The men have gone back to the town to start rebuilding what needs to be rebuilt. Khalida showed them the way out of the Forest and then she returned to the camp and spent the time with the women and the children who stayed.
They cleaned everything out and did some small things to make the camp feel like home. It was early autumn, so the people hoped to move back to town in the shortest time possible.
Most of the Guerrillas helped in the camp, for if they insisted on helping the men, they would get suspicious of them. However, Gertrude once succeeded in convincing them to come and help, saying she wanted to move back in soon, and that it would all take much less time if some women helped too, since there wasn't really much to do back in the camp, save the cooking. So Gertrude, Tallis, and Zakiyah went with the men one day. They were very productive.
Weeks passed, and September was coming to an end. The woods turned red and golden, but at night they still radiated the same green light. It was so through all the year.
On a nice Wednesday noon, Khalida was drinking tea inside her little cottage. Her head was buzzing with thoughts again. She loved living in the Forest. It was beautiful and cozy. Perhaps it wasn't such a terrible mistake to bring the citizens here. If only Thana went back to normal and stopped her selfish games to torment Khalida. In fact, the princess hasn't seen her in an entire week. She didn't want to argue anymore. She preferred staying in the Forest till the things calmed down. Thana would remark she's just hiding. Like a rabbit in a hole. The queen certainly wasn't able to have a normal conversation without starting another fight.
So Khalida was there, deep in her thoughts, when suddenly the door crashed open, and someone rushed inside. For a moment, the princess couldn't even see who it was because the sun only left a silhouette, a shadow, but when the person spoke, she recognized Ellisar. He returned sooner than the others.
"Khalida!" he gasped. "I must tell you something important!" His voice was high and squeaky, panic gripping on him.
"What's the matter, Ellisar?" asked Khalida worriedly. "You seem terrified."
"It's Thana," answered he, catching his breath. "I overheard her talking to the king. Khalida! They are planning to murder you!"
"Murder?" To the princess it seemed like everything's far, far away. Her voice trailed off in the distance. She was lost. Ellisar's words pierced her heart like a thorn. She couldn't believe it. It was impossible. Her own sister..?
"What did you hear, Ellisar? When are they going to do it?" rasped Khalida as she closed the door with a bang so no one would overhear their conversation. Khalida could barely talk, sadness crashing upon her like a cold stone.
"On the next full moon," said he, the look in his eyes dull. "What are you going to do, my lady?"
"I honestly don't know. If I hide in the Forest, she'll find me. I'm not sure how I'd manage to escape anywhere. The closest city is about 50 kilometers away from here. And if I am to leave... I should do so soon."
"Alright. Alright. And I'll go with you. Wait for me, tomorrow midnight, by that great rock next to the river, northwards from here."
"Thank you, Ellisar," breathed out the princess, hugging her beloved. "I will be there."
"You don't have to worry anymore. She won't hurt you," murmured Ellisar, and with the last wave towards Khalida, he exited the house.
YOU ARE READING
The Forest of Lights
FantasyLong, long ago, in a mysterious town lived two princesses. The younger one's name was Khalida, the older one was Thana. They were known to be most respected individuals in the country. Next to the town was a forest, it was called the Forest of Light...
