And her name was Death

I had never seen her before. In fact, no one else had either. It was like she just appeared out of nowhere one day, yet it felt like she had been in our sleepy little town for years. She knew everyone by name, even if it was the first time meeting her.

The first time I saw her was in the tavern where I worked. I was a simple bus-boy, not yet old enough to work behind the bar quite yet. That would change in a few days, once I reached my twenty first summer. Don was training me during the day and on my birthing day he would let me run the bar by myself, promising to only step in when I really needed it.

Two days before that day I saw the strangest woman I had ever seen in my life. Her startling blonde hair and icy blue eyes stuck out in a crowd of dark haired and dark eyed men and women. As I reached her table, intent on offering to take her dishes, she looked me in the eye and I froze.

She smiled at me and spoke, "It's nice to see you're working hard, Ashtoreth. Are you excited about your birthing day?"

I nodded as my mouth was unable to form a complete sentence. I cleared my throat and tried again,

"Of course, I am. Don's been training me real hard," I grinned, "I'm glad that he trusts me to help run his tavern."

She reached out and touched my forearm and chills ran up and down my body. Her hands were chilled, which was odd to me in a place where it was obviously warm. Grown men were sweating like pigs, yet her hands were like ice.

"Good, good." She released my arm and motioned towards the dishes in front of her. "I'll let you get back to work."

I nodded again and grabbed the dishes. I set them in the tub I was carrying. I turned to leave and head back to the kitchen when she called out to me,

"Ashtoreth, meet me by the oak when you get off tonight."

I dipped my head to signal that I had heard her. My mind was soon occupied by the rest of the patrons in the tavern, as well as by Don and Margaret, the tavern's stern cook.

The rest of the night passed rapidly and Don let me off for the night as the tavern began to empty. He told me to make it home soon or my mother might send Joseph, my younger brother, after me. I waved at him and chuckled,

"Of course I will, Don," I smiled, "I'll go straight home after I run a quick errand."

"Don't be out too late, boy. Don't need to fetch you from the City Guard now." Margaret chided gently.

I nodded my agreement and headed out the door. I headed around to the back and grabbed my graying gelding. I lead him to the front of the tavern and mounted in a smooth motion before turning him towards the center of town. The old oak tree at the center of town wasn't too far away, yet it would have taken twice as long to walk.

As I neared the oak, I spotted a figure in a bright red cloak. I slowed the gelding to a walk from his choppy trot, my eyes narrowing. Who would wear such a bright color in the middle of the night? It screamed "look at me", and begged to be the target of the City Guard.

At the sound of hooves on the cobblestone the figure turned and a pair of icy blue eyes stared at me. For a moment they were filled anger and hate, but as I pulled the horse to a stop, the eyes seemed blank as they looked at me

She smiled at me, "It's good to see you again, Ashtoreth. I'm glad you came."

I smiled weakly, felling frightened. "I don't break promises."

"No, that wouldn't be you at all." She smiled. This smile wasn't the same as the one in the tavern, this one sent chills down my spine. "Come down off the horse, Ashtoreth."

My eyes widened and I felt very compelled to follow her directions, and I did. I dismounted and walked towards her.

"Good boy, Ashtoreth." As she spoke, her eyes seemed to glow.

I tried to turn away, but I couldn't. My legs seemed to move on their own accord. As I moved closer to the woman, her form began to change. From a beautiful blonde woman, she became an old woman with grey hair. Her icy blue eyes never changed as she looked at me.

"I'm sorry Ashtoreth, but your time has come." Her voice was soft, almost like she was sorry.

"What are you?" I asked.

She reached out for my hands and as I fell, I heard these words, "Ashtoreth, I am Death."

I fell and my eyes closed. I died that day, beneath the oak, where my younger brother found my body and my horse. Beyond that I don't know what happened. I know this, though. I am forever bound to this tree as a spirit caught on Earth. And, when I'm lucky, I can still see Death walking through our village and she sheds a sad tear for me.