The Decision

    She ran through the dark woods, every sound made her heart pound even harder. She was certain that thieves were lurking just behind each and every tree. Out of the dark there seemed to be hundreds, no thousands, of eyes always on her.
   Deep down she felt that she never should have left home. Right now she could still be safe, serving in her master’s house. Right now she could be warm and comfortable; he had never asked more of her then she could handle and had always given her what she needed. So why then had she run away?
   She tried to push these thoughts down even further, just as she had the last time they had come up. She could not go back, it was too late now. She had run too far to ever return.
   Her foot caught in an unseen hole and she started to fall towards a steep incline, only to find herself enveloped in strong arms. In fear, she twisted and struggled, determined to free herself from this captor; she thought it would be better to fall and break her neck then taken prisoner. Yet no matter how she fought those arms held her, the grip on her was firm, yet not painful.
   “Peace, Beloved Child, I will not hurt you.”
   Hearing the voice of her master’s personal servant only made her struggle more. She went so far as to pound her fists against his chest. She would not go back only to be a prisoner, to be punished for running away.
   He released her but made certain she was steady enough that she would not fall, “Why do you fight me? Why do you run from me?”
   She looked up, into his face. It was amazing how easy it was to see him enough though all around her was darkness. “I cannot go back. I have done more then you could ever forgive and I know I can not live though the punishment I deserve.”
   His eyes were sorrowful as he studied her that it felt as if it would break her heart.
   “Child, that is quite impossible. For the one my son loves I can forgive anything. You need only to ask and be willing to come home.”
   She shook her head, “No, my lord, not this. I—I betrayed your master’s son to his enemy. It is because of me that he has been killed.”
   Her master’s servant lifted her chin so she could see him shake his head, “My master’s son lives. He won the fight. Come back with me, he has asked for you to come to him. He longs to be with you.”
   She took a few steps back from him, moving along the edge of where the ground dropped into the black night. “How can I go back after what I have done? I belong out here, alone.”
   “No,” he did not follow her though he did hold out his hand to her. “You belong in presence of my master and his son. You belong in a place where you will be safe and loved. Please, come back and accept their forgiveness.”
   She looked around at the trees, once again aware of the danger roaming these wild lands. Her servant said no more to hurry her decision, it was as if he had all the time in the world; he simply stood there with his hand out to her.
   “I have run so far from him.”
   “I am here, now, with you.”
   “It will take so long to return, and it is so very dark.”
   “I will travel with you. As you ran away I was with you and as we journey home I will be with you always until the day when I see you happy and safe in my master’s home.”
   “I don’t know if I can do this.”
   “You will not be doing it alone. I will help you.”
   She still looked at him, uncertain if she should go with him—or rather if she deserved to go with him. What had she done to deserve the right of going home? What had she done to deserve a companion who would keep her safe?