No wonder he was drawn to her, yet he still wasn’t certain if it was because of being a partial dryad or if it was Nina, the person, he wanted.
Orion pinched the bridge of his nose. There must be an answer to his dilemma. He needed to know if any of what he was experiencing was real.
“I promised Nina that I would work on a spell that would help her break from the tree and not die, but that too is proving to be difficult. I can find nothing in the spell books, and I’m also afraid it won’t be possible.”
“Why?”
“Dryads are also very old. They may have even existed before man. That means they have ancient magic, and combined with being lesser goddesses, I’m not certain even with the powers of our family combined we could conjure what you need, or what Nina needs to break the connection to her tree.” Petra glanced around and stepped closer. “I am also not certain that I wish to risk offending Gaia,” she whispered. “Who am I to undo something the Goddess of Nature already put in place, such as saving Nina by making her a dryad, or blocking the power that nymphs have over men. What if even thinking about doing so angers her?”
Orion frowned. Gaia was protective of all that is in nature, and as the goddesses are connected to trees, she’d care for them and would not take too kindly to a spell being cast.
Not only did Orion not want to suffer from the wrath of Gaia, but he also didn’t want his sister to fall out of favor or even be punished, so he would need to find another way.
The dryads were waiting for Nina when she arrived at the cottage.
“Your heart aches.” Basilia’s warm, caring tone nearly brought Nina to tears. She sounded like a mother who wished to protect her child. Nina would give nearly anything if she could have her real mother to help her understand. Oh, to return to childhood when she could sit on her mother’s lap, especially when frightened, with her arms around her, promising that all would be well.
The memory was so vivid that Nina wished to grab onto it and keep it close.
“Humans suffer many painful emotions,” Cressida informed her. “As you are part of them, you too suffer.”
“They also have many joys that we never experience,” Hermia reminded them.
“That is true,” Zephyra agreed.
“But we always have peace,” Danae said.
Nina did wish to live in peace and not hurt. More than anything, she wished for her pain to end and for this longing to be free to disappear.
“Many women have become dryads when their grief and heartache is too painful,” Cressida offered.
Nina frowned. “Do you mean that if I fully embrace what began when I was four that I will no longer feel this way?”
“Yes,” Cressida answered. “But as a dryad, you would still inspire strong emotions among humans such as peace, joy, and awe.”
Zephyra quickly stepped forward. “It is not a decision that should be made now. You are hurting and as you are also human, irrational decisions sometimes accompany strong emotions.”
Cressida shot Zephyra an irritated glare.
“If this is something you want, I urge you to take time and fully consider all that you will be and not be,” Zephyra insisted.
Nina wasn’t certain that her life would change all that much. She’d still be stuck in the grove, and her appearance wouldn’t change unless she wished to blend with her tree. But this ache and longing would be gone.
“They are correct,” Basilia, the oldest and wisest stepped forward. “Now is not the time for such a decision. Even if you insisted on joining us fully, we would not allow it.” She sent a pointed look to Cressida.
Of the five dryads, Cressida trusted humans the least. It wasn’t a surprise that Cressida would wish Nina to join them fully and assist her in doing so. However, Nina learned long ago to first listen to the wise counsel of Basilia and then weigh the opinions of the others. Except, none of her decisions had ever been this serious or life changing.
“When your heart and head are no longer clouded with such strong emotion and if at that time you wish to become one of us, we will discuss the matter fully so that you completely understand the options that you have.”
“I will think on what you have said,” Nina finally said. And she would think long and hard. “I am not yet ready to make such a decision.”
Basilia smiled gently and nodded as if she approved.
“I am always here if you wish to talk,” she promised as the dryads retreated into the thicket and disappeared.
Heaviness weighed on her as she entered the cottage and closed the door behind her.
She had never given serious consideration to fully becoming a dryad. Nina knew that the option was there but saw no reason to change her life further than what it was.
