The Pieces Adorned

Lost Letters

"It will take us about a day's journey to make it to the outer edge of the kingdom. At that point someone can come and get us," Aphaca said as they drew deeper and deeper into the dense woods.

Aurora nodded before they fell into a comfortable silence as they walked along the overgrown path. Many times they had to climb over or crawl under tree roots that had come up since the path was first used. Creatures would peek their heads out to catch a glimpse of the human walking within their forest. Aphaca had to shoo the creatures away as some were brave enough to follow them for a few minutes.

When Aphaca had to talk to the other woodland creatures, they stopped along the path and Aurora was left to her own devices for a few minutes. She stayed on the path but she looked around the surrounding area. She saw many other creatures who only watched from the tree line but many times a singular shadow darting around in the trees. Never standing still enough for Aurora to get a good look at what or who it was. She didn't feel good that this shadowy figure was following them and she had a feeling that it was the same figure that she had gotten a glimpse of when they left the inn. That had been quite a few hours ago since it was right around midday now.

"Okay, I was able to get them to stop following up and convinced them to tell anyone else they run into to leave us alone." Aphaca walked back over to Aurora who was just slowly and silently looking around the trees. "Are you okay?" She asked, causing Aurora to stop and look at the young dryad.

"Yeah, I just thought I saw something." Aurora tried to play it off but Aphaca wasn't having it.

"You did that this morning. Tell me what's bothering you. I need to know since I'm the one guiding you to the Forest Kingdom," she said.

Aurora didn't want to alarm Aphaca but she knew that the dryad needed to know.

"It's just that...I've been seeing this shadowy figure following us since we left the inn. I don't know who it is and I don't feel good about it." She kept looking over her shoulder as she spoke but she didn't get another glimpse of the figure.

"Well, let's keep moving then. Tomorrow we will hit the border of the kingdom and it has a veil placed over it that protects the land from anything bad from entering." Aphaca pulled Aurora along, she too would begin to look over her shoulder at every little movement.

The two women walked along the path, fewer creatures peaked out at them but they still felt followed. Aurora had pulled out her mother's journal to skim over the entries to see if she could find anything that may explain the shadowy figure. It didn't feel right. All the entries mostly just spoke of the three sisters. Aurora had read over this journal numerous times now and nothing ever spoke of a shadow figure connected to them. In her attempts to find any sort of answer she didn't notice the small tree root poking up from the path. The toe of her boot caught on it and sent her forward causing her to fall but she caught herself on her hands. Her journal and some of her bag's contents spilled out onto the forest floor.

"Aurora, are you okay?" Aphaca came over and helped Aurora up.

"Yeah, I'm okay. I didn't even scrap my hands," She said dusting herself off before picking up all the items off the ground.

When she reached for her mother's journal she saw a small piece of paper sticking out from the back of the book. She grabbed the journal and flipped it to the back cover. A small tear formed in the soft leather but she took notice that it was two pieces of leather sewn together forming a hidden pocket. She peaked in the pocket and noticed multiple folded up pieces of paper that matched the piece that had fallen out.

"Everything okay?" Aphaca noticed that Aurora was just standing there looking at the journal.

"Oh, yeah. Um, let's continue on." Aurora quickly closed the journal and put it back in her bag.

"Yeah, we need to hurry. It's getting dark and I know where we can stop for the night but it's still a bit of a trek."

Aurora and Aphaca picked up the pace. The path was slowly clearing up as they made their way closer and closer to the border so it made their journey just slightly better.

As night drew closer and closer, the numerous woodland creatures that had been so curious before now have vanished within the leaves and trunks. Only some animals could be heard anymore. Aurora walked just a bit closer to Aphaca growing nervous with the darkening forest surrounding them.

"The resting area is just up ahead," Aphaca said pointing to an opening within the forest line.

They quicken their pace and make it to the small circular clearing. There is already an existing rest area set up. It looks like it hadn't been used in a while but the small cabin and fire ring was a relief to see. The two walk into the little cabin and set down their things. It's mostly just a bedroom. There is a small table, a bunk bed, a small wood stove and a two-drawer chest pushed under the singular window.

"An old friend of mine and I set this up before we left the forest to join the Forest Kingdom court." Aphaca sat on the chest and looked around the room with a dreamy smile on her face.

"It's lovely." Aurora sat on the bottom bunk.

"I'll go get up some food. Would you get the wood stove started while I'm out?" She asked, taking a couple of steps to the door.

"I'll get right on it." Aurora went to the small log pile that was next to the woodstove.

Once Aurora was left alone in the small cabin, she made quick work of getting the fire going before she turned to her bag that was set on the bottom bed. She stepped over and grabbed the journal before flipping to the back cover and pulled out the numerous pages that lined the walls of the inside. Many of these pages had already started to yellow with age. The stiff smell of oldening paper and ink curled through the air as she unfolded the long-forgotten piece of paper.

"Dear Meridith,

I hope your travels were not met with any complications. I hope the child is well and healthy. How I do miss the presence of you but I understand you wanted a normal life for the child which I respect. Just know if you seek any help that you may write and I will do all I can to see to it that you are well taken care of. May your life be long and may the child grow as beautiful as you.

Your Dearest One,

Obelius"

"Who is Obelius?" Aurora thought as she gently set the letter down. "Mom never spoke of anyone with that name. They obviously knew of me since I'm an only child."

Aurora's head was filled with too many thoughts that passed before she could fully grasp what she was even thinking. But one did stick out.

"There are more papers here. They might be more letters!" Aurora snapped out of her trance and took hold of the next folded up piece of paper.

This one was a journal entry but it looked to be from a different journal entirely. The border had vines and flowers embellishing the paper.

"The piece of Solis may not be here but this beautiful sun filtering through the branches makes it feel like it is. The forest is so wonderful and misunderstood. Its creatures are curious but kind. They aren't human so what is okay with them may not be okay with me but as long as I'm gentle and explain many of them understand and we get along. Of course, I make sure I'm not doing anything to disrespect them and they don't mind telling me so if I am, which I don't mind.

Obelius couldn't come to join me today in the gardens but he promised to take me to the meadows tonight. He says something important is happening and wants me to see it.

Oh, Lyra just called for me. I'll speak to you soon."

It was dated a year before Aurora was born and she took quick note that the name Obelius came up again.

"Why was my mother in the forest? She said she lived in a small village outside of the non-magical kingdom. Who is Obelius?"

Aurora heard Aphaca returning, so she quickly put the pages by. Making sure to mark the read ones by coloring a corner with a tiny bit of charcoal. She would try to read a couple more tonight after Aphaca went to bed.