BANISHED

Chapter One: We Meet Again

One year. It had been one year since Faye last saw her parents. One year since she had received the news. One year since she last saw Elijah. One whole year.

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Faye was walking through the forest, the autumn leaves making soft crunching sounds underneath her bare feet. In her arms, she was carrying her daughter, wrapped in a worn-out, pastel pink blanket to protect her from the cool autumn breeze. Faye herself was only barely protected with a torn and filthy dress, but it was better than nothing; anything was better than nothing.

She was searching for an apple tree that she knew was nearby. She had passed it multiple times during her constant walks through the forest. The midwife still showed up at the cottage every day to make sure that both the former princess and the baby were doing well. Faye figured that with the midwife's help she could make applesauce or some form of baby food for the sleeping girl in her arms.

Faye held her daughter close as she navigated her way through the forest. Branches snagged her dress and the thorns of rose bushes left small cuts on her legs, but none of this bothered Faye. She had grown used to it over the past year and actually enjoyed going for short walks in the forest. It was always so peaceful with no other people around, only the sounds of the surrounding wildlife keeping her company.

No one ever went this deep into the forest as they truly had no reason to, so it was just Faye and her daughter, and eventually, the apple tree came into sight. Faye began progressing towards the tree but stopped when she heard a sound so familiar to her but only a distant memory. It was the sound of a horse.

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Elijah was on his daily ride through the woods, something he started after he had stopped seeing Faye. He used this time to clear his head and he secretly hoped that he would find Faye during this time although he was almost certain he would never find the princess again.

He had been riding for around an hour or so and was just getting ready to head back to Sakora when something caught his eye. It was a woman, her hair was as brown as the bark on the trees that surrounded her; her dress was in tatters at the bottom and she appeared to be rather thin for a woman of her height. Elijah figured it was just a commoner, but commoner or not he could find some way to help them.

Elijah got off of his horse, ordering it to stay where it was before slowly making his way towards the woman who had her back turned to him. As he got closer he saw that her arms were brought in front of her as if she was carrying something or holding something in her arms. He eventually reached the woman and ever so gently grabbed her arm. The woman turned around and the prince's eyes widened in shock. It couldn't be, but it was.

"Elijah?" The woman asked in disbelief.

His eyes scanned over her body. He would cringe, as if in pain himself, every time he saw a minor scratch or bruise on Faye's skin. His eyes soon fell on the small bundle in Faye's arm, the head of the sleeping girl barely visible as she was facing her mother.

"Oh Faye," he said quietly, the pain evident in his voice. He couldn't stand seeing his lover in such a terrible state. He watched as a tear slowly rolled down Faye's cheek. He was quick to wipe it away before wrapping the former princess in a gentle hug, being mindful of the child in her arms. The prince then stepped back and fixed his coat. "What happened to you?" He asked softly.

"I-it's a long story," she told him truthfully, "I-I should go," she said and began to walk away, however, Elijah wouldn't allow it and pulled her back to him.

"Please, Faye, I have all the time in the world. You are far more important than anything I could possibly have going on. Please tell me," Elijah pleaded with the former princess, his eyes wide with curiosity and concern, and he longed to know what had happened to his beloved. Faye sighed, giving into Elijah's plea like she had last year.

"Well for starters, you're a father..."