Inside the cabin, Lily stood with her back to the door; her chest heaving with uncontrollable sobs. "Why is he like this?" she screamed allowed to an empty room. She surveyed her surroundings as she quieted herself down. "So this is to remain my prison," she stated flatly. She sat on the couch and petted the skunk that she had raised from a kit. He curled up in her lap and stared deeply into her deep blue eyes as if trying to console her. She seemed to understand him and replied "I know he loves me, but how can he keep me hidden up here? What so horrible about the village? He goes every year and comes back alive." The skunk turned his head as if to say 'I don't know'. "Well," she reasoned allowed, "If I can't go to the village; then I will go into the forest. I will show him that there is no danger there." The skunk shot her a surprised look and got down from her lap. He scurried to the back of the cabin and started scratching to be let out. She fulfilled his request and opened the back door. The skunk hurried outside and headed off towards the forest. She chased after him because he had never been to the forest before and she was afraid he would get lost. She stopped at the tree line and watched him scamper in. She was afraid to enter though she had always dreamed of doing so. The law forbade entrance, but how would anyone really know if she did? It's not like the area is patrolled. Her thoughts then raced to her father and his instructions never to enter the forest. "There are willful sprites and evil spirits that live in the forest and they will prey upon your beauty, not to mention the wild animals," he would tell her. 'It couldn't be true. Could it?' she thought. She was about to turn around and go back to the cabin when the skunk reappeared before her. His beady eyes met hers and she understood that he wanted her to follow him into the forest. She obeyed. She carefully stepped past the tree line into the cascade of trees. She followed the skunk into a small clearing filled with berry bushes and grapevines. The skunk stopped at one bush and started picking and nibbling on its fruit. Lily crouched down beside her friend and picked one of the fruits and began to eat it. "Wow, this is really good," she told her pet, "I wonder if Papa knows about this."
"He does," replied the skunk. "He has always known of this place. He used to visit it quite often when she was alive."
Lily was startled at the voice coming from her pet. "You can talk? How is that possible?"
"Fear not, my lady. Speech has always accompanied me. Tis your ears that could not hear before."
"What? My ears? Then how is it that I can hear you now?"
"Ah, tis the enchantment upon the forest I'd say."
"The forest? It really is enchanted?" She could feel fear rise up in her chest.
"Aye, the forest be enchanted, though be not in an evil way as you have been taught, my lady."
"No?" she questioned, her fears relaxed a bit.
"Nay. The forest is a wonderful place. The elves and the animals live here in peace with nature. We work together to maintain and protect this forest."
"Elves? Papa said there were sprites and spirits. He never mentioned elves."
"Aye. He did not want you to know of them. For good reason too. If the elves knew of you there would be a revolution among them for sure."
"Of me? How could I…" she was interrupted by a stranger's voice.
"Bayla? You're alive?"
Lily leapt to her feet and spun around to find a young man about her age staring at her in disbelief. "Who are you?" she gasped. "And why did you call me that?"
"Are you not Bayla, queen of the Elvin Forest?" He questioned again drawing closer to her. She tried to retreat but could not find an opening. The forest seemed to close in around her.
"No, I am not." She panted in a fearful breath. She was stunned by his beauty. He was tall like her and slender. He carried himself with elegance and respect. His ebony hair glistened in the scattered light. She was captivated by his dark eyes; the way they seemed to pierce her soul. "My name is Lily."
"Oh please forgive me. It's just that you look exactly like her. I thought I would have recognized her anywhere from the portraits of her that hang in the grand halls of the palace. Your resemblance to her is truly remarkable."
"I see." She looked down at her skunk who gave her a wary stare.
"I see you have met Jacque. A willful one, he is."
"Jacque?" she questioned. "This is my pet. I raised him. I have given him no name."
"The forest animals can be called a lot of things around here, but they have never been anyone's pet." He turned his focus to the skunk, who was absently picking berries and shoving them into his mouth. "So Jacque, how have you been? We don't see much of you these days. Your mother has been worried sick."
The skunk dropped his berries. "Mother?" he questioned. "Does she not know where I have been all these years? No worries should befall her for I have done her bidding with honor and diligence."
"I shall tell her." He nodded to the skunk and returned his focus to Lily. "I am afraid you must leave here at once." He stated flatly.
"What have I done to offend you so that I must leave?" She could feel her heart begin to beat faster.
"You do not belong here. The elves and humans no longer have a friendship. Your life is in danger here."
"Why?" she implored. "What evil have I done?"
"It's always been that way. At least it has during my lifetime. It is believed that the humans of the village murdered our queen before I was born and so the elves have vowed to kill any human that enters this forest. You must return to your home before you are discovered here."
I am sorry for your loss. I can understand the elves hatred of humans for that. But why have you not killed me? Am I not human?" The boy twisted a wry smile at her.
"We should go, my lady," Interrupted Jacque. "The boy is taking a great risk letting you live. Let us not push our fortune or his good will any further. Thank you, dear sir, for sparing the life of this young maiden. Your deed shall not go unrewarded."
"Indeed, I am eternally grateful," she agreed.
"You understood his words?" he questioned in surprise.
"Yes, as you can as well in this forest," she admitted. "I'm afraid I'm a bit lost though. Could you lead the way home Jacque?" The skunk obliged and led her through the dense foliage towards the forest's edge.
"I did not know humans could speak to the animals like the elves do." He scratched his head following her and Jacque through the forest.
"Most humans cannot," admitted Jacque. "And most animals choose not to try." At the tree line of the forest the skunk turned to face their escort, "I trust that since you have spared our lives this day young elf; that you intend to tell no one of our visit today."
"You have my word, dear skunk. I shall tell no one." He flashed a smile and bowed to the animal with respect. The skunk simply nodded and scampered off to the cabin leaving Lily at the forest's edge with the boy. "I am most intrigued by you, I must admit. I have never met a human before and I must say you are not at all the way humans are described in our history books. If anything, you appear to be elflike."
"Elflike? Me? I am merely a poor farmer's daughter. I have never even heard of elves before this day; nor have I met any humans other than my own father. He seems to share your distrust of the villagers. It was the villagers that murdered my mother many years ago when I was but a toddler."
"I am sorry for your loss as well. I would like to see you again. I would like to learn more of humans and teach you what I can of the elves."
"That would be wonderful," she gleamed. "But I'm afraid I won't be able to return for quite sometime it would seem. If what you say is true, then I cannot enter the forest without surrendering my life. And then there's the fact that my father has forbidden me to ever enter this place."
"Then we both are standing here in disobedience to our lawmakers."
"So it would seem."
"I will watch for you. When it is safe to you to be here I will call for you. Jacque will lead you."
"But my father; he will not allow me."
"Jacque will let me know when you are alone." He touched her cheek and gazed deeply into her eyes and she knew she could trust him.
"Very well, I shall await your call." She turned to go and then realized her disadvantage. She turned toward the boy and said, "You have my name, but I have not yours. May I have it now, so I may know who to thank for my life in my prayers tonight?"
He flashed a smile to her revealing a row of perfectly straight teeth behind his ivory skin. "Then it would seem that I have an advantage."
"Yes," she agreed. "An unfair one at that." She pursed her lips at him and turned to go rather than argue with the stranger.
"Toame," he called out to her. "My name is Toame."
She flashed him a smile over her shoulder. "Then I shall see again soon. Master Toame."
"Farewell, my dear Lily," he said with a wave and returned to the forest.