Over the Mountain (Book One)

Chapter Twenty Four: The MCR

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Olivia

I wake sleepy eyed to the early morning sun. Birds chirp happily, and I slowly roll over, stretching, but tumble off the bed.

"Ugh." I grumble. I stand up to find Meg still asleep. I look to the other bed, which is empty. Chloe must be up early again. I try to smooth down my hair and walk out of the room to see Hale sitting in the kitchen with steaming breakfast in his hands. Heavy bags are under his eyes.

I sit beside him, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.

"Good morning." He greets me.

"Oh, morning." I say, my voice surprisingly scratchy. I was sneezing a lot last night from my allergies. I clear my throat. "Do you know where Chloe or Gretel are?"

He shifts uncomfortably. "Gretel made me some breakfast, but she found Chloe kissing- I mean- missing and went off to find her." His cheeks are tinted pink.

"Oh."

Gretel soon comes into the room, a blast of morning air in her wake. "Couldn't find her. If she doesn't turn up, we'll have to assume she ran away."

Why would Chloe run away? Doesn't she want to get better with magic? Well, I mean, she was way better than all of us, but wouldn't she want more experience? Maybe it's because of Taylor. That would make sense, as she was on a mission to capture Prince Elijah for whatever reason. Plus, I've been itching to know what is happening down at the castle now that the long lost princess is back.

Malik and Meg then walk into the room and plop down next to us.

"Alright, now that we're all here, it is time I tell you something. I am the leader of a rebel group called the MCR."

What? Gretel the Rebel? "Why didn't you tell us this?" Meg asks.

"I thought it best to withhold the information to give you a chance to warm up to me. If I had told you immediately when you first came to me, you wouldn't have trusted me. See, I want you to be the leaders of our rebellion."

"And what exactly are you and your rebels rebelling against?" Malik's voice is cold.

"The Queen. We are going to take over her kingdom."

"She's not evil though. Shouldn't you be trying to defeat the King?" Meg questions.

Gretel smiles grimly at our ignorance. "The King is being controlled by the Queen. She is the evil one, but puts all of the blame on him. The rebels are fighting for the freedom of magical creatures. And remember, you guys are now magical creatures, so the Queen will not accept you."

"What exactly is your plan then?" Malik asks.

Gretel twists her hands together. "It would be best if you could trust me on this. Many elements of the plan constantly change, and I don't want to let anyone down by telling them. So will you guys join me?"

Even though Gretel makes it sound unclear, the prospect of fighting in a rebel group sounds cool.

"How are we to trust you?" Hale asks.

Gretel pauses. "Okay. We have a meeting today. I'll bring you there to show you exactly what we fight for. Then you can decide if you want to follow me or not."

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We have been hiking through the forest for a little while and my legs are already tired. "Almost there." Gretel tells us. As to where we're going, I'm not exactly sure.

"Alright, here we are."

I look around, but there doesn't seem to be anyone here. Then I look closer and notice that something is different about the forest. The trees aren't just normal trees. It's like they've grown into houses or something. It all comes together when I make out a whole village like place of homes grown from trees.

"This is the elven village. Faeries also live near by. All sorts of magical creatures are naturally attracted to elves, as they are arguably the most prosperous of the magical forest."

Gretel brings here hands together into a bow and mutters, "Shingani Quatm."

The forest, or should I think village, seems to ripple with movement. I hadn't realized how still it had been. Elves meld from the background, having been extremely quiet. I stare at the beautiful creatures unlike any other I have ever seen. Not like that counts for anything.

They are all pale and seem as if they could be blown away by the wind. Their skin is so pale it's as if it is a shimmery surface on a still pond. They have piercing eyes of all different colours. Sunset orange, iris purple, sky blue, forest green. Their ears stick out, pointy; some are pierced. One opens her mouth to reveal sharp, pointy teeth. They all wear clothes seemed to be weaved from the fabrics of the forest.

A particular male catches my eye. He has almost white blond hair flowing past his shoulders, some strands adorned with beads. His eyes are saltwater blue and shimmer in the light, almost black. Beside him is an elf man with an aura of power radiating from him. He doesn't have wrinkles or anything, but I can tell somehow that he is older. He has the same shade of white blond hair as the one beside him. A crown of leaves swirls across what I assume is the leader's forehead.

Gretel bows. "Thank you, Chèif Irisellie."

Chièf Iriselle frowns in return. "When whilst the dwalrves be here?" His accent is thick, and I can't place its origins.

"The dwarves are to be here in a bit, Chèif."

"Are these zet ones wilth the powers?"

"Yes, they are indeed."

The chief studies us with cold icy blue eyes. I immediately feel uncomfortable, but he looks away from me to the rest of the remaining seven. Four now.

My eyes flick to the male beside him, what I assume is his son. His eyes meet mine and I immediately look away, pretending to admire the nearest tree.

The Chèif tilts his head. "Show me whats they can dol."

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