2 ~ First encounter
736 Words
She frowns.
His words are not making any sense to her. "Who are you?"
She hears him come closer and stop right under her balcony and her hand automatically reaches for anything she can defend herself with. Too bad she had left her walking stick downstairs by the entrance.
She isn't exactly expecting to talk to a stranger at this hour.
The balcony is pretty easy to breach if one is agile enough and determined to climb it.
"If I may say so, you have the voice of an enchantress...I have never heard such wonderful singing in all my life."
Her hand finds the handle of a broom. Not much to defend herself with but it's still better than nothing. If she can keep him talking, she'll know when and where to hit before he can even come closer.
And yet the voice is gentle and remains at a respectable distance. "Please don't be afraid. I was passing nearby when I heard you singing and I couldn't help but be drawn to it. I mean you no harm, truly."
There isn't really much she can do anyway except trust his word but somehow her instincts are telling her it's alright so she nods.
"Will you tell me your name, little one?"
She almost smiles. At five feet nine, she's not exactly petite. Her father was quite tall and bulky and while she is not quite voluptuous like her mother, hard work and training formed her muscles well in the right places.
"I haven't been called a little one since I was seven years old…How tall you must be if you can say that to me."
There is a very pregnant pause and she realizes that the truth has finally dawned on him.
"You...you cannot see me?"
She smiles sadly. "I hope it doesn't give you strange ideas. I may not be able to outrun you for long but I will fight you until my very last breath."
Not to mention she has a few tricks up her sleeves. Her father had taught her self-defence since she was a very young girl.
It's why nobody in the village and neighbouring ones would even consider messing with her.
Not when she was little, not even now that she's blind.
Her father made sure to show everyone that she is capable of putting a man twice her size down without breaking a sweat, with a blindfold on.
Her sight might be gone but it sharpened her other senses instead.
Her blindness does not diminish the level of pain she can cause.
She knows exactly where to hit hard to inflict the worst kind of damage.
And she never hesitates to deliver a lethal blow, as soon as possible.
Hit the iron while it's hot.
"You're blind." Her father had told her over and over again to make sure the lesson sticks. "If you hesitate or wait too long, you'll be dead. Or worse."
Yes, she knows there is a fate worse than death.
Like being alive but broken, violated and empty.
Or losing the people you love and defend.
Oh no, she won't be going down easily at all.
The silence stretches on even longer and after a little while, she realizes it's because she's alone once again.
The man has left without saying a word.
That's…rude.
Not that she is keen on talking to a complete stranger, but he could've at least said goodbye before leaving, like a normal gentleman.
Perhaps he isn't.
She sighs, frowning in annoyance.
Well, in that case, good riddance.
It is fortunate this is a small and peaceful village and the men are honourable and respectful.
But you never know when strange wicked men might be passing through and a nubile, blind girl living on her own tempts trouble.
She really should find someone who'd stay with her as a companion, even only at night.
Oh, but how she detests depending on someone else!
She sighs again and decides to return to her room to sleep.
It's been a long day and it is time to call it a night.
A wolf's desolate howl from a distance echoes through the forest on that side of the mountain, as she closes the door to the balcony, raising goosebumps on her arms.
It was a desperate cry, almost heartbreaking.
And sure enough, her dreams are haunted by a handsome grey wolf with stunning blue eyes.
- Writer
