I had a dream. I was standing on the sandy shore, looking out over the inky black waves by night. The sound of the rushing tides washed over me and I felt so lost. Warm tears ran down my cheeks, and one by one as they dropped into the water, pale shadows rose from the sea. Maidens with dark hair looked at me with sad, blue eyes. “Poor green child,” they hushed, “So far from home”. They brought me bright shells, they crowned me with seaweed, and put pearls in my hair, but my tears still fell. I missed my forest. Then they sang to me… a familiar melody, and when I awoke I could still hear the tune.
It was Lorenz. He was humming to himself, and then I remembered that we were sitting on the balcony of George and Alison’s house. I must have fallen asleep listening to the waves. I looked at Lorenz and he stopped humming as I put a hand to my cheek; there were still tears. “Sonya?” He said, looking at me with concern. Dear reader, I don’t know why, but… in that moment… all at once I was completely overcome! I began to sob. I tried so hard to stop crying, but my tears only fell all the more! Oh goodness, I felt so foolish, just like a small child, with my face all runny and wet. But it just poured out of me, all the stress, all the tension, all the longing I had been feeling for home. Lorenz threw his arms around me, desperately asking what was the matter. I sobbed into his shoulder, “Oh Lorenz, what are we going to do!? I can’t stay here. This place is beautiful, but I miss the forest, I miss Flame, and the Humes, and Mary, and the village. I miss exploring the Well of the Green Sister with you and Alexander. I miss my little cottage and the trees. I miss Greenwood!”
He stared at me dumbfounded. “Sonya… we’re returning to Greenwood in a few days. You speak as if we were never going back.” I paused as I wiped my eyes and sniffed. I tried to explain, but my thoughts and emotions were all so jumbled. “Your father said something about the capital. He wants you to live here in Alvena, and you’ve finished tutoring Alexander… So what does that mean? Will you leave the village now? I love you, Lorenz, and I want to be with you wherever you go, but…” My words failed. I felt as if I were being pulled in two.
Lorenz must have understood, for he held my shoulders and looked at me with such sweetness in his eyes. “Oh, Sonya. I miss Greenwood too, and, whatever my father might wish, I have no intention of living in Alvena again. I left the city to be closer to the forest.” He laughed softly. “Do you know what that old song I’m always humming is about? It’s an old myth of a prince who enters the wood and falls in love with a dryad. At first he is sorrowful when he learns she cannot ever leave her ancient tree, but in the end they make a home together beneath the leaves. Sonya, I have no such sorrow. From the moment I moved to Greenwood, I fell in love with the village and the forest… I fell in love with you, and I would never ask you to leave your home. I know it is as much a part of you as the leafy marks on your ears and hands… and it has become a part of me too, the way you have become a part of me.” He took my hands in his. “Sonya, I want always to be with you. I want to explore the forest with you all day long, and kiss you goodnight by the fireside of your cozy cottage. Perhaps… dare I wish… our cozy cottage, if you would have me...” He glanced down sheepishly. My eyes grew wide and I held my breath. “Lorenz, are you—” He looked up again, and I gazed into his green eyes. They were as deep and enchanting as the forest itself. “Will you marry me, Sonya?” he asked. And with all the sureness of my heart I answered, “Yes.”
As we held one another on the balcony, Lorenz began to sing softly in my ear. This time I knew that the prince and the dryad of the song had found their faery-tale ending. And for a moment, I swear I could hear melodic voices joining in, singing sweetly from the sounding sea.