COLD (Twisted Forbidden Tales) Book One

Chapter Seven

SNOW (Something about the Past II )

When I woke up, my head hurt so badly. There was even ringing in my ears and, to top things off, I couldn't see anything. Wherever I landed, it was dark and quiet, but the best thing was I was still alive. The ringing in my ears had finally subsided. I could listen more clearly to any sounds that might be used to pinpoint where I had fallen.

I really wished there was a bit of light though as I sat up and propped my back against the hard surface behind me. No sooner than I thought of this, a faint yellow light began to glow before me. “Huh” How hard did I hit my head?

I was looking around the lit space around me. I began to realize that I was inside a cave of some sort, that seemed to be underground. My arms and legs were okay apart from the scrapes and minor bruises. I felt the space behind me and noticed the hard space was that of tree bark and the ground was dirt and tree roots.

Holding on to the wall of the cave and, with the help of the roots, I was able to stand. As I did so, the light also moved with me. What was this? Was it alive? Did it talk?

“Hello?” I said, as my voice echoed. I had to give it a shot. I didn’t have many options to choose from either at that point. Of course, there was no answer, but suddenly I began to hear the faint sound of water. I really hoped Beth was okay and that she was able to fend off the wolves and get help.

Someone will come to look for me soon, but I had to find my way out of this cave first. I couldn’t figure out how I even fell this way. There was no entry point. I could only follow the sound of water, but my head started to throb again. All I needed to find was a pathway and find something to support myself in case I got dizzy.

The earth began to shake above my head, causing me to kneel down and cover my head with my hands. Something fell to the ground beside me and the shaking suddenly stopped. A tree branch had fallen down and it was just the right size and sturdiness to use as a crutch. Was this place magic?

“Thank you,” I said to nothing in particular. I thought I had gone crazy. A mysterious wind picked up around me. Gusts of wind caressed my face near my head wound and I felt the throbbing in my head begin to ease.

Was this the Old Wisdom Tree? As if it could read my thoughts, a small path began to light up before me, the vines, branches, and roots began to intertwine on the ground at my feet, providing a smooth path to walk through without concern for my injuries. I walked slowly down the pathway as I wondered where the tree wanted me to go. I was grateful that it chose to save my life.

A long menacing howl pierced my ears. I looked up and then behind me. The tree had closed up the pathway I had fallen through. I breathed a sigh of relief, now it was confirmed that this was the Old Wisdom Tree and that, in fact, it was protecting me.

The wolves must have found my scent in the fall. I could hear them above me circling around. From the sound of things, I could tell it was two wolves. I guess Nanny Beth really did some damage if only two were after me. I didn’t understand why they needed me though, and I wondered if my dad was okay as well. I was lost in my thoughts as I traveled forward.

A strong gust of wind brought me back to reality. The water I heard before was more prominent, but that wasn’t what caught my attention at first sight. The tree had led me deeper into its cave. The pathway was now gone and I stared in awe at the sight before me.

The woman lay there as if she were merely sleeping. Was this a bed or a coffin? It is made of the clearest colored glass I have ever seen. The rainbow crystals within the cave sparkled, casting the most dazzling glow over her form. Was she a fairy queen? She was so beautiful. Dressed in a gold-colored gown that enhanced the honey-glow tone of her skin. It was so smooth and clear I itched to touch it just to confirm if she was real.

Before I knew it, I stood before the coffin-like bed. How long had she been here? I wondered. The vines of the tree had long intertwined with it, giving it an eerie feel. I stared down at her, simply amazed. She had red hair! Would it burn if I were to touch it? Her pink heart-shaped lips made me imagine what she looked like smiling.

I shook my head out of my sudden daze. Was this her magic power, to captivate people? Or was it really her that led me here? A wave of sadness suddenly hit me as I stared at her again. A fairy queen this beautiful shouldn’t be here alone.

The water that I heard before was a stream of water that flowed behind her. The water flowed through to a small pond like a waterfall, but I had no clue if it would lead to a way out. I was tired and hungry and the pain in my head and limbs was starting to return. I needed energy and rest, so staying put here would be best until help came. Would the tree or this fairy queen send for help?

I giggled at myself at the thought. Maybe this whole time I was delirious. My stomach grumbled, but I had no food. If I didn’t die from my injuries, hunger would win out for sure. I slid down to sit beside the coffin bed. What to do? What to do? A golden light lit up on one of the vines around the bed. A small basket appeared, with something inside it, wrapped in a clean white linen cloth. I hesitated to open it but did so at the next minute. Inside was a half loaf of bread, two green apples, a stem of red grapes, and a small cup.

Whoa! I looked up at the fairy queen and smiled. Did she do that? If she could do this, then why hadn’t she woken up? I had no time to further think about things as my stomach protested and I began to eat. I used the small cup to drink some water from the waterfall stream. I was surprised at how clean and fresh it was. After finishing my meal, I cleaned up after myself.

I put the apple pits back into the basket and used the linen cloth to clean my hands, the wound on my head, and again the small scrapes and cuts on my arms and legs. I rinsed and wrung out the cloth several times in the process of any excess water before putting it too in the basket. As soon as I did, the mysterious light appeared again and the basket disappeared.

I began to feel sleepy soon after, but I didn’t want to lie on the ground. The vines around the coffin bed lit up all at once and I jumped away. A bit scared thinking that I offended the fairy queen or the wisdom tree in some way by being picky.

Gusts of wind surrounded me and, for some reason, I began to feel at ease. Was the wind comforting me?

I looked at the coffin bed once more, to find that the vines had opened up and reformed to look like a small bed right beside the fairy Queen. There were green leaves and flower petals that looked so soft and cozy that I could only blink. The mysterious wind began to gently push me forward as if coaxing me to take a rest. My eyelids were already heavy with sleepiness. I knew then that night had fallen. I didn’t hear the wolves anymore either, so that meant I was safe, right?

I laid down in the vine-like bed, next to the fairy queen. She had the sweetest scent, like my favorite vanilla bean cake Nanny Beth makes, and it oddly comforted me, lulling me to sleep. I wouldn’t mind staying here for a bit with this fairy Queen and the magic tree. I yawned as I stared down at her again. A strange feeling formed inside my heart and I found myself taking one of her soft hands in mine.

“Goodnight and sweet dreams my secret Fairy Queen,” I whispered as I leaned down and kissed her cheek, surprising myself, as I had no idea why I had the sudden urge to do so. Soon my sleepiness won out and I laid down immediately into a deep sleep. I didn’t notice that as my sleep claimed me over, the hand that I held began to move.

When I woke up, it was daylight. I rubbed my eyes, blinking in shock at the tree cave and my fairy Queen was gone. What happened? And where was I?

“Snow!” I heard a familiar voice followed by several sets of footsteps.

I was engulfed in the warmest embrace as my Father kneeled down to hug me.

I was taken back to the palace and examined for any injuries. My scrapes and cuts were gone, even the bruises. The tree and my fairy queen had healed me, but they left a scar on the right side of my forehead. The scar was small but it looked more like a vine to me. I could easily keep this covered with my bangs.

My Dad and the special guard had me recount what happened the day of the picnic. I was surprised that I was missing a whole day. Nanny Beth really did do some impressive damage to those wolves and the special guard even captured one.

I wonder what they would do, but that was for the grown-ups to handle. I wanted to tell my Dad about the fairy queen and the tree, but I knew he wouldn’t believe me. After all, everyone said the wisdom tree was a myth told to children to make them behave and follow the rules of the forbidden woods.

After all, I liked having a secret all to myself. Knowing the old wisdom tree and my fairy queen was all too real. I lay in my bed that night, the moon glowing bright and clear through my window. I smiled thinking of my magical adventure but, I was also a bit sad as I didn’t get to say a proper goodbye. My fairy Queen was all alone again and the more I thought about it I suddenly began to cry. Tears hit my pillow as my heart hurt for her.

I really prayed to the Goddess to let me see her again someday and promised myself to never forget her. I silently cried myself to sleep and in my dreams, I dreamed of her. In my dream, she was smiling a smile so full of love that it warmed my heart.