6: Darken Flower

4: the dwarven lands.

The next morning we began on our way through the woods. 

"why can you not just teleport up to the other side of the dwarven kingdom?" i asked Oberon as we rode. 

"you want me to be able to teleport your sister right?" he asked, ducking from some branches in his way. i gave a nod. "then i need to save as much energy as possible. if i were to take all of us now, then my magic would be almost depleted. i could take myself with no issue, but taking others makes things hard."

"so your saying this would be easier without me?" i raised an eyebrow. 

"that is exactly what i am saying." he replied. "however i was asked to accompany you, not do it myself, i need to honor your families wishes."

"so you not leaving me behind is just to make my family not hate you?" i asked. 

"it is about trying to be a part of your family after what i had done." he answered. "i do not wish for any of you to hate me, however you do annoy me greatly and i fear that you and i will never truly get along."

"that is something we can agree on." i rode ahead a bit. i spotted some of the wolves close by, following us along. it was almost reassuring to know that they would be close to protect us if needed.

as we rode, the landscapes began to change from lush forests into rocky mountains. i stopped. "the horses will not be able to go on from here if we want to be quick."

"that is unfortunate." Oberon dismounted his horse and started to gather his bags, the rest of us followed suit. 

"i just wish the horses could return safely," i said as i pat my horse. 

i can assure you that we will, master. i voice sounded. 

"what the hell?" i looked at my horse. "so i can talk to you too?"

the horse gave a nod.

"not just wolves?" Oberon asked.

"apparently all animals." i shrugged then looked to my horse. "safe travels my friend." the horses took off back the way we came.

"you know," Carlisle spoke calmly. "with the strong connection that elves have to the forest, this skill may come in handy when you become their king." 

"i hope your right." i looked at the ground and kicked a rock. "i dont know if i will ever be as good of a king as Uncle Thorne."

"he was not born into that throne you know." Carlisle smiled. "he started off working for your grandfather as an assassin, trying to kill your mother."

"i know that, but hes still good at it." i looked at Carlisle. 

"so your saying, that he tired to kill your mother, and yet she forgave him and you regard him as a member of your family?" Oberon raised an eyebrow and gave a smug smile. "and yet when i try to kill your father, and your sister forgives me and makes me a member of your family, i am still the bad guy? fucking hypocrite." he walked ahead of us. 

"dont mind him." Carlisle placed a hand on my shoulder as we followed Oberon. 

"hes right though." Lunar cut in. "you are being awfully hard on him, when all he is doing is trying to save the woman he loves."

"thanks for the support." i rolled my eyes. "arent you supposed to be working for my father now, not the other king?"

"i do." he smiled. "but only because it was ordered by Oberon." he leaned in. "also, i work for your father, not you, remember that." 

"whatever." i rolled my eyes, now at the back of the group, we could now see the seven wolves walking around us. 

"Tyr." i looked to the alpha who was walking alongside me. "how far this way have you been?"

i have been all over the different kingdoms as you humans call them. he answered.

"that's good." i nodded, "we may need whatever information you can give." 

i will be here at your service. the wolf told me. 

the dwarven kingdom was not a large one so going to the next should be fairly quick if we stick to the road. 

Oberon and Lunar were now talking to each other ahead, just out of earshot. 

i did not trust either of them, but they were right. if uncle Thorne can be forgiven for working for the most evil man to ever sit on the throne of Drakaria then why could i not forgive Oberon? i knew why, because it was my sister he had chosen. 

he was the reason she got hurt, he brought her into the elven forest around other dark fairies and she got impaled by a fairy weapon. now she is in this stupid mess, however, it was also my fault, she was healing just fine until i provoked Oberon, causing her wound to open. 

i looked up at the blue sky, feeling a bit annoyed with all of this. i never wanted to travel before becoming king, but here i am, having to save my sisters life. what's worst is, i am stuck with these three fairies, only one of whom i actually trust.

"damn this." i clenched my fists and rushed to join the others. 

"....so because of that it should only take us three extra days to get there." Lunar finished what he had been saying.

"but that one thing makes it a huge problem, we may have to go around it." Oberon pointed out.

"go around what?" i asked. 

"the haunted forest." Lunar said, looking worried. 

"it is not really haunted." Oberon pointed out. "there is something in the forest that makes others see their ancestors and family members. it is a big problem, because it has been known to drive the weak minded insane." he glanced at me. 

"i am not weak minded." i said. "so going around would add an extra three days trip?"

"yes." he answered. "we really cannot afford that time."

"lets just go through it." i said. "if we stick together we should be fine."

Oberon nodded. "just dont go storming off this time and we will be fine."