Midwinter's Dream

[Tehya]

Midwinter's Dream

Long ago, but soon enough for an elf’s life span she escaped the Inn bruised, and clothing ripped from her body. A thief followed her into the woods to steal whatever he could, virtue, clothes, or money, and watched her from above in the trees near a stream.

Tehya’s hair looked like spun gold so soft and fine, the color of wheat blowing in the summer sun, and eyes that would envy the cornflowers bursting through the glitter of summer lights. She walked to the stream to wash off the grime and ease the bruises on her body. Above in the trees the man dressed in black watched her every move. Dark eyes never left the female elf kneeling by the stream washing off, and something changed that night for both of them.

With a jump he landed to kneel beside her, fear rushed through the elf who just escaped severe abuse by fate’s hand alone. Was she to be assaulted again, the man looked fearsome enough? He didn’t touch her, even though he may have longed to have her flesh against his. Instead he looked inside a shabby dirty bag he had slung over his shoulder.

It was Midwinter and the only promise either of them had was tucked silently in their hearts. He knelt beside her and removed his black gloves to dip his hand into the water and wash the smears of blood from the scratch on her cheek, but he never once smiled at her. She let him soothe the pain, and felt him take his hand to pull her ripped dress up to cover those beautiful breasts which pushed up from her bra.

Oh desire was there, the thief always took what he wanted, but there was the same longing in both their hearts. He asked her what she wanted in life. Her only answer was, “to find my dream.” Now words like coming from a bard’s lips were masked, that could mean anything from riches, or to become famed in their words and song.

He emptied the bag on the ground beside the stream… useless things cloth, tin, and some string. He took her hand and whispered against her ear.

“Then let us build this dream together.”

He had strong hands, weathered from being outside so much, and he twisted the tin into a ship’s shape, and then handed her the cloth and string. They had enough to make two ships, and she was well versed in how to use cloth, taking it and making the sails secured by string. She wasn’t sure why they were making ships, but it served a better purpose than performing in the Inn, and possibly finding herself upon the slave poles.

Hours past, and the night grew darker their only light the full moon above. When the ships were completed he took her ship and put it in her hand.

“Let your ship sail down the stream, and someday when it sails back to you, then you will find your dream.”

The tiny tin ship wobbled in the water, but then righted itself to sail down the stream. He set his off behind hers. Both of them watched as the two tin ships disappeared into the darkness.

Tehya made her wish that night, silent as it was, and never spoke of it, as did the thief. They held hands making their wish hoping someday when their tin ship returned their dreams would come true. Five years later the thief’s ship sailed back to him and beside the stream a woman with almond shaped eyes bent down to hand it to him. He left the stream hand in hand with the woman, and a small gray cat followed tail up, his dream came true.

But to this day Tehya still walks to the small stream by the Inn waiting for her tin ship to return. She told one person this tale, maybe linked to her dream, not many would know of her inner feelings from the usual ambitious and talkative bard. To this day her story remains on parchment tucked inside her vanity drawer in the palace.