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Fire and Ice

Chapter One - An Unwelcome Visitor

© Cederwyn Whitefurr

July, 2003.

All Rights Reserved.

Jessica wiped a hoof-paw across her brow and pushed back the old, faded

scarf she wore, as she hefted the old, cracked handle of the woodcutters axe

and with one smooth stroke, brought it down, the pitted head of the axe

splitting the log. Groaning, the young Whitetail Doe retrieved the split log

and placed a part of it on the chopping block, then sighed and raised the

axe again. A Doe's work was never done..

Jessica was an anthropomorphic Whitetail deer, dressed in a loose, well

patched gown, that had the look of once being a thing of beauty, surely, a

gown that only one of nobility would have been able to afford, yet years had

taken away the luster and vibrant colours, leaving the once majestic gown

torn, ragged and well-faded. Its long, billowing sleeves had been torn away,

and the ruffle at the neckline had likewise been ripped off and long since

discarded. Now, it was faded, patched with differing pieces of cloth, and

its hem was threadbare with long tears along it.

Her fur was a soft, pale brown down the back of her neck and back, with a

grayish/white from the underside of her chin, down her throat, and barely

visibly through a slit in the front of her ragged gown, down the inner

thighs and ankles. Her wide set eyes were red-rimmed from the sweat that

trickled down into them, and her ears lay folded back against the back of

her neck, as she hefted the heavy axe once again, then breathed out and

swung it down onto the log.

With a splitting crack, the log broke apart and she paused, gasping and

stretching, her spine crackling as she stood upright. Kneeling, she began to

pick up the split logs, then hear ears perked up and flicked to and fro, as

she heard a distant sound that was not a natural part of her deep forest

home. Blinking her wide-set, deep brown eyes, she lifted her head up to the

trees and her ears flicked again, this time the raucous caw of a raven told

her more in that short, abrupt cry, than she wished to know. Putting down

her axe, she hurriedly gathered what she could and fled back into her small

stone and earthen cottage. Quickly, she looked around at her meager

possessions, then frowned and reached up above the door and retrieved an

ancient sword, which hissed from its scabbard. Holding it in both paws, the

Doe walked back outside, her face set in determination to defend her home

from this intruder, should he be hostile.

Experience had long taught her to be wary of strangers, and she was

determined not to give up her home or her life, cheaply.

*

From down the dim, sun-dappled forest trail, came the clip-clop of a strong,

powerful horse, its hoof beats thudding down against the forest loam. As it

hove into view, it was revealed to be a large breed of horse, its head,

neck, chest and rump barded in heavy plate armor, an ornate surcoat covering

it down to the knees. Astride the war-mount, sat a human man, dressed in

gleaming full plate armor, a large kite shield with a rearing unicorn emblem

on its front, a large, heavy lance replete with pennant flapping in the thin

breeze that swirled and eddied through the trees.

The man was Sir Kathis, Knight Errant and Dragon Slayer. Over a dozen

dragons had met their fates at his hand; he had the skull's hung outside his

castle to show for it. Across the kingdom, his reputation and fame were well

known. Many a maiden had begged for his hand in marriage, but he had refused

them all, as he knew, with each Dragon he went to face, it might very well

be the last time. It sent a thrill of adrenaline through him each time, as

he closed on his foe to do battle, the niggling doubts in his mind that he

might actually fail - and quite possibly - die.

*

Jessica stood her ground, holding her sword in both paws, her arm's

twitching as she struggled to heft the heavy blade, yet her sweat ravaged

muzzle showed no fear, only a grim determination as the knight advanced,

then paused a dozen paces away, his gauntleted hand rising to lift the visor

as he peered down from horseback at the Doe who wilted slightly, then as if

drawing strength from the very ground, raised the blade threateningly.

"Who are you, who comes unto my forest so armed?" Jessica called out, her

voice quavering with the fear that crept into her body.

"Hold your tongue woman!" Snapped the knight. "Who are you, who dares to

draw steel against me?"

"I answer to no-one, Knight!" Jessica growled. "This be my forest, and I be

its protector and guardian. Now, who gives you the right to intrude on this

forest, trampling through it like a raging Dragon?"

Impatiently, Sir Kathis marched his horse closer, and then stared down at

the Doe. "I am Sir Kathis, Knight Errant, and Dragon Slayer. Now, move aside

woman, or I'll move you aside."

Defiantly, Jessica moved to stand before the horse, whose ears suddenly

flattened and it snorted, tossing its proud head in fear, then pawed at the

ground and stepped back away from her. Blinking, Sir Kathis fought his

suddenly panicking mount, barely bringing the powerful warhorse under

control.

"A Knight?" Jessica snorted, then wrinkled her nose and spat on the ground

before her, then glared up at the Knight. "You have no business here Sir

Knight - now, take your pretty little pony and leave my woods, and do not

come back."

Incredulously, Sir Kathis stared down at the Doe, who stared back, her gaze

blazing with a surprising strength that he found bewildering. Never in his

life, had he met a peasant, who had such strength about them.it was this

that intrigued him. Jessica continued to stare, but her scowl slowly faded

into a look of apathetic disgust, and she flicked a furtive glance up at the

darkening sky.

"Milady - " Began Sir Kathis. "I am a Knight, on the King's business, and I

apologize for intruding into your forest.."

"King? King you say?" Jessica snorted and threw back her head, then her

laughter pealed forth. "I have no need of your pathetic King here. I care

not an ounce of wheat for your King, and I care even less for you Sir

Knight! However - you won't make it out of these woods before nightfall,

that much I know. The least I can do, is offer you my meager home for the

night.."

"Listen to me, you wretch of a stillborn fawn!" Snarled Sir Kathis. "I'll

have you not disparage my Lord's good name.."

"No, you listen to me!" Jessica suddenly snarled. "I've lived in this here

wood for twenty winters plus, Sir Knight.I know what moves and stirs within

its bounds, and even I know it'd be suicide to try and make it from here

come nightfall. You are welcome at my table this night, but you must leave,

come sunup. Either you accept, or you take that overgrown Shetland of yours,

and take your chances. It matters not to me, except that I'd rather not have

your stinking, rotting corpse within the bounds of my woodland home!"

With that, Jessica turned about and stalked back into her cottage, slamming

the door behind her. Astride his quivering mount, Sir Kathis blinked in

stunned disbelief, then looked around at the growing shadows. Sliding from

his saddle, he petted his mount on the neck, and felt the great warhorse

trembling, its ears flattening, nostrils flaring and eyes showing the whites

as they rolled in their sockets. Shaking his head, he unbuckled the visored

helm he wore, then lashed the reins to a small branch and moved into the

small, but surprisingly warm cottage. As the door closed, the horse whinnied

and reared, then squealed with a long, forlorn cry that echoed off into the

forest..

*

Inside the cottage, Sir Kathis stood, looking around at the crude furniture

and meager possessions of the young Whitetail, who busied herself with

preparing a delicious smelling stew that bubbled in a soot-black cauldron

over a small fire.

"I wasn't expecting.guests." Jessica growled quietly, not even bothering to

look at the Knight. "So you'll have to settle for yesterday's bread, some

goats milk and a wedge of cheese. I don't often get.visitors.out this way."

"With such a warm and welcoming greeting, I can see why not." Sir Kathis

replied, as he lowered himself into a rickety looking chair, his armor

creaking.

Jessica paused, then glanced back over her shoulder, her eyes narrowing in

anger. "If you care not for my hospitality, then you're welcome to walk

right back out that door. I didn't invite you into my forest, and I sure don

't want you here, but since you are here - then perchance, the least you

could do is show a little respect."

Her words struck Sir Kathis like a hammer, and he moved in his seat and for

a moment, actually looked chastised, before he cleared his throat and spoke.

"Milady - forgive me and my impudent manners. I meant no disrespect, its

just that I've ridden the length and breadth of this Kingdom for many weeks,

often without encountering another living person. I offer you my apology,

and I swear on my name, that I shall do my utmost to respect your beliefs

and shall not intrude on you anymore than I already have."

Pausing, Jessica sighed and her shoulders visibly slumped, before she turned

about and looked at the hard packed dirt floor, and furtively looked up at

the Knight, then her eyes dropped again.

"Apology accepted Sir Kathis, and I extend my own - it has been many.many

winters, since I had a male in my cottage. My only companion's have been the

animals of the wild woods, and my Nanny goat.but she isn't much of a

conversationalist." Jessica flashed him a weak smile, then slowly curtsied

and held out her paw to him.

Sir Kathis accepted the paw, then raised it to his lips and let his lips

tenderly brush her furred hoof-paw. Jessica blushed deeply beneath her fur,

and then squeezed his hand. With a startled gasp, Sir Kathis grunted as her

grasp nearly broke the bones in his gauntleted hand, and Jessica blinked

then hurriedly snatched her hoof-paw back and spun away, busying herself

with the cooking stew. Sir Kathis removed his gauntlets, then looked at his

left hand, seeing the white indentations of where the chain gauntlet had dug

into his flesh.

"That's.some grip you have milady." Sir Kathis acknowledged.

"It comes - from having to cut my own wood and other chores." Jessica

responded. "Its been.many winters since I."

A choking sob caught in her throat and she swallowed, and then stirred her

stew again, blinking away the salty tears. Sir Kathis blinked, then he rose

and placed his hand on Jessica's shoulder comfortingly. Without warning, she

snarled and shied away, bursting into tears and fleeing to the small

bedroom, whence she slammed the door hard enough to rattle the cracked

plates on the rack above the fireplace.

*

Confused and uncertain, Sir Kathis sighed and walked outside, to tend to his

loyal companion and mount, his mind whirling and churning with thoughts and

feelings he didn't understand.

*

In her bedroom, Jessica threw herself down onto her straw palleted bed and

wept bitterly, clutching a mangy wolf-skin stuffed with straw to her chest,

as she wept. For more years than she could remember, she had pined for her

lost mate, finally, she had resolved her grief and put it behind her.then

along comes this Knight, all virtue, goodness and righteousness, everything

her own mate had been.

It was as if a icy dagger had been plunged into her heart, all the dark,

rotten blood of her grief bubbling and gushing to the surface in a wild,

untamed rush of emotions. Emotions she had fought twenty years, to banish

and forget.emotions she did not want, not then, and not now.

To Be Continued..