Where the forest lies

The 1 o'clock Meeting

I quickly get up, the clock saying it was 12 in the afternoon. I get changed into the usual clothing I wear when going into the forest. I rush downstairs to see my dad in the main sitting room. "You're up late..." He said looking me up and down. "Why are you dressed like that?" He asked. I took a deep breath out hoping the plan would work. "Father, I was wondering if you would let me go into town?" I asked. "What? Why?" He asked. "Well... it's my birthday tomorrow and I was going to go downtown and see if there was anything I liked." I said with a small smile. "But we always buy you stuff." He said, looking at me suspiciously. "I know... but I just want something a little more... humble." I said, trying my best not to show I'm lying. My father sighed out. "You didn't follow our orders last night..." He said looking at me. I stared back at him silently. "But... I guess you could go out. Only for 1 hour though." He said. "3 hours." I said. "2. And that's final." He said sternly. "Thank you father." I said, running out the front door. "W-wait y/n! You need guards with you!" He yelled out to me, I continue running, ignoring his orders. 

I quickly run down the big path that led up the the castle, running down towards the large silver gates. The 2 guards stationed there look at me in confusion. "Open the gates." I said. "But-" One of them begins saying. "Now." I order. They both look at each other in confusion. "Uh, yes your highness." One said, pulling down the lever. I smile, pulling my hood up and continuing on towards the town. 

30 minutes later, and I had reached the main centre of the town. I rush over to the forest edge, running into it. "Maybe I'll be able to find the clearing soon..." I said to myself as I continued walking. After 2 minutes of walking through the forest, I finally get to the clearing I usually find myself at. I lay down at the log, waiting patiently for her. 

There was a bit of rustling  behind me, I turn around to see her standing there. She wore a long white dress that almost touched the ground. It went off the shoulders and had short puffy sleeves. She wore a necklace that had a heart as the charm. Her hair was half up-half down. She smiled at me. I blush lightly. "You, uh you look beautiful." I said, standing up and brushing off all the dirt. Her face goes red a bit. "Oh, thank you!" She said with a smile. I smiled back, walking with her as she took me back to the village. She directed me over to her place. It was very small, made out of bricks and cobblestone. She had a path way that had separated the 2 gardens. 

One garden was a flower garden, the other was filled with crops. There was vines going up some of her walls. We walked up to her door, which was wood with stained glass. The interior was very cosy, the colours were all neutral. I look at the wall behind her couch, seeing a bunch of different sketches and paints all over it. I look at everyone of the paintings in awe. "Oh, that. It was out of boredom, I was waiting for my garden to grow." She said, boiling a kettle on the stove. "How long did it take you..?" I asked, looking over at her. "About, a year." She said. "You waited that long for your garden?" I asked. "No, of course not." She said, her laugh sounding like silk. "I just started it and needed to finish it. Of course it would of taken me less time if I sat down and just did it, but there is a lot to look after in the house." She said, taking the kettle off and pouring it into two carefully detailed china cups.

I sit down on her small, plush couch. The material feeling soft underneath my legs. I watch her as she carefully puts down the cup, looking up at me with her soft blue eyes. "Milk?" She asked. I nodded, fidgeting with my hands. She sat down opposite of me on a smaller chair. She picked up her tea cup, holding the little plate underneath it as she took a little sip from it. She placed it down, some of her brunette locks falling over her shoulder. She looked up at me, her features softening. "So tell me, why do you always have the hood over your face?" She asked. I looked at her blankly for a bit, trying my best to think of an excuse. 

"My father has told me about some... thugs being around here. I never want to risk my identity being stolen, you know?" I say. The timid girl giggles a bit, looking up at me again. "You know I'm not a thug, right?" She said, looking at me intensely. I hold her gaze, debating on what I should say. I sigh out, realising she caught my bluff. "I can't show you my identity because it will change the way you act. Plus my parents would kill me if they found out..." I said sadly. Lacey looked at me for a couple of seconds, then letting a small smile fall onto her soft face. "Athena, I would never change the way I see you. No matter who you were." She said, picking up her tea cup. I stare at her for a bit in awe. "You... wouldn't?" I asked. Before she put the cup to her lips she smiled and nodded. "I promise that I won't change how I see you." She said, continuing to take a sip from the small cup. I sighed out, debating what I should do. I smile a bit, putting my hands up to my hood. "Alright then."