Dark Wood: Legends of the Guardians by Unknown Read Free Book Online Page A

of things it had likely
been years ago. Magic be damned, the young witch sat down heavily upon its
trunk, and thanked it as she did so. “Thank you, Mother, for gifting me with
this place of rest.” Mother Nature was as real an entity as she in her eyes.
Their mother, Annalee had taught the two girls that from the very beginning.
Take nothing without need for it. Always be grateful for what the Great Mother
provided. Give to the earth more than which you take, and in turn she will care
for you always.
    Her
trembling now was for her cold and hunger she knew. Mayla had sent her with
little food and water so she had to consume sparingly, least she have none for
the return home.
    It
seemed no wonder to her now that this part of the Dark Wood was so barren. With
such dark magic consuming the land, nary any living thing would want to stay
long if it were to come near. What was it though that kept her from such
feelings as they’d all made way to the Hollow? Was it Lena protecting them? Or
was it this side of the wood protecting something else? Keeping all that dare
come near at bay in the most efficient way one could: fear. Fear so powerful
that it could overcome you; perhaps even cause such terror that some could not
survive it.
    It
was not without great effort that Aryaunna kept it from consuming her again.
That in itself was tiring, but she was managing. Now it lie within her, covered
with a protective blanket of knowing the fear was false and could therefore be
overcome. For strength she clung to her mother’s necklace and prayed to her
Guardians. The whelp on her hand burned as if she’d touched fire, though it did
not bleed as her cheek had. The cut on her face had dried, or perhaps frozen.
    Chilled
to the bone, her muscles were throbbing. It would be easy to curl up in her
thick cloak and lay over against the fallen tree so that she may rest her eyes.
It was this want that forced her to stand and dredge on. Night would soon fall.
She had to reach the base of the mountain before then. If she could get out of
the trees, the stars would light her path from there on.
    To
ease her mind, Aryaunna had begun to sing. Her voice did not carry far past the
wind, but it did not need to. The only purpose of her song was to keep her from
thinking about her ailments. She’d learned many songs of the Church, but there
was only one she would willfully voice. It was a lullaby…
    “Tend a fire,
     

With kindling and sticks
     
    And watch it burn strong in the wind
     
    And watch it burn higher and higher
     

Tend a fire
     

Tend a fire
     

And brother
     

Tend a fire
     

Tend a garden
     

With sunshine and rain
     
    And watch it grow strong in the wind
     
    Watch it grow higher and higher
     

Tend a fire
     

Tend a fire
     

And brother and sister
     

Tend a fire
     

Tend a heart
     

With wisdom and grace
     
    And watch it grow strong in the wind
     
    Watch it burn higher and higher
     

Tend a Fire
     

Tend a fire
     

And children
     
    Tend a fire.”
     
    Her
voice cut off suddenly as a dark shadow moved, caught out of the corner of her
eye. Aryaunna stopped. Could she be imagining things? Of course, in fact it was
likely. She was worn, in so many ways. Yet she couldn’t believe her vision had
been false. “Hello?” she called out into the snow covered wood. “Is anyone
there?”
    After
a moment her eyes rolled. If someone had been there, and they indeed wished her
harm, they were not likely to answer her call. She wished they would though.
Company would have been such a comfort, though she knew that, too, was
unlikely, especially that of a welcomed variety.
    Keeping
her cloak clutched tight around her with her left hand, her right touched
against the hilt of her blade. As she wrapped aching fingers around the leather
bound blade she began to sing again. Perhaps it had been her voice that had
drawn it near. Perhaps she was going crazy.
    Cautious
of her every foot fall she continued on. Wide eyed, she tried hard to