those left behind

Chapter 2.

David began his training on his sixteenth birthday. He had been so excited to tell his friends, Juno and Desdemona.

But they had been out somewhere and left him behind. He didn't know where they went when they weren't with him but now he could spend time with his new fellow guards. At least that's what he told himself.

They simply had chosen different paths. David sat in the tavern after a long day with a jug of mead, Thinking it over; when his superior walked into the tavern looking for him.

"David! I have a job for you if you are still able, there's been sightings of witches near the edge of the woods south of the town." he asked, placing a parchment on the table in front of him. David unrolled it and took a look and the request. He noticed that on the parchment was a map drawn of the town and an X where the witch had been sighted. He noted how close to Desdemona's house it was.

"I'll take a look, can't be too careful," David agreed. His superior told him to be careful and left. He shoved the parchment into his jerkin and once he had finished his mead he set off.

He didn't waste time and went right to Desdemona's home not far from the edge of the forest.

He took a deep breath and composed himself, Desdemona had grown beautiful and David was not blind. He had isolated himself from her in recent months in order to hide his growing fondness for her.

His visit was short but nerve racking. He had warned her about the witch and had some tea. He loved when she made tea but the taste of the stuff made him want to vomit, so he never drank any. He decided to call it a day. He would have more luck with the morning sun.

The next day, he went towards the woods and once he entered, he noticed a small grove hidden within. There were ruins of a watchtower of sorts that had been unused for hundreds of years. He walked around it suspecting this would be a perfect place for witches to hide from the rest of the town.

He almost left but something caught his eye, Something silver and gold in the brush. He reached in and heard a yelp. In surprise he staggered back and a Flash of a green gown came flapping out.

"Juno?" He exclaimed in surprise when he realised who was flapping at him. She stopped and Sighed in relief.

"David! I thought you were some awful beast come to rob me!" she chimed, relieved to not be robbed that evening. She dusted herself off and straightened her evergreen gown. Elves and their love of green garb was lost on David.

David explained that he was looking for signs of witches, Juno gasped in horror. She assured David that she was the closest thing to a witch around the town being an elf.

"Well I hoped as much, can't be too careful this close to the harvest season." He sighed, relieved. He decided to walk Juno home just in case though, he didn't want either of his friends to be cursed by whoever the witch was, if there was one.

The walk was short and when they arrived Juno invited him in as thank you.

"Don't worry about my mother and father, they are always away at this time anyway." Juno assured opening the front door to the elvish style home. David felt like he was being swallowed by the earth whenever he walked into Juno's home. The longhouse was open and wide but the grassy roof made it look small from the outside. They walked over to the only chairs and sat by the already lit fireplace.

"David I need to tell you something. And you must promise to never tell another soul." Juno pleaded, grabbing David's hands tightly. She Looked deep into his shocked brown eyes and bit her lip nervously. "Desdemona and I made wands, I found my mother's Magic book and I wondered if we could Learn-" Juno admitted, terrified of the consequences for her friend. She was cut off

"Please tell me you didn't teach her anything dangerous. I don't want to get on the wrong side of granny Causer." He asked, rubbing the bridge of his nose in frustration.

"I only showed her how to make the wand, she picked a spell to shape earth and she did it really well." Juno said, almost proud of her friend's quick mastery. David just sighed and pulled his fingers through his hair.

Juno dropped David's hand at last and stood up, she thought for a moment.

"The guards are looking for a witch and if Desdemona knows magic she must be the one they are looking for!" He blurted in panic, wide eyed. Juno gasped falling to her knees.

David slammed the door as he left in a blind panic.

I have to stop her. He thought to himself, he could feel his heart thump against his chest as he ran.

But he was too late.

He found two guards knee deep in the solid ground and Granny causer scolding them furiously.

"What's happened, where's Desdemona?" He gasped, trying to catch his breath. The aged woman stopped scolding the unfortunate pair and turned to David.

"Oh David my boy it's terrible. These brutes tried to kidnap her over a little stone doll and threatened to have her hanged!" She sobbed, cradling her face in her hands in grief.

"That old hag forgets to mention that she proved herself a witch by sinking us in the ground with magic and running off!" The indignant guard scoffed. Granny Causer slapped him on the back of the head in retaliation.

"She didn't do anything you couldn't walk away from you idiot. she could have just killed you dead." She barked.

During this some farmers arrived to dig the Embarrassed guards out. It didn't take long before they were out and dusting themselves off.

"I wish I had been here. I could have stopped her." David lamented to granny causer once they had returned to the cottage.

"You should be out looking for her. She has nowhere to go, she will die in the wilds." the woman snapped angrily.

"What way did she go?" he asked, standing up. She pointed out through the fields. "I'll find her, Aunty. I'll bring her home." he promised softly, reassuring her.

He began the long walk, looking around for any sign of his friend. He noticed a trail of crushed grass leading away from the cottage and followed it.