2EmLee2

-chapter 1-

Evi was walking in the woods, enchanted by the trees - sighing in the magical breeze, singing to the clear, blue sky The wind that rustled the branches swept through her long, auburn hair and her ed-purple tunic-dress. A rustling in the bushes distracted her from her thoughts.

Evi scanned the area around her. The rustling grew louder, and she tensed, prepared to fight if necessary. 

A man stepped through the underbrush, and she stifled a cry of surprise - almost no one ever came through the forest these days.

 "Who are you?" she demanded.

The stranger stepped closer, and she saw that he was dressed in nice clothes, his dark brown hair styled elegantly. "My name is Adran," he said.

"Why are you in my woods?" Evi asked, preparing in her mind her next actions.

"I wanted to get away." Adran's eyes were dark, and he would not meet her gaze.

"From what?"

"From my parents. From my life." Adran's voice was full of bitterness.

"And you thought you'd find refuge here?" Evi asked skeptically.

Adran shrugged. "It's as good a place as any."

"You can't stay here," she said finally.

"And why not?" Adran asked, his tone verging on pleading.

"Because this is my home, and I don't want you here."

Adran's eyes flashed, and he took a step toward her. "And what are you going to do about it?"

"Make you leave." Evi's hands started glowing with a deep red light, and she took a step forward, her power crackling around her.

Adran's eyes widened, and he took a step back. "What are you?" he asked, his tone suddenly fearful.

"I'm the Keeper of the Forest," Evi said. "And if you don't explain yourself, you'll regret coming here."

Adran took a deep breath, probably trying to think through what he was seeing. "I told you, I just wanted to get away."

"There's more to it than that," Evi said. "Tell me."

Adran hesitated for a moment, then his shoulders slumped. "My parents are nobles," he said. "They arranged a marriage for me to a woman I don't love. I can't go through with it. I was running away."

"And you thought you could come here and hide?" Evi asked.

Adran shook his head. "I don't know what I was thinking. I just had to get away."

Another breeze whispered through the canopy. Evi considered him for a moment, then she made a decision. "You can stay," she said. "But you have to promise me one thing."

"What?" Adran asked, hope suddenly lighting up his features.

"You cannot go back, not until ten years have passed."

Adran frowned. "But that's such a long time."

"It's necessary," Evi said. "The Forests are willing to protect you, but you have to be willing to let them. This is your chance to get away, Adran. But you have to promise me."

Adran hesitated for a moment, then he nodded. "I promise."

Vines covered in red light crept upwards from the dirt, entwining themselves around Adran's wrists and ankles.

"What are you doing?" he asked, struggling against the vines.

"Making sure you keep your promise," Evi said. "You will be bound to the forest until ten years have passed. If you try to leave, your body will be consumed by the vines."

She waved her hand and the vines receded, but a single, faint mark was left on Adran's wrist, a reminder of his promise.

"You will be safe here," Evi said. "But you must stay hidden from the outside world."

"What will I-"

Evi smiled. "The Forests will take care of you," she said. "You will want for nothing."

"Nothing?" Adran asked, his brow furrowed.

"You will have all that you need," Evi said as she turned to leave.

"Wait!" Adran called after her. "What about companionship? Can the forest provide that?"

Evi paused. "That is the one thing you will have to earn. After all, there is only one other person in this forest- me."

Evi looked at Adran for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Finally, she said, "You can take shelter within my clearing. Don't expect any contact from me after the first few days, though- I can't babysit you forever."

Evi led Adran to her clearing, her mind churning with thoughts. He was the first person she had allowed in the forest, and she didn't know what to think of him. She didn't know exactly why she didn't shoo him away like she did every other traveler.

Adran followed her silently, his eyes darting around the clearing. "This is your home?" he asked. About twenty paces across, the area was devoid of trees, but the canopy of the surrounding branches reached through to cover the perimeter. She had set up a little nest of sorts in the center, where the sun shone, and she could see the starry sky at night.

Evi nodded. 

"Thank you for letting me stay," he said.

"You're welcome," Evi said. 

Evi prepared a quick meal as Adran inspected his surroundings. They ate in silence, neither of them wanting to speak. Afterwards, Adran said he was tired and retired to his own nest the forest had put together while they ate - made of soft leaves and moss, it was very similar to Evi's, except a bit bigger to accommodate Adran's broader frame.

Evi sat by the cookfire, her mind racing. She was drawn to Adran, but she didn't know why. He had this soft but intense air about him, appearing to be one way on the outside, but implying a much deeper personality. Eventually, she retired to her own nest, lulled to sleep by the forest.

 

-chapter 2-

The next morning, Evi was already up, preparing breakfast. Adran could tell she knew he was up, but she didn't turn around or acknowledge him. 

"Why do you keep yourself so distant?" he asked finally.

Evi turned to look at him. "I told you; you have to earn my companionship."

"And how am I supposed to do that?"

"That's for you to figure out." 

Adran frowned. "You said the Forests would take care of me. What did you mean by that?"

"You can ask it for anything you'd like. As long as it agrees with what you want, it will provide. Like this," Evi stood and walked over to a tree, resting her head on its trunk. She whispered something Adran couldn't hear, and a small vine covered in bright blue berries crept down from the branches.

Evi smiled and plucked one of the berries, tossing it to Adran. "You see?"

He caught it and examined it. "What is it?"

"It's a muioberry. Go ahead and try it."

Adran took a tentative bite, then his eyes widened in surprise. "It's good!" The delicate skin of the berry popped in his mouth, like a blueberry, but it tasted like a mix between a blackberry and a pomegranate.

"The Forests provide for all of our needs," Evi said. "You just have to know how to ask." 

"How did you become the Keeper of the Forest?"

Evi was silent for a long time. "It's a duty that's passed down in my family," she said finally. "My parents were the previous Keepers, and when they died, it fell to me. Someday, I'll marry and have a singular child, who will do the same. We've been looking after the woods for countless generations, keeping people out and preserving the magic."

"And if someone comes in?"

Evi's eyes hardened. "Then I make them leave."

"What about me? Why didn't you make me leave?" Why did Evi allow him to take refuge in the woods? Why was he the only one here?

Evi grew thoughtful. "The forest told me to. It said you were different."

Adran rested his hand on a tree trunk and whispered, quiet enough so Evi couldn't hear, "Please, show me why you chose me."

A fierce wind ripped through the trees, shifting the branches overhead. When the gusts stopped just seconds later, there was a singular beam of light piercing the green cover. The beam landed solely on Evi.

Evi looked up. "How did you do that?"

"I- I don't know- I think the forest did-" Adran stuttered.

"It took me several days before the forest responded to me. Why would you be different..." Evi trailed off, her gaze distant.

Adran watched her for a moment before he spoke up again. "Evi, what's wrong?"

"I- nothing, it's just- I think I understand why the Forest chose you now."

Evi looked at Adran, her eyes full of wonder. "I've decided- you no longer need to earn my companionship- you being chosen by the forest was enough." She turned away, cheeks glowing with the faintest of blushes. "Come. I need to show you something."

 

Adran followed Evi through the woods, her footsteps sure and confident. He followed her, his mind racing with questions.

Finally, they came to a stop in front of a massive tree. Its bark was a deep brown, but hints of golden veins shew beneath the bark. Its massive branches loomed hundreds of feet off the ground in a captivating, but comforting, way. From what Adran could see, each leaf was unique- each of a different color or shape from the rest.

"When Keepers die," Evi started, her voice reverent, "they don't actually perish. When it is time for them to move on, they come here. They somehow merge with the tree, their soul adding to the forest's magic. They aid the current keeper and look after them, as the keeper looks after the forest. My parents came here when I was ten, as did my grandparents when my mother was ten. I will do the same with my future husband and fellow keeper when I have a child of ten years old. Do you understand what I'm saying, Adran?"

Adran looked at her, stunned. "I think so," he managed. "You're saying that the Keepers are immortal?"

Evi nodded. "In a way, yes. Our souls are bound to the forest, and as long as the forest stands, we will, too. I'll never forget my parents, but I know that they're still with me, in a way. This is why we look after the forest - to protect the thousands of souls inhabiting this sacred place. The forest doesn't just let anyone in, Adran. From what I can tell by the stories my mother told me, only the Keeper, their spouse, and their children were ever let into the wood." Evi looked intently at Adran. "Do you understand why I brought you here?"

Adran nodded, his throat tight. "I think so."

"Are you willing to fulfill what the forest wants to ask of you? For at least ten years?"

Adran looked at the tree, then back at Evi. He thought of his parents, and the life he was running from. He thought of the forest, and the magic he'd seen within it. 

"Yes," he said finally. "I'm willing."

Evi let out a breath. "Thank you."

 

-chapter 3-

Evi showed Adran around the forest, introducing him to the different trees and animals. Evi could see he was enthralled by the magic of the place, and quickly fell in love with it. 

It was the Keeper's duty to look after the animals- of one was wounded, it knew by instinct to come to the Keeper, who would ask the forest for guidance in healing. If a plant grew sickly or weeds grew where they shouldn't, the Keepers remedied the situation. The forest has magic but needed a Keeper to use it.

The days passed, and Adran learned how to care for the forest. He went with Evi on her rounds, and he started to understand the duty of the Keeper. 

They spent the days taking care of the plants and animals, and evenings sitting around the fire. At first, they stayed on opposite sides of the flames, barely conversing. As the days, then weeks went by, they slowly started to sit closer together and talk for longer, about deeper topics. They grew closer, acting more comfortable with each other.

One night, after sitting in silence for a long while, staring at the flames, Evi spoke up.

"What was it like, out beyond the forest?"

Adran thought for a moment. "It was different," he said finally. "There were more people, and more noise. Everything was so... hectic."

"Did you like it?"

Adran shook his head. "No, not really."

Evi was silent for a moment. "Do you ever miss your old life?"

Adran thought about it. "No," he said finally. "I don't miss it at all."

"Not even your family? Your friends?"

"My parents were never nice to me, and I never made any effort to make any friends. My life was just... Not really life. When my parents put me in an arranged marriage, I just kind of snapped. I wanted to live my own life, not one that everyone else chose for me. So, I ran away. I've lived more here during these past couple weeks than I had in my entire life. So no, I don't miss my old life, and I don't regret leaving, either. If I could, I'd stay here, forever."

Evi was silent for a long time, digesting Adran's words. "Do you think you'll ever want to leave?" She had begun to appreciate the companionship, the other human being to talk to. She almost wished he would stay for longer than ten years, if everything continued the way it was.

Adran shook his head. "No, I don't think so. I'm happy here. I don't really see the point in leaving."

Evi was silent for a moment. "What about when the ten years are up?" she asked quietly. Her head knew, logically, that he'd probably want to leave. Her heart pounded, anticipating his answer.

Adran was silent, thinking. "I hadn't really thought about it, but... I know that I can't go back to my old life. I think I want to stay here..." he said finally. "If you'll have me."

Evi looked at him, her eyes shining in the firelight. "Of course I'll have you," she said. "You're the Keeper of the Forest now, just as much as I am."

Adran laughed. "I think I could get used to that."

Evi smiled. "I think you already have."