Into The Woods

Charles was really enjoying his day. It was cold, a certain peaceful crispness to the air. It signified a time of year when things around him died, such as the leaves on the trees and the grasses. Though most would spark back up a bit of green in the months to come. It was the dark time of the year. A time of the year to spend with those dear to you and cuddle up close to the fire.

Except Charles wasn’t at home. He was out and about. He was the type that needed to get out, no matter the weather, and get fresh air.

This air was more than fresh. It was cold. There was a light layer of snow and frost on the ground, not anything significant yet, it was too early for that. But just enough that it crunched beneath his boots as he walked along.

“Hullo there,” he called, seeing a figure in the distance. Charles waved a bit. It was strange to see someone out and about this time of year. Perhaps it was someone who needed assistance that he could provide.

One morning, after completing his errands for the innkeeper, Miles took Mother Goose’s advice and made a trip to the nearest castle. He felt a promising excitement take hold of his heart. There was every possibility that the military man in charge would know something about his lost unit. And if not, certainly he would be invited into a new brotherhood of soldiers. The post commander would see that he had much to offer. But things did not go as he expected.

Miles thought he had done everything properly, according to military protocol. He had presented himself at the castle garrison and respectfully requested an audience with the captain of the guard. Annoyingly, the underling he met there had not treated him professionally at all. The sloppy rogue had merely inserted dirty fingers under his scuffed leather jerkin and pulled out a bodkin. He then had the nerve to challenge Miles to a game of mumblety-peg for the privilege of speaking to his superior officer.

“I’ll just wait,” Miles had said coldly. And he waited, standing still and tall just outside the garrison. The castle servants stared at him as they passed by on their business, some attempting to engage him in conversation which he politely deflected. At times, when the wind was right, he could hear some catcalls and jokes being hurled at him from the guards in the towers. Miles ignored all of this, determined to show that he was a superior soldier to someone who mattered.

The trip to the market had been even more productive than she could have imagined. She got all she required, of course, and got to meet a kindly young man in the bargain. Despite his pleasant nature, however, there seemed to be a secret he was hiding. No matter. If there was anyone who could find the answer, it was she.

Despite his assurances of assistance, Mother Goose's purchases proved to be too much for even the youth, and she opted to hire a delivery man. It would likely be sometime before he arrived, however, and in the meantime, it was time to start on a fresh batch of pies. One never knew when company might arrive, and she would likely have less time for her own baking as Rowan's studies would need to take precedence. Stepping through the gate, she marched purposefully up the walk, already computing in her head how many pies she already had remaining, and how many more she would likely need.

Smiling fondly at the sleeping owl, Mother Goose stepped inside, setting down her basket of the more important market acquisitions. Reaching up, she deftly plucked the hat pin from her pink straw hat, fluffing the flowers before hanging it on the rack, exchanging it for her bright floral apron.