Bryony took a single step closer to Buckland, much to the screaming delight of her siblings. She looked behind her, finding them on the Brandywine Bridge, waving their hands. Her older brother Marcus was letting out shrill whistles. Laughing, she waved back before looking in front of her.
Buckland was full of commotion, with hobbits bustling about performing their daily chores. It wasn't Buckland that she was most interested in though. It was the forest looming behind, one that everyone whispers of bad omens and angry trees. Their neighbour never went a day without warning them that the trees hated anything that moved, and going in the forest was a death sentence.
But if it's so full of death and despair, then why does it keep calling me? Her head was full of whispers and murmurs, some unintelligble. But one voice stood out in particular, a deep and haunting voice simply saying 'Come closer. We need you.'
She was always taught by her mother to care for the trees and the animals. If the forest was in trouble, then she had to go help it.
'It's how it gets you! It puts words in your head and once you're in its clutches, it takes you away!'
Bryony let out a breath she didn't realise she was holding. She felt a shudder leave her body as she rubbed her arms, though it was warm. Sighing, she turned back and walked towards her siblings. The two youngest, Milo and Dandelion, quickly rushed towards her, clinging onto her and squeezing tightly. She placed kisses on both of their unruly ginger heads. Her older sister Peony approached her and grinned.
"You're getting close sis! Soon, you'll have left us all and made it all the way to Bree!"
"You better get me some ale from that tavern they speak so highly of," Marcus mumbled, giving her shoulder a gentle slap before grinning at her.
"Who would have thought the great Bryony would be the bravest out of all of us, hmm?"
Bryony felt her ears redden as her siblings let her go. They slowly started walking back to Stock, knowing that if they were any later than they already were, their mother would have their heads. She encouraged their adventures more than anyone, but when it was cooking day, she expected all hands on deck and ready to help make pies.
Bryony found herself looking back once more. "I wonder why no one ever goes into the forest?" she murmured, quickly running to catch up with Marcus. He always chose to walk behind the siblings, making sure nothing happened to the youngest. He looked at her and shrugged.
"Who knows. Most find it almost insulting just leaving the village. I think they're making a whole mountain out of a mole hill. I mean, angry trees?" He let out a huff of laughter, and Bryony found herself giggling alongside him.
"Though I must admit," he murmured, his voice lowering. "Something about that forest. It does seem slightly... unnatural."
"Do you still hear it?" Bryony asked. Marcus shook his head.
"Ever since you crossed the bridge and made it farther than any of us, I haven't heard that deep voice beckoning to me. Neither have the others. I think whoever or whatever is in there has deemed you the worthiest of us lowly hobbits to go." Bryony snickered and slapped him on the shoulder, but she still found herself biting her lip and looking back.
"It does look rather big, doesn't it?" She suddenly felt a wave of anxiety and dread pooling in her stomach, as if her entire body was screaming at her to stop all her nonsense and close herself up in their home and never leave. She almost felt queasy before Marcus wrapped his arm around her shoulder and gave her a squeeze.
"You know what da says. If Old Mad Baggins made it back in one piece after such an adventure, then you will too." Bryony smiled.
"You're right. Besides, imagine all the creatures that must be living there!" Upon finishing her sentence, Milo piped up from the front.
"Yeah, like big scary two-headed bears, a-and three-headed wolves! And big spiders as big as our house!" He let out a yelp and glared at Peony, who had just jabbed him and shot him a glare, hissing something at him under her breath.
"Nuh uh!" Dandelion stated, her ginger curls waving alongside her head as she shook it violently. "There's probably magic squirrels! And bunnies so big you can ride them like a pony!" The two youngest quickly fell into a quarrel, arguing about what might reside there. Peony sighed and gave up trying to shush them, instead urging them to hurry up so they can get home quickly.
Bryony remained quiet, listening to her siblings. Tomorrow she'd make one more step towards Buckland. Maybe she would even dare to make two.
