An Fae Arrangement

Chapter 2

My panted breaths was all that was heard for the first 10 minutes of my race into the forest, I stopped at an opening taking in one last look at my city before turning and sprinting further into the depths of the forest.

I was never allowed near the forest, the creatures and other fae that lurked within weren’t of the friendly kind. My father had told me to never seek out the forest as those who lurk within are those of the demon gods. However my mate was somewhere through this forest nestled in a hidden sanctuary and I was determined to find him. I had no true plan on where I was going or how I was going to navigate where I wanted to be. All I knew was that I needed to continue straight ahead, demanding the bond guide me towards my mate.

A low howling in the distance made a shiver dance down my spine, wolves were not the friendly kind when it came to fae. The long feud between clans also happened around 50 years ago, but whatever the story may be I have no clue as my father forbid to talk about it. The fire within his eyes prominent whenever the subject is mentioned. I knew I needed to find some shelter before nightfall, roaming further and further into the forest I heard a distant snap of a stick. This made my senses become aware that I was not alone. Frozen I glanced round, checking everything that I could see with the naked eye. Nothing and nobody around. “Who’s there?” I called into the distance. Silence was all that I was met with. Sheepishly I continued forward making myself now alert to my surroundings. I felt very vulnerable and knew I needed to find shelter to divert whatever it was that was following me. After a couple of minutes I heard another twig snap. This allowed me to once again become frozen in place. Fear wrapping my whole body.

Unsure I climbed up a tree and perched myself high enough so that I could have a good visual around. I waited for 5 minutes before a wolf emerged. It’s silver fur swaying in the winds, its piercing blue eyes searching for something.. me, it’s nose sniffing desperately trying to find the trail I’d left after climbing the tree. The wolf looked around not understanding where I’d disappeared too. Begging its nose to pick back up on the scent I’d left below. Hungrily the wolf moved further north towards the direction in which I’d be travelling, I stayed up in the tree until the wolf was out of sight and when I was sure the wolf wasn’t with its pack. Slowly climbing down, I decided after this encounter I’d start heading east to ensure I didn’t bump back into this wolf. After around 2 hours, I felt the bond twinge again, I was near a stream, deep in the forest that was nestled with a small water pool at the end. Sitting there I ensured nothing else was around whilst I sat back and relaxed into the bond. The visions came again, this time much more clearer. The dark enduring man I’d seen was muscular in build, he didn’t seem young but didn’t seem old. His dark wings, tame across his back. He was now in a forest, seeking something.. could he be also seeking me? I heard a distinctive howl and seen the man face the grey wolf I’d encountered earlier. The wolf had found my mate. Shocked I jumped out of the vision. Allowing myself to become conscious of where I had nestled. I had headed in a complete different direction and been side tracked from my mate due to fear of being discovered by the wolf. Anger embodied me. How could I have allowed fear to side track me?

Nightfall wasn’t far behind I had to make a decision, I could dash backwards and return to the route I quested before in order to meet my mate, or find shelter for the night and head towards the way I previously came at the crack of dawn. Weighing my options I knew with nightfall not too far behind I needed to start looking for some shelter, following the pool for another half a mile, there was a small cave that only went in around 5km, I decided this would be the best place to stay for the night. Peering inside I noticed nothing and nobody was in this cave, I decided to take out my sleeping bag which I crammed inside my bag as part of my essentials when I ran away. Placing is on the damp ground, cold contained me. Lying there was the first time I’d be allowed to truly think about what I’d done.

55 years of war was about to end due to my marriage and I’d ran away from it. I couldn’t even grace my people with peace at the fear of marrying a King I’d never met or never love. Sadness filled my heart, knowing how much I’d let my mother down, how much I’d let my father and my people down. How this King would potentially punish my parents for my act of selfishness. I’d truly left them to face the consequences of my own actions and not even given them a reason or even explanation. I’d just ran away, ran from my responsibilities and my duty in order to seek out my true mate. Perhaps my purpose was more than to marry a King, perhaps I’d be able to seek a different kind of arrangement in order to keep peace between our two villages. Thoughts filled my mind, keeping me half awake and alert. I was alone in a forest only now reflecting on my own actions and thinking what if I made the wrong choice. Overwhelming scenarios played over in my mind, before allowing myself to settle a little into a light slumber, the sounds of flowing water from the pool escorting me to a place of serenity.