{no. She wouldn't tell anyone about him and the strange things she's seen in the deep woods and that has less to do with fear and more because there are some things that simply aren't shared. She understands human nature enough to know that no matter what she said about what she's seen and who she's met this winter, someone would feel compelled to go see for themselves and the first rule she ever learned about the forest was that you left as little mark of your passage behind in it as possible. Leading strangers to poke about in it, with a great deal less care than she tried to have, she suspected, was certainly not leaving no trace of herself behind.
She also suspected that if he found her a tiresome companion, he'd find everyone else the same way and she had no desire to send him annoyances. He didn't seem the kind that wanted company as lonely as that seemed to her. When she left, he'd have even less of it because she had been the only one in a long time to venture into his trees and leave her thank gifts in exchange for anything to start with. Whatever life she made for herself, if she wanted to stay secret, it wouldn't be in herbs and it wouldn't be within the shadow of his woods.
For a moment, that hurts. In some strange way, this forest has been her home as much as her cottage and as comfortingly familiar until this winter. When she leaves it behind, she'll be leaving a large part of herself as well, sacrificed to clear the way for a new life and a new identity.}
Easier sounding than done. {she tipped her chin on her knees and looked out over the water as well, telling herself to ignore the new bolt of homesickness that realizing she was leaving wood as well as home made her feel. An exhale. What's done is done and there's no use crying now.} But you're right. If you'll tell me where I'll find the road. I'll find a new life. I'll make one.
{awake, she couldn't hide from the responsibility anymore. If she was alive, then she had to move forward. He was right. What other choice was there. Brows down, she frowned, forcing herself to think about it. Talking out loud helped her organize her thoughts even if he hadn't asked and probably wouldn't care.}
I'll go east. There are towns that way. Maybe go as far as the city. I'm not afraid of hard work. I can cook and brew. Maybe I can find a tavern in the city. No one asks questions in a tavern.
{it seemed as sensible as any other solution and it was about as far from her previous life as she could imagine. Leave the past in the past. Leave it buried under the ashes of her old life. Forget about it and become someone new. There was just - }
But I made you a promise. {her old life wasn't over until she could close the ledger. Turning her head, she watched him.} I can't go until I find out how I'm supposed to keep it.
no subject
She also suspected that if he found her a tiresome companion, he'd find everyone else the same way and she had no desire to send him annoyances. He didn't seem the kind that wanted company as lonely as that seemed to her. When she left, he'd have even less of it because she had been the only one in a long time to venture into his trees and leave her thank gifts in exchange for anything to start with. Whatever life she made for herself, if she wanted to stay secret, it wouldn't be in herbs and it wouldn't be within the shadow of his woods.
For a moment, that hurts. In some strange way, this forest has been her home as much as her cottage and as comfortingly familiar until this winter. When she leaves it behind, she'll be leaving a large part of herself as well, sacrificed to clear the way for a new life and a new identity.}
Easier sounding than done. {she tipped her chin on her knees and looked out over the water as well, telling herself to ignore the new bolt of homesickness that realizing she was leaving wood as well as home made her feel. An exhale. What's done is done and there's no use crying now.} But you're right. If you'll tell me where I'll find the road. I'll find a new life. I'll make one.
{awake, she couldn't hide from the responsibility anymore. If she was alive, then she had to move forward. He was right. What other choice was there. Brows down, she frowned, forcing herself to think about it. Talking out loud helped her organize her thoughts even if he hadn't asked and probably wouldn't care.}
I'll go east. There are towns that way. Maybe go as far as the city. I'm not afraid of hard work. I can cook and brew. Maybe I can find a tavern in the city. No one asks questions in a tavern.
{it seemed as sensible as any other solution and it was about as far from her previous life as she could imagine. Leave the past in the past. Leave it buried under the ashes of her old life. Forget about it and become someone new. There was just - }
But I made you a promise. {her old life wasn't over until she could close the ledger. Turning her head, she watched him.} I can't go until I find out how I'm supposed to keep it.