Wanted to be Loved

Chapter 1 Imperial Calendar: 1171 “ …Judith?” “Umm” “Lady Judith!” “Oughummm” “WAKE UP MY LADY!!” The old nanny, Serah, bent down to snatch the princess’ blanket away. Judith hummed and turned away to the other side, utterly refusing to get up. “My lady!” Her nanny shouted, stomping her foot on the ground and huffing, out of breath. “At this old age I am bound to die early if I keep on working like an energetic maiden…” Taking deep long breaths, Serah sat down beside Judith, stroking and untangling her dark curly hair. “It pains me to bid farewell to you as well… But my lady, we should not go against his majesty's order!” Judith buried her face in her pillow, swallowing her cry. “Huhh, aigoo.” Her nanny hugged her tightly while crying. “M-My lady, you must live.” Cupping her face in both her hands, wiping her tears away, her nanny placed her head in her lap. “My lady, the next few years are going to be very-very hard… But, once this situation with the werewolves settles, his majesty will call you back. How can he abandon his only offspring?" Gazing into her clear brown eyes, the nanny smiled, caressing her face again. “My lady. Above all, you must remember how lovable you are.” And with one last act of farewell, her nanny kissed her both hands. And prepared her for the long departure. — The rattling and clanking of the carriage along the calmness and silence of night, with distant growling and voices of wild animals, kept reminding Judith, she had been exiled to the cursed junction. The land of darkness cursed by the great dragon hundreds of years ago. The chill wind, one old but a lavish carriage, her butler, two maids and a coachman –these people could not help but accept their fate of being exiled with the princess on the pretext of her protection and comfort. They sure held their malice. “Jasper, Where will we stay in these forsaken lands?” She asked, her gaze fixed on the window. “My lady, there used to be two lords territories in these lands, before they were conquered and left cursed by the great dragon, we have been ordered to stay and investigate the territory of Baron Lex.” “Since it is the root of this curse, his lordship strongly believes that you, my lady, hold the sacred power to find and undo the curse fallen upon these lands.” The butler explained, holding her gaze firmly. “You want my lady to believe that his majesty sent her here to lift this curse, rather than to kill her?” One of the maids scoffed, and in frustration argued back. The whole kingdom knew, he was getting rid of her, for a reason, unknown. “I, too, believe that this is but a ploy, head butler.” “Just because my lady possesses the blood of an elf, she cannot lift this curse that has remained for about a thousand years!” Nora, the other maid, questioned and bantered out of her desperation to save her lady. “Many saints, saintesses and even lord elves have died here, trying to reclaim this land, where the werewolves now live.” Judith is someone Nora has served since she was born. “Silence.” Judith interwined. Knowing very well the reason why she was banished, and what she must do. “We must not fight among ourselves. We are here to survive. We will remain steadfast till this war ends. And we leave this place alive and well.” Judith stated after a long inhale at the sight of barons’ castle. “As much as I understand your despair, our lives and safety comes first.” The long journey of a hundred and thirty-two days had come to an end. In nothing but silence, anger and awkwardness. The food had already run out as well as drinkable water, with only a few weapons and a few pairs of clothes. The rattling carriage came to a halt, and with an extended hand for escort, the fifteen-years old Judith stepped out, into the place designed for their death. — At The Royal Palace of Thule – The Werewolves Territory “Adel Alf Wyatt!” A stern, loud voice, followed by a rough jerk and push, made the fifteen-year old boy stumble down on the floor. Shivering and crying. Topping his stick with force, creating a loud warning, the old alpha looked threateningly at the child. His silence angered him further. Another snap and shrilling scream followed by another one, Adel had been stricken with his routinely counted - twentieth whip, one after another. The rope laced with glass pierced through his back skin and muscles. He slumped down farther, almost passing out. His grandfather reached his slumping, trembling body and stomped on his hand with his left foot. “You must engrave it in your soul and existence, that you Adel, must become my successor.” Crushing Adels’hand, making him squirm in pain trying to release from his grandfather’s grip. “You must strike a deal with humans and establish an empire –a place, an identity for all werewolves to exist.” A few of his bones cracked - making the only sound that could be heard in that large, privy chamber. “And remember. You must protect Lilliana De Alf with your life.” Loud gasping, surrounded the two guards and the monarch himself, signalling the near coming death of Adel. And with one raise of his hand, Adel was carried to the royal physician, made to enter sleep for the next two years. — Imperial Calendar: 1173 It had been more than a year, Judith now in her restlessness had started wandering around the baron’s territory. Picking up some herbs from places and roaming around the dark forest. Though she had been warned each time, she could not help but leave that castle whenever she could. She had gained quite a few survival skills. Except for the dark, thick and heavy fog surrounding these lands, she found nothing strange, but only her. The rest of the people suffered greatly whenever she left them alone. Claiming they remained safe with her around, perhaps because of her divine energy. Just recently, she had gained a new piece of information. Right around the east border this territory was another completely strange place, covered with heavy hallucination spells. She had decided to cross that spell to see what lies on the other side. Now that she had been cut off from the whole world, the only information remained was of the places where currently werewolves resided. And this place was completely unknown. Filling her bottle completely from the river, she buckled up her things and slapped her face. “Yush. Judith let us go.” Throwing her fist into the air, she made her way near the spell barrier. Last time she came here with Bill, her guard. Who was thrown feet away by a mere touch of this spell. But surprisingly, she and him had touched it at the same time and her hand had gone through. Which she kept a secret. Again after a deep inhale, she placed her hand lightly and pushed through very slowly. Moving through a haze of fog, that seemed to go on and on… to a sudden clear sky. A very beautifull territory came into view. Holding her breath in, she completely stepped out the barrier. Entering a clear, bustling and breathtaking territory. Her eyes traced the people walking around the streets going about their chores. A giggle escaped her lips. The market was bustling with customers, excited she put one hand over her heart, her mouth slightly open in awe. Her eyes traced each small cottage, home, followed by mansions, gardens, palaces and a large castle standing on top of the hill - large enough to 1/3rd of human territory. She grabbed a nearby wall, her eyes still on the grand structure. She stood in utter shock. Then finally took in a long inhale. Her heart beat fastened with excitement and she did a little jump dance in circles, by the entrance, clasping her hands. She had entered a very well-developed and beautiful territory, unbeknown to the world. Like a hidden treasure. Just when she had decided to start her adventure around the area, a few men in uniforms came to her. The headquarters had been informed of a trespasser who had come without a pass or an invitation… An elf had entered their territory after a thousand years… the second ever to enter, after the one who cursed the rest of their land and the great dragon… Grabbing her firmly from both her shoulders. They shackled her wrists. Just then the man, seemingly their head said without looking at her. “Arrest the trespasser and make her the subject of public punishment!” He had been inspecting the area, rather than interrogating the trespasser. He was sure the knights would take care of it. And most of all, he did not feel like looking at that dirty elfs’ descendant. Judiths’ heart drop. Suddenly fear had taken over. “How do you think he entered?” He asked the mage that had come for barrier inspection. “Shocks me, honestly. There is not a single scratch. Like the great mage had made this barrier with this person as sole exception.” “What nonsense are you spouting?” Kael remarked, angrily. “You are glaring at me like I have finally lost my mind.” Noah replied and sighs as he shook his head. “Look clearly for yourself, you idiotic, self-centered chamberline.” Noah shot back, and gestured toward the core of the barrier. “It shows no signs of disturbance at all. Do you realize what this means?” Noah looked at Kael, with a questioning gaze. Like he was looking at the world's dumbest person. Just then it clicked to him. “The barrier was not breached… It opened?” Kael whispered questioningly while tilting his head to the side. “Huhh, finally some common sense!” Noah retorted and passed a half smile. “The barrier greeted and welcomed the guest, same as the great dragon.” Noah further explained and stopped before saying anything else and looked at the ground, he looked like he was unsure of whether he should say something further. Just when out of frustration Kael decided to force him to speak, Noah looked up abruptly. Noah wanted to refrain, he knew he should but not before making sure a little. “Are you sure your knights can handle this one? Better go check out…” Noah pushed Kael as he waved his hand and went off in a hurry. “Wait!” The Grand Chamberlain shouted but he was already gone. “That damn…” Cursing him under his breath, he glanced at the core once again briefly, before going to where the knights were. Gabriel, upon seeing their captain, walked up to him and greeted. As they started walking together back towards the carriage, Gabriel informed him that they had located the trespasser and had put her in confinement. “Her?” The Grand Chamberlain questioned with his one eyebrow raised. “Yes. But captain…” Gabriel was cut short in between by Kael. “Wow, just wow.” Leaving out a frustrating exhale. “First an elf woman came to put us under this damn curse, and NOW the other elf woman came after a thousand years to put us under another curse?!” He was fuming with anger by the time they reached the carriage they had confined her in. “But my capta…” “Enough Gabriel!” Once again Kael refused to listen and went straight to the knights. “Arrest the trespasser and make her the subject of public punishment!” Kael shouted expecting the knights to respond with enthusiasm and zeal. But they all left out long exhales and looked around. Looking dumb and awkward. “MY LORD SHE IS A CHILD, ROUGHLY AROUND SEVENTEEN!” This time Gabriel stated from the front. And moved his head from side-to-side before placing his forehead in his left palm. Judith, who had been escorted to one of the chambers in the main castle, in the state of blindfoldedness and manacled, was made to sit on one of the chairs before being left alone by the knights. They had all become quite awkward, for this was their first time taking a child in for such a big crime. And such a weak but elf child at that. “Do you think her arms and wrist will snap if we leave them like this?” One of the knights passed the question to the other knight. “I think her face will be bruised by that tight cloth…” Another stated. “Oh… I think her ankle is already broken!” Another one exclaimed in a horrified voice. And all other present panicked as well. “W-what do you mean!” Almost all whispered at once. Taking in a long breath. The knight replied: “I saw her stumble!” “She was jerked off the carriage…” Gasps filled the hallway. “Oh my gosh!” “Who dares hurt a child!” Damon questioned. “I promise it was not me!” Albert proclaimed, scared –The one who had informed them of her ankle injury. “L-let us go, bring the grand chamberlain and the royal physician.” “Y-yeah.” “Let us hurry! She must be in pain.” “Oh my poor child!” They murmured and whispered all the way down the hallway as they left. Just then Judith’s blindfold came off. Revealing a magnificent but unknown chamber. She tried twisting her hands out of the cuffs but they were magic cuffs that could only be taken off by the one who put them on. Her heartbeat started increasing with each passing second, her breath became unsteady and frantic. The more she stayed and looked around, the more she lost her senses. Leading to panic and blurred vision. She was having a panic attack. Without thinking another thought, she rushed toward the door and slammed her body against it, resulting in falling out in the hallway, down on the floor with impact, injuring her shoulder and back badly. But getting up just as fast, she sprinted past the chambers and corridors, to gardens and other places, looking around, her eyes searching for an abandoned, secluded place where no one would look for her. Where no one will even think of searching for her. All the while whispering: “I have to go back to them… They will die.” Short on breath, her chest had started hurting and she was nearing a passout. When she noticed another barrier in the far off side of the place. Her throat had gone dry making it harder for her to swallow her saliva. From afar, shouting and noises had begun, signalling that they had found out about her escape. Without another second, in her frenzy she jumped at the barrier. A loud piercing scream shook the surroundings and the knights froze near that palace. Their eyes wide open and their bodies paralyzed with horror. They all dashed towards the great dragon’s palace, cursing under their breaths. Their hands trembling with fear, fear of seeing a body in a horrifying state of just a seventeen year old child. Tears slipped and fell on their cheeks. Making each passing moment harder and shorter. “I should never have left her alone.” Each mumbling their own regret.