Know
this: All forests are one and there are still the same spirits that
haunt and protect them as they have done for centuries and will
continue long past when you are dust. This is a tale of the great
forest and of the spirits that dwell there.
There
was once a young man called Richard Wroe. He was brought up the son
of a forester. Richard was a carefree, gentle and noble man (even
though he was, in truth, neither of these by title). Pure of spirit
and strong of mind, he was also brave and true.
Richard
would walk with his father; tend to the deer, pheasants and rabbits
with his father and fish the lake that lie near the centre of the
forest. He would set traps for the crafty fox, keep an eye out for
even craftier poachers and hunt for wolf, bear and boar. He would
pluck the pheasants and prepare the vegetables ready for supper. And
then in the evening he would explore the forest on his own, always
with quill and paper; for this was where he was different from his
father.
His
father was a practical man, born and bred to the forest. He had no
need for anything save his hands, his senses and his wit. He knew the
forest and it knew him and having lived there all his life he saw no
reason to write anything down. For him memory sufficed, not that
anyone would have cause to read it anyway. Richard, however,
possessed a quality that his father never had, and would have no use
for. Imagination was the reason that prompted the walks into the
forest, for there he would sit for hours on end, crafting such tales
as the “Boar Who Fell In Love With Its Shadow” in which the
lovelorn boar fell so deeply for his own shadow that he painfully
chewed it off, so it would become a mate for his life.
One
day Richard found himself in a stretch of the forest that he did not
recognise. He was sure that he knew every inch almost as well as his
father did. Indeed he had been on many a walk exploring the
boundaries, and right into the deepest, darkest heart, but this part
was not familiar to him.
There
were the same trees and fauna to be sure, but everything seemed
somehow different. There were shadows now where there had been none
before and there was an eerie buzzing that became louder the deeper
into the wood he walked. He placed his ear to the bark of a rather
statuesque oak and to his surprise the buzzing was intense and seemed
to emanate from within. He placed his hand on the tree to steady
himself and the buzzing stopped. When he took his hand away again the
buzzing returned. It was then that he realised that the buzzing came
from all around him –all the trees and bushes, each plant possessed
the same quality. But what was it?
“That
is the sound of the forest. It’s breathing… its heartbeat.”
Richard whirled round to address the voice that so suddenly startled
him. To this surprise the face that greeted his gaze did not match
the grizzled voice that shocked him. Judging by the voice Richard had
imagined the person to be a woman, very aged in years and bent in
stature; haggard and worn like a gnarled branch. But when he turned
round he was faced with a vision of such haunted beauty that he felt
a shiver traverse the very length of his spine and back.
“Why
does it stop so when I touch it?” He asked, hesitating. Was this
all just a dream?
“How
would you like to be prodded and poked?” The woman asked and with
that she jabbed Richard in the shoulder hard; she was real enough.
“Ow!
Not much at all, I don’t think!” Richard exclaimed.
“Know
you then how it feels. Now tell me, young Sir, what are you doing so
far out of your way? What are you doing in the Garden?”
“Garden?
What Garden?” Asked Richard.
“Garden…
of course it’s a garden!” The woman chastised. “Know you not a
garden when you see one?” This attitude did not suit the vision
that befell Richard, and he had a hard time from restraining himself.
He knew nothing of her and did not want to incur her displeasure by
losing his temper. She might be one of the Faey Folk and turn him
into a toadstool or something worse.
“I
thought I was in the forest still.” He replied, being very careful
and measured in his response. “Well, what I mean is… one minute I
was in the forest…”
“Forest..
Garden; makes no matter of mind. They are one of the same.”
“Pardon
me, then m’lady.” Richard asked hesitantly, “But who are you
that are so wise and beautiful?” The lady paused and stared at
Richard for what seemed like an age, and he felt as if she was
reading into his very soul.
“I
have had many names.” She replied. “But you may call me Helene of
the Green. It will do for now. And to anticipate your next question,
you are in the very heart of the forest, Sir Richard!” She smiled
and curtsied. Richard was bemused and somewhat taken back by this.
“But
my father and I have explored this forest, every inch and I have
certainly never spied this place before!”
“That
is not surprising, Sir.” She replied, with a wry smile on her lips.
“Few can ever find this place. Indeed not many people even know of
its existance; and those that do very rarely find their way back to
the mortal realms again.”
Richard
knew to be very wary now but needed to know more. “But where is
here?” He asked. “You said this place was a garden, then a forest
and now you say it is neither twixt nor twain. You have me at a
severe disadvantage.”
“Again,
I am not surprised. You men of mortal clay are so easy to be led
astray.”
Richard
was right to tread carefully; this was no ordinary lady, she could
very easily be one of the woodland nymphs; or a sprite. This made him
very afraid and more than ever he wanted to be home in the warm with
his father.
“You
are in the centre of the forest; indeed, in the heart of all the
forests that have ever been and will ever be! This is the Garden of
Eve.” Richard suddenly understood how much danger he was in and
what would happen to him if he couldn’t go home.
“Can
you help me then, dear Helene.” He asked, trying not to convey the
very urgency and fear that he held in every pore. “I want very much
to go home. My father is waiting for me and will be most angry with
me if I fail to return.”
“Your
father will forsake you in turn, and will forget you soon enough.”
She replied. “Come, stay with me; eat with me; drink and make love
with me and we will be immortal together.”
Richard
knew that he had to escape, at all costs he must not accept, let
alone eat or drink anything that was offered to him else he stay
there forever.
“I’m
afraid that I must decline, m’lady. You are too kind and I am much
too humble to accept such generous offers. But by truth, I have only
just eaten and am not yet thirsty.”
“Then
stay and we shall make love long into the night. Rest your troubles
between my thighs and I will warm your heart between my breasts.”
Helenes voice became vibrant and smoky, seductively hypnotic and
Richard found it almost impossible to look away. But look away he did
for it was his very soul that was at stake, yet it broke his heart to
do so.
“I’m
afraid that I must again refuse you. You are truly beautiful and as
fair as the morning dew, but my father would indeed forsake me if he
knew I had made love before my time.”
“Then
do not tell your father, dear Richard.”
“But
that would mean lying to him, and I could never do that. That would
mean incurring the wrath of God, not to mention the back of fathers
hand. I am a fearing Christian, but fear the stinging of his hand
more. So please, I must ask you a third time, show me the way home.”
Richard pleaded, hoping that his gamble had paid off.
“Very
well. If I can not entice you with my pleasures then, of course, home
you shall go. But we will meet again, mark me, we shall. Simply
follow the path out of the clearing and you will find yourself by
your fathers hut.” Richard found it hard not to be relieved.
“Thank
you, m’lady. You have done me a great service, and you must forgive
me for rejecting you three times. I am not worthy of your charms and
beauty. I must simply be getting home.” With that, Richard slowly
turned and followed the path out of the clearing. Sure enough he
found himself in the wood outside his fathers hut and as he left the
woods he heard Helene’s whispered words: “We shall meet again;
mark me, we shall meet again.”
Time
happened, as it does, and Richard found himself older, wiser and with
wife, Mary. Mary was as sweet as the mornings due, with hair as
golden as buttercups in the summers sun. Richard loved her as much as
the Earth, heaven and stars love the sky. But he never once told her
of the walk through the Garden of Eve, nor of Helene though he
thought of it every day.
More
time passed, and if such a thing were possible outside of stories and
sonnets Richard became happier and happier with each day that went
by, and he loved Mary more with each minute that tick-tocked by. They
loved spending time together and especially enjoyed walking through
the woods, hand in hand.
Richard
had since moved away from his Father years since but he was still
very much a forester. He was also a farmer and grew the crops that
helped feed the village and make the local bread. But no matter how
busy his day, he always made time to walk in the woods with Mary. The
woods were smaller than those of his childhood to be sure, but they
were still large enough for the pair of them.
One
fine day in the middle of June, Richard found himself in a plaintive
mood and he told Mary of the woods he had known as a boy.
“Of
course, all woods were originally one, you know.” He said, waxing
as lyrical as he could muster. He knew that Mary loved his tall
stories. “Oh yes, when the world was very young there was only one
forest. It was a great expanse of bracken and trees that stretched as
far as the eye could see in all directions. But it wasn’t known
either as a wood or a forest, it was called The Garden Of Eve!”
“The
Garden of Eve?” Mary chided, digging Richard in the ribs with her
elbow, smiling all the while. “Don’t you mean the Garden of
Ed...” Mary’s voice was suddenly cut cold, indeed her whole body
became frozen like an ice sculpture. Richard looked around and saw
that nothing was moving, the whole of time around him had been locked
in place. He knew instantly what was happening. The voice that
suddenly came from behind him further strengthening the fear that was
welling up.
“Told
you we’d meet again, did I not Sir Richard? What say you now?” It
was indeed Helene, looking more beautiful, more radiant than ever.
This time he had not only his life to think about but also Marys as
well.
“Well
met, sweet Helene. Time it seems has been far kinder to you than it
has to me.” He bowed, mustering up as much gallantry as he could
manage. “You seem not to have aged at all since we last met and
that was at least ten years ago!”
“Pah.”
She chided. “Time! You of mortal clay are a funny sort. What need I
of time? You think that we age the same as you?”
“Why
then have you bought me here again, Lady Helene? It has been ten
years since we last met, what could I possibye do for you now?”
Richard was anxious to be away and in Mary’s arms, for as each
minute passed he was finding himself falling deeper in love with
Helene, as he had before.
That
he was no longer in love with Mary was not in doubt, for his sun rose
and set with her. What was hanging in the balance was what would
become of him if he did fall in love with Helene. Would he be her
slave for all eternity? Possibly, but then there were worse fates for
him. His father had often told him that mortals and Faey folk were
ne’er to match.
Helene
answered as if the question was one that needn’t have been asked,
and Richard knew what the answer was however much he hoped it would
be different. “Why, I have bought you here so I can put to you the
same question I asked ten years back. Will you stay with me? Stay
with me, Richard. We can be so happy – I can make you happy. Eat
with me... drink with me.. Make love to me. We can be together for
all eternity.” It sounded to Richard as if she was pleading now for
him to stay, but he couldn’t. He loved Mary far too much.
“I
am afraid that I must decline once again. Your offer is far too
generous, and you are still very beautiful for such a humble man,
such as myself. But refuse you, I must, but with good reason. This
vision standing beside me? She is my one true love, my wife. I would
not leave her alone in all the world.”
“But
stay with me. We could be happy…” Helen protested. “We could be
forever, and Mary would never even know you existed. I could make
that happen… she would be happy and fall in love with someone else,
whilst we would know eternity together.”
“It
is not for my kind to love and live with you.” Richard replied. He
now felt so much pity for Helene’s plight. “It is just not meant
to be. I can not leave her… If I were to leave her, who would show
her the way back? Who would look after her?”
“When
she wakes up she will find herself back in her own home, in her own
bed as if from a dream. She would not remember you. You would not
even have existed for her.. So please, for the last time, Richard…
Stay with me. It shall be as it was meant to.”
“I
must apologise for the last time then. Had I not met Mary maybe
things would have been different. But I love her and she truly loves
me. Let us be together.” Richard prayed that this would be enough
to make Helene understand.
“So
be it; I can not stop you.” She said, and turned away from him.
“Godspeed, Richard of the wood. Let you and your woman make your
way out of my clearing. She does indeed love you, more than you truly
know. I can feel it and it hurts me so. Go, so I can hurt no more.
Turn and walk whence you came.”
Richard
turned and led Mary out of the clearing, holding her by the hand. No
sooner had he reached his mill then Mary stirred back to life.
“..den..
What’s wrong?” Mary asked, as if nothing had happened. “Why are
you crying, Richard?”
A
year passed further and it was now winter. The harshest for many
years, perhaps the harshest of any year, but Richard’s heart was
far colder. He was searching blindly in the snow and wind, for he
knew now that he should never have left her that last time.
Desperation clutched at his heart and he realised that his quest was
in vain. He had travelled far, risked so much only to fail.
“Helene!”
He shouted out, pain and rage augmenting the despair in his voice.
“Helene!”
The forest echoed back as if in mockery of the futility of his
search.
“Have
you forsaken me now? I have returned to you. I need you.” He cried.
“You
were not there when I needed you.” The voice from behind startled
him. When he turned round he realised he was back in the clearing
again though it was still snowing. He found himself looking into the
eyes of an aged stranger; haggard and worn with eyes weak and
squinting.
“no...”
Richard whispered. He had come so far; what had happened? “I have
come to be with you. To eat and drink and make love to you. We can be
together, like you said.”
“It
is too late for me; too late for you. You still have Mary, she loves
you so… I told you, go with her, be and make love to her.”
Richard
could not contain his grief any more. He collapsed to his knees,
buried his head in his hands and wept.
“My
wife? Oh, Mary! Why?” He cried. “She died six months since, in
childbirth. The boy was to be the first of three, and he survived…
but only for a time. Now I have nothing. With Mary gone I had not the
heart for anything. My crops have all failed and my mill fallen into
disrepair and ruin.”
Helene
said nothing for Richard was overcome by the deepest sorrow and
guilt. “When I was with you,” he continued, “I loved you,
wanted you… but was afraid of what I would have lost had I gone
with you. But I have nothing to lose now… Take me and I will be
yours for all eternity.”
“I
can no longer help you.” Helene replied, turning her back on
Richard. “I can not even help myself. Go now, leave this place. Do
not see me like this.”
“I
can not leave.. I belong here, with you. You said so yourself.”
“That
was a long time ago…” Helene replied, her voice weak.
“That
was but a year ago..”
“How
can you say it was but a year ago? You have never understood our
reckoning of time, my forgotten love… A year for you has passed but
for me it has been like an eternity. Since you last left me I have
aged. You were to join with me, for I had chosen you, and we would
have lived as one for all eternity. But you refused and now I shall
die. I have not the energy to join with you now even if I wanted to.”
“Then
take my energy.” Richard pleaded. “It is freely given, I want to
be with you, to join with you… To be one with you for all eternity
as it has always been and will always be!”
“You
are telling the truth.” Helene turned to him. “You would still
join with me though I am not as I was?” Tears were welling in her
eyes, matching those that mirrored Richards.
“I
still see you as the haunting and beautiful vision that bewitched me
as a child all those years ago.” And in front of his very eyes
Helene’s outline shivered and she changed from the withered crone
to that very goddess Richard saw when he was a boy. “To me you have
not changed.”
“Then
take my hand, Richard of the Wood, and we shall be together. We shall
join as it was meant to be.”
There
are those that say that all forests were once one; that all woodland
were once part of something much bigger; that there is a place in
every wood that belonged to that first Garden. But those trees are
almost indistinguishable from any others.
However
there is one tree that stands as proud and true as could possibly be,
and if you look closely enough it would seem that it was shaped like
two lovers in a passionate embrace for all eternity.
But
that is impossible…. It’s just a tree after all, isn’t it?
1 comment:
really really good ,well done my son
Post a Comment