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Little Black Book

Asha's Freedom

By Kayla IngvardsenPublished 3 years ago 10 min read
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Photo by Kayla Ingvardsen

He was not a bad husband, but Asha did not love him. Nor he, her. She was a child in his eyes. He an old man to her. She was grateful. She bore him no ill-will. In marrying her he had saved her from a life of slavery after her family’s treason. Asha was treated well but paid little mind. She had no business in the courts. Her Lord already had an heir, betrothed. Asha wasn’t even a figurehead.

She knew her Lord was secretly seeing someone. She was happy for him. He was very discreet, though even if he wasn’t the people would have understood. It would be swept under the rug like her last name.

Asha was secretly seeing Harladan, her Lord's Marshal. They were painfully aware that if they were caught, she would face banishment. Tradition would see Harladan hanged. It hadn’t stopped him from kissing her many moons ago. Nor the times he’d kissed her since. It had not stopped Asha’s growing affection for him. Her life was not a bad life. Still, she wanted to be away.

That night she rode alone. Evening mist wound through the trees. The moon bathed the land in silver. Her knife was comfortable on her hip though Asha had no need for it. These lands were peaceful. She had no fear of them.

She rode into the forest down a path she knew well, then down a path that she did not. Ahead was a small grove. Moon blossoms littered the ground, their fragrant scent intoxicating. Asha settled in the middle of the clearing. She closed her eyes and softly sang to the trees and the moon, to the roots of the earth, to all the things that brought her joy when Harladan was not by her side.

She felt lighter when she was finished. She opened her eyes, found the first star in the twilight sky, and made the only wish she ever made.

“I wish I was free,”

The air shifted. The mist swirled. Three ethereal women approached from the trees. One a few years younger than Asha, innocent in a white robe. The middle beautiful and graceful, robed in gray. The third old and wise, shrouded in black.

“Wishes should not be idly made,” said the old woman.

“I agree,” said Asha.

“Freedom is different for each being,” Said the lady in gray with a gentle voice.

Asha agreed to this as well.

“What is your idea of freedom?” asked the youngest.

“The freedom to love who I will without punishment. Do you have wishes?”

The three exchanged a glance.

“We do have wishes,” The old woman finally said, “Perhaps we could help one another,”

In Asha’s eyes, their problem was simple. They sought a guardian for land west of here. Kinder land, they said. Warmer land. Magical land. They would give her twenty thousand gold coins to live out her days. They would give her a horse, Fraxi, who knew the way. The land had a well-tended cabin where she could live comfortably. There would be everything she needed there. In return, she must learn their ways and tend the lands until the end of her days.

Asha could not think of a reason to decline. She and Harladan could finally be together! The Ladies gave her three days to prepare. To seal the pact Asha signed her name in her own blood into a little black book the crone produced from the folds of her cloak. She knew she had traded her current prison for one of a different kind, but she was pleased. Asha was free in the way that mattered to her, she was free to love whom she wished.

She was so excited she found Harladan that night. He was shocked by her passion. He cared for her but he had never expected a life with her. He thought she had understood that. He’d been courting someone else. He was happy here. He did not want to leave. Asha was heartbroken.

She left that very night, still grateful to be able to give her Lord the true freedom of love. She had the same now, but she no longer felt she had much use for it. Best to keep her love to herself. Fraxi carried her west. They traveled for nine days and nine nights, stopping briefly before dawn each day to rest. She let her sorrow and bitterness fuel her flight.

They came to a valley where ferns and moss grew among tall ancient trees. A wood cabin awaited her, as The Ladies said it would be. There was a fire in the hearth, clothes in the closet, and food and spices in the pantry. There were a few chickens, two goats, and feed for both. She left Fraxi in the small stable where feed and water awaited him. She thanked him for carrying her here so diligently and wandered into her new home, to fall asleep in her new bed.

The first time she wandered to town she found a shrine by the path to her hut. The Ladies informed Asha it was in their honor. The villagers would often travel up here to leave offerings for their lands Guardian. The village had all Asha needed that she did not produce for herself. Over time she came to know the land intimately, and the villagers came to know her. They left offerings of fruit, cream, honey, and rare spices. There was not a thing she desired that she lacked for. In turn, she tended the sick, gave counsel to those who sought it. Asha carried out the wishes of the Ladies, who helped all who dwelled in their land.

From the Ladies, she learned to speak to the land and learned the ways of hers; how to listen to the whisper of the wind, how to speak with the trees, and read the stars. She danced with the moon, bathed under waterfalls, while donned in a crown of moss and twigs. She found peace and happiness in solitude.

One day she was out near the pond, gathering cattails and oakmoss when she happened upon a handsome man. He was well dressed and well-kept, as was his horse. His brow was furrowed with troublesome thoughts. She wondered what he was doing in her valley.

When he noticed her he startled.

“Hail, M’Lady,” he greeted her, “It appears I am lost,”

“In what way, M’Lord?”

“What do you mean?”

“Are you physically lost? Or lost in your own mind?”

The stranger laughed, “Both, I’m afraid. Though I’d only ask you to help me with the former,”

“I can take you to the road that will lead you to town,” Asha offered and he accepted. On their way, they passed the shrine. Someone had left saffron and daffodils today. He eyed it as they passed but made no comment.

The man came back. Not frequently, but often enough. He brought gifts: wine, honey and fruit, fine knives and cast-iron pans. His practical offerings led her to believe he was a soldier by heart and trade. One of high enough ranking he stayed clean, as far as she could tell.

His name was Rowan. He was kind and gentle and she enjoyed their conversations. Over time her wariness of him faded and she became glad for his inconsistent company. Then she came to look forward to his visits. They spent many afternoons together, wandering her lands and speaking freely. They never spoke of their personal lives, yet they grew close. The Ladies approved, they said he had a true heart.

In the late Autumn, he came to her as troubled as she’d ever seen. He told her that while his visits were inconsistent already, he feared he would not be by for many moons.

Asha accepted this with sadness. She asked him to stay for a while. He could tell her what troubled him. Or they could speak of other things, or of nothing at all.

She brought him mead, sat close to him by the fire, and shared his silence. After some time, he spoke. He told her of a terrible event that had happened before she had come to occupy this valley, treachery in the courts. Many of the Lord's men proved traitors. They took their uniforms, what supplies they could, and deserted.

The deserters had pillaged the surrounding villages, causing confusion and unrest among the people. Lord Ruthar had helped rebuild, re-supplied the people, and chased down what deserters he could. They had peace for some time. But no longer.

Many of the deserters had traveled east across the mountains to Banthos, her homeland. They assaulted the Lord's castle and killed many, including the Lord and his heir. Asha grieved for them. Rowan said Banthos recovered well. They quickly named a new Lord and rebuilt.

But for Velas negotiations with the new Lord had gone sour. He had not believed those men were Velas deserters, he believed they had been intentionally attacked. Furthermore, he said the late Lord’s wife had gone missing that night as well. He believed she was being held captive by them. He had brought an army to the border of Velas. Rowan would meet with the Lord tomorrow, and he feared after that it would be battle. Asha furrowed her brow.

“You must know this,” Rowan told her “So that you watch for fires. If you see them, flee,”

The thought of fleeing this land that had become her own was unbearable. Whatever happened she would die guarding these lands. But Asha nodded to him so that he did not have to worry of such things.

“So, you are the Lords General,”

He smiled slightly, “Something like that,”

“Who is the new Lord of Banthos?”

“Lord Emor,”

Asha’s breath caught. Her heart bled, knowing the sorrows that bound him. But her blood lit on fire to know one would be so consumed by grief as to make such rash decisions. That path led to more pain for all.

“I shall go with you,” She declared.

“You cannot!”

“I can and I shall.”

Rowan studied her for a moment “Very well. They do call you The Guardian of this land. Come, see if you can do something I could not.”

The next day they rode at dawn to meet Lord Emor. They rode through ranks of armored men until they reached a pale silk tent, surrounded by elite guards. As they entered a Herald announced their arrival.

“Prince Rowan of Velas,”

Asha looked at Rowan, surprised.

“And Lady…”

“Lady of the Velas Woods,” Asha said.

Harladan Emor looked up at her voice. Harladan had aged with his grief. His eyes went wide. She met them with cool apprehension.

“Asha…” He whispered, audible only for the silence that had taken over.

“What are you doing, Harladan?”

“You’re alive?”

“Alive, and quite well besides the army at my doorstep,”

Harladan hung his head in shame. “I thought they had taken you,”

“No, Harladan. You knew I was leaving. You let your grief take you.”

“But the soldiers-“

“Traitors. Soldiers turned rouge,”

“You know this?”

“I know this, and so do you.”

“I am sorry. I feared for you. Will you return with me?”

“No. I shall return to my lands, and you shall return to yours.”

“But Asha…”

“No, Lord Emor. You made your choices. You must live by them, as well all must. You have people that need you, as do I. Go home.”

“As it must be,” he sighed.

“As it must be,” She said more firmly.

They left the next day.

From that day forward Rowan went to visit Asha regularly. In time they fell in love. The land knew peace. They married had three children. They grew old together and knew love until the end of their days. Their heirs guarded the lands for many years to come, and the Ladies blessed their bloodline eternally for their service.

fantasy
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