184As normalcy returns to the kingdom, normal people go back to normal lives. Except for one woman who upon meeting a mischievous crow has her solitary life thrown upside down.
Ch. 1 Almost a Party
Living alone wasn't so bad. No one could tell me how to live, no one could judge me, and no one could hurt me. They cast me out because I wasn't what they said I should be, because I couldn't be that simpering obedient dog.
So now I live on the edges of the glade where once grew an intimidating wall of thorns, in a small run down house. I had thought about returning once the princess had returned, things seemed to be getting better, but solitude was a habit that was hard to break. Rumors spread and people came every now and then seeking gifts I could never give. Some think I am an enchantress, others think I am a demon. Either way visitors are few and far in between. I like it that way.
As I pulled up a handful of radishes I could hear the distinct sound of someone running down the path to my humble abode.
"Whatever you want I can't give it to you." I said pulling up more radishes. There was huffing and puffing from behind me.
"Please…Help…me!" Turning to see who the young voice belonged too I was a bit astounded to see a boy no more than eight. He was dirty, red faced and crying.
"I don't do enchantments boy." I said dusting my hands off on my plain brown dress.
"No! Please hide me!" He ran towards me and clutched my skirts desperately.
"Hide you?" By then I heard the shouts of men, and the thunder of horses. The boy shook and wailed. Grabbing his arm I barreled into the small house. It was really just a hovel, with a small fire pit my bed and a wall full of herbs and dried meat. The small cellar beneath my table would hold the boy, but it would be a tight fit. Moving the table and shoving him in the hole I hushed him.
"Stay still, stay quiet." With that I shut the cellar door and went back to gardening. When the horses stopped and what I had thought would be men came I was cutting a spring of rosemary. Upon sneaking a glance up at them I realized that they were in fact trolls. Not the big nasty kind, the smaller man sized trolls that liked to steal from humans. They all had gooey looking grey skin, long pointed ears, and big pig snouts. Had it not been for the combining of the two kingdoms I would have been surprised to see them on this side of the thorn wall. One smiled at me and his yellow teeth seemed comically too big for his mouth.
"Can I help you?" I asked making it clear that they were not welcome. They looked like a bad bunch to get involved with.
"Were looking for a boy, bout ye high." One of them said motioning with his long fingered hand to his knobby knee.
"No one round here." I told them bending to cut another sprig.
"You're that eh…enchantress everyone mutters about aint you?" Another said.
"Couldn't be, I'm not an enchantress." I said looking up now at them. One whistled upon seeing my face.
"Where'd you get that from, you'd be almost pretty without it!" They all laughed and I had to sneer at them. From my ear to the middle of my cheek was a jagged scar, complements of a drunk father.
"Look no kid here, so get lost." I said glaring at them. They looked between each other and chuckled.
"Kid don't interest me no more." Said the first troll obviously the leader. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. A danger of living alone I supposed and one I had yet to encounter, the grip on my knife stiffened. Behind me a crow cawed and the trolls suddenly looked more pale, if possible. Looking behind me I only saw a crow. It cawed again and the trolls mounted their horses.
"You got lucky this time witch." Said one before they galloped away. I was beginning to have an odd day. The crow flew down from my roof to the fence post around my garden and cocked his head one side as if watching me.
"Thanks I guess." I said taking my basket and going back inside. The boy poked his head out from the cellar.
"Are they gone?" He asked in a small voice.
"Yes." I said cutting the stems from my vegetables. He came out from the cellar and carefully closed the door. He began to look around keeping his hands behind his back.
"You can go now." I said looking at him. He stopped to stare at my scar for a moment before smiling.
"Don't you want to know why they were after me?" He asked, no longer afraid and much more mischievous.
"No." I said moving on to my herbs. He pouted for a moment.
"I'll tell you anyway." He said moving to my side and grinning at me. He dug into a pocket and pulled out a small green stone that glowed.
"They wanted this! It's a magic stone, supposed to grant any wish." He said his eyes wide in wonder. Suddenly the crow flew in and perched on my table and the boy jumped before grasping my arm. I waved an arm at the bird shooing him away.
"Go on get out." I had one too many visitor today. The bird didn't even flinch, so I moved towards it with my knife till I stood inches from the table.
"Come on bird, get!" I waved my arm to scare it but in a flash of black smoke the crow was gone. A human held my wrist and deep fathomless black eyes smiled impishly at me.
"You should be careful, swinging a blade around like that." He said casually. If my eyes got any wider they would pop. He laughed and released my arm.
"You should close that mouth of yours lest you catch flies." I slammed it shut and he looked around me to the boy. I took a few hesitant steps back and ran into my counter. Next to me the boy slipped closer until he was close enough to hide part way behind my skirt. The crow…man…whatever sat on my table and swung his black clad legs back and forth.
"Come on now, you shouldn't steal." He said holding out a pale hand to the boy. Looking at him I could only stare in a stupor. He was certainly a human now, clad in all black clothes his shirt open at the chest enough to show some intricate scars of his own. Next to me the boy sighed and dropped his frightened act. He moved towards the man and handed him the stone with a huff, he looked at it this way and that before leaning forwards to ruffle the boys hair.
"Go on then rascal and don't bother the lady anymore." The boy looked back at me and winked. He winked! Before running out and assumedly towards home.
"Sorry about that." The man said hopping from my table and pocketing the stone.
"Kids, am I right?" I shook myself out of whatever stupor he had put me in and pointed to the door.
"Out Crow, just…out." I said.
"Diaval, and you are?" He held out a hand completely ignoring my pervious statement and smiled a charming smile my way.
"Diaval, Raven, Crow…whatever. Just leave." I said ripping my eyes away from his, harder than I thought, and towards my door.
"You really are the most unfriendly woman I have ever met." He said laughing, before walking to my door and pausing.
"I suppose I'll have to guess that name of yours." He said before throwing me a wink, turning back into a crow and flying away. Hopefully that would be all the guests I would be entertaining today.
Please tell me what you think! This is the edited version, thanks to the reviewer who pointed out my mistake!