5 Ophelia and Her Willow Ash Lahammer Once upon a time, in a village hidden within the woods, there lived a fair maiden. There were rumors of a strange courting ritual that involved a key and fox near the fair maiden’s hut at the edge of town. Ophelia wasn’t quite sure if the rumors were true, nor was she sure that the rumors were about her Willow at all, but something in her chest—the something deep and ancient— pulled her toward the village, so she thought she should at least go and investigate. When she arrived in the village, it was nearing dusk. The evening sun cast a soft light against the buildings—all quiet and cozy. The liveliest building in the otherwise quiet village was near the center, and Ophelia assumed it to be the tavern. She made her way over, hoping to find a place to rest as well as to gather some information about the trial at hand. Upon opening the door to the tavern, Ophelia was greeted with a cacophony of sights, sounds, and smells. Within the tavern, there were people of all shapes and sizes drinking and laughing and talking. Making sure her cloak was secure, she slipped through the crowd as effortlessly as if she were flowing water. She approached the person whom she assumed to be the innkeeper, inquiring about a room. Once she had secured a room and some food, she sought out the answer to the question that had brought her to this village. “Excuse me sir, might I ask about the fair maiden that lives just outside this village and the quest that befalls her suitors?” she said, her voice like the quiet of a babbling brook. “Ah yes, you must be here to win the heart of the fair maiden. Though I warn you many have tried, and none have succeeded so far.” He paused, chuckling, before continuing, “The fair maiden has laid out a task for anyone that wishes to court her: they must get the key off of the fox that lives just outside her house and present it to her within three days’ time. Only then will she accept their courtship.” The innkeeper smiled at her, pityingly, before saying, “Hunters and trappers have tried—the best in the land—to capture the beast. Pipers and bakers alike have tried to tempt it, but none have succeeded. Not sure how a lil wisp of a thing like you could succeed but you are welcome to try.” The group of men at the table next to her started mocking her. She smiled simply—the smile of someone who knew more than they let on—and stood, checking her cloak and dusting off her dress. “Thank you, good sir. I must be off now, to secure my start if I am to be successful in my attempts,” she said, pointedly, before making a quick and quiet exit. She walked quickly to the hut at the edge of the village, which lit up upon her presence. Still quite unsure if this was her Willow, but unwilling to let this opportunity slip through her fingers in this lifetime, she took a deep breath before stating her purpose to the open air. “Fair maiden, I wish to court you. I know of the requirements and I will do my best henceforth to complete them. Please accept this as a token of my appreciation,” she said, before placing a locket as near the door as she dared. A voice, barely a whisper on the wind, replied, “So be it. Good luck, milady,” before the hut went dark and Ophelia knew that she had been dismissed. She went to the inn, residing next to the tavern to rest.
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