Witch Of The White Wood

Blood spilt on sacred ground

After the events of the feast, the Queen had been sent into disdain for her previous peaceful approach to the war, Eric had made a valid point on her neutral stance as the other kingdoms walked all over her ground. For weeks she isolated herself in her observatories, only making appearances when needed. Her correspondence with Stan and Kyle had dropped significantly and as her isolation delved deeper Craig's visits became few and far between. Days were spent pondering her history and lineage while the nights were the time she would delve into the mythos of her kind and her weak military. No one could see her unless they were of high importance in comparison to her thoughts. Bebe and Annie hardly saw any of her anymore.

Her findings frequently led her back to the great calamity. The day the fairies lost their wings. There were multiple variants of the story, some told it as self sacrifice others recalled it being an act of war but the frequent theme was that the race lost a quarter of their natural power in the aftermath and became a neutral state.

Weeks turned into months in a painful pace as the Queen became increasingly recluse, the shrubbery around her kingdom growing dense and the brambles from the Elven roads crossing into her lands, creating a forcefield around its perimeter, the kingdom slowly become less reliant on its neighbouring states and grew self-sufficient, it's farming and milling systems growing more advanced. Aid stopped flowing through from the Fairies to the other races as the kingdom slowly grew into a state of self-involvement. The brambles were too thick and strong therefore human carts failed in entering the villages and towns in the trees and the elven riders grew afraid of the dense forest that let off an aura of darkness. Her distaste for the kingdom of Zaron spurred this seclusion onwards as the history between the two nations was becoming more apparent to her.

Why should they sympathise and remain under the thumb of that disgusting king after all he and his kin have done? She found herself asking that question after each page she read from the ancient texts. She knew it was not the fault of all humans however she could not hide the gradual sour taste that formed on her tongue while reading. Therefore, she wished to remain neutral in the way of withdrawing support, neutral in the way of no longer fuelling or funding a war she wanted no part in.

Although the kingdom prospered internally its relations faltered, King Kyle slowly growing worried for the Queen and King Eric beginning to become frustrated with the lack of luxury goods and aid coming into his kingdom.

The Queen invested in protection for her kingdom as the war raged closer to her borders but she held faith that there would be no blood spilt on her ground as the King's had promised. But not everyone can keep a promise.

I looked out onto the forest surrounding my kingdom with contempt as I watched the light of the fire glow in the Elven camp near our borders. They were coming too close to our land for my comfort.. But Kyle would never betray me like that. A sharp rasp at the door alerted my attention and I raised a hand which was previously held behind my back to signal the presence to enter. The heavy pair footsteps from the two boys I had grown to trust over the past months were unmistakable. "Christophe, Gregory. What is it?" my voice was light and full of air as I awaited their responses, my back to them as my eyes trained on the fires from the Humans across the lake.
I happened across the pair whilst walking through my city one winters morning. It was cold that morning and there was a thin layer of ice over the cobbles, icicles formed on the beams and roofs of houses and inhaling large quantities air made your lungs ache. The two were sat in one of the back alleys near the outskirts of the kingdom, trading a baguette between them so either could indulge and counting coins from a purse that looked like it did not belong to them. 'This might help us fund the revolution my friend!' Gregory examined a large coin from the purse, holding it to the light and watching it glimmer with a beautiful hope. Christophe nodded, shifting his eyes from side to side as he sparked up a cigarette. 'Yes yes now put it away, we dont know who is watching...' He had cold suspicious eyes compared to his friend who's gleamed with happiness and innocence despite their hunger and ambition.
I noticed them due to that coins gleam. And approaching them, offering them a place to stay in this cold month and a warm meal was one of the best decisions I would ever make.
The two ended up being incredible strategists, they were born in a small forest in the mountains and wandered each kingdom after a human raid of an old orc camp, which resided close to their home, destroyed their village. Gregory was half elvish half barbarian whilst Christophe was completely elvish. They grew up harbouring a deep hatred for the men who killed their family over greed and decided to form a revolution to fight back against the humans. They had been recruiting members from each tribe they visited and upon my request, invited all members they had gathered to my kingdom.