The Prince's Gift

Chapter 33.

At every turn, my eyes were hit with yet another surprise. I'd never imagined anything like the place I was now standing in. We were standing on a wooden platform suspended high above the forest floor that lead out onto a dimly lit boardwalk suspended in the air between the trees. Each boardwalk spread out like a spider's web, connecting each tree to the other, which held a series of small wooden houses nestled inside of the tree's large trunk. The houses were lit with cascading, twinkling lights that created a magical aura around each little house. There must have been at least twenty or thirty small homes in each tree trunk. There must have been nearly a dozen of the large trees spread out before me.

The boardwalks all connected to one in enormous tree in the middle that stood taller than all the rest surrounding it. Some other homes were nestled within the trunk, with one larger home placed just near the top that was well lit and the most visible. The trunk opened up with its branches to create a large flat opening above the homes where I could see groups of people enjoying their evening above the trees, the same twinkling lights nestled within the leaves to illuminate the opening. It was as if this place had been plucked straight out of a fairytale. It was beautiful.

Magical.

"Welcome home Ana." Delphine said quietly, pausing to let me take it all in before guiding me down the center boardwalk toward the largest tree. The boardwalk moved and swayed slightly as we came to stop just in front of the landing above. "We call this the copacul Vietii. It's the tree of life, the tree of our ancestors. It is our most sacred meeting place, and where everything that matters happens."

My jaw dropped as I stood in front of the massive opening. Hundreds of people gathered inside the top of the tree as the tree branches hid them away inside a cocoon beneath the leaves. "It's absolutely incredible." I said in a breath.

She nodded and took my hand in hers. "Are you ready?"

I pulled my gaze away reluctantly to look at her as she watched me. "For what?" I asked.

"To be rejoined with your family." She said finally.

My heart sped up and my breathing quickened as the realization hit me. I was going to, in a sense, meet my parents. My only memory of them is held within a dream that I've clung to since then. The only other images were shrouded and distant, as if I'd never really lived it. I slowly nodded and worked to hold my composure as she guided me down the edge of the opening, bringing me to stop at a large door in one of the branches trunks. She placed her hand on the tree, similarly to when we entered the village, and spoke into it until the door slid open to make entry for us. It closed quickly once we'd passed through, revealing a winding dimly lit staircase leading down to the houses below.

We made our way down several curves before coming to a landing in front of a large wooden door, carved with beautiful ivy and flowers from top to bottom. A large script W was carved into the center of the Ivy as it curled and wound around it, seeming to be growing as one within the door.

"It stands for your family's last name. Warden." Delphine answered, expecting my question.

She knocked firmly on the door, waiting as we heard someone come to the other side of it. As the door slowly opened, a familiar face appeared with a set of green emerald eyes similar to my own. Her face was a little older than my dream, but not by much. She couldn't be older than thirty-five. Her long blonde hair hung loosely around her face, cascading over her shoulders and down her back.

"Oh, hello Delphine. What a pleasant..." She began, but as her gaze shifted to me, her smile suddenly dropped. She stepped forward, closing the distance between us as her eyes bore into mine. "It can't be." She whispered.