Page 49 of Bewitched

“It is true, you fool. Her mother was an evil witch. As bad as they come. You do realize, don’t you, that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree?” The elf snapped his fingers, and suddenly he was holding an apple. He chuckled, tossing it up and down.

“Stop it!” Rhys grabbed the apple from the elf, meaning to throw it, but it became rotten in his hand, caving in upon itself. His palm was suddenly covered with apple mush and also a dozen squirming worms. “Oh!” he cried, throwing it to the ground and wiping his hand off on his breeches.

“Told you so,” laughed the elf.

“I ought to wring your neck, you irritating little barnacle!” Rhys reached out to grab the elf, but in a blur the man was gone. Rhys’ fingers closed around naught but air. “Damn you!” he growled.

“Rhys? Is that you?” Darium stood over by one of the bridges with Zann. He stretched his neck, trying to see over the tops of the tall flowers.

“Yeah, it’s me,” he mumbled, making his way over to his brothers.

“Where have you been all night?” asked Zann. “Mother was starting to get worried when we told her that we hadn’t seen you since dinner yesterday.”

“I was with Medea,” he told them, seeing them grin.

“Oooooh, I see,” said Zann. “So, how was it?”

“How was what?” he asked, trying to avoid the truth.

“Rhys, we know you coupled with her, so don’t bother trying to lie to us,” said Darium.

“What?” Rhys shrugged. “How do you know that? Are you reading minds now like Mother, Darium? Have your fae powers turned to that now?”

“Whoa! Stop being so defensive,” said Darium with a low chuckle, holding out his hands. “I can’t read minds, but if I could, I’d say something is severely bothering you, Brother.”

“I’d have to agree,” said Zann with a nod. “We only figured you were coupling with her since we saw you in the field of lust-making flowers.”

“You two knew the scent of the flowers were naught but an aphrodisiac?” asked Rhys.

“Sure,” said Zann. “Doesn’t everyone know that?”

“Apparently not,” Rhys mumbled, shaking his head and looking at the ground, feeling foolish.

“Don’t take it so hard.” Darium chuckled. “Zann is only jesting about knowing. We had no idea about the effect of the flowers either, until this morning when we heard it from the fae.”

“Thanks. I guess that makes me feel a little less foolish,” Rhys answered.

“So what’s bothering you, Brother?” asked Darium.

“Is it something to do with the witch?” Zann wanted to know.

“Her name is Medea.” Rhys was getting tired of everyone referring to her as a witch. “Look, I already started out the day badly with that damned elf warning me about her. I don’t need you two telling me to stay away from Medea as well.” There was already a seed of doubt in the back of Rhys’ mind about Medea. The last thing he wanted was for the seed to sprout.

* * *

Medea picked wildflowers along the bank of the river, humming softly to herself. She’d had such a wonderful night making love with Rhys that she’d been too excited to sleep. So, she got up early and decided to explore the land of the fae folk while she waited for Rhys to awake. Having a handful of the sweet-smelling flowers, she started weaving them into her hair. She made a long braid down her back, the same way that the fae wore their hair. She wished she was one of them. She also wished she could stay here forever in the Whispering Dale, and on Mura. This place was so much better than back home.

Medea noticed Rhys talking with his brothers by the bridge. She swore she heard him mention her name and it made her smile. It was the best night ever. Rhys made her feel so special and so loved. Curious to know how he felt about the love-making, she decided to spy on him. After all, it was probably what he was talking about with his brothers. Isn’t that what men did when the women weren’t around to hear? Well, she wanted to know what he would say. She just had to find out if he’d enjoyed coupling as much as she had, but didn’t want to come right out and ask him.

Not wanting to be seen, she decided to use her newfound powers of shapeshifting to aid her in this task. That would be the easiest way to listen in to their conversation in secret. They would never even know she was there. She hunkered down on the ground, deciding to shapeshift into a bee this time. This would ensure she was small enough to remain unnoticed. No one would expect it to be her. She giggled as she shifted, and then flew over to the bridge to find out how much Rhys had enjoyed being with her.

* * *

“The elf told you to stay away from Medea?” asked Zann. “Why?”

“Aye, he did,” answered Rhys. “Elric said Medea was evil, just like her mother. He compared her to a rotten apple, saying the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.” A bee whizzed past his head and he swatted it away.

“Well, I suppose she does seem rather harmless,” said Darium.