Sendri watched from the cover of the forest. Rumors, had reached her ear of men taking young women from the village by her home. Emerald Glade was a beautiful and harmonious forest meant to be safe and welcoming for everybody. This made her feel as if they were taking advantage of her home, not to mention made her skin crawl. Sendri's blue green eyes watched silently. She had been watching a group of what appeared to be hunters for three days now and they hadn't seen her. Of course, it was because she didn't want them to see her. Suddenly commotion drew her attention towards the glades entrance.
Moving closer, but still remaining unseen, Sendri watched as three men returned with three women each carrying a basket or bag. The women stood stunned as they looked around. "Where's the child?" One asked with black hair. "Where's your lady who needs a midwife?" Asked another with red hair. "You bastards!" Exclaimed a brunette as she grabbed a stick from the ground. Instantly men ran over from the encampment surrounding the women. Chaos erupted in Sendri's forest as she watched anger beginning to smoulder beneath her porcelain face.
The men went to grab the women as they faught back. The red haired woman screamed at them as she balled up her fists swinging wildly at the men. One bulky man with a beard tackled her to the ground a rope tying around her neck first. Control thought Sendri. Another man took a swift kick to his groin by the black haired vixen as he fell to the ground. Sendri celebrated the black haired lady's triumph silently as she watched him fall. Suddenly Sendri's happiness died in her throat as she saw two men replace the fallen man and subdue the black haired woman. Sendri smouldered in quiet anger, there were codes, rules and policy's against intervening in situations such as this.
The men then circled the brown haired woman who was wielding the stick like a quarterstaff. "Burg why did you get this one? Easy targets. I said. Could you not see the spirit in her?" Scuffed a black haired man. "Shes beautiful. Besides a challenge is fun every now and then. Rush her." Quickly a group of four rushed the brunette two taking sharp strikes from her stick one hit a man's head as he crumpled to ground. Another man fell clutching his throat as the brunette spun to attack the others. It was too late, two more replaced the fallen men as the brunette got hit hard with a swift punch in her stomach. She fell to ground in pain. "Curseded wretch. That wouldn't have happened if you had minded your manners" said the man who had her punched her in the stomach. He quickly binded her hands tying her up tightly as he pulled her from the ground. The other two women were tied and bound as well as Sendri watched them lead the women to large cages often used for live animal capture. The men threw two of the women into cages.
The man held the brunette back for a few moments as he lifted her gown exposing her creamy leg breifly. He tossed her to the ground then. "Let's have some fun with this wretch before we shove her into the cage" he said. Sendris eyes glowed orange enough was enough. An ear shattering crack echoed through the Glade. The men stopped and froze. "Witch!" Yelled the man who had tossed the woman to the ground. He drew his sword. "One thing I do to witches." He snapped as her approached her with his sword drawn. The woman tried to crawl away but his sword rose. "Keerrrchack" the sound echoed through emerald Glade as a vine erupted from the ground knocking the sword from the man's hand. It landed hilt up in the ground the tip buried in the dirt as he turned in the direction the vine erupted from.
Piercing orange eyes met his. Sendri was beautiful even in her anger. Living vines wrapped around her body concealing her from the men. Sendris loose hair was the color of honeywheat and it was speckled with mini roses that seemed to grow in her hair. "You've awoken the forest spirit!" Exclaimed a man as he started to run. "She's gonna kill us all!" He cried out. Sendri rose an ivory hand as a thick vine wrapped around the fleeing man's ankle yanking him into the sky holding him up. "Have mercy oh beautiful Forest Spirit" cried the man as he dangled helplessly in the sky.
"Never in my forest. Never by my village. Never anywhere." exclaimed Sendri as she emphasized every never and my that she spoke. Vines exploded from the ground then grabbing each man hoisting each one into the sky except the man in front of her who had thrown the woman to the ground. She grabbed him then, a living vine wrapping about his neck, pulling him just mear inches from her beautiful face and leaving him there to stare at her glowing orange eyes. "Your sentence..." She said as vines wrapped around his body wrapping around each arm and each leg. The man was speechless as if all the words had left his body. Fear pure unfiltered fear showed in his blue eyes. "Death....." The word was a soft whisper as she held him there. She lowered the man who had cried out for her mercy to the ground. "Let the women go." She told him not taking her gaze away from the man in front of her. "Yes oh mighty forest spirit." the man said as he started by releasing the brunette first untying her bindings.
"Hurry!" Sendri ordered as she heard him scamper to the cage, moments later the click of lock was music to her ears. With one last look at the man in front of her she walked away from him her vines still wrapped tightly around him. Small flowers trailed behind her as she moved but she had no focus at the moment to stop them from spreading so she just let them sprout in her footsteps. She watched as he untied the women. The three woman Sendri noticed were staring at her with awe and fear. They bowed their heads to Sendri. Stories of her she new floated all through the village and even further still. "Thank you Kind Forest Spirit." Said the red haired and the black haired woman. The brunette called her by a name of old. "Thank you Lady of the Forest"she said. Sendris eyes were still orange as she supressed her rage for a moment. "Go home." She told them as she pointed towards the city. "These men will never bother you or another woman here or anywhere again." She told them. They respectfully nodded their heads and ran not looking back.
Once the women were out of sight Sendri returned her attention on the man that still was entrapped by her vines the leader of the group she assumed. "Where were we?" She asked her voice soft and melodious. "Oh yes...Death" she whispered. Without a single thought or emotion the vines holding all of the men suddenly pulled apart killing every single man in his group including himself. They were ripped to shreds, to make seem as if they had gotten attacked by a pack of wolves. Her orange eyes dissipated as she paused a moment. Huddled by the cages was the lone man who had begged for her mercy. Her brow arched as she approached him. "Please Lady of the Forest. Please spare me, please." The man pleaded. Sendri looked at him with her blue green eyes. "You have my mercy." She told him. " But leave my lands at once. If I hear of any more disappearances in my lands again. I will find you and I will kill you." She told him. "Their deaths will seem easy compared to yours" she said threatening the man. "As you say, it shall be Lady of the Forest" he said bowing deeply to her before loosing his composure. She watched the man run out of the Forest. Her eyes then shifted to the massacre she had created. The wolves would clean it up.
Sendri jumped awake, curled inside a giant pink rose blossom her honey wheat hair decorated with flowers. It had been quite some time since she had killed those men in her forest that day. The memory of it still haunted her dreams, not always, just when she was close to forgetting. She took a deep breath inhaling the soft fragrance of the flower as she exhaled. She kept telling herself that she saved more lives then she took that day. Maybe she truly did but she still had broken the code. The very code that governed her kind, it was an unspoken vow. If a vow is never spoken is it still a vow?After every haunting nightmare of that night, the next morning shed ask herself the same question. She shook her head coming out of her thoughts.
"The past is the past."She muttered. The flower unfurled it's petals as Sendri stepped out of the flower bud. She watched as it sank, returning into the ground as if it had never been. Today Sendri was going to walk amongst the mortals as a vine held a map out to her. "Let's see." Sendri said out loud. Sendris blue green eyes studied it. "Ohhhh Eventide Vale" she said. There were rumors that it was a darker place. The city was large and in the very center of the Eventide Forest. An ancient castle set upon a plateau. Rumors circulated widely about exactly who or what resided inside the Castle and the Surrounding forest lands. The city itself she imagined on the surface seemed like any human city but she believed each city had undercurrents weather dark or light. It was altogether an intriguing adventure something that Sendri enjoyed. She smiled a soft smile as she looked down at the flowering vines concealing her figure. "Time to blend." She said as she was enfolded in flowering vines.
Sendri was released from the vines outside Emerald Vale, the village in the distance. She was well known here and deeply admired. Sendri tended the villages gardens and fields. She alone ensured these people always had a healthy harvest and plentiful bounty every year. She smiled she had grown fond of these humans. They had always been welcoming to her. She quickly crossed the paces towards the city focusing on not releasing her floral trail. "Lady of the Forest" They said as she passed by nodding their heads respectfully to her as they went about their daily lives. "Hello" Sendri said greeting each that spoke to her as if she were some high queen greeting her subjects. She wasn't at least that she knew of. They were her friends.
She swept into the seamstress's shop taking a sharp right pass the inn. "Good morning Vesperia" she said as she entered. A tall average looking woman looked up from her books. "Ahh. Good morning Lady Sendri." She said a pleasant smile upon her face. She rose. "The fields and gardens are looking so healthy and beautiful as always." She said to Sendri. "Plan on doing some traveling again Sendri?" Vesperia asked. "Of course, you know I enjoy my travels." Replied Sendri as Vesperia started moving around her shop. "What are you being this time?" She asked Sendri. "Just an average city woman." Sendri responded. "Where at?" Vesperia asked. "Eventide Vale" came Sendri's response.
Vesperia paused stopping what she was doing. "That's a very dark place Lady Sendri" said Vesperia. "You will stand out like a light in the darkness." She warned her as she went to a different section of her shop. Sendri had never in all her travels seen her open the chest in the corner. Vesperia pulled out a series of dresses. The first was a simple long dark dress made with simple fabric the sleeves were long and flowing. It was perfectly ordinary. The others were simple and basic but the last one was not. It was a black deeper then she had ever seen. The color started at the top the sleeves designed to hang off the shoulders as it shifted into a deep midnight blue. Tiny sparkling gems decorated the dress like stars sparkling in the sky. Sendri went to protest but was stopped by Vesperia.
"The castle residents pay close attention to all who come and go in their city. Your presence will not go unnoticed for long. You will be invited to the castle." She said. "I am insuring that you have gowns to wear on such an occasion." she said as she gathered some finery. "Hmmm" with a small smile she then grabbed a dress of the brightest blue. Flowers climbed the front weaving into an intricate pattern the same upon the flowing sleeves. The material was soft and slightly transparent but it was elegant and beautiful. Sendri simply stared it was beautiful. Vesperia gathered them all up placing them a trunk. "You will need a horse. If you mean to blend in as long as possible you need to act the part." She told her. Sendri sat then as they discussed what Eventide was like as it seem Eventide was Vesperia's home land.
Sendri returned home as the sun was begining to set over Emerald Glade. Sendri was walking with a toffee colored stallion burdened with her chest. It would take extra strength to vine travel with the horse and chest but Sendri must hold appearances. Vesperia had recommended Sendri stay at the Ebony Rose as Leviatha the innkeeper was a good friend of hers. Vesperia told Sendri that Leviathia kept a clean and beautiful inn and most of all kept her guests safe. They discussed that it would be odd for a woman to arrive without belongings and without a mount they also discussed Eventide and the layout. Sendri was so excited for tomorrow. Using her vines she wrapped them about the chest removing it from the horse. She smiled as the vines lowered the heavy chest. She would have to think of a name for the horse. She would sleep on it. She patted the horse gently animals naturally gravitated towards Sendri. She knew without a doubt the horse would stay with her. Her flower appeared from the ground as she climbed inside the petals closing around her. Within moments Sendri drifted asleep. Sendri was unfurled from her petaled bed before dawn. She was eagerly preparing her new stallion for the journey. The cost of transporting herself the chest and the horse would be taxing on her but something she was ready to do. She would travel to the forest that was nestled amongst the castle and the village before it. She patted the horse with a smile as she made her vines raise from the ground wrapping around the chest placing it securely on the horse. "It'll be okay boy" she said petting the horse. "It'll be fast and quick"
Sendri smiled as she raised her hands the ground rumbling as vines erupted from the earth. She climbed on the horse sitting upon his back as her vines wrapped around them. The vines enclosed around them as things shifted. Sendri could feel the energies of the Eventide Forest so linked to nature as she was. It was part of her and her part of it.
The vines carried Sendri as she let the energies lead her miles within minutes. Every tree, every plant, every flower was connected in the grand scheme of things. That connection was what gave Sendri her strength and traveling ability. Sendri traveled in silence upon her horse as the vines carried her and the horse across the lands. After an hour the vines unfurled.
Sendri came out of the vines sitting upon the horse as it trotted forward. Her blue green eyes looked around. The forest felt different almost surpressed, like something was trying to hide it's energy or feed off it. The city was inside very heart of the Eventide forest and overlooking the city was the castle that her friend had told her about. Finding the road took Sendri a few moments before she found its overgrown trail. She imagined the city didn't get a lot of visitors for the road to be as overgrown as this. She paused a brief moment, remembering that she not supposed to be here as a forest nymph but a mortal.
Sendri glance around quickly, finding no one nearby on the overgrown path, she pulled a green gown from the chest reaching behind her on the horse. She raised her arms and quickly pulled it on supressing her living vines. It took focus as she worked them into beautiful floral vine bracelets that encircled each of her wrists. She patted the horses neck affectionately as she smiled." Are you ready?" She asked the buttercream colored stallion as it neighed in response. She smiled and road in silence feeling the oppressive mood of the Forest around her as it attempted to suck her into a melancholy mood.
After about twenty minutes on the road the hidden forest nymph smiled as she saw people ahead of her walking. They were simply going about their lives carrying baskets of mushrooms most likely having just finished gathering them from the forest. They nodded to Sendri as the woman passed by on horseback a chest strapped across it's rump. Apparently noted Sendri as she nodded back visitor may actually in fact be common here as the two women didn't seem surprised or even curious about her. This will work perfectly thought Sendri as she entered the city in silence.
Once through the ivy gated wall that surrounded the city Sendri slowed her pace navigating the horse amongst the people in silence. People looked up at her as she passed. Homes and businesses lined the street, her eyes scanning the signs for the inn. Further up the street, on the right, Sendri saw a sign hanging in the shape of a black rose. Ebony Rose had been the name of the inn that Vesperia had recommended to her. Sendri dismounted her toffee stallion as a man by the door greeted her. "Hello Mistress. I am Dagmen" He said bowing deeply to Sendri. "Welcome to the Ebony Rose." His fist bangged upon the wood three times as the door opened. Two men appeared. "This is Nev he's our stable hand." He said as he gestured towards a muscular man with tan hair. Dagmen then gestured to the other. A dark haired man with a long sar upon his cheek. "This is Trenton he helps our guests with their luggage."
They bowed deeply to Sendri. Trenton then unlatched Sendri's chest from the toffee stallions back as he set it upon the ground. "If I may Mistress." He said as he lifted the massive chest with surprising ease. The other man Trenton took her beautiful stallion by the reigns. "Ill oversee his care for you Mistress while you are here." He said with a deep bow. Sendri smiled. "Thank you both"She said sweetly as she watched Nev take the stallion around the left side of the inn towards the stables. Dagmen bowed as he held open the door for her. "Once again Mistress welcome to the Ebony Rose" Sendri swept inside then the light falling upon her porcelain skin.
A round woman was behind a desk on the leftside of the inn. She curtsied when she saw Sendri. "Welcome to the Ebony Rose. Will you be taking a room Mistress?" Sendri smiled sweetly. "Yes please. My friend Vesperia said this is the best inn in the city." The woman's brown eyes lit up. "Vesperia? Ohhh she is my dear friend!" She exclaimed. "I get letters from her all the time. I am Leviatha." She said with a heart warming smile. Sendri couldn't help but return the smile. "I'm Sendri."she replied. Leviathia's brown eyes lit up as she bowed even deeper. "It is so great to finally meet you my Lady. Vesperia has told me how amazing you are" Sendri smiled. "She is a wonderful woman and a great friend."Sendri responded to her. Leviathia looked over at Trenton. "Take Lady Sendri to our best room. She will be staying with us on the house. Vesperia is her best friend" Trenton's eyes widen in recognition of the name. "Yes Madam." He turned to look at Sendri with an appraising gaze this time. This woman didn't seem to be much but if she was friends with Vesperia she had to be someone important."Follow me please Lady Sendri" he said as he lead her around the massive fireplace in the center of the inn.
They walked for a few minutes down a corridor before turning left walking to the end of the hall. There was a small staircase that lead up. He climbed the stair effortlessly carrying her chest as she followed behind him. It opened into a small corridor with a lone door at the end. Trenton set the chest down and pushed the door open. "This is our best room My Lady Sendri." He said as they walked in. "There is a balcony overlooking the pasture. You will be able to see your horse and others frolicking in the meadow below. There is a private bath and a small sitting room and bedroom." He said as he walked setting the chest down inside the bedroom. "If you need anything at all My Lady don't hesitate to ask anyone" "thank you" replied Sendri as he bowed to her and shut the door behind him, leaving Sendri alone to settle herself in.