Throne of Leaves

Chapter 19

I looked out onto the Forest with a sigh. We had moved the bodies and cleaned the floors of the blood and now we are standing on the Forest floor in front of the dead. There was a hallowed place in the Forest where the dead are put to rest. The floor f the Forest. Covered with leaves. And once the trapped spirit of the dead leave, they are moved to the benches, otherwise known as the final resting place. There are many of these places within the Forest. There are soft white wooden benches, now used as a hard bed. It was said that the spirits of the dead will one day return to their mortal bodies to re join us when the time comes for peace in the world. But it is until that day that we should keep them safe encased in the leaves of the Forest. I personally have never seen these benches, so I can not tell in truth what they look like or if they even exist. And yet here I am. In front of the bodies of the fallen, that were slain today. This was a ritual that allowed the spirits to leave an be at peace.

I step up to the bodies and look down. This would be a traditional soul burial of these six people. I unsheathed my swords and held them tight in my hands. Aaron and Malki had just finished lighting the candles that surrounded the bodies. I look at the sky again as the last rays of sun passed away. I turned my head and the old general started to read from memory the fallen soldier's burial rights.

"Life. It is the sunshine that rains down upon us every morning and the moonlight that casts a beautiful ambiance through the night. It is the water that flows in the oceans and lakes and the rain that falls from the sky. Life is but an essence within every individual, a fuel source that keeps us going through each and every day. This is the warrior. He finds himself within these things and exults them. He values life for that is what he protects. The Lives of the Forest that keeps our people strong. This is why we honor you. You have given your life to this Forest. And therefore I bless you. You have done more than we ever could." He said stretching out his hands over them.

"From this day onward I too bless you and raise you above all the living. With these swords passing through this hallowed ground I release you from your earthly cage and send you to rest with the gods." I concluded as I stabbed the ground with both blades. The blades passed through the ground down to the hilt on either side of the topmost candle. The wind picked up as the flames began to push inward, catching the ground on fire. The fire passed over the bodies without harm and then went out. The wind stopped and everything stilled, even the dust ha stopped in the air. Everything, including time seemed to stop as six young looking figures in full battle armor stood within the circle of candles. The smiled at us and gave me a final salute before vanishing into the air. In a blink of an eye the wind came back in softer force and time continued as the world continued without hesitation. I blinked and shook my head from the feeling that I got. I pulled out my swords and sheathed them. I stood up and turned around to face the others. The old general was smiling sadly and nodded his head before turning around as well. It was from the corner of my eye that I spotted the brown robed men and women who tended to the fallen. I looked away quickly as to not disturb their ritual. I started to walk away with Aaron and Malki in toe when I hear a deep voice.

"Thank you Lord Akon. Thank you for giving everyone the rightful burial. With you here, this Forest will surely heal. I can smell Spring in the air. " It said. I smiled sadly but did not turn around out of respect.

"Thank you for taking care of this brave ones. And thank you for having so much faith in me, I hope I may be able to live up to your expectations. But I fear that there will be all to many more of these meetings soon." I said and jumped up into a smaller tree and started to climb back up to the main branches.

I jumped branch to branch as we all made our way back to the Halls. As we reached the main doors I looked left to the Grand doors the King's Hall, or also known as the Hall of Kings.

"Yes, there it is. Consider it your home from now on. It truly is a beautiful place. I can not open it. It was sealed when your grandfather died. When A...when Anrina took the throne, or at least the Queen's throne no one could get in. We have searched long and hard for a way to open it but there is simply no way to open the doors. It was about the time when you were born when two slits in the doors appeared. I do not know what they are or what they mean, nor do I understand the marking upon the door. I suspect only you will know." The old general said as he walked passed me and opened the doors that lead to the council rooms.

I nodded tearing my gaze away from the massive doors. I felt a strong pull to go over there and open the doors. The markings from this far away looked like nothing that i knew but I felt like I have seen them before. I shrugged off the feeling and walking in after the general and the others.

We walked in closing the doors behind us.

"I have rooms made for the three of you. Tomorrow you may do what you will, but I tell you in two nights you will be called to me in my Forest. Then you will receive the final blessing from the Forest. I nodded thinking about the Hall of Kings. It was starting to bug me. Something that would not leave me alone. Hopefully sleep will wash away this new obsession.