Back to the Royal Capital

She remembered her brother Vandrel mentioning the kidnapping of fairies and elves. As we continued our journey through the forest, the weight of the situation pressed down on me more with every step. My mind raced, replaying every fragment of what we had discovered. The elves and fairies—captured by humans, hidden away for reasons we could only guess at. Vandrel's words echoed in my mind: The kidnapping of fairies and elves has been happening for years.

His words carried a weight that made my chest tighten. The disappearance of the Fairy Queen, a figure central to the balance of the Enchanted Forest, was troubling enough, but it was my past actions that haunted me now. When I had been crown princess, I had never bothered to look for the details. I had been blind to the suffering of those beyond the palace walls, too absorbed in my own world of politics and royal duties. And now, it felt like too much had already been lost because I had ignored the warnings. The guilt gnawed at me.

I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was a personal mission for me now, one that I couldn’t leave unfinished.

We reached a fork in the path, and the towering trees cast long shadows as the evening light dimmed. Hecate, Magnus, and Elara were discussing the next steps, but I could hardly focus. My thoughts kept returning to the royal capital. If humans were behind the kidnappings, then perhaps they were not far from the truth—or the source of the plot itself.

I stopped walking and turned to Hecate, my resolve firming in my chest. "Hecate," I called out, my voice steady. The group halted and turned to face me.

Her piercing gaze locked with mine, and I felt the weight of her judgment. "Yes, Valkyrie?" she asked, her tone measured.

"I need to go back to the royal capital," I said, my voice resolute. "I believe the answers lie there. If I can get close to the heart of the kingdom, I may be able to uncover who is behind this—who is orchestrating the kidnappings."

Hecate’s expression shifted from neutral to serious. "Valkyrie," she began slowly, her voice thick with concern, "You are no longer the crown princess. You are no longer part of the royal capital. You belong to the Enchanted Forest now, as one of us. The capital is not a place for someone of your... former status."

I winced, the truth of her words cutting deeper than I had anticipated. But I had to push forward, the guilt for my past actions weighing heavily on me.

"I... I was once the crown princess of the royal capital," I said, my voice wavering for a brief moment as the truth hit me again. "But I was blind to the suffering of the fairies and elves. My people did terrible things, things I didn’t see or understand, and now it’s too late to ignore. My conscience won’t let me forget it. It haunts me every day."

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "I can’t just walk away from this. I have to make it right. I can’t undo the past, but I can stop this from continuing. My Queen, please... let me go. This is my fight now."

I looked at her, pleading silently with my eyes. I had to do this, not just for the forest, but for the wrongs I had once been blind to.

There was a long pause as Hecate studied me, her gaze cold and calculating. She had always been cautious with her decisions, and I knew this was no different. Finally, she spoke.

"Your fight?" Hecate's voice cut through the air, sharp and laced with reproach. "No, Valkyrie. You are no longer the crown princess. You have shed that title, that life. You are a witch now. Your duty lies here, with the Enchanted Forest. Not with the royal capital."

Her words hit me like a cold wave. I had known she would hesitate. I had known it would be hard to convince her. But there was something I needed to do, something I couldn’t leave unfinished.

Before I could respond, I felt a presence beside me. Magnus stepped forward, his usual gruffness softened by the seriousness of the situation. "You're not alone in this," he said, his voice firm. "You think you're fighting this alone, but you're not. You don't have to carry this burden on your own."

I looked at Magnus, trying to understand why he would agree to this. "Going to the place where humans live... it’s not like you," I said, my voice edged with doubt. "You hate humans, just like everyone else here."

Elara’s soft voice joined in, her calm demeanor masking her concern. "Magnus is right. You’ve always fought alone, Valkyrie, but this time we stand with you."

Elara, on the other hand, didn’t share the same view. It was her foster human parents who had raised her, and she had always believed in the goodness of some humans.

Magnus paused for a moment, his gaze steady as he looked at Valkyrie. "Look, I get it," he said, his voice carrying a hint of uncharacteristic softness. "But let's not forget—this isn't just some personal vendetta. This is a mission, and protecting the Enchanted Forest is our duty. It's bigger than any of us, and it's a responsibility we can't ignore. If we're going to confront what's ahead, we need to stay focused on that, no matter how much we want to do this for the fairies, the elves, or for ourselves."

I turned to face Magnus and Elara, and found myself reassured by the unshaken resolve in their eyes. Despite their doubts, despite their disagreements with my choices, they were with me. The risks ahead were daunting, but their unwavering support, in spite of everything, was the anchor I needed. It gave me strength I hadn't realized I was missing.

Hecate, watching us silently, exhaled sharply and then gave a slow, deliberate nod. Her gaze was piercing, but something softer flickered behind her usual sternness.

"You are determined, Valkyrie," she said, her tone quiet but firm. "And you’ve found allies in this. But remember, the road ahead won’t be an easy one. The royal capital is a place of shadows and secrets, and it will reveal truths that may be too much to bear. Be ready for whatever you might uncover there."

"I will," I replied, my voice resolute, and I meant it with every fiber of my being. "I’ll find them. I’ll save them. The elves, the fairies... and the forest."

Hecate’s gaze softened slightly, but her voice remained firm. "Then go. But stick together. No matter what, don’t let go of each other. This journey will test you in ways you can't even imagine."

With a final glance at Magnus and Elara, I turned away from Hecate and the forest, the path ahead stretching out before me. The weight of the task ahead was immense, but I no longer felt the crushing burden of loneliness. With my allies at my side, I was ready to face whatever the royal capital had in store. We would uncover its secrets together—and we would fight for the Enchanted Forest, no matter the cost.