Queen of The Reach

5

Natural light flooded the tunnel as Loufabus and I reached its end. It was a soft light and as we made our way out I looked up at a dreary sky. I had hoped to turn my face up towards the sun, feeling its warmth and tasting its freedom. Rain seemed inevitable but for now, although grey, it was clear. To my left a loud waterfall made it's way down a slick rock face. I wondered how a tunnel system like the one we had emerged from had come to be constructed within such a daunting mountain. I filed the question away for later, now was not the time. "Follow me!" Loufabus declared and because I was lost, I obliged.

"Lou will you tell me where we are now? Or perhaps where we are going?" I pryed.

"To see him," she answered.

"Who?" I asked again but I knew she didn't want to tell me. Why was this person we were going to see so important?

"We just need to drop down a few levels and then we'll be at a point where we can walk easily down the side of this mountain. Come on Crimson!" I rolled my eyes at her enthusiasm. I wondered if there would be a way for me to get away from her. I wasn't sure if I could trust her. She had given me the impression that she wouldn't actually hurt me but this person, him, that she was so intent on getting to was frightening. He might not be like Lou. I didn't know a thing about him.

I didn't know about this place. I looked out at our surroundings. In the distance dark trees were barren and the grounds were frosted with ice. Bitter cold winds swayed their branches violently. They crashed and snapped against the unrelenting storm, I could feel the cold on my face as the wind pushed my hair into my eyes. I brushed it away quickly. "We had better hurry Crimson, looks like a bad storm is rolling in." Thick fog hid the view beyond the trees but I thought I could see the point of a roof standing tall against the frigid winter-like weather.

"Lead the way Lou," I said gesturing with my extended arm down the side of the mountain. I followed her movements, slipping my feet into the small foot holes she maneuvered as if she'd used them a thousand times before. I gripped the uneven stoneface but as I grabbed at a loose stone it fell away and I almost tumbled with it. I yelled in frustration "I'm tired of falling!"

"Remember you don't want to die Crimson," Lou shouted at me from below.

"Lou!" I scolded her in exasperation. I heard her giggle as she made her way down to safety and I couldn't help but smile at her no matter how badly I didn't want her friendship.