Back to camp

As sudden as an ocean storm, crashing waves into the bows of ships, Lucan awoke. There he was again, in the middle of the clearing in the woods. Laying on his back in the grass, surrounded by small white daisies. The sun shone warm unto his face, though its rays seemed far less magical than they had before. Slowly he sat up, looking around him, trying to make some sense of all that had just happened. That’s when a familiar voice called his name, or rather screamed it, from behind a thicket of trees.

“Lucan! You long-legged oaf! Get up off your ass and get back here at once! Who knows what kind of evil dwells in these woods…” Conn croaked in a squeaky voice, his usual tough demeanor significantly diminished. Looking at him Lucan saw his same old friend, the short, blonde-haired man, who got mistaken for a girl more often than Conn liked to admit. Though the mistake was easy to make. Conn had long, wavy hair, high cheekbones, and soft lips. Not a hair would grow on his chin, even as Conn acquired salves and concoctions from every potion seller he could find. He was tough though, strong willed and assertive, but seeing him cowering behind his oak tree, Lucan decided that much of his bravado was an act.

“Hey Connie! Not to worry, I’m alright. How long have I been asleep?” Conn looked at him confused, swung his head from side to side, searching for danger looming in the dark and motioned again for Lucan to come to him.

“Asleep? What are you talking about? One moment you’re running like a pig-headed idiot into the clearing and the next you’ve fallen over onto that fat ass of yours. Now stop fucking about and get over here.” Lucan scratched his head as he clambered up onto his feet. He noticed his clothes were on as they had been before and nothing seemed to have changed. He did feel a slowly softening erection pressing against the fabric of his pants, which he readjusted shyly, as he hurried to Conn. “It still amazes me how much of a dimwitted dullard you are, Lucan. We’re out here in some forrest we barely know, looking for some witch who may or may not be real, in lands under the dominion of the sworn enemies of the kingdom who’s colors we wear! When I tell you not to move, don’t fucking move.”

Taking large steps, as only he could, Lucan had made his way over to Conn, standing beside him and resting his large hand on his shoulder. His hand seemed to swallow him whole and even though he barely produced any pressure, Conn buckled slightly under its weight. “I know, I know. I’m sorry Connie, but I have good news too! News that’ll surely make you happy.” Conn rolled his eyes at Lucan’s unfailing jolliness and was certain this would not be the last time he’d have to yell at the hairy giant.

“What news would that be?”

As a breeze passed from the clearing through the woods and blew the distractingly wonderful smell of fresh daisies in the their noses, a short figure suddenly appeared. “I believe I would be that news…” A smooth voice spoke. There she stood, hands crossed loosely over her chest, her hair long, red hair braided behind her back, a wide brimmed hat pressed on her head. Althaea smiled mischievously and looked up at Lucan, who found her standing at about the height he had imagined her, even shorter than Connie was. Conn practically hurled himself into the air when he saw the green skinned stranger standing before him, quickly drawing his spear and pointing it towards her.

“What be your business vile beast! Let go of your weapons and steer clear of our path!” The words, though strongly meant, came out high-pitched and unconvincing, they even failed to make Althaea move an inch. She looked from Conn’s crazed eyes back up to Lucan, who scratched his chin, ashamed of his friends reaction to the woodland witch.

“Is this the commander you spoke of? He seems rather… cute?” A deep red blush rushed over Conn’s cheeks, who kept the end of his spear pointed in Althaea’s direction.

“No, this is my friend Conn, I think you might’ve frightened him a little…” Althaea Laid her hand on her chest and gestured her surprise.

“Afraid of me? Does he not know there is nothing to fear, and besides, he is the one pointing his weapon at me, I have been naught but peaceful as of yet.” Lucan grabbed a hold of Conn’s spear and lowered it, at first Conn refused to let go, but was quickly overpowered by his fellow soldier.

“What is all this Lucan? Who is this woman?” He muttered meekly. With a wide smile stretching his cheeks Lucan slapped his friend on his back, accidentally beating the air from his lungs, and gestured toward the figure standing before them.

“This Althaea! The witch of the woods and I am pledged to keep her from harm until such time as she sees fit. In the mean time she has agreed to travel with us to meet Cormac and hear whatever it is he has to say to her. Come now Connie, there is nothing to fear. She is perfectly pleasant.” Althaea feigned a bow in Conn’s direction, readjusting the leather strap of the bag she carried on her back and nodded along with what Lucan had to say. She had replaced the short black dress she had worn before, for an outfit more suitable for travel. Black pants were stuffed into long boots, laced up to her knees. She wore a black tunic, who’s neckline just revealed to top of one of her shoulders. Lucan had a hard time not imagining her naked and by the way Althaea was looking him up and down, it seemed as if her fantasy was about as lively as his.

It had taken another few long moments before Conn had been fully convinced. The story Lucan told him confused him greatly (though he made sure to leave out most of the more intimate details). Eventually he had relented and properly introduced himself to Althaea. Having been a sceptic of magic before, he was still slightly unconvinced that Althaea was actually a witch. But he could not deny the power of her aura radiating all about her, still he had groaned miserably when Lucan had explained that Althaea had cursed him, knowing that that could only ever lead to trouble.

The three of them had set out on their journey back to camp, though they had all agreed it’d be unlikely that they would reach the camp before nightfall. When Althaea had realized that Conn and Lucan had traveled on foot and boasted neither horse nor pony, she had taken Lucan up on his offer to carry her. So for the next few hours they traveled as the sun set. Conn in front, mumbling profanities and Lucan striding behind, Althaea on his back, her head nestled in his neck…