Chapter 18 - The talking Doe

She was somewhere in the woods. That was her first thought. She reasoned that she couldn't have been far from the cottage, but she didn’t even remember ever wandering away from the cottage, ever leaving the cottage in the first place. and if she was being honest with herself, where she was, wasn't remotely familiar, and she had to fight down the panic that bubbled up in her at the thought of being lost. She looked around her, turning on the spot and wondered how she had gotten there in the first place... And what was she doing here anyway?

Her train of thoughts were abruptly cut short when she spotted the most beautiful white doe she had ever seen. It was breathtaking, gloriously beautiful… and It was drinking water from a stream. It’s head bowed, knees buckled, and she thought, graceful.

She found herself walking closer to it, stopped, and looked behind her unsure. she needed to get back to Martha's. Jasper and her Grandmother would be worried sick, she didn’t like the thought of making them worry.

"But I just want to see it up close, it will only take a minute." She reasoned with herself. She dusted the skirt of her gown and started walking gingerly toward the White Wonderful Doe. she crushed a twig as she got closer and the Doe paused it’s drinking and raised its head. So much for stealth, she thought to herself, making a face.

"Hi sweetheart, you're so so beautiful." She said in her most soothing voice, a smile on her face, the last thing she wanted to do was scare it off.

"Can I touch you, if just a little?" The doe stared at her, as though contemplating her, before giving a regal nod and Hannah was shocked.

"Can you understand me?" It nodded again, just a subtle bend of it’s head. She swallowed past her momentary shock and took measured steps toward the doe, running a hand down it's flank. One day, she would look back and wonder why she didn't take off for the hills when she realised that the doe… an actual Doe! Could actually understand her.

"You really are precious." She said while the doe looked into her eyes and she into it's.

"Thank you." She heard the words in her head and jerked her hand away, shocked.

"Did you– no that can't be right." She said to herself and looked into the eyes of the doe. It watched her, amusement evident in its expression. Hannah blinked twice, completely taken aback, but indeed her curiosity peaked.

"You spoke, didn't you? That was you in my head." The words sounded way too off to her, but the doe nodded, that slight bend, and Hannah could stare in starstruck wonder.

"But how?" The doe brushed it's head against her hand. Hannah thought for a moment,

"I– I could hear you because I touched you?" The doe nodded, it's eyes twinkling, it seemed to be having the time of its life. It bowed its head and waited.

"You want me to touch you again?" It looked up at her and nodded, before bowing its head again.

"Here goes." She placed her hand on it's head and ran it down it's flank.

"Your touch is gentle, princess." Hearing the beautiful Doe's voice in her head again. Hannah's eyes grew wide. Her voice was like a song, lyrical, warming her heart.

"How is this possible, how can this be?"

"You are in fairè, princess, the land of all magical creatures. Fairies, Elves, pixies–"

"Talking does." Hannah said dryly, but the doe nodded delightedly.

Hannah smiled looking around. She could now see the difference in the woods, as though seeing it for the first time. it had a sort of cherry feel to it, she wondered if it was the magic of the place. A bird sang beautifully from a distance, and trees bellowed in the wind. It was all so peaceful here. But she found she was still confused.

"But how is that possible, I– am I dreaming?" She asked, trying to understand.

"Yes, but that doesn't mean none of this is real, it is indeed." Hannah's brow knitted.

"Who brought me here?"

"I did."

"Why?"

"To see you, princess. I wanted to know what all the speculation was about." The doe said with some amusement. Hannah was bewildered at the Doe's amusement, because unlike the Doe, she was as they say, losing her mind.

"Me?"

The doe nodded. Hannah was silently taking all of it in when a thought struck her.

Fear creeped in, in full swing. Could this be another pull in by the Athànatoi? She thought.

the doe shook its head, in response to the question, that she hadn’t voiced,

"You can hear my thoughts?" The doe looked at her apologetically.

"They were quite loud."

Hannah dropped her hand from the Doe's head with a sigh and simply sat beside it. She wasn't angry, she had heard her thoughts, but she needed a moment to process the reality of what was happening. A reality that included hearing a Doe's words in your head. After a while the doe bent it's knees and sat beside her, leaning gently against her, as though they did that often. It was evening here, and the sun was going down. And to Hannah, it was the most beautiful sunset she'd ever seen.

The doe nuzzled her shoulder and she looked at it a moment before placing an arm over it, and they stayed that way for a while.

"It's beautiful." Hannah said finally. And the doe nodded, understanding.

"The times, they weigh on you princess." It wasn't a question, it was a statement, and although Hannah didn’t want to agree to it, it was desperately true.

"They do." She answered finally, truthfully.

"But you are a strong one."

"I don't feel very strong. In fact, I don't feel strong at all." She didn't know where the words came from, only that she felt they were true.

"You have love, princess. Love in itself is strength."

Simple words. such simple words, quietly said. And they were like grace, And as she pondered them, they gave her hope.

"You must be careful, princess. Yes, dear, very careful. Not all are true, but indeed, now is the time to have your eyes open to that. Some may want to deal with the Athànatoi to help them get to you. They will try to resist you, a woman, fighting for you and what is yours. But do not let them bring you down. Fight, princess, and do not surrender."

Hannah ran her hand up and down the Doe's flank.

"Thank you." A warmth spread through her and she knew it to come from the doe she was coming to have affections for.

"You are very welcome, my Hannah."

My Hannah. She liked that.

"Will I see you again?"

"In time, you most definitely will. I pray you, princess, do say hello to Martha for me. And a kiss to your warrior."

"A kiss. Indeed. Shouldn't it be like a nuzzle or something?"

The doe laughed, a rich sort of laugh that made Hannah grin.

"Goodbye, my friend." Hannah said when she felt herself being pulled out of the dream. And the last thing she remembered was that she hadn't asked for the Doe's name.