The Druids Embrace

Lila swiped angrily at the tears trickling down her flushed cheeks as she ran through the forest. The thick underbrush pulled at her skirts and scratched at her arms and legs. But she didn't care, Lila just wanted to get away from the village and her uncle. Lila had been eight years old when she had come to live with her Uncle Laurent and his wife Celia. They already had two children of their own a boy Regan who was a few years older than Lila and a daughter Ashlin who was only a year older than Lila.

The family had always treated Lila like a burden to them, and it was some great charity that they had taken her in after her parents had died in a sickness that had ravaged their village. Treated more like a servant than a family member, Lila was given the majority of the household chores while Ashlin was taught how to be a proper Lady and run a household. Which meant learning how to order Lila around, a lesson Ashlin took great pleasure in learning.

It was spring, and Lila was of an age where spring meant courting season. Young men and women paraded around town in their finest, with the hopes of catching the eye of someone eligible and suitable for marriage. While behind closed doors the Patriarchs of the village made deals to marry off their daughters and female relatives to those who would advance their families wealth and standing. While love matches did happen, Lila had not been given the chance to find someone.

Her Uncle Laurent had arranged for Lila to be wed to Horace Smyth. He was a boorish man twice Lila's age and had been married twice already. His first wife had passed during childbirth, the second had run off with a passing adventurer, or so the rumors told. He made Lila's skin crawl whenever her leered at her from his shop window. Laurent had seized the opportunity to make a little extra gold in this match, and in his eyes, Lila should be grateful that she was to be matched to a wealthy merchant. Horrified at the thought of marrying the brute Lila had screamed her disgust at the idea and stormed out, running out the back gate and into the woods behind their house.

Lila didn't want to stop running until the village, was far behind her. She would get a job in another village and start a life that was her own. The thought of being free of her horrible family swelled her heart with joy, she closed her eyes for a moment living in the warmth that the thought of freedom would bring. It was in that brief moment that Lila slammed into something large and hard. She fell onto her back her eyes snapping open, thinking she had run into a tree. But that was not what she found when she looked up.

Lila hadn't crashed into a tree, but a man. He was tall and muscular with tattoos encircling his biceps. He looked down at Lila with curious green eyes and a slightly amused expression on his chiseled face. His hair was black and had been tied back with a leather cord. The sleeveless tunic he was wearing barely contained his muscular form.

"Where are you running to Little Bird?" He asked reaching out a hand to her. His voice was deep with a slight gravelly quality about it. Lila sat dumbly on the ground staring up at the bear of a man in front of her. Her heart was pounding against her ribcage as she caught her breath, her cheeks were flushed and streaked with tears. The stranger raised an eyebrow at her when she didn't answer his question.

"Are you hurt?" He asked crouching down so he was more at eye level. His green eyes looked Lila over, searching for injury. At length Lila shook her head.

"No I'm not hurt," She replied softly, her hazel eyes looking away from the handsome face in front of her.

"ah, she speaks. Does she have a name? Or shall I keep calling you Little Bird?" There was a tone of amusement in his voice as he watched Lila carefully.

"um...Lila..." She answered. He smiled and without another word easily pulled Lila to her feet as though she weighed little more than a leaf.

"Lila. I am Halbrand, why are you so far into the woods on your own? It's not the safest place to be, especially this close to dark." Halbrand said as a way to introduce himself. He reached forward and brushed a strand of auburn hair off Lila's face, she stepped back.

"You're out here." She said. Halbrand chuckled at her answer.

"True, but these woods are my home. I am a part of them and they are a part of me, and you didn't answer my question. Why are you out here on your own?"

"I was, uh just out for a walk..." She lied. Halbrand gave her a dubious look as he took in her disheveled appearance. Her was a mess, her cheeks were flushed and she had torn her dress somewhere along the way. Halbrand leaned against a tree and folded his massive arms.

"Just out for a walk, in the woods at near dusk..." He said holding her gaze. Lila fidgeted under the intense scrutiny and sighed with frustration.

"I was running away." She admitted and wiped her cheek with her sleeve and sniffed. Halbrands head tilted to the side waiting for further explanation.

"The Ceremony is tomorrow, and my Uncle has arranged a marriage for me... He's a cruel man and old and I don't want to be his third wife!" Lila blurted out, her chest heaving with emotion. A look of understanding crossed Halbrands chiseled features.

"Have you told your Uncle how you feel?" He asked.

"Yes! he told me I should be grateful that man of Horace Smyths standing even looks at a girl like me!" She said angrily, tears welling up in her hazel eyes again.

Halbrand resisted the sudden urge to pull the young woman into his arms and hold her. They were strangers and he didn't want to scare her.

"A girl like you? What does that mean?" He asked gently.

"I'm an orphan...my Uncle took me in when I was a child. I have no dowry, no real social standing except that my Uncle is reasonably wealthy. Without them I'd be on the street." She answered, though in her mind Lila wondered if she were better off living on the street as an urchin. She paced around the small clearing wanting to yell, scream,or hit something.

"And running away is your only solution?" He asked again.

"Yes! I either marry the old brute, run away or find someone of higher standing who is willing to marry me instead. And since the ceremony is tomorrow, that is unlikely to happen." Lila vented to Halbrand.

"Well running away is not the answer. You have no food, water or warm clothes. The next town is a days' walk at least, longer if you don't follow the road." He said pointing out the flaws on her plan. She glared at him. When she was mad, he could see the tiny flecks of gold in her hazel eyes. He tried not to smile.

"You would have me marry him then?" She accused. Halbrand held up both hands to fend off her anger.

"Not at all, I just know that running away unprepared is not the answer." He replied evenly.

"Are you going to marry me then?" She asked putting her hands on her slender waist. He chuckled.

"You would marry a stranger over this Horace person? I could be far worse than the brute you describe." He said in a low voice. A worried look crossed Lila's face as the realisation hit her that Halbrand could indeed worse than Horace Symth. She stepped back.

"You have nothing to fear Little Bird, I will not harm you. I will however guide you back to your village. I meant it when I said that the woods are no place for a person unprepared." Halbrand said in a soothing tone, and he could see Lila relax. He stepped forward placed a hand at the small of her back and started to guide her back toward the village.

"I can't go back there...please..." She whispered her voice cracking a little, she walked with him anyway, he wasn't really giving her a choice in the matter.

"It's not safe for you here, you would make a fine meal for a pack of wolves, hungry after a hard winter." At the mention of wolves, Lila stepped a little closer to Halbrand, she could feel his warmth radiating through his tanned skin. He smiled as she stepped closer and it took great effort to not wrap his arm around her and pull her against him.

"Aren't you worried they will make a meal out of you...I bet you'd feed a whole pack and then some.." Lila said looking over Halbrands impressive frame. He laughed, a deep rumbling laugh that seemed to echo throughout the quiet of the woods.

"They will not harm me Little Bird, do not fear." He replied as they walked.

It was almost full dark when they reached the edge of the woods and Lila could easily see the village and the many lanterns twinkling in the windows. She could see her home, or her Uncles home from where they stood. Her heart sank into the pit of her stomach at what lay ahead when she went back to that house. She looked down at her shoes, holding back the tears. Halbrand sensed her fear and sadness. He stepped in front of her, and lifted her chin with a finger so she would meet his gaze. He brushed the hair from her face tenderly. Lila felt a thrill run down her spine at his touch.

"Do not fear Little Bird, your fate is not yet sealed in stone. Go now to your home, tomorrow may yet bring what you desire." He spoke softly, still holding her chin in his hand. For a moment Lila was lost in his touch and his eyes. She blushed realizing that she had been staring, he smiled at the delightful shade of pink on her cheeks.

With a nod, Halbrand stepped away from Lila and reluctantly she turned away and headed for home with her head bowed. Lila turned back toward the wood as she reached the gate and searched for Halbrand. She could no longer see him but she could feel his gaze following her.With a sigh she slowly walked to the house and braced for what was to come.