by J M Bingham
Smiling wickedly, Hortensia touched the coffin, expecting her powers to crack the stone as she did with her victims, but the stone didn't move.
“No, whispered Hortensia, in shock, “It cannot be....”
The witch tried again, but the stone still did not move.
“Curses!!! screeched Hortensia. “ The witch crumpled to the ground throwing a tantrum,
her cries echoing through the old palace.
“I am sorry my dear... for you pain”, came a familiar sounding voice.
Hortensia got up from the floor, a ugly scowl upon her face.
“It cannot be!! screeched the old witch, “How are you still alive!!!
The voice did not answer for a moment.
“Because, said the woman of the wood, as long as a small part of my forest remains untouched, so do I.”
Hortensia grew very angry, her black teeth clenched.
“Tell me Aria, tell me... how to break the spell!.”
“That... you cannot understand Hortensia, for you see, my spell was made.... out of... love.”
The old witch screamed and howled, disappearing into the shadows.
ｱ
The dark forest continued to burn throughout the night, the creatures of the wood watching sadly along with the townspeople who had lived so long in fear of the wood and it's dark magic. Katherine and Wilfred stood side by side, watching the fire consume more and more of their crops and houses.
“Do you think... said Wilfred quietly, “that it will ever be the same again?.”
Katherine wiped a tear from her eye.
“That I don't know Will, replied Katherine, but what I do know is, it won't last forever. “
Katherine looked over at her nephew with a slight smile.
“Anyways, ye have a weddin to prepare for.”
Wilfred didn't say anything.
“Will? Replied Katherine, is everything alright?.”
But Wilfred didn't answer.
“You know it's time Will, replied Katherine quietly.
” You've waited long enough for the spell to be broken... “Who knows... it may not be for
a lot while longer.”
“I don't know Aunt, replied Wilfred, I'm not sure if I can... let her go.”
Wilfred walked away from the fire and towards the makeshift camp that had been set up by the mayor for the townsfolk. Katherine wiped another tear from her eye.
“I know Will... I miss 'er too.” Katherin replied quietly, wiping away a tear.
The next day, Wilfred woke up as he always did, with the sun just barely peeking over the horizon. Putting his tunic on and pants, Wilfred, headed out towards what was left of the fields, and then he realized, there were no more fields to plow. With a sigh, Wilfred folded his arms, watching the sun rise, thinking of Eleanor, the one he always thought of during moments like this.
Maybe his aunt was right, thought Wilfred, maybe it is... time to move on, after all, Ann isn't … that bad. Wilfred honestly hadn't noticed Ann much until his father made the announcement of the betrothal, or at least told Wilfred about it at the last minute.
It's time!”.
His father had said, you're a grown man son, ya need a wife to take care of ya. Knowing full well that that was a lie, and the only reason that Will's dad had gone to Annie's father in the first place, was because he was embarassed to have a twenty year old boy livin in his household still without a trade, and more importantly, without a wife.
The sun was nearly up, and Wilfred peered towards the camp, watching the woman gather water from the well, Annie among them. Wilfred hurried and hid behind a haystack, not wanting Annie to see him but unfortunately for Will, it was too late.
Annie waved, putting down her pail, and running towards the fields, where Wilfred stood waiting for her.
“Wilfred!!!, what in 'eavens name are ya doin over here?.” “You should be back at camp, me and mama are making breakfast.” “Aren't ya hungry?.”
Wilfred's stomach dropped. He didn't think he could have another helping of Annie's mother's world famous porridge.
“I... uh... was heading over there Ann, I was just watchin the sun rise was all.”
Annie smiled her buck teeth pushing themselves out between her lips.
“Well don't be too long now... it's almost ready.”
Annie got on her tippy toes and gave Wilfred a quick peck on the cheek, and then hurried back to
camp, waving goodbye behind her.
Wilfred sighed and made his way back towards camp. Kicking a pebble along the way, Wilfred felt much like the pebble, having no choice but to go along having someone else choose his life for him.
“Are we eating this crap again!!! came a shout from Katherine's tent.
Will smiled, Tory hadn't been in this world more than a year now, and she still wasn't used to
Darkwood, or it's food.
“What are you smiling at? Barked Tory, her once black hair, now light brown, askew.
Wilfred started to laugh.
“I'm sorry Tory, but uh... you're hair.
Tory rushed over to the horse's water trough looking at her reflection. Dipping her hands in the trough, she wetted down her hair as best she could.
“Look, I'm no Marilyn Monroe ok,!' hissed Tory, “but I am pretty hot though.”
Wilfred tried to act like he knew what Tory was talking about.
“So where's Pippy Longstocking today? Smiled Tory, punching Wilfred's arm.
“Who? Said Wilfred, confused.
“You know said Tory, old buckteeth. “
Wilfred motioned for Tory to keep her voice soft.
“What! Said Tory in a loud voice, and don't hush me.”
Wilfred's face became red as he noticed Annie standing right behind Tory.
“What is going on here Will? Said Tory with a look of concern.
“Oh nothing, Anne, replied Will, Tory and I... uh... were just talking about... well.. really it was nothing.”
Tory punched Wilfred in the arm again.
“C'mon Will said Tory playfully we were talking about old....
But before Tory could finish her sentence, Wilfred grabbed her mouth, excused himself and
dragged her towards the field.
“What is your problem!!!. hissed Tory when Wilfred let her go when they were out of sight.
“You!.” barked Wilfred, you have no proper manners at all.”
Tory started to laugh.
“Manners?.” “What... are we at some kind of fancy dinner or something?.” “C'mon Will, it's really not that big of a deal.”
“It is to me” said Will quietly, “you know if anything happens to ruin my chances of marriage....
“Oh... so that's what this all about.. replied Tory with a smug look on her face, “Gotcha, well I've got a news flash buddy, it's not gonna happen.”
Wilfred gave Tory a funny look.
“What do you mean it won't happen?!!! yelled Will, “Of course it will, it has been all planned out.”
Tory smiled smugly.
“C'mon Will, you know you still love my girl April.”
Will's face turned red with frustration.
“Who?!!! barked Will
“You know... April, the princess, the one that's locked in that box.” “She's the one for you Will, not that bucked tooth nerd back there.
“And how... do you that pray tell?.” said Wilfred.
Now Tory was frustrated.
“You boys are so dumb!!.” Because... in all those fairy tales, when there's some chick under a spell, she always wakes up because the guy kisses her.”
Will's face lit up, Tory hadn't seen Will this happy in a long time.
“That's it!!! replied Wilfred excitedly,” all I have to do is... kiss her.”
Tory patted Will on the back.
“That's my boy Tory beamed, “No go get her.”
Wilfred ran towards the dark woods, not even stopping to talk to Annie who had tried to get his attention.
The fires had all gone out, but smoke still filled the forest. Wilfred covered his face as the cloud of ash and smoke burned his eyes, and made him couch and sputter. The trees all looked as if they were skeletons except for at the end, where a luscious green mound stood covered in vines and branches.
Will stopped to rest at a tree near the mound of vines. Catching his breath, he walked over to the entrance still opened since Hortensia had unsealed it days before. A shadow stood amidst the trees watching the boy's every move. A wicked grin spread across it's dark face.
Chapter 12
Inside the dark palace, Wilfred tried to feel his way around in the pitch black room.
. A light appeared on the wall beside him as if by magic. Burning a florescent green, Wilfred grabbed the torchlight and found his way to the ivy covered stone coffin in the middle of the room, with the same efervescent glow as the torch he was holding in his hand. Kneeling down, he rubbed his hand gently over the stone. Tears filled Wilfred's eyes.
“You don't know how much I have missed you Eleanor, Wilfred replied in a soft voice.
“It has seemed like ages since we last talked, every day going by and I missing you more and more .” “I... do not know if I told you this before you left, but I wanted to say it so many times, but did not dare. “
Wilfred swallowed hard. Feeling foolish for talking to something as silent as a stone edifice.
“I... love you... Eleanor.” Wilfred whispered.
A bright light escaped from the stone coffin, the stone lid slowly rising to reveal a pale beautiful girl, fast asleep. Wilfred with a sigh of joy, bent over the coffin, looking at the sleeping Eleanor, not having changed since the last time he had seen her ten years before. Leaning further in, Will gave Eleanor a soft peck on the lips.
Eleanor rose in the air, the light around her slowly fading, as she floated over to Wilfred, landing softly in his arms. Eleanor's eyes slowly fluttered open, a smile on her red lips.
“Wilfred? Eleanor said in a weak voice.” “What.. are you....”
“It's alright” said Wilfred, looking happier than he had been a long time, “You're safe now..”
A dark shape appeared in the room, it slowly forming into the old hag.
“Ah, how sweet”, the witch replied in a sarcastic voice. “Young... love.”
Wilfred glared at the old hag, his fist clenching.
“What are you doing here?” Hissed Wilfred, “you do not belong.”
The witch hobbled closer to Wilfred, licking her green lips.
“I believe you are in the way of something that I want, hissed the witch, “ hand over the girl and I shall spare your life.”
“Never!. Replied Wilfred, “Now... out of my way!.”
The witch shrugged her shoulders.
“Suit yourself.” and with a cackle, the old hag raised her arms chanting a spell.
But before Hortensia could finish, the vines around started to twitch, breaking themselves free from their stone prison, entangling the old hag and covering her from head to toe in greenery, all the while her cries echoing throughout the old palace as Wilfred escaped.
“This is not over yet Aria!!!!. “ screeched the witch, “ your meddling will be your end!!.” just wait and see... just wait and see!!!!.”
Wilfred ran all the way back to camp, still carrying Eleanor in his arms, her body still weak from ten years of sleep.
“What in blazes!” Replied Wilfred's father as he wiped his bald head, from the heat of the midday sun.
Wilfred entered the camp in a huff, breathing hard and calling for help.
“Tory!, Aunt! Come quickly!.”
Tory saw Wilfred first, putting her hand over mouth, her eyes filling with tears, she ran over to Eleanor and burst into tears. Katherine peeked through the tent and seeing her sister on the ground, rushed over sobbing profusely.
“Ellie?, it's me... “ Katherine the woman replied, rubbing her eyes to really make sure her sister had come back from the dead.
Wilfred, had to literally pull off the woman after a while as they were being hysterical.
:”Come now, she needs her rest.” Wilfred replied, picking Eleanor back up in his arms and laid her on wool blankets inside his father's tent.
Katherine and Tory held each other and rushed over to the tent watching eagerly over Eleanor until she woke.
“Will?” Replied Ann coming from the fields, hay sticking in her hair, “What is all this about?.”
Wilfred had a big smile on his face, picking up Ann and twirling her in his arms.
“She is alive Ann! “ Yelled Will enthusiatically, “ the princess is alive!!!.”
Ann looked confused, as Will put her back down and rushed back to his tent. Ann watching still from a distance. Jealousy filled Ann's heart, she had never in all the time she had been betrothed to Will, seen him this happy. In a huff, Ann walked off back towards the fields.
ｱ
A fire blazed in a pit beside a small tent, the music of pipes and drums softly in the background.
Wilfred eagerly ate, his aunt, Tory and Eleanor watching him in amazement.
“Slow down man! Replied Tory with a smile, it's not goin anywhere.”
Eleanor giggled.
“Leave him alone Tor, he's hungry.”
Katherine hugged her sister tightly giving her a kiss on the forehead.
“Oh Ellie, I cannot still believe that you are here with us.”
“Oh believe me sister, said Eleanor, I cannot believe it either.” “It all seems still like a dream.”
A new song started, the drum beat becoming faster.
“Care to dance?” Replied Will, holding his hand out to Tory.
Tory rolled her eyes.
“With you?. “No way!.”
Tory grinned and took Will's hand and followed him onto the field, as Will twirled her around and around, the song becoming faster and faster.
“Your friend, replied Katherine, she is quite the saucy one is she not?.”
Eleanor nodded.
“Yes well, she is very different isn't she?.” “But, I will be sad to see her leave, It shall not be the same without her.”
