Gethin's words hung in the air as he stepped back from me. "I guess I should go," he said. "But we will talk more, I promise."

I nodded. There was still tension between us. "Thank you, Gethin. I do appreciate it." It was only partly true. I appreciated his concern, but not his need to protect me.

He turned to leave, and as he did, Maeve Rosewood appeared at the end of the path leading to my garden. She was rushing, and the snowdrops that bordered the walkway crumpled under her hurried steps.

"Maeve, what's wrong?" I called out as Gethin gave her a brief nod and continued on his way.

She came over to me, her brow furrowed. Her red hair stood out vividly against the green background. "It's the oak saplings by the stream," she said. "They're dying, and I don't know why. I've tried everything."

I felt sorry for her as I knew how much each leaf and petal in Llyncroft meant to her even if she had spread rumours about me in the village. "I can help," I said, following her towards the stream, Ebony following close at my heals.

The saplings were drooping, their leaves brown at the edges. I placed my hands on the damp soil around their roots, wondering if I could do anything. If I had all this power, surely I should be able to use it to do something helpful.

I closed my eyes and called on the earth to heal and nurture the saplings. I watched as the illuminated lines I now associated with communicating with the earth touched their roots.

Power surged through me, but it was too much, uncontrolled. The ground shook, and Maeve gasped as the soil around the saplings churned violently.

"No! Stop!" Maeve cried out.

I withdrew my hands, but it was too late. The saplings lay on their sides. I had exposed the roots.

Maeve looked shocked and angry. "What have you done?" she asked, her voice barely audible.

"I didn't mean to," I said, feeling panic rise. "I just wanted to help."

She said nothing. She didn't need to. The look in her eyes said it all, the revulsion, disbelief and fear. Maeve knelt by the fallen saplings and gently touched their leaves, as if apologising for my actions.

I stood helplessly as she tried to save the small trees that meant so much to her. Ebony wrapped herself around my ankles as if she was giving me solace.

I knelt beside Maeve. I wasn't sure if I should try to help. "Maeve, I'm sorry. I can't control it. I didn't mean for this to happen."

She stiffened as she worked, so I withdrew and gave her space. I hated the sight of the saplings uprooted. She was cradling each sapling as if it were her own child, whispering words that were lost on the wind. I envied her deep connection to the forest. I wanted to help, but feared making things worse.

I could hear a stream bubbling away in the background, oblivious to the mess I had made. Ebony jumped up to my shoulder, pressing her body to my face, offering me comfort.

Maeve worked methodically, almost ritualistically, trying to reposition the saplings back into the earth.

After what felt like an age, Maeve sat back on her heels and turned to me. Her eyes were softer, but still wary.

"You have power," she said. "But you need to learn to control it. Or it will control you and everything around you." I expected her to shout at me. I didn't expect her to see in me anything other than someone who was out to destroy the things she loved.

I nodded. "I will," I said, but I wasn't sure. How many more mistakes would I make? How much more damage would I cause before I got this right?

Maeve stood up, brushing the dirt from her knees. "Come," she said. "There's someone you need to meet."

I was curious and eager to make amends. I followed her deeper into the forest. The trees seemed to lean in as we passed, whispering secrets I wasn't yet allowed to know.

We stopped in front of an enormous beech tree. It was ancient, its bark etched with the lines of centuries past.

"Maeve?" I asked. "I don't understand. Why are we here?"

She placed her hand on the trunk of the tree and closed her eyes. "This is The Eldress," she said. "She's been here longer than any of us can remember."

She opened her eyes and looked into mine. "If anyone can help you on your journey, it's her."

Maeve's words settled over me as I faced the beech tree, its grandeur commanding a silent awe.

"The Eldress?" I repeated, looking up at the patterns in the bark, wondering what knowledge they might hold.

Maeve nodded, her eyes alight with a quiet faith. "She's been watching over us for generations. Her roots run deep into the earth's memory."

"How do I," I hesitated. "How do I talk to her?"

"With respect," Maeve said, her hand still on the tree. "And an open heart."

She waved her hand, indicating I should place my hand on the tree's trunk.

I stepped forward, placing my hand on the cool bark. It was hard to explain it. The saplings felt like ethereal spiders' webs compared to the strength I felt originating from the tree.

"Hello, Eldress," I said, not expecting anything in return. Plants would respond to my touch, but this was more. I felt a warmth spreading through my arm and into my body from where I touched the tree. It was like the tree was giving my hand a hug.

My eyes closed, and I saw a vision behind my eyelids. It was a green tapestry, bathed in golden sunlight. The vision shifted, and I saw roots twisting and turning through dark soil, like hands reaching out.

"Your presence is as the stone which falls into the still lake. You have no control over where the ripple touch. When the stone falls into the stream, it has no impact, but that is not your path," murmured a voice through the leaves. It wasn't mine or Maeve's, but seemed to belong to the forest itself.

The Eldress's embrace was warm. I could feel her on my skin, sense the wisdom she held. "Teach me," I said. "I want to understand. I don't want to cause harm."

"The purity of your heart determines your path. Your path is straight. Trust each step." It wasn't as if she turned away from me, but I could sense I no longer had her attention.

I opened my eyes to find Maeve staring at me. "What did she say?". I realised the Eldress had only spoken to me.

I paused, not sure how to answer. "She warned me," I said. "I have an impact which I can't control and that I need to be careful."

Maeve's face darkened, and she took a step back from me. "She says you're dangerous," Maeve said, her words as sharp as glass.

"No, Maeve, it's not like that. She also told me my heart was pure," I said, but she was already shaking her head, putting a distance between us.

"You've pulled up saplings with a touch, and now the Eldress is warning us about you," Maeve said, her voice rising. "The village needs to know."

I reached out to her. "Please listen to me. It's not a warning about me, it's telling me to be careful."

But Maeve wasn't interested in what I had to say. She turned and rushed towards the village. Why had she brought me here if she had already made her mind up about me?