The Queen Of The Forest

Chapter 7

I watched as the tree started to glow, the burning slowly being replaced by a cooling numbness.

I felt the woods hum and felt an acceptance from the forest. I don’t feel like I've ever felt so loved and safe.

I found I could move again and walked towards the tree. I felt like it was calling to me. I sat down on the mossy floor and leaned back against the tree. I felt complete and whole. I closed my eyes with the feeling of serenity, and as I did, I heard the leaves whisper, "Our queen."

When I woke up and realized it was daytime, I felt surprisingly energised. I looked around and saw my mother beside me smiling.

"Good morning, my wonderful girl. I wanted to be here with you when you woke up," my mother reached over and stroked my face.

"I felt my connection to the tree fade last night and knew it accepted you; this grove will become your sanctuary. I have spent many evenings under this tree."

"Mother, why did you never tell me? I knew you had a connection to the forest, but this is unreal. I feel a part of the forest; I feel its life force. It’s all connected—the trees, the earth, and our people. I feel each life force."

"Being queen of our people isn’t just about ruling them; it’s about protecting them." My mother answered me, “You will understand more as you get older, and I will help you as much as I can, but I feel my life is getting shorter.”

"Mother, don’t say that; you have years left." I felt the tears start to fill my eyes.

“Lori…We both know that’s not true; if it were, I wouldn’t have passed this huge responsibility onto your shoulders yet. I wanted to know my beloved forest and people were in the best hands," my mother said, wiping away the tears that had started to fall.

"Your father means well; he really does, and he does want what is best for you. He just forgets, I think, what really matters. He sees a marriage of strength rather than a marriage of destiny as a better way of protecting you. I have spoken with him, and he agrees that Robert is the right path.” She reassured me "I reminded him that my own father wasn’t so pleased with him either," she smiled.

"How did he take that?"

"Not very well to begin with," she laughed.

"I bet!" I laughed back at her.

"Mother, just promise you won’t leave me yet. I don’t think I can cope without you."

"How about I hold on as long as I can. I’m tired, Lori, so very tired. I should have died that night. We lost so many against Typhon's children. I watched so many lose their lives and power. The bite I received and the poison it contained should have killed me too. If your father hadn’t carried me to this tree, I wouldn’t have lived, and you would have been way too young to go through all of this. But we were at least victorious in banishing the last of those fiends from our lands, never to return.” She paused and hugged me closer to her

"I’m also glad that my gift to you is a peaceful reign, one without monsters, just very old men," she said.

"Are you sure they can never return?"

"I am positive; when I killed the last one, we placed charms and relics. They can never return. Typhon himself is dead now, and all of his children too," she reassured me.

"Just remember that some of the worst monsters are the ones with an angelic face. Now enough nightmarish talk and more about Robert. I don’t think I could have dreamed of a better match. The son of my oldest friend, I remember him as a baby, nearly as cute as you," she smiled at me.

"And when you were born and we had a huge ceremony, I should have known then. He was always wanting to be near you, and you were always content when he was around. He must have been about two years old then; he’s waited longer for you than you have for him, remember.” She smiled at me with a look of peace on her face "Now let’s go and get you something to eat. I remember how much the ceremonies can take out of a person." She offered

"I also know Logan and Robert haven’t moved all night, so they need rest and food as well."

As we made our way towards the path, I looked back at the tree, felt my connection to it, and smiled.

The path seemed longer to me today; a part of me wanted to stay under the leaves. If this is what my mother has dealt with for all these years, I wonder if she misses it now.

"Mother, do you miss it?"

"Miss what, Lori?"

"The connection to the forest, being queen?"

“To your second question, I haven’t been queen in a long time to the people, not really, and to my connection it is still there. It will always be there. I am as much a part of the forest as you are. But you will now protect it; you will now be the keeper of the magic. Through you, the magic flows to our people and will do so until your daughter takes her place.”

"My daughter," I laughed, "you're getting ahead of yourself."

"I know, but within time you will have a daughter first. If you're lucky, maybe a son will come after," she laughed back.

We saw a very tired-looking Logan and Robert at the exit of the forest waiting for us.

Logan nodded her head at us.

"Your majesties"

Logan, please go and get something to eat. We are heading straight to the castle now anyway. "Your guard duty, I think, is done for now."

"Allow me to accompany you, and then I will retire for the day. My son and another cadet will take over from there for today."

I look at Robert and smile. He looks like he’s had no sleep at all.

He bends down, and Lily, the first time we met, kisses my hand.

"My queen, I will also walk with you to the castle; I believe my father is getting ready to head home for a little while after the meeting tonight. My mother is staying for a little while after being requested by your mother," he smiled at my mother. His face quickly becoming serious

I looked at her also and noticed that her eyes were starting to close.

"Quick Logan, catch her!" I shouted.

Logan managed to grab my mother before she hit the ground; her body had already gone limp.

"What's wrong with her?" Robert asked panicked

"It’s her ailment, she can’t control it, we must get her back to the castle for her treatment."

"Your majesty, I will run with her as time is short, but be aware that these episodes are happening more often and with less warning. It’s also taking more of the potion to restore her, and that is not having the same effects," Logan said in a hurry. "Sir Robert, I leave you in charge of escorting your queen back to the castle."

"Logan, stay still and hold my mother; it will be quicker if I shimmy you both to the healers.

Robert can you stand behind me, please? I don’t know how much this will tax my strength."

I raised my hands and imagined my mother and Logan. in the healer's wing. I saw the glowing ball that normally appears to grow and wrap around my mother and Logan, with a humming similar to the trees, they disappeared with a final pop.

Luckily, I had told Robert to stand behind me because my legs gave out and I felt dizzy. His hands provided me with a warm embrace, and he turned to be able to see my face. He sat us both down on the ground.

"I got you, Lori," he whispered to me.