by J M Bingham
Katherine gave Eleanor a funny look.
“Leave? Said Katherine, what do you mean?”
“Well, said Eleanor, she does not belong here Katherine, Tory has a family, a life.”
Katherine nodded.
“She does complain quite a bit, I must say. “
Katherine began to giggle. Eleanor smiled.
“She will not leave you, you know that ?” Replied Katherine.
The princess sighed.
“I know... but... she must.. .it is the way of things.”
Will and Tory came back, Tory almost falling down, as dizzy as she was.
“Whoa, said Tory, is there like two of you now Ape?.”
All three giggled.
“Come miss,” smiled Will, helping Tory sit down. “You must rest.”
“And you... “ said Will, holding Eleanor's hand,” I shall want a dance from.”
Katherine shook her head. Wilfred looked over to see Ann standing beside her father, as he
played the viol, a bored look on her face.
“Not tonight Will” , hissed Katherine, she is still so weak, and not in front of your
betrothed.”
Will nodded.
“What is the matter sister?. “I am well enough to dance.” replied Eleanor trying to sit
herself up.
Tory and Katherine gave each other a quick look to intervene.
“Not yet girl”, said Tory, helping Eleanor lay back down, “ you need to sit this one out .”
Katherine nodded.
Anne had silently stood behind the group, waiting to get Will's attention. Wrapping her arms around Will, she gave him a kiss on the cheek.
“Are you going to ask me to dance Wilfred? , replied Ann playfully.
Wilfred hesitated for a moment, and then holding Ann's hand, he went out to the field and held her in his arms.
“Who is that girl Katherine?” Replied Eleanor, “ I have... never seen her before.”
Katherine tried to think of a quick lie.
“Oh her” , said Katherine non-chalantly, “ oh she is just... well...
Tory chimed in.
“A friend Tor, nothing else, she's just uh... a little too flirty.”
“I should think so, said Eleanor with a strange look. “Is she taken with Wilfred? .”
The two women were silent.
“Come” , said Katherine helping Eleanor to her feet. “Tis time for you to rest some more, it has been a long day after all. “
As Katherine helped Eleanor to the tent, Eleanor looked back at Wilfred as he danced with Ann.
A lot more had happened while Eleanor had slept than she thought.
The next day as Eleanor was resting on her bed, she heard a high pitched giggle-snort coming from the fields, picking herself up, Eleanor emerged from the tent, seeing the strange girl from the night before, holding Wilfred's hands talking and laughing. Walking towards Will and Ann, Eleanor knelt behind a tent watching them more closely.
“Of all the scandalous... “ replied Eleanor to herself, watching the hideous girl laugh, her button nose, looking more piglike than anything when she snorted.
“Whatcha doin?” Came a voice from behind Eleanor.
The princess panicked, looked to see Tory crouched down beside her.
“What is this girl's deal Tor?” Asked Eleanor,” I don't get what he sees in her.”
Tory laughed.
“I don't either Ape, but you know, I guess if that's what Will's into.”
Eleanor glared as she continued watching Ann flirt with Will, occasionally giving him small pecks on the lips and cheek.
“Hey, don't worry about it” , said Tory noticing April's upset look. “ She doesn't stand a chance.
Ann gave Will one final kiss on the cheek and headed toward the tent. The two spies hurrying to act normal before Ann suspected anything.
“What are you two doing?” Asked Ann as she walked by.
Tory and Eleanor hurried and picked straw from their clothes.
“Uh... nothin Ann said Tory, “We were just uh... saying how cute you and Will look together... weren't we Eleanor?” replied Tory nudging the princess in the arm.
“Yes, “ stuttered Eleanor,” Quite.”
Anne seemed suspicious but then her mood quickly changed.
“Well we are betrothed after all” , giggled Ann, her buck teeth oozing saliva.
“Betrothed!!!.” hissed Eleanor with her teeth clenched.
Tory grew anxious.
“Don't mind us” said Tory, pulling Eleanor away, “ she's just uh... not feeling well again
and stuff. “
Tory yanked the princess away from Ann as quickly as possible before Ann suspected anything. When they were out of sight, Eleanor exploded.
“They're engaged!!!! barked April, as her face turned red.” Why didn't you tell me Tor!!!.
“Well.... said Tory.” “I mean.. ya just kind of woke up.... we didn't want to send you in shock.”
“Too late for that!!!!! screeched Eleanor.
Tory noticed Eleanor's eyes changing color.
“Look Ape, just calm down ok. “ “I mean it's not like he's really that into her anyway, he
just acts like it.”
Tory gave Eleanor a hug, trying to calm her down.
“Remember Tonya Gates, laughed Tory, “ remember how you were so jealous of her when she was flirting with Dan, and then he totally made fun of her in the lunch room in front of everybody?.”
Eleanor began to smile.
“It's like that, explained Tory, “It's really nothing.” “Anyways, the girl looks like a pig.”
Eleanor and Tory started to laugh
“C'mon said Tory, “There's a plate of nasty porridge with your name on it.”
**
A dark shadow rested on the grass in front of the small village of tents, in the middle of the burned grain field. Watching a woman with blonde braids, the shadow smiled wickedly, it had almost happened, the princess had almost fallen under the spell, but it would take more to push her over the edge.
Dashing from shadow to shadow, Hortensia chanted silently, her voice inaudible, but loud enough for the girl with the blonde braids to hear. Cackling silently to herself, the witch took shape, watching as the girl with the upturned nose, sat laughing and talking with the other women of the village. When it came to love, Hortensia was no expert, but long ago she had been in love once.... and she at least knew what it took, to make it fall apart.
Chapter 13
Wilfred's loud snores filled the whole tent, the others not noticing, only Eleanor. Turning over in frustration, Eleanor closed her eyes, trying to dismiss the thoughts that were swirling around inside her head. Finally there was no escape. Eleanor got out from under her sheep wool blanket and shook Wilfred violently awake. With a jolt, Wilfred stood up, reaching for the dagger he always kept at his belt.
“Shhh, it is alright” whispered Eleanor with a smile, “ Come, let us gaze at the stars.”
Wilfred wrapped his mother's shawl around Eleanor's shoulder's as they walked to the place where they had first gazed at the stars 10 years before. Eleanor plopped down on the wet grass and smiled, as the dark blue sky smiled brightly back at her.
“I have missed this.” replied Wilfred with a smile.” “ When you were sleeping... I came out here every night staring up at the heavens, remembering how beautiful you looked that night we first met. “
Eleanor blushed.
“You... really did such things? Asked Eleanor.” I did not think you had such feelings for me.'
Wilfred sat up perplexed.
“ Do you not remember what I said at the palace Eleanor?. “ I declared my love for you.”
Eleanor stared at Wilfred blindly.
“So you do care for me then... do you not? Asked Eleanor. “I, well... was confused because you have spent a lot of time with Ann these past few fortnights.”
Wilfred sighed.
“I am
sorry Eleanor, my father, he.... betrothed Ann and I... while you were...”
“I see.... “ was all Eleanor could say. “ So... does this mean that you and I... cannot be?.”
“No!!! “ replied Will trying to reassure Eleanor. “Not at all.... I mean now that you are
here, we can start where we left off.” “I shall just... have to explain it to my father is all.”
Eleanor smiled.
“You shall explain nothing Wilfred, answered Eleanor... “I understand.
With a final kiss, Eleanor left back towards the quiet camp. Wilfred ran up to catch her pulling her into his arms.
“Please reconsider, pleaded Wilfred, I know the betrothal is what my father wishes, but I don't.... love her.” “I love you.”
Eleanor's eyes filled with tears.
'I'm..... sorry... I... can't..”
Wilfred let Eleanor loose, watching her disappear into the sea of tents amidst the fields. Falling to his knees, Wilfred, looked up at the sky, wishing on the stars just as when he was a boy, that some miracle would happen, to change the fate between he and Eleanor.
The rooster sitting atop a rotted tree stump, crowed loudly, Eleanor in the tent beside it, rubbed her eyes, and slowly made her way out of bed. Gathering a wooden pail sitting near the entrance of the wool tent, Eleanor made her way to the stream near where the old village stood. But someone blocked her path.
“Anne?” Replied Eleanor with a smile, “Is there... something wrong.”
Anne looked different today, something was terribly off. Her once ocean blue eyes, were now red, her hair disheveled.
“I think you know very well what is the matter!” , bellowed Anne, tears filling her eyes, and streaming lightly down her cheeks.
“Anne, I am sorry, if I hurt you in any way... “
Eleanor walked up to Anne but was roughly pushed away, by a stronger hand than this skinny girl that looked more twig like than human. Eleanor became frightened, slowly backing up, and turning around back towards her tent but the strong hand grabbed her again, pulling her roughly to the soft ground.
“I saw you!.” Screeched Anne, her pale face growing red... “You and Will... last night...”
“ Anne, please believe, there is nothing between Wilfred and I.”
Anne shook her head, her braids following her.
“I know you fancy him Eleanor!!!. from the first time you came back to the village, you fancied him!!!.
Eleanor shook her head, scrambling to get back to her feet, but Anne was faster, her buck teeth in a grimace she threw Eleanor once more onto the ground but this time, into a puddle of thick, gooey black mud.
Wiping the mud from her eyes, and face, Eleanor's face became bright red, she could feel a fire within her breast, all the feelings of her past bubbling up to the surface. Eleanor's body became transparent, the colors of her skin, and clothes fading. Rushing towards Anne with a brute force that the princess didn't know she had, Eleanor roughly tackled Anne to the ground. But when Eleanor noticed Anne wasn't moving, that's when the trouble began.
“Anne!!!, Anne!!!” yelled a familiar voice.
Wilfred rushed to Anne's side, the girl's white face going paler.
“What have you done Eleanor!!, this is not like you.”
Eleanor noticed the pain and worry in Wilfred's eyes, even though he may not love Anne, he still cared for her, and Wilfred's look, a look of complete disappointment, finally was the straw that broke the camel's back. The princess began to run towards the forest but collapsed mid-run. Her body becoming a black misty mass, streaks of thunder and lightening amidst the tumult. The villagers looked on as they saw a dark figure rise in the air, her eyes full of lightening her body a dark shadow. Dark, puffy, black clouds emerged quickly in the sky, covering the sun, and turning day into night. A loud cackle broke the noise.
Hortensia appeared from a shadow of trees, her lips curled into a twisted smile, walking with a large wooden staff, a dragon's head carved into the wood. The little woman raised her arms in the air shrieking a curse. The smoky essence of Eleanor awakened, her eyes shining brightly amidst the blackness of the smoke. Hortensia cackled maniacally grabbing a large glass vial from her cloak, with a pop, the clasp opened, and the smoky mass rushed into the glass container, and with a loud pop, Eleanor, was gone.
The villagers, their faces white with terror watched as Hortensia disappeared into the woods, taking Eleanor with her. Wilfred looked up to see the witch disintegrate into the shadow of the trees, his eyes full of tears, regretting the horrible mistake he had just made. A pile of rotted leaves rustled in the wind swirling into a tiny cyclone, a dark figure appearing, the sound of a cane thumping on the wet leaves long since dead lying like corpses on the cold ground.
Hortensia walked towards her dilapidated shack, barely standing. Talking to herself excitedly, the old witch grabbed for the glass vile pulling it out and holding up to her cheek as if it were a lost long friend.
…..”Now.... is our time.” whispered the witch uncorking the lid, a swoosh of wind, a pandomonium of chaotic black clouds escaping from the vial as if it were the demons from Pandora's box.
“Is this... really what you want Hortensia?” Came a gentle voice.
Hortensia looked around with a sneer on her ugly green face.
“ Aria,” hissed the witch quietly under her breath. Every time the good witch of the wood was near, the darkness seemed to evaporate leading Hortensia to remember happier times, times when she and Aria, had once been... friends.
The sun shone brightly through the trees as a young woman walked through the trees humming a soft melody as she walked, her long black hair shining in the sunlight.
“Are you lost?” Whispered a soft voice coming somewhere in the trees.
The young woman looked around startled, and then as if by magic, which was no stranger to the young woman, a tall woman, with hair the color of the sky, appeared out of the ground, as if she were a tree growing in the ground.
“What is your name?”, said the strange blue haired woman, with a smile.
“Hortensia” said the young woman in a frightened voice.
The magical creature stepped forward her roots following behind, as if a bride's drape.
“There is no need to be afraid” offered the woman with a laugh, “ I am no one to be afraid of, “Come, you must be hungry.”
Hortensia gave the strange woman a half smile and followed her deeper into the woods, until they reached a arch of trees, covered in vines. The strange woman disappeared into the dark doorway. With hesitation, Hortensia followed. The other side of the arch was nothing that Hortensia had imagined. The whole forest roof had disappeared, the sun shining brightly. A throne of trees stood in silence, strange men and woman with green and blue hair some having hoofs, and some without carried out beautifully carved wooden platters full of fruit. The trees grew in several random places, as if they were pillars, the large sycamores holding up a roof of green foliage above.
