Throne of Leaves

Chapter 9

Sunlight filtered through the trees as the sky turned gold. I watch as the leaves fold up to welcome the day. Slowly the spirits fade back into the depths of the forest and their light fades into daylight. I smile and take a deep breath as I stand and stretch. the blue on my bow faded till all that remained were the engravings that were till etched deeply into the wood. I Looked over at Aaron and nodded to him and he stood up to his full height I looked over at Malki and nodded to him as well. He too stood to his full height and I yawned before leaping across the tree branches.

The wind rushed through my hair as I headed back to the house. I Landed in the gateway to the house with a soft thump.Two more soft landings let me know that Aaron and Malki have made it back safely.

"If you guys can, please start on your journals that would be great. Beds are ups the first flight of stairs and to the left. Your names are on the doors. You know where the storeroom is for both food and supplies. Grab what you need and get some rest. We have another long night ahead of us." I said Climbing the third flight of stairs. I did not look back at them as I open my own door and slip in. I take off my long coat and lay it on the desk with a sigh. I take out an ink pen and my hidden journal that I keep under the bed. I open it to the last date and frown. The last time I wrote in this was before the great attack. I rolled my eyes I am so old. I was only prince for a year but the attack was still fresh in my mind. I turn the page and make a new entry.

First Day Back In The Border:

Night Patrol For Two Nights. First Night Brought Worrying Results About This Forest. Anrina Queen Worse Than Thought. Her Power Runs Deeper Than The Tree Roots. She Is Growing. The Spirits Of The Dead Are Under Her Spell As Well. Soon I Must Reclaim This Land. I Have Been Gone For A Year. Many Things Have Changed. But.The Silver Forest Will Rise Again. I Will Right This Wrong. Even If I Have To Go To My Cousin And To My Friend In The Water. I Will Stop This Evil Growth. We Must Find A Way To Cure This Men Who HAve Taken To The Queen. I Have Help. I Have Malki Captain-Commander Fifth Class. I Also Have Aaron Captain-Commander Healer Fifth Class. I Will Fix This.

Akon Silverleaf. Captain-Commander Fifth Class. Lord Of The Forest.

I close the book and set my pen down. I rub my eyes and sigh and look out the windows. These new findings have given me a headache. I sigh again and get up thinking on my time as a Guardian. I did not become a fifth class captain-commander overnight. It took me four years and non stop training. I wanted this spot more than anyone and I was the youngest to get this spot. I was a prodigy when it came to knowing this Forest. To me this Forest was easy to know. I did not really have a formal upbringing. The Lady in white trained me, and was more of a parent than my very own. My mother died before I knew her and my father could barely understand anything. The Lady showed me the Forest and I quickly became more familiar with it than my peers. I found the Guardians by accident when I was climbing and exploring the far side of the Silver Forest. They all recognized me even though I had gone through ten winters. They quickly took me in and I tossed aside my old life with my peers to devote myself to protecting the people I loved. I became a hardened warrior. Knowing nothing else. It was then that I got tossed back into the real world and its struggles. I was sent to live on the Forest Borders. I then saw death, and pain, and suffering. No spirits. I saw many deaths, and yet made many friendships. It brought the humanity back within me. That is when the Lady started to help me again. I came back after three winters a changed man. I saw all life as precious and living. I connected with the forest itself. I could never break into my mind to reach where I am now and maybe I would have never. But then it happened. I was on leave to visit my father for he was a dying man. I felt it all. The sky darkened and my worst fears suddenly came to light again. The hardened warrior was forced out. I could not control anything. My vision went dark and I did not see. I could feel my arms and legs fighting my mind as I slowly lost control but then everything went dark as a sharp pain went through my body. The next thing I remember was waking up, with bloodied clothes and my father and others around me dead. I remember walking outside and seeing the village and all of the innocent people killed brutally. I hear weeping from within the forest and I followed it. But as I stepped outside the village boundaries I got hit with a dark cloud and I stumbled back running back and hiding within my house. I did not come out till the Lady found me. By that time the bodies have been taken and buried. From there on I went through a half a year of rigorous training and I was sent to the City of the Queen and sent to proclaim myself as Prince, and head of the Guard. I was to say that my name was Silverthorn. I did so following every instruction the Lady gave me. It was then I met Aaron and Malki. It took almost the entire summer season for me to gain their trust and only they knew my name. Everyone still thought I was a Silverthorn.

I laugh and run my hand through my hair. Looking back on the past this way would get nothing done. I needed sleep if I was going to find out anything this next night. Hopefully i will find something that would give us a break.