A little storyHere's a little fragment of a story I've been working on and it's matching illustration, hope you enjoy:
Willow was drawn to the lights as they lit up her path. The soft grass caressing her feet, leaving prints in her previous steps. Her nights were always either restless or tormented, tonight being no different. She was led to a tree that was familiar in shape, yet she couldn’t place where exactly she had seen it before. She knelt by the tree, touching its tough bark. She breathed low and steady.
“It’s going to be ok,” she murmured to herself
She adjusted herself so she was leaning her back on the tree to support herself. The night air was refreshing and wet. She hadn’t remembered a night this damp for as long as she had been in this land. As she rested, she noticed something moving in the distance. It was humanoid in shape and approaching with swift steps. Willow stiffened as she noticed how quick the figure was coming into view. Firstly, revealed was the moon reflected in the figure’s glasses, second was their dark mahogany skin glistening in the light of the fireflies. Despite how perfectly they fit in with the scenery, all Willow could feel was an ever-increasing uneasiness. The figure was now right in front of Willow, they stooped low and picked up Willow by their armpits.
“Nice night isn’t it, and even more perfect since you are exactly who I wanted to see,” intoned the person.
Willow was so taken aback that she couldn’t respond.
“I suppose that is beside the point, I’m Merlin by the way, nice to meet you,” chirped Merlin, shifting as they got a better look at their pinned captive.
Willow had now recovered from the shock of being picked up and promptly wiggled free. She backed up closer to the tree for protection despite knowing it offered none.
“Now don’t be afraid, it’s not like I’m going to hurt you. Actually, I am here to help you.”
“Oh, really now? Seems a bit hard to believe when I don’t even know you,” interjected Willow.
“Ah, the convenience of ignorance, this is why I bet you don’t meet anyone new nowadays.”
“How dare-”
Suddenly Willow felt woozy, must have been the exertion mixed with the sleep deprivation. Her knees were close to giving out, but Merlin had promptly stepped in to support her weight by clutching her shoulders.
“Now don’t get too agitated, we both know that wouldn’t end well for you. I know how the sleeping world has been your enemy for quite a while now”
“Don’t try to make assumptions about me"
“It’s true, isn’t it though?” Merlin posed it as a question but they both knew it wasn’t.
“Just set me down,” sighed Willow.
Merlin did just that, slowly lowering Willow to the ground at the base of the tree.
“I can help you know,” assured Merlin, “you just need to trust me a little.”
“You have done nothing to earn my trust,” sighed Willow.
“That might be true, but it’s your choice as to whether you will take a chance on me. I can take away your nightmares after all.”
Willow perked up at this. It had been obvious all throughout the conversation that Merlin was aware of what caused Willow to be as weary as she was that night... but how? She hadn’t told anyone about her near constant nightmares. Merlin noticed and faced her dead on, her polite smile now cold and serious.
“You have a choice now; I will not wait on you forever. You can either face your past or stay a bystander in your own life, never fulfilling the vow you made all those years ago.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I am here not because I care personally about what you have gone through, but because I see the turbulence inside you. You are like a teacup calling out, wanting to be shattered, because that’s the only way you can rest in peace.”
“I may be restless but killing me won’t give you the satisfaction it seems like you crave.”
“Death is missing from this world, and even if that was not the case, you would still find no peace there. I cannot force you to face your past, but I can guide you through it, please, trust me just this once.”
In the process of their conversation Merlin had started kneeling on one leg, Willow had again sat down using the tree as a prop, and the moon had come out in full swing. It was a full moon that night, and the fireflies were dancing up a storm as Willow looked into the dark eyes of Merlin and nodded.Jul 14, 2025
Willow was drawn to the lights as they lit up her path. The soft grass caressing her feet, leaving prints in her previous steps. Her nights were always either restless or tormented, tonight being no different. She was led to a tree that was familiar in shape, yet she couldn’t place where exactly she had seen it before. She knelt by the tree, touching its tough bark. She breathed low and steady.
“It’s going to be ok,” she murmured to herself
She adjusted herself so she was leaning her back on the tree to support herself. The night air was refreshing and wet. She hadn’t remembered a night this damp for as long as she had been in this land. As she rested, she noticed something moving in the distance. It was humanoid in shape and approaching with swift steps. Willow stiffened as she noticed how quick the figure was coming into view. Firstly, revealed was the moon reflected in the figure’s glasses, second was their dark mahogany skin glistening in the light of the fireflies. Despite how perfectly they fit in with the scenery, all Willow could feel was an ever-increasing uneasiness. The figure was now right in front of Willow, they stooped low and picked up Willow by their armpits.
“Nice night isn’t it, and even more perfect since you are exactly who I wanted to see,” intoned the person.
Willow was so taken aback that she couldn’t respond.
“I suppose that is beside the point, I’m Merlin by the way, nice to meet you,” chirped Merlin, shifting as they got a better look at their pinned captive.
Willow had now recovered from the shock of being picked up and promptly wiggled free. She backed up closer to the tree for protection despite knowing it offered none.
“Now don’t be afraid, it’s not like I’m going to hurt you. Actually, I am here to help you.”
“Oh, really now? Seems a bit hard to believe when I don’t even know you,” interjected Willow.
“Ah, the convenience of ignorance, this is why I bet you don’t meet anyone new nowadays.”
“How dare-”
Suddenly Willow felt woozy, must have been the exertion mixed with the sleep deprivation. Her knees were close to giving out, but Merlin had promptly stepped in to support her weight by clutching her shoulders.
“Now don’t get too agitated, we both know that wouldn’t end well for you. I know how the sleeping world has been your enemy for quite a while now”
“Don’t try to make assumptions about me"
“It’s true, isn’t it though?” Merlin posed it as a question but they both knew it wasn’t.
“Just set me down,” sighed Willow.
Merlin did just that, slowly lowering Willow to the ground at the base of the tree.
“I can help you know,” assured Merlin, “you just need to trust me a little.”
“You have done nothing to earn my trust,” sighed Willow.
“That might be true, but it’s your choice as to whether you will take a chance on me. I can take away your nightmares after all.”
Willow perked up at this. It had been obvious all throughout the conversation that Merlin was aware of what caused Willow to be as weary as she was that night... but how? She hadn’t told anyone about her near constant nightmares. Merlin noticed and faced her dead on, her polite smile now cold and serious.
“You have a choice now; I will not wait on you forever. You can either face your past or stay a bystander in your own life, never fulfilling the vow you made all those years ago.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I am here not because I care personally about what you have gone through, but because I see the turbulence inside you. You are like a teacup calling out, wanting to be shattered, because that’s the only way you can rest in peace.”
“I may be restless but killing me won’t give you the satisfaction it seems like you crave.”
“Death is missing from this world, and even if that was not the case, you would still find no peace there. I cannot force you to face your past, but I can guide you through it, please, trust me just this once.”
In the process of their conversation Merlin had started kneeling on one leg, Willow had again sat down using the tree as a prop, and the moon had come out in full swing. It was a full moon that night, and the fireflies were dancing up a storm as Willow looked into the dark eyes of Merlin and nodded.Jul 14, 2025
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