The twilight swiftly shifted into velvet black as we continued to descend the rocky slopes of the forest. Eline had remained mostly silent for the few hours that had passed since we had set off, something i was relatively thankful for. She was clearly focused on the task at hand which was navigating potential small cliffs and rocky outcrops. This focus on her part enabled me to avoid conversation which i was not in any state yet to conduct. Far too much had transpired in the last few hours and i had too many questions of my own to answer someone else's.
Despite the darkness, i was able to see quite clearly. this appeared to be another perk of my new body, however i thought it best to let Eline lead the way and stay in back with my thoughts while keeping an eye out for potential lethal danger. Soon the moon had risen to a position above the tree line and its familiar crescent presence was soothing to my chaotic stream of thought.
Everything that had transpired was still difficult to accept. I had been reborn. I was a flower, A daffodil maybe, and a human as well. I had abilities far beyond any human of my era and to top it off, i was now Fifty thousand year in the future and conversing with essentially a god. A hive mind of a trillion human minds watching over the earth. This was a lot to take in for anyone i felt.
While lost in contemplation i suddenly realised that Eline had stopped short, which caused me to break my cycle of self-reflection. She spoke out in a comprehensive tone as she turned to face me.
"Below here is my village. For tonight at least, i think it would be best that we wait until the lights go out then sneak into my home."
"Why do we have to sneak in? Shouldn't we get your son to a comfortable bed?"
She paused for a few moments, clearly contemplating her next words.
"You are quite different to anything from around here. I think if the village seen you, they would panic."
I had to concede this point. I was more different than anything i had ever seen. I'm certain a group of villagers from the mountains would see me as a monster and get the wrong idea very quickly.
"Fair enough, Let's take a seat on the ridge then and keep an eye out."
We sat down atop a small fallen tree that had collapsed horizontally along a ridge. Below us sat a small cluster of dancing fire lights emanating from windows of small hexagonal huts of timber and stone. This is truly a medieval village if ever I've seen one.
The village consisted of only twenty houses, and of that twenty, only one had no light to speak of. I had barely so much as rested my legs when i hear the shouts of men emanating from the clearing below. Straining my ears slightly i was able to make out their conversation.
"Alright, everyone who has a shield move to the front, Edvar will lead as he's the best hunter and Kre and Len will follow up with bows behind. We will not let those bastard get away with Eline and Ray. This is the last time our village suffers at the hands of bandits."
A small roar emits from the nine men standing resolute. They had steeled themselves for a march into the darkness and had every intention of finding their lost friends or fighting to the death to do so. Eline looked across at me in panic and realised that she needed to take action.
"We have to stop them."
Eline leapt down the remaining slope between us and the village. Clearly, she was familiar with this area. not a step was broken and in a matter of moments she was sprinting across the flat towards the men standing amongst the flickering orange lights of the hut windows.
"Wait, I'm Safe, We're safe!" Eline yelled from the darkness.
Her voice was still broken and weak, but it reached the men's ears none the less. They lowered their weapons in surprise at her approach. Eline skidded to a halt in front of the group panting while i slowly but carefully mad my way down the cliff behind her, trying to make as little noise or commotion as possible.
"Eline! you're, Ok?"
A small elderly man stepped forward. His voice was the one who had roused the younger men moments before. His stature in stark contrast to his booming nature.
"I'm so glad you're ok."
He shuffled forward quickly and the two embraced tightly.
"Dad, I'm ok, we made it back."
"Where is Ray?"
"He's ok as well... Just stay calm. I need to introduce you to someone."
She looked around behind her into the darkness. The crowd gathered, followed her gaze somewhat confused and expectant. This was my cue. Holding Ray out in front of me like an offering to the gods, i stepped forward slowly into the light. I was met with gasps and a couple of swiftly raised weapons, but Eline jumped back rapidly to stand by my side preventing any instant aggression.
In the flickering light i was able to make out Elines face and figure, and for the first time since meeting, i realised she was quite beautiful. her auburn hair hung to her waste and her rustic clothing clung to her slim figure leaving an impression on my old soul of someone who had worked hard every day of her life. Her arms and legs were toned and muscular and she held herself with a strong composure in front of the group of men.
I ventured my eyes away from her in the moment and figure this to be a good place for an introduction. Clearing my throat i spoke out to the clearing.
"Uhmmm, my name is Selwyn. Apparently, I'm a plant from the past. I look forward to meeting you all."
With that i followed up with a short bow and looked over the bewildered faces in front of me. No one seemed to want to move or reply which left an awkward silence to stagnate between us and the men of the village. I slowly lowered my arms to lay the boy on the ground. The windows of the huts had filled with the faces of the women and children of the households; their shadows danced like ghosts across the grass as the fires flowed in their hearths behind them.
After a few more moments passed and the eyes of the younger men had made many movements between me, the boy laid out unconscious before them, the Valliant figure of Eline standing tall, and their own weapons. Elines father stepped forward and spoke deeply once more.
"Eline, what is the meaning of all this?"
As if a weight had lifted off her shoulders, Eline relaxed and broke out into an in depth recounting of what had transpired that afternoon. Apparently before our encounter, she had been out with her son Ray, picking mushrooms, when two men had ambushed them. They had stabbed Ray through the stomach when he tried to defend his mother and, attempted to leave him for dead before taking her away to their own encampment for reasons best not thought about again. This is apparently when i happened upon them and proceeded to kill the would-be captors.
The group that had gathered now consisted of men, women, and children. Although they were still wary of me, they had seemingly dropped their lethal apprehension and listened intently to the tale Eline was telling. She wrapped up with an account of my healing liquid that brought her son back from the brink and in that moment the zeitgeist had shifted from potential battle to a celebration. The young men began to step forward one after the other and with grins slapped me on the shoulders.
You're alright Selwyn.
So what are you? a tree?
"Thanks for saving my friend", a little girl said as she approached on her mother's shoulders.
I couldn't help but smile myself. It had been a long, long day, and talking to people again who seemed in genuinely high spirits put me at ease, finally. I looked over at Eline who was now shouldering Ray with the help of the Elderly gentleman walking off to the lightless hut. I smiled on them once again, and in that moment made the choice to excuse myself from the village.
They had recovered their loved ones and there was no longer any reason for battle. I had no reason or intention to impose on this small village that seemed to be living from day to day the best they could. With a wave, i bid the people of the village farewell and began to walk once more in the opposite direction of the cliff i had found myself reborn only hours earlier.
I made it to the edge of the village and stepped past the last light of the fires when i heard a yell from behind.
"Hey, Selwyn, What the hell are you doing. This is time for celebration."
Eline had emerged once more from her hut. Her bruising still stood out on her pale face, but it was out shone by her elated, beautiful smile. Tears once more began to trickle down her cheeks and she now held a mug in each hand, which i would soon learn was filled with the equivalent of beer in this future earth.
"Thank you..." she said again as she walked towards me.
"Here's to the lord of the trees" She yelled as the crowd followed suit and cheered.
"Huh? lord of what? no, no no, wait, I'm just an old man doing what was right."
But it was already too late tonight, the festivities had begun.