Milah found herself in front of a strange Rowen tree. Girth was enormous, length immense.

“You are finally here, small creature.” It spoke.

Rowen sounded bizarre, it spoke in the tongue of old, laced with thick accent of the north.  Milah’s breath labored. Her vision blurred. She found herself falling into the deep darkness.


Cool leaves brushed Milah’s cheeks gently. She wasn’t ready to open her eyes. She was sure she saw a root intertwine her waist, she was pretty sure she had caught a glimpse of face on the Ancient Rowen tree.

Leaves kept caressing her face. She willed herself to open up her eyes, praying for it to be a nightmare.

“You’re finally awake, small creature. A pretty pretty small jar of flesh.” Voice was laced with thick masculine accent of old.

She found herself closer to the face on tree.

Terror enveloped her core. She let out a huge cry.

“Ssh! Sssh! Pretty creature.”

She let out another.

A branch wrapped around her mouth.

“no, no you needn't panic, small creature.” Rowen spoke. The unnatural voice was as gentle as Zephyr.

“no harm shall be done to you in my domain, pretty creature.” Rowen spoke while shushing her like a mother cooing her child awoken from a nightmare.?

“I am a guardian of all that come in my domain. I watched over and over this land, the castle upon the mountain, the creatures of this land.”

Branch covering her mouth leave. Milah became wide eyed as she realized that she was several feet above from the ground. Sturdy branches making a cradle for her to sit upon. She never knew woodland spirits could be so kind. Cripes, it was her first time meeting one!

“I watched over that mage who spirited you away, he enchanted you not to remember. He had made a grave error defying me, for these estranged lands are not meant for human child.”

Milah gulped her spit.

‘The one I was looking for,’ she thought.

“What are you? Pardon me for being rude but…”

“What am I?” Rowen interrupted.

It shook growing few meters taller. Milah was sure she had disrespected the spirit.

“I am the spirit of the forest, spirit of the wood. I am the trees and the roots beneath your feet, the rotting leaves that fall last autumn encloses the new buds of spring. I am this forest and the forest is me. I am an Ancient One, The Old one.”

“Pleasure to meet you.” Milah blurted without any single thought.

Rowen Tree laughed. 

“Those who are steadfast of heart are welcomed here.” He gave another chuckle. “I like you, pretty creature. I will make you my human.”
“huh?” Milah became mesmerized.

“You do not belong in this forest, in this land, nor in the castle I watch over. But I will keep you. I will allow you stay with the being that roam those castles halls.”

“but..”

“You should’ve not let yourself enchanted by that mage,” Rowen enunciated.

“My hatred for their kind run deep. Then he had the audacity to betray me. Taking away a pretty human child from the human world to the land not meant for gentle beings.” He tsked.

“But I can overlook, for that mage has gift of a Seer.” Tree gently shook and branches shifted to make her face him.

“Ahh! Now that I see you, he had chosen you well.” Old One said.

“I want to go back to my home. I wished to be with my family.” Milah finally stated. A branch came up to pat her head.

‘No, no, no, pretty creature.” The Ancient One said, “I cannot allow you to leave. Not in this weather. Not when harsh winds are blowing, and snow comes down blocking all the paths to the civilization. I don't want pretty creature being hurt.”

“But…” she was getting impatient with the Old One. She reminded herself to be tolerant.

“Pretty creature deserves to be kept safe. For the soul you carry is a redemption for the wretched one that roams the castle.”
‘redemption?’ She was blown by the prospect. ‘Redemption for the Beast?’

“The Beast?” She had to be clear.

“He is no beast, but a man rendered helpless by the sins he committed long, long time ago. I was given the task to watch over him so he will not make that mistakes again. He had paid his dues, he had long repented his sins. He believes he deserve to be punished more than that’s healthy..”

“he was very kind to me few nights ago.” Milah confided him.

The Old One  chuckled.  Milah admitted Ancient One does that a lot. A jolly old spirit, she reckoned.

“He had not came back since the doors opened.” She told him more.

“He is hiding in the small hut. Scared like a fawn caught up by the hunter.”

“Scared of me?” what have Beast to be scared of a fragile girl like me, she thought.

“That brat hadn’t been around human kind for long time.”

“so he is just “shy”?” she asked.

“Aye.”

“I was more scared of him”, she mumbled.

Ancient One was amused.

“First let me get you the bounty of the forest, pretty creature. To celebrate our newly founded companionship.”






……..

He was sure he had locked the castle gate behind him when he left.

An unknown fear gripped his soul when he opened the gates. He sprinted inside the castle looking for the woman he so desperately evading. His searched for her in the castle grounds, the chambers, the hidden passages but she was nowhere to be found. He attempted to recall her name. He was certain Duval had informed him of her name. It wasn’t like he was paying attention to the details.

“Where in this accursed weather that woman has gone?” He mumbled as he watched the grey sky and strong gust of winter wind chilled him to his bones.

“Oye woman!” He called her as loudly as he could. “Where are you?” His words echoed in the lonely castle walls.

Beast closed his his eyes and reminded himself of the ability he hadn’t used in many years. He recalled Milah's distinctive aura. Certainty for his “sight” to work was null in his opinion, but it came oh so naturally. He soon caught  the wisp of her vibrant aura. He followed it hurriedly.

With every step his heart was getting heavy. He was getting nearer and nearer to the end of his domain.  

‘She is trying to leave', he deduced. It was problematic! Spirits of the woods were vicious.

She is going to die! She is going to die! A voice in him shouted.

Beast sprinted faster.

He forgot how he vowed not put his foot in the woods.

A flock of ravens cawed.

“The servants of Old One” he grumbled.
 
Ravens were the bad omen.
Old Onee would not forgive him for trespassing his territory. He was astounded how Ravens hadn’t attacked him yet.

When the trees came in his sight, he hurried more.

The spectacle in front of him was unbelievable