Several weeks after the meeting with Ariya, we were walking through a meadow when we unexpectedly came across the loveliest yellow hut one could imagine. Set on the timber line behind a beautiful flower garden with manicured orchards on either side, the cottage could not have been more charming. It was even surrounded by a white fence with a red barn behind it full of cattle. Everything was clean and organized; including the beautiful tropical flowers in full bloom sprouting from their pots on the windowsills. . . and attending to some laundry in the yard was a very beautiful maiden with long silky hair and a flowing red dress.
She looked up from her laundry basket for a moment just as Conqueror and I reached the top of the hill, and as soon as she saw us, she ran back to the cabin as fast as she could. I looked at my tattered robe and dirty feet and realized how terrible I must be, with my shaggy hair and unkempt beard, and raised my hand, indicating no harm. But it was too late; she had already entered and bolted the door.
I certainly had no interest in scaring the poor maiden further, but as I turned to leave, I noticed her peering curiously through a window. I waved goodbye and yelled, “Sorry! I meant no harm. I must look awful. It was by chance we passed your cabin. But we’ll be on our way now. Don’t worry, you have nothing to fear from us.”
The face quickly disappeared from the window, and I turned to walk away again.
A few steps further on, I heard a faint, “Wait a minute!”
Conqueror and we stopped in our tracks. This was an unexpected surprise! Could she really feel that I was harmless? Or was she just she was alone? She didn’t know what to think.
“Are you friendly?” she yelled at her from the partially open door.
“Yes,” I laughed, “Yes I am, very friendly! And so is my horse!”
He cautiously walked over to where we were standing and looked at us. “You seem nice,” she said, as if she was trying to size us up and convince herself of what she was saying at the same time. Then she said, “Okay, I’m sorry to be so suspicious. What kind of good neighbor would refuse to help travellers? You and your horse must be hungry?”
I was captivated by his nerve; I could already see that she looked a lot like me. But then that still, small voice in my heart, for some mysterious reason, began to plead with me to leave this maiden alone; immediately turn around and get out of here. Yet another part of me, in a more persuasive voice, tried to convince me not to be a fool. Why pass up some real food, especially for Conqueror? There might be grain in the barn for my faithful friend who has stood by me for so many years. Wouldn’t a good meal give us both extra strength to continue my search for the key? He could be on his way again in no time, and besides, it would be impolite to refuse this kind invitation. What harm could come of that?”
My heart softly answered, “You’ve done well just so far…there’s danger here.”
The loudest voice rudely overrode the calm and quiet voice of intuition and replied convincingly: “You are being disrespectful! Accept this kind invitation! Don’t be stupid!”
Heart and mind fight quickly, and this whole altercation between my intuition and logic took only the tiniest part of a moment, when I found myself graciously accepting the maiden’s offer, my poor heart whispering, “No, no, No”.
Unfortunately, he still did not understand the serious consequences of not following the soft murmurs of a subtle heart.
The maid’s name was Maradin, and while I rested in the stable after feeding and grooming Conqueror, she was busy preparing a feast fit for a “king”. Simmering was a thick vegetable stew, freshly picked, along with a plump chicken from her barnyard. There was a loaf of warm baked bread and a plate of rolls topped with tasty goat butter and cheeses. For dessert she made two bowls of sweet rice topped with mango and cream, and a freshly baked wild berry pie for good measure. She placed some clean clothes; a shirt and pants, and hot water for a bath. Next to the tub was a pair of scissors and a razor. . . and some lighted candles to create a cozy atmosphere for her special visitor.
I heard her shout from the cabin: “Come in and eat,” and I noticed that her voice was very different. She had never heard such a melodic voice. . . it was beautiful. I walked up to the cabin and suddenly found myself in heaven, completely overwhelmed by indescribable smells that, after five years, I had almost forgotten existed! Maradin headed for the bathroom. “Go in there and give me that dirty robe so I can wash it for you,” he ordered with a big smile.
I hurried to the bathroom, obediently pulling my robe out from behind the door, as instructed, and slipping into a tub of lukewarm, soft water that cast its magical spell in just a few minutes, as I drifted into a sound sleep.
I woke up to find Maradin sitting next to me, smiling. He Not only had he shaved off my beard, but he had also trimmed my hair while I was completely naked in the bathtub! With an amused expression, he timidly said, “You must be exhausted! You didn’t even wake up!” He then assured me not to worry about him, that he had grown up with four brothers, so there was nothing he hadn’t seen before. “But I couldn’t help but notice all the scars,” he said. “You certainly must have been a warrior. May I ask how you lost your eye? Was it in battle?”
I was strangely impressed by this enigmatic maiden and her straightforward approach. I could see that she had good judgment; easily recognizing a trustworthy person like me, and even more endearing was her wonderful heart and her cute smile.
“I’ll tell you about my eye after dinner,” I promised.
We had some delightful small talk over the meal, and both the food and the conversation turned out to be absolutely wonderful. I helped with the dishes, and after putting the last plate away in the spotless cabinets, she suggested we sit on the porch for a while and enjoy a delightful evening serenaded by frogs and crickets. I opened the door for her, and as she walked past, I couldn’t help but notice how gracefully she moved; it was almost as if she was floating.
Sitting on the swing, drinking strawberry wine, we found we could easily make each other laugh, and found ourselves talking about this and that well into the night. And finally, the conversation turned to Maradin’s past.
“Please forgive me if this question is too personal,” I apologized, “but I am curious as to why you are living here alone in this dangerous forest.”
She looked away for a moment. “I’m really not alone,” she answered, “my fiancé visits me whenever he can between hunting trips.” He lives not far away.”
fiance? For some reason he didn’t want to hear that she had a boyfriend. But I could feel that something was wrong; something wasn’t quite right because her eyes narrowed when she mentioned her fiancé, as if she was hiding something; or fear of something. He wasn’t about to meddle with me, though, and I didn’t go through with it that night.
However, her mood was still sullen, her long hair falling softly over her face as she looked towards the porch, “You see, my parents who lived here with me were recently killed while walking into town by the pair of man-eating men.” “. tigers that had long terrorized this part of the forest. A great hunter finally tracked down and killed the tigers, and befriended me. He convinced me to stay here instead of moving in with my brothers, promising to protect me.”
He then lit up and said, “If I may ask, what are you doing so far from civilization?”
I decided not to complicate matters, nor expose her to any danger by revealing my true past in case any of my pursuers passed by after I left, so I simply replied that I lost my eye in the wars many years ago, and that I was now a key seeker following my heart.
“I’m so sorry,” she blushed, “I knew there was something different about you… I felt it right away… I’m not even sure what the feeling was. I never would have walked anyway.” to your bathroom if I had known you were a key finder.
I told him not to worry and we talked for a while longer, until finally he suggested we go to bed, “It’s a dark night and a good rest would certainly be good before you continue your journey tomorrow. We invite you to sleep in the barn.”
“Are you sure that wouldn’t be a problem?”
“No problem at all,” he smiled sweetly.
“Well, I guess one night would be fine,” I agreed, “and I’m really tired… too much good food!”
So I accepted his kind invitation, not wanting to seem disrespectful of his hospitality. But all the while my silent heart protested, “No-No-No.” (To be continue)
