The Place On The Other Side

Freedom & Destiny

Dolyia opened the front door of Benwick's home and stepped outside. The sun was brighter than she expected. When her eyes adjusted, it was an amazing sight. To the left was the graveyard that she was attacked in. To the right was a small road leading into Penne. Benwick was sitting on a bench on the right of the door in front of a tiny water well.

　　"Well, did you get everything?' he asked, looking up at her.

　　"Yes, I sure did. Thank you again for all the help you've given me, but aren't you coming along?" Dolyia replied.

　　"Oh, no my dear. I must stay here and watch the entrance. It is my life long duty. You are to go on from here and learn your own way. I know you'll meet many friends on the way. I have not to worry about you and your journey." Benwick said with a smile on his face.

　　But Dolyia could tell he was a little worried about her.

　　"Well, okie dokie then. I guess I'm off. You have a wonderful afternoon and I hope to see you again." She said bending down to give Benwick a big hug.

　　After letting him go and waving goodbye about three or five more times, she was officially off on her way to discover her destiny. Walking down the road, Dolyia couldn't help but look at everything around her, sometimes stopping to double take a few things. Like the two headed cows and the butterflies the size of robins.

　　There were huge wonderous fields with flowers stretching along the side of the path. Stones lining the way to the village and the road was dirt and pebbles. There was a sign posted in the ground at the first wall of a bridge with a big mote under it and another wall about 5 feet after the end of the bridge, which were tall and made of stones.

　　There was a big wooden door with a sliding slot to see out of on the left door, and a smaller normal sized door in the right door. She stood there at the sign for a moment taking in the place, the sign read "Village of Penne".

　　She started forward and knocked on the small door. After a short moment the slot on the other door opened.

　　"Who goes there!" half yelled a man. Dolyia could only see the rough, mad looking eyes through the slot.

　　"I'm Dolyia and I ask to enter, to continue my journey to the castle" she said trying with all her might not to stutter due to her body shaking, so nervous, thinking they might not let her in.

　　He slid the slot shut without a reply and she could hear murmurs coming from the other side. Even more nervous due to the time he was taking, she jumped when the small door opened. Out walked a different man with long dark red robes, he had a wizard look to him but when he was arm length away from Dolyia she saw that he was a different man then the one in the slot. His eyes were a calm and happy golden-green. He was holding himself proudly. Welding a long wooden cane that had lots of trinkets hanging from strings and feathers at the top of it. His hair was long, to his mid back at least and dark brown.

　　"You are Dolyia?" He asked her with a doubtful look on his face.

　　She held herself sternly as well and answered with confidence, looking at him eye to eye.

　　"Yes I am. My Ma’s name was Dasi and I was brought here to fulfill my destiny."

　　His face changed instantly as she said her Ma's name, into a happy and hurried state, and replied quickly.

　　"Then please follow me quickly. You should come to the town hall now and we can talk over tea."

　　Dolyia wasn't sure she wanted to have tea just yet, having already had some not long before at Benwick's home. But she took the man's invitation with a forced smile and followed him into the village through the door. He took a right to a small alleyway behind the large buildings located right next to the wall. They walked all the way down the wall to the forced left and continued down that way, passing a few small dirt roads surrounded by more buildings of all sizes.

　　They finally reached a fence line as tall as she was, covered in vines. They went through an old rusty gate, into a very large backyard of a huge house just to the left of where they entered. Dolyia continued to follow in silently until he said as they reached the back door.

　　"Here we are, ladies first." He said opening the door and slightly bowing lowered his hand, gesturing her into the home.

　　Dolyia walked in, looking around slowly she saw that it was beautifully designed, made for a wealthy person, a person who had power over others. The man showed her into a small den a few feet to the right of where she stood, and had her sit in an oversized but very comfy purple chair. The den room was small but organized to have plenty of space for at least 8 people.

It had a detailed stained glass window of a beautiful woman holding a child above the side table against the wall on the opposite side of where she was sitting. A small but regular glass window in the wall was to the right of her. It had a big bookshelf and a small fireplace on the wall to the left of her. A desk sat directly in front of her, with parchment and ink bottles, guills, books, lit candles, and several odd trinkets and instruments that she'd never seen before.

The man came in a few minutes later holding a tray with tea set up for two. He set the tray down on the side table and poured her a cup and sat it down in front of her on the desk. After pouring himself a cup as well he sat down at the desk in his big green office chair and started talking.

　　"I am Sugman, the Mayor of Penne. I know about you and your destiny. I don't know what it consists of but all of Chalen Kingdom has awaited your return. Even though you were only a baby when your Ma and Pa were sent away, we all knew you'd be ok and would be back someday." He finished with a grin and took a sip from his tea cup.

　　Looking at him with confusion and impatience to get back on the road, she replied. "Well, I wish I knew why I'm so important. Benwick told me I'm royal blood. But what does that mean? I mean my Pa and Ma were from the village near the farm I grew up on. She said that I was born on the farm in the cottage."

　　His reply was quick. "Yes she did. That's what was supposed to be told to you. You were not to know about this place or your Ma's and Pa’s real identity. Our King, and King Signan of the rival kingdom south called Howten Kingdom, sent your Ma and Finsade, your real Pa, away. Your grandparents are Graden and Herinda Molent, and King Dasion and Queen Airen. Graden is, or should I say was, King Signan's brother, after Graden's wife, Herinda fought back for Finsade and Dasi about Dolyia's birth King Signan decided to ban his own brother and sister in law along with their son."

　　"Most of us here are immortal, or at least partially immortal. Full blood, mainly royalty are immortal and people with half blood are partial. I myself just turned 306. I'm only half immortal. It wasn't much of a celebration this year but hey after 300 years people lose their touch." he added with a chuckle.

　　It was so much to take in all at once, Dolyia made herself absorb everything that was told to her. Now knowing how she was royal something hit her, she remembered the letters and belongings in the trunk at the little cottage in the woods. Those were things that belonged to her grandparents and real Pa. She felt almost weak. She couldn't believe that she had slept where her real family had so many years ago. She was now also realizing why they were so old, which here in this world was actually quite young, due to most being immortal, or half immortal.

　　After they finished their tea, Dolyia explained how she got there and her journey so far. They said their goodbyes and he had a butler lead her to the front door to leave. The rest of the house was large and elegant. Big portraits of previous mayors and other important people, trophies and certificates framed on the walls and desks. A huge staircase leads up to the second floor and a door that leads to the living area on the right at the bottom of the stairs. Another door to the left leading to a large room that had a long table and lots of chairs in it, she thought to herself that must be where they held big meets for important things.

　　The butler had gotten to the door and held it open for her, bowing to her. She left the house with a new feeling inside her. She was now and was always a princess, daughter to the princess of the Chalen Kingdom. She was elated. She didn't know what she wanted to do, so she calmed herself down and started to walk down the small road to the main street of Penne'.