The Pieces Adorned

Hidden Pages

Once in the grand entrance, Aphaca, and Aurora hopped off of Calisto and Kal. Aurora was dusting off her cloak when she noticed that everyone had dropped down in a bow. She looked towards where they were facing and saw that the king was standing before them. She could already feel the heat building up along her neck and face as she too dropped to a bow.

"You may all rise. Thank you Calisto and Kal for your haste. Aphaca welcome home." The King took long strides towards the small group before turning to the redhead. "And welcome Aurora. I'm glad that even with the dangers, you made it here safely to begin your long journey to gather the pieces of the Three Sisters."

"Your Majesty, what was that person or thing that was attempting to enter the kingdom?" Aurora asked she felt a chilling fear creep into her mind about what she would have to deal with while trying to get these (supposed) pieces.

"I fear that the Void is a lot closer than we originally thought."

Aurora felt her stomach drop at the mention of the Void. Her mother had warned her of this creature and what it wanted. Passing thoughts of what it would do to her to gather the pieces before she did just cemented that fear.

"Why does it want the pieces?"

"How do you know that it wants the pieces?" The King pulled his brows together and looked at the girl with a confused expression.

"My mother warned me of it and it's mentioned in passing in her journal." Aurora pulled out the journal and found an entry with the Void being named.

"I see..." The King turned away from the group. "I should have known Meredith would have given you that book." The King mumbled just low enough for no one to be able to make out what he said.

"What was that sire?" Aphaca piped up.

"Oh...uh nothing. Just thinking out loud." He cleared his throat and waved for Aphaca and Aurora to follow him. "Calisto, Kal, good day. You are dismissed. Aurora, we have much to talk about but I will have Aphaca show you to a guest room for your stay tonight and I will meet you for dinner tonight. We will discuss everything then. Good day." The King walked through the archway and disappeared through an archway that sealed over with vines.

"Great...well, let's get to that room. It would be nice to sit and think awhile." Aurora turned to Aphaca who nodded.

"Well, follow me."

Throughout the walk of the castle, Aphaca was talking and pointing out different aspects of the place but Aurora was lost in her own thoughts and just gave out vague responses to the dryad just to make it seem like she was interested. Her actual train of thought was split between the journey ahead and the letters hidden in the journal. She knew that once she was alone, she would pull out all of the letters and read them.

"And this is the room you will be staying in. Got all of that?" Aphaca turned around just in time for Aurora to run into her.

Both girls ended up falling into a heap on the floor. Both of them groaned and sat up.

"Sorry, I wasn't paying attention to where I was going." Aurora stood up and helped Aphaca up too.

"It's fine but I noticed through the entire walk here that you were somewhere else. What's going on?" Aphaca crossed her arms over her chest looking at the now silent redhead.

Aurora stayed quiet for a second and was wondering if she could or even should open up to the dryad. They had gotten somewhat close over the last couple of days of travel. However, what was going off in her mind seemed just too much but all the same, she didn't truly know Aphaca that well.