#fantasyfantasy

Dark brown eyes stared back at the oval face in the small handheld mirror, narrowing slightly as they scrutinized the dangling silver at her ears. The druidess set the mirror down and took the earring out, gently setting it beside its partner. She smiled apologetically at the merchant before moving to the produce stand.

“Willow!”

At the sound of a vaguely familiar voice she whipped around, the wide sleeve of her robe catching the handle of the mirror. Willow winced as she heard the mirror clatter to the cobblestones, swiftly moving to pick it up. She was surprised the mirror didn't smash, perhaps it was made of some reinforced material...

Her thoughts were interrupted as she lowered the mirror to see two men before her, both of them breathing heavily. The prince Kaile greeted her warmly and she merely returned his greeting with a nod before looking over at his companion whose hood had fallen away from his face, revealing a familiar head of dark brown hair and a pair of eyes that seemed to bore into the depths of her mind.

Past hurts came flooding back and she turned her back to the men, resuming her quest for some produce. Usually jovial on her visits to the market, Willow's brows were furrowed as she half-heartedly waved to the fruit vendor. A pair of silver coins clinked onto the wooden surface of his table and she took a pair of pomegranates in exchange, ignoring the voices trying to get her attention.

The men seemed to be tireless in their pursuit and she stopped just short of the small hut she now occupied, turning around to face them.

“I told you she was going to stop eventually,” Kaile said with a grin, eyes flickering to Jarad briefly before focusing on the druidess before him. “Willow, he – we – need your help.”

“With?”

“It's...a long story.”