I woke up to loud bells thundering throughout the castle, the walls vibrating to every ring. Somehow, I didn't question the fact of how I had somehow returned to my quarters because all I felt was anger.
Anger towards the man that I'm supposedly to charm in order to exalt myself for my revenge.
No, I won't let myself be intimidated by him! I'm going to meet him today, no matter what. I don't care if he keeps on running away, I'll just have to find a way to catch up to him!
I slipped on a warmer shawl and rushed out of my room, my boots creating just as thundering claps as the bells had only a few minutes previous. I eventually stopped at Uriel's door and knocked. There was no answer, so I opened the door slightly open to peek when I was met with two blood-red eyes and I slammed the door as quickly as I had opened it.
Nope.
Not today.
I walked down the corridor until I heard the sound of the door creaking open. My blood ran cold, I could barely feel my fingertips. I slowly turned around and a majestic wolf walked out, his red eyes glowing in the sunlight.
He ran towards me, his powerful feet not even giving me time to turn around. I lifted my arms up, ready for impact, only to get pushed to the ground before I got... licked?
I could feel the slobbery saliva run up and down my face, suddenly making me giggle. The wolf licked me over and over again before I finally pushed him off, wiping my face with the cloak. While I continued to chuckle, I noticed how the wolf was sitting down obediently.
He's just like those dogs back at the village. I smiled and put out my hand.
"Paw." The wolf understood the assignment, proudly placing his paw in my hand. His tongue stuck out while his tail wagged. He then began to jump up and down and up and down before running in circles and falling on his back, asking for belly rubs.
This guy isn't scary at all! He's just like a playful little pup!
"Are you Uriel's pet?" I asked the animal. The wolf even shook his head side to side, as if he understood what I meant.
"I don't suppose you know where Prince Bastian Attinian is..."
Right, what am I asking a dog for-
"Woof!" the animal barked as he began running down the corridor. He then turned back to me, and it was like he wanted me to follow him. I'm really silly if I truly believe that this wolf is going to lead me to the man I wish to speak to, but I can't let Uriel's pet run off all by himself.
I decided to follow it. Probably not my best idea, but Uriel wasn't in and I was desperate.
As I approached the wolf, he only created more space between us. Either he was playing a silly game of tag or I really was getting brought to my future husband. I continued to follow the wolf until I finally lost sight of him as I entered into a garden.
I never thought that a garden of all places would look gorgeous covered in snow. A huge tree retained its position as the centrepiece, its branches and leaves leaving the ground around it without snow. There's a bench-like rock leaning against the trunk.
As I made my way towards it, crouching and making sure that I didn't cause an avalanche to fall down on top of me by touching the snow, I sat myself down on the stone slab and leaned my head against the tree trunk.
This is nice and cosy, I bet this place looks gorgeous when spring comes around. I bet those trenches in the ground are for running water. They're filled with snow now, and the fountain seems to be shut off to prevent any pipes from bursting. Overall, this place really is a diamond in the rough.
When talking about Attinian, all I ever heard was their cursed prince and their cursed soil. No crop from abroad can grow in their soil, thus the 'cursed' in the name. However, it has nothing to do with dark magic. The acidity of the soil is simply too high. It's possible to specially breed plants to fight against it, but it takes a long while and a lot of effort would have to be put into it.
"Phew... seems like I'll have my work cut out for me." I mumbled, burying my hand deep into the rich soil. "You're just misunderstood, not cursed. It's a real shame that you can't speak back and tell all of those dumb merchants yourself."
"Dumb merchants indeed."
Hold on... what was that?
I jumped up. "Who's there?" I called out, my voice suddenly taking on a nervous tone.
"Sit down, child. I really won't bite."
At that moment, I turned around and looked right at the tree trunk. N-No way, you're telling me that a tree is speaking?
I did a tour around the huge trunk and looked around, but saw nobody. Perhaps it was fear, but I obediently sat down and brushed the folds out of my cloak.
"S-So, um, sorry, I'm unsure of how to address you, Mr Tree."
There was a warm chuckle. "You can call me Forrester. That name was given to me by the first child who spoke to me, like you just did."
A... child?
"So, child, what brings you here?"
Oh shoot, is this some sort of sacred tree? Did I need a specific purpose to enter these grounds? I chuckled nervously, trying to hide how much I was freaking out inside.
"Truth be told, I didn't come here with an express purpose in mind. I'm sorry..."
Anther warm chuckle filled my ears and I suddenly felt more at ease.
"Coming here for a chat is also fine, so don't worry yourself, child."
I blushed in embarrassment, fiddling with my hair. This man reminds me of the old Elder Marchten in our village. He was like a grandfather to me, and always somehow smelt like birch sap and pine trees. He died around the same time as my mother...
"You feel like someone who has loved and lost." he declared. "I am a tree, and I am old, but I could feel your emotions in the soil. They are conflicted."
He's right about that... I smiled and placed my hand back in the soil. I wasn't moving but... it felt alive.
"I came here with purpose and intention, but somehow, I don't think that I ever wanted to be brought here."
I quickly shook my heads back and forth nervously.
"N-Not because this is Attinian! It's a beautiful country, I've come to enjoy it in my short time here."
Despite my murderous encounter with the hell hound.
"But... despite my dream to travel finally becoming true, I somehow still feel lost. I feel like I don't belong here. I feel like... I don't belong anywhere."
-End of Chapter 10-
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