The Queen's Curse

by Hellenthal, Natasja

  They needed to rest, and from out of nowhere here it was; their camp. It was more than they could ever hope for. Tirsa sat on another rock next to the queen and warmed herself as well. The rock didn’t feel hard, but smoother and softer than any pillow.

  They held their tongues, for it would certainly disturb the peace of this place. And what words were needed right now other than sighs of astonishment and wonder?

  What remained, however, were their growling stomachs and dry mouths, next to their heavy limbs and strained muscles, which had tightened themselves in the cold, and they ached all over.

  There was fruit here, and water, but could they touch it? Would it be safe?

  In answer a small rustling of leaves was to be heard as a tiny head popped up between the big leaves of a bush. It was the head of a young girl in her teens, smiling at them with glittering bright green eyes, green as fresh grass. Her skin was of a darker forest green and her long straight hair clear blue, like the colour of the stream in this little valley.

  She rose from her knees and carefully approached light-footed. The two women quickly glanced at one another. Artride appeared more startled than Tirsa, for she recognized a Woodchild in the girl which she quickly whispered to Artride.

  ‘My welcome to both of you,’ the girl said pleasantly, with a small accent.

  ‘Hello,’ Artride spoke with a trembling voice.

  The girl bowed. ‘A pleasure meeting a queen. My name is Shanta and this is my home.’

  ‘Oh, how nice to make your acquaintance. How do you know I am a queen?’

  The girl smiled mildly while her eyes sparkled like one of the crystals. ‘News goes around quickly here.’

  ‘Hello, Shanta,’ Tirsa introduced herself, placing her right hand over her heart. ‘Tirsa Lathabris, bodyguard of the queen. Carahoose meanta hinthe, Shanta.’

  Artride stared questionably at her while Shanta’s eyes narrowed, and for a brief moment she stopped smiling, before her face was bright again and happy. ‘Carehoose meanta hinthe, Tirsa. My … you know our language.’

  ‘So, now that we are properly introduced,’ Artride began feeling a little left out, but kind of safe now she knew Tirsa was familiar with these kind of creatures. It was her first encounter with a Woodchild, which were rare in the woods of Ceartas. ‘How come that this place is so wonderful and luscious, while just a few feet away it’s cold and windy?’

  Shanta slanted her head a little. She looked like a youth, but her eyes and charisma were that of someone a lot older. ‘I have kept it this way. The Green Valley used to be so much bigger, before the weather changed years ago,’ she sadly said.

  ‘The work of the sorceress who lives here?’ Tirsa asked. Shanta bowed her head. ‘My valley has changed, but I do not know why. A disturbance in the land. My magic is limited and I need all my power to keep this place healthy. You see, I will cease to exist too if it turns into ice, like the rest of the mountain; ice and snow, stones and ugly moss and bare sandy ground where nothing wants to grow.’

  The queen thought about that and came to the conclusion that in her world it was rather odd to have such a green valley so high up in the mountains with its thin air and always present wind. But this was Dochas; The Magical Land. ‘But you do not know why this happens?’ she asked again.

  Shanta slowly shook her head and suddenly smiled. ‘Where are my manners? You must be thirsty and hungry. My valley provides everything you need.’ And she reached for both of their hands and grasped them, pulling the women gently off to a bush with tasty looking purple berries; soft and juicy. She began picking them and handed two handfuls over to them. Artride just stared at the fruit and felt reluctant to eat, and she looked at Tirsa who looked doubtful as well, but nodded, whispering, ‘It should be alright, I mean, she is a Woodchild. I have never met more honest folk.’

  Only when they saw Shanta eating her share of berries with taste, did Artride and Tirsa follow her example. She showed them a nice place to sit at the brook and began to fill three crystal goblets with the juice of one of those lovely huge flowers. The liquid was a soft pale orange.

  Tirsa put her feet in the cool, but relaxing stream. Artride felt a little ashamed of pulling off her boots, afraid her feet would smell, so she left her boots on, looking longingly at her companion’s’ feet.

  When they had their share and their stomachs were most satisfyingly filled, they felt strong and fit like never before.

  ‘It’s just like one of those riddles we solved; the one about the paradise and being wealthy,’ Artride whispered to Tirsa. She nodded thoughtfully.

  ‘Magical, Shanta?’ Tirsa asked pointing at the empty goblets.

  ‘Isn’t everything?’ she reflected, but it was more a statement than a question.

  Tirsa smiled. ‘Yes, but I have a feeling that Dochas reveals a different kind of magic, now that this sorceress does her things. Most Woodchildren hide themselves, afraid of the sorceress, who captured a lot of you, so I have heard. That would mean much magic would be lost as well, replaced by hers, is that true?’

  Shanta remained firm. ‘I do not now of those things. All I know is that my valley is threatened.’

  ‘I see,’ Tirsa remarked quietly, gazing around. ‘That is indeed a shame.’

  ‘If this goes on it would be the end!’ she remarked hotly.

  She studied the girl; who looked really frightened. ‘And the end of you as well…’

  The Woodchild nodded sadly.

  ‘Will you help me?’ she asked suddenly, staring at them with big eyes.

  ‘Saving your valley, how?’ Artride remarked.

  Shanta cheerfully sprang up, light and quick as a fish and gestured them to follow her.

  They crossed another grassy meadow and walked past bigger trees and an inviting pond. I could do with a bath, Artride thought, with her skin itching underneath her clothes, running a hand through her hair. She led them to a wall of yellow rock where she stopped. ‘Look.’ The women did and saw the yellow was not a rock, but thick solid ice; a frozen waterfall. Yellow from melting and freezing again. The ice was carved in marvellous natural shapes, mostly round with big hanging droops of white and yellow ice, almost transparent. Tirsa imagined it could be a palace for a small fairy ice queen.

  ‘The only thing frozen in here, permanently,’ Shanta explained.

  ‘But it is beautiful,’ Artride announced.

  ‘It is, but something unnatural has caused it to stay frozen, no matter how hard I try to thaw it out with my magic. It could well be that sorceress you mentioned.’

  Artride looked up when she mentioned the sorceress. It was clear she knew nothing about her, or so it seemed.

  ‘But why want to thaw it?’

  ‘Because it is not natural. Tirsa, you understand don’t you?’ she asked sweetly.

  She frowned. ‘I do, nature didn’t intend to have this waterfall stay frozen all the time, I reckon, but I wonder what she gains by doing this.’

  ‘Maybe it is to pester me. She must know I still have my magic. I feel – I know that it’s only the beginning. In a few years from now my powers will completely weaken and then my entire valley will freeze with me in it; for I will never leave it. I was born here and my duty is to care for the valley until my last day.’ Woodchildren could age up to four centuries. ‘If you help me; you will have more than my greatest gratitude.’

  ‘Why do you think we can do anything at all, and how?’ Artride asked uncertainly.

  ‘You are foreigners. I have figured out that only those who were not born here are able to defrost the waterfall.’

  ‘How do you know of these things, and not know anything about the sorceress?’

  A little stressed she replied to Artride, ‘My inner voice told me. I am a Truthteller of the heart. My TalamhClann heart cannot defrost it, but my inner all-knowing voice told me only a human heart can. And no humans live here.’ The TalamhClann were in fact the Woodchildren in their tongue.

  ‘Alright,’ Tirsa began nodd
ing, and she turned to Artride. ‘I have heard of Truthtellers, they can read your mind, tell slightly about your past and future, and foresee things. Not all Woodchildren are telepaths; but those who are belong to the wisest and most respected.’

  ‘How do you know they are telling the truth?’ Artride whispered.

  Tirsa smiled. ‘Oh, you just do. Especially when they tell you things no one else can possible know.’ And she winked at her and said in a conspiring tone, ‘Like secrets, for one.’

  Artride blushed shyly at that, to the surprise of Tirsa who misinterpreted it.

  I already know hers; so why be afraid? Shanta can’t be harmed by knowing about the curse, can she? Tirsa wondered.

  ‘The remaining question is,’ Artride quickly asked Shanta, ‘how? Of course we want to help you if we can, but you don’t actually want our hearts, do you?’

  Shanta seemed happy again. ‘Just your heart’s desires, and my waterfall will warm up and defrost, and remain unfrozen for at least a couple of years again; hopefully longer.’

  ‘You mean like our hopes and dreams?’ Tirsa asked and Artride glanced from Shanta to Tirsa questionably. It seemed Tirsa had not heard about this before.

  ‘Yes, but I’d rather call them heart’s desires, for that is what they really are. You do not have to be afraid. Your secrets are safe with me,’ she assured them. ‘No humans ever come here anyway; well, the last one I saw was about eighty years ago and he froze to death.’

  The queen shrugged, her eyes grew big and Shanta laughed. ‘Not here in my valley, but outside. It had already started then. You had a lucky escape to find my valley and I am so happy you came along; I would have had to wait for ages again.’

  ‘Do you live here, all by yourself?’

  Shanta widened her green slim arms and joyfully announced, ‘A Woodchild is never lonely. And I am not the only spirit here.’ And she glanced at the butterflies and trees. Woodchildren could communicate with anything alive, Tirsa knew. They cared for all life, and gave it their love and attention.

  ‘But you are the only Woodchild here, aren’t you?’ Tirsa asked. Shanta brushed it off by shrugging her shoulders nonchalantly, jumping on a purple rock glittering in the sun. ‘Like I said; I am not lonely.’ She did look content, Tirsa had to admit.

  The two women exchanged looks, and stepped a little closer to discuss it further.

  ‘Our heart’s desires?’ Artride started cynically; keeping her voice level, so that Shanta didn’t hear. ‘I feel sorry for her waterfall and her valley, but could this be another trick of the sorceress? We are after all close now, hearing this story proves that.’

  ‘It would be too obvious for that, wouldn’t it? I mean, you would think so. Anyone would. And by giving our inner thoughts away, well, I admit we would be vulnerable and the sorceress probably would get to know us. If she has this place under her spell, she will. Maybe that’s the whole idea, and why and what is wrong with that anyway? She could just invite us or guide us to her if she wants that. And if she would want us dead, I am sure she could harm us. But Shanta? I mean; she seems sincere, Artride.’

  ‘She could be held here against her will,’ Artride pondered. ‘And hired to trick us.’ She drew in a deep breath and glanced around. ‘This place seems so unnatural in a way.’

  ‘Yes, but it does make me curious,’ Tirsa announced a little naughtily. ‘Our hearts’ desires. I know mine, but … to know yours … And what harm could it do anyway?’ she did of course consider any threat to their lives and their quest, but really didn’t see any, save for a little time. She trusted the Woodchildren completely; otherwise she would have been just as suspicious as Artride about this. We’ll be on our way soon enough. The Woodchildren helped me countless times; this would be a way to thank them, after all those years …

  ‘Do not be ridiculous, Tirsa,’ she retorted sharply. ‘You already know mine. I trust she will tell us both the same; our true desire is a counter spell for the curse. I could just tell her that right now.’ And briskly she stepped over to Shanta and told her that. Shanta smiled at her. ‘It is of most importance that we find her, Shanta,’ she concluded.

  ‘Kind of you to share that with me, Queen Artride; however, we will have to prepare a ritual and I will tell you your desire. Could very well be what you just told me.’ Or something else … Artride bit her lip at that.

  ‘Believe me … some people do not know themselves that well, or if they do, they mostly don’t dare to share it, and only with help from me will they see and acknowledge their true desires. Countless times Truthtellers helped others take a different path in their lives. But if you know yourself, well … you can stay on yours, can’t you?’ And she smiled sweetly. ‘Really, this is harmless. It’s just opening up to me and I will see through you. I will be helping you and you will be helping me.’

  Artride didn’t want to show her fear to her companion and pulled herself together. Well, I know myself and what I want, so why worry?

  ‘You really do not know a woman named–’ and Tirsa stepped closer towards Shanta to whisper in her ear to be on the safe side; remembering all to well what Roalda had said about the power of calling her name out loud and the attention it would draw. ‘Sempervirens?’ Shanta remained firm and did not show any sign that she did, but then again a Woodchild could play tricks on you; mostly funny games, but – to the experience of Tirsa – only innocent, harmless little magical tricks such as whispers in the woods or laughing to scare you or throw pineapples at your back. Sometimes, they would even make you get lost in their woods, by leading you off a track that would otherwise lead to something special in their eyes, what is not meant for the eyes of humans. They had trusted Tirsa in her childhood days and she had befriended some. It was hard to get to know them well, for they were always busy with something, and could run away in the middle of a conversation; off to care for a bird in distress or a wounded mouse or mole. Their hearing was superb as were most of their senses. Animals were their best friends and Tirsa felt proud she once had been to, and even learned their language a little. They could speak in the tongue of humans as well; living always close to them, but avoiding the noisy clumsy creatures as often as possible. However, they would not lie to you about big issues like this, and never about something serious like Mindreading.

  ‘And if we do not help you?’ Artride dared to ask; risking losing Tirsa’s sympathy, who obvious had a soft spot for the Woodchildren. Presumable they remind her of the woods in her homeland.

  Shanta looked disappointed at the queen and then at the frozen waterfall. Her eyes were really mournful now. She sat down with her elbows resting on her knees, still staring at the still ice.

  ‘I mean … I am sorry that this is happening to your valley, but our quest is really important and we have to get going –’ So, is she really a cold-hearted person when it comes to it? Tirsa thought and looked incredulously at her.

  ‘I just do not want to endanger it; many lives are at stake, do you understand?’

  ‘Artride–’ Tirsa whispered. ‘I know that you’re in charge here and I will submit to anything you decide, and above all I want you to be safe, but do you really feel this is perilous for our quest?’

  ‘I have to be on the safe side, Tirsa, too much is at stake. And after all we are given a choice here. This is still The Magical Land and we cannot trust anything even … your friend over here,’ she added more softly.

  ‘It is true,’ Tirsa admitted, ‘that according to Roalda, some Wood-and Windchildren have been abducted, and for all we know she could be one of them, instructed to fool us, but I honestly don’t believe Shanta knows about the whole thing. All she cares for is her valley. I know these delicate, honest creatures; they will never let themselves be used for a mean trick by another, especially not human and not even a sorceress, how powerful she may be.’

  ‘But what if it concerns her valley and she signed some pact with her? We do have to be aware of every possibility.’

  ‘Hmm,’ and she sig
hed reluctantly, running a free hand through her loose, a little greasy-feeling hair.

  ‘Fact remains that we spill precious time arguing about this, Artride. You have to decide now.’

  What harm can it do indeed? Artride did ponder and she found herself drawn to look at the luscious green valley with its butterflies and flowers. They would die too if she tells the truth, and what if she does – She had to admit she was curious about this as well, even though it were her own heart’s desires – how embarrassing – and Tirsa’s, now that could be interesting.

  ‘How long will this take, Shanta?’

  ‘Only a few heartbeats, about three hundred.’

  Artride seemed to melt and nodded. ‘Alright … let’s begin.’

  ~ ~ ~

  Shanta sat in front of the two women with her eyes locked onto Artride. They had installed themselves in a comfortable position with their legs crossed underneath them and their backs leaning against the soft rock by the gleaming fresh pond. The grass felt cool and lovely against their hands and a mild gust of wind blew past them, leaving them at ease and relaxed.

  The Truthteller was completely focusing on the queen; her mind piercing through her aura, ignoring her outer beauty; just her true self was important now, and Shanta would only see that, like all Woodchildren saw only the soul.

  And then only after a short moment she began to tell:

  ‘I see that you have been given a heavy task at a young age; a burden weighing grievously on you. The task to rule people. Something powerful is holding you back though … yes … the Law book of your country. You feel like you have no say in the matter. Being powerless frustrates you deeply. Your desire is … to rule; to control without being held back.’ She smiled sweetly at Artride saying, ‘But of course you already told me this much. ‘However … I do not see the curse you mentioned, none … whatsoever.’