The Magic of a Woman (Traveler and nightsorceress)

[nightsorceress]

The sun was bright that day as she walked through the forest, it was warm on her skin. She loved the feeling of the warmth as she knew soon winter was coming and there would be months of cold and darkness. She listen as the wind blew around the falling leaves and the squirrels hid their nuts for the winter. Her ears picked up on a different sound however it sounded like a moan.

She listened harder for the sound and then followed it. Her feet moving faster and faster as if they knew the way on their own. She finally stopped in a clearing and she saw a great horse standing next to something. She cautionistly made her way over to heap on the ground. She was shocked by what she saw.

A man and he was badly wounded but what was a man doing here, it was hours away from the nearest town or village. She bent over him and checked him she could see some light in his and have him a soft smile "rest now you will be fine" she said sweetly and then watched as his eyes closed.

When the man would next awake he would find himself lying in a large bed. His armor strip away and was wearing only a nightshirt. His wounds were bandage, he would live.

 

[Traveler]

Horse hooves had pounded the thick forest duff, churning up leaves and branches as the horsemen scrambled through the dense forest in their frantic run from their pursuer. They had taken a doe along the edge of the King's Forest. Poachers. And their pursuer was one of the king's men, prepared to bring them in for their crime or die trying. After all, the Law was the law, and none who deemed themselves loyal servants of the crown would ever question or disobey the King's Law.

Lucas X'erian had served the crown since the moment he was conceived. In truth, had there been no kingdom, he would never had been born. Now he was chasing men through the moonlit forest and wondering what in the world was going through his mind to take on the chase alone. There were three of them and one of him; it was foolishness at best.

At worst, it was an insane dedication to the Law. He ducked under branches as his horse took the slim deer path with wild abandon. One of the men turned in his saddle and began to send arrows back at the knight. The luck of the fearful was with him; one arrow found it's mark and hit their pursuer in the crook of his neck and shoulder. The sharp, unexpected pain caused him to flinch just as his huge horse leaped a fallen tree.

Sir Lucas lost his balance a that moment; his armor and the leap serving to unman him and fling him into a passing tree. A sharp crack rang through his head as he felt his arm fill with pain and then go numb. Then he hit the rocky ground, driving out his breath, and the world went dark.

He felt the warmth of day burning into the metal of his armor. Somehow he had managed to find a spot where the harsh sun cut through the thick canopy of forest. It made him feel like a roast in an oven. Lucas groaned. He tried to life his arm but the sharp pain nearly cause him to faint again.

It grew dark as his body adjusted to the loss of blood from the bone making its way through flesh. The knight opened his eyes and saw... someone peering down at him. Perhaps the coup de grace was on it's way... perhaps this was his last breath. Slowly his eyes closed, accepting that his time had come to an end.

When his eyes opened again it was to find himself in a bed, staring at the ceiling of a small, tidy cottage. He could tell that the bed was ample in size and stuffing, and he was bandaged, though wearing little else.

Lucas groaned. He gingerly turned his head to try to look around and to find his benefactor. Had some woodsman found him? Or was he the captive of the poachers? All he knew for certain was that he was still alive.

 

[nightsorceress]

She stood in the kitchen rising bowls and bandages as she waited for her guest to wake. She smiled softly to herself at her own foolishness, it was clear by his armor he was knight and knights did not look to kindly on her kind. But there was a reason she had come across him, she knew the fates had a plan and she was going to do her best to allow them to lead her.

She dried her hands and then made up a tray. It had more fresh bandages, several bowls with different pastes inside them, also there was some vials with strange colored liquid inside. She carried this tray to the bedroom where she found her patient awake.

She set the tray down on the bedside table and from a pitcher there she poured some fresh cool water In a glass and brought it to him. "It's good you are awake means you are a fast healer" she helped him sit up a little and slowly helped him drink some water. Once she was sure he had enough to clear any dryness in his throat she laid him back down. "My name is Aurora"

Aurora was a beautiful creature and that is modest. She had long raven colored hair that hung to butt, it shined as if it had captured the stars of the sky and their light shined through. Her skin was gently sun kissed from days spent outside, and it was flawless not a mark or blemish. Her body was slender and delicate looking, but her womanly features were attractive. But was most mesmerizing about her was her eyes, there a deep purple and they seemed to sparkle as she looked at him.

 

[Traveler]

His blue eyes reflected the distrust in his heart. This woman... this witch... was the reason he was alive? He was worried that the drink was a poison, but when the cool cup touched his lips he felt the thirst cry out for relief and he eagerly drank. So quickly, in fact, that it caused him to cough.

The coughing hurt. His arm was screaming in pain, his ribs hurt, and his head was spinning. A dull, hot ache was emanating from his shoulder where the arrow had hit. All in all he felt like death would have been a kindness compared to what he felt now.

"You... witch." His voice was low and strained. His eyes saw her beauty, but his mind kept telling him that she was dangerous. She needed to be burned at the stake! She was evil incarnate!

Something about her eyes entranced him. Lucas stared at them for a moment before his heart began to pound again. "Get away." He glanced about for his sword. Where was his sword? His vision began to blur, and soon unconsciousness took him again. He was too weak to fight anyway; the loss of blood would keep him off his feet for a day or so.

 

[nightsorceress]

Aurora was a little taken back by his reaction to her. She was only trying to help him. She would have no chance however to argue it was ok because he quickly passed out again. She sighed and went to checking his wounds.mat least while he slept she would not have t worry about causing him pain. Once she was finished checking his wounds she sat in a chair next to the bed. She watched for him to wake and she also watched to make sure know of the wounds would start to bleed again.

 

[Traveler]

Later that day he slowly regained consciousness again. He saw her next to him, seated on a chair. The pain had subsided slightly but the throbbing was still there.

"Aurora." He whispered her name. It was her name, wasn't it? "Where am I?"

It was obviously a moot question. He was in her lair, her den of evil. He still didn't see his sword. She probably melted it down to cast some ungodly spell on him.

Lucas turned his eyes back onto his captor, for that was how he regarded her. "What do you want from me?"

 

[nightsorceress]

Aurora watched his breathing as he rested his firm chest rise and fall with every breath he took. She couldn't help but think how handsome and strong he was. As he started to come to she watched him. When he spoke she sighed. "You are currently in my home, I found you near death in the woods. I couldn't just leave you there to die. Once you are strong enough you are free to leave, nothing is stopping you aside from you injuries" she spoked softly and sweetly to him " why do you think I am a witch and just not someone trying to help you?"

 

[Traveler]

He drew in a breath. She had saved him, for whatever nefarious reason. "You are in the Darken Woods. No one lives here but those who practice the dark arts. Witches." He coughed, groaning in pain and trying to roll to his side. As he did so he brushed her leg with his arm, sending a sharp tingle that was not painful through his body.

Lucas recoiled from that touch. It was repulsive in its sensuality. Why would he feel pleasure at the touch of an Evil One?

 

[nightsorceress]

As she watched him struggle she sighed. She rose from her seat and helped him adjust himself. Her hands were soft against as she helped him. Once she thought he was in a comfortable place she put her hand on his cheek feeling the stubble that grew there. She looked into his eyes as she spoke "if I were evil you would be dead right now you can trust me on that. However you will end up dead if you don't relax and let your wounds heal." She did feel a tingle run up her hand and through her spine as she left her hand on his cheek. Slowly she withdrew it and walked over to her tray she picked up a vial with purple liquid in it and brought it to him. "If you drink this it will help with the pain, that is all that it does."

 

[Traveler]

He didn't want her to touch him, but when she reached out and helped him to adjust his position he felt only cool comfort at her touch. She laid her hand against his cheek and he was drawn to her eyes again. She was so lovely and calm, and her words made sense, though his mind railed against it as being a trick.

It had to be a trick. Witches were evil, seducing succubi who stole men's souls and cast spells upon people. They were not to be trusted.

So when she told him to drink the purple liquid he looked at her suspiciously. Of course, she could have killed him out there. He was at her mercy. Lucas lowered his eyes and nodded slightly, then took the vial and drank it. The medicine went down his throat like a thick, warm, living thing. He could feel it's effect spreading across his chest like the fiery drinks the soldiers preferred when ale was not enough.

Lucas felt sleepy. He slowly handed the vial back to the woman. To Aurora. "Thank you," he whispered, just before drifting back to sleep. This time, the sleep would be more gentle and restful, and when he woke again it would be morning, the second day.

 

[nightsorceress]

Aurora was relieved when he drank. She knew his body needed it. She smiled as he fell a sleep again. She drew the covers up around him making sure he was warm for the night before taking the tray and leaving his room.

The night was less restful for aurora she would check on him every few hours to make sure he had not opened his wounds again. They were pretty serious. When morning did come she looked pretty tired still but she tried not to let it show.

She changed her clothes to a lovely form fitting red dress and tied her hair in a simple braid. She dress nothing like the woman in any town or village. Once changed she went to the kitchen to cook her guest breakfast, oatmeal top with wild berries and honey. She put the bowl of the tray and went to his room. She smiled to see him awake. "Good morning I hope you slept well, you look better today already color is returning to your face." She said warmly as she set the tray down next to the bed. "Would you like to try to eat something today."

 

[Traveler]

Lucas nodded at her question. He was having trouble forming words at the sight of his benefactor. The red dress she wore did nothing to hide her form, and to his eyes she had a perfect body. She was slim waisted but not frail, and her hips had enough curve that she would never be mistaken for a boy. No, she was definitely not a boy.

"I did sleep well, thank you." He watched as she sat the tray next to his bed. The smell of the oatmeal made his stomach grumble. Lucas swallowed. He felt the weakness in his arm and knew that his 'good' arm was still crippled by the broken ribs.

He had to force down his pride around her. There was no way to be prideful when you were weak and helpless. "Would you help me?"

 

[nightsorceress]

Aurora moved to help him sit up, she had to lean over him to be able to do so and when she did her breast pressed up against his chest. She had to sort of leaning him against her chest to reach behind him and adjust his pillows. Once they were set she gently leaned him back.

She took a seat on the edge of the bed and then got the bowl of oatmeal meal and held it as she began to feed him. "What is your name" she asked as she fed him.

 

[Traveler]

He tried not to groan but the pain of shifting was great. For her part, Aurora was a gentle and firm touch, and soon she had him sitting up more straight. He almost didn't notice the soft press of her breast, but then she moved and his body craved more of her touch. He tried to think of what he might have done to anger the gods enough that they would put him here. Had he forgotten to tithe? Had he neglected his duties to them? Why was he here, and not back at the castle where he belonged?

She sat down and began to feed him. It was both comforting and embarrassing. Had he been home and she a priestess, this would have felt normal, but they weren't. She wasn't. She was everything opposite a priestess. If things had been different he might have been there with several other knights and a priest, burning down her home as the priest read her her last rites. If things had been different, he would be escorting her to her last breaths of life, rather than she saving his.

"My name is Lu - wis. Lewis." He lied. If she knew his real name then she would certainly think twice about helping him. She might even enspell him and use him to destroy the king. He could not risk it, not with someone as obviously evil as she was.

 

[nightsorceress]

Aurora looked him in the eyes for a long moment. She set the spoon back down inside the bowl and then set the bowl down on the tray. She sighed softly "I can see your hatred of me showing through your eye. I thought I could ignore it but it has become tiresome. What have I done to deserve such a look, I saved your life, I don't want anything from you in return for doing so except for you to stop looking at me as if I am some great evil that needs to be burned at the stake." Her voice never grew harsh or angry, her tone was very sad she could no longer look at him. "I could put you on your horse right now and wish you luck as you try to make back to town, but you would be dead before night fell and even though you hate me I can not let you die, it would make me as evil as your kind is"

 

[Traveler]

"Witches still unborn children and suck the souls out of men. They cast spells on unsuspecting villagers and cause the crops to die." Lucas set his jaw and wondered if he was slowly being enchanted by her. Should he tell her that he was part of groups sent out to hunt down her kind and put them out of their misery? Would she decide to pluck out his eyes and put them in a stew if he did?

"Everything I've been taught tells me that you're dangerous." He turned and looked up at her with his brilliant blue eyes. "But you haven't hurt me, and you could have. I don't understand." Lucas swallowed and lowered his head. The pain killers had loosened his tongue slightly. "I can't even tell you my real name or else you'll cast your spell on me." He was getting tired already, but he needed to stand up. He needed to move around.

Lucas took in a deep breath. "Please, help me to stand."

 

[nightsorceress]

Aurora was shocked by what he said he couldn't have been further from the truth. "Did you know witches live by the rule of three?" She was sure he didn't know what was so she decided to explain "if witches send out any magic good or bad it returns to them three times as powerful. So if we were to steal unborn children we would end up cursing our selves with something much worst like giving birth to still born children three times." She looked him in the eyes "just like with people there are ones that do not follow the rules, there are witches that practice darker arts, even we can't stand for that."

She looked at him and wonder about his request to stand. "Alright I will help you stand but go slowly" she moved the chair out of the way and then went to his side.

 

[Traveler]

"The rule of three?" When she explained it to him it made him shudder with the horror of it. So, if a witch were to cause evil then that meant they'd get three times the evil in return? "So you're not saying that you aren't a witch. You're just saying that you're not an evil one?"

All the talking made him cough, which hurt like a sonofabitch.

Once the coughing subsided he slowly swung his legs over the side and accepted her help to stand up. Every move was painful. Once he was on his feet he understood how close to death he had gotten. "Okay, that's all I can do." He gave a little smile and sat back down. "I'm so glad the men can't see me now." He leaned against Aurora, his large, muscular chest nearly dwarfing her in their size difference.

After a moment he sighed and looked at her. "I don't know how to not distrust you. You are pretty, and kind, but this could all be an illusion. But I promise you that I will not raise my hand against you. You've spared my life, and I owe you the same consideration."

 

[nightsorceress]

"I could lie to you and tell you I am not a witch but that wouldn't do any good. What would do good is showing you the truth. That not all witches are evil." As he started to cough she went to get him some water however he started to stand and she went to his side and helped him. For the first time she got a look at how large and strong he really was. She looked like a dwarf standing next to him. One he sat back down sat beside him on the bed. "Can you do me a favor while you are here please don't treat me as and evil creature now that you know the truth. I swear on my fathers grave that I will not do anything to hurt or cast any spells to change your reality"

 

[Traveler]

"Alright, I promise." He turned to look at her and then he felt ashamed for telling her a lie about who he was. "I... I lied to you, Aurora. My name is Lucas." He observed her reaction before continuing.

"I never considered that not all witches are the same. You are all supposed to be evil." He tilted his head at her. "Are you... were both of your parents witches?" He had been told that they were hatched, not born, but now as he looked at her he understood how absurd that legend was. Perhaps there were things he could learn, even after all these years.

 

[nightsorceress]

Aurora smiled when he promised not to treat as and evil creature. "It's nice to meet you Lucas" she paused at his next question. "It is just normal people there are good witches and there are evil ones, and just like normal people we can't be held accountable for others action."

"My father was a witch my mother was just a beautiful woman who loved my father dearly. She died giving birth to me." She paused "when I was young my father packed up everything we owned and moved us to this house, it was to keep me safe from witch hunters such as yourself"

 

[Traveler]

That made sense as well, not holding people accountable for other's actions. He still felt uneasy, but if he thought of her as 'just a girl' then it wasn't so daunting. "I'm sorry about your mother," he managed to say as he scooted back onto the bed.

How in the world had she managed to get him here? He was easily far too heavy for her to lift alone. "Are you... do you live alone?" Was there another person or persons living here?

 

[nightsorceress]

Aurora helped him sit back in the bed. She adjusted his pillows so he could still sit up and talk. "My father died about 5 years ago and I have been alone here ever since" she young when her father had died leaving her to figure out the world for herself. Luckily for her her father trained her well.

"So what about you, what has driven you to hate our kind so much" she asked gently as to not cause him to become angers with her

 

[Traveler]

He leaned back on the pillows with a sigh. Just the small twitching in holding his body upright of its own power was painful, but he could tell that it was not as bad as it had been a mere day ago. The oatmeal breakfast had set well in his stomach, and the fresh, raw honey and berries gave him an extra shot of alertness.

"I haven't been driven to hate your kind," Lucas clarified. "I've been taught that you were dangerous. That you were enemies of the crown, and definitely enemies of the Law. I'm sworn to uphold the law and protect the crown, hence, the crown's enemies are my own as well." His blue eyes found her violet ones and he was lost for a moment. "This is the King's Forest, Aurora. You cannot live here without his permission. If he were to find you..."

She knew what would happen if the king found her. King Loren X'erian was relentless in his passion to uphold the law and to destroy all witchcraft from the land. Magic was seen as evil in its source, and the king had been bloodily successful in his quest. He taught all those who had sworn fealty to him and the crown to be as relentless as he was. Hence, Lucas was one of the most passionate about the Law.

Hence, his chase of the poachers three nights ago, and his fateful injury that led him to Aurora's home.

 

[nightsorceress]

"I hope that I will be to teach you that we are not dangerous on a small handful are and just like you we wish to stop them." She gently took his large hand in her small one looking into his eyes "I hope you can take what you learn here back to your king and help him stop these senseless murders." She slowly let his hand go when he said she couldn't live here.

She slowly paced the room "there is no where I can go Lucas, I am lucky this home is set so deep in the woods that you are the first man I have ever met since living here, but I also now one day I will meet a firey end and there is little I can do to change that."