The Orphan King and The Witch of the Woods (KINGDOM Arthur X Female OC)

Ch. 8: Through A Forest of Fear

"This is it. The fastest and most secluded way to Kilune."

The group of knights and horses led by Arthur himself immediately stop at the borders of Wallowing Woods. He scans the place, his expression turning slightly dark, before he turns to the boy who had lead them here, offering knowledge on a short passage to the kingdom of Kilune.

Peter almost flinches at his old friend's gaze. "Oh, come on, now! You asked for this, didn't you? This is it! It's the shortest and fastest way to head to Ki– Oh my goodness!" Peter suddenly holds his hands up defensively when a knight holds a sword to his neck, scaring the boy and making him step back. "A-A-Arthur?!"

"That's not necessary, Levi. He's a close friend of mine. He may speak as he wishes," Arthur tells the knight, the latter of which eventually pulls his sword back and returns it into its scabbard, soon walking back to the side of the king's horse. Arthur then furrows his brows as he turns back to the forest, this time clearly showing doubt.

And who else would understand where this doubt is coming from better than his old friend Peter.

Indeed, Peter knew better. Arthur's doubt wasn't like that of the rest of his band of knights (which was clearly of the enigma surrounding Wallowing Woods). To him, it was clear that Arthur's doubts were most definitely stemming from Lily all over again.

In the end, Peter just sighs before he approaches his friend and places his hand on his horse. "It's safe, alright?" he assures the boy. "There's a clear path that heads straight to Kilune, and if you ever lose it, just look for where the sun rises... And so far, nothing odd has happened there so I'm sure you'll be able to get there just fine." He finishes with a smile, and Arthur just had to calm down a bit by his words by the end of it.

Then he turns back to the forest. "Alright," Arthur finally concludes yet again as a determined expression forms on his face, "We'll take this path. Men, we are heading east! To Kilune!"

He leads his accompanying knights on, then he nods to Peter right before they enter the woods. However, as soon as he turns back to the path...

The boy couldn't help but tighten his hold on the reins.

His horse, Miles, neighs softly as if detecting his nervousness, almost as of telling him to calm down as well.

Arthur just chuckles at the mammal's actions before gently patting him. "I know, I know... I'm trying."

This time, it now just seems like the horse is doubting his words. Or maybe Arthur is just well too aware that he is doubting his own words at the moment, as well.

He just lets out a sigh as he raises his head to focus on the path ahead instead. "Alright. We can do this, Miles. We just have to get through this forest as quickly as possible so we can finally get to Kilune."

And with that, they go on with their journey.

•●•

Meanwhile, deep in the forest, a young lady is hunched over near a fallen tree, picking the mushrooms that had grown on it and placing it in the straw basket that hangs from her arm.

Around her, soft whispers and quick-moving figures surround her as if watching her. But the lady does not mind. Even looking as much as if the presence of such is a calming reassurance for her.

Eventually, one of the figures, a male, slows down and floats down to her side, watching her carefully and eventually letting his sight wander towards the contents of her basket instead. The straw basket, it seems, is already almost full, but the young lady still continues, causing the young male to frown as he looks upon her. "Are you expecting guests? You're taking more mushrooms today; and I thought I saw you collecting bundles of ferns a while back, too."