The Mad Queen

Chapter Twenty-Six

The gods always vowed that once they finished creating our world, they would never intervene in the lives of their creations. This rule was made by the God of Life himself. It was he who decided that those they had given life to, who he'd gifted this world too, should be able to decide how they used it. That they as sentient beings should have control of their own lives and fates. That they should come up with their own laws and values without the influence of their creators.

For this freedom, however, he did ask that his creatures would celebrate the gods. That they pray to them and offer gifts to them. To prove how grateful they were to beings that created them. For hundreds of years, each race lived in harmony. The did not see themselves as superior over the other because they all knew that the gods were the superior beings.

The goddesses, however, had different idea's. The Balance of the god's powers required opposites completely. So where the gods believed the humans were allowed to make their own paths and futures. To live without the interference of greater beings. The goddesses believed that it was their place to rule over the creations. Their manipulations were subtle at first. They would sneak into our world and disguise themselves so as not to be caught by the always watching gods. Though it was the Goddess of war and the Goddess of death who were mostly to blame for the era of Bloodshed. Now known as the First War. They were not the only ones. As tensions rose, there was not only was there a war between the races on Vivelle but one between the gods and goddesses themselves.

Though it is believed that the gods left because of their disappointment in the constant waring and bloodshed between their creatures. It is also believed by some that they left to spare us from the wrath of the goddess. For wherever the gods went, the goddesses had to follow. There must always be balance.

Most believe that the gods abandoned our world. Left us to clean up our own messes. Those who believe in the gods leaving to save us from the goddesses are known as The Sons of the Pure.

~The History of the Gods

I breathe heavily in and out. My muscles ache and sweat pours from my face. I am only halfway up this steep path when night starts to draw in. There is no way I can carry on in the dark. It would be easy to lose my footing on this path and fall to my death. Luckily, there is a large gap in the stone which I easily crawl into. It goes into the cliff face for a few metres before coming to a stop. I chuck my bag down and sigh happily with the weight finally off me. I grab my canteen and take more sips of water before eating more crackers. I wish I had more redfruit that the farmer had given me. However, I had fed some to Trouble and the rest I had eaten before it went off. I'll just have to put up with the crackers for now. I have plenty more also. Enough to last me for a couple more weeks. I set my bags down and go to the edge of the small cavern. The sky is bright with vibrant pinks and purples. The huge golden sun sinks into the horizon. It is beautiful. Though too soon it is over leaving the sky darkening. The moon is hidden by the thick clouds which now hover over the top of the mountains above me. Meaning that I can hardly see a thing. With nothing to light a fire with I just lay against the back wall of the cavern. As far from the edge as I can get. My sword as usual in my hand as I lie on the stone floor. I drift off into another light sleep. Opening my eyes in what feels like every few minutes. I try not to think of how close I am to the Lost Wood and the monsters inside as I try to sleep in the pitch black. Though my mind does wonder as I imagine grotesque, bloody beasts ready to tear me in half.

As usual, when dawn breaks I hardly feel as though I have rested. It is with a long, tired sigh that I repack my bag and wipe at my heavy eyes before stretching. I groan at my aching muscles as I lift the heavy bag onto my back. Tying the straps around my waist and leaving the small cave to continue my way up the steep path. The higher and higher I climb, the harder underfoot the path gets. The fairly even, though steep ground, slowly changes into large slippery boulders which I have to climb up. Or there is lose pebbles and scree which has me clinging onto the side of the mountain whilst I try to get a steady footing. The further away the ground looks beneath me, the more my heart races out of fear instead of the physical exercise. I know I am getting closer to the top when I begin to see snow sitting on a lot of the stone around me. Another boulder now sits in front of me. The path continuing above it. There are a few little holes cut into it. I gulp and walk closer to it. Reaching for one of the gaps in the stone with my hand and then placing my feet in some of the others below it. I take steady breaths, trying to ease the tingling feeling of fear in the pits of my stomach and my racing heart. I begin to climb up the boulder, using the small holes that have been hacked into the rock. I take it really slowly, making sure that my feet or hands are connected properly to the stone before each movement. If I slip then I could very well be taking the quick way off the mountain. I try and push those thoughts from my mind. I focus on each movement and each new hold instead of looking down the sheer drop to my right. As I near the top, I throw my hands onto the top of the huge stone I've just ascended. They latch onto some of the rough cracks of the stone and I pull my body onto the stone with a long grunt. Once my body is completely lying on the top of the stone, I roll over so I am closer to the mountainside and lie on my back. Panting heavily. After a few moments of slowing my breathing and heart rate, I go to stand again. The path continues up though for a few more metres. Though I am thankful there are no more boulders or scree. In fact, the path looks pleasant from now on. I carry on walking up it, my hands skimming the side of the mountain just to make me feel a little better. There is still a sheer drop next to me. Even though the path is free from obstacles, it is still steep and very thin.

After a few more minutes of walking up, the path stops at another boulder. This one, though not as large, faces into the rock. Meaning my back will be to the drop. Instead of the drop being on my side. If I fall back then there won't be a path to fall into. Thankfully, it isn't large. I am able to throw my bag up onto the ledge above it which will help with balance. I then take hold of the small cracks in the rocks and pull myself up. Ensuring I don't look down. I haul myself up and lie on the now flat stone around me. Taking more deep breaths and closing my eyes as I try and calm myself down. When I am ready, I open my eyes. Then promptly wish I hadn't.

As my eyes take in everything I see, my throat dries, my hands go clammy and my stomach churns. I am standing on a small section of flat stone. On either side of me, the mountains rise higher. Though my path doesn't lead up there. The mountain range does not continue in front of me in a sea of jagged peaks like I was expecting. No. The mountains go round in a huge circle. Except, they seem to only half be there. I now stand above a perfect, circle crater. Like a circle was cut into the middle of this range. Cutting the outside mountains in half and leaving the mountains that once would have sat within this range gone. The cliffs descend into the crater so smoothly it is terrifying to behold. There are no cracks in the stone at all. Just gleaming smooth rock. A vast contrast to the other sides of the mountains which surround this creator in a perfect circular shield. It is so huge. I feel like less than an ant against the size of the crater as I stand here wide-eyed.

I look down into the crater and feel bile rising in my throat. The Lost wood. It sits far below, surrounded by the towering cliffs. The trees are thick with dark twisting branches and dull almost grey leaves. All sounds around me seem to have stopped. Not even the wind whispers in my ear. There are no bird songs either. Just silence. Leaving only the sound of my rapid breathing in my ears. Even though it is the day, it is dark. A huge disk of dark grey clouds hangs heavily above the mountains. The smell then hits me. It's vile. The smell of death. Of rotting flesh and blood. This was a horrifically bad idea. I am going to die in here. They won't come and get my body of course. The cannon will sound, signalling my death and my sisters will have to continue the trial. This time without me.

I consider turning around. Climbing back down the mountain and whistling for Trouble to take me far, far away. Except, the vision I had during my marking ceremony pops back into my mind. There is something important in that forest and I need to get to it. So I square my shoulders and take a deep breath. I look at my way down and feel all my sudden courage leave me again. There is no pleasant path like there was on the way up. No. There are just small stones sticking out of the smooth rock. Not exactly close together either. Meaning there are huge gaps between each stone which I'm not even sure will hold my weight. Great.

I probably spend about ten minutes just staring at the ridiculous stairs down into the forest. Seriously considering running away. I turn around and head back to the path a few times. Though each time I near the edge, I get an odd feeling in the pit of my stomach and a niggle in the back of my mind. The sense that if I don't go into that forest, I won't be able to complete the True Trial. So it is with multiple curses that I lean over the edge of the cliff and stretch to the first stone step. My whole body shakes as for a few moments there is nothing but air beneath my feet. I can feel myself slipping off the edge as my whole body sweats. My mouth and throat are so dry that I can't even let out a panicked squeal as my body slips forward. Instead, my heart lunges into my throat and my stomach burns with adrenaline. My foot catches the first step and I manage to get myself standing on it. I go to grip the side of the mountain. Then remember there is nothing to grip. I keep my hand resting on the perfectly smooth stone though. Finding some small comfort in the support. Still shaking, I slowly sit down on the small step and hang my feet over the edge. Again, I begin to reach with my feet for the next stone step. When I get onto it, I rest against the wall for a second before doing the same technique onto the next.

"Three down," I pant to my self and I gulp again. I dare not look at the rest of the steps going down the cliff to see how many to go. I just focus on getting from one to another. What makes it harder is the sense there will be much worse waiting for me in the forest.