Her Fierce Protector

Chapter 10

ASHERA has never been to Alawin forest again for how many good days. She spent her days staying in their village together with her family and the other people in the village. Every action of her is watched and observed by her father and she is not happy about it, it was like she lost her freedom and she was in prison.

Her sister, Ria has been gone for days as well and she envies her because their parents never scold her older sister like they usually do to her.

Ruso, her boastful suitor kept on visiting her every day, giving her freshly picked flowers and fruits and she hates it.

I can always pick flowers and fruits for myself if only they would let me. She sighed and continued making her flower crown, it's her favorite thing to do to relax but looks like the boredom and stress that is caused by being in prison in their village will not be experienced and will not be solved by making flower crowns.

"Did you like the flowers that Ruso gave to you today, Ashera?" her sister, Zelda, asked her. It's morning and her mother is busy cooking something for their lunch and for their father who is working on the farm.

Ashera looked at her sister, she sighed and pouted, "I don't feel better here, Zelda… even how beautiful these flowers are."

Zelda smiled at her to cheer her up, she touched her hair and left her. Zelda went back to the kitchen and helped their mother cook while Ashera continued making her flower crowns.

She sighed and looked around, she stared outside the window staring at the dancing leaves of trees, and suddenly remembered the cold blows of wind in the Alawin forest.

Is Amaru there today?

She stilled when she realized what she just asked in her mind, she chuckled a little remembering that rude but sweet gray-eyed man.

Why am I asking if he is there? Does it even matter?

She shook her head and released a deep breath as she looked at her flower crown, it's finally done, made with white flowers she did not know what to call. It is perfect for her white dress made by her mother. Her mother is good at weaving fabrics and making beautiful dresses as well. She loves all the dresses that her mother had made for her.

She smiled and put on her flower crowns and went outside the house to look at her shadow to see if it looked good.

Ahh… I wish I could go to Fuente de Vida spring so I could see my reflection there.

She pouted and went back inside their house and looked at the food that her mother and sister were cooking.

"Mother?"

"Yes, Ashera?"

"Can I… go to Fuente de Vida Spring?"

Her mother turned to her and smiled at her then touched her cheeks, "Ashera, that's just near Alawin Forest… I'm sure your father will not allow you to go there."

Ashera sighed, her shoulders dropped as she sat on the wooden bench in their kitchen. She pouted as she watched her mother's back.

"Maybe… I can accompany Ashera to the Fuente de Vida, Mother? Maybe Ashera is just bored staying here. I also want to swim there."

Ashera immediately looked at her sister, her hope suddenly boosted.

"Okay, but we will talk to your father first, alright? Your father needs to approve it first."

"Yes!" Ashera said happily, she almost jumped. Her sister looked at her, she mouthed, "Thank you, Zelda!"

Her sister just smiled and winked at her. She is sure that their father would allow them because their father trusts her sister so much. Zelda is probably the favorite daughter after all because, unlike her and Ria, Zelda is obedient and not stubborn.

After preparing the food, Ashera went with her sister and mother to the farm to have their lunch together with their father. Ashera is very excited, she is back to being lively again because she knows that she will see the spring again.

"Father?" Zelda called their father while they were eating together with the other family in their village.

"Hmm?"

"Can Ashera and I go to the Fuente de Vida, Father? I and Ashera want to swim there after lunch."

Their father looked at her sister with furrowed brows as if analyzing if he would allow them or not. Then their father looked at her, she gulped suddenly and felt tense with the way his father looked at her like he did not trust her.

"Fuente de Vida is just near the Alawin forest, Zelda. Why not choose another place instead?"

"Father…" Zelda called.

Ashera's shoulders dropped out of disappointment after hearing that from their father, her hopes that were built back earlier just suddenly shattered.

"We will go to Fuente de Vida, not to the Alawin Forest… and Fuente de Vida Spring is the nearest place where we can swim. I like the fresh and clean water there. I promise I will guard my sister and make sure that we will be home before the sun sets."

"Gido, just allow your daughters. Fuente de Vida is harmless and they just want to go swimming. Let them, they'll not do anything bad," their mother said softly trying to convince their strict father.

Their father looked at them again and after a moment, Gido sighed like he just surrendered from the argument, "Alright! Just promise that you will be home before the sunsets. And Zelda, watch after your naughty sister, she might deceive you, especially that Alawin forest is just near the spring."

"Yes, Father! Thank you." Zelda hugged their father and Ashera smiled at her father.

"And you, Ashera, please, stop being stubborn, okay?"

"Yes, Father…" Ashera said, now she can even laugh and giggle, she even hugged her father as her way of saying thank you to him.

"Alright," their mother interrupted the moment, "Let's eat so both of you can go to the spring immediately. You better bring dry clothes with you so you can change right after."

They hurried to eat their lunch, Ashera and her sister went back to their house to get some clean and dry clothes for them to change after bathing in the spring. Ashera is beyond excited again. Finally!

"We'll go now, Mother!" Zelda said.

"Okay, make sure to be home before sunset, and please be careful, do not go to other place so if ever look for you, we will immediately find you, okay?"

"Yes, Mother!'

Ashera holds her sister's hand, her smile is as bright as the sun so as the twinkle in her eyes unlike earlier when she looks exhausted and stressed even though she didn't do anything that could drain her energy.

"Thank you so much, Zelda. I really appreciate this, I know that this is not really your thing but you choose to find a way for me to do what I want," Ashera said to her sister.

"Anything for you, Ashera. I told you, I want you to be happy."

After a few moments of walking their way to the Fuente de Vida Spring, they finally got there. As usual, the place was so peaceful, they couldn't hear any noise that was painful to their ears. They heard the flow of water, the wind, the dancing grasses, bamboo, and the leaves of trees. The beautiful sound of a variety of birds is her most favorite music.

Ashera closed her eyes and felt the area for a moment, it felt like she had gone for too long that she missed the feeling of being there. She felt the familiar feeling of nature's effect on her and she even opened her hands and threw her arms wildly while she was closing her eyes.

"This is heaven!" Ashera shouted, the fresh wind suddenly hugged and kissed her skin, her brown wavy hair flew together with her dress. She opened her eyes and found her sister, Zelda, happily watching her.

She giggled, "I'm sorry, I just really love it," she said and put her handmade bag to the ground and immediately went to the spring and put her feet to the water then she sat down on the dry stone. Her sister followed her, Zelda sat beside her and mimicked what she did.

"Is this really what you want?" Zelda asked her, "What's with nature here that you really like visiting this place even our parents forbade you to?"

Ashera smiled, "This feels home, Zelda," she chuckled in happiness and roamed her eyes, "The water, the fresh and cold breeze of wind, the birds singing… the greeneries… everything here feels life, Zelda."

Zelda was smiling the whole time that she was watching her, she looked at her sister and giggled again, "If only I could live here, I would choose to live here, Zelda."

"Then you must convince your husband to live here then," her sister jokes, "Ruso will surely give everything for you to be happy, Ashera. He is the kind of man that would make you really happy."

Ashera winced after hearing the name of Ruso, she looked at her sister, "I don't like him," she bluntly said without sugarcoating.

Her sister's eyes widened as if she was surprised, "Why? Ruso is the dream man of most girls, Ashera. He is strong, he is sweet, he is brave. I'm sure he will be a good husband and father, Ashera."

Ashera pouted and sighed, "He isn't my dream man… I don't get his attitude, I couldn't even share a laugh with him, it's too awkward, Zelda… because… I always see him as a boastful person… I mean… I prefer him to be my older brother or friend. He was once my friend when I was younger, right? I want us to stay that way… He is even older than you with a year age difference..."

"Then who is the man that you liked then?"

As if on cue, she automatically looked at the entrance of Alawin forest, her eyes widened in surprise when her eyes suddenly saw the familiar figure of a man there… she gasped.

"Ashera?"

She looked at Zelda and immediately looked back at the entrance, but the man was not there anymore.

Amaru? Why am I seeing you? Are you real? Or am I just imagining things?

"I'm asking you, Ashera."

"I want a man with a pair of gray, cold eyes, Zelda."

She suddenly covered her mouth when she realized what she just uttered to her sister, even though she was surprised and couldn't believe what she just said.

Why? Why him? Why did I even say that?!