Finding a Wolf In the Trees

Chapter 3~

Nydia completed her daily chores as slowly as she could. When she could not put it off any longer she donned her shawl, leaving her shoes behind, and stepped out into the cooling dusk air. She sighed and began walking towards the village square, where the inn was located. After a few moments she heard a small voice call her name, and she turned to see little Basil runing toward her. “Hi Miss Nydia!” he said cheerfully as he caught up to her. “Can I walk with you?” The little blonde haired boy asked, taking a hold on her skirt.

“Of course you can Basil.” She said looking into the small boys blue eyes. “I was on my way to the inn to fetch Master Hawking. He is supposed to dine with my mother and I this evening.” Nydai said as she began to walk again.

Basil’s nose wrinkled in disgust. “I don’t like him. He’s mean and nasty.” he said as he walked along beside her. For every step she took he had to take two, and it gave Nydia a good excuse to slow down and delay the meeting a little longer.

“Can you keep a secret?” She asked him. At his enthusiastic nod she chuckled. “I don’t like him either” Basil smiled and she chuckled at the look of relief on his face. “Come on, hurry up, I have to go meet frog man.” Basil gave a great whoop of laughter and quickened his steps.

They were halfway to the inn when Nydia spotted the only other person besides Basil that she talked to a lot when she was in the village square, wise old Osma. There was just something about the older woman’s presence that gave Nydia comfort. “Hello Miss Osma.” Nydia called softly.

“Hello dear.” the old woman answered back. “Where are you off to?”

“We’re going to go see the frog man.” Basil said happily, and Nydia turned red.

Osma just laughed. “You must mean Master Hawking.” At Nydia’s horrified look the old woman added, “Don’t worry dear, I won’t tell anyone about the nickname.” The old woman smiled. “Now, you better get going, you know what he is like when his isone one of his moods. Basil, why don’t you stay here with me for a little while. I am an old woman and I may need a big strong lad like you to help me with something.”


Basil’s small chest puffed out at the request and he nodded his head enthusiastically. Nydia smiled, said goodbye to them, and then began walking to the inn. As she drew closer to her destination her mood became grim. She didn’t want to see him, but Osma had been right. The man had a nasty temper.

She reached the inn and paused in front of the door and took a deep breath. She opened the door to reveal a large room with many tables and even more chairs jammed in so the patrons could sit and talk, or listen to the woman that was currently sitting by the fireplace, singing and playing a lyre. She looked around and spotted Guthrie Hawking sitting at a table near the door.

She walked up to him, keenly aware of the bits of food from the floor sticking to her bare feet. She stepped up to his table, his back was turned toward her, and cleared her throat. “Master Hawking,” She said and he turned toward her, “my mother an I are ready to welcome you into our home for dinner.” As she finished speaking she turned away from him and walked toward the door. She was able to slip out side and walk a few steps before he caught up with her.

“I was beginning to worry that you wouldn’t come. That would have been rather sad my dear. I might have even shed a tear or two.” He said silkily from behind her as he ran a finger down her cloth covered arm.

“I highly doubt it Master Hawking.” She said, not looking at him. “Now, we should hurry, it looks like rain.”
~~~
The dinner was something Nydia would have erased from her memory forever if she could. Her mother and Guthrie had talked merrily through the meal, and Nydia had kept her eyes on her plate and her mouth shut. She did not, however, miss the lecherous glances Guthrie kept sending her way. After they had finished the meal Nydia had been sent to clean the dishes, while Guthrie talked to her mother some more. She had just finished the dishes when she heard her mother let out a happy exclamation. “Oh, that’s wonderful!” When Nydia entered the room to see what was going on her mother turned toward her and said happily, “Nydia, the date of your wedding to Master Guthrie has been set!”

Nydia’s eyes nearly bulged out of her head. “W- What?” She asked, a look of pure horror on her face.

“Your wedding date has been set. I’m sure we can come up with something for the wedding in two days.” Her mother beamed, and Guthrie gave a dark chuckle, which seemed to remind her mother about something. “Oh yes, Master Guthrie will be spending the night. It’s raining out and we don’t want him to catch cold while walking back to the inn now do we?”

Nydia was silent as her mother’s words spun in circles inside her head. “Now, I’m going to bed.” her mother continued, “You two can stay up and talk if you like.” She turned and walked into her bedroom, closing the door behind her.

“You don’t look very excited my darling.” Guthrie said and he took one step towards her, just as she took two steps back. “I thought it was every woman’s dream to marry. You should be happy.” He said, as his eyes took in her form once again. His tongue darted out and licked his lips, bearing his crooked yellow teeth for a moment.

He smirked as Nydia’s back hit a wall, with no where to go. “Yes most, women want to marry someday, but I certainly don’t want to marry you.” She growled out.

“Oh, but you have no choice.” He whispered. He was right in front of her now. He lifted a hand to caress her face, but she turned away from him, not meeting his gaze. “You have no choice.” He hissed again. “You will be my wife, and you will bare my children, even if I have to get my servants to hold you down while we are in bed.”

That was it. She snapped. She shoved him away as hard as she could and sent him toppling over a chair. She ran from the house, feet bare, with no shawl to try to keep the rain away. She ran down the main road of the village and toward the forest. She could hear Guthrie behind her, but that seemed to be a faint sound compared to the voices of the trees. Calling to her. “Yes, I’m coming.” She whispered as she ran at a frantic pace.

As she reached the edge of the forest she ran even faster, wanting to be safe deep within the dense trees. She ran father into the forest, dodging low branches and rocks. She continued to run, even when she couldn’t hear Guthrie behind her any more. She ran until her legs gave out, and she collapsed in an exhausted wet heap. Tears streaming down her cheeks until her bodrrenrrendered to the sweet blackness of slumber.


AN: I revised this chapter until my eyes crossed and it\'s still crap. Maybe that\'s just me though, but I doubt it. Well any way, the next chapter has an only slightly smalled number of revisions, but I think it will probably take me longer to post that one because it\'s longer. Well any way... shame on you! 62 hits and only one review! Teehee. Well, even if you don\'t want to review (even though I would really appreciate it) check out my other story \'Saving Jamie\' if you have time.

to my one reviewer:
Hello Betty- TADA!!! I read your review just before I posted this and I was like, what a coinkydink. I hope this meets your expectations, even if it doesn\'t meet . :-P