The Fells

The Fells

Every day at the same time, Marianne walked her dog, Rufus.  They walked across the Fells, whatever the weather, although most of the time it was misty with fog.  Marianne liked the brisk, cold air, it helped her to forget her troubles, wash away the pain.  Marianne had recently lost her boyfriend, Richard in an accident.  Richard had been riding his horse, Storm when he fell, hitting his head on the gravelled road.  Storm had been understandably distressed and accidentally trampled on Richard's already injured body.  He died there alone on the side of the road.  Storm had not been seen since.  Marianne liked to think that someone had found the horse and looked after him. 

The wind picked up and Marianne wrapped her arms around herself.  It would be dark soon.  That was the worst time, when the moon came out.  It would remind her of the times she and Richard would sit on the bench by the willow tree and look at the stars; naming them and trying to see the ones they had named on previous occasions.

As she continued to walk, Marianne saw a couple who looked like they had been hiking.  They also looked a little lost.  She called out to them, "Excuse me, are you lost, do you need some help?" 

They both looked up relieved.  "Oh yes please," the woman said.  "We seem to have come off of the track and we're not quite sure which road to take.  Can you tell us the quickest way down?" 

Marianne smiled at them, they looked so grateful.  "Of course, you just need to follow this path round to the right and it will take you all the way to the bottom.  Be careful when the road starts to bend to the left slightly, this means you are quite near the edge and a lot of people have accidents out here, especially when the darkness starts to fall."

"Oh thank you so much!"  The man cried.  "We've been wandering around for hours now; we thought we'd never find someone to help us this late in the day.  All the tours are finished!  Thank heavens you were here."

"No problem at all.  I know my way around easily, I couldn't get lost up here!"  Marianne said feeling a little lonely as she saw the way they looked at each other.  "You'd better get going if you want to try and get down by the time it gets completely dark!"  Marianne said swallowing down the tears that threatened to come.

"Okay, well thank you for all your help, be careful up here!"  The woman said as they walked away from her in the direction she had just come from.

"I'll be fine; I have Rufus to look after me."  Marianne called pointing to the dog.  Rufus snorted at her and started to chew on a large stick.  She continued to walk.


The couple followed Marianne's directions and were soon on their way down. "Oh Michael, do you think that lady will be okay up here on her own in the dark?"

"Of course she will Viv, she said herself she couldn't get lost.  Don't worry so much all the time.  I told you I'd get us down safe didn't I?"  Michael said with a smug smile on his face.

"Don't look so flippin' smug mister, it wasn't you who got us down it was that lady up there!"  Vivienne squeaked raising her voice and turning slightly pink.

"Okay, okay, calm yourself down woman, it doesn't matter, we're almost back at the lodge now!"  Michael said rolling his eyes at her flustered face.

As they entered the lodge they were staying in, Vivienne looked up at the Fells looming above them.  She couldn't help wondering if the lady that had helped them would be alright.  She wouldn't bring it up again because Michael would just get angry with her and say she was being all unnecessary.

"Good evening Mr and Mrs Meeks, and how are you this evening?"  The concierge greeted them warmly.

"Hello Tom, a little spooked actually.  We almost got lost on the Fells earlier this evening.  If it wasn't for a lady walking her dog, we would never have got here at all!"  Vivienne said ignoring the cold stare Michael was throwing her way.

"Really?  What did she look like, Mrs Meeks?"  Tom asked questioningly. 

"Well, she had long dark hair and she was wearing a black dress.  I noticed because I remember thinking it wasn't exactly suitable attire for a hike.  I think she said her dog was called Rufus."  Vivienne said, shooting Michael a look that said "Don't".

"That sounds like Marianne, you met Marianne!"  Tom said excitedly.

"Er, is that a good thing then?  Who is this Marianne?"  Michael said looking completely confused.

"Will she be okay up there alone in the dark?"  Vivienne asked, not bothering to hide the concern in her voice.

"Of course she will."  Tom said smiling at them both.

"Do you know her well?"  Vivienne asked suspiciously.

"No, I'm afraid I have never even met her, Mrs Meeks.  See, Marianne died over seventy years ago.  Her fiancé Richard fell from his horse and was killed.  After she heard the news, Marianne went walking the Fells with her dog, Rufus.  Unfortunately, they never returned.  They're bodies were never found, but there have been many a sighting of her at the same time every day, mostly by lost ramblers like yourselves.  She helps them, see?"  Tom told them, his eyes shiny.



Marianne continued to walk across the Fells with Rufus.  The darkness did not affect her, nor did the cold.  Time after time she helped those who were lost.  Would anyone ever help her?