Elena didn't know how long she had been out, but when she woke up it was dark. Her whole body hurt. She was sure she had several broken ribs. Knowing she couldn't stay there, as it was getting colder, she slowly, but painfully tried to get up.
With what little strength she had left, she pulled herself up and started to crawl home. Fortunately, she knew the forest like the back of her hand. Otherwise, she would have been in serious trouble. Dawn was breaking when she eventually made it to the tree line surrounding her home.
She collapsed against a tree, sweat beaded on her forehead and arms. Faintly, she could see the outline of her father, but she had no strength left to call for him. Her eyelids closed as she succumbed to the darkness.
Her father was carrying some buckets to the back of the house when he noticed her. He rushed over and carried her inside. He tended to her wounds and cleaned her up as best as he could. For several days, Elena went in and out of consciousness.
In the night, she often woke up screaming, causing her father to rush in to comfort her. He then decided to sleep in her room after the second night. A few days later, the innkeeper and his wife had come to see Elena.
"Oh, Elena! what happened?" they asked in shock, but Elena couldn't speak.
Tears flowed down her cheeks as she turned her head away. Afraid of what they would think of her if they knew.
"Rumours are going around the village," the innkeeper told them.
Her father looked at him confusedly as did Elena.
"Rumours? What rumours?" he demanded.
Elena remained silent fearing she knew.
"Sara has been saying that she had taken a walk through the forest when she witnessed the most sinful sight. She's been saying that she witnessed Elena being wanton with several large men. She had at first thought Elena was being raped, but then she had heard squeals of pleasure coming from Elena herself," the innkeeper was bright red as he recounted the tale.
"What!" demanded her father.
"Keep calm, Daniel. Of course, we know this to be a lie, Elena would do no such thing. Also, the idea of that pampered princess voluntarily going into the forest by herself is laughable … but … many believe Sara," the innkeeper's wife explained.
"How they could believe such nonsense is beyond me! Why, we've known Elena since she was a baby, and everyone knows Sara hates the forest," the innkeeper's wife added angrily.
Then she turned to Elena who could tell what she was going to ask.
"What happened Elena? Can you tell us?" she asked again.
Elena shook her head, as fresh tears began to fall. She couldn't bear to think about what happened, let alone talk about it.
"It's clear what happened, she was attacked and somehow, that wench knows something and is lying about it!" Daniel shouted angrily.
The innkeeper and his wife nodded in agreement. Then the innkeeper's wife helped Elena clean herself up before leaving.
Her father went to work in the shop leaving her alone with her thoughts. Elena stared at the ceiling as fresh tears flowed.
It had taken her several weeks to heal enough to be able to walk comfortably enough. Against her father's wishes, she slowly walked into the village. Her face and neck were still covered with bruises. Naturally, everyone stared at her as she made her way to the inn.
Many whispered as she passed by, others called her vile names, like a whore, slut and many more. She did her best to ignore them, especially Sara. Who stood with the four boys and smirked. The four boys at least had the decency to look ashamed of themselves.
Elena had made a gift basket for the Innkeeper and his wife to say thank you for their help and loyalty.
They, of course, insisted she go back home to rest. Her life continued in much the same way after that. Sara had become bored with smirking as it seemed to not affect Elena.
Elena never bothered to try and defend herself, she found it pointless and a waste of breath as everyone had already made up their minds. Her father, however, couldn't just ignore the taunts aimed not only at Elena but himself as well.
They were cruel and called him the father of a whore. At first, he shouted back at them until he was red in the face. Elena had told him to ignore them but he found it difficult.
He had started drinking heavily at the inn each night. Often, he would come home drunk, scowl at Elena and go to bed. As the years passed, he became violent towards her. He would often hit her, claiming it was her fault. In the mornings, once sober, he wouldn't be able to look at her out of guilt.
Elena never hated her father when he beat her, she knew he didn't mean it. He was lost and didn't know how to find himself again. Each morning, she would walk into the village with fresh bruises and this would make the village gossip about her even more. However, she paid no attention to them.
One day, her life changed once again. She was standing in the main square talking with the innkeeper's wife. When a large group of people walked into the village. Everyone stopped and stared at the newcomers.
All the men looked tall, tanned and very handsome. The women all looked elegant and stunning. Many of the young women in the village eyed the men, whilst Elena looked away.
She said goodbye to the innkeeper's wife and made to leave. Unfortunately, her path took her past the newcomers, they didn't fail to notice the bruises on her cheek and eye. Two, in particular, took notice of her, but Elena, unawares, kept her head down and continued.
As Elena returned home, she wondered how long it would be before one or more of those new men came to find her. Over the years, whenever any new men came through the village. Sara would revive the rumour from years before to turn the newcomer's heads away from Elena or to entice the newcomer to try to attack Elena.
She had to fight off many men thanks to Sara. Luckily, the innkeeper had taught her a few things to protect herself.
The new group did come to her home but not for the reason she had thought. They came looking for the village blacksmith.
Elena was tending to some of the herbs by the side of the shop when an older man and woman approached her.
"Good morning my dear," the man greeted, causing Elena to jump. "Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."
"Liam you brute, why are you scaring the poor young girl?" the woman next to him scolded playfully.
She also hit Liam on his arm, which made Elena smile.
"Don't mind him, he's a teddy bear. My name is Helen Adams and this is my husband Liam Adams."
Helen held her hand out for Elena to take, which she did slowly.
"I'm Elena," she said quietly and Helen smiled warmly at her.
"This is a wonderful herb garden you have here Elena," Helen admired and Elena's smile grew.
"Thank you," she said with a blush.
"Are you a healer?" Liam asked curiously.
Elena shrugged.
"In a way, my mother was the village healer. When she died I inherited her books. Once I was able to read them, I decided to grow these plants," Elena explained as she made her way out of the patch of herbs.
"So, you are the healer now," she asked with a smile sounding a little proud.
Elena's smile instantly left her face.
"No … I'm not," she said coldly.
Liam and Helen looked at each other in surprise. They watched Elena's whole body sag as she turned to go back to the garden. They glanced at each other before going back to the blacksmith shop.
"Excuse me, I hope you don't think this a rude question, but might I ask about the bruises on your daughter's face," Liam asked as they walked up to him.
The pair noticed Daniel's body freeze, his body tensed before resuming his work. Ignoring his question.
The pair glanced at each other again, and a feeling of dread spread through them. The rest of their group was waiting outside. The two younger men watched Elena.
"Do you think she's the blacksmith's daughter?" one asked.
The other shrugged his shoulders.
"Most likely Lucas," he answered with a sigh.
"How do you think she got those bruises, Caleb?" he asked worriedly, something about this girl was making him feel anxious.
Caleb glanced at their parents as they exited the shop and shrugged his shoulders. Liam and Helen walked up to the two boys.
"I suspect her father is the one causing the bruises," Liam answered the question. "When we asked him about them, he froze and became very tense. His heart sped up, then he continued to work. Ignoring my question.
"It seems like some rumours are going around the village about that girl," informed another man as he walked up to the small group.
"What do you mean Shane?" asked Helen.
"I stayed behind to look at some of the wares and a young lady, around the same age as her, approached me. I believe she is the daughter of the mayor. She said she had noticed some of the men in the group noticed the young girl. She wanted to inform me about the young miss so that none of the young men would be deceived. Around eight to ten years ago, she was witnessed servicing several men in the forest wantonly. It is claimed that she happily succumbed to their desires."
Shane glanced at Elena with interest as he reported what he had heard. Though it wasn't the same interest that other men looked at her, after hearing her story. It was more curiosity and a little pity.
"That sounds ridiculous!" Helen exclaimed loudly. "If that was true then, when this supposedly happened, that young girl would have been no more than ten years old. What young girl would even think of doing such things!"
All four men nodded in agreement, none of them had noticed Elena's approach. She had overheard a part of Shane's story and then Helen's remark.