The Goddess's Gift

Breakfast had been very good, and I was sad to leave the warmth and comfort of my home at the behest of a woman who’d been so terrible to us. But Wulf needed our assistance, and that was that.

“So, you know how to break a dryad’s enchantment?”

“Yes.”

“How so?”

“I’m just going to talk to her. Normally I could probably just use my own magic to break it, but not with this shitty poison still in me.” he replied, shrugging as he kept pace with me. I was on Poppy, and riding at a steady, but fairly easy, pace.

“Think that’ll work?”

“Dryads are pretty easily reasoned with, so there's really no reason not to try it first.” he nodded. “And short of that, I do know other things we can try.”

The Tinna family’s large dairy farm wasn’t far away, and we soon arrived.

Lear landed, raising an eyebrow at the small, manor-style house that sat at the end of the path. “Fancy themselves important, do they?”

“I can’t talk, my family built their own manor without being actual gentry as well.”

“We don’t know they weren’t gentry.”

“Well, not gentry of this land, that’s for sure.” I snorted.

“Fair.”

“Despite being apparently very racist towards fey folk, it’s another reason why Mrs. Tinna was so rude, she thinks that just because they’re the wealthiest family around, it means that she can do and say whatever she wants.”

“Yes, because being a dairy farmer makes you all powerful.” Lear snorted.

“I mean, there’s no shame in being a dairy farmer, it’s just her sense of entitlement that makes her awful. Besides, her husband doesn't act like that. Mr. Tinna worked hard to become as wealthy as he is, partly at his wife’s insistence because she was born into a wealthier family, and was used to the high life already.”

“Ahh, makes sense.”

“That's why their children are all decent, their father tempered their mother. And I don’t think she was always so bad, if I’m being honest.”

“You know, even though you live outside of town, you know a lot about the people in the area.”

“Well, I do see other people fairly often, despite living outside of town, and fey folk aren’t the only ones who like to gossip!” I laughed a little, then sighed. “Now, where do you think the dryad’s tree is? I don’t want to have to go to the house and deal with asking Mrs. Tinna for how to find it.”

“Hmm.” Lear shaded his eyes and surveyed the property before us. “I think that’s it over there.”

I looked where he was pointing, and saw a lone tree in the distance. It was empty of leaves, given the time of year, and looked very sad. “Oh, yep. There’s someone sitting beneath it. I bet that’s Wulf.”

“It is a man that looks about your age. Has golden hair.”

“Yes, sounds like him.”

“Do you like blonde hair?”

“What?”

“I can make my hair blonde, if you prefer blonde hair.” he shrugged innocently.

I frowned, “Lear, I don’t like him like that.”

He flashed a quick grin at me, “I know, but if you prefer blonde hair, I can-”

I cut him off, my face red as I admitted, “I like your hair exactly as it is. Don’t you dare change it!”

His lovely green eyes blinked, and he reached out to brush his dark bangs out of his eyes. “You like my hair?”

“Lear, there’s not much about you I don’t like. Except maybe this sudden and very misplaced insecurity.” I sighed, rolling my eyes, then going to slide off Poppy.

As I swung my leg over the saddle, his hands came up around my waist, and he lifted me down, murmuring, “Easy does it.” He pulled me back and into his chest, whispering, “I’ll stop worrying then.”

“Yes, please do.” I muttered. We stood there like that for a moment. I felt his lips on my neck, and pulled away, smiling a little. "We should go before you turn this into an outdoor make-out session."

"I'd be one-hundred percent so up for that, in case you're ever interested." Lear said as he wove his fingers through mine.

We started walking towards the tree, leading Poppy along.

“I'm sure you would be!" I laughed, then sighed and said, "You know, I’m surprised you’re the jealous sort.”

“I was mostly joking. Mostly. And normally I’m not. But I also haven’t had or wanted any serious relationship with anyone before you.” he told me.

“No?”

“No. I was content to be single and just have flings. I don’t want flings anymore.”

“So I gather.” I smiled.

“You believe me, right?”

“Lear, you can’t lie, and your statements on the matter have left little to no wiggle room.”

“I’ve tried to make that the case.” the fey man nodded. “I’m glad you noticed.”

“I didn’t necessarily know it was intentional, but am also glad it was.” I squeezed his hand. It meant he wanted me to know, in no uncertain terms, how he felt for me. That was...very nice, actually.

As we approached the tree, I took in the situation. Wulf was sitting on the ground, his back against the bark, and his head tilted up as he stared up into the barren leaves of the tree, a dazed, joyous sort of expression on his face.

Despite his rapt expression, Wulf looked rough. It had clearly been a couple of days since he’d shaved, and his clothes were dirty and rumpled. There was a blanket cast over his legs, and a plate of apparently untouched food beside him, as well as a full water-skin. There were dark circles under his eyes, and a slightly gaunt look to his features.

Well, his mother had said he’d not been eating or sleeping or anything.

But what was most odd about the entire scene was that there was an ax sitting on the ground beside him.

“Oh yeah, he’s got it real bad.” Lear grimaced. “I’m surprised that such a young tree has a dryad attached to it already.” he now addressed the tree, “We’re not here to hurt you or anything. We just want to talk.”

There was a surge of magic, and suddenly, a young woman poked her head out from behind the tree. She had pale green skin and burgundy hair, wore a short dress made of what looked like flower petals, and had large, purple eyes that reminded me a little of Lear’s. Did he maybe have some dryad in him as well?

“Rina!” Wulf cried gladly.

“Just a moment, dear.” She murmured, flashing him a sweet smile, which faltered as she turned a wary gaze towards us.

“You’re Rina?” I asked, smiling reassuringly at her, going by the name Wulf had used.

“Y-yes.”

“I’m Winna. It’s nice to meet you.” I bowed to her. “This is Lear.”

Lear bowed slightly as well, “Pleased to meet you.”

“What…what do you want?” the dryad watched us warily.

“We’re just worried for Wulf. He’s not eating or sleeping or anything, from what we understand.” I told her.

“We know he’s enchanted, Rina. It’s okay, I see the ax, and can guess what happened.” Lear said quietly.

“Would you…tell me what happened?” I asked him, surprised.

“I believe Wulf came to cut the tree down. She’s young, and reacted in the only way she knew how, by enchanting him. It was self-defense.”

I blinked, “Oh! Oh, how awful!”

“I-I didn’t even mean to!” Tears came to Rina’s eyes. “I-I just saw the ax and reacted!”

“It’s alright.” Lear said. “Can you undo the spell?”

“I-I think, b-but…I-I don’t want to be cut down! I don’t want to die!”

“Don’t worry. We won’t let that happen.” Lear said firmly.

“I-I don’t even bother anyone! The most I do is watch! I like watching the humans…they’re so funny. Then the old lady, I think she's Wulf’s mother, started watching me back, so I stopped.”

“You think she saw you?” Lear asked, arching an eyebrow.

“I…I don't know. I was trying to be discreet.” Rina grimaced. “I wasn’t trying to pry, or anything. I was just curious. Humans are strange.” her eyes flickered to me, and hastily added, “I-I don’t mean that in a bad way!”

“Oh, no worries! We’re definitely odd!” I laughed.

The dryad seemed to relax a little. “Can you help me?”

“We’ll certainly try to. But you have to release Wulf from the spell. He’ll die if this keeps up. We’re not nearly as sturdy as you are.” I told her gently.

Tears came to her eyes again. “I-I know! I-I’ve been trying to get him to eat, to go inside to sleep, to stay warm, b-but he won’t! H-he just laughs and says he loves me, and that he won’t leave me, and isn’t hungry! B-but I know that’s just the spell talking! I-I know humans need to eat and sleep and be warm!”

“Well, I know Wulf from school. He’s a reasonable man. I think that, if you release the spell, I can talk the whole thing out with him.” I told her earnestly.

“You think?”

“Yes.” I assured her.

“And I know how to propagate a tree so that the dryad that’s bound to it can travel to the new tree. If we can’t come to an agreement, that’s what we’ll do, alright?”

Rina sighed, “A-alright.” There was a surge of energy, and a flash of green magic.

Wulf blinked, and shook his head. “What the…what happened?”

“Welcome back, Wulf! Were you going to cut down this tree?” I asked, smiling slightly and putting my hands on my hips.

He turned his bleary grey eyes to me. “Winna?! What are you doing here? What…what day is it?”

“Your mother came to me for help. You got yourself enchanted by a dryad when you went to cut her tree down.” I told him, motioning at the tree.

Wulf staggered to his feet, rubbing his eyes. “Gods, I feel like death! There’s a dryad in the tree, you said?”

“I wondered if you knew.” I frowned a little. “Her name is Rina.”

“I-I’m Rina!” the dryad squeaked, hiding behind the tree. “I-I’m sorry! I-I didn’t mean to cause trouble! I-I just don't want to die!”

Wulf blinked, looking at her as if for the first time. “I’m sorry. I had no idea this tree had a dryad in it. Ma just said she wanted this tree down, since it blocked her view of the pond.” he motioned at the small pond a little ways away.

“Your mother asked you to cut it down?” Lear asked, arching an eyebrow at him.

Wulf studied Lear for a moment. If he was shocked to see another fey person, he kept it to himself. He finally sighed and told us, “She got a bee in her bonnet about it. You know how she gets." he cast a glance at me and shrugged, "Wouldn't leave me alone about it, so I finally caved, even though I actually really like this tree. It’s the only red maple near the house.” he looked at Rina. “I’m sorry, I never would have tried to cut your tree down, had I known you were here.”

Rina flushed, but instead of red, she turned a darker green. “I-I’m sorry I enchanted you! I…guess I could have just shown myself and asked you not to.”

“Well, you didn't know how I’d react, I’m sure.” Wulf shook his head. “Not all humans are friendly towards fey folk.”

“Your mother included?” I asked quietly.

Wulf smiled grimly. “Exactly. Dad has no problem with them. Ma does.”

“I-I think your mother saw me.” Rina murmured.

“So she contrived to murder her.” Lear said, his tone was full of quiet fury.

“It would seem so.” Wulf’s expression hardened. “I expect she’ll deny it, though. And we have no proof that she knew the tree had a dryad attached to it before I got enchanted."

“No, we don’t.” Lear sighed.

“I’ll have a word with my father about this. He won’t be pleased. This isn’t the first time she’s tired to cause trouble with fey folk. They’ve just as much a right to live as we do.” He bowed to Rina. “I’m so, so sorry, miss.”

Rina flushed deep green again. “I-I’m sorry too!”

“Please don't apologize. It’s not your fault. You just reacted. I wouldn't want to die, either.” Wulf smiled earnestly at her.

“Th-thank you.” Rina murmured. “C-can we be friends? I-I didn’t want you to stay out here all the time and not sleep or eat, or anything, but…it was nice to have someone to talk to.”

Wulf seemed surprised, “Are you lonely?”

“Not many fey folk come around here. I…suspect they don’t feel very welcome.”

Wulf’s expression hardened for a moment, but then he smiled gently. “Of course we can be friends, Rina.”

The young dryad smiled shyly. “O-okay! Thank you!”

To my surprise, Wulf flushed slightly. “I don’t mind sitting out here with you, since you get lonely. I can’t all the time, but when I have some time to spare, I’m happy to keep you company.”

“Oh, please don't go out of your way!” Rina shook her head. “Just when you have time!”

“It’s no imposition.” he assured her.

Raising my eyebrows, I looked to Lear, who smirked and winked at me.

“Well, we should…probably be on our way, huh?” I asked him.

Wulf turned to us, as if remembering we were there. “Thank you so much for your help. I’ll be speaking to my father about this. He’ll deal with my mother. She…didn’t used to be so bad.”

“She was awful to us earlier.” I murmured, shaking my head.

“I’m sorry Winna, Lear.” Wulf grimaced. “It’s not right.”

“No, it’s not, but…well, we’re alright.” Lear shrugged.

“Wulf! Oh my dear, you’re well again!” Mrs. Tinna’s voice cried.

I grimaced, seeing her approaching quickly. Intense anger flickered across Lear’s expression, and Rina immediately disappeared back into her tree. “We should go.” Lear muttered.

“That’s probably best.” Wulf sighed, “I’ll deal with her.”

“Let me know if I can do anything to help.” I told Wulf, hastily swinging up back into the saddle.

Lear launched himself into the air, and we left before Mrs. Tinna could reach her son.

As we retreated, I heard raised voices behind us.

“I think that went rather well, don’t you?” I asked Lear, knowing his inhuman hearing would pick up my voice, even as he wheeled high above me in the sky.

Immediately, he plunged down to hover beside me as I rode along.

“Yes, it did. I expect Mrs. Tinna won’t be best pleased with the situation, though.” he grinned at me.

“I agree. I think he’s inclined to be more than just friends with young Rina still. Although she’s probably not all that young, is she?”

“No, just young for a dryad.”

“Makes sense.”

“Still an adult, though.”

“Well, good.” I nodded approvingly, “I hope they’re happy together.”

“Me too.”

We soon arrived home, put Poppy up, and got back inside.

“Phew. Such a busy day and it’s not even noon yet!” I sighed, holding my hands out over the heating stones as Lou wound her way around and through my feet. Diana purred loudly from her favorite spot on the couch.

Lear sat beside my little familiar, stroking her fur gently. “Indeed.”

It was quiet for a few moments.

“I know you said you needed some time to process everything we learned, but do you mind if I try to get more information from the books today?”

I blinked “I don’t mind.”

“I don’t have to.”

“No, I promise it’s okay.” I shook my head, “Just…if you find anything new, maybe…feed it to me slowly, in small bits. Is that okay?”

He smiled. “Of course.”