Queen of the Forest
"Why are you crying?"
Surprised at the high pitched voice, Peter's head shot up in search for the speaker. He had been alone only moments ago when he had fallen to his knees and yet here was this tiny voice questioning him. The water dripping from his face had come on suddenly and he hadn't expected someone to interrupt his grief.
What once was a surrounding expanse of trees had somehow magically changed without a sound. An impish creature stood above him atop a hill shining two blue eyes in the darkness surrounding them. The creature seemed to be made completely of a dark wood, like a three foot tree with twiggy little limbs. Leading up to it was a range of cracked steps wrapping around a stone carved face weeded with moss.
The imp tweaked it's little head like Peter's dog had liked to do when he whistled "Merry Had a Little Lamb." A deep pain shot through him like searing fire in his heart. What if he never made it home? What if he never saw his family again? He couldn't help but wonder if his parents would remember to feed his dog.
"Why are you crying?" The creature called softly again. Peter felt like he should be afraid of the little impish creature, but something about the thing made him feel safer than he had in a long time.
"My name is Renbar." It said with a slight bow, "You should come with me, sir."
"Where?" Peter asked sniffing back his tears and taking to his feet.
"Come. She is waiting for you."
Renbar turned swiftly away and disappeared on the other side of the hill. Peter was left alone again, only this time he wouldn't let himself cry. He was tired of feeling so helpless. Racing up the steps, Peter chased after Renbar. The smell of the forest completely encompassed him as he ran. It was all so strange and different. The sound of the black trees, the scent of cool grass--nothing was the same as Earth. The well had brought him here and he had no way back.
Skipping in a weave through the trees, Renbar left Peter running to keep up. The path they followed seemed to stretch on forever through the black forest. His eyes couldn't track of which direction they were going. It took all his concentration just to keep the little creature in sight.
"Wait!" Peter cried as he struggled to keep up. The great roots beneath his feet attacked him as he ran and within moments Renbar passed out of sight.
"Renbar!" Peter called, "Renbar!"
The forest seemed to soak up the words Peter had cried. The black trees gave no hint of understanding and Renbar was too far gone to hear him, but Peter kept running. He had no where else to go, no one else to turn to. Running seemed as good idea as any.
Finally, a root snagged his toe and Peter's legs were swept out from beneath him. He tumbled to the forest floor with a cry of pain. He rolled, elbowing himself hard in the ribs and causing his breath to fly from his lungs. Coughing and sputtering his pain, Peter ended up curled in a ball on the forest floor. He wanted to cry again. He was hurting all over his body and lost in a distant forest in an unknown land. What else could he do but cry?
Through his tear-soaked eyes, Peter saw a light appear brilliantly above him. He squinted up through his tears in an effort to find the source. He could tell it was a person by the silhouette surrounding it. Walking closer to him, the figure held out a hand. Shakily, Peter took it. He wasn't scared; just like Renbar, he felt a certain peace emanating from the person. Fear wasn't the reason he was shaking.
Peter looked into the face of the person that had pulled him up. Flowing blonde hair fell upon her white dress. He found that the light didn't hurt his eyes anymore, nor did it cast any shadows around him.
"Who are you?" Peter asked.
The woman only smiled, her brilliant blue eyes sparkling with joy. Something about the smile looked familiar. And those eyes... Peter knew those eyes. He had seen them his whole life. They were his eyes, but they were also....
"Mom?"
art by John-Paul Balmet
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