A loud crunch split the silence, seeming to echo through the clouded meadow. A thick fog covered the world in a blanket of damp cloud, obscuring the trees from the lonely man trudging through the meadow. Another crunch came from his right foot as he stepped on a dead leaf, it's dull color matching that of his surroundings.
Suddenly, the man froze, his head cocked as if he was listening to some distant noise. There - a light, joyful sound that danced like silver bells. Was it laughter? Intrigued, the man turned to the right, heading for the source of the sound. It seemed as if an hour had passed before he finally saw the drooping branches of a willow tree, and beneath it, a young woman. Her beauty was ethereal. She sat gracefully beneath the tree, her elegant, lily-soft hands folded and resting lightly on her lap. Silken ebony locks cascaded down her back in a waterfall of gentle waves. Her skin was as pale and smooth as porcelain, and even seemed to shimmer. The fog flowed around her slender form, gathering together to form a simple dress and making her seem to be a part of the fog, itself. Raindrops clung to her flowing locks, and sparkled upon her lovely brow. But it was her eyes that drew him nearer. As her gaze fell upon him, he looked deeply into her enchanting eyes. Their color was that of the sky at twilight, and the sparks of joy twinkling in their unfathomable like stars shining dimly, but faithfully, in the night sky.
"Hello," her full, rose-tinted lips parted to emit a voice that flowed like whispering silk. Her delicate features lit with a friendly smile.
He didn't know for how long he stood there, staring with wide eyes at the fair sight. Who was she? Why was she here? Where did she come from? He wanted to know so much about her...the questions constantly bubbled up in his mind before he finally managed a gruff, "Hello" in return.
"Are you lost?" she asked curiously, as if she wished to help him in some way.
"No," came his reply, rumbling deep from within his chest. He took slight offense that someone might assume that he could possibly get lost.
"Well," she began, her lips dancing in a genial smile. "If you're not in a hurry, would you mind sitting a while and speaking with me?"
The man nodded in reply and carefully sat down beside her, though not close enough to touch her 'dress.' He was afraid that it truly was of the fog, and that she was merely a dream and nothing more.
Time passed as they spoke.
She asked of his past life, and he answered honestly, just as she answered his questions of her. They discussed many things, from dreams to reality. Gradually, as they spoke, something developed between the two. They both felt a strange, powerful feeling within their chests that blossomed like a flower in spring. They both found that they enjoyed being with the other, and both discovered they had lost track of time.
However, enjoyable times do not last forever.
First, it was the young woman who was brought down to Earth. Her eyes grew distant, as if she saw something through the fog. Soon, the man followed. Their conversation dwindled until it at last ended.
Silence passed between the two.
Finally, when both thought they were about to burst from the awkward silence, the young woman said quietly, "I'm afraid you should go."
Alarmed, the man looked at her, his eyes startled. Had he done something wrong? Something to offend her? "Is something the matter?" he asked tentatively, afraid of breaking this new, fragile relationship.
A pause of silence answered his question. For a moment, she seemed to be listening to something. Then her expression changed. The sunny smile that had graced her lips had gone, and sorrow toiled in the depths of her night-sky eyes. "Do you not hear it?" she asked softly, her gaze capturing his for a brief second before releasing him. "Do you not hear the call of your path?"
He sat very still, straining to hear something. Minutes ticked by before he finally heard a faint whisper calling his name. Then he realized that it had been there all along, but he had thought it to be no more than a far-off breeze. Over and over, the breathy voice called to him. Now that he had heard it, he could not shut the call out of his mind. Irritated, he turned to back to her. He didn't want to go, not yet! Not unless she came with him! But, in his heart, he knew that must answer the call. "Will you come with me?" he asked in desperation. "Will you walk with me down the path?" He prayed that she would join him, for he wished not to be parted from her company.
"No," sorrow dripped from her lips in the form of single words. "I cannot." Tears began filling her eyes, and he suddenly realized that a solemn tear had slipped down his own rough cheek. Swiftly, he wiped it away, hoping she hadn't seen it. Men do not cry.
"Why not?" he heard himself ask, his tone almost demanding. "Why can't you come with me?"
Her breath shook as she inhaled, then released it in a small sigh. "My own path calls me another way," she replied softly. He gazed at her hard and long, hoping that what she had said was not true. Maybe she misheard the call, or maybe she was hearing someone else's call.
"What if you aren't really hearing the call? What if you are supposed to come with me?" he asked, his voice unknowingly sounding more and more despondent. "Please...I need you with me. Your beauty makes the sun jealous, the moon envious, and the stars dim. Your presence eases the greatest of fears and brings peace to my anxious heart. Your voice soothes my reckless thoughts and comforts my soul. I cannot live without you!" Finally, he allowed himself to breathe.
She turned her head and looked away, once more growing distant. For a long moment there was no reply. At last, she returned to him, her gaze meeting his once more. "I am not who you think I am," her voice was filled with silent agony and sorrow.
Confusion hit him. "What do you mean?" the words formed in his gruff voice came carefully from his lips.
"This...beauty...this...physical form you see before you now is not what I truly look like," her gaze fell to the damp grass, shame turning her cheeks a rosy red. "And my voice..." hef left hand raised to gently touch her slender neck. "..Is not what it seems, either."
Then something caught her attention. She looked up, past him. He turned and followed her gaze.
The fog in that direction was not as thick as it was everywhere else. He could just dimly see a dirt path, and the silhouette of a young woman. Suddenly, something was pulling him towards the path, towards the other young woman. He found himself standing, though he could not remember doing so. A powerful force both pulled and pushed him towards the path. Against his will, his legs began moving, walking on the path.
With a last force of will, right before he had just reached the silhouetted young woman, he turned his head back over his shoulder to see the enchanting woman one more time. "This is not farewell forever. I am sure our paths shall cross again, though I shall not be the same," her voice was heard inside his mind as he looked back. Her full lips had not moved.
He blinked.
The enchantress was gone, now replaced by an average young woman. There was nothing special about her. She had simple, brown hair and regular brown eyes. Compared to the one he had seen just a moment ago, she was just your average 'cute' or 'pretty.' Confusion swamped him. There was no possibility that this person and the entrancing young woman were the same people, or even distantly related.
Slowly, as he watched, the ordinary girl faded into the depths of the fog. Had that been a tear sparkling on her cheek? His attention was abruptly thrust back to the path as he heard someone calling his name. It was the silhouetted young woman. Her voice was one that he was familiar with, a friend he had known for years.
As she became visible through the fog, he became more willing to walk on. He knew that he would never forget her, and that he would see the Lady of the Fog once more.
***
A loud crunch split the silence, seeming to echo through the clouded meadow. A thick fog covered the world in a blanket of damp cloud, obscuring the trees from the lonely young woman trudging through the meadow. Another crunch came from her right foot as she stepped on a dead leaf, it's dull color matching that of her surroundings.
Suddenly, the youn woman froze, her head cocked as if she was listening to some distant noise. There - a deep, warm sound as resonant as bronze bells. Was it laughter? Intrigued, the young woman turned to the right, heading for the source of the sound...