This chapter is by Iris Anthe, and next to write will be Goldberry. Hope you enjoy!Maids of Silva
Chapter Six
by Iris Anthe
While the clear night sky slowly turned to pale silver, with still an hour before the sun?s rising, the cottage by the woods was already full of activity. Breakfast had been cooked and eaten, the dishes washed, the floors swept, the day?s wood brought inside and the beds made. Today was the day to enter the magic forest in search of Quatre and perhaps the answer to the puzzle of the talking animals who had now slept two nights in the cottage. It was well below freezing outside and the two maidens were ready for the trek to the woods, muffled in heavy winter garb--wool undergarments, woolen skirts and two petticoats each, as well as their heaviest knit sweaters, and large shawls that covered them from their heads to their nearly invisible waists. They would have worn their work breeches but it was always easier in skirts to discretely strip down to lighter layers once they entered the perennially mild air and dappled sunlight of the enchanted woods.
Hilde and Relena each gave their old guardian, Peygan, a quick kiss on the cheek before stepping exuberantly into the sharp, white world outside. Relena stooped to allow the falcon easy access to her shoulder since his broken wing was still unfit for flying. She silently thanked her stars that birds had hollow bones; otherwise, the falcon would have been unbearably heavy. He was truly the largest bird she had ever seen, and he also seemed a quick healer. Already he was testing his wings, jumping and fluttering in the snow-covered garden since waking. Oddly, Relena found herself wanting the poor bird to stay injured a little longer, as she enjoyed a certain thrill having such a fierce being trust her enough to let her touch him and care for him.
?Come on Pooh-oh!? Hilde called back into the cottage from where she was already standing outside. Relena, standing at the door, looked back to see the giant cat curled up by the fire its eyes closed, but its ears rotated obviously towards the sound of Hilde?s voice. Relena and Peygan exchanged a look of amusement and then Relena called out that she didn?t think the cat wanted to go.
Giving a huff of exasperation, Hilde stomped back into the cottage and standing over the poor beast, she was about to give it a less than gentle nudge with her boot. The low growl that emanated from it halted her in mid kick. ?Pooh-ooooooh!!!? Hilde felt truly hurt that the cat would make such a threatening noise at her, and she pouted quite prettily, if only the cat would open its eyes to see. From the space beneath its giant paw that covered its muzzle, they could all plainly hear him say in a weary tone, ?Tits Pooh-oh, snot Goo-oh.? And then it whimpered quite pathetically. Hilde, realizing that her poor cat was upset, crouched down and began rubbing it gently behind the ears, a place she?d discovered he particularly enjoyed her touch.
?Poor, silly Pooh-oh. Do you not feel well today? Don?t you want to go to the magic wood and search for Quatre with us?? Hilde asked in a singsong voice.
The giant paw shifted as the cat leaned into the spot where Hilde?s ministrations were centered. He peeled open one eye, looked at her serenely while letting out low huffs of pleasure, and said, ?Rat?s lice... Panty play near? Tits hold doubt bare.?
Upon hearing such offensive words coming out of his mouth, Hilde turned bright red in both embarrassment and anger and smacked him squarely on the nose.
?Sow! Nuts a fatter tissue?? Prince Duo, aka Pooh-oh the cat, yelped as he jumped up and away from the suddenly furious girl.
?Listen cat, we?re leaving and if you?re too lazy to come with us then fine, I certainly won?t miss your foul mouth on the trip!?
?Rutted guy play?? he whined in bewilderment, his strange blue eyes wide with dismay.
Hilde gave out a huff of exasperation and stalked out the door. Relena took pity on the poor enchanted prince, though she too thought him at the least addled in his mind if not purposefully offensive. She could read through his body language that he had not meant to upset her sister, and knew from their close bond that Hilde was truly just upset that she could not communicate with her new friend. ?If you come along, I?m sure Hilde?s temper will cool quickly. She is not one to stay angry for very long, and I?m certain she would enjoy your company whether you spoke or not.?
The great snowy falcon perched on Relena?s shoulder gave a soft squawk and muttered that he would much prefer it if the cat would go back where it came from. The cat hung its head hearing those words, knowing what the bird did not--that they were both close and loving brothers and that Duo would never desert his King and elder brother, Heero, no matter what strange paths their lives might take. It saddened him though that his brother did not know him, and didn?t even seem to like him.
Relena could see the poor cat slump and reprimanded her winged friend. ?Zero, look how you have afflicted poor Cat with your words. He does not mean you any harm, and I think he is saddened by your poor opinion of him.?
King Heero, even without his memories was still a stubborn and wary being. Two short days of warmth and peace in the cottage could not erase the memory of being chased for three full cycles of the moon by the great hunting cat. What?s more, he found it difficult to have any respect for a creature who babbled obscene nonsense every time he opened his mouth. Still, he wanted for some reason to have the sweet maid who tended his wing to think well of him. In a strikingly regal manner, he glared ominously at the cat before ruffling his feathers and looking away.
Surprisingly, this cold response seemed to cheer the cat immeasurably, and he snorted before blurting out, ?Whip a hull! Kill a tame bold Zero.? He didn?t stay to see the chilling glare from the falcon, but instead sauntered out the door to catch up with the bundled figure of Hilde stomping away through the snow.
*****
None of the party had any idea that they were being closely watched by a pair of beady eyes, enhanced by magical cups of glass for sharp sight from far distances. Little old J knew better than to be within smelling or seeing distance of the two princes turned animals. He had to find out, however, just how much magic these seemingly innocuous maidens possessed, so that the huntress Dorothy could recapture her prey.
*****
Duo?s keen feline sense of smell picked up the scent of eternal spring just before Heero?s sharp raptor eyes saw the first glimmer of green. It wasn?t long before everyone in the party could see the gradual thaw as they neared the woods, and they soon all delighted in the music of birds that had fled the winter chill to nest in the green air of an enchanted spring. By the time they entered the first stand of trees, Hilde and Relena were red with the heat of all their winter layers and could not wait any longer to remove some of their clothes. After gently placing the falcon Zero onto I low branch, Relena did her best to catch up with her sister in the race to get their heavy woolen layers off.
Somewhat surprisingly to the girls, the two animals seemed rather shocked and just as though they were gentleman companions, they both averted their gazes until the sisters were ready to set out in their white summer shifts.
The air was sweetly scented and the sunlight itself seemed a draught of heavy golden mead, so that they felt neither hunger nor thirst though they walked lightly and long searching for the fairy guardian, Quatre. Time seemed to slow, even cease while they walked, they girls singing duets, and the great cat playing at ambush with the dark maid, Hilde through the trees. The falcon said little, having an acute sensation of being watched. Therefore, he made it his duty to scan the shady recesses of the woods with his piercing sight, so that he might protect the girl who carried him on her shoulder.
Even Zero?s vigilance and keen gaze was not enough, however, to discern the tall, slender figure that seemed one with the trees themselves until they passed near. They were nearly upon him, this tall being, before he spoke. ?You may go no further.?
All four of the travelers halted in amazement. This was no ordinary person. With hair the color of autumn oaks, which fell as a cataract over one moss green eye and a form as graceful as the willow, he was more beautiful and otherworldly than any mere man. He was like unto Quatre, a magical being, sometimes known as an elf, more often as a fairy. It seemed as though the trees bent towards him as he stood before them, and the birds ceased their music to listen to his few words.
Relena, never thinking to be afraid of anyone, let alone one who resembled her lifelong protector, approached the fairy with obvious joy. ?Are you a friend of Quatre?s? We are looking for him.? Even one whose very soul holds the stillness of a willow in winter could not help but feel the summer glow of Relena?s loving smile. And so, thawing a little from his intimidating stance, the fairy addressed her as blandly, but a little less coldly. ?I am Trowa, friend of Quatre. I am the guardian of the gate. Quatre is nowhere where you can find him. Now you must return to your cottage in the snow maidens red and white. You may go no further.?
?Bait cussed the gnome bent! Cat fizz Wing Zero, brand new pal lay erect!? came Pooh-oh?s indignant sounding string of nonsense. Trowa ignored him however, though he in fact knew full well the meaning of his words. ?I serve only King Milliardo and no other,? was his reply. With that, he turned as though to leave.
?FATE! New thunder hood bee! Whelp fuss, fleas!? The great cat became very agitated as he said this and moved to block the fairy?s path, to no avail. Defying the heavy bounds of the earth, he flew in an elegant twisting arc through the air and landed twenty feet away. They heard these words float back to their ears as he disappeared into the foliage? ?No mortal nor fairy foe may pass the gate to Faerie. That road has been closed to all but the pure of heart. The queen has been dead these last ten of your years, and the king shall never forgive the sons of men for that crime. Take my warning and return. No answers will you find here. The roses should return ere their blooms be cut short before their time. Protect them, for they shall save you in time.?
With that, an eerie silence filled the woods and it slowly built into an ominous weight. Not a word was said amongst the four as they turned and began the journey back, much heavier of heart and confused of mind. Each contemplated the fairy Trowa?s parting words, taking each some small part and turning it over in their minds.
*****
J was straining with the prodigious effort of concealing himself from the ever-watchful eyes of the fairy wood. He needed to use all of his personal magic to repel the searching tendrils of fairy enchantment that seemed to know he was there. He could not hold much longer, and the peculiar magic of fairy was like needles pricking him under his skin. Finally, in an act of self-preservation he used the taxing charm of transportation to whisk his body away and immediately return to the castle and King Kushrinada?s court. He had much to tell. The girls held no serious magic that he could discern, and the royal brothers were helpless and unknowing. Dorothy would be pleased to hear of the gate to Faerie, and J was already plotting how to use her as a foil. He had been searching for well over two hundred years for that entrance. He was so near, so very near to his ultimate dream. Soon he would possess the Fairy Stone, and with the Heart of Fairy, all the subjects of Faerie would be his to command. He chuckled wickedly to himself as he made his way to Dorothy?s chambers.
tbc
I will certainly miss writing it...