The Untold Forest

by Elisa Menz

  After a quick walk by the riverbank, they entered a small cave. The dampness in the air made her cough, and the temperature inside didn’t differ from the cold outside by much. Hakken left her on the ground before dragging dusty pelts from over a stone terrace. She watched him beat the heavy furs before rearranging them to produce a makeshift bed.

  “Where will I sleep?” About time she made some things clear. She wouldn’t share any kind of bedding with him.

  But the half-breed pointed to the terrace. “Here. Don’t worry, I’ll clean this better in the morning.”

  “Where will you sleep?”

  He chuckled and made a move to ruffle her hair, only to stop at the sight of her cap. Her heart went wild when she realized he expected her to join him. “I won’t share it with you! I’m not familiar with your customs, but where I come from—”

  “Where you come from, you had a room, a bed, and a fireplace. You’ll freeze to death here.”

  The cold bit, but that was the least of her problems. She planted her feet on the ground, clenching her fists by her side, focused on not showing fear. “I won’t sleep there.”

  In the gloom, Maeve saw him smirk. How would he ever take her seriously? She had seen how strong he was. If he dragged her to bed, would she fight back? “Sleep well, little one.”

  What? She gawked at him. At his back, to be more precise. The half-breed laid down, settling between the furs. Did he plan on leaving her with no covers? Maeve frowned. What an uncaring captor!

  After a brief inspection around the cave, Maeve failed to locate a half-breed free, comfortable place to rest. She huffed at the sound of his snoring. How could he sleep when she was about to lose a toe because of the cold?

  Resigned to her fate, she huddled on the ground next to the bed. She tried at least to rest her head over the furs. She pulled her coat to cover as much of her body as possible.

  After a few minutes, her teeth were chattering, and her fingers hurt. How can it be so cold? The proximity of the river might be to blame. She would never fall asleep like this, and she might catch a cold if she stayed on the bleak ground.

  Maeve glanced at Hakken. The bed was roomy, with enough space for her to rest far from him. Perhaps she should crawl in and rest for a while. She slipped between the furs, careful not to wake him.

  As soon as the warmth enveloped her, her body relaxed, and she let out a contented sigh. The lack of sleep and the intense emotions that swayed her the entire day came crashing on her. Maeve was exhausted. When her head settled on the furs, her eyes closed, and sleep found her soon.

  A sound startled her. The fresh air of the morning rushed in, along with the faint glow of dawn. The freezing temperature numbed her face, and the bite of cold hurt the tip of her nose. Maeve rubbed her hands before turning to the half-breed. Hakken writhed and groaned in his sleep; his face creased with anguish.

  Should she leave? Perhaps this was the time to slip out of the cave and enjoy a moment for herself. Escaping no longer sounded like an option. She would never find her way out of the Forest, and her chances of surviving were slim. A whimper pulled her out of her reverie. He was crying.

  Dreams were mostly harmless, but Hakken struggled against this nightmare. All too familiar with bad dreams, Maeve couldn’t ignore his pain. Her hand moved on its own accord, taking hold of his arm and shaking him.

  Hakken

  Again, one of those awful nightmares. The one on which he held her body and failed to contain the blood. There was always so much more blood in his dreams. Being aware he was asleep didn’t help him in the slightest.

  He would still wake up feeling like crap and flee the village, to spend days ruminating his pain in solitude. How he hated waking up like this. His eyes would open to the gloom of the cave, and he would stay alone for hours.

  The pain tightening his chest came right on time. Was it too much to ask, to wake up rested? It had been so long.

  “Hakken.” An unfamiliar voice called him. A beautiful sound. His eyes fluttered open, landing on the owner of that mellow voice. Maeve regarded him with raised eyebrows while she chewed nervously on her lip. An expression Hakken knew well since Kniv usually carried it around him. His nightmare had worried his little Maeve.

  What a sweet girl. Never would he have imagined a human child worrying about his terrible sleeping habits. “Good morning, little one,” he smiled, “slept well?”

  Seeing her getting all flustered was hilarious. Last night, he covered her with all the furs he found and cuddled her shivering body until she relaxed, warm, and comfortable in his arms. It was a relief he didn’t end up dragging her into bed before she caught a cold.

  “A nightmare?” She ignored his question and peeked from under her eyelashes.

  She was so cute! He had to stop himself from hugging her and kissing her cheeks. How ridiculous, the warm feelings she stirred in him. When was the last time he woke up so high-spirited?

  He rubbed his face, getting rid of the sleep and the tears. “Don’t mind me. Are you hungry?”

  Maeve nodded. The closest resemblance of an edible in his cave consisted of chewed ribs and rotting fish heads. Maybe Kniv would spare some meat for them. He smiled at the thought of Kniv, seeing him awake at this early hour.

  “Humans eat fruit too? Roots?” Much to be done today. The cave needed a deep clean. Discarded bones, dry leaves, and rubble covered the place. A thick layer of grime caked the ground. The fur on his bed smelled more dead than ever. He couldn’t keep a human child in this filth.

  “Why am I here?” Too early in the morning for these questions, but Maeve had been pushing for an answer since yesterday. An answer Hakken still couldn’t pinpoint.

  “You might have died if I left you behind.”

  “Most people back at the castle were innocent. Kieran’s stupidity shouldn’t cost them their lives.”

  Hakken sighed. “That’s the law, Maeve. None of us enjoy the killing, but these punishments are necessary. We spare the women and children, but you said it yourself. You couldn’t stay there.”

  “No... humans have their way of punishing the same crime.” Her shoulders slumped, and the need to take her in his arms and console her pushed his limits. Maeve sniffled and turned away. “I still don’t understand why you saved me.”

  Hakken took her face in his hands, smiling while rubbing her cheeks. “You saved me first. Remember? You healed me and set me free.”

  “Right! You could have left the dungeon with no help. I was dumb enough to think you needed me to escape.”

  Seeing her pouting turned out to be more than he could resist. He ignored her protests and cradled her. “Well, I am weak! Did you expect me to ignore the tiny human who risked her life to save my wretched soul?”

  “I’m not tiny...”

  It took a few minutes to calm down his laughter. What a delightful frown! How could he ever consider hurting Maeve? How could anyone? “I can’t explain, sweetie. I had the chance to jump over that wall and leave you to die. I couldn’t do it.”

  Her blue eyes bore into his, weighing his answer. Hakken’s heart almost burst with joy when she snuggled in his arms, settling her head on his chest. “I don’t understand,” she said, “but thank you.”

  CHAPTER XIV

  FORGING FRIENDSHIPS

  Maeve

  Another beautiful day in the Forest; the morning dew sat untouched, glistening under the shy sun. The peaceful aura of dawn shattered after a whining flock of blackbirds escaped the shouting.

  “You will not bathe me!”

  Maeve was a reserved person. Not one to endure mistreatment, but society taught her to be cordial and avoid confrontation. Now Hakken tested her limits on a daily basis. What was he thinking?

  After almost a week living among the half-breeds, Hakken proved to be a most dubious guardian. His last idea was by far the most far-fetched. “Stop arguing! You are filthy.”

  “Well, of course, I am. I keep asking you to show me a private, safe place where
I can clean myself, but you refuse!”

  “That is what I’m about to do!”

  “And I keep telling you this will not happen!” Maeve let out an exasperated growl before throwing her arms in the air and stomp out of their cave. She walked as far away as possible, keeping close to the entrance. Hakken often freaked out when she strayed too far. He had been adamant about fulfilling his role as his guardian. Considering her current situation, Maeve understood she would be hopeless without him. How could she repay his kindness and all the efforts he made to make sure she was safe?

  To her dismay, his way of ‘protecting her’ often meant he would stick by her side the entire day.

  At first, she thought he was sweet. Only after encountering some awkward difficulties, he became annoying.

  Her foul mood dissipated when she took a deep breath. The chill morning filled her nostrils, and the sun shone through the trees. The sounds of birds and critters waking up amid the fragrant flowers enveloped her. Summer made a glorious entrance.

  The Forest was still intimidating, but it was difficult not to marvel at the sights. Her wildest dreams couldn’t have conjured such beauty. Every tree grew as majestic as it could be. Every flower held the most intense color, the most delightful aroma. In the morning, the Forest came alive with voices and movement. During the night, even a human such as she sensed the gusts of magic rippling in the air.

  The musical roar of the river resonated over the cliff. Maeve stretched her arms, taking in as much sunlight as possible. “I’m the worst smelling creature in the Forest!”

  Her heartfelt announcement received some snicker coming from the trail behind the bushes. Maeve composed herself when she spotted a woman approaching. She walked with a limp, and she didn’t look as fit as other women she knew back in the village. The newcomer gave her a friendly smile.

  Maeve sensed Hakken walking to stand behind her. “Mynte, what brings you here?”

  “Lose the frown, would you Hakky, it’s too early.”

  Maeve gasped. “You speak my language! How come I haven’t met you so far?”

  “Well, ask your guardian over there. He has let no one get close to you for the past days.”

  Hakken crossed his arms and frowned. “I have been busy.”

  “Yeah, yeah... I can see what you mean.” Her eyes jumped between the two of them before landing with mischievous glee on Maeve. “What do you say if I show you the perfect place for you to wash and lose the title of ‘Worst Smelling Creature’?”

  “Yes!”

  “No!” Hakken growled.

  Women in the village had claimed a freshwater pool as their exclusive bathing area. Maeve often saw them walking in the distance, coming and going to clean themselves. To her dismay, half-breeds did not give much importance to public nudity, so she had been reluctant about joining them. This also meant Hakken would not tag along, and his protective instincts kicked in.

  The situation was getting out of hand, and Maeve desperately needed a bath. One glance at Maeve’s glare was all it took for Hakken to yield. She should remember this. He enjoyed angering her, and she could use his weirdness to her favor.

  Gathering as much ferocity as she could, she said. “Try to stop me. I dare you.” Maeve beamed with belligerence. This new freedom turned out to be so much fun. In the past, rebelling would always end in scolding. As a noble lady, she should not speak against the will of a man, least of all her guardian.

  But under Hakken’s scowl, she detected a smile fighting to take over. What a strange fellow.

  Sitting amongst the half-breed women, Maeve couldn’t help to feel a little self-aware. The place was lovely. Surrounded by a cliff near the river, the current overflowed to form natural springs. The pools spread in an extensive, protected area, hidden by the rocky slopes. Here, the carefree ladies fluttered among the aquatic plants.

  Each spring displayed a unique color, and Mynte explained it was because of the minerals under the water.

  Mynte was an apprentice healer. Since she was born with a crooked leg, she didn’t hunt or patrol like the others. Her calling lay in the healing arts. The matriarch taught her ancient medicine and the use of herbs. Friendship came naturally for the two girls because of their common interests and her knowledge of the language.

  “The matriarch taught me,” she explained. She promised Maeve to help her learn the half-breed speech since Hakken didn’t think it was essential. The brute. Maeve rolled her eyes.

  Mynte understood her reluctance to take off her clothes. But after a while, Maeve felt silly for being the only woman bathing while still wearing her nightgown and cap. There were strict rules about nudity in human society. This being, she should never appear nude in front of anyone, ever. Not even her husband.

  Half-breed women carried themselves with so much poise; it was difficult to remember the reasons why they were being immoral. They were clean, comfortable, and respectful. Maeve realized her uneasiness came from her own oddity.

  “Oh, what the hell!” She pulled the thin fabric over her head and blushed when they cheered and chuckled at her pluck. She laughed it off, nervous but proud. Next was her white cap. She untied it, releasing her hair.

  Not having her hair bound was such a relief. With her head thrown back, Maeve sighed and closed her eyes, enjoying the cool water and the warm sunlight. A soft breeze made her shiver, and she realized the valley had gone quiet. Nothing could be heard but the wind and the burbling streams.

  She looked around to find them staring at her in awe. “What?” She shrank a little, not knowing where she had wronged.

  Mynte let out a shriek, startling her. “It’s so beautiful!” Her new friend reached for a handful of her long golden hair, googling at it like if it was made of some precious material. Maeve found herself surrounded by women who marveled at her blond locks. Half-breed only flaunt brown or black hair.

  They spent the next couple of hours washing, brushing, and grooming Maeve’s hair. Elated and oblivious of the men who were wondering where the hell they all were.

  Hakken

  After spending the entire day with the hunting party, Hakken excused himself and left the others once they completed the job. Kniv drove him mad with all his scolding. Yes, he was still responsible for feeding the tribe. Yes, he might have a little human girl now, but he should not isolate himself again because of his additional responsibilities. Blah, blah, blah...

  Leaving Maeve behind turned out to be physically painful. After only a few hours, he longed for her and had to remind himself not to throw everything away to run back to her side. He needed to know if she was safe. What if she fell and hurt her skin? What if she slipped into a deep pool and drowned? Were there any human-eating creatures close to the village?

  What if the other women were mean to her? He knew Mynte had good intentions, but he wasn’t so sure about the others. The matriarch might have accepted her, but it took only one spiteful idiot to ruin everything.

  If he hadn’t left the hunt early, the others would have sent him away. In his worst days, he was never as distracted and clumsy as today.

  There was nothing to be done. She needed a bath, and Mynte was not the worst companion. And this free time allowed him to fetch something important for her.

  Maeve had insisted on growing food since human’s diet included a great deal of fruit and vegetables, and the roots made her sick to her stomach. Hakken had bribed a young changeling to sneak some tools and seeds from a human farm near the border. He couldn’t fathom what she planned to do with them, but Maeve seemed so eager to start he had no other choice but to attend to her wishes.

  The heavy bundle made him groan. He left the tools and seeds close to the entrance of the cave and stretched his back. The moon hung high in the sky when he arrived at the village, and dinner time had long passed. Mynte had promised to take excellent care of Maeve, so he trusted they had fed her.

  He dragged his feet as he walked into the cave. He sniffed Maeve’s delicious scent and smiled in
relief. The poor girl needed a bath. She should be comfortable now.

  It was pitch black inside; the fire reduced to embers. He didn’t need the light since Maeve’s calm breathing led him to bed. The sweet child slept soundly. As soon as he slipped beside her, she snuggled next to him. Hakken smiled, remembering how against it she was at first. Impressive, what chilly temperatures and his constant nagging accomplished.

  Drowsy after a long, exhausting day, her warmth and softness appeased him and lulled him into a deep slumber.

  Maeve

  Waking up in the cave had become quite an experience. She loved the sounds of the wild and the freshness of the morning, at least after Hakken cleaned and sunbathed the furs. Maeve stretched over the furry pelts, feeling sluggish. When she realized the spot by her side was empty, she turned to find Hakken kneeling on the ground, staring at her dumbstruck.

  “Hakken, what is it?” She sat, her hair falling around her face, covering her shoulders. He gawked at the sight. Maeve—still not used to the attention her hair attracted—couldn’t help but blush.

  “Oh, yes... this. Since no one is scolding me for not using that horrible cap anymore, I thought I could—”

  “You...” Hakken took her face in his hands, caressing her hair with marveled reverence. “You are the most beautiful being I have ever laid eyes on.”

  “We talked about this Hakken, if you are going to speak to me in your language, you must teach me first,” she protested.

  But her annoyance couldn’t be held for long. Her sweet, overprotective guardian displayed a radiant smile and took her in his arms, sinking his face in her golden curls.

  CHAPTER XV

  THE BOY WHO HATES

  Regn

  “This is a dumb idea.”

  What he expected to accomplish, he wasn’t sure. This early in the morning, before the sun came out, sleeping should be his priority. Considering he arrived at the village minutes ago, after two weeks of touring the neighboring tribes, he earned his rest.