Tale 47- The Insecurity Potion

 It was…warm. The Traveler groaned slightly, her mind regaining consciousness. Finding the strength to open her eyes, she realized she was lying down on a bed, looking at the room around her. Though she had never seen it before, something about it was familiar. Her eyes rested on an old fishing rod and hat, dusty and unused for quite some time. Judging by the size, it seemed the items would be used by a child. Suddenly, the door to her room opened, the girl hiding under the blanket and trying to fake sleep as someone approached. Gently, the person sat down on the bed and moved the blanket back slightly, placing a hand on her head and then a soft, warm cloth. The Traveler opened her eyes slightly, seeing the familiar brown hair and pinafore…Sarafelle. 

Sara was preparing some sort of medicine, before turning and noticing the Traveler was looking up at her. Giving a sweet smile, she finished the little brew and handed it to the Traveler for her to drink, it tasted quite bitter and made the young girl recoil. Still feeling a little dazed and confused, she looked up at Sara, who retrieved the cup and gently replaced the blanket, the Traveler keeping the warm cloth on her head and waiting for Sarafelle to explain what was going on. The maid continued cleaning up, and then turned back to the Traveler. “You’re probably quite confused, but I found you out there in the snow. You were freezing…you could have died if I hadn’t been there…” she fretted, the Traveler looking down. Perhaps it was better to die and be free than walk the rest of her life in chains.

Sarafelle continued. “I brought you home…you’ve been asleep for five days. And…well, I took the liberty of nursing you. You had a pretty bad cold and you needed to rest desperately, so I didn’t want to wake you. You’ve been here in my bed for the past few nights…but sleeping on the sofa isn’t too uncomfortable once you get used to it. And I could have changed you into one of my nightgowns, but I knew you liked your cloak. Mother and I were hoping you would enjoy a meal with us when you awoke, since she really wanted to meet you…” As Sarafelle continued to talk, the Traveler’s mind could only focus on one small detail. ‘I could have changed you into one of my nightgowns’...that’s right…she’d been asleep, and completely vulnerable. The Traveler began to quiver. If Sarafelle had so pleased, she could have done far more than just changing her clothes. A lump formed in her throat, tears coming to her eyes. She didn’t want to believe Sarafelle was a bad person, but her mind had been through enough horror to know that trust was earnt. Though Sarafelle may have shown her kindness, it could all be a ruse…Sarafelle could have had her right where she wanted her, and she would have been completely unconscious. Suddenly, a touch on her shoulder snapped her out of it. Sara’s mother, one hand holding a walking cane, had joined them in the room. 

“Good morning dear. It is wonderful to meet you. My little Sara talks so much about you.” she chuckled, Sara going a little pink. “This is my mother…” Sara spoke, a little bashful, the Traveler staring up at the woman. Though she was older, she had the same bright eyes as her daughter, and a kind face which made the Traveler feel as if she was someplace safe. “Sara said she’s going to cook a feast for us tonight.” her mother spoke, the Traveler feeling a pit in her stomach forming. A feast…in exchange for what? She pulled the blanket over herself a little more, and reached a hand up to adjust her hood. Sarafelle noticed her demeanour had changed and gave a smile. “If you feel well enough, you can get up. There are facilities for washing in the other room, if you want to. I’ll be in the kitchen.” Sara spoke, smiling down at the Traveler, who nervously nodded and got up out of bed, still slightly shaky. Sarafelle’s mother departed to go and read in the sitting room, and Sarafelle showed the Traveler where the washroom was.

Entering the bathroom, it was decorated and maintained extremely well, Sara filling up the bathtub with warm water and some soap to create bubbles, before leaving the Traveler alone for privacy. For a moment, the Traveler just looked around, staring at everything in the bathroom. Something on the windowsill caught her eye- there was a blue butterfly that had landed on some of the purple hyacinths, seemingly waiting for someone to open the window. The Traveler unlatched it, allowing the small creature to fly away, and felt as if a weight was being lifted off her shoulders slightly. There was no reason to fear Marcielle here…

Removing her cloak and rags, she sat in the bathtub, feeling the warm water comforting her. Her hands touched the numerous bubbles, the girl cupping her palms and throwing some into the air, unable to stop a tiny smile forming on her face as she did so. She leaned back, feeling herself completely relax. She was alone, in a place that was full of life and greenery, and there was someone who did only want the best for her, even if she struggled to believe it at times. Taking a calm breath, her mind relaxed, managing to relieve herself of the terrifying memories from the last few days. Sarafelle’s medicines had also helped reprieve her pain, and left her feeling more refreshed than she’d felt in a while. She stared over at her rags…they were a product of a prisoner, but now she was a traveler. She had a goal to fulfil…and that goal she would complete, no matter the cost. Images of freedom danced in her mind. What would she do with her life after everything…? Her family didn’t want her anymore, and Marcielle would likely keep trying to trick her…but would it be alright to stay here, with Sarafelle? 

After redressing, Sarafelle handed her a brush so she could keep her hair tidy, and then the Traveler followed her into the kitchen, where she was cooking a meal and gazing out the window at her beautiful garden. “I should pick the pink carnations…and also the peonies…” she murmured, before turning and smiling at the Traveler, who was staring at the butterflies dancing from flower to flower, including the little one she’d seen earlier. “They’re so free…” the Traveler whispered, Sarafelle putting a hand on her shoulder suddenly, since she no longer needed to monitor the food. “Maybe…but they don’t live long…” she sighed, before her gaze drifted toward the large tree and the bench underneath. “You know…you’re not the only one who dreams of freedom.” Sara whispered, the Traveler looking up at her in surprise. “When I was a bit younger, around fifteen, I decided that freedom meant no longer being here…” she trailed off, before sighing and opening up to the Traveler for the first time. 

“When I was younger…I’d been a servant at the castle for around four years…it was hard work and I didn’t give myself many days off…so eventually to cope with the stress I started to…” she stopped, before rolling up one of her long sleeves to reveal many scars, the Traveler feeling her heart sink. “I thought I deserved pain…that there was a reason nearly everyone treated me terribly. I stopped eating and sleeping properly…and I even decided one night to try and…hang myself on the tree.” She felt a sob rising in her throat, the regret she felt being the worst feeling. “Luckily…I snapped out of it in time and didn’t go through with it…I threw the rope into the fire. But…I don’t like the feeling of my neck being restrained to this day.” she sighed, before feeling the Traveler put an arm around her, firmly. Sarafelle was surprised, but couldn’t help a little smile forming. “After that…one of my friends at work, Adeline…she noticed I was nearly collapsing from malnutrition. She helped me get home and nursed me back…since then, she’s been one of my closest friends. Apart from you, of course.” she giggled, meeting the Traveler’s worried eyes. Her face changed, Sara reaching a hand to gently touch the Traveler’s face. “I promise, I’m okay now…” she whispered, the Traveler now being convinced. Sara’s hands were soft, even despite the work she had to do with them, and warm. Even though the Traveler struggled with physical contact…that feeling of Sarafelle’s warm hands…she didn’t mind it.

Eventually, there was a knock at the door around dinnertime, Sara opening it and greeting Adeline, who gently greeted the Traveler, joining the three of them for dinner. Sara’s mother was reading, giving a smile to the Traveler as she entered the sitting room alongside Sarafelle and Adeline. “I heard you enjoy stories, little one?” she smiled, the Traveler eagerly nodding and the maid’s mother patting a place on the small sofa next to her. Slightly timid, the Traveler sat down, being surprised as the older woman put an arm around her. With a smile, Sarafelle’s mother began telling the story of ‘the Insecurity Potion’.

‘Once upon a time, there were mischievous little goblins who preyed on human insecurities, using magic to amplify them and finding it hilarious when they influenced the mortals enough to force them to despair. One day, one of them found a potion which allowed them to do this far faster, to the point that they were able to wreak havoc on the world around them and many humans fell down to despair. But one very special young woman was able to evade them, for she had a deep-rooted self love that far outweighed anything the goblins tried against her. Even using the potion on her had no effect, for she knew that one’s true beauty is found within their heart, so the goblins dubbed her a sorceress and fled, never to be seen again.’

Sarafelle’s mother smiled down at the girl as the Traveler wrote. She was every bit as gentle as Sara had told her, so she understood why Sarafelle was so drawn to the Traveler. The group then ate dinner together, Sarafelle and Adeline having a discussion in the kitchen afterwards, and Sarafelle’s mother observing the Traveler as she illustrated. “Sarafelle wants to come with you when you leave again…so I just have one request.” she suddenly spoke, the Traveler raising her head. The older woman smiled. “Take care of yourself, alright? My Sara cried her eyes out when she found you, she thought you were dead.” she whispered, the Traveler’s eyes becoming a little misty. After they had shown her so much kindness…she had to keep going. She had to keep living, in order to reach that goal…and perhaps Sarafelle might accompany her throughout. She nodded, the older woman using her walking cane to get up and handing the Traveler a pack of supplies. Adeline departed, waving goodbye to the Traveler and heading back up the mountain toward the castle, whilst Sarafelle and the Traveler prepared to journey onward, Sarafelle sharing a tight hug with her mother and reminding her of the dosage for her medication, making the woman chuckle. As they headed off into the night, Sarafelle’s hand entwined with the Traveler’s, both girls no longer feeling so alone.