Subj:The Diary Of Victor North Pt.7
Date: 4/24/99 9:39:20 AM Central Daylight Time
From: marcos1
Josette sat nibbling bits of Foxglove flower. She felt terrible, her head was pounding, sounds from the surrounding forest echoed—painfully. She swore to herself, ‘no more spring water. No matter how good it makes me feel—getting drunk and having such a painful hangover-simply isn’t worth it.’
“Good morning,” Nicholas Blair said, walking into the clearing. He narrowed his eyes. “I know that you must be feeling ill.” He reached into his handbag. “Here is a bit of hermetic powder. It should make you feel better.” Josette started to fly over to him, but Nicholas put the powder, back into his bag. “Oh, there is no need to actually take the powder. It can heal from a distance." He sat down and stared into the campfire. “Angelique can take my powers away, but she can’t take my knowledge of simple healing and herbs.”
“And so it is true, Monsieur,” Josette said, “my former handmaid, has taken away all of your powers.”
“Very,” Nicholas replied, “but I seek help, most especially yours.”
“How?” asked Josette.
“Yes, how,” echoed Barnabas and Eliot, who were returning from Eliot's morning walk. The bulldog felt so much better, having found his favorite tree.
“There is a tree in the woods near here,” Nicholas said, “it holds great magic and power, for it is the home to The Lord of the pines. And it has the power to reverse the spell cast upon me by Angelique.” He arched his brow. “But there are two problems: first we have to find it, which won’t be easy, in such a large forest, secondly the Lord, does not like mortals and would probably refuse any request.”
“So that’s that,” Barnabas said, “Blair, you may as well get used to the idea of being mortal.” He smiled, “growing old isn’t so bad.”
“Mr.Collins,” Nicholas said, “your humor never ceases to amuse. But there is a solution to both problems. The Lord Of The Pines has a particular fondness for fairies.” He smiled. “Miss Josette, will you help me? In return, I will aid your battle against Angelique and her evil minions. I am a powerful warlock with my powers restored.”
“Very well,” Josette replied. “It would appear that we have very little choice, Monsieur. We do need help fighting Angelique. I will take your offer in good faith.”
Barnabas was full of rage. The small gnome started to walk in circles, causing the grass to wither, as he walked so fast. “I don’t trust you, Blair. You had better not be lying to us...or I swear,”
~~~
There was a cottage, nearby. It was the home of the Evan’s family, Sam and his daughter Maggie. Sam was blind. He had been blinded by an evil witch passing through many years ago. He loved his daughter, but feared that she would ever leave him. He soothed this fear with a lie.
“Am I really so ugly?” Maggie asked, “That no one would ever love me.”
“I will always love you,” Sam said, “but it would be better, if you never venture from these woods...people in the village, can sometimes be cruel. They would not see the beauty...that I see.”
Later that day, Maggie went to her special place. It was a tree, a stone pine, tall and very ancient. She brought a bouquet of rose petals and put it at the base of the tree. “Lovely tree, my only friend. I call upon you and seek to share a special wish.” Maggie said this, tears falling from her eyes, “I only seek to be loved. Please let me find someone...someone that would think I’m beautiful...and love me.” She fell at the base of the tree, sobbing.
The stone pine stood firm, but it’s needle-like foliage began to shake, as a gust of wind blew in from the East. It was the winds of change.
To be continued—