They walked along without speaking, with only the birdsong breaking the silence. They passed by sparsely decorated rooms, multiple armories, and climbed down a spiraling staircase to arrive inside the kitchen. It was a large room, with a heavy door and windows facing out into the forest. Hrollief sat at a low wooden table, and Tove sat awkwardly on the other side of the table. A maid brought them warm bread with meaty stew and a hot cider. They both ate hungrily, with Tove completely focused on her food, and Hrollief glancing up at her every few moments. After the meal, color had returned to Tove’s face, and Hrollief looked at her with mild satisfaction. He led her down long hallways, showing her paintings and tapestries depicting his family history as well as trophies and treasures he had collected. He was careful to avoid the treasury itself, as well as the main armory and his own room. He didn’t truly believe she would kill him, but the darkness around her had grown stronger overnight, and this made him worry. He thought over ways to help her as they strolled out into the courtyard.

“I would advise you, Princess Tove, to remain within the gates. The woods are unkind to strangers, especially those whose souls are shrouded in darkness.” He looked hard at her, but she was gazing out into the woods, one hand hovering over her golden collar, shivering slightly as soft snow fell. “I will walk you back to your room, you are welcome to wander where I have shown you, though I would suggest another layer.” He turned and began to walk back inside, and after a moments hesitation, Tove followed him.

* * *

As she fastened the cloak Hrollief had given her last night, Tove’s thoughts wandered back to what he had said in the courtyard. Perhaps, if she were to enter the woods, she could be set free from this demon? Hardly had this thought passed through her mind then her collar tightened so much she began to choke again. After a moment it ceased, but it had been enough to bring her to her knees. She pulled herself up, coughing and gasping for air, then sat down on her bed. I wonder if he knows about our family’s tie to demons? She thought, rubbing her sore throat and thinking over what he had said. After a while she stood up and began to retrace her steps from the morning. A few hours had passed since she and Hrollief parted company, and in that time she had wandered about the hallway in front of her room, doing her best to never lose sight of her door. Now she felt brave enough to venture down a different corridor, one she thought led to the kitchens. Instead, she found herself in one of the armories. Tove looked about at the different weapons hung about the walls and stacked in corners. Hrollief certainly had enough weapons to maintain his fearsome reputation, however, his actions did not quite live up to her expectations. He had given her his own cloak (which she noticed smelled like warm spices and pine trees), and had taken her into his home. She, who had been sent to kill him, and he had done this with full knowledge of her mission in this castle.

Tove shook her head, she simply could not understand it, but perhaps it was better not to. She reached out to feel the weight of a short sword hung on the wall. It was perfectly balanced, and the perfect weight for her… She shoved it back onto the wall, feeling her collar tighten ever so slightly, her thoughts straying back to why her father had sent her here. She must avoid any private encounters with him. “I will not kill him.” She whispered to the room.

* * *

Hrollief paced back and forth in the entrance way. He had sent for his men as soon as he had walked Tove to her room, and was waiting impatiently for them. In a time of war they came quicker than lightning, but when it was time for a hunt they avoided him. He only ever hunted for food, never for sport, and now that Tove had joined them he needed to replenish the kitchens. His men did not like to hunt with him because Hrollief often used it as a test for them. The woods surrounding his castle had a natural magic within them, and growing up in these woods was how Hrollief had learned to see the darkness around him in the world. This natural magic tested men’s hearts- if they were untrue in any way, the woods would reveal it. Hrollief always took his new troops on a hunting trip to test their diligence and loyalty. Not every soldier managed to get out of the forest unscathed, although only a few had died over the years. Hrollief never raised a hand against them, but also never raised a hand to help them; he let them pass, or fail, the trials of the forest by themselves.

Finally, a small group of hunters appeared from around the corner of the hall. These were some of his most trusted men, and the few that willingly went into the forest on a regular basis with him. He nodded silently, then they all trooped out into the woods.

Snow fell softly onto the forest floor, the only sounds were the crunching of feet in snow and the heavy breathing from the hunting party. They found little game walking together in the dense forest, so Hrollief ordered them to split up and go back to the castle when they found something. All of them looked worried, but they obeyed without question. Hrollief could be kind at times, but he had well-earned his reputation in the battlefield.

After almost an hour of creeping through the woods, he had still not seen a single animal big or small. Suddenly, he noticed the light around him had dimmed. It can’t be night already? He thought. He slowed his pace, then noticed movement up ahead. He took a silent step forward, then saw it. A misty apparition. An apparition that looked just like Tove. Hrollief lowered his bow, staring at the figure as it stared into the distance. She looked towards him, and he saw tears falling from her eyes. “Tove!” He reached out to her, a strange feeling stirring in his stomach. Her ghost sobbed, then a fierce wind shattered the apparition, sending snow and shards of light swirling around him. The wind died down, and Hrollief stood alone in the woods again, his heart aching in a way he had never felt before, and the sword by his side glowing an eerie blue.

He was the last to return from the woods. Most of his men had found large game, with only two coming back with birds. He had come back empty handed, having spent most of his time looking for more signs about Tove’s fate. He helped the staff gut and clean the game, cleaned himself up, then went to find his advisers. He needed to know more about Tove’s family.

* * *