Land of the Moon

Cecily The morning was gloomy with a dense layer of fog covering the forest floor with its chill as Emilia laid nestled against the old redwood tree. She was bundled up in the thick dark grey cloak that was now tattered and ragged at the ends from our days of wandering in the forest. She had the hood pulled down covering her face making her look like a rock that was leaning against the tree. The sun would break through the trees in a few hours lifting some of the fog. Princess Emilia who went by Ema for short, and I have been traveling in the forest since the attack on her family's royal carriage. Though this was planned so that it would look like she escaped and returned to the castle to hide. Hopefully buying us some time to get further on our journey before anyone noticed that she truly did leave the castle. Around this same time last year, the two royal families that had joined together long ago against the Dark King of Serpent's Mountain, who tried to plunge the kingdoms into darkness laying waste to all the land and those who lived in it. The two Kingdoms had finally broken out into war. The two kings, King Arathorn who was the ruler of Aleris, and King Steafan who was the ruler of Creatha no longer saw eye to eye believing that the other was trying to steal their land. Even though a great lake that split both farmlands Kilarcre of Aleris and Kilcairn of Creatha.This did not stop them from involving the innocent in their bloodshed. As well as setting fire to each one's lands and bringing about poverty and famine to the innocent not involved. Before the kingdom could be seized in this uncertain future that was coming about, I was ordered to protect princess Emilia until the Kingdom would rise again or until she was safe and married. King Arathorn did not want to know when or where Ema was to go, just that she be protected at all costs until she could one day make it to the Moon Kingdom. Ema was only in her seventeenth year, in a time without war she would be ready to be wed. Sadly the King's war had brought on a harsh future for both their children if they were still alive. The wind carried the news that both kingdoms had fallen, King Arathorn and King Steafan were now on the brink of death. The eldest son's of each kingdom was still alive and fighting in their father's stead. Prince Bran son of Kind Arathorn and Prince Fergus son of King Steafan. Rumors spread that the sons may be trying to stop the war their fathers had created. Though a war that has been raging for two years now had yet to end. Many were losing hope that the bloodshed would never stop.  "Cecily," Ema yawned my name as she tried waking up. "Where are we going to go now after all that's happened?" She spoke softly, as her hood fell back revealing her long light brown hair that covered her elven ears. While letting her delicate features stand out. Her small round nose went with her soft mouth that always carried a smile. Her fair skin made her dark sea-blue eyes look big and enchanting on her face. "We will head south to the land once ruled by the elves in ancient times, and from there we will head west to the land of the ancients. The names now are all different and some of the magic is gone from this world with all the wars. However, the land is still the same. Do you feel rested enough to move on?" I asked her, as I watched her stretch her still waking body from its slumber. We were soon on our way moving slowly through the still foggy forest. The sun was slowly rising in the sky bringing with it a gentle warming light to the dark forest. Ema stayed close to my side tripping a few times on tree roots and loose rocks. After traveling a good distance we soon stopped, for Ema’s stomach started to call out its hunger. While she rested on a recently fallen tree perhaps from a storm, I went off in search of some food. Thankfully the forest had a good amount of berries to eat. The only problem was knowing which ones were safe. Oddly enough the blood-red berries were safe for humans and animals to eat; since growing up in the wild it became second nature knowing what was safe and what wasn’t to eat in order to survive. There were also the purple ones that were close in color to the blackberry though they were not as sweet.  Ema was braiding her long light brown hair when I returned with a small sack full of the blood-red and purple berries. Thankfully all the traveling the past few days had not taken her smile away. Even though the loss of her home and family as she was now to be living with her grandmother Queen Luna, she still found the strength to keep smiling. In all my life, I had never seen a girl scarf down berries as fast as Ema had done. "Thank you, Cecily, so much, I did not think I was that hungry." Ema's smile was full of life. As she handed the now-empty leather bag back to me. "Have you eaten your fill Ema? I can always get you more before we head out, there’s still a way for us to go before we make it out of this forest. When we do we will have to be on our guard there are many thieves, outlaws, and killers out in this world now. They will not think twice about attacking defenseless women." I asked her as she reached for the small leather pack that held a water bag, a change of clothes, and an empty bag that used to hold some food. "But we are not defenseless Cecily. You are an ancient bloodline, rare though others do not know this. And I am not completely helpless. You have taught me how to defend myself. Why my father had you take me and protect me instead of him and the kingdom, I still do not fully understand. But I do respect his wishes and since you have always been by my side I would not know what to do without you." She whispered the last part as she gazed out at the forest trying to keep herself from crying. Thinking about her father and brothers who by now may have noticed her absence.  "Ema now is not the time to shed tears. I know you ache for your family, but I will protect you no matter what. I am your guardian. I will protect you with my life. You are a very special girl Ema.” I knew she would understand me. After all, out of everyone that I have known in my life besides my mother and the old woman Elin that took me in Ema was the only other living being that I had ever let get close to me. From the day she was born, she was so full of life and light as her father would always tell the story. A precious jewel to her father, since her mother had passed while giving birth to Ema. Ema was the true and rightful heir to the land of the moon now. Her mother was the daughter of the Elf Lord Baldric, and the Moon Child, Luna. When Ema turned 15 she was supposed to go to the land of the moon, but the land had fallen into war. The moon tribe would not interfere with human affairs. For if they did all the land and the magical and non-magical people would be dragged into the war. It was the law of the mystics that helped keep this world in some balance after all. "We must move on now Ema so we are not on the road at dusk. It will be too dangerous for us to travel at night. We have to make it to the small river, there are caves there that will be safe for us to stay in." Ema nodded her head as she wiped the few tears that had managed to escape her.  Our travel to the river was slow but well-paced, we found a small cave well before dusk to take shelter in throughout the night. Ema was trying to catch fish in the river while I kept watch of our small camp. She had managed to catch three fish after a time and a few slips causing her clothes to get wetter than from when she was just standing in the water. While she cleaned her catch I had started a fire for her to dry her clothes and be able to cook her food. Ema was humming a song when she began to finally cook the three fish she had stabbed through with sticks. Why the world would bring about such events to darken the world on this girl has only made her will to survive stronger. "Cecily how much longer will we be traveling through this forest? It has been almost a week since we have seen people or even had a decent home-cooked meal. I am not complaining, I just miss seeing other people at times." Ema smiled as she bit into her third fish. After a couple of bites, Ema set the fish down "I am full Cecily.” She covered her mouth as she yawned. She then got up and went to the river to rinse out her mouth from dinner. "Why don't you get some sleep, for now, Ema, we will have to head out before the sun rises," I whispered to her where she now laid down in the back of the cave. I laid my thick black cloak over her as well to help keep the chill out of her bones. Since we were letting the fire slowly die out so that no one would notice us because of its light or the smoke it gave off. My cloak covered her delicate looking body even though it was starting to show a little muscle. If she was stretched out her feet would have stuck out from my cloak thankfully she was curled into a ball. Soon she was fast asleep, I put a glamour on the front of the cave to make it look empty for any who came upon it. Taking one last look at her sleeping figure I stepped out into the night shifting into my wolf form.  It felt great to feel freedom running in the moonlight, zigzagging in and out of the trees. I soon came across the trail of a rabbit, it wasn’t long before I found it nibbling on a bush. Hunching low to the ground, I then pounced catching the rabbit in my jaws. Letting my animal instinct take over I quickly killed and devoured the rabbit in a short time. Lifting my head I sniffed the air for any danger or any sign of man. There was nothing out besides prey and other small predators of the night. Slowly making my way back to Ema and the cave there was a scent carried within the wind. It was of man, about eight in a group. They were still far off probably on the road that was at least a few hours' journey from where Ema was. Picking up the pace I soon returned to Ema still sleeping in a ball at the back of the cave. Ema slowly awoke to me nudging her shoulder. "It's time for us to be going now, we should reach a village by dusk if we leave now." "The sun has not risen yet? How long was I asleep Cecily?" Ema asked as she rubbed the sleep from her tired eyes. "You have gotten a few hours of rest but we must go now unless you wish to find shelter in the forest again? The village is in a valley with not many trees or places for us to hide and sleep. We will be exposed." Yawning Ema handed me my cloak and straightened herself from her sleep. The sun was just rising as we made our way down the road in the forest after walking a few miles. It wasn't till noon when we finally saw another living soul on the road ahead of us. Ema was glad to see another soul. She kept in mind my warnings and kept close to me. Soon we stopped to rest as Ema's boots were making her feet tender. "Cecily, that man has stopped as well, do you think he is keeping an eye on us?" Ema used our link when she was afraid to say anything aloud.  "I believe he is, the man smells of wickedness." "Wickedness?" She looked up at me then. "Yes, like a murderer a man that would kill to get money. He probably travels along this road often preying on those who he thinks to have money or would be easy prey. And since we are two women traveling alone, he may believe he can r**e us and kill us." I shrugged my shoulders as I thought this back to her. Ema looked down as she pulled on her boot, I knew she was scared but I would not keep the truth from her. It was better for her to know what may happen and be cautious than to walk blindly into the problem. She was well trained in hand to hand combat and good with a weapon though we had to travel light and fast, she only had a dagger on her person. Ema was also gifted with magic though she was not far in knowing how to use it to defend herself yet.  As soon as we began walking again the man did as well. There was a bend in the road not far ahead. "That is where he may try and make his move. Stay close to me and be ready for anything." I saw Ema nod out of the corner of my eye. When the man disappeared around the bend, we cut through the forest making our way swiftly across. After running a few miles through the forest we neared the edge of the road. "He is way back there confused. I'm sure at wondering how we disappeared. I sense that there is no danger any further up ahead and we should be nearing the valley road to the village here soon." I smiled at Ema knowing she was probably completely exhausted at this point.  As she was catching her breath trying her best not to laugh and lose the little air she had left. “Will we make it there before the sun sets Cecily? I am just wondering if we will be able to find a place to stay and get some decent food, rather than from a questionable place.” She looked at me impishly.  Heaving a sigh as I pondered over how long it would take us being already pleated of quite a bit of energy from our run. “We may not get there till dusk” I glanced at Ema. “I will make sure we are taken care of and not in a scary place,” I reassured her. “I am not doubting you, Cecily. I just would like us both to be able to sleep, I know you have not slept much because you’ve been watching over me.” Biting her small but plump bottom lip as she prepared to finish saying what else was on her mind. “I have already lost so much to this war. My father and brothers are consumed by it believing they are fighting for the people. Father is on his deathbed and I can not be by his side. I want to try and end this war by going to my mother's homeland and possibly calling a peace talk between both Kingdoms. You are the only one I can trust, the only family I really have left Cecily.” She was looking at me in the eyes as she said all this to me. I heard Ema sniffling and trying her hardest not to cry. “You have such a kind heart and you are family to me, Ema, though you do not have to worry about me.” I smiled at her trying to reassure her. “If it would make you feel better I can always shift into something that will make you feel more protected,” I told her as I snapped my teeth at her in a grin. Ema looked like she was not sure if she wanted to cry or laugh at my gesture.  We had arrived on the outskirts of the small village just after dusk Ema was still holding on strong, though, her eyes gave away her exhaustion. It did not take us long to find a small Inn for the night. We made it in time before they stopped serving dinner thankfully. I ordered two stew meals while Ema went to the room. Scoping out the exits as I watched as a few men observed her walking to the stairs before disappearing up them. The smell of desire and booze was in the air, it seemed that the village was a good stop for travelers on their journeys. When our stew was served up with two rolls of bread and a pitcher of water with two wooden cups I took it straight to our room. Ema was already fast asleep on the small bed. Knowing how tired she was I still woke her, her body needed the food to keep her strong. Also, her stomach was crying out its emptiness even as she slept. Sleep pulled Ema back into its embrace once she finished eating. Like always when she was too exhausted I removed Ema’s boots and helped her under the blankets. Even in the small room out of the forest the cold chill of the night air still tried seeping into the room through whatever cracks it could find in the building.  Ema was curled into a ball underneath the blanket when the sun was starting to brighten the horizon. Slipping out quietly as to not wake her, I made my way going about getting what we needed to replenish what little we had for our journey which was mostly getting any food that would last us while we traveled between villages and a few other things I thought we may end up needing. There were a few places in the small village that had what I was looking for. Since many travelers were going through the village, village folk did not inquire often about one's journey. This made acquiring the few items easier and without questions. Carrying a sack full of our goods into the room I found Ema awake and looking out the window.  “I got a little scared when I awoke and did not see you in the room, Cecily. Then I thought it would be best if I stayed put.” She told me as she got up and came over to me to see what I had in the leather sack I had carried in. “I apologize for being gone for so long, I wanted to hurry and get what we needed so that we could eat then continue on our way. It is not safe to stay in one place for too long. If the tides of war change or if anyone finds out you are not inside the protection of the castle you could be in danger.” I said this quietly enough so that only she would be able to hear as I packed some of the food into her pack. “I understand” Ema, smiled and stood from where she had taken a seat on the bed I had slept on last night. “Shall we get ready to leave then?” She smiled at me as I handed her, her pack to put on. We donned our cloaks and were off once more.