Robert hart

Willow was Always Ours – Excerpt from Twice Born

When I came to the Glen, I couldn’t see Willow.

Sapphire appeared. “Thomas, we are sad. We are exposed. Another human knows an entrance to our tree.”

“I am so sorry!” I said, “He just barged in…”

Sapphire interrupted. “…and he found the village. We are now in peril, Thomas. He will tell his friends about us. Your mistake has placed us in danger. Your first promise is broken.”

“But, I helped save you from the flood. You saved Willow from drowning in the river. We protected each other. Does that count for nothing?”

“It counts for more than you know, Thomas, but we are now exposed and open to human curiosity, which can only lead to destruction. The love and trust we have between us can no longer prevent that. It is done.”

“I understand,” I said. I hung my head.

“This day, will you keep your second promise? Will you pass your writing to Willow?”

“I will.”

“She will be able to read the Journal in ten years on MayDay when she comes of age. She will then know all that you know, and later, so will all the generations of human kind. Now, will you keep your third promise, Thomas?”

She gestured to my chair, to the pennywort leaf on the arm. 

I reached for it.

She looked to where a toad was sitting in the shade. The toad turned into a swarm of Faeries and flew into the trees.

I took up the leaf and stared at my last gift of Faerie honey. I looked at the Toad, which had returned.

Sapphire smiled kindly at me. 

“Thank you, Thomas, for all you have done for us. We must leave now.  We will miss you and Naomi, but our work is done here.”

“And Willow?”

“She has always been ours, Thomas. You know this. We told you. We danced her into life. We gave her a name. We gave her Faerie gifts. She will be with us always.”

“You mean you will take her away?”

What a stupid bloody fool! I’ve been tricked. This is what they wanted all along – to take Willow from us!

“You can’t!” I shouted.

“Thomas, Thomas, my lovely friend, there is no trick.“

“Willow was always ours, from the moment she was conceived. Remember, you even gifted her back to us of your own free will.” She held the tiny photograph I gave her of Willow and turned it towards me.

Oh, you idiot, Tom! You gave her away! Your Daisy, your Willow. You clever bloody Faerie! I crumpled to the ground and buried my head in my hands.