Lovers of Legend (4 page)

My mind was puzzled over this predicament until I recalled what Ethan and my father had spoken about concerning the woods leading me to Ethan's chopped grove. I had no doubt the woods now directed me where it willed, and where it willed was down the path on my left. Rather than a corner like Beferon had taken the path lay straight and led deeper into the forest. Without the aid of a lantern nor even the sun I had no choice but to follow path given to me.

I strode forward and glanced at the sky. The stars glittered brightly in the night above me. My eyes widened and I smiled in glee as I recognized some of the constellations. I could follow those and lead myself back to the manor. With their aid I realized the path led me westward when I wished to travel south. I turned off the path and into the thick brush. The plants scratched and tore at my clothing and skin, but I pushed onward.

I had only reached ten yards into the brush when a terrifying howl arose in front of me. The wolves were returned, and I had no horse on which to escape. I turned and rushed back to the path. It was my only hope. My feet pounded on the dirt as the howling behind me grew louder and more voices joined the first wolf. I ran ten yards before I glanced over my shoulder in time to see a dozen wolves burst from the brush.

They ran straight for me. I screamed and sprinted down the path. Their feet treaded loudly along the dirt trail. In a few moments their breath blew over my neck. I gasped for air and sought some place, some sanctuary, in which to escape. My pleas were granted when I beheld a light. It came from a small wooden shack and barn not more than twenty yards off. The wolves drew closer. Ten more yards and I would be safe. A foot more and they would have me.

I flew across the ground and slammed my whole body against the entrance. The door gave way and I fell inside onto the ground. I rolled over and faced the doorway, and what I thought was my doom. There was nothing there. The wolves had vanished. There was no even a whisper of their howls in the distance. It was as though they were never there.

"Good evening," a voice greeted me.

I turned and found I lay in a comfortable, one-room cabin of sorts. A large stone fireplace sat on the wall opposite the door, and between them was a small table with two chairs. On the right lay a large, solid wood bed made of thick logs, and on the left was a kitchen of sorts with a counter. A door on the left wall beside the counter led to the barn.

Beside the table with a smile on his face stood Ethan. He strode over and offered me his hand. "Are you all right?" he wondered.

"I-I don't know," I admitted. I accepted his hand and he pulled me to my feet. My eyes glanced at the empty, quiet doorway. "I was chased by wolves and saw your light, but when I fell inside they vanished," I told him.

"I did hear the howling, but I didn't see anything chasing you when you fell inside. Though just to be sure-" He walked around me and firmly shut the door. I was both consoled and frightened by his action. The wolves were shut out, but I was shut in. He turned to me and gestured to one of the simple wooden chairs by the table. A warm, crackling fire illuminated the room. "If it would please you to seat yourself in my humble abode I will give you some root tea to soothe your nerves," he invited me.

"I am sure you shouldn't go to such trouble," I argued.

He put a gentle hand on the small of my back and led me to the chair. "Nonsense. You are a guest, and quivering from the cold and the wolves. They must have given you quite a chase, but what were you doing out there, and without a horse?" he wondered.

I reluctantly seated myself, but didn't lean back and make myself comfortable. "I was at a picnic this afternoon and the wolves came upon us. My horse fled in a different direction than the others and a branch dismounted me. I fell unconscious and awoke near your home," I explained.

He strode over to a kettle in the hearth near the flames. The heated stones kept the water inside warm. "Very convenient," he commented.

I had not forgotten about the woods and their doings with Ethan and myself. "How so?" I asked him.

"Well, that you were so close to my home, and that I should wish to speak with you about an important matter to yourself," he replied. He walked over to the counter, poured two mugs of drink, and returned to the table where he set one of the steaming containers in front of me.

"What matter do you speak of?" I wondered.

He seated himself and took a sip of his drink. "The roots in these woods are very special. They have the sweetest flavor. It's one you never forget," he commented.

I frowned. "Surely the matter is more important than roots," I returned.

Ethan chuckled. "Well, not quite, but it is about the woods. You never forget the flavor of its tea, and it never forgets a pact made centuries before."

"A pact with my father?" I guessed.

He raised an eyebrow. "Yes. Do you know something of it?"

"I followed my father to your grove and overheard your conversation," I revealed.

"Ah, but do you know anything of the specifics?" he asked me.

I shook my head. "No, only what I overheard. My father would tell me nothing."

Ethan frowned and put his mug on the table. His finger tapped the side impatiently. "Your father has little honor if he refuses to tell his daughter her destiny," he murmured.

"What is my destiny?" I questioned him.

He smiled. It was a small, mischievous smile. "The destiny of the last daughter of your house is to marry the last male in my line," he told me.

I stared dumbly at him. "Surely. . .surely you jest," I replied.

Ethan shook his head. "No, the pact is written in this contract." He pulled forth the paper and tossed the envelope to me. "Read it if you will."

I stood and glared at him. Of all the insolence this man dared against my family this was certainly the worst. It was no wonder my father was so angry at him. "But I have read it, and there was nothing about marriage. It is merely a thank-you from my father to your ancestor," I argued.

"Read it in the light of the fire with the paper faced toward the flames," he suggested.

"What is that to do with anything?" I snapped.

"It has to do with everything, but if you will not take my advice I will show you myself." Ethan removed the letter and moved to stand before the great fire. He unfolded the paper and held it out so the back of the paper was lit by the light of the fire. "Tell me what you see," he requested.

I hesitantly followed him. A nob in my stomach told me something was amiss. I glanced over the inked thank-you. "I see nothing but a land grant," I replied.

"Look closer," he advised.

I scowled, but looked closer. As I did the flames grew taller and brighter. The ink seemed to run together and swirl around the paper. The words reformed to create a new letter. Gone was the land contract, and in its place was a marriage contract. My eyes flitted over the contents and they widened as I absorbed the document in all its foolishness.

"Will you read it to me?" Ethan asked me. My mouth moved, but no sound came out. I stumbled back and fell into my seat. "Then I will read it," he offered. He turned the paper to himself and read what I had read. "This contract made in the two-thousandth and thirty-sixth year of the Elven calendar hereby grants to the family of the woodsman the title of Steth in reward for ridding the woods of the black wolves. I, Lord Stethana, also grant that should I bare no son and but a daughter, I will gladly grant her hand in marriage to the eldest eligible male of the line of Steth. All the lands shall then pass to the family of Steth unless all the eligible males refuse the honor. Then will I, Lord Stethana, be free to grant her hand to anyone I so choose." Ethan lowered the paper, and when the light faded so did the secret message. The ink reverted to the land contract.

"What could my father have been thinking?" I murmured.

"The black wolves were a pestilence on his lands and the surrounding countryside. My ancestor was very skilled in magic and rid your father of their presence. His asking price for such a dangerous task was not too high for at the time Lord Stethana had no children and had every plan to sire a son," Ethan told me.

I shook my head. "My mother could not conceive another, and by our laws my father could not remarry," I replied.

"Yes, he has been caught between his oath and the elven laws, but I will keep him to his word," Ethan affirmed.

I snapped my head up and looked at him in horror. "How could you say such a thing? Have I no right to choose my own husband?" I countered.

"Even if you were not betrothed to me would your father give you that right?" he wondered.

"I-I-" I stuttered. He was right. My father had no intention of letting my heart choose. I would be Steven's intended bride regardless of this marriage contract. Still, this was ridiculous. "But surely you see we cannot be a match. I am an elf, and you are but human. You would die long before I, and our children would be shunned by everyone," I pointed out.

He smiled, and by the light of the fire I could see it was quite alluring. For a human, that is. "Unbeknownst to your father my ancestor granted my line a gift should this contract come to pass," he replied.

"A gift?" I repeated.

Ethan slowly inched his way toward me. His shadow stretched out and engulfed me as I sat in the chair. "Yes. The gift was revealed in a letter passed down through my family. There is only one difficulty in obtaining the gift. You must give it to me freely," he told me.

I stood and scurried to the opposite side of the table. I was keenly aware of the shut door at my back. "What is it I must give you?" I asked him.

"A kiss."

Chapter 6

I stared at him as though he were mad. "A kiss? What reason would I have to kiss a human?" I argued.

"I am your betrothed," he reminded me.

I straightened and scowled at him. "You are not. I have no betrothed," I countered.

"Hasn't your father offered your hand to someone? You hesitated to discuss choosing your own betrothed when I asked you of it," he pointed out.

"That is none of your concern! Let me out and I will be sure never to see you again." I spun on my heels and marched quickly to the door. To my relief his footsteps didn't follow and I reached the door without harassment. I lay my hand on the handle and froze when a howl filled the air. The wolves were come back.

"You cannot leave," Ethan told me from his place on the other side of the table.

I turned and glared at him. "Why not?" I challenged him.

"The woods demand that the pact be kept. The contract was signed beneath these ancient trees, and they never forget a promise," he replied.

A thought came to my mind and I narrowed my eyes at the human. "Are you causing this witchery?" I accused him.

He furrowed his brow. "Witchery? I am causing nothing," he insisted.

"Of course you are causing all of this." My hand slid from the handle and the howling ceased. I felt my point was proven by the silence and marched over to stand before him. I wouldn't be intimidated by a human. "You led me to your grove this morning to encourage an infatuation with you, but when you found you could not succeed with your looks you would succeed with your wiles. You created these wolves to attack my mother and all of us at our picnic, and-"

"That's enough," he interrupted. His stern voice and unwavering eyes caused me to cower before him. He was human, but this human had confidence. "I led you nowhere, nor do I know anything of a picnic. I met you earlier by the will of the forest, and even now it wills you to remain here. It has even called forth the shadows of the wolves my ancestor destroyed to keep you here and ensure the pact signed beneath its branches is kept. Your father certainly doesn't have any intention of keeping the promise." He looked me over and his face softened. "Would you break the oath and join your father in his disgrace?" he asked me.

"I am not a part of this oath," I argued.

"You were not a part of its making, but you are a part of its fulfillment. As such, you have an obligation to keep your family's oath," he pointed out.

I stepped back and pondered this deal. "The oath can be fulfilled in two ways, can it not? I can accept your offer of marriage, or you can refuse to marry me, correct?"

"Yes," he agreed.

I straightened and looked him in the eye. "Then I demand that you refuse to marry me." He laughed. The human laughed in my face. "What is so funny?" I growled.

"I never imagined a woman would be so willing to flee from a marriage," he chuckled.

"An intolerable marriage to a human," I reminded him.

He silenced his humor. "Now we are back on the subject. I ask for a kiss to show you that your prejudice against me is misplaced," he insisted.

"And I ask to be released from this contract and to leave," I countered.

He shrugged and seated himself in the chair. "Then we are at an impasse. I will not budge on marrying you, you will not budge on not marrying me, and the woods will not budge until the contract is fulfilled one way or another."