No way… there is no way my family was royal. Me? Nerdy, clumsy, grumpy… me? A royal?I shake my head and look down to the necklace and for a moment, it seems to glow a little brighter as if responding to my thoughts.
“I do not acknowledge The Wolf as king. The line of The Owl has ruled for millennia in a fair and just way. You are the true heir, Nuria. I am at your service… Although I may not be of thebestservice.” He bows his head even lower. I grab his shoulders and help him stand back up.
“First of all, Gaius, you are amazing. The most talented Etherealist I know,”Not that I have met any other,“second… I am no heir or ruler or anything, really! I’m just Nuria… I spendmy days studying plants and painting and lying in beds of moss and being extremely socially awkward. I can’t even convince people to join me in my pathetic protests in Easthelm. I can’t be who you think I am Gaius!” I try to push up from the couch but I am suddenly feeling even fainter than before.
Perhaps I am dreaming. This must all be a dream.The raccoon that brought me my water has popped up by my side with another glass that I gratefully take and chug down.
“You already are, my child! There was a prophecy foretold by the Seers of Mount Aethel, my kooky distant cousins who have the gift of foresight as their tie to the Ether, that told of an heir raised in the way of humans being sent back to us to take their place upon the throne!” Gaius looks down to my necklace which is now glowing much brighter, as if it is excited by these revelations. “It had been foretold before my time and had been cast aside as hearsay when Alastair, The Owl’s grandfather, was on the throne. He banished those very Seers to their now coveted mountain for suggesting such a thing, but the Seers must not have known it would be a child of the royal lineage, come for retribution!” Gaius’ eyes are wild now, I just shake my head in disbelief.
Is this the prophecy that The Wolf has been told of? I wonder if he thinks it is about me. Perhaps he doesn't want me alive after all…I shut the thought down as I am already resolved in bargaining myself for Oleander’s freedom. This realm needsher,notme.
“Look, I can’t promise that I am everything that you had hoped for from this prophecy but I do know that I must go to the Palace and stop this trial. Oleander deserves her freedom and Pyralis and Embrys need to be put in their place!” I feel a surge of energy course through me and shoot to my feet. “Gaius, I don’t have much time. The trial is this evening. Is it even safe for me to go out there?” I didn’t really think this through. There was just abloody forest fire that spanned on for miles and is probably still smouldering and extremely hot.
“It may not be safe for you alone but I know of one who may assist you. I will need to enter the crystals to try and reach him. I will do what I can!” I nod to him and we part ways. Gaius heads into the crystal cave and I go to my room to change.
When I get to my room I expect to find my old sooty servant’s dress but instead there are a pair of trousers, a clean white blouse and a red cloak, waiting for me on my bed. The grey wolf is sitting beside them.What the heck?
I thought you might need something a little easier to move in for combat. I nod my head in thanks.Protecting the ones you love is the noblest cause of all. Do not forget that.She nods back before brushing past me and trotting off.
Combat… Shit, Embrys took the sword. What is it with the Pyralis siblings and taking my swords when I need them the most!
When I come back to the main cave, Gaius is already waiting for me and waving me over.
“He has answered and is on his way. Come, he will meet us at the entrance of the waterfall.” I walk swiftly behind him, heading to the tunnel that Embrys and I entered through, what feels like, ages ago. I glance behind me one more time and give all the creatures a smile and a nod of thanks before disappearing into the darkness of the tunnel, my eyes catching those of Selene, grey wolf, one more time.Thank you.
Gaius and I hop down into the waters of the small lake, which feels more like a bath than a refreshing forest pool, and I look around for this mysterious person Gaius said was coming to aid me. The forest is charred and smoking and I can see embers still glowing on the ground. The destruction steals my breath away and I can’t help the tears that start rolling down my cheeks.
“Gaius, the forest! It’s all dead…” I sob. How anyone could so callously destroy so much life for their own political gain is beyond me. The fae are no different than the humans.
Gaius must read my anger. He blows out a breath, causing his moustache to flap around before he grabs my hand and leads me to the shore of the lake. He bends down and brushes away some of the ash to show me a little sprout, already pushing up through the charred earth.
“The Heartwood is a mighty being. She will bounce back grander than she was before. She has seen fire in her past and will not perish from this one. There is enough good left in the creatures of this world that we will always fight and regrow. Do not forget it. Do not lose hope, young one.” He gives my hand a little pat.
The resilience of this land amazes me. The regrowth in the human realm takes years and years but as I look around I can see green popping up from the ground and out of the side of burnt trees already, even though the wood is still smoking and the ground is hot to the touch. Gaius is right, and Oleander's words from a few nights ago chime in my mind.Forgiveness is the only way forward…
“Ah, Braun has arrived.” Gaius straightens up, I look to where his gaze has gone and the largest buck I have ever seen is standing there, staring at us. He is nearly the size of Durga and his antlers are a mighty sight to behold. As he steps into the lake he transforms into his humanoid form which is just as colossal as his animal form. He has a head of thick brown waves and kind, golden, brown eyes that match the hue of his skin. I shyly avert my eyes but both Gaius and Braun seem completely unfazed by his nakedness.
“I have heard your call, Gaius.” Braun claps his fist to his chest. “So this is the one the Sylvans have been searching for. I am Braun, a guardian of these woods and I will assist youhowever I can, small one.” He bows his head and I awkwardly curtsey back.
“Um, hello Braun. I’m Nuria. You said the rebels have been searching for me? Is Marissa with them? She is a human, around this tall… blonde curls?” I reach my hand to her petite height and try to keep eye contact with him whilst doing so but his height is making itverydifficult to avoid staring at a certain something. A very large certain something…
“Ah yes, she is with them and well. I am fond of that one, she has a sweetness to her. But also so fiery for such a tiny thing,” he chuckles and I swear I see him blush. I cock an eyebrow at his response and what that might mean.No, I don’t want to know…
“I need to get to the Palace before sunset, Braun. As much as I would love to go to Marissa and the rebels… There just isn’t enough time. Can you get me there?”
“Yes, this I can do. Magath, the City of Her Divine Children, is a far distance but if we make haste we shall make it.” He starts to shake and I watch as he slowly morphs back into his deer form.
It is an impressive sight to see and I know I am just rudely standing there, staring at him with my mouth hanging open, but this is not something one witnesses every day. Fur replaces skin and antlers grow like branches, the only thing that remains the same is the colour of his eyes.
When he is fully morphed he walks to my side for me to hop onto his back, which I do awkwardly, not sure if I am supposed to grab ahold of his antlers or just wrap my arms around his neck so I decide the neck is probably nicer for him and lean forward. As soon as I am settled, Gaius gives me a wave and bows his head before Braun leaps out of the lake and we take off.I’m riding a talking deer… Never in a million years would have thought this was possible.
“Thank you for everything, Gaius!” I turn to call back but whip back around to grab ahold of Braun’s neck before he accidently bucks me off.
As we racethrough the forest I can see more and more evidence of it coming back to life. The wind is whipping my hair around in a frenzy, so it is hard for me to tell, but I swear I see some boulders rolling around, squashing out the embers. A vision… or memory, I am unsure, of gnomes gathering during a storm to help cut a new path for a creek flashes into my mind and a feeling of comfort that all will be put right washes over me.
We pass a winding creek and I see water sprites splashing around their surroundings, putting out little flames and wood sprites coaxing little saplings out of the ashes. The forest is still very much alive and all the creatures within it are doing their part to heal it.
Leaving my worry for the land and my sister behind, I look ahead to what I might face at the trial. Embrys and Pyralis will no doubt be there trying to keep me from entering and I have to keep away from the vargs so I am not immediately captured and unable to attend the trial. I have no idea what a trial looks like in the fae realm so I must keep hidden and interject at precisely the right time. I have also never been to this ‘divine city’ so I have no clue where I will be going or how to gain entrance to the Palace.
