The Forest of Lights

Chapter 6: The Savior

As Thana and Khalida stared at each other, neither of them knowing what to say, Ellisar moaned in pain. Khalida was snapped away from her thoughts and turned to the man. He had some nasty burns on his face.

Princess Khalida leaned over Ellisar, holding her hands just above his face, and murmured some unknown words. She kept talking and after a short time, all the man's burns were gone. He stopped moaning long ago and was now staring at Khalida, amazement and astonishment painted on his face.

"How did you do that?" Khalida's sister whispered. But the princess did not even spare her a glance. She just shrugged and didn't utter a word.

"Why being so secretive? I thought you trusted me," Thana said, looking her sister directly in the eyes.

"I do trust you," Khalida replied, returning the gaze. "But I cannot tell you."

"Alright then," the queen snapped, giving up on trying to get anything out of Khalida. "Would you at least tell me who this man is and where you know him from?"

"I do not know him." The princess avoided Thana's gaze. "It is my job to keep people safe." Thana didn't respond to that. With a slight flinch she stood up and walked back into the castle. Khalida sat there for a long time, looking after her.

"I am sorry-"

"It's fine," Khalida interrupted Ellisar.

"Come with me. We'll find somewhere safe," he requested hopefully. The princess thought for a second before replying.

"I've never let anyone go with me, but... It feels safer out of the castle for now. Follow me."

"Where are we going?" Ellisar asked.

"Into the Forest."

"The Forest!" he exclaimed fearfully.

"Don't be so scared. There's nothing to be afraid of in there."

"No?"

"Absolutely not."

So they went into the Forest of Lights.

The two ended up in a small hollow with tall trees surrounding it from all directions. The rays of sun that have been peering through the leaves have now disappeared. Dark clouds covered the quickly darkening sky. As soon as Khalida and Ellisar found shelter under a bush, thickly overgrown with dark green leaves, the rain began pouring down into the hollow. The princess sighed, the signs of once well-covered tiredness creeping onto her face. Ellisar was scanning the hollow intensely.

"If you still think there's some danger in this forest, you'll soon see you're wrong," she grumbled, annoyed. Ellisar looked at her wide-eyed.

"I don't. I just love the look of this forest. I believe you, Khalida. You seem to know the Forest very well." He offered her a small smile.

Khalida smiled back at him, though her spirits were still low. She then took a deep breath and said: "I am pregnant, Ellisar." Ellisar's smile disappeared from his face in a blink. He stared at her for what seemed like days. Khalida was watching his face expressions anxiously. At last he muttered something that sounded like 'ah.. well... that's.. great,' and lowered his gaze. Khalida had no clue what to think about that. Tears gleamed in the corners of her eyes.

"Khalida. I didn't mean it that way. I'm happy, truly, but we both know this wasn't meant to happen. It is against your family's rules. You should have been with someone from a royal family, not with an unworthy citizen like me."

"You think of yourself as unworthy," Khalida whispered, tears staining her cheeks. "But it's far from the truth. You still mean a world to me. This has all gone wrong! It just isn't fair!"

Ellisar's expression softened and he hugged her. 

"It will all be well. I promise," he said. Khalida relaxed against him slowly, finally allowing herself to breathe. They spent the night in the comfort of each other's arms.

As the dawn was nearing, they both woke up due to the sound of the leaves stirring somewhere close to them. Ellisar then noticed that parts of the trees lit up in an almost eerie green light. He gasped in shock, while the princess stayed calm.

"The Forest lights up every night and stays lit until dawn," Khalida explained. "It looks magnificent, doesn't it?" The corners of her lips quivered, as if she was holding back a smile. "Show yourself, little one," she suddenly called to someone hidden in the thicket by the hollow. After a moment, a small girl stepped out into the light. Khalida stood up and walked to meet her.

"What's your name, little girl?" she asked her kindly with a warm smile on her face. The girl's eyes were huge and scared.

"I am Emily. I come from the town. After the fire I've strayed and got lost in this scary forest," she wept in answer.

"Do not worry, Emily. Me and Ellisar will help you find the way out. I am Khalida, by the way." The girl's eyes grew huge.

"The princess?" she asked in awe. Khalida laughed.

"Yes, the princess, queen Thana's sister," she said with a glint in her eyes that now reflected the green light of the Forest.

"Wow!" Emily exclaimed, suddenly in a much better mood than before.

"Come on. Let's get you back to your parents. See, there's nothing to be afraid of," Khalida whispered, waving to Ellisar to join them.