Chapter Text
ONCE UPON A TIME, in a kingdom far away, there lived an unusual girl who had fallen from the stars.
It was fate, perhaps, that had led her that night, cold and shivering into the woods in search of food. Or maybe it was pure luck that King Jeremiah had been enjoying a moonlit stroll along the riverbank and decided to track her star as it fell. First, he'd found a sizable crater carved into the earth and then he'd followed the small footprints that had appeared in the marsh leading into the adjoining woods. Hunger had led the girl towards a laden apple tree and it was there that the King had found her, sitting amongst a throng of woodland creatures chattering happily in a strange language as they all feasted on her spoils.
She looked no more than five summers old and wore a strange sleek robe with an equally strange crest imprinted on its left side pocket. The King was instantly endeared by the sight, and despite the obvious language barrier, the girl was easy to approach and within minutes she had quickly befriended the gentle King. Now King Jeremiah was old and had no possible heir to his throne and it was fate again, perhaps, that had also moved him to take Kara, as she’d introduced herself, back to the castle. Kara was free spirited and easy to love and it wouldn’t take much time for the stern Queen Eliza to grow to love her as much as the King. They officially adopted her, giving her the title of Princess of Midlandia in a grand ceremony that sparked the interest of the surrounding kingdoms.
The following years at the castle were filled with much joy and laughter and during her time there, the adopted princess discovered her proficient abilities, abilities that were new and had the potential to be feared. Abilities that she was forced to hide for fear of being seen as different. There was much debate over her origins. For though her striking blonde hair and blue eyes eerily resembled that of the Queen, there was no one who could match Kara’s agility or her unchecked strength. This instilled a bout of rebellion in the princess who would often find herself getting into mischief by playing tricks on her protectors. The castle staff and the knights were initially fearful of this strange new power. But they grew to accept them out of love for the princess and both admiration and respect for the King who swore them to secrecy. Kara wasn’t dangerous, but there were large factions of people who feared anything that resembled magic. But she would learn to control these abilities, to not use them, to hide, to keep them a secret.
She naturally gravitated towards archery and sword fighting since it allowed her to test the limits of her growing abilities when the King often took her to the training grounds. In time, she became proficient in the language of earth and its strange customs and learned to measure her physical strength by keeping up with the training that castle knights underwent. And yet, she was able to balance it with lessons on leadership, etiquette and diplomacy. She was a prodigy, they all said, but in order to ascend to the throne, the kingdom depended heavily on her procuring an advantageous marriage to secure the future of Midlandia. It was a stipulation that had always fallen to the heir of a kingdom, a stipulation that King Jeremiah had been reluctant to add to Kara’s shoulders. For despite the many balls they’d thrown in her honour, Kara seemingly showed little to no interest in the multitude of royals from the surrounding kingdoms.
This saddened the King, for he did not want Kara to be forced into a marriage she’d slowly grow to resent. He wanted her to have time to get to know one of the royals who frequently attended these events, to request their presence beyond the confines of an annual ball. To fall in love with their personality and not their sense of duty, to love someone and to be loved in return. It was a rare thing to find, but he was confident that as the years went by, Kara would find herself in a partnership that would echo the bonds of the one he’d forged with his Queen. But Kara had some challenges. For though King Jeremiah and Queen Eliza loved her endlessly and had raised her as their own, there were still some factions of people who sought to discredit her, ousting her as nothing more than an illegitimate heir. This made for stilted interactions with neighbouring kingdoms, uncomfortable and invasive questions about the line of succession and threats of anarchy that the King and Queen sought desperately to curb.
And yet, despite the many obstacles that befell her path to the throne, Kara remained kind and courteous towards the townsfolk and courtiers. Her manners were impeccable and her features even more disarming, though she kept herself at a careful distance from those who sought her company. So it was to everyone’s great surprise when she finally managed to make a friend in the spirited outcast called Alexandria. This was on a forbidden trip into the city disguised in a worn out foot soldier's uniform that the princess had managed to slip the guards that were designated to follow her around. She’d ventured far into the city, taken a hearty trip into the markets where she’d tried all manner of local cuisine and had then managed to end up at the pub. Alex was an orphan that worked there, and she’d recommended a drink to the princess that had been served in chalices decorated with strange green glowing rocks. The princess had been fascinated by the glow and upon downing the honied mead, she’d instantly fallen ill.
Thinking that she’d served the footsoldier a batch of spoiled mead, Alex had returned and immediately discarded the rest, fetching her some water. But Kara had stood up, placed a handful of gold coins on the table, much more than the drink had cost, and stumbled her way out the door. Alex had found her minutes later with her helmet off, curled up in a ball with her face inches away from a field of glowing green rocks. She looked small and frail and minutes away from trembling to her untimely death if those green lines on her face were any indication. Thinking that it might have been an allergic reaction, Alex had managed to kick the rocks away and protect the girl from the other multitude of them that the pub owners had unknowingly sprinkled around as decoration.
The princess had been more vulnerable than her abilities had previously allowed and her strange babbling and high fever had made matters worse. It took a few more minutes of deep breathing until the girl was able to orient herself, still at a loss as to why it was so difficult for her to stand upright. Sitting with her back to the wall of the pub and with her head a little clearer, she’d revealed her true identity to the unsuspecting orphan. Of course Alex was initially distrustful, for it was unheard of for a royal to display such a rebellious nature. And there were rumours that the princess was nothing short of obedient. Kara didn’t know if it was out of sheer curiosity or the promise of being rewarded handsomely that had prompted Alex to take her back to the castle.
The orphan had indeed been rewarded, choosing to stay at the castle with a small family of cooks who also lived in the barracks with some of the castle's knights. She learned all that she could from the old couple and the knights who had also secretly begun teaching her about sword fighting. And Alex’s friendship with Kara eventually grew past their little squabbles into a bond that was both warm and familial. Kara was delighted to have her near, even if all she did was manage to get the poor girl into trouble.
The years passed and Kara grew into a tall, handsome princess. She had a distinctive style that consisted of well tailored suits that sported the kingdom’s crest and trousers that managed to raise many eyebrows the first time she’d worn them to a ball. But more often than not, she’d be found on the training grounds dressed in royal armour with a bow and a quiver of arrows attached to her back. And in time she’d climb the ranks to become one of the best markswomen in the kingdom, aiding the knights in a few glorious battles against kingdoms seeking to overthrow Midlandia.
But despite it all, her parents could not shield her forever. Upon King Jeremiah's untimely death, the kingdom was plunged into a period of mourning. And Kara was suddenly faced with an impending responsibility, a call to duty that she still didn’t feel like she was ready to shoulder.
Kara’s booted feet scuffed against the decorative floor tiles, her dark flowing cape swishing behind her as she paced outside the imposing double doors concealing the entrance to the throne room. The guards on either side of the doors stood perfectly still, looking sharply ahead. The offered silence gave her an air of privacy as the frown on her forehead deepened and her hands balled into loose fists. She was late for the council meeting, one that hadn’t dared start without her, as one of the castle messengers had hurriedly reported. It wasn’t like Kara to avoid her duties, but in the days that followed Jeremiah’s death, the mood in the castle had plummeted. It felt like everyone there had forgotten how to smile, including Kara, who had become a little more solemn and withdrawn.
Everyday she sat at her window in the castle, woefully looking out at the birds as they glided through the air, lost in memories of the not so distant past. It had been tough to get her out of her room, or onto the training grounds that held so many fond memories of her adoptive father. But just three mere days after the King’s passing, she was once again being summoned to another royal council meeting in the throne room; a very important meeting that she was warned by Eliza that she could not simply skip like she’d done with the others. She knew that these meetings were important for the wellbeing of Midlandia, but her mind was elsewhere, adrift in a sea of sorrow threatening to swallow her whole.
There was a heaviness to her heart, an ache that echoed all the way back to the fuzzy memories of her birth parents, haloed in ash as Kara’s pod raced towards the dark expanse of space. She blinked hard, shoving the memory away as her pacing finally came to a halt. The imposing double doors at the entrance of the room were now veiled in dark curtains, creating an immediate sense of solemnity. And if Kara dared to listen in, she could hear the shuffling of feet, the chattering of council members endlessly inquiring about her whereabouts and the low dismissive grumbling of courtiers.
“Come on,” She chided herself softly, letting out a shuddery breath as she fixed the delicate golden circlet adorned with precious stones around her messy blonde hair. “Let’s get this over with.”
And with that, the guards tugged on the large golden door handles and pulled the doors apart. A wave of chattering instantly hit her sensitive ears with the barrier of the heavy gilded doors removed but they dimmed considerably upon the announcement of her highly anticipated arrival. Kara instantly sought out Eliza. She was sitting proudly upon the central throne dressed in a luxurious dark gown with her head held high addressing a couple of courtiers who’d taken it upon themselves to personally inquire about Kara’s whereabouts. Eliza’s nervousness was carefully hidden beneath a disarming smile and smooth segway into another political matter in their lands that deserved attention. But Kara could see the slight tremors in her aged hands from all the way across the room and she immediately wanted to rush over. Eliza, as if sensing her presence, instantly caught Kara’s eyes and that gave her the courage to straighten her spine, hold her head high and walk towards her.
The wave of chattering ceased but the whispering instantly began and Kara fought hard to block them out as she quickly navigated the path towards Eliza with the minimal amount of acceptable speed. She grasped Eliza’s thin warm hand held out to her in a gesture of comfort and took her place in a seat of honour at her right, feeling a wave of calm instantly descend upon her. Looking out into the assembly had once been a breeze with Jeremiah on the throne. They wouldn’t dare directly oppose any of his decisions or stare at Kara so brazenly despite their rejection of her lineage. But in these last few days she’d become achingly aware of how much the King had protected her before, despite the many obstacles she’d seemingly faced. Nevertheless, Kara was able to ignore their sly smiles even with easy access to their unsavoury whispers and downright rude comments. But without Jeremiah as a shield, she was an already wound up ball of tension about ready to snap.
Luckily for Kara, Eliza seemingly sensed her unease and kept their hands linked as she gave a dignified nod to the assembly. The proceedings then began with a moment of silence to honour the late King and a somber atmosphere once again enveloped the room. Queen Eliza then stood, drawing Kara alongside her and warmly welcomed everyone, expressing gratitude for the support during this difficult time and emphasising the need for unity in the face of loss.
This allowed the courtiers, nobles, and advisors to pay their brief respects and then the conversation shifted to matters of state. Kara and Eliza once again took their seats as Royal Advisor Schott, an aged man with a long beard and tired eyes, stood. With a lengthy parchment held in his slightly trembling hands, he presented the updates on the kingdom's affairs and their potential political challenges that had immediately arisen upon the death of their monarch.
The borders to Midlandia had to be heavily guarded, especially with the influx of bandits amongst the foreigners passing in and out through the ports into the other neighbouring kingdoms. They were significantly small in comparison and the loss of their monarch had attracted everyone’s attention, especially other kingdoms seeking to expand their territory. There were rumours of a handful of magic wielders who had been ousted from Midlandia and other surrounding kingdoms potentially seeking revenge. People in the towns and nearby villages were being cautioned about their movements through the kingdom especially at nightfall.
But what was the most unsettling were the confirmations of successfully thwarted assassination plots. Their cavalry was of no match to a potential outright attack and with their knights already spread so thin across the borders. So the solution to their problem was immediately obvious. Kara tensed at Eliza’s side, waiting for the inevitable topic of the stipulation in the way of her eventual ascension to the throne. It took everything in her to hold back, to not speed out of the room despite almost feeling Jeremiah’s gentle discouragement. She glanced around nervously as the courtiers and council members took their place, trying her best not to listen in on their conversations or to make a scene.
Despite preparations for the grand annual ball being halted upon Jeremiah’s death, Kara knew that it would eventually come to pass. Eliza had informed her that each of the previous meetings with the royal council since he’d died had opened with an urgent nudge towards her impending nuptials that would precede her ascension to the throne. A process which Queen Eliza had halted by taking up the mantle of duties that would have befallen the King. Everyone looked to her for guidance and most of her conversations with Kara revolved around their duties to the kingdom and not the line of succession.
“That being said, your majesties,” Royal Advisor Schott cleared his throat, turning directly towards them to pose his next few words. “It is imperative that we turn our focus towards the upcoming grand ball and our princess’s impending ascension as Queen.”
There was an audible murmur of agreement amongst the council members which Advisor Schott ignored as he directly addressed the princess with his next statement.
“Princess Kara Danvers of Midlandia,” He said, projecting his voice across the room so that everyone would hear. “You are set to assume the throne in your father’s stead.”
There were a few grumbles and murmurs of dissent upon the mention of the word father but the advisor paid them no mind.
“I am.” Kara answered, sounding more sure than she felt.
The room fell silent once more and the advisor nodded, pleased, as a small smile curled the corner of his lips. Kara had known the man for her entire life. He was not just their royal advisor but also Jeremiah’s trusted friend.
“It is your duty as the sole heir to the throne of Midlandia and so are the stipulations that befall this responsibility.”
“And what has the court decided?” Queen Eliza asked, thumb slowly tracing the back of Kara’s tense knuckles.
“The period of mourning will come to an end in one month out of respect for your royal highnesses.” Kara felt the contents of her empty stomach abruptly plummet. That was not nearly enough time. “The announcement of this decision will be proclaimed to all at the princess’s birthday ball in five days. The celebratory grand ball will commence at the end of the month whereby the princess will announce her chosen betrothed and the start of a new prosperous alliance.”
Applause rang out amongst the council members who projected an air of support yet seemed less than pleased with the decision. Kara didn’t know what she’d expected. Advisor Schott had promised the Queen that he’d appeal to the council, that he’d get them as much time as possible to figure out this predicament. But their kingdom was small and therein lay the problem. Their trade routes and supplies depended heavily upon the alliances that they had forged throughout their history. And Kara could not become the new Queen unless she was betrothed to another in an advantageous marriage. So whether she liked it or not, her time had run out. When the grand ball came, she’d have to choose someone.
After the proceedings, Kara strode out of the throne room as fast as humanly acceptable. Her steps were wild, directionless and only the scent of freshly cut hay let her know that she’d eventually end up in the royal stables. She could still hear Eliza’s calls to her if she listened closely but she ignored it, wanting to get away, to not have to deal with their pressing issue for a few more hours at the very least.
She paused in the middle of the wide open room as a quiet whuffling from her abandoned steed greeted her and she felt instantly chastened for not checking in on Zoltan in ages. He was an exotic horse that had a sleek black coat and a penchant for finding Kara no matter where she was whenever he decided to escape from his stall. His mane and tail were dark and beautiful paired with luxurious feathering on his lower legs. Jeremiah had gifted him to her as a colt not long after she’d officially inherited the title of princess and she'd spent most of her time teaching him tricks.
The horse wuffled in contentment as she approached his stall, shuffling forward to press his nose against Kara’s chest, an action that melted some of the tension from her shoulders and the stiffness in her stance.
“I’m sorry boy,” She cooed, dragging her fingers through his thick dark mane. “I’m here now.”
The horse whined, closing its eyes like it had understood every word and Kara took a moment to admire his sleek, glossy coat and his well trimmed hooves. She knew this particular brand of sweet scented rose oil clinging to Zoltan’s skin and she spared a thought for the old caretakers who raised Alex. This was far out of their line of duties but occasionally they liked to surprise her. Though she did think that it had more to do with their fondness for the majestic Zoltan himself.
Kara felt the beginnings of a smile tugging at the corners of her lips as Zoltan eased forward, wuffling at the prospect of being taken for a ride and the saddle leaned at the corner of his stall slipped, revealing the crest of a foreign kingdom. The smile instantly faded as quickly as it had come and Kara’s mood once again plummeted.
“This is a nightmare.” She muttered to herself, quickly preparing Zoltan’s tack and leading him out of his stall. The horse waited patiently as she fastened the saddle to him and immediately mounted, listening to the hurried footsteps quickly approaching. “Let’s run away together.” She mused, patting Zoltan’s mane and easing him into a walk just as Alex blocked their path out of the stable.
“There you are!” Alex grumbled, stretching her arms out and planting her booted feet firmly to fully take up the space before Kara. Then she lowered her voice. “Eliza isn’t too pleased that you practically ran out of there the second that you could.”
“I think that she can understand why.”
“Kara.” Alex implored. “This is important, you know it is and you made a promise to Jeremiah that -”
“Alex.” Kara intoned drily, nudging the impatient Zoltan forward and cutting off Alex's words. “ Move .”
Alex stood still, arms still outstretched on either side. Growing up, there were times where Kara often wondered why she put her sense of duty to the kingdom before herself, considering her past. They were both orphans, but unlike Kara, Alex had originally hailed from a kingdom far beyond the cresting waves that washed the shores of Midlandia, and so she wasn't duty bound to it.
She'd had many times to leave, to take her reward for Kara's safe return home and live comfortably wherever she chose. But she'd stayed and Kara knew that even now, Alex was still trying to fit in, despite the increase in coffers and fancy armour that came from rising from a novice to the post of an official castle knight and trusted confidante.
She was still so young, and Jeremiah had been impressed with her loyalty and eventually her abilities when she'd risen so quickly in rank among the knights. He treated her with a kind of respect that others envied, and her path had also been littered with challenges that came from being too closely associated with the royals.
So Kara wasn't surprised that Eliza had sent her after her, or that Alex was standing her ground so resolutely. Yet still, Kara’s impatience flared, and the skin around her eyes glowed with the feeling of rising tension in the air, prompting a soft scowl from Alex.
“You can’t always do that to get your way, you know.” Alex huffed, annoyed, but she stayed put just a bit longer than she usually would. Kara could see the tension in her stance, the sadness and understanding in her eyes that sometimes knew her better than she did.
“I need to get away right now.” Kara explained, jaw tight with tension. And a second later the tension in Alex's stance dissolved as she fondly patted Zoltan on the head and offered him an apple slice she fished from her pocket. Zoltan immediately took the treat and Alex shot Kara one more look littered with anxious concern before she moved to the side of the door, out of the way.
Zoltan lifted his head and eased forward into a happy trot, drawing the brief outline of a smile once again to Kara’s lips. She took him down to the training grounds, ignoring the curious glances from the knights stationed around the parapet as he entered a dirt track where he ran a lap in eager anticipation before spotting Alex's white cavalry horse in the distance.
Malin was an older horse that Alex had taken a liking to and the two had become almost inseparable. Kara let Zoltan lead them away from the track, directing him instead towards the drawbridge in the distance.
“What did you expect the outcome of that council meeting to be?” Alex asked, easing Malin alongside Zoltan as Kara directed him off the training grounds.
“I don’t know, compassion?” She retorted angrily, spurring Zoltan forward with gentle pressure. Alex instantly kept pace. “Understanding? Something other than forcing me to choose a match within a month’s time.”
Alex’s expression fell, and Kara felt slightly vindicated as she fell silent for a bit.
“How about we accompany you guys on your ride?” Alex asked, but Kara merely turned her head away, not in the mood. “We can take that trail down towards the outskirts of the village where we used to visit. I know a guy who bakes the best rock cakes in -.”
“Go away Alex,” Kara grumbled, lightly shoving her on the shoulder. The action made the knight flinch and Kara turned away, feeling a little guilty at the force she’d used on Alex. “I’d like to be alone right now.”
“Oh no,” Alex immediately rebuffed, coming up alongside her with her own steed. Malin gave a short wuffle as he obeyed, keeping trot with Kara’s horse. Kara rolled her eyes, but didn’t launch into another run. “You have that crazy look in your eyes.”
“It’s called sorrow.”
“It’s called fuck the council’s decision, I’m gonna burn the place down with my glowy eyes .”
Kara glared halfheartedly. “Heat vision.”
“Whatever it is, it looks scary.” Alex intoned drily. Kara’s shoulders slumped and her eyes returned to normal. “I’m sure the other knights on the grounds back there thought you were possessed by the devil.”
Kara shoved her in the ribs. “Jerk.”
“Hey, look, I kinda understand what you’re going through. I mean, my parents disappeared when I was twelve.” The words trigger a vague memory in Kara’s mind. Of fissuring rocks and falling debris and blurry faced parents that came from before .
“You have no idea what I’m going through.” Kara grounded out, something tight building in her chest as she walked her steed past Alex once more.
“Kara come on.”
“I wasn’t aware that you fell from the sky. That you were resented by other humans for being different. That you have parents you barely remember, parents that must be dead because your world exploded.”
“Kara…”
“Or do you? Do you also have to marry a stranger so that the people of Midlandia will be pleased?”
“Now who’s being a jerk?”
“Then don’t say stupid things, or agree with the council of morons.”
“And what exactly did you expect them to say?” Alex huffed.
“I don’t know,” Kara shrugged, lifting her arms in frustration. “but certainly not that .”
“You knew this was coming.”
“That doesn’t mean I have to like it. Or agree with it all.”
“You still have some time.”
“I wouldn’t exactly call a month having some time.”
“Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s completely crazy how they expect you to just fall into the arms of another royal but-”
“But?”
“You’re good at winning people over.” Alex smiled sincerely, making that crinkle that had become a permanent fixture on Kara’s forehead soften. “I’m sure that whoever you choose,”
“You mean whoever they choose.”
“I’m trying to be optimistic here.”
“I’d rather you not.”
“Kara.”
“Alex, I don’t want to do this now.”
Silence fell between them then as the horses slowly circled around the training grounds and Kara directed Zoltan towards the giant drawbridge containing them within the castle grounds. Alex lifted an eyebrow, but silently complied, following along and signalling the castle guards standing atop the walls which prompted them to quickly let down the drawbridge as the horses eased out of the protective walls surrounding the castle and across the moat.
The forest sloping down from the castle was at least a stone’s throw away from the surrounding walls. It was dense, stretching as far as the eye could see, its emerald canopy whispering secrets to the evening sky. Before it was the pathway down into the village square, which was the path that Alex anticipated that Kara would take.
But instead, Kara diverted, quickly finding the entrance towards the forest which was an almost unidentifiable footpath that the both of them knew intimately from their many secret visits. They eased the horses into a slow trot, avoiding brambles as they continued.
There were tall, majestic trees stretching as far as the eyes could see, and a network of winding paths weaving through the forest, inviting wanderers to explore its hidden glades and secluded clearings. It had been a while since they’d found the time to get lost within the depths of the forest and Kara found the environment calming in a way that allowed her to get her thoughts out and not snap at Alex.
Her stomach grumbled in disapproval at the prospect of a long adventure without food and Kara felt a little silly for shutting down Alex’s angling for rock cakes earlier.
She’d been entirely too nervous before the council meeting to even have a bite of anything that day so the slight bout of vertigo threatening to consume her wasn’t exactly unexpected. But despite it, she couldn’t help but press on, remembering the host of fruit trees hidden within the forest’s depths and admiring the sunlight filtering through the canopy as it dappled its way across the forest floor with patches of golden light and shadow.
“We should at least be careful.” Alex said, equipping her bow at the ready. “There used to be rumours of something strange hiding in this forest not that long ago.”
“I’m sure it’s an old wife’s tale.” Kara parroted the excuse she always used whenever she was able to coerce the cautious Alex into another forest bound adventure.
Alex chuckled, no doubt recalling the same.
“Fine, but we were reckless back then. And with the grand ball approaching -” She cut herself off, brows furrowing at her slip up. “Sorry.”
Kara didn’t reply, accepting Alex’s words as they ventured along. The forest wasn’t dangerous by any means, they’d explored every nook and cranny of it to their heart’s content. So it was a bit of a surprise when they came to a well known fork in the road that usually held two paths but now held a third. Kara’s vision blurred a little and she clutched her head, detecting a barely perceptible glow to the blades of grass, the rocks and even the particles of soil littering that path. Alex looked at her quizzically, noting the strange reaction.
“Alex,” She voiced, easing Zoltan forward. “Do you remember this path being here?”
“No.” Alex replied, uncertainty coating her words. “We’d certainly remember that but -”
“Let’s follow it.” Kara insisted, already easing Zoltan onto the strange path.
“Kara,” Alex hissed, spurring Malin forward as Kara ignored her lines of protests.
But the light slipping in through the trees here scattered across the ground in sweet golden rays drawing their attention to the setting sun, adding to the allure of it all. Unlike the other two paths which had looked fairly empty and devoid of wild animals, this path was littered with them. There were nests of rabbits hopping about, canaries singing sweetly as they zipped through the trees and bees buzzing with activity as they flit from flower to flower. Even the blades of grass here looked slightly greener and Kara looked back, giving Alex a smug look to which Alex promptly rolled her eyes.
The path was long, way longer than the other two and up ahead there was a clearing. Even from such a long distance away, Kara could see that through the heart of the clearing was a lake with its gentle waters sparkling like liquid silver in the sunlight. Along the banks of the lake, willow trees swayed gracefully in the breeze, their branches dipping into the water like delicate fingers. Wildflowers carpeted the lake’s edge, painting the landscape with bursts of colour. The wind swept through the trees rustling the leaves as the birds chirped merrily and life in the tranquil forest seemed to move on regardless of the anxiousness that had been slowly consuming Kara since Jeremiah had died.
“So what are you going to do when your birthday ball arrives?” Alex broke the silence, seemingly unfazed by the abundance of flora to ask. “You do know that that’s when they’re going to make the announcement…right? You have exactly five days to -”
Kara sighed softly. “I know, Alex. I was there.”
“I don’t mean to be a nag about it, but…we are in need of a plan.”
Kara turned to her, giving her a full smile since this conversation had happened. “We?”
“Yeah.” Alex replied instantly. “As far as duty goes, I know where I stand,” She said, turning to face Kara with a look of resolution. “But I also can’t stand by and watch you drown in sorrow while everyone expects you to choose a match and govern Midlandia.”
Kara couldn’t help the smile that softly drew across her lips once more and she nudged Alex, expertly fending off the arm intending to drag her into a side hold. “You are the first person who’s said that to me.”
“I find that very hard to believe, princess .” Alex lovingly mocked, pulling her in for an awkward side hug anyway which Kara resisted purely for show. “Gotta put that big head of yours to use.”
“Hey!” Kara protested. She could easily escape Alex’s hold if she wanted but she stayed for a few seconds longer. “I liked it better when you were giving me compliments.”
Alex released her with a chuckle. “Well someone’s gotta keep you grounded.”
Kara rolled her eyes. “Believe me when I say that I get enough of that from the council.”
“Well just so you know,” Alex said, turning serious once more. “I believe that you are what Midlandia needs. You will be a fair and just ruler.”
“You think I’ll make the right decision?”
“Yes, and hey,” Alex nudged her arm, sling hers between it and drawing Kara’s steed to a stop. “I’m here for you, okay? We’ll get through this. Together.”
Kara smiled easily now, launching herself at Alex and pulling her into a full hug. Their laughter echoed across the clearing, making Kara feel just a bit lighter as they both dismounted from their horses with the intent of lightly exploring the area. Alex took Malin closer towards the carpet of wildflowers surrounding the lake, cataloguing the presence of an abundance of strange flowers she’d never seen in the forest before. She pulled out another treat for Malin prompting a whine from Zoltan as he eagerly ambled over to partake. Kara watched the trio fondly, aiming to follow when suddenly far off in the distance there was a delicate splash, almost too soft for her to hear and when she looked towards the outer edge of the lake there was a small group of beautiful swans.
Kara stood completely still, mesmerised by their gentle presence as they swam across the far side of the lake, blissfully unconcerned. They were too far away to take notice of the strangers but there was one swan in particular who was closer than the others. This one had seemingly broken away from the group, the tiny glittering crown neatly perched upon its head giving it a distinctively regal look. And the moment that their eyes met everything seemingly slowed. It was a strange feeling, one that left Kara almost holding her breath as the swan gently floated closer, the ripples of water slowly shifting towards the edges of the lake. It looked friendly, just like the scurrying little creatures that had been playing along the pathway towards the clearing and Kara instantly wanted to get closer.
The swan’s head was bowed meekly but its eyes, oh, they were a mixture of blue and green, a startling conundrum of beauty that paled a little at the deep rooted sadness lurking behind their expressive depths. Kara stood at the water’s edge and then sank into a crouch, reaching out a hand, slowly, tentatively, not quite sure what she was doing, but feeling immense sorrow for it.
“What are you doing?” Alex hissed from a few feet behind her, now very much aware that they weren’t alone in the clearing. “Do you still befriend woodland creatures in your spare time?”
“Shh,” Kara said softly, reaching over as far as she dared. “She seems friendly.”
“She,” Alex emphasised, unhooking her satchel and freeing her arm to grasp at the quiver of arrows attached to her back. “Could very well bite your face off.”
“She won't.”
“Kara.”
“Alex.”
“She could be a witch for all that we know,” Alex implored, taking a step closer as she eyed Kara protectively. “There haven't been swans in this neck of the woods since magic was outlawed. They’re a bad omen. You have to be careful, your safety is top priority.”
But Kara wasn't listening, and so, she completely missed the sound of Alex notching an arrow and aiming at the beautiful creature. An unexplainable feeling swept over her body and her hand shot out of its own accord as the arrow glided over her shoulder towards the swan. She managed to catch the tail end of its trajectory and caused it to harmlessly shoot through the swan's feathers.
“Alex, no!” Kara exclaimed.
The swan squeaked, startled and the surface of the lake rippled with a force that diffused through the air straight back towards Alex. Kara could barely see it coming, the edges of that headache from before still lingering. But she tried to come to Alex’s defence, in an attempt to shield her with her body.
But it was too late.
The force of the unseen attack hit Alex square in the arm, freezing her in place with her bow still aimed at the swan. Kara watched, horrified, as Alex's entire shoulder was instantly turned to stone. And when she turned back towards the lake, the swan had already disappeared.