Throne of Leaves

Chapter 1

Hey all,

Return of a King has just been finished the first round of editing so go read that as well. I would appreciate criticism and comments about anything although I know I have grammatical issues up the wazzoo. Love y'all!
-Storm

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Well this is it. Almost home. I left the newly renamed Lord Gwindor, safe as he can be in his own home with the Queen still living. Now here I am with the two most loyal friends anyone could have, Aaron and Malki. I smile as we crouch low and look out onto our home. I could feel a slight tension. I know that no one has seen us yet and I sighed the borders are all guarded with the finest warriors around. Nothing can slip past them, well as of yet. The three of us are here to try and test that protection.We are still traders if we walk into the main high branches or the traveler's way. I look at Aaron and Malki.

"We are going to have to go through the Silver Forest ." I say solemnly.

They nod to me their faces hard with resolve. We have been through too much to let our Nation fall to the Darkness. I back up and slowly make my way to the more dense undergrowth and get up and take the long walk around the Forest. The Silver Forest is the only weakness going into the Forest. The forest itself is not guarded anymore, mostly out of fear, but the border of the the Silver Forest and the rest of the Nation is guarded, or at least as well as it can be only a few guards are stationed there. Here is where we would try our luck. AS a whole the FOrest Nation is made of districts, or 'forests' within the main body. The Silver Forest is my home and only place that we can stay without being noticed, for now. But, for all the good it has seen we may be facing death for my home is cursed.

We reached the Darkening Northern side of the Forest Nation we paused to stare at the gaping, foreboding trees. I looked in wonder and gladness as the massive Silver Forest archways, that had been overgrown throughout many years of my young adult life, had been cleared to their original glory. I looked on in awe and ran to the edge of the Forest. Stopping under the pure silver, twisted trees I take a deep breath. The air was clean and fresh, just like I remember it when I was young before the poison came. I smiled and walked into the Forest, somehow I knew nothing would befall us so long as I came home with a pure heart.

Home. Not just the Forest Nation do I call home but my true home was here, in the Silver Forest. Home here in one section of the great Forest Nation. Once a great city of noble lords and renowned warriors now abandoned and desolate but beautiful still. I looked around me with a soft awe stuck smile. The Forest was back, but what struck me as odd was there were still no people. Yes there were the stone sentinels that most considered just more than stone. They were something otherworldly. I stopped before the SilverLeafe Wall. The Wall is a dense ring of trees and undergrowth with guard stations within the high branches, covered by the tree canopy. It acted as a second defence to the great forests beyond. There was only one way to get through the wall if you are a Forest Friend, and that was to climb the First Silver guard station, something that is hard and rarely done. But then again who knew better the secrets of the Forest Nation than three former high ranking Forest Nation members? Or I should say one Silver Forest Member. FOr all that Malki and Aaron know of the Forest, they know nothing of the Silver Forest. I looked to my left and then to my right before kneeling

"Great spirits of the Forests I am Akon forest friend, I come asking for pardon and for safe travel through these trees. My company, also come with no intention of harm and they come with me and also ask for your graces." I said as I bowed my head and laid in front of the trees.

Aaron and Malki are not apart of the the Silver Forest and these spirits are in need of assurance, if there are any left from the great disaster that raged this forest. Aaron watched with s curious look on his face. As I turned around I caught a small glimpse of it and began my explanation.

"My home, this is sacred ground. The Silver Forest is its own nation that listens to the King. Unfortunately, both of you were not here when the lords of the forest were still alive. Pardon me if I do things a bit differently than the normal customs of the Forest. I would also ask for you to follow my lead if we should encounter spirits of the forest, for this has been a regular occurrence. " I said scratching my head shyly.

They nodded and Aaron smiled

"Only the elite lived here, and only they knew the secrets of the forest but also many other things in this world, and unfortunately we did not know any of these things. We would be honored if you taught us. You are apart of this forest as much as we are apart of our homes. It is only natural that we act accordingly to your traditions" Malki said.

I stood up then and walked to the largest tree in front of me and took hold of the lowest branch that looked like it would break under any weight. I grasped it firmly and swung myself up to the high branches and landed softly. Malki swung up next to me next and with a soft nod he stood up and walked a few paces away from me. Aaron came up a few seconds later with a harder land and a goofy smile on his face. I rolled my eyes and stood up fully and looked around.

"This is going to be so much fun" he said with a large smile on his face.

I smiled in relief and in comfort as I spotted the thin, winding branches that made up the network of paths above the ground.

"Just look at everything, Akon I thought you said that the forest was poisoned?" Aaron continued.

I nodded "That's what I thought too. Something else is going on here, Either way the spirits must be with us today. Come" I said as I quickly followed the well worn silver branches to First guard station and entered the small house like structure within the branches. I stopped to look around. No one here either, but there were three uniforms cleaned and pressed. One was a medic uniform, another a captain of the guard, and the last was commander. I looked at Aaron and Malki

"Someone knew we were coming." I said they nodded.

Malki looked concerned and looked at me.

"The uniforms are ours. Do you see the ranks? we match the ranks. I can not deny that there is some strange going on but, we should try to blend in. Maybe whoever has set these out wants us to succeed, I would not deny the need for help. For you more so, Lord. This is your home. We are your warriors. Take back your home." He said I sighed and hung my head in defeat.

"Oh yeah! New cloths. Akon, do you think it was the spirits? They do know things before anyone else." Aaron exclaimed, exuding happiness.

I chuckled and nodded you could not argue Malki's logic or with whatever he says for he rarely says anything unless it is worthy of bringing up. You could also never hide a smile whenever Aaron gets excited, these two make the perfect pair to be with. I looked up and walked over the Commander's uniform and took it down and looked at my cloths and smiled softly. I still had on my battle worn cloths. The only thing that I still wore that was from my home was my long coat. The silvery grey coat was dirty and torn. The markings that were delicately etched into the cloth worn away. This coat has see many things, but I would have to put that behind me. Even more so, I found that my newer uniform was different from the one I had on or recognized. Yes we held the same ranks but my coat goes with my name. Aaron and Malki held different ranks and different styles bearing the crests of their respective duties and homes, but the uniforms now were all of the Silver Forest ranks and styles, marking us as a unit here.

"Yes, yes you are both right. Go get changed and cleaned up. We will rest for a bit before pushing onward." I said.

Shivering at such thoughts I quickly changed into the light, silvery fabric and pulled on the new long coat and hood. When I looked up, Aaron and Malki were already dressed and their old uniforms put neatly in a bin on the floor. I strapped my swords to my hip and turned and walked out the door feeling like a new man again. It was time to take my home back.