Crystal Pieces of Fantasy Read online

  “I never saw my father nor my mother after that night. For days, I walked through the woods and searched for traces of them, but found nothing. I had learned from my father how to use herbs and roots that grow in the woods, which plants and fruits are not poisonous, and which are good to eat and treat illnesses and wounds. That is the way I have lived alone all these years. The only person who comes here to see me two or three times a year is the old woman.”

  Evkar told the story as it was paining him, and Delaida went to him and stroked his face.

  “I’m sorry your life was so bitter, Evkar,” she said, looking gently at him.

  After dinner, Delaida lay calmly on the bed of straw, and Evkar went outside. The night was pleasant and brought a fresh morning. She was awakened by the scent of food. They had breakfast and, after that, headed to the lake. When they arrived there, Evkar gave her privacy and sat not far away while she was bathing. Delaida felt protected, knowing he was nearby.

  After she went out of the water, Evkar moved a little closer to her. Delaida felt she wanted to embrace him, but refrained to do so. Evkar also looked stirred by the same emotion.

  The days went by, Evkar was taking good care of her. Affection was born and started to grow between them. They began to go out to the forest for herbs, prepare meals together, and laugh together. The barriers fell and both of them wanted to move forward to the next stage after friendship. He was a strong young man, and she was an attractive woman. But they still held back.

  One night, Delaida stayed alone in the room, while Evkar went to get water from the well, which was not far away. It took him quite long, and she began to worry about him. Finally, he appeared, left the bucket of water, closed the door, and spoke:

  “Delaida, I don’t know how it happened that our paths crossed,” he began, “I lived alone for ten years, and I thought I was going to be alone for the rest of my life. But you appeared in my life and it changed completely. Now I want to be with you, I want you to never leave. Please stay with me…”

  It was such an intense moment, a turning point in both of their lives. Delaida listened with excitement. She came to him, gently caressed his face and hugged him. This embrace was full of passion and comfort. Now she could hear Evkar’s breathing, she felt the warmth of his hands on her shoulders; then, he slowly moved his palms down her body and rested them on her hips. She was perfectly happy with his touch and stood on her toes for the first kiss they shared.

  The Hunter returned to the forest with a group of men from his tribe. They hunted for food, but they also killed animals just for the fun of it.

  It was early morning when the Hunter saw the old woman who had been to Evkar’s hut for herbs and was now walking slowly down the mountain path towards the town. He and his hunting party surrounded her. All these fierce warriors on their strong horses looked sinister and the woman was terrified.

  “Where do you come from, old hag,” commanded the Hunter, eyeing her with his fierce glance.

  “I was picking herbs in the woods,” answered the old woman, pale with fear.

  “You’ve gotten quite far for such an old woman,” the Hunter said, “is there anyone else with you?”

  “I came here alone, away in the mountains, to pick herbs near the lake,” she repeated, not knowing she was giving away the place where Evkar lived.

  “I didn’t know there was a lake in this mountain,” said the Hunter.

  “It is just a small lake,” she said in a shaking voice.

  And then the old woman tried to leave, but two horsemen stood in her way.

  “Let her go,” said the Hunter, and motioned to his people to follow him.

  His instinct of a pursuer told him there was something about the lake the old woman was trying to hide. He and the other horsemen broke into a gallop towards it. They reached the lake when it was already dark. The Hunter ordered them to make a fire and roast the game, and he went on his own to explore the vicinity. The sounds of wild animals and the howling of wolves increased the thrill of pursuing something unknown.

  Evkar and Delaida were in the hut and did not suspect that danger was approaching. It was already completely dark when the Hunter saw a faint crack of light in the distance. He found the hut and within a few minutes, he stood in front of it. He heard the voices of a man and a woman inside. Suddenly, the Hunter heard a growl near him and barely managed to turn around when a wolf leaped at him and buried its teeth in his hand. He managed to get his knife out and cut the wolf’s throat, and the animal fell down, whining helplessly. Evkar heard an unusual sound and knew something was not right, so he motioned to Delaida to stay in the hut, and he went out with a torch in his hand. He found the dead animal in front of the house, but there was no one around.

  Evkar knew that the hut was found by one of the Houdi people, who had killed the wolf and had left for now. But he would, without a doubt, come back.

  That night would be the last Evkar was going to spend in the hut. Early in the morning, he and Delaida would head east through the mountains, to seek a new shelter.

  The Hunter returned to his men. Blood ran down his hand, and he wrapped his wound with some cloth. He would come back to the hut the next day and this time he would not just stand outside.

  When Delaida saw the dead wolf, she somehow felt the Hunter was nearby. Neither she nor Evkar was able to sleep that night, but they lay close to each other, tangled in a tight embrace. Whatever happened to them, they were already together, and they were ready to meet even death. Before the sun rose, they gathered what they would need for the journey and started on their way through the mountains.

  The Hunter sent his men to the city, and although the wound on his hand was deep, he climbed onto his horse and went to the hut. He broke the door and saw that there was no one inside. He examined the objects left inside and smelled the straw on the bed. This smell was familiar. He had not found Delaida’s dead body in the woods when he returned before, and now he was sure she was alive.

  He started pursuing her again.

  Some years ago, Evkar had built a hidden shelter in a few hours’ walk from the hut. He had dug a tunnel leading to an underground cave that was large enough to accommodate two people. He had brought in everything needed for surviving. There were blankets on the ground to sleep on, and even a small table and wooden utensils. On the other side, there was a second tunnel that could be used in case of danger. Since they weren’t far ahead from the Hunter, Evkar decided they should stay in the underground hiding place until the enemy passed them by.

  Delaida was shaking, chills running down her body. She felt like a deer chased by a pack of wolves, but having Evkar beside her gave her strength to move forward. Now their once separate lives had become one.

  “You are no longer alone, Delaida, I will do everything in my power to protect you.” Evkar hugged her hard and kissed her forehead. “Before I met you, I didn’t know how lonely I was. Now you are my life and even if I have just one day left, I’ll be happy to live it with you.”

  So, they promised to stay together, whatever may happen to them.

  They stayed in the underground hiding place for two days. Then they ran out of food and had to continue their journey. Evkar wanted to go out early at sunrise, and hunt some small animal down by himself, but Delaida didn’t want to leave him alone. Evkar went out first and reached for Delaida’s hand. She felt as if her heart was going to burst, as if an arrow would suddenly spring out of somewhere and pierce Evkar’s or her own body. They looked around, but there was no one outside. Then they headed up the mountains where the great river flowed.

  There, Evkar caught some fish and started a fire to roast it. The two sat down for a very short time, just to have a quick breakfast. He put two fish in his bag, so they wouldn’t have to stop for hunting or fishing later. Then they had to cross the river, but they did not have a boat. The place was quite desolate and there was no one nearby. During his many years of solitude, Evkar had come here many times and had built a small
raft which he had buried purposely, and now it proved quite useful. He and Delaida get onto the raft and started sailing, but when they were in the middle of the river, they saw the Hunter standing at the spot they had set off from.

  He stood on the shore and stared at them. Delaida saw him first and squeezed Evkar’s hand hard. Tears sprang to her eyes and she looked at him helplessly. He glared at the Hunter who had already lifted the bow and directed it toward them, and he told Delaida to swiftly jump into the river and catch the board of the raft. The two of them jumped, and at that moment, two arrows flew over their heads. They had to swim the rest of the distance to the other side, clutching the rim of the raft and looking back to the Hunter. The water was ice cold, and when they arrived on the opposite bank, Delaida passed out on the ground.

  Evkar cupped her face in his hands and tried to wake her up, calling her name. Then he carried her up the slope, stripped off her wet clothes, covered her with autumn leaves to warm her up and set a fire next to her. He took off his own clothes and left them by the fire to dry. Then he lay beside her, embracing her to warm up her body with his. A few hours later, she woke up and asked him what had happened after they arrived on the opposite bank. He explained that she had lost consciousness and that despite the ordeal they were now safe.

  “The Hunter will not be able to follow us until he makes a raft himself, and he will need at least one day for that. We'll head east where there's a small town at the foot of the mountains. We will stay there for a few days,” Evkar said, stroking her face.

  They spent the night at this place, and the next day they set off again. They were walking fast, and though their bodies were tired, their willpower made them continue their escape without allowing longer breaks. In the evening, they lay side by side and kept themselves warm by clinging their bodies together.

  Four days later, they saw the city in the distance. They were only a few hours away.

  The two stood, facing each other, held their hands and looked into each other’s eyes.

  “Evkar, I would not have survived without you,” Delaida said, her eyes filling with tears.

  “I feel as if I’ve been preparing for our escape my entire lifetime,” Evkar said, and leaned in to kiss her. It was then when he heard the footsteps and instinctively stood before Delaida. This move saved her from being shot in the heart, but Evkar was hit on the shoulder. Delaida fell silent, but seeing the man, who was now dearer to her than her own life, with a poisoned arrow in his flesh, a blazing fire violently roared through her, and she felt a surge of power.

  Even though Evkar was a tall and strong man, the poison of the arrow that dug deeply in his shoulder would spread soon and weaken him. Delaida shrieked and ran to the nearby tree that the Hunter had used as a cover. She was running in zigzag so she would confuse him and he could not aim directly at her. Evkar swayed, but was still conscious; he trod after her. She reached the Hunter, who did not expect his ‘prey’ to attack him, and managed to grab him by the neck. She clutched with all her strength. The Hunter was much stronger than she was, and if Evkar was not near, he would break her in a few moments, but Evkar had found a heavy piece of wood and now swung it in his hand, and when the Hunter caught her by the neck and knocked her down, Evkar hit him on head, hard.

  The Hunter turned his head and looked at him with a furious look. Evkar hit him once more, and blood flowed from the Hunter’s ear. Evkar swayed, the poison already clouding his mind and vision, carrying him away. He dropped the piece of wood and began to fight with the Hunter, whose hand was still wounded by the wolf bite. The two men fought fiercely. Delaida had come to her senses and went behind Evkar, then pulled the arrow out of his shoulder. He screamed from the severe pain, and gripped the Hunter even harder. But this effort depleted his forces completely, and the Hunter knocked him down on the ground. Delaida threw herself at the Hunter and thrust the arrow, which had stabbed Evkar, into the Hunter’s neck. He turned to her and looked at her with the savage gaze of a dying predator. He pulled the arrow out of his neck, but it opened a deep wound and the Hunter lost too much blood. He was defeated, and Delaida watched her assassin die from the arrow he had aimed at her.

  Evkar barely moved and Delaida got really scared. She approached him and said,

  “Tell me what is the healing herb for this poison and where to find it!” she screamed desperately.

  “Whether I stay alive or die, I want you to know that I love you,” said Evkar, who was almost unconscious.

  “Tell me what the herb is,” Delaida shouted, shaking Evkar. He whispered in Delaida’s ear the name of the herb, and fell unconscious.

  Delaida saw Evkar’s eyes close. She felt a new surge of power and began to look for the herb that Evkar told her to use. She knew what it looked like, and that it could be found near rivers or lakes, so she furiously began to run, looking for the plant.

  Delaida wandered and searched for a nearby stream or lake. She had come so far away into the woods that she did not know if she could find the way back, and that frightened her.

  She fell to the ground and had the feeling that her heart would jump out of her chest when she saw a young deer going east. She stood quietly and began to follow it. Not long after, the deer had led her to a clear stream, and Delaida rushed along its brink to seek the herb. Near the small waterfall, there was a large tree wrapped in ivy. She went to it and there, at its roots, she found the healing plant. She picked some of it and then drank from the water thirstily before she rushed back down the forest, sweating all over.

  It was almost dark, and she could see the sunset going down under the horizon. The journey back seemed endless, and there somewhere lay the man she loved, the man who had saved her life. Delaida didn’t stop for a break, and as the time passed it was getting colder. She started shivering, chills ran down her body. All the trees in the woods looked the same, and she was confused where to go. She wished that it was just a bad dream and she would wake up sooner. She had no other choice but to follow her heart and it led her to Evkar.

  It was already dark when she got back and threw her arms around him. She felt his body was getting colder and began to squeeze the herb through tears. She gently put a few of its leaves over the wound and then started a fire. She pressed a piece of burning wood to the wound to mix the herb with the fresh blood. Now all she could do was to wait. She lay down by the fire beside Evkar, closing her tired eyes.

  The sun was on the horizon when Delaida felt a warm hand embracing her. She turned and saw Evkar’s pleasant face, slightly smiling. She smiled back.

  The Frozen Prince

  There once was a kingdom far away at the end of the world where eternal winter reigned. Snow covered the earth and the streets were made out of ice. Trees covered in hoar frost and thousands of snowflakes resembled works of art, which nature had formed according to its own taste.

  In this kingdom, even the people had hearts of ice. Nobody could feel deep or warm feelings, and love was something like a legend of times long gone.

  In a tiny little house on the edge of town lived a small family, man and wife together with their daughter Deria, who was the only wealth they had.

  On a particularly frosty day, when a furious and pitiless wind was blowing, Deria had been caught out in the snowstorm, and was seeking a place where she could hide. Threatened by strong winds, Deria felt frost start to cover her face and eyes. She sought shelter at an icy door, which had attracted her attention. The door opened to a tunnel where she had never been before. Deria leaned on the door, opened it slightly and looked around, but she couldn’t see anything in the darkness. She wondered where the tunnel might lead. A few snowflakes coming from inside the tunnel fell on her face.

  The pathway must lead somewhere, she thought and decided to solve the riddle. So, she made a few steps and soon saw light before her. As she got further through the tunnel, she noticed that there were increasingly more snowflakes blowing past. After a few moments, Deria saw that she had reached a frozen garden. She h
ad not known anything about the existence of this place. As a child, with her friends she was discovering and exploring many secret places, and she knew all hidden things of the kingdom, but never had she gotten into this garden. Neither had anybody talked to her about it.

  A beautiful tree was situated in the middle. The branches stretched out in an elegant way and there were little blossoms all over it. The tree admonished of past times, a forgotten spring. While Deria looked at the blossoms with interest and curiously absorbed every detail of the beautiful tree, her eyes stopped at something, which was to be seen behind it. There was a statue made out of ice. Deria went nearer and began to examine it. It was the statue of a young man, a beautiful piece of art. She couldn't stop looking at the masterfully made statue which seemed so real. Deria reached out her hand to touch the face of the young man and caressed his icy skin.

  That day she stayed in the hidden garden for hours. She came to her senses when it was nearly dark outside and her hands were freezing cold. Leaving the place, she saw that the blossoms on the tree had closed up.

  When she came home, her parents were angry. As people with frozen hearts, they did not have understanding for each other or for her. Deria was sad about that and felt in her heart that the way this world worked wasn’t right.

  She went into her little room and snuggled up under the blanket.

  The encounter with the frozen statue took hold of her thoughts entirely. She wanted to fall asleep quicker, so that tomorrow will come sooner and she could return to the mysterious garden. She closed her eyes and pictured the statue of the young man. Thoughts about him carried her into sweet sleep.

  Streets were covered in ice and children were sliding on them. People were wearing ice skates instead of shoes. Deria hurried to reach the tunnel and spent the day in the hidden garden, next to the statue. The garden had become her hiding place, where she could be in peace, far away from the cold-hearted people and where time seemed to have stopped. She could share her thoughts with the frozen prince as she called him, although he couldn’t talk back.