Clandestine
Specks of sunlight peeked through the vast canopy of trees that clumped together forming shadows and figures inside the woodlands. The chirping of birds and the rattling of the branches could be heard as the wind blew like a soft whisper. At the periphery of the woodlands lies a massive blue lake that reflected the sun rays creating an illumination of a shining splendor, and right in the middle is a meadow where the sun shone down like a spotlight among fields of dandelions.
It was loud- the silence, and it took me back to the times I spent here with her. Only the galloping of the knight's horses broke the deafening silence. Tranquility hung thick upon the atmosphere. Yet, there's something more to it. Something... disconsolate and murky. Indeed it was beautiful in this woodlands, but I couldn't quite comprehend how I felt whenever I'm in there.
Still, a linger of hope ignites inside me that somehow I'd see her again.
I close my eyes as I let the trees blow its icy breath around the woodlands. I'm alone here.
You're not.
I'm not...
It was 12 years years ago, I was wandering about the woodlands and fled from my father's sight to look for spirits. Hunting animals was never my passion. Odd as it may seem for a noble child like me, but that's just how I am. I am intrigued by the mysteries that I've heard from townspeople when I went out of the castle once dressed up as a peasant boy. A troublemaker I might be, but that's where I gain my knowledge from. Being encaged inside the massive walls that surround our manor would never provide me enough knowledge.
So, there I was wandering about on my own on the cold woodland plains. Trees older than my grandfather surrounded me, and I found myself lost in it. I had no idea where to go and how to get out of it. I was losing hope, and that's when I first saw her. Eyes of blue, cold and dazzling. Hair of gold that shines. I was lost but she found me, and I knew that I am saved. She stood in front of me, but never had she laid a hand on me. She was mysterious. She spoke softly, quietly, and in monotone. Her face was like an angel, but no smile came to her lips.
"What are you doing in these parts of the woodlands, little one?" she asked me, as she stared straight at me. I stuttered as I proposed my mission of foolishness.
"I-I wanted to see a spirit, but found myself lost"
She was quiet for a moment, still looking at me as if bearing holes into my soul, and finally she let out a chuckle and a small smile, making her face less intimidating and more angelic. She picked up a dried branch and extended her arm to me, gesturing to grab the other end. I was confused, but I did as she told me, she led me to a path back to exit the woodlands. As we were walking I couldn't help but ask why she wouldn't just hold my hand like a normal lady would do when she sees a lost child... and why she was in there and found me? I've heard a lot of people get lost in the woodlands, but she knew the way. It's like she lived in the woodlands. So I did. I asked her. And I was astonished as she answered. She first stopped walking and looked at me for a silent moment.
"I am one of those you seek. I'm a spirit, although I do not seem like one"
I knew my face paled at that moment, I was amazed yet... I didn't know how to feel.
"I am vulnerable to a human's touch, you see. If I touch you, I'll disappear into oblivion and cease to exist" she continued. She smiled at me again, this time genuinely. She was beautiful, just like my mother and Helena. My eldest sister. But I knew there was something in her smile. Her eyes had a glint of loneliness in them, but I ignored it. I nodded and smiled back at her.
It seemed a long while before we arrived at the big hedge arch that would lead me out of the woodlands. I looked at her gratefully and she smiled. She lifted her hand up and indicated that she would pat my head, but she withdrew quickly and took her hand behind her back.
