He'd left camp only an hour before, impelled by a force unknown to himself. Who were these Germans they had been fighting for years? How far into the unknown north did their world go? He shivered with cold as he remembered the sunny, rolling hills of his homeland, far to the south, in Spain.

It was deathly quiet, not even the sound of a bird singing. With a last searching look into the stillness of the brooding trees, Maximus turned around to leave. Suddenly the hairs on the back of his neck stood up and in one lightening fast movement he had turned, his sword in his fighting hand, ready to strike.

There was nothing there. The look of surprise left Maximus' face as he smiled ruefully and bent to sheath his sword. And then the softest, gentlest voice he'd ever heard said, "You are not a general....yet."

"Who are you?" Maximus felt the shiver of a touch and a soft insistent pull but could still see nothing. He sensed strength disguised.

"I am the spirit of the forest. Come to me."

Maximus walked farther into the forest. He heard a woman giggle, or was it only the sound of a brook as it gurgled over the rocks...

"You do not smell like a Roman."

Maximus' level gaze fell on the woman who seemed to appear in front of him out of thin air. She was small, with curly red hair that tumbled to well below her shoulders. Her eyes were dark and full of life. Her ivory skin looked very soft.

"I am a Romanized Celt, from Spain," Maximus said, while looking deeply into the woman's eyes. "And you are not the spirit of the forest."

The woman laughed. "No, I am not. I can see that you are not a man to be easily fooled, or frightened for that matter. I know a few tricks, that is all. Still I think I must have intrigued you a little, for you came deeper into the wood."

"I have a felt drawn to this place. But it is time for me to go." Maximus smiled and bowed. If he felt any curiosity about this woman, he did not show it. He turned to leave.

"Please don't go yet. I want to give you something." The woman whistled and a small grey wolf pup came bounding up to her.

"Here. This is for you," she said to Maximus. "He will be your companion and protector for as long as he lives. But one thing I ask in return. Please do not destroy this forest, or bring your army here. That is all I ask."

Maximus nodded. "I accept your gift. Thank you. And you can be sure that I will never lead an army here. Your home will always be safe."

And then before his eyes, the woman became a small red breasted bird, and flew away.