As the lowering sun bathed the oak tree in golden light, Nissa descended from her highest aerie to the common room where Hayden and his sister waited. She was quiet and pale as she entered, her eyes shadowed with the trace of sadness that never left her expression. The table was set for three, the loaf of bread in the center surrounded by a large pat of butter, a pot of honey, and a dish of raspberry jam.
“There you are,” Gracie said, stirring the pot set on the hearth. “Everything’s ready. Here.”
She ladled out a bowl of rabbit stew and handed it to Nissa. The witch stood uncertainly for a moment, and Hayden pulled out a one of the chairs around the table for her.
“My lady,” he said, gesturing her to sit.
Again, that faint flush touched her cheeks. She didn’t meet his eyes as she took her seat.
“Hayden, bring the water pitcher,” Gracie said, setting their bowls on the table.
She scooted around to the long bench on the opposite side, leaving the other chair for him, and offered the witch a piece of bread.
It was strange, treating Nissa like a guest in her own home. But she had never once, in the week since they’d arrived, eaten a meal with them in the common room. Indeed, Hayden had wondered if she was human at all, or whether she took her sustenance from the air and sunshine, like the plants did.
Now, though, as Hayden poured water into three cups made of bark, she took a bite of bread. He settled himself in the chair next to her and helped himself to two slices of the loaf.
“I’m hungry,” he said when Gracie shot him a look.
Indeed, he made short work of the first piece, the long-awaited reward for their day of labor. It tasted delicious. The creatures of the forest seemed to think so, too, for when he’d returned from checking his snares, a plump rabbit slung over his shoulder, all the breadcrumbs they’d scattered had been gone.
“This is excellent,” Nissa said, after her first bite of stew. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome to take any of your meals with us.” Gracie gave her an encouraging smile, though Hayden wasn’t quite as enthusiastic about the witch’s presence. They were still trapped there, after all.
As they ate, an uncomfortable silence fell, broken only by the soft sound of birds settling in for the night.
“Do you like to play games?” Gracie asked abruptly, obviously casting about for something to break the tension.
“Games?” Nissa blinked at her as though she’d never heard the word before.
“You know…” Gracie whirled her spoon in the air. “Amusements to pass the time.”
Hayden leaned back and folded his arms, curious to see how this conversation would go. It had been a long time since he and his sister had sat before the fire in the cottage, rolling wooden dice or playing with the faded deck of cards.
Their laughter had displeased their stepmother, and she’d taken the cards and dice away.
“Idle hands have no place in this house,” she’d said, thrusting a pile of clothing at Gracie. “These need mending. And you, Hayden, sort through this bag of beans and take out any rocks you find.”
That put an end to their games, though sometimes in the long summer twilights they’d linger outside, taking turns throwing stones at a makeshift target, or telling one another tall tales, each one more ridiculous than the last.
“I have no need for amusements,” the witch said somberly.
Gracie frowned, and Hayden unfolded his arms.
“Everyone needs a little fun,” he said. “I don’t suppose you have a deck of cards?”
Nissa looked at him as though he’d asked if she had a mountain of rubies or a pet dragon. “No.”
“I’ll whittle a pair of dice, then,” he said. “We can start with that.”
“If you insist.” Her tone was dry.
“We can bet with acorns,” Gracie said. “And if you make a checkers board, Hayden, I’ll collect the pieces. There are some crabapple that will do, for starters.”
The witch looked reluctant, but she made no protest. As soon as the meal was ended, however, she took her leave and disappeared silently up the stairs.
“I don’t understand her,” Hayden said, after she was gone.
“She’s a witch,” Gracie said. “I don’t know if we can. But she seems so sad. Maybe our games will cheer her up.”
“Maybe.” He was more interested in amusing himself and his sister, honestly. But if Nissa joined in, he supposed he wouldn’t mind.
It was true that a deep melancholy clung to her, like an invisible cape of mist and shadows. He wondered what it would take to lift it, and who she might be beneath that cloak of sorrow.
He shook the thought away. Whether or not the Witch of the Woods was unhappy was no business of his. As long as she didn’t inflict her misery on them.
* * *
True to his word, Hayden carved a set of dice, and he and Gracie taught the witch a few simple games. At first she played stiffly, as though unsure whether she might enjoy herself, but after a winning streak that left Gracie laughing in despair, Nissa finally smiled.
“I won,” she said, scooping all the acorns to her side of the table. “I won the game.”
“You did.” Hayden couldn’t help a small grin. Who would’ve thought he and Gracie would end up playing dice with the Witch of the Woods?
As the weeks went by, they expanded to checkers and stone-drops, and once or twice Nissa even laughed. She always caught herself immediately, however, schooling her expression back to its usual reserve.
Gracie, however, grew downright cheerful. It lightened his heart to see her regain the happy disposition she’d had as a young girl, before the harshness of life in the cottage had stolen her smiles.
For that alone, he was grateful to the witch. Despite the fact they were trapped in a bargain with her that he suspected would only end in doom.