The Hermit

Author’s note: dwendes are a Filipino version of dwarves. There are a lot of stories about dwendes enchanting people as revenge for tripping over them or disrespecting them, etc. Yayas sometimes scare their charges into being good by saying ‘the dwende will get you’, or something like that. Or at least mine did, when I was little. Dwendes usually live in termite mounds.

Chapter 2

By the time we were awake, the fire had gone out, and I found that Carmina had also come back to the fire.  It hadn’t been all that chilly, but who knew what spirits walked around the forest at night?

Matulin was munching on some grass and had probably been awake hours ago.

This time, breakfast was coconuts, then we were off again.  My back, arms, legs, and rear were aching so much that I didn’t have any strength to bicker with Carmina.  She seemed to be in the same condition.

“Well, you’re improving,” said Matulin said when we were going to sleep. “You’ve only fallen off eight times today.”

I groaned in response, and Carmina was already fast asleep.

One day, just as we were about to mount Matulin, Carmina fell over.

“What happened?” I asked as I helped her up. “As far as I’m concerned, there’s nothing for you to trip over.”

“I don’t know,” said Carmina, looking around her. “I suppose I just wasn’t walking properly.”

After that, she didn’t seem quite her snappy self.

When we both fell off Matulin, I landed with a thud on top of her.

“Ano– sorry,” I said quickly, bracing myself for some sharp remark.

“That’s all right,” said Carmina in a vague, far-away voice.

“What?” I stared at her, surprised.

“I said it’s all right,” replied Carmina.  She was looking at me, but it seemed that her head was in the clouds.

I got onto Matulin, then waited for Carmina to get up after me.  But she just stood there, staring into space.  Sighing, I nudged Matulin a little so he’d go nearer to her and pulled her up myself.

Once we had started off again into the woods, I whispered in Matulin’s ear, “Do you think there’s something wrong with Carmina?”

“Of course not,” Matulin replied. “I’m sure she’s perfectly fine.  In fact, we ought to appreciate this rare moment when Carmina is so nice and quiet.”

I sighed again.  I turned to Carmina and waved my hands in front of her.

“Anyone home?”

Her eyes followed my hands, but she said nothing.

“Anyone in that thick skull with sharp ears home?”

No response.

I gawked at her.

“Matulin?”

“Yes, Miguel?”

“There’s something wrong with Carmina.”

“What do you mean?”

I pushed Carmina off the horse, and all she did was sit up and gaze dreamily at nothing.

“That’s what I mean.”

“Hmm…” Matulin walked over to her and nudged her gently with his nose. 

She did nothing.

“I believe she’s under some sort of enchantment.”

“What kind of enchantment?”

“I don’t know.  I suppose we’ll have to get help.”

“Susmariosep[1]!  Leave it to a Spaniard to mess things up when we’ve barely

started!”

Matulin looked around.  Spotting a bird, he approached it then began snorting and nodding his head or pawing on the ground.

The bird chirped a little, then flew off.

“What do we do now?” I wanted to know.

“We shall wait for an answer,” replied Matulin.  He lay down on the ground, and I sat down and leaned against him.  We both observed Carmina, who still lay there.

In a little while the bird came back, followed by an old man.  By the way, he wasn’t a dwarf, just an ordinary old man.  The bird chirped to Matulin, and he snorted in reply.

“I am Mang Dunong,” he said to me. “I live in this forest, and am familiar with the supernatural beings that live here.”

“Oh,” I said, not quite knowing what else to say.

He examined Carmina, and basically did the same things that Matulin and I had tried.

“What is your name, young lady?” he asked.

“Carmina Santiago,” she replied in a soft voice so lacking in sharpness that it was disturbing.

“Why are you here?”

“Thank you very much, sir…”

Mang Dunong got up, then said quietly to us, “Have you passed any termite mounds lately?”

“No,” I answered. “But after she tripped over something this morning, she hasn’t been herself.”

“She might have tripped over a dwende,” Mang Dunong explained. “I

believe the dwende has taken an interest in her. It is courting her. It wants to marry her.”

“MARRY HER?!” I was so overtaken with surprise that I fell over.

“Calm down, Miguel,” said Matulin.

I was confused. “But how will we set her free from the dwende’s courtship?”

“We can tell him that there is a prettier girl somewhere else,” said Mang

Dunong.

“But do you know such a girl?” That got me thinking.  If I told the dwende  that my stepfather had a prettier daughter from his previous marriage, he might stop courting Carmina and go to Rizal, where my stepfather lived.  And if he says he doesn’t have such a daughter, the dwende would surely harm him.  Now my plan was set!  All I needed to do was to talk with Carmina’s suitor.  “Dwende!

Dwende!” I called. “You who is courting Carmina, I have something to tell you.”

A dwende wearing green clothes and a strange hat appeared. “Yes, here I am.  I am Carmina’s betrothed.  What do you want to tell me?”

“Betrothed?! You’re already engaged?”

“Yes. She has agreed to marry me,” the dwende said smugly.

“That’s too bad…” I said, feining disappointment.

That got to the dwende. “Why is it too bad?”

“I happen to know someone more beautiful than her.”

“Really?” the dwende looked interested

“Yes, really.” I gave a vivid description of the imaginary girl. “And though she has many suitors, her father refuses all of them.”

“Why is that so?”

“He wants a son-in-law that is magical.”

The dwende perked up. “I am magical!  Where do I find this girl?”

“The father is actually my stepfather, and the daughter is from his first

marriage.  He has hidden the daughter somewhere, and he will not tell anyone, not even my mother.  He will only tell a suitor with magical powers.”

“I am sure I will be able to convince him.  I am magical!  Where did you say your house was?”

“Rizal.” I gave him directions to my house and with many thanks, he

disappeared.

When he was out of sight, Carmina snapped out of her enchanted state.  She stood up. “What are you standing around for? We need to find the hermit!”

She got on Matulin and motioned for me to do the same.  I was shocked.

“Carmina, don’t you remember what happened?”

“What did happen?”

I told her everything about the dwende’s courtship and my solution.  When I finished, she shook her head.

“I can’t believe I was mindless enough to fall for the dwende!”

“Me neither,” I said, grinning. “But then again, you can’t expect a Spaniard to know the ways of a dwende.”

Carmina pushed me off Matulin, and I landed with a thud.

As we were about to leave, Mang Dunong came forward, saying, “Just go

straight down the path, and in two days you will find the hermit’s hut.  Don’t be shy to ask for his help.”

“Thank you and goodbye,” Matulin, Carmina and I said as we rode away.

That night, Carmina, Matulin and I sat around the campfire.  Carmina and I were now on somewhat peaceful terms, and we could see that Matulin was enjoying the peace and quiet.

Carmina turn to me. “Miguel, have I ever told you why I want the hermit to grant my wish?”

“No you haven’t.  What is your wish anyway?”

Carmina’s eyes stared into space.  For a split second, I’d begun to fear she’d been  enchanted by a dwende again.  “My  father is a high-ranking official in Intramuros.  He wanted to send me to Spain because he wanted me to be a‘proper young lady’, and he said I could never learn that here.  Also, he especially dislikes my yaya, who my mother had employed before she died.  He dislikes her because she tells me stories about aswangs and other magical creatures of the Philippines.  But I love my yaya. When my father was off to important meetings or went off to other barangays, [2]she was the only one who was there for me. I didn’t want her to leave.”

A tear slid down her cheek and landed on her palm.  She stared at it in surprise. “I almost never cry.”

She continued with her story. 

“When my father told me he was going to send me to Spain, the very next day I told my yaya I was going to run away.  She tried to talk me out of it, but when I insisted, she told me about the hermit.  I wanted her to come with me, but she said two people were more noticeable than one.  I saw her point and hugged her tight before I sneaked out the back door.  The next morning I saw you and your mother.”

“Oh…” I was silent for a moment.  Then I asked her a question. “So, what exactly is your wish?”

“Isn’t it obvious? For my father to allow me to stay here in the

Philippines…with my yaya.” her voice sounded annoyed, but I could tell she was serious.

“Ahh,” I said, then we put out the campfire and went to sleep.

The next day, we finally arrived at the hermit’s hut.  As we were about to enter it, an old man came out.

“Greetings, I am the hermit.”

After looking at him in surprise, I stepped forward. “ My name is Miguel

Katigbak, and this is Carmina Santiago,” I said, pointing to Carmina. “We had heard that you could grant wishes.  We are asking for your help.”

The hermit nodded. “I see.  But first, let me hear your story.  And I will decide if I will grant your wishes.”

We all sat down under a mango tree and Matulin, Carmina and I told the

hermit all that had happened before we arrived.  When we finished, the hermit nodded. “Very well, I will  grant your wishes.” He turned to Carmina. When you return to your home, your father will tell you he has changed his mind and decided to let you stay in the Philippines.  Your yaya will be allowed to stay with you.”  He turned to me.  “Miguel, although you told me you only wanted your stepfather to get out of you and your mother’s lives.  I know it is not what you really want.  I have looked into your heart, and I have seen that it is a kind one.  I will grant your unspoken wish – that your real father will be alive and living with your mother by the time you get home.”

I was too moved to speak.  How had he known?  Carmina spoke.  “Thank you for your kindness.” 

The hermit smiled.  “You are welcome.”

After spending the night at the hermit’s hut, we were on the path and ready to go home.  Carmina and I got on Matulin and waved to the hermit.  “Goodbye and thank you for your help.”  The hermit smiled and waved in response, then went back inside his hut. 

And that is my story.  Carmina and I rode Matulin to Intramuros[3] where her yaya and her father were.  They welcomed her with open arms.  She, Matulin, and I said our good-byes as she got down.  Then she ran to her yaya.  We promised to stay in touch.  I, on the other hand, went back to Rizal[4] with Matulin and saw that my real father was back and was living with my mother. 

My stepfather was nowhere to be found. I guess the dwende is still trying to convince him to give up his so-called daughter!  I said goodbye to Matulin and asked him if he could find his way back to his master.  He said he could and trotted off.  I think I saw a tear in his eye.

Right now, I am happily living with my family, and one of the things from my adventure that I have learned is to watch where I step.  I don’t want to be courted by a female dwende! 

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[1] Short for Hesus Maria Jose, or Jesus Mary Joseph! So it’s like saying “Good Lord!”

[2] Towns

[3] A city built by the Spaniards

[4] A province in the Philippines