand. (Pale/Tanned/Dark/Olive) skin which shimmered with a radiance of a diamond caught in the light and fresh pink lips which glistened like morning dew opening and closing with the words sung into the nothingness around them. Trying to get closer to hear her clearly he stepped around the tree he stood behind, making a slight rustle which broke all ambiance.

The birds scampered from the trees, the suns glow dulled and the wind ceased to move as the girl rose as quickly as she could, looking through the treeline until eyes met. Hearts beat. Breaths stilled. A flurry of warm air caught between them as she stood like a deer in the headlights, grasping onto the thick material of her dress pulling it up so slightly that her bare feet were exposed to the boys curious gaze. No words were spoken, her shoulders grew more tense as he took another step forwards and she took another back.

"Who are you!" she demanded taking another step away from him, her back hitting the wood of the canopy she stood under while taking in the boys appearance. They seemed to be of a similar age. His helmet was clearly too big for his head and the belt he wore around his square hips was easily too loose for him as it dangled to the heavier side which held a sheath for a sword. She eyed the weapon hesitantly before moving up his body to his face. A defined nose perched in the centre of his face with two slightly drooped eyes which held pools of carribean blue stared back at her, his thin lips wet as he licked them nervously, crouching slightly with hands raised in a surrender motion. Almost like he was trying to tame an animal. She straightened her back and glowered down at him as he began to speak to her.

"Stanley, Marsh. Im from Larnion, who are you?" he took a cautious breath and spoke softly, complying with her demand as he shrunk before her prescence, her eyebrows softened and her shoulders dropped as she welcomed the elf slightly. He could see she let out a light sigh of releif but still held an air of cautiousness. Allowing him to step forward her voice echoed through the woods, sending the faintest chill up the boys body.

"Marsh, i know that name." she pondered, stepping slightly out of the comfort of the decaying bandstand and into the lush woods. He nodded, explaining who his father had been and a look of shock and recognition crossed the angelic features of the girl infront of him. Her traits werent quite Elvish, she didnt possess the same long droopy ears, hers were pointed and upright, her pupils were bigger than that of an Elfs and her hair wasnt as thick. Her cheekbones were set just right on her face but held no sharpness, her jaw didnt either. Sharp and long features were common on Elves but hers were softer, gentler but not round like a Humans. The boy made a quick dedcuction and spoke rashly, loud and abruptly.

"You're a Fairy arent you! What are you doing out here?" the girl looked shocked at his friendly tone and loud volume and instinctivly took a light step back before responding. "Look at it. It's so empty here, so devoid of life. I spend my time looking around here at what could have been, what should have been. Here let me show you." Their conversation was fluid, easy and gentle. As they spoke the wind carried the two around the ghost town, as they walked through empty dirt streets and through old market places her face held sadness, he had never been here, it all felt surreal. But with each broken window he passed and each scorched house they gazed at an anger grew inside his stomach. A red hot violent feeling which turned his face sour as his eyebrows twisted and nose scrunched in disgust.

"It's all their fault." He muttered, hearing a slight hum of confusion from the girl who stood alongside him and he began to clench his fists, startling the young Fairy. "The Human men only care about themselves, they're filled with greed and jealousy, they dont care that they slaughtered innocent people here!" His adolescent voice rose with anger as the girl watched him with eyebrows furrowed and weary eyes. "They did this to my people and they will pay for it." his pale face flushed red and his eyes darkened as he looked at reminences of what used to be homes, shops, taverns and playgrounds. He went to speak more until a soft hand landed on his broad shoulder.

(Y/N) looked Stanley in the eyes sternly and let her hand gesture over to on of the destroyed homes. "Stan." she let his name slip from her toungue casually in such a way he shuddered, looking into her vibrant eyes. "Think for a moment, you yern for such revenge but what will that bring us? More pain, more murder, more suffering. We must be willing to show forgivness and kindness or the cycle of endless death will just continue." She pleaded and he lowered his head in shame like a child who had been scolded by his mother.

"If we dont fight them how will we win the war." he tried to reason but was quickly shushed by her soft voice in his ear. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end as her hot breath blew over his face as she began her counter argument. "Im not saying dont defend yourself, im just saying for you to show some mercy, turn the other cheek and accept that there have been wrongs done on both ends." He nodded, understanding her words were mostly right and that fighting needlessly wouldnt make things any better. She smiled at him as she witnessed her words circling through his head before detatching herself from him. His head snapping up to meet hers as she walked back into the woods.

"Where are you going!" he shouted after her, walking over to her retreating form as she held a hand for him to stop in his stride. "I will leave you with that to think on, until we meet again Stan." She smiled, picking up her pace as she sped on. He stopped for a moment, noticing the way she butchered his full name, but he liked it. Pondering for a moment he ran after her, back towards the band stand. Through countless trees and dirt streets until he stood, panting infront of the abandoned building. "I dont even know your name." He sighed, taking his helmet off and sitting on the seat she once had placed herself upon. He let his helmet rest on the floor as he stared up into the sky, noticing this was the perfect angle to view the clouds from under the canopy of white trees. He smiled and felt his cheeks heat up before trotting back off home. The white trees begining to mix with brown trees until there was no more of the pristine colour.

At the gates to his kingdom he stood, wondering, thinking about the girl he had set his eyes on a moment ago. And with a smile he gazed off into the trees, into the forest where he had seen her one last time. Before placing his helmet back on and strolling back into the town, quickly being bombarded with attention from the children his age, his friends asking where he had been. And with a soft sigh he muttered the word. 'Nowhere'.