I love writing. Short stories, attempts at novels... One day I'll get published! As you may have guessed, Arthur is a popular theme, but I am also fascianted by fairy tales and mythology, particularly the darker side. Here is an example - not my best work, but a taste of what I do. Copy it, and I'll sue you, or perhaps bury a voodoo doll bearing your name and then sacrifice a chicken. Only joking. Litigation is just too expensive. The Swan Prince by Rachel Moss
The sharp, thin heat of the day had pierced my skull like a dozen white-hot arrows. It was a type of heat that jabbed and dazzled my mind until my thoughts were bright butterflies of pain, fluttering awkwardly across my brain. When I closed my eyes, I could see the red flashes of their wings against the darkness. We grasped at night thankfully when it came, but for me evening fell disappointingly; like a thirsty man who runs to the well, its water his only thought for hours, and then finds it dry, I found the night was not a cool relief from the parching heat. As the warmth of the day evaporated sullenly, it seemed to suck with it the very air. There was no breeze, and the night lay somewhere between warmth and cool. I felt the air was being dragged from my lungs and swallowed by the greedy night. Unable to breathe, I placed my basket on my head, took up a knife and set off down the red dust road.
This was a long time ago, before I changed the air I breathed and the rain I felt, and the land I lived in was full of heat and blood shades. I slipped barefoot along the beaten track, mindful to keep out of the dark shadows of the olive trees where it was said that vengeful ghosts dwelt, waiting to strangle the life out of careless travellers. I walked lightly along the moonlit sections of the road, a thin ribbon of safety. It was dangerous to be out along in the darkness, for night was when the damned and the dark gods walked, but I could not bear the closed airlessness of the village any longer. I would cut reeds at S? Dar, the place this land would translate as Swan Lake.
How there came to be swans there I do not know. Why there was a dense grove of trees and a cool lake at its centre was even more strange. But by the water grew dense clusters of reeds that could be cut and weaved into baskets that were sold many miles along the thirsty road, and it was these reeds I came to cut. I pretended that I was being industrious, but in truth I longed for the feel of cold water against my legs, like liquid night. So I entered the wood and made for the lake.
I immediately noticed something different in the wood. During the day, the trees stood tall and sexless, pale against the sky. Now they seemed to crouch and coil darkly towards each other. I felt that I had interrupted the gossip of a group of young women, and I could sense them staring balefully at me. The air thickened and tightened around my neck and chest, and I thought my heart would burst with fear. The moment passed, but I was careful not to dawdle amongst the trees that swayed gracefully in an alien breeze. My hands only stopped trembling when I reached the water?dge.
The lake was like a silver mirror, so bright in the moonlight that it dazzled away the reflection of the trees. I stepped into the coolness by the reeds, sending silver tongues of water rippling away from me, and I cut at the reeds that looked like steel blades. For a short, precious while I felt deeply content.
After a brief spell of time I looked up from my work to see a swan gliding into the middle of the lake. This was peculiar; I saw the other swans huddled like white pillows under a tree. This bird swam gracefully along, stopped, looked up at the moon with a disturbing intentness, then skimmed over towards me, its wings stretched wide, and??came a man.
I was terrified. I did not know nor care how such a thing had happened; I had blinked, and then there was a silvery man standing thigh-deep in the water only a few strokes away from me. I feared he was a god who would punish me for entering his sacred wood. He radiated life, which shone like an aura around him, and the trees leant in greedily, as if to suck him up. They knew I was there, and they did not like me. But did the swan god know I crouched, dizzy with fear, in the reed bed?
He threw his head back and howled with grief, and at that moment I realised that he was not a god, but that he was more beautiful than any temple statue. As I saw this, I became uncomfortably aware of his nakedness. Flesh was a great taboo, the source of all evil, and here I was staring at a man whose skin was illuminated by the moon. I blushed, and turned my face away.
I must have splashed the water, for he cried in a voice studded as much with fear as with threat:
? is there???t;br>And then, before I could move, he had plunged through the water and grasped me through the reeds. I screamed, ready now to die, and, startled, he let go of me and fell backwards into the water. I made a leap for the trees, but his next words stopped me.
?ase do not go.??t;br>He spoke harshly, as if his voice had been unused for a long, long time, and his eyes grew large with pleading. It is a trap, my mind warned me, but his eyes drew me to him, and so I crouched cautiously on the bank. He stared up at me for a long time, and then spoke.
?eone is here at last!?? cried incredulously, and then, to my horror and discomfort, he burst into floods of tears. He rained noisily for a while, and then the storm subsided, and he looked at me. His face was streaked with liquid moonlight. ?m sorry,?? said quietly, ? it has been so very long since I have seen another human face.??e looked down at himself, and then at me, and his face changed. I noticed a flush spreading upwards from his throat, and at once I pulled off my head scarf, a long piece of material, and gave it to him. He understood at once, and, mumbling what sounded like an apology, turned his back to me and tied to cloth about his waist. When he turned back his face was different. The tears had dried, and the pleading, joyful look had disappeared. He held himself up proudly, and his face was darkly imperious. Beads of water dripped like jewels from the cloth about his waist, and he seemed suddenly clothed in more than a worn rag.
? he announced, ?Prince S?.??e flicked his eyes up and down my face arrogantly.
? I,??answered, hating my lumpen and dull name, ?Mahka.??t was a peasant?ame, a name of toil and dirt, and I felt he knew it, for he flared his nostrils and gave me a small, tight smile, as if he were greatly amused by something. I felt myself withering from the inside. Here I was, in the presence of some silvery, magical being who was as near divinity as I could imagine, and all I did was crouch pitifully on the bank of the lake.
?l, girl,?? cried with annoyance, ? you not going to bow to me? I am your Crown Prince,?? finished, with a flare of temper.
?use me, Your Highness,??said meekly, ? I thought Amir was our Crown Prince.??t;br>???? said, his brow wrinkling. ?t are you talking about, girl? Who is your king???t;br>?g Hamil III, may the Gods protect and keep him,??replied dutifully.
? third???e looked puzzled, and then something crept across his face, something akin to fear. ?l me, what year is it???t;br>?,??said, now a little puzzled myself, ?is 697, Prince.??t;br>He caught his breath and paled, then flung himself back into the water with a desolate cry. He lay still in the water for a long time, his arms stretched out wide, and he stared blankly at the moon. After a while I moved towards him, whispering:
?t is it???t;br>He did not answer at once, but only sighed.
?hought I had been away from the world for five years, maybe ten at most,?? said wearily. He paused, and turned his head towards me. His eyes shone darkly, and his next words were bitter. ? now it seems that I have been trapped for more than one hundred and fifty years. Three lifetimes I have been gone, and everything I love must be dead and gone. Everything and everyone."
?ife???asked timidly, for his voice had thickened with despair.
?, a wife, not that I cared for her much, and my throne-to-be, and my father, my horses and friends. I have much to miss, have I not???e sat up and stared at me with venomous grief that burnt at me. I longed to run away and leave his pain, but then he doubled over and sobbed tearlessly, biting his lip until blood ran down his chin. I took his hand, forgetting that he was a prince, and he must have forgotten that I was a peasant, for he squeezed it back so tightly that I felt my bones would snap like kindling. So we sat for what seemed like a very long time, until the darkness began the thin into grey. Then he let go of my hand, now numb and white, and stood.
?will be daylight soon, and I will return to that old form you saw. Will you come at night to see me???t;br>? wish to see me again???t;br>??it there open-mouthed, you little fool,?? snapped. ?e I not just said that I have been alone for 150 years? Do you begrudge me your company, poor and dull as it is? Come tomorrow; I will need your help to get me away from this place of horror. And bring me some food; I would like to remember what food tastes like.??e trembled with anger; his brow was dark with painful fury. I shrank from him.
? are you here???asked, but it was too late; the sun pierced palely through the trees, and, with a loud cry, the Prince stretched and crouched and then fluttered whitely away across the water. I sat in the water until my skin felt soaked through and the morning mists gathered about my head.
When I reached home the sun was high in the sky. My mother greeted me with a frown.
?t have you been doing, child? I found your bed empty when I awoke just before dawn. I feared that ghosts had snatched you, or that you had fallen down the well. No one had seen you.??t;br>?ent to cut reeds,??answered.
?n???t;br>? long before dawn, when the sky was just whitening at the edges,??lied. ?was cool, and I was awake, so I thought I would do a little work.??t;br>My mother looked at me hard. She usually had to shake me from my bed, and I sensed she did not quite believe me. But then my younger sister clutched at her skirt and wailed for breakfast, so I was saved. All my mother said was:
?l, why did you go out without wearing a scarf? Go cover your head, girl,??fore hurrying inside. I stayed alone outside, wondering if all I had seen and heard had been a dream; the sun, already bright and hard, bleached away thoughts of magic in the shade of cool woods. My head ached. Confused, I set to weaving, a monotonous task that allowed me to think. I could not settle my troubled mind; my thoughts danced away from me in a thousand directions, and I trembled and paled in the effort to draw them to me, but still I could find no answers to the mystery I had witnessed.
Why did I tell no one? I feared they would laugh, but even more I feared they would take away my discovery from me. Something inside me struggled defiantly against my dutiful urge to inform my father or the priest. It was my piece of magic; what else did I have? We were not an important family in the village; my dowry was small, and I was sadly aware of being plain. Too dark and flat featured, I thought sullenly as I stared at myself in the well?ater. A squashed, wide nose and small beetle-black eyes were my lot. I threw a stone into the water with venom, and thought about the night.
When the moon was high I crept out of bed. In the silvery light I dressed myself carefully, wrapping my best scarf about my head and tying a tasselled belt around my waist. I placed some food in a basket and, as an afterthought, a long piece of material that hopefully would not be missed, and crept off to the wood.
When I arrived, I feared that I had been wrong. I scuttled through the menacing trees, only to find the lake as still and silent as a sheet of glass. Maybe I had dreamt the Prince. A movement on the far side of the lake caught my eye. Within a moment S? was at my side. His eyes snapped before his mouth did.
? are late! Why has it taken you so long? The moon was up long ago.??t;br>?ad to creep from my home,??answered shortly. I had never met royalty, but I wondered whether they were all as rude as this prince. I made a fire by the side of the lake and boiled some spaghetti with olives. I handed it to him and he wrinkled his brow in distaste.
?t is this you have given me? It looks vile.??e tasted it and grimaced. ?is so bland!??t;br>?is peasant food, Your Highness; I am sorry I had no food fit for as prince,??replied, half sorry that I had nothing to give him, but also a little resentful that he had not met my efforts with more enthusiasm. He grunted, and ate the food speedily. Then, suddenly, he bent over and vomited all over the dry grass. I felt a tremble of fear run through me. If my food had made him sick, might not he kill me? Kings murdered for less, so I had heard. I flapped around him uselessly until he pushed me away. I realised he was embarrassed. He rinsed his mouth out, then buried all trace of his sickness under handfuls of dirt and ashes.
?ave not eaten in this body for a long time,?? said at last. ?a swan I eat - at least I think I do; I cannot remember much that happens in that body.??t;br>?that why you thought so little time had passed???asked timidly. He nodded slightly. ? if you are a man every night, surely you must have realised that time was passing by? And why have you not aged???persisted.
?m not a man every night,?? said quietly. ?s spell was passed in the moon-dark phase of the month, and that is when the magic is strongest; I am only a man when the spell weakens a little under the bright light of the full moon. Three nights at most before the dark engulfs me again. And sometimes even at the full moon I do not become a man; the magic seems strong in winter??His voice trailed away. I gazed at his fine, pale features that glistened silver in the light, and I felt a surge of envy that I stifled at once beneath my awe. ?for my age,?? continued, offering me a brittle moon-sliver of a smile, ?, that is one bonus. I have not changed at all. The morning of the day I was enchanted I had been shaved; my skin has remained smooth.??e ran a finger along his sharp jaw, and I shivered inexplicably. ?k at my hand.??e held it up to me, and I saw along the palm a fresh cut, newly scabbed over. ?craped my hand that day.??e turned away. His back seemed impossibly smooth. I remembered the long cloth I had brought, and I handed it to him. He did not thank me, but his eyes smiled. He draped it around his shoulders, and I felt oddly relieved that he had covered his back.
? are a man long enough to walk to a village, surely,??said. ?be a priest could help you.??e shook his head.
? I cannot leave the woods. I will show you.??e walked through the trees, him leading, I a little behind, until we reached the edge. He took a step forward, and then was swept off his feet and flung backwards, knocking me to the ground. ? see??? said, after we had scrambled to our feet, ?is like a huge fist that blocks my passage.??t;br>? did this happen to you???t;br>?evil enchanter spitefully cursed me,?? said glibly.
? why? What did you do???t;br>?hing! I was innocent of anything; perhaps he was jealous of my youth.??or the first time I sensed he was lying to me. ?ides,?? added in a different tone, ? should not be questioning me, and you should call me Your Highness. I am a prince, and you are only a peasant.??is voice was icy; any warmth that that had grown between us was washed away.
?, Your Highness.?? felt utterly crushed. I looked at the sky. ?ad better leave; dawn will be in not too long, and I cannot be found out of my bed again.??t;br>? will come tomorrow???
I nodded.
?you wish me to bring anyone with me???t;br>? they could be of no help,?? sighed.
? the priest; maybe he -?t;br>?s your priest believe in magic? Do you have idols in your temple???t;br>?,??answered slowly, confused, ?course.??t;br>?n no. He would not wish to help me.??t;br>I was about to ask why, but he had already walked off through the trees.
So we proceeded for the next two months; he in turns friendly and imperious, mournful and happy, whilst I struggled to reconcile my wish to be seen as his equal with a crippling sense that not only was I inferior to him, but also that he knew it well. Our minds never seemed able to meet; he would shout and I would step back, or he would retreat with royal arrogance and I would despise myself for pursuing him with a weak desire to be liked. One night when the air was cool he told me to light a fire.
? don?ou light it yourself???snapped thoughtlessly. He reared up in high dudgeon, and his eyes blazed.
?l, I am a prince! You must do as I say!??t;br>Exhausted by lack of sleep and irritable by result, instead of cringing away, the proper thing to do, I answered furiously:
?m not ?l?my name is Mahka. And as for you being a prince - yes, you were three lifetimes ago, but now you are nothing. You have been replaced. You are a prince only in history, and you must have been a bad one, since you will not tell me what you did to deserve such imprisonment!?? stood trembling, breathing heavily. I had never spoken so to anyone, particularly not a man, and especially not one who was blessed with beauty and royal blood. For a moment I thought he might strike me. I stared at him defiantly, daring him to hit me. He let his arm drop to his side, and I saw that he was shaken.
?e, Mahka, sit by me and I will tell you what happened,?? said after a time in a soft and entreating voice. I acquiesed readily enough. ?ong time ago, there lived in this land an enchanter named Akor. I had never seen his magic, but there were hundreds of ordinary people who lived in dread of him. They said he sacrificed humans on dark altars for the Gods?light, and he was supposed to be able to read men?houghts. My father and I were sensible, rational beings; we gave the Gods respect, but we had no time for magic and superstition. It was holding our country back, we felt. At first we were not worried by this Akor - he was a mad trickster, nothing more. So we ignored him, and continued to promote the sciences above irrational belief. Soon our court was the centre of astronomy, of maths and the sciences of the earth. Many great sages clustered in the corridors of the palace, and the capital thronged with people who came to hear them speak. Soon we had established a university. We banned the practise of magic, and everything seemed clean and bright to us. But then we heard that Akor had redoubled his efforts. He had marshalled a small army, and he was initiating peasants in ceremonies of blood into his own bizarre priesthood. The countryside was threatening to revolt. So -? paused and swallowed, looking at me for the first time since he had begun his tale, ?acted. The Imperial Soldiers burnt down Akor?emples and any other temple that seemed to practice dark arts. We ripped down the idols and??nyone who resisted was cut down,?? said hurriedly. ?I burnt the last temple, I saw Akor before me on a great horse. I lunged at him with my sword, but he only laughed at me. Laughed. He cursed me then, me and the land, saying that I would pay for what I had done; my father, he said, would live to see the land return to the old ways, and I would be trapped eternally in the heart of this reborn magic. The last thing he said to me was: ?r name is apt.?y name, as you must realise, means ?n-like?I felt a great, horrible pain as if I were being slowly reduced into a ball, and my skin prickled and heave. And then??as here.??t;br>?,??gasped at last in horror. ? were responsible for the Desecration! Your father was the Heretic! His name has been crossed out of history!?? gaped at him in horror, remembering the stories I had been told as a child, of grinning goblin-men slicing down brave priests on temple steps like ripe corn, cutting great swathes of blood throughout the land. ?usands died because of you!??t;br>? Mahka, it was not like that. There were hardly any deaths, and they were only of evil men -?
But I was already gone, racing through the trees and sobbing until I thought I would drain my very heart.
My pain did not end there; as I reached home I saw my father standing by the door. My heart contracted with fear.
?re have you been, Mahka??? hissed.
? just went outside to pass water, Father,??stammered.
?r!?? cried. ?ave been here for an hour, girl, when I awoke and realised you were not in bed. Where have you been???e clutched at my arm, digging his fingers into my skin.
? go of me!??hissed. He must have seen the new impudence in my eyes, for his face darkened further and he slapped my cheek.
?l me where you were!?? cried again, tightening his grip. I moaned with pain. ?e you with some boy you met at market? Are you a slut now? Tell me!?? only sobbed in reply. ?t, you will not obey me? Very well.??e was breathing heavily now, and his eyes were like flames in a dark skull. I shrank away. He dragged me inside and picked up a stick.
?her!??cried, but he would not listen, nor wait for an explanation. He made me stand with my hands against the wall, and then he beat me until my skin sand and my bones cried out in anguish. How I got to bed I do not know, but I did not leave it for two days.
When I could walk, my father took me to the temple and had me inspected by the priest. He found my virginity intact, but the indignity of my examination made me loathe my father and the village, for the others condoned his actions. I was nothing more than his property, and he had a right to know if I was damaged goods. I longed for the next full moon, S??ong-past sins eclipsed by my immediate pains.
I returned to the lake as soon as I could, heedless of what might happen to me if I were to be caught. I passed for once fearlessly through the menacing trees and to the water?dge. What I saw there stopped me in my eagerness.
S? stood waist deep in the water, his head drooped. His arms were wrapped about his body as if he were in pain. His face looked drawn and even paler than usual.
?nce,??called out. He turned, started, and ran clumsily through the water towards me. I thought I saw anger in his face, and I shrank momentarily. I had missed two days of the previous full moon with no explanation; was that why he was angry? But then I realised he was not enraged; his face was lit with incredulity and something else I could not understand.
?ka???e clutched at me in disbelief. ? are here???e crushed me to him impetuously. ?hought you had left me for good,?? said, and then burst into stormy floods of hot tears that rained down his face and onto my head.
?course I am here, Prince,??said. ?ould not desert you.??t;br>? even after what I did???t;br>??? sat down wearily, for my body still ached, and his fierce embrace had hurt me more than a little. He looked at me and his face changed.
?ka, what happened to you???e knelt down at my side. He had seen the bruises on my arms and face, I realised. They had been such that only now were they beginning to fade. I said nothing, just looked at him. ? you bear these for me? For coming here??? nodded once, unbearably tired. The unusual tenderness in his voice made me want to weep. ?m selfish. I never once thought of you, of how you would suffer. I never thought how you would feel on discovering I had committed what you call a Desecration, and I never once wondered what might happen if someone knew you were away from home at night.??t;br>?aid nothing about you,??whispered.
?brave!?? said, and sighed. He looked at me for a while, then asked: ?you always wear your hair under a cloth???t;br>?is our way,??said.
?n I lived in the world, women wore their hair long and free.??e loosened the headscarf, and I let him, too tired to resist. Then he unbound my hair from its long plait, and tousled it gently around my face. His eyes were heartbreakingly sad. I think then for the first time I understood truly what he had lost. I could not bear to look at him, so I lay down, saying that I was tired. I slept for a little while, and when I awoke he was looking at me with a brotherly smile. I stood up and brushed the dirt off my dress. As I did so, I glimpsed my face in the water, and felt a flush of grief. I was so very plain beside him! No wonder, then, that he looked on me as a brother might.
He walked me to the edge of the woods, and the trees seemed ever more menacing and vicious. As I walked away, I caught myself on various thorns and branches, and as I looked back, the trees seemed to envelop S? in an intimate embrace. I hurried away.
It was the last night of the full moon. I walked through the wood carefully, avoiding the branches and roots, but the trees seemed to bend down and around me, catching my hair, scratching my arms and legs. They were trying to push me away, and the suspicions that had been growing in me were heightened. But what, exactly, was I to do? I had to act soon, for summer had faded into autumn, a brief and fragile season that soon collapsed under the weight of winter. And when winter came, S? would be trapped inside a cage of white feathers until the spring came. Power was building in the woods; the trees were stronger now, but also, I felt, perhaps more careless. I had an understanding of the heart of the mystery, but I did not reveal it to S?. Not yet.
I had dressed myself carefully for this night. I had put on all my scant jewellery, and my mother?oo, and my hair was filled with autumn roses. Perfume enveloped me, and my face was painted. I felt a little sinful doing this, but I decided it was for the greater good. Over all this I pulled a large hooded cloak, and hurried through the trees. They scratched at me, but no more than usual. My plan was working, I hoped.
By the lake as always stood S?. It was colder now, and so I had knitted him a woollen cloak from scraps. He looked more of a pauper than a prince, but his stance was still regal. He was sadly pale of late, I had noticed. I made sure that I was well hidden beneath my cloak, and approached him quietly.
?ka,?? said, with a relieved smile. ?m glad you are here.??t;br>?t is wrong, Prince???t;br>He shook his head dismissively, but his eyes were wretched.
?hing, nothing. Strange dreams I have had whilst in that other frame. Confusing dreams?? do not wish to talk of them,?? ended abruptly. I stepped a little closer.
?ill help you escape, S?.?? lowered my voice. ?hink I may have found??ething.??t;br>?t???t;br>I shook my head, unwilling to speak. He nodded once, and then looked at me.
?ka??hy??He paused. ?n you found out that I was responsible for something that disgusts you, why did you come back???e looked genuinely bemused.
?you understand nothing???asked sharply, and looked away. I looked up at the moon, and guessed from its position that it was now about midnight. I would act now. ?o not want you to say anything, Prince,??continued solemnly. Some strange things may happen, but you must not interfere.??e opened his mouth, and I hushed him. Quickly, I took off the heavy cloak. The Prince looked startled. ?, S?, I need you to kiss me,??whispered hurriedly, blushing slightly but looking at him in the eye.
?t!?? could not help exclaiming.
?. Yes,??murmured softly. ?will make sense soon, if all goes to plan.??t;br>He looked at me confusedly for a moment, then shrugged and kissed me. I put my arms around his neck.
It was not a romantic moment. I had never been kissed before, and I was a little disappointed. We bumped our noses together in our awkwardness, and the actual kiss was not what I had imagined a kiss would be. It was wet and warm and lasted only a few heartbeats.
?t are you doing, Mahka??? hissed urgently. I ignored him. I sensed movement within the wood; I could hear the trees twisting and branches snapping.
?stand as deep in the water as you can, Prince. Go as far away from the trees as possible.??t;br>? the water is freezing!?? complained.
???
Prince S?, for the first time in his life, meekly obeyed a command and stood shivering in the water. From my basket I retrieved an axe. Not even its handle was made of wood; I could not risk that. It was a temple axe, carved with runes and made completely of iron. I stood proudly, brandishing the tool, which I would now use as a weapon.
?Mahka,??intoned, ?ghter of Kor, of the village of Blenca, do come here to claim what is mine.?? swallowed now, for I had to say something that I found painful even to think. ?ove this prisoner you keep here, Prince S?, and I claim him as my own. You witnessed our kiss.??et them believe the kiss, I thought fearfully, hoping that the trees knew little of human passion and what a proper kiss should have looked like. I paused. The trees were listening darkly. ?now what this spell is. You love the Prince, and cannot bear to let him go. It was your mistake to let me in.?? paused again, and smiled spitefully. ?was summer, and you were leafy and green and beautiful. You saw me, ugly and weak, and you decided in your vanity that I posed no threat. Now winter is coming, and you are losing your grace. Now you clutch at your prize ever more closely, fearful that he will leave you for another, more fresh and lovely. Well, look at me! Am I not a fit rival???here were great crashing and cracking sounds from within the wood. I ignored them. ?hallenge you for a fight for this man.?? decided to provoke them further. ?s enchanter who made you, he has cursed you with a selfish love. You deny yourself the man in winter, keeping him as a bird, because you cannot bear the thought that others might see him. You are pathetic!??he trees were ready to strike, I saw that. I walked to the beginning of the line of trees, and read the runes on the axe. ?trike for right, for goodness and for the Gods,??cried, and struck hard at the nearest tree.
A shower of blue sparks flew over my head, alighting on my skin and scalding me. I ignored them, and slashed again at the wood. Then I struck a stone against my blade. A great flame leapt up. I had expected a spark, but this was a surprise; I had managed to invoke something, it seemed. The flame shone brightly on the edge of the axe, then leapt onto the nearest tree. Fire soon devoured it, and it cried out in anguish. Furious and terrified now, I ran headlong into the woods, hacking and crying so hard that I could not see. The trees caught at me, tore at my skin and pushed me to the ground. I fought at them, but it had been madness to strike out against the trees alone. I never realised that they had quite so much power. Some hanging creepers tightened about me, and felt my life slowly being squeezed towards nothingness. I hacked at them, but in vain. I could feel blood oozing from a dozen different places. I realised I would die, and I thought regretfully that I had failed S? by not planning things properly. A white light seemed to glow before my eyes, and I reached for it, but then something clasped me from behind, pulling me free. Everything was in darkness, but I recognised S??oice.
?ve you love me!?? shouted angrily. I could sense the trees quietening, pondering on this. ?you have loved me so much that you have kept me here so long, then it is not much to ask for you to prove it.??
My sight cleared a little, and I realised I was in S??rms, and the trees seemed further away.
?,?? continued, ? must have wondered long whether I feel anything for you, although you never asked. Why not? For if you had, I would have told you the truth - I do love you, more than I love this snivelling girl.??he trees considered this. ?peak the truth.??f the trees were human, they would have had faces cracked with smug grins; self-satisfaction flowed through the woods. They had strength and instinct, but as for intelligence??? carried on. ?ever, it is a very stifling kind of love you have. If I was allowed out of here, I could prove that I love only you by remaining faithful wherever I went, and always returning. Can you not see by forcing me to be here, you will never know if I speak true? If I can choose, I will choose you. This girl here??he spoke with disdain - ? wanted to keep me as a possession, much as you have done. That is weak. Prove that you are greater than her by letting me go!??t;br>
For a long, long time we stood amongst the trees, waiting in the dread silence. I could hear S??eart beating quickly, an echo of my own painful thump. Suddenly, the trees gave a collective sigh, and strangest of all, leant back, opening a path in front of us. Even the grass divided. S? smiled, and walked slowly through the trees, not looking back as he passed through the last few and into the fresh, uncluttered air.
He set me on the ground and turned back to the trees.
? I will make my choice,?? said. In his hand glinted my axe; I had not realised he was carrying it. I could not see his face, but there was a smile in his voice. He lifted the axe, muttering quietly to himself. ?hoose that you perish!?? cried, and flung the axe high into the air. It sailed into the trees, its blade as bright as fire. Then it exploded into a shower of white flames that engulfed the wood. The trees howled under their betrayal. S? did not wait to see how they responded, but grabbed me and ran far away into the dry and treeless fields.
?seems you knew a little magic of your own,??said, looking back on the wood, or what remained of it; now charred stumps lay smoking in the dawn light. S? squinted, unused to the brightness.
?much as you did,?? said with a smile. He looked at my wounds carefully. ?y do not seem too deep. You will live; I just wish I had helped you sooner.??t;br>?nce -?began, and he shook his head.
?tever was left of my kingdom has exploded into flames and ashes,?? sighed. ?get my arrogance and blood. They do not count for much now.??t;br>?ar, then - thank you. You saved me.??
He waved a dismissive hand.
??e so stupid. I am lucky you are so perceptive.??t;br>I shrugged.
?ere fluke.??t;br>We sat in the autumnal sun for a while longer, and then got to our feet.
?l, I suppose this is goodbye,??said awkwardly. I could not look at him, and I blamed my hot face on the heat that could be felt from the trees fields away.
?re will you go???e asked.
?k to the village, I suppose. Where else??? felt a wave of grief and disappointment was over me. How could I go back there, to my dull and ugly life, when I had glimpsed such beauty and excitement? I felt myself sagging, the confidence I had felt in the wood gone. I looked at him desolately.
?ill leave this land, I think. It is no place for me now.??e gave me a strange smile, and my stomach twisted alarmingly. He held out his hand. ?sk again, where will you go???t;br>I smiled, and placed my hand in his.
This time the kiss was longer, and much improved.
The End
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