The wooden wheels of the small caravan creaked as it trundled along the dirt path, stirring up the scent of hay and earth. Selene sprinted toward it, her breath coming in short, desperate gasps. If the couple driving the cart were kind enough, she might finally get some respite from walking.
As she neared, she caught sight of the travelers, a man and a woman, both appearing to be in their mid-twenties. The man, who held the reins, had sun-kissed skin and a sturdy frame, while the woman beside him had soft brown curls and kind eyes. Their cart, filled with goats, suggested they were farmers or traders.
Swallowing her apprehension, Selene slowed her pace and called out, "Excuse me! Please, may I share a ride with you? I've been walking for so long, and I have nowhere else to go."
The couple exchanged a glance before the woman smiled warmly. "Of course, dear. Come on up. There's space here beside me."
Relief flooded Selene as she climbed onto the cart, settling beside the woman while the goats bleated softly in the back. The man gave the reins a flick, and the caravan continued its slow journey westward.
"My name's Emilia," the woman said, offering her a friendly glance. "And this is my husband, Robert. We're newlyweds."
Selene nodded, forcing a small smile. "Thank you, Emilia. Robert. I appreciate this more than you know."
"No trouble at all," Robert replied with a chuckle. "You look like you've been on quite the journey."
Selene hesitated, then gave a carefully measured nod. "I have."
Emilia's eyes sparkled with curiosity, but there was no malice in her gaze. "What about you, dear? What's your name?"
Selene froze for a fraction of a second before quickly composing herself. She couldn't use her real name, not when her reputation as a witch might reach the wrong ears. "Livia," she said smoothly. "My name is Livia."
Emilia smiled. "Lovely name. What brings you so far from home?"
Selene's mind raced. She needed a story, something believable. Taking a deep breath, she weaved a lie. "I ran away," she admitted, voice laced with feigned sadness. "My parents… they arranged a marriage for me. A man I do not love, someone much older. I couldn't bear it, so I left."
Emilia gasped, placing a gentle hand on Selene's. "Oh, you poor thing. That must have been terrifying."
Selene lowered her gaze, playing the part of the heartbroken runaway. "It was. I had no choice."
Robert sighed. "Can't say I blame you. No one should be forced into a life they don't want."
Selene stole a glance at him, grateful for his understanding.
Emilia tilted her head slightly. "Where are you headed, then?"
Selene opened her mouth, but no words came. She didn't know. She had no destination, no plan. Panic briefly flickered in her chest before she forced herself to stay calm. But Emilia, sharp as she was, had already caught on.
"You don't have a place to go, do you?" she asked gently.
Selene hesitated, then shook her head.
Emilia's smile returned, warm and reassuring. "Then why don't you stay with us for a few days? We're starting a small farm, and we just bought these goats. We could use an extra set of hands, and it would give you time to figure out your next step."
Selene blinked in surprise. She hadn't expected such kindness. A place to stay, even temporarily, was more than she could have hoped for. Her instincts told her to be wary, but her exhaustion and desperation overruled them.
She glanced between Emilia and Robert, then nodded slowly. "I… I would like that. Thank you."
Emilia beamed. "Then it's settled!"
As the cart rolled along the road, Selene allowed herself to relax for the first time in what felt like forever. For now, she had a place to rest. A temporary sanctuary. And though she knew it wouldn't last, she would take what she could get.
The road stretched endlessly before them, the rhythmic creaking of the wagon wheels filling the silence between conversations. Emilia, ever the chatty one, spoke about her life with unfiltered enthusiasm, while her husband, a man of few words, merely nodded along, content with her presence. Selene, or rather, Livia, as she had introduced herself, listened intently, responding when necessary, carefully weaving the web of her fabricated past.
Hours passed, the road stretching far beyond what Selene had anticipated. The couple's farm was still some distance away, requiring another hour even with the aid of their horse. The rolling fields eventually led to an open expanse of land dotted with rustic wooden fences and grazing livestock. A small but cozy farmhouse stood nestled between swaying trees, its thatched roof and stone foundation exuding warmth and stability.
Upon arrival, the couple wasted no time in making Selene feel at home. Emilia busied herself with preparing a simple meal, while her husband took the goats to their enclosure. The smell of freshly baked bread and simmering stew filled the air, wrapping Selene in a comfort she hadn't known in years. It was almost noon when they finally settled in, the couple retreating for a much-needed rest after their long journey.
Selene was given a modest yet cozy room within the house. A small wooden bed with a patchwork quilt stood in the corner, a single window allowing the soft glow of afternoon light to spill in. It was more than she could have hoped for. A safe place. At least for now.
As night fell, the farmhouse grew quiet, the only sounds being the distant rustling of trees and the occasional hoot of an owl. Selene carefully slipped out of the house, her bare feet silent against the cool earth. The air was crisp, laced with the scent of damp soil and distant rain.
Standing at the edge of the farmland, she raised her hands and murmured the incantations she knew by heart. Wisps of silver energy pulsed from her fingertips, forming an invisible barrier around the land. Layer after layer, she wove her magic, ensuring that neither her scent nor her presence could be easily tracked. Her spells extended beyond herself, offering protection to the kind-hearted couple who had unknowingly taken in a fugitive.
For the first time in a long while, Selene felt a sense of relief. A brief moment of peace in a life otherwise filled with chaos.
She just hoped it would last.