Prince Enric had escaped through the east gate, and as soon as he could, he headed north in hope that Elizabeth would do the same because it was clear to him that they had to come from the east... from the Wall of Sorrow.
The Prince waded across the river and continued all day long, without a break to the north.
It was getting dark as the prince reached the forest. "I'll set up a fire here," he said to himself and started with gathering branches in the forest. After throwing the branches into the pile, he saw a pair of slender long trees. "Hmm... I might even cut them down with a dagger." He drew his dagger and stretched out as he heard someone draw the bowstring of his bow.
"One more move and you'll die, human," was heard from the shadow. The prince dropped his dagger and turned slowly. There was a tall, slim girl with dark blueish hair.
"This is how you treat your future Emperor?" Enric asked.
"Hah, you are the Emperor? You seem to barely lift the sword, and even if you were an Emperor now, I'll kill you if you touch our sacred trees," the girl laughed.
"I had no intention of destroying... your sacred trees, girl, I'm just looking for a temporary shelter," prince Enric replied.
"Hmm... If you belong to that famous human race, why aren't you there with them?"
"You're not...?"
"Human? Haha, of course, we have nothing to do with that pathetic all-destroying race. I'm an elf."
"You are an elf?"
"Sure, what are you wondering about? Did you imagine some blue-green monster with long brows and pointy ears? A typical human... But to the point, what are you hiding from? "
"Have you ever heard of... the Dark Ones?"
"Everyone heard the tale," the girl laughed.
"They murdered my guard and chased me away."
"What? And are you sure... "
"Tall guys, with grey ash skin, massive black armour..."
"This can't be true... Come with me!" the girl turned and ran at the speed of a flying arrow. The Prince tried hard to catch up with her.
They ran into a shaded glade, in its centre was a large tree. In front of him stood a man in a grey-blue cloak. The girl knelt and leaned against the bow, the prince fell to the ground due to exhaustion.
"What is this joke, Silvia?" the man in the cloak asked as more elves began to appear around them.
When Prince Enric opened his eyes there was a large group of cloaked elves around him. He heard only humming in his ears from exhaustion, unable to understand a word about what the girl and the man were talking about. As he slowly began to rise from the ground, everyone turned to him.
"What are you?" the man in the grey-blue cloak asked with unfriendly tone.
"I am prince Enric, the future Emperor of the Empire... I'm just passing through here you know," nervously answered the prince, while he felt their suspicious looks right on him.
"Is it true that you met the Dark Ones?"
"Well, it wasn't really friendly meeting Mr... elf."
"I am Anduil, the ruler of the southern Ashnaton Forest, or the southern territory of the Ashnaton Forest, as someone of your kind would have said."
"South... eh... Damn, I thought we'd be at least north with the speed we were running," Enric said breathlessly.
"Watch your tongue in front of the forest lord, human!" one of the elves shouted on Enric.
"Ah, sorry, back to your question, Mr Forest... The Dark Ones attacked the castle where I was and killed my guard, I was forced to escape in this direction. I must get to Gregorian and warn the inhabitants of the Empire."
"So the Dark Ones are real. Luckily, their anger will be pointed only on the human race," Anduil said.
"What... you won't help me against the Dark Ones?" Enric asked.
"Hah, and why should we? Our races have only a fragile truce, we are not part of your Empire."
"If the Empire falls, you will be next, and the Dark Ones will dominate the world!" Enric objected.
"Do you dare to intimidate us, human worm? The forest itself will protect us from them. Silvia, take our guest away..."
“But, my lord, what if he is right? Even the forest will not protect us from their strength, we should..."
"No more, Silvia Wildshadow. I've done talking. The elves will never fight alongside humans, and neither will you, take him away before I change my mind." Anduil finished, and Silvia led Enric away.
"I... thank you for defending me. You're not like them," gratefully, and a little thoughtfully, said Enric.
"What do you mean?" Silvia asked nervously.
"Well, all the skinny, sad faces, and you're more... you look more vivid."
Silvia was slim, but the other elves were like a shadow against her, their faces thin, and their cheekbones visible, while Silvia's cheeks were meatier than the others.
"You mean I'm fat against the others?" Silvia frowned.
"No, I just wanted to say you remind me of... human."
Silvia didn't answer anything, just walked to the edge of the forest. "This is the western edge of the forest, head west, there is a human village belonging to the Green Grove. Then you can try your luck in the north, in the Thunder Hills, the home of the dwarves, maybe they will help you. Goodbye, human. "
Enric studied the area for a moment, then walked slowly. Silvia stopped. "Wait!" she shouted at Enric. “You'd lose yourself anyway. I will go with you."
"But didn't the king or lord of the forest say you can't?"
“He has nothing to command me. There's nothing holding me here, I'm going with you."
And so Prince Enric and Silvia headed west.
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