What Am I?

A Queen's Fury

Hank grabbed Millie's shoulder and gently pushed her away so he could see her eyes. They were shinning with tears of joy. The blueness of them so vivid with emotion. His own eyes, however, told the opposite story.  "What's wrong?" Millie asked.  "We need to go inside and sit down. I have something to tell you." After relaying everything that had happened in the forest, Hank looked at his wife with anticipation. He knew it sounded crazy, but if he was going crazy, she was the one who would have to help him.  Millie didn't say anything at first. When she finally spoke, Hank was surprised at her response.  "Well, I guess tomorrow morning we're going to see a witch." This was the last thing Hank wanted. He'd have preferred her screaming at him that he was insane and needed help.  "No, Millie, you can't come. I won't put you and the baby in danger." He pleaded. "It sounds to me that unless we beg forgiveness and give this woman whatever she asks, we're in danger anyway. What was her name?" "Helena" "Perhaps Helena can be reasoned with. Maybe she just needs an offering, or for us to never enter the woods again. There has to be a solution. You couldn't have known what you were doing." Hank burst into tears. He had been holding it together as best he could, but the sheer volume of information he had absorbed that morning combined with the gentle understanding of his wife overwhelmed him at last. Millie laid his head on her lap and combed through his soft brown hair with her fingers. A surreal calm had come over her as her husband told her everything. She had no reason to think anything other than a nervous breakdown was happening in front of her, but her instincts told her differently. In any case, she needed to know and see for herself what happened in the woods.  After a restless night, the sun finally started to rise. Millie made them both some coffee and toast.  "I don't want anything." "You didn't eat last night, eat something, please. I can't have you passing out while we are up there." Hank gave in and ate quickly, anxious to get everything overwith.  The air outside was crisp and cool. Under any other circumstance, it would be a perfect autumn morning. Millie tried to enjoy the walk, but her husband was visibly weighed down. He seemed to darken and stoop the closer they got to the woods. Then Millie saw it, the perfect blackened circle next to the dead pine. And standing inside the circle, a woman who could only be Helena.  Millie and Helena studied eachother a moment. Helena was wearing the same heather grey Hank had described. Millie realized the shade matched both the witch's hair and eyes, with black streaks running through the strands of hair. She felt the power this woman held and any doubt of the truth disappaited. She instinctively held her belly wanting to protect her unborn child.  "I'm not going to kill the baby, Mildred, You can put your hand away. I'm glad to finally meet you. You're handling everything better than I thought. Shall we get to business?" Helena never minced words. Afterall, she was the protector of this place. Wasted breath would risk its fall.  "Helena, may I call you Helena?" Millie ventured. "It's my name." "Yes, of course, um, Helena, my husband and I are deeply sorry for what happened yesterday. We've never encountered people like yours before. We didn't know to check for nymphs and if we did, we wouldn't know how. We want to live in peace and find some way to make ammends with both you and the mother whose child was struck down. Please, tell us how." Helena wrestled with something inside herself, but never showed it outwardly.  "My dear, I know there was no mal intent behind what happened. Which is why I decided to take a moment to ponder the situation. I agree, let us live in peace, but to do so, you must listen to me as though I am your protector. You see, I am the reason these woods are still filled with nymphs, fairies, and even a few gnomes. We have survived because they defer to me and allow me to make the necessary decisions. You will do the same. In return, I will bless you with everything you need to make your dreams a reality. To begin, there is a cart next to your...'abode' filled with wood to begin building an actual home. You will never run out and never have to cut down another tree. After your home is finished, it will always be filled with firewood. Just build the house with 4 bedrooms. Everything else is your decision, but there will be 4." Hank and Lucy looked at eachother, surprised the plea had been heard so readily. They bowed and agreed, thanking the witch profusely.  "Yes, fine. Go enjoy the lovely day." Helena curtly responded. "Yes, we will, of course. Thank you again." "But...be warned, if you betray me in any way-including abandoning our land-you will feel the full force of my ancient wrath. I will be visiting soon to check up on both the house and the child." Millie hated the last part, but at least they were safe for now.                           *     *     *    *    *    *     *    *     *     *    *    * Helena went back to her cottage by the pond. Dresnia was waiting for her inside. "You could have brought my son back, you old b***h. You knew she was pregnant. Why not slice her open right then and there. It would have been an even trade." Dresnia glowered at Helena through those crystal green eyes, clearly feeling justified in her intrusion. Helena chuckled then walked past Dresnia and over the the hearth. She put a black kettle on the hook and spoke the fire into existence. Dresnia took a step toward her. "Do NOT forget, I am the Queen of the dryads. I command the forest folk and can take them elsewhere." Dresnia spat through gritted teeth. Helena seemed to grow as she turned, towering over the nymph.  "And where will you go? West? Where if the beetles don't consume you, the fires will.  Or perhaps east so the kudzu can smother you. No...south, where it is warm, but you'll all be hacked to bits by the loggers? Or do you plan to go further north only to slowly freeze the death? I am your only option. And I have ensured the safety of these creatures since before you were a f*****g sapling. So may I also be the one to remind you that while you may be a "queen" I am the high priestess you bow to. And the only one I answer to is the Goddess herself. So until she sends word that I am failing in my duties, you had better silence yourself, CHILD!" The kettle began to whistle, accentuating the fury in Helena's eyes. Dresnia shrunk back and nodded her head, remembering her place. Helena took the kettle off and set it on the table along with 2 cups. She waved her hand, summoning the neccessary herbs into the pot and sat down, sighing.  "My dear, my beautiful daughter. Come sit, and listen to what I am seeing in our path." Dresnia did as commanded quietly and quickly. "Your son will be avenged, I assure you, but I cannot harm these humans-not physically. They hold the key to our freedom, our resurgence. I...I can't see the details yet, it is still opaque."Helena shook her head in frustration."But my love, they are more than what you or I know. Especially Mildred. I believe there is a spell on her preventing me from seeing what she truly is....so trust me. I love you and all our family dearly. And I am still the 'Dragon at the Gate'. But we HAVE to tread carefully." Dresnia nodded, understanding what was at stake. The forest had begun dying. The rot that had claimed so many others was slowly creeping past the defenses Helena had maintained for a millenia. It was only a matter of time before they failed entirely. "I trust you, 'Aerouant aig a 'Gheata'. I am sorry I forgot myself. I am ashamed." Dresnia hung her head and silently cried. Helena wrapped her arms around Dresnia.  "You are not wrong in your anger. Now, drink this so you may see what I see and feel what I feel. Let us become one mind." Dresnia looked up suddenly, shock filling her face. "Why do you honor me so?" "It is necessity."Helena answered. Then pressed the cup into the dryad's hand.