The Dryad 10 Gray

I was lost in thought for the rest of the time we were waiting for Emily's husband to return. How could I keep this magician from noticing me as I moved about? I was not completely blind when I was hiding my powers, but doing so was somewhat crippling. If I wanted to be able to detect him with any accuracy while still hoping to stay unnoticed, I was limited to sensing just a few miles around me. But if that magician was more perceptive than I was thinking, I would have to cut my power even more. I was a.s.suming his perception ability was equal to the Fairies. I figured that since fairies were several times more perceptive than elves and unfathomably more perceptive than the usually 'blind' humans, this was a safe guess. Was there a way for me to search for him without him detecting me? I turned to Emily with a question.

"Emily, I searched this village thoroughly with my powers last night. How is it that I was not able to find you until this morning?"

Emily folded her hands in her lap repeatedly. It seems like Emily had been getting nervous due to the frown on my face while I was lost in thought. "When it became obvious that I would have to leave my mother's forest, I spent most of my time practicing masking my presence. I think part of it is that I am half human. When I felt you searching last night, I not only suppressed my dryad half but I increased the presence of my human half to hide the small signs that I was not able to erase."

I took some time to think about this. Unfortunately, I did not have another half that I could use to cover my Dryad half. As I thought, I continued to gaze at Emily's hands folding over and over each other. She looked like a cornered rabbit. I really don't bite. Well, usually. I have had meat a few times.

The door to the house suddenly opened. "Honey, I saw what happened to the garden, is everything OK?" He took in Emily's agitation for a brief moment. Then seeing that there were other people in the house besides his wife, he turned on us. "What did you do to my wife to make her so upset!?"

Emily was quite startled and started to panic fearing that her husband would anger me. "Gray… Please calm… This is.. um."

Even though it would have been fun to watch this play out, I could see the elves were quite defensive about his att.i.tude and were about to take action. I needed to stop this before things escalated. "Sorry if what I did to your garden startled you. I meant no harm. I have come here seeking you and your wife's a.s.sistance."

"You made the garden bloom?" he asked in disbelief.

I thought it would be much easier to show him than explain. I stretched out my hand to a nearby potted plant which began to grow and soon flower buds started to appear. Then turning to Emily I asked. "Do you only use your powers when you are upset?"

"Um…"

"The plants know when she is upset and try to comfort her," Gray said defensively.

"Plants don't know how to have sympathy. It is too complex of…" I really should have been quicker on the uptake.

"But, Emily always says they are comforting her. Isn't that right?" Gray said turning to Emily.

"Ah… The thing is…"

I knew then that I said some things I should not have. It seems that she had not told her husband about who she really was. I really did not want to get involved in that conversation. I decided to leave that for them to figure out. The best choice left was to change subjects. "I have come here looking for your help. I heard that there was a magician you have led around the woods sometimes. I am trying to learn more about him. Can you please tell us what you know?"

"Why should I tell you?" Gray responded still maintaining his defenses.

I did not even need to respond to this since Emily stepped in. "Please, Gray. She is an acquaintance of my mother. You might even be able to go as far as calling her my Aunt." Thinking about what she just said Emily started to get nervous. Why does everyone always get so nervous around me? I really am a benevolent spirit, I promise.

I smiled to calm Emily's worry. "I think Aunt is a good way of putting it. Having a family might be nice from time to time."

Gray was confused now. "How can she be your Aunt and know your mother? She does not look any older than you, and you said your mother died when you were a young child."

So much for trying to steer away from this topic. But I can say this time was not my fault. I looked at Emily, letting her see that it was up to her to decide how she wanted to resolve this. Emily started to shiver like a frightened mouse. I could sense a strong increase in the power she was releasing. Soon several of the other plants in the room began to send forth new sprouts and another bud formed on the one I had shown my powers on.

It was nice to see that Gray was sensitive to Emily's distress, as he rushed over to her side. "Em, what is it? You can tell me. You don't have to keep any secrets from me. I love you. Nothing in your past will change that."

Emily nodded, and shivered one last time. With a deep breath, she put her hands in both of her husbands' and started her story. "I do not know if my mother is alive or dead. I was not sent to the village where I grew up because of my mother's death. It was because she was growing weak and needed all her focus to keep herself from fading away." Gray looked like he was about to ask a question, but Emily held up her hand to stop him. She then turned to me. "I think this next part would be easiest if you were to formally introduce yourself. Are you willing?" She then lowered her head to me.