Ella made her way through the trees just outside of town. Dressed in the darkest hood she had, she carried with her only a mirror and a rolled up blanket. Her long dress and hood got damp as she walked through the edge of the field just outside her village, where she knew everyone must be sleeping. A jolt of excitement and fear overtook her as she passed a warning posted on one of the trees,
"Notice! Any citizen found outside the Township on the night before and the night of the Harvest Moon--will be deemed a diabolist and divinitor and shall be punished with the threat of death. Signed with the authority of the Bishop of the 39th District Parish, and by decree State Law."
Looking up at the moon, Ella put hurry in her step as she realized it must be almost midnight! It was the night before Samhain, and Ella knew full well what that meant--witching hour!
"Damn this dark night I can't see a thing!" She spoke to herself as softly as she could, aware that if she got caught out on this very special night, she might be burned--or worse!
The path Ella took wound its' way down the side of a hill into a tree line where she pursued a path she'd taken many times before, but never at night--and never on Samhain! Tonight the trees looked especially eerie as there was a damp fog overtaking them up to her waist.
Finding her spot at the edge of a bank which ran a cool stream of water, she positioned rocks in a circle so the water would pool, careful not to look into it.
Checking her dads' pocket watch, Ella saw that she'd made it just in time for midnight, as was her plan. She eased herself onto her back and scooted herself as far over the edge of the bank as she could. Pulling out the mirror, she put it up above her head and took a deep breath--focusing on her reason for coming here this night.
"Sands of time yet to fall,
Show your face--hear my call!
I request the face of my one true love,
Through this mirror and sacred water,
Give a sign to your loyal daughter!
Moon above, shine so bright.
Bring his face into the light!"
The sounds of crickets and the night waned as Ella concentrated very hard on the mirror in her hand as she held it above her head. Looking closely, the mirror reflected the moons' light in the water behind her head and she strained to see if anything was visible.
Suddenly a face did come into view, and the hair immediately stood up on her arms and neck. Ella was slightly startled to actually get an answer to her question..
There in the mirror was the face of a raven black haired, blue eyed man whom she did not know. His eyes glinted in the moonlight and his eyes seared into hers until she heard the grass and leaves beside her rustle.
"OH!" Ella had been so fixated on her spell and mirror that she hadn't even realized there was someone standing over her.
"Good evening." The dark mans' cloak brushed upon her hand as he leaned down in a crouching position to inspect Ella more closely.
Too surprised to answer, Ella made to get herself up when she noticed his warm hand was on her chest over her heart, not holding her down but preventing her from getting up. His scent which was strong and sweet like wood chips with a hint of patchouli, radiated onto her like a cloud of perfume.
"Might I ask what such a fetching young girl is doing in my woods on this night?"
Ella had no words that would come to her lips as she looked into this mans' enthralling gaze, fully aware of the contact his hand was making with her heaving chest as she prepared herself to fight and flee.
"Do not be afraid I will not hurt you," this strangers' voice was like music to her ears and Ella wondered if she'd gone too far into the dark woods--which were supposedly inhabited by many unknown forces.
"Who are you?" She asked.
"Tsk tsk, you didn't answer my question, do you?"
"Well, I'm not lost if that's what you're asking," Ella brushed the strangers' hand away nonchalantly and stood up. Perhaps if she acted like everything was normal, it would stay that way?
"Would you like an escort this night?" The mans' eyes wandered the woods generally in each direction as hers followed his lead until she realized that soon his were glaring into hers in pure intrigue.
"No, thank you, no. I must be getting home.."
"Oh, but these woods are not safe tonight for someone like you."
The stranger was standing a few feet from Ella and she could still smell his sweet musk which was intoxicating. This man was indeed out of the ordinary, and she wondered just what kind of life someone had to lead to attain such an aroma?
"I'm well aware of that, thank you." She made to turn, but couldn't take her eyes off this man. Was he a man? Her mind told her to leave, but the rest of her body refused to listen as she nonchalantly looked him up and down, attracted to his strange aura.
"I don't think you should go back tonight, there are search parties out all over this forest. I assume they are looking for you."
Ellas' heart sank and her stomach felt as if she'd been punched. That goddamn Bishop must have called city roll in the middle of the night! If she went back now, she might be held in trial by the very town she grew up in.
Her home, her family--all flashed before her mind and she realized how silly it was for her to be out on this night, casting such a trivial spell, no less.
The conflict on her face in the pale moonlight was apparent, and chills ran up her spine as the cool mountain air chilled her through her robe.
"You are more than welcome to stay at my home, this night. As my guest."
Silence ensued as she was torn between wanting to tell him no, but knowing that if she did the rest of the night she would be freezing and perhaps worse--if she were caught and interrogated! What would she tell them? She'd gotten enough views of town hangings to last a lifetime..
The sound of hounds broke through the air and thus the moment of her decision—Ella's eyes grew wide. The search party would find her for sure!
"If I carry you, your scent will be lost to the dogs, child."
Looking desperately into his eyes, Ella searched them to see if there was any clue as to whether she could trust him.
"I promise I will not hurt you, and that you may leave whenever you want."
Of course she knew his promise meant nothing at that moment. But faced with the dogs, she considered this for a moment before her body subconsciously answered for her. All she could feel now was the twist in her stomach at the thought of being cornered by the Bishops' hounds.
The mans' strong arms moved to pick her up as she nodded in absolute confused submission and she wrapped her arms around his neck as he bent over and picked her up—the baying of the hounds getting closer by the second. The stranger picked her up with ease, not surprisingly since she was quite short and petite.
"Where are we going?" Ella didn't know anyone lived in this forest, much less someone of his stature. His clothes were fine--accented with gold buttons, no less.
"Home." He said simply as they moved through the forest in silence, listening to the hounds baying in the distance get slighter with each step.
For what seemed an interminably long time, Ella lost track of their direction as they made their way deep into the darkest corners of the night.
"You live here in the forest?"
"Yes, I do."
"Why?" Her curiosity over rode her embarrassment as this stranger carried her helpless body in the most intimate embrace she'd ever had from anyone besides her family.
Ellas' head looked up into his face, their lips within inches of each other and her heart jumped as he smiled a half smile and adjusted her body in his arms.
A howl broke her gaze and fear immediately engulfed her whole body. The hounds had found them! Ella's arms held tighter onto her companion as she braved a look towards the direction of the hounds. Instead she found only one dog, and it definitely wasn't the Bishops'. He was the largest canine she had ever seen! The husky beast was as big as a small horse, and relief overtook her when she realized its' tail was wagging steadily in welcome.
The dark stranger walked right past the enormous dog, and its' nose sniffed her feet as they made their way up a stone walkway which led to a warmly lit stone castle home. The source of the strange smells she'd been getting from the stranger were definitely here; the entire area was wafted in exotic rough scents. Her eye was caught at the sight of a vine of purple flowers cascading down the front wall, and she felt more comfortable knowing that at least someone who would grow flowers can't possibly too much of a danger.
Ella was overtaken with surprise as she looked in awe at the beautiful statues which were staggered throughout the courtyard, encircled with lily blossoms and unknown flowers of origin the likes of which she had never seen before.
She saw a beautiful fountain in the center with benches positioned in a circle around it, and she immediately loved this place. Her body relaxed a bit at the knowledge that her choice of coming can't have been too bad. There wasn't an evident dungeon or stakes with heads for decorations, at least. The pathway led to a very large double door which itself was carved to look like a tree and its' roots into the underbelly of the earth.
