Unexpected Angel

Unexpected Angel

by

Robin Neumayer

The wings were beautiful, if unexpected. They began as pale, pastel colored feathers; downy and shining in the sun. Anima was tiny and would caress these soft feathers as she rocked back and forth spreading the wings to catch the wind. As she grew, the wings became huge in size, but they remained lightweight. When out-spread a breeze could flutter the wings like a child’s kite floating up into the clouds.

But Anima was, at the beginning, a normal baby; not chubby, not emaciated, but light. It was as though she was made of gossamer and dreams. When she was eight, her shoulders broadened and they were strong. Her father teased that she could pull a cart by herself and threatened to sell their oxen and give Anima the honor of drawing the cart to market. Anima showed her father a shy smile. 

When she was nine, the wings pushed into the light from beneath her strong shoulders. They grew quickly as though trying to beat the effect of some dangerous magical rune. Her father followed Anima’s small form with worried eyes. The family was horrified and feared what the town’s people would do to Anima if she was discovered. They especially feared the soldiers and village elders. Dabbling in magic could lead to torture and death. Magic always has consequences, always a price to pay.

But her mother created magnificent clothes as though she was part spider. Using cloth, yarn and thread, she wove beautiful creations that were sought by all the people from the village. Even people from the hills would make the day’s long journey just to try and buy any of the clothes left available during market days. Her mother used her skill to camouflage Anima’s curse because that is what her parents considered it. The wings’ curse must be kept secret to protect their child.

Anima’s new clothes did hide the wings with no tell-tale sign that there was more than just a normal child underneath. But this caused another problem. Anima looked not just fat, but huge and awkward. She was a misshapen mistake that no one in town wanted to be near. All the children but Diana shunned her. Diana became her constant companion and imperiously stared down any child that bullied her. Anima was alone and humiliated unless her best friend was there.

But Anima refused to submit to the shunning. She vowed to use the dangerous gift she’d received for the good of the village, no matter their attitude. Farmers would find missing sheep back in their pasture as if they wandered back on their own. Missing children returned without harm and spoke lovingly of the “angel” that protected and led them home. Each time there were no tracks to follow. Nobody saw a stranger, angel or not, that helped to protect the village from the evil that surrounded it.

For some years Anima continued to endure the shunning while helping to right wrongs. Then one evening, when she was bathing in the river, Diana saw her from a hill overtop the riverbank. She saw the wings that now were such a wonder to behold. They drew Diana like a bag of gold coins or a luxurious new dress. She barely saw Anima. Her mind filled with visions of wealth and a life of ease for herself.

“Anima!”, called Diana. She started down the hill toward the river.

Anima startled and waded as fast as she could to the riverbank. She began clutching her clothes and tried to rush past Diana. Her friend blocked her way. Anima stopped and dropped her eyes. Diana gripped her shoulders and slowly turned her around. The wings dripped their beauty as Anima tried to throw her clothes across her back to hide her curse.

“Anima what is all this? You’ve been pretending to be fat and slow since you were a child? But you are touched by magic,” Diana said in awe. “Why haven’t you used this for your family? You could be rich!!” she shouted, dancing around her friend in a giddy whirl. “Think of it, Anima. Your mother wouldn’t have to sew and weave late into every night. Your father could have hired hands to care for the animals and plant the crops. It could be an easy life!” She helped Anima with her clothes and pulled her up the hill and along the road into the village.

Anima dug in her heels and jerked her arms away from Diana.  “No, this must remain a secret. The village elders would burn me at the stake if they found out.”

“But you could have a rich life. If we get enough gold you could move away and your whole family would be safe,” pleaded Diana. “There is a mountain village where, I hear, all manner of magic-touched people live. You wouldn’t have to hide your powerful magic any more. People would accept you as you are.”

Anima shook her head. “I can help the village children if I stay. I can use this magic that touches me to keep them safe and help their families.” Her gaze pleaded with Diana. “If we moved to the mountains my father would have to leave the land that his family has held for hundreds of years. My mother is comfortable now creating beauty and warmth in clothes for the entire village.” She looked shyly at Diana. “You have been my best friend since we were children. You are my only friend. I can’t leave you behind.”

Diana stood tall and towered over Anima. “My family is not wealthy. We should be safe, secure and rich. We’ve worked hard for many years. We are smarter than any of these villagers.”  Diana stamped her foot. “We deserve reward.” She took a deep breath and stared coldly at Anima. “You have the power to help us. You can fly into the counting house and bring out enough gold to keep us all safe and secure. No one would know who did it. There would be no trace. You’d disappear into thin air.” She smiled wryly but continued her hard stare.

Anima sadly broke down and shook her head. “I can’t do this for either you, your family or for mine.” She paused. “They would never ask me to do this.” She turned to walk away.

Diana stepped in front of her. “You forget, Anima, I’ve seen your secret. All I have to do is cry softly to the village elders and your magic would destroy you.” She lifted Anima’s head to face her again. “No one would know what I did. And I’m sure there would be a fine reward for my warning the village against your evil curse.” She grinned wildly at Anima. “You will come with me now.”

Diana pulled Anima down the path to the village while making sure that her clothes concealed the wings. The evening grew darker and silent but for night animal sounds. As they walked the path to the village, Diana smiled, laughed and whispered into Anima’s ear as though they were best friends sharing secrets. Anima’s quiet tears tracked down her cheeks.

Too soon they walked through the village and arrived at the counting house. Diana led them to the side of the tower shadowed from the moon by a huge tree. A window at the top was cracked open to the cool night breeze. No soldier patrolled the area. Diana ripped off Anima’s cloak and pointed to the open window.

“Please, don’t make me do this,” Anima whispered.

Diana just kept pointing up to the window. “Don’t forget, your family will pay too for hiding your curse. Fly up there now. The sooner you get some gold, the sooner we can get out of here.”

Anima wiped her eyes. She backed up and took a running start, springing into the air and pumping her wings until she could get to the window. She grabbed at the open frame and teetered on the windowsill. No one came to the window and Diana was alone on the ground, clutching the cloak and pressing against the darkest part of the tower wall.

Anima stepped into the tower and quietly turned to look both ways. She couldn’t see or hear anyone near her. She began to walk around the tower and peered into the doorways she passed. Most were counting rooms that had tables and chairs but they were empty otherwise. Fear began to creep up and choke her throat. She finally reached a door that was not open like the other doors. She took a deep breath and tried the handle. It was difficult to push against, resisting her efforts, but she finally budged it open. It made a grating noise. Anima froze and listened intently. She didn’t hear any footsteps. There wasn’t anyone calling out.

She took a deep breath and slipped into the room. There was a long table with many papers. Heavy chairs surrounded it. The walls were covered with large bookcases that had many pidgin-holes. Anima moved to the closest wall and began searching. In the last row she found three large cloth bags bound with twine. They clinked lightly when she pulled them out. Peeking through the top she saw a golden glint. That was it. The plot was done.

Anima closed the pidgin-hole cover and turned. She bumped into a large, warm cloak. The village elder towered before her in his tribunal robes. His black eyes sparkled high in the moonlight. His hands were folded in front of him. She couldn’t tell if he was smiling or frowning under the white beard and moustache. He just stood quietly and stared down at Anima and the coin bags she hugged to her chest.

After a few minutes, Anima mutely held the bags up to him. “I’m sorry,” she whispered and bowed her head before him. He took the bags. She waited for his judgment.

The elder pulled her gently toward the table and he sat down, putting the bags on the table. He pulled her close and wiped the tracks of her tears. “Anima, isn’t it? I don’t often remember the name of each child because they fear me and keep their distance. More’s the pity for I love everyone, especially children. But you are Anima, right?” She barely nodded her head and peered up through her hair to see he was smiling through his beard.

He turned her slowly around. She felt him softly stroke her wings and then sigh. He turned her back to face him. Anima trembled as she stared wide-eyed, not knowing what to expect.

“How long have you been touched by magic, child?”

“I’ve been this way since I was nine, sir. My mother and father feared the soldiers would take me. We couldn’t even ask the hedge witch to help for fear she would betray us.”

“So who is it that has promised to betray you tonight?”

Anima stared at him in surprise. “How did you know I would be betrayed!” she whispered.

“I can only walk and think at night, child,” he paused. “For the past several years I have seen many strange sights in this village.  I have often thought I saw an angel herding animals and children home.” He winked at her. “It is good to know that this old man is not touched by the fey. There is time and hope for me yet.” He sat for a moment. “Now tell me what has forced you to this desperate trial?”

Anima gave a tiny smile and then told him everything. “Will you turn me over to the soldiers, sir? Please warn my family to flee. They have done nothing wrong but to love me and keep me, in spite of my curse.”

The elder gazed at her quietly for a minute. He picked up the largest bag and folded her hands around it. Anima stared at him, confused. “But what am I to do?”

“I want you to go downstairs and out the front door. Don’t fly. When you find your, ahem, accomplice, please give her this bag. Then give her a kiss and a hug like the friend you are. Let tonight’s tears, your tears, bless her cheek. Then go back to your family.” He patted her shoulder and walked her to door. “Anima, if you need to talk to me later, please come to visit me. You will never be turned away, I promise.”

Puzzled, Anima turned from the elder. She walked through the door, and then she turned back. The elder was not there. She was alone. The only thing that looked familiar was the figure on the stained glass window that wore the same kind of cloak and robe as the elder. She quickly closed the door and walked down the stairs.

Diana jumped when Anima rounded the tower from the front door. “Where have you been?” she hissed. “How much gold did you get?”

Anima held up the large bag filled with gold. She smiled her tiny smile. When Diana just stared angrily at her, Anima’s smile faded. The bag slipped from her fingers and fell to the ground. Diana bent and snatched it up. “Just one bag,” she snarled. “Well, this bag is mine. You can fly up there another night and get more for me and one for you.” Anima just stood with her arms hanging down looking miserable. Diana finally tucked the bag into her belt. “Don’t be like that, girl. We’ll finally be rich. There’s no end to what we can get for ourselves.” She twirled again and stepped up to give Anima a fierce hug.

Anima slowly put her arms around Diana. She turned her head to kiss Diana’s cheek and her terrified tears fell onto Diana’s face. For a moment the night was profoundly dark and silent. No moonlight shone. Then Anima felt her shoulders straighten. She felt lighter. She tried to spread her wings and nothing happened. She couldn’t feel anything. When the night sounds returned, Anima looked for Diana.

Diana was kneeling on the ground. She opened her eyes and stood. Two dark wings now protruded from her back under her shoulders. Diana shredded the night with terrified screams. Turning to Anima she yelled, “What did you do to me?”

Shrinking back, Anima said, “Nothing, I did nothing.”

“You’re lying. You were the only one with wings. Now you don’t have any but I do,” she wailed. “Please take them away. I can’t live like a beggar, like an outcast.”

They could hear the boots of a soldier walking quickly toward them. Doors opened long enough for eyes to peer out into the darkness and then slam shut.

Diana dropped her cloak on the ground and pulled Anima’s concealing cover over her shoulders. She was terrified and started to run one way and then another. Finally she covered her head and ran back toward the river. Anima heard her steps fade to silence. She threw Diana’s cloak over her head and shoulders and turned to face the soldier.

“What is going on here,” the young soldier huffed down at Anima. “What are you doing out here by yourself, girl?”

“I couldn’t sleep. I was just walking to clear my head of strange dreams.” She smiled up at him. “I think I can go to sleep now. She turned and walked toward home feeling the young soldier's puzzled gaze following her.

Anima slipped quietly into bed. Her parents slept restlessly in the next room. For the first time in years, Anima slept dreamlessly all night.

Anima woke when she heard her parents fixing breakfast and softly murmuring. She sat up slowly and swung her legs over the bedside. Sitting on the edge for a minute she felt a familiar weight pulling her shoulders down. She walked slowly to the cracked mirror above her washbasin. Turning and looking back over her shoulder she saw her wings, beautiful in the morning light. They glowed brighter than ever and sparkled. Anima joyously spun around her small room. She ran to her parents and hugged each of them from behind.

“What’s gotten into you this morning, child?” asked her mother.

“It’s nothing special. It’s just that everything is as it should be. Nothing is changed but that I am one day older and wiser. The villagers are still here and so are their lovely children. My heart sings!” She released her mother. “By my choice, I love all that my eyes see, including me,” she said softly.