She didn’t know that there was a stranger walking towards the forest. Nor did she know that the villagers he had encountered in his path had warned him about the witch. Nor that said stranger had a gleaming blade with him, a sword of oriental mastery that he used as if it was part of his own body.

So, knowing nothing, Morgan grabbed her basket, put a cape over her shoulders and left her small cabin to go look for herbs and fruits. Strolling through the small trails she had cleared after years of hiking the forest grounds, she enjoyed the woodland sounds and the peace that one can only get when communing alone with nature. No trotting of horses or the sound of wheels crushing gravel, no shouts, no voices... But were those steps?

Leaning over some plants she was sure she heard something behind her. With a deep breath she straightened her back and with a posture worthy of a noblewoman she turned back, slowly.

There was a man there. Strange robe like clothes covering him and what looked like strange thin blades hanging from his belt. A straw hat of strange shape shaded his features, but he pushed it back, letting it dangle on his back by the string around his neck. Curiously he looked just as surprised to see her, as she was to see him.

“I am sorry, my lady. I didn’t mean to scare you...” He amiably said, bowing his head ever so lightly.

That was something new, a man bowing to her.

“You did not scare me. Worry not.” Her words sounded a bit harsher than she intended but she needed not to be too sympathetic towards a stranger. There was a small pause so she talked again. “Are you lost?”

“I was going to ask you the same thing.” He actually chuckled softly looking a little flustered. “No, I am not. I am travelling to the city of Nathfield.” He pointed in the general direction. “In the fields before, the people warned me about a witch living in the forest... is it safe for you to be here alone? Well witch or not you are without an escort...” He looked around as if expecting for a lady in waiting to leap from the bushes and show herself.

Morgan blinked, astonished with his words. He sure must have travelled from far, far away, like his clothes hinted.
After a second she chuckled, covering her mouth with one hand, a coy gesture for her.

“Do not concern yourself with my safety. I do know these woods like the back of my hand and I am perfectly safe here.” She lied. It was true that she could navigate the thicket in the darkest of nights, but she was never truly safe.
“You should carry on. If you take too long you won’t reach the city before sun down.” She warned.

The stranger seemed hesitant, opening his mouth but not saying a word. His long fangs shinning ever so slightly with the sunlight that actually reached him despite the thick mangle of branches above.

“Go.” She simply said and started to walk herself, away from him, grabbing her basket a bit better.

“What is your name?” He spoke up so that she could hear him through the sound of leaves brushing her skirt and being crunched under her boots.

Turning to him, her curly dark hair caressed the stripes on her check before falling over her shoulder.

“Morgan.” She answered, not giving a second name and letting herself behold his image a bit better. He did have a rather noble posture, composed and polite but there was the glow of mischief in his eyes. Or was she imagining it?
Was she reading too much on the figure of the first of many males that had actually treated her like an honourable lady? “And yours?”

“Axel.” The stranger bowed yet again, this time a bit more formally. While straightening his back his eyes found her again, seemingly to study her character just as much as she was studying him. But again she ignored that he took notice of how the sun made her curls shine or how the plants surrounding her framed her figure so, giving her the air or a true forest maiden.

“Then do be careful of the witch, Axel.” She said and disappeared between the tall scrubland behind her.

He took a moment more to glimpse upon the place where she was and with a little smile, pulled his hat back over his head and started walking in Nathfield’s direction, hoping to get there before the night had fallen.

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Morgan (C) me
Axel (C)