chapter 2

The next day, Nathan headed out to the forest. Something weird had happened and he was going to get to the bottom of it. How had the girl gotten away from him? He was determined to find the archway again and figure out how he could have lost sight of it. Maybe it had just been camouflaged in the trees?

He used the photographs he'd taken to try to help him find it. Using a small notebook, he tried to sketch a rough map of what he'd seen so far. He managed to find his way back to the lake but the archway was nowhere to be found.

Dejected, he sat down for some lunch. He was starving and not really feeling the sandwich he'd packed but it would have to do. As soon as he got back home, he was going to treat himself to the biggest burger he could manage.

Just as he finished up, he heard something move in the trees. He stared across the lake and saw something. A flash of blue, just behind a large oak. It was the girl.

Nathan got up and walked towards her, not noticing he'd left his bag behind. He followed the sounds of movement as she tried to evade him.

"Stop, please," he called. "I just want to ask you something."

Nathan kept going, almost running full pelt through the trees until the girl he'd seen the night before stepped out from behind a tree and he almost crashed into her.

Her eyes sparkled as she stared at him, her platinum blonde hair rippling in the breeze.

"Well?" she asked after a moment.

"Huh?" he asked.

"What did you want to ask me?" she asked.

She was odd. She seemed equally warm and cold. Like he was safe with her, like she was pure and good... but at the same time, she had no time for anything he wanted.

Nathan's head swum as he tried to remember why he was there at all.

"What's your name?" he asked.

"Craos..." she said quietly. "It is an old name."

Nathan nodded. It sounded odd, but he was not familiar with the names of the region, just the tales.

"Is it traditional?" he asked.

"I guess," Craos said. "In a way. My... family. I guess you could say they hailed from Ireland."

"Oh," Nathan said. "Mine too!"

"Hmm," she said, nodding. "Was there anything else you wanted?"

Nathan thought about it for a moment. There were many things that he wanted.

"I'm not sure," he said.

"Well, I suppose I should reward you for helping me the other day. Give me a request and I shall fulfill it."

Nathan frowned. She was younger than him but he felt so powerless in front of her. She seemed larger than she was. Maybe it was her confidence. The way she was dressed only magnified her beauty and elegance.

"I don't know..." he said.

What did he want?

"Choose."

"Uh.. ." Nathan panicked. "I don't know, I guess I could eat?"

"You just ate," Craos said with a bemused expression on her face.

"I know," Nathan said. "That changes nothing."

Croas smiled, her eyes sparkling again and Nathan felt his heart soar. She motioned for him to follow her so he did without question. He cloak fluttered just above the leaves as she walked. It was long but somehow managed to avoid snagging on branches or carrying leaf litter with it.

Nathan's mouth hung open when he saw where they had ended up. Walking in what seemed to be the exact opposite direction, they were back at the archway. Craos walked through it and looked back at him so he followed. As he stepped through, he heard something in his ear shift, maybe it was air pressure.

Nothing changed, though. He'd half expected to end up teleported to some strange world, but that was just ridiculous, wasn't it? He continued to follow Craos through a small pathway in the trees he hadn't spotted before. A small table was set up beside a tiny house like something out of a children's book.

"Is this your home?" he asked.

Craos smiled but didn't answer. She motioned for him to sit down so he obliged. She entered the house and he sat peacefully, admiring the forest in all its beauty. When she returned a few moments later his mouth dropped open. She had changed her clothes into something more modern. The fabric seemed the same but she was wearing a much shorter dress, with black tights. She carried a tray of tiny cakes towards him.

"Do you drink," she asked. "I have some fantastic wine."

Nathan nodded and she returned to house house and brought out more food and a bottle of wine. Her change in appearance shouldn't have been that staggering, really, but it seemed to break some image of her he'd had. This was really happening, wasn't it?

He sat down and passed him things she wanted him to try.

"Did you make these?" he asked as he picked up a tiny cake.

Craos nodded and smiled as he took a bite. It was delicious. Nathan moaned in delight at the light, fluffy texture and reached for another.

"Eat as much as you wish," she said. "It's the least I can do."

Nathan didn't need to be told twice. He ate with abandon, sampling each type of baked good and enjoying a few slices of whatever meat she'd placed in front of him. Looking at the bow leaning up against her house, he guessed it was venison, or some other animal she had hunted herself.

Even the bread and cheese was fantastic. By the time he was finished, Nathan was beyond full. In fact, he was a little uncomfortable and even more embarrassed that such a beautiful girl had just watched him make a pig of himself.

Despite that, Craos just sat and smiled, never hesitating to pass him more food whenever he finished what was in front of him.

Nathan looked at the plates on the table. They were all empty.

"Would you like me to get you some more?" Craos asked.

Nathan shook his head and tried to hide a muffled burp behind his hand.

"No, thank you this was amazing but I've definitely had enough," he said.

He was acutely aware of how tight his clothes felt around his full belly.

"Are you sure?" Craos asked. "I wouldn't mind. Eating well is one of the greatest pleasures in life, is it not?"

Nathan laughed. She was definitely right. But no, he was past done. He was already dreading the walk back to the village. He hadn't been that full in a long time.

"No, but thank you, this was amazing."

"Very well," Craos said. "I shall show you back to the gate, you can find your way back from there."

Nathan got to his feet and started to follow her. He felt more than a little winded but decided to keep that to himself. He followed her to and through the archway again, wondering if passing through it was some kind of tradition.

"I've enjoyed this," she said, sounding kind of surprised. "You know, you can come back and visit me if you ever want company. Or if you're ever hungry."

Nathan smiled. Maybe he would.

That night, Nathan was shocked at how quickly he was hungry again. Usually, with a meal that large, he would only have needed a small meal in the evening, if anything at all, but he was positively famished. He ate whatever he could get his hands on, devouring three large bowls of stew at the local tavern and chased it down with almost a whole loaf of bread. He knew he was making a scene but he was just so hungry...