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The Hidden Forest
The Tale of the Crown and the Sword

A Beginning
adapted from a story by Pierre Berton


Long time ago, when imps, pixies and faeries were real, there was a land ruled like all lands by a king. In this land, there were many towns. On the outskirts of one such town lived a potato farmer and his family. The farmer had two children, Marcus and Lucy. His land bordered on a swamp and a large isolated forest. His children, like all children, loved to play in the swamp when their daily chores were done. But their father forbid them to enter or play around the majestic forest.

‘Tis enchantment in there. I’ve seen the good folk dancing under those trees. I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a door inside the forest, leading to their lands. Remember when Apple’s bairn was stolen from her cradle? There’s something mysterious about that wood and I want neither of you in there.’ And Lucy and Marcus, like all good children, obeyed their father.

Many years past. Soon Marcus, the elder of the two, was becoming a likeable young man and Lucy was a wild tom-boy. Some whispered that Lucy was a changeling, a faerie-child exchanged at the cradle with a human child. Both of her parents had dark, almost black hair and tanned skin; Lucy had blonde, nearly white hair and a very fair complexion. Her brother was equally unusual. Marcus had red hair and ruddy cheeks. He loved to ride horseback and had an unconscious sense of command. Once, somebody had called him a Lord. He also loved to explore and he secretly yearned to discover what was so strange about the forest.

One day, the farmer and his wife went to town to sell their potatoes.

“Marcus, I’m leaving you in charge of the farm until I come back. We should be home by the seventh moon’s rising. There’s food in the larder. Take care, son.”

The anxious parents wheeled slowly away towards town. Marcus looked at the dark trees. I’ll conquer you, he swore softly, I’ll conquer you just as those people -what were they called? Ah, yes- the Romans conquered the great lands to the east.

For the next few days, Marcus and Lucy worked in the fields just as their father had expected them to do. After a day of long, hard work, they sat contented, stuffed from a rare meal, rabbit stew. As they sat pulling tiny chunks of meat from between their teeth, Lucy suddenly stood up.

“What? What is it?”

“Look at the blue light flickering in the forest.” Lucy whispered through her teeth, “It must be the fair folk dancing with their torches lit.”

“Let’s go closer and investigate.” Marcus leaped up. “Haven’t you ever wondered why Father forbid us to go near it?”

Lucy nodded. “Yes, but it’s probably for our own good.”

“Well, I have always wanted to explore the forest and we will never get a better chance than tonight.”

“Marcus, if we explore it, shouldn’t it be in daylight? I don’t want to sound like a sissy or a coward, but when I was little, I used to see shadows...”

“There,” Marcus exclaimed. “That’s why we must do it tonight, so the little people don’t see us. Besides, something or someone is compelling me to go in there. And if you don’t go with me, I’ll go alone. I’ll hold your hand so we won’t get lost and I’ll protect you, little sister.”

She sighed. “Ok, let’s go now before my mind realises what a stupid and crazy thing I’m doing.” He grabbed her hand and they ran off into the darkness towards the glowing wood.


“Marcus, I don’t know. I don’t like this.” Lucy whispered as the sun dipped into the shadowy hills.

“Oh, Lucy! Don’t be so superstitious! There must be a reasonable answer. If you are that scared, stay out here. I’m not taking a hysterical woman with me.”

He turned his head, began to walk and silently dared her to go into the hidden forest, or so his parents called it. Lucy ran after him, muttering under her breath, ‘Hysterical woman indeed!” She called out.

“Hey Marcus, you’re not going in there alone. I won’t give you the pleasure of being the first person to enter and leave the hidden forest and discover its secret. Count me in, bro.”

She smiled and he smiled back. By now they had reached the outskirts of the forest. The sun was setting behind them and their shadows dragged long before them. Suddenly their shadows detached and slowly drifted upward, in front of them.

“What?” Marcus walked around his shadow as it floated above the ground.

“Marcus, it’s clear we’re not wanted. Let’s go home.” She looked around nervously.

“No. I’m not going home without my shadow and I’m going to get to the bottom of this mystery now!” With that, he jumped into his shadow and both Marcus and his shadow disappeared.


Memories Lost In Shadows

“Oh, my!” Lucy cried. Her shadow stood waiting silently. She clenched her fists.

“I won’t leave him alone in there,” she said, “But what has him and what is that?” Her eyes moved to the menacing dark wood. “He wouldn’t leave me alone, so I won’t leave him alone either.” She looked around for the last time. “Good-bye Mom and Dad, I love you.”

She took a deep breath and turned to face her shadow, drifting slightly above the ground. She again stood indecisively, fear wavering her decision. She shook it off. “I do what I must,” and lightly touched the dark gray shade of herself as her favourite leather bracelet fell off her wrist.


She was falling, falling fast yet slowly down an endless tunnel of night. “Marcus!” She cried in her mind. “Where are you when I need you!” She finally managed after what seemed a long time to turn, like a cat in mid-air, to see where see was going. It was all black, all dark except for a dim pin point of light in the centre. The point of light was slowly growing bigger. A faint alarm came into her head. “What shall happen when I hit the ground?” She tried to think of Marcus, of her parents, but all she could see was a faint outline of their faces. This time, she screamed. Time seemed to have stopped. She was lost in her own thoughts. She couldn’t remember! She couldn’t remember her house, her family, or even their cat. She could only vaguely remember them, a memory of a memory. It all seemed to her very long ago and far away. “Why can’t I remember?” Lucy didn’t see the spark of light growing larger and larger. It was not until she hit the ground did she notice the dark tunnel had ended.

“Ouch! Hey, ...Oh!”

The land around her was filled with golden delights. All the trees around her were golden and they twinkled and tinkled in the soft breeze like wind chimes. The grass was gold also but it seemed as bendable as normal grass. Everything was gold, even the clouds and the birds. At first, it gave her delight and pleasure to look at and feel, but after awhile she yearned for a green tree, a brown field, or a blue sky. She sighed and reminded herself that she wasn’t permanently staying here, only until she could find her brother. Brother, that reminded her of something she hadn’t seen yet. People. Where were all the people? She wondered. The fields she had past by were harvested and well taken care of, but she had seen no sign of people. No houses, no horses, no children or toys; nothing. And no sign of Marcus either. She shivered. What if there is no way home? What if Marcus isn’t here, but somewhere else?


Marcus was descending down a dark tunnel like the one Lucy was about to; not the exact one, it just looked the same. He tried to control his fear, not to scream or cry out loud, but he only ended up covering his face with his hands. “What have I got myself into?” He murmured softly. He counted to a hundred in desperate hope that this was all a dream, but he knew deep in his heart that it wasn’t and he might well never see his parents, their home and Lucy ever again. Lucy. His heart beated rapidly. Lucy would grab hold of her shadow to try to save him. “What have I gotten ourselves into?” He groaned. Just then, he saw a flicker of red light below his feet, like a fallen star flickering in a pool of water. He turned around and reached for it, a child being offered a piece of candy, a piece of hope, afraid that it might disappear if he didn’t grab it now. The expression on his face was somewhere between fear and happiness, half-crazed. Lines of worry were etched on his forehead, a grin upon his lips and in his eyes, a look of madness. He thought sarcastically, at least now we’re going somewhere.


The Light and The Darkness

Lucy finally came upon a yellow road just as the sun was falling behind the mountains. A bright moon rose, much brighter than her own world’s moon, and her stomach growled hungrily, ready to devour anything. She noticed some trees had fruit that looked a lot like apples and they didn’t seem poisonous or anything, so she ate one and put a couple in her pockets. She continued to walk on the road until Lucy was so exhausted she could hardly move. She dragged herself off the road to lie down behind some bushes. She fell into such a deep sleep that she never felt the two figures picking her up and carrying her away.


Marcus stood up from where he had fallen and surveyed the land. Red, roaring red, everywhere! To the east, mountains half-covered by red mist. To the north, a ruby running river and long, straight plains. To the west, a crashing ocean of red cloth. When he looked to the south, he saw a castle. Ruinous looking yet proud, it stood defiantly on a cliff. He felt a sense of homecoming, a sense of belonging, something he had never felt before. As a young boy, he had dreamed he was really the son of a king, an heir to a throne of riches. He had really never fit in with the local boys nor was he ever meant to be a potato farmer. Now his dream had come true and he was King of the Red Land, or soon to be. The new, wicked side of him laughed with greed.


When Lucy awoke, she found out very quickly that she wasn’t where she had fallen asleep last night. She was in a cavern on a soft bed of grass and blankets. There was a small table beside the bed and on it was a bowl of something mushy-looking, but it smelt good. She reached out to grab it and it was only then that she realised just how tired she really was.

“Little one, you shouldn’t do that yet. You’re too weak. Keep lying down and we’ll feed you.”

“Who are you?” She struggled to sit up. “Where am I?”

Two people popped into view. Their clothes were a shining gold, even their skin seemed to be golden. They looked human enough, one a man, the other a woman. They looked about in their early twenties, yet they seemed old and worn. The woman spoke.

“You are in Faeriebarrow, the underground city and the last city of the Galande, the people of the Golden Land. My name is Galea and my brother is Kylere. We found you last night just south of the Dragongold Mountains near the Old Road. What were you doing there? Don’t you know how dangerous that is? Were you lost or something? You’re lucky...” Kylere interrupted.

“Galea, we were sent to take care of her, not to question her. Whatever brought her so near to the mountains is, I guess, personal or she wouldn’t have been outside. Am I right?”

Lucy nodded her head, too tired to say anything more. Galea suddenly put on a mothering air.

“Look how tired she still is! Well, let’s get this food into you now. I brought with me some juice to help you go to sleep, but it hardly looks like you need it! Kylere, sit her up properly, will you? We can’t feed her if she’s lying half-down. Don’t do anything, sweetheart. Just swallow. Yes, that’s better. This afternoon you’ll see the Elder and he’ll question you for a long time, so you better sleep now or else...”

Kylere slipped away silently as Galea chatted on. Eventually Lucy fell away into the land of dreams as Galea talked on and on.


Marcus walked through the silent courtyard, making mental notes to fix this and that.
,br>“Prince Marcus, oh Prince Marcus, we’ve waited so long for you to come back. Did you hear about your father’s death? But that doesn’t matter now, you’re here. Oh, how I’ve missed you!”

He turned around to see a young woman running to him across the courtyard. She had a ruby tiara upon her head and a dress that seemed dyed in blood. Her hair was a furious red, like his own. She kissed him lightly on the cheek. He blushed. She laughed.

“Oh brother, you have not changed!” Then she looked at his clothes. “Bah, you wear the colours of those, those renegades, traitors of that multi-coloured world! A Prince of Rimbelt wearing brown? The colour of the now-extinct Garbelts? Hah! What kind of king is Prince Marcus to be? A traitor of his own land, of his own people?” She turned her head in disgust.

“Selena, in a world of multi-colourization, I can’t only wear my royal reds! There is a saying there: when in Rome, do what the Romans do.”

Selena turned around to face him and accepted his apology.

“You’re right; you always are. I shouldn’t have accused you of those things. It’s just those Galande,” she spat, “They get me so mad! Chief-General Zarcus says they’re all dead, but I don’t think so.”

She lead him to the tailors for a new wardrobe. In the back of his mind, warning signals went up. Where did he get the name Selena from? How did she know his name? Was he really a prince, soon to be a king? And how could he say those cruel things about his world and its people? His darker side just laughed louder.


Lucy rolled slowly to one side and opened her eyes sleepily. Galea was dozing in a large chair.

“What time is it?” She wondered out loud to the ceiling. Her stomach growled back, time to eat!

“Galea, wake up! Galea!” She shook Galea’s arm.

“Huh? What? Oh, it’s you, whatever your name is.”

“My name is Lucy.”

“Lucy? That doesn’t sound like a Galande name. Well, anyway, we have to get you all clean and nice and feed you. I think you’ll want some new clothes. Yours have nasty brown stains on them.”

Lucy noticed for the first time that her brown rough work clothes had yellow pollen and dew from the plants all over them, making them look like they were originally golden with now ugly brown spots on them.

Galea washed and scrubbed Lucy clean, brushed and tied her hair back, and dressed her in a golden uniform.

“There! Now you look like the proper Galande you are!” Galea stood and admired her handiwork. Lucy wanted to tell her the truth, to tell her she was no Galande, only a little lost farm girl looking for her equally lost brother, or so she supposed. A cheerful voice broke her thoughts.

“Ah Galea! I just came around to see if you two are awake and dressed yet. Doesn’t she look nice, now that she’s been washed up? Come on little one, you’re going to meet the Elder today!”

And all three, Galea, Kylere and Lucy, in the middle, left the cave to go see the mystical Elder of the Galande.


Marcus sat down in the poppy-red throne room. All eyes and ears of his ‘advisors’ were on him. He coughed.

“Advisors and representatives of the people of Rimbelt! A dangerous rumour has come to my ears. The Galande, the people of the Golden Land, our eternal enemies, still remain! Last night, some of the spies of my dearly loved father saw two people carrying a third. They were not our people. They wore gold clothes. And most disgusting of all, they boldly walked on the great road under the light of the moon, the road our ancestors built! Chief-General Zarcus had assured me that all of the Galande were slain. What do you think, people of Rimbelt? Should we wait or should we attack?”

All the people talked loudly to each other. Suddenly, their spokesman stood up.

“To war, our prince. We truly thought that all of the Galande had perished. They are too dangerous. Forgive us, Lord of Escarlet, the great city of we, the Rimbelt.” Marcus stood up.

“So shall it be. Let all men prepare their arms. To war, to war we go!”

All the people cheered. Marcus turned to Selena, who was sitting quietly beside him.

“Brother, do me a favour?”

“What?”

“Bring me the head of the Elder of Galande, slain by your own sword. Let his head show that traitors are not loved.” A blood-thirsty grin was on her face.

“That I will do, my sister.”

“Thank you.” She rose and left the room.

Marcus sat down again, confused by his contradicting feelings. Half of him said, ‘Find Lucy and get out of here’. But the other half, the dark half that was now the strongest said, ‘Bother Lucy. You’re Prince Marcus, heir to the throne of Rimbelt, Lord of Escarlet, the capital city of the Empire of Rimbelt. What happened before doesn’t count. You’re now Prince Marcus, no, King Marcus of Rimbelt, leading a country into war.’ This thrilled him, but he was beginning to fear that hidden half of his mind that had been brought forward by the power of the hidden forest.


Answers For Lucy

Lucy gazed in wonder at the tall sturdy buildings they were passing. Did the Galande really build them? It looked like a giant had been playing with blocks, the buildings were so misplaced. She asked Kylere, who she was beginning to favour over Galea, and his answer surprised her.

“The city was designed this way to keep out invaders. I think the old ones overstepped it, in my opinion. Both friend and foe get lost in the maze of Faeriebarrow. Look, we’re just about there. See the highest roof? That’s Faerieheart, home of all Galande and of the Elder. We can’t go any further than the front doors, the Doors of Doom. Brrr! I’m happy you’re going, not me. Legend has it that no man can cross them without being changed forever.”

Galea interrupted him.

“Kylere! You’re not helping in any way. Legends! Bah! Your head is full of those legends! If I see the grass turn green and the sky blue, maybe I’ll believe them, until then, no! Legends!” She shook her head. “You should have become a Bard, not a Ranger. Look Lucy, there’s the doors.”

She pointed to a great set of doors that were firmly shut. Kylere went to a small window beside the doors and spoke with someone. Suddenly and without a sound, the doors opened.

Lucy said Galea in a tiny voice, “What does the Elder want with me?”

Galea’s face softened, a little.

“No one knows why the Elder does the things he does. But he’s very wise and you can trust him absolutely. He can help you with whatever problem you have that drove you to the Dragongold mountains. After all, it was the Elder that sent us out to find you.”

Kylere walked back to them and motioned for Lucy to go in.

She held her head up high and past through the Doors of Doom. They shut silently behind her. Lucy knew there was no way out other than the way she came in. There was only forward, and forward she would go. Besides, this Elder could help her find Marcus and maybe even the way home. In front of her were stairs, leading up. She walked up, totally unsure of herself. But what will he do when I tell him I’m not a Galande? Will he help me still? Why did he want me to come?

Those questions bobbed unanswered through her head as she scaled the staircase. At last, the stairs ended before a wooden door, closed.

Lucy raised her hand to knock, but she froze when she heard a voice from behind the door.

“Come in, child. I was expecting you.”

The voice sounded kind and generous. It melted her fear into curiosity. She opened the door and saw the most brightest gold cloth she had ever seen.

Wearing it was an old, wizened man.

“Sit down. We both need to talk.”


A Question Of Destiny

Marcus sat hesitantly upon his war-horse. He was afraid, yes, he was very afraid. Until now, he had thought somehow that all this was a dream, a fantasy conjured up by his mind, but now he began to slowly realise that this was real. It was truly happening to him. He could actually die, and he had never used a sword before! Other things also bothered him. Who were the Galande? Must he wipe out a whole race of people? He knew nothing about them, save the name and that they wore gold like the Rimbelt wore red. “The Galande, the mysterious people of the Golden Land,” he murmured to himself. Lucy. Where was Lucy? He knew for certain that she wasn’t in Rimbelt. He would have heard about a girl wearing brown clothing instead of red. What is Rimbelt? Where is Rimbelt? Not on his world, which meant this was Faerie, the land of magic. Maybe there was a magic here to take him home. No, replied the dark half, there is no way back, only forward. Only forward. He thought he heard his sister voice. For at that exact moment, Lucy was standing within the sacred Faerieheart, the place where the world was created, and whispering those exact words, wishing for Marcus to come.

He shook out his daze. General Zarcus was beside him.

“Prince Marcus, let us leave before word of your army reaches the filthy ears of the Galande. Let us leave, for Rimbelt.” He rode away.

Marcus rode off behind him. They were going south, south to the Dragongold Mountains which divided the Golden Land from the Red. The dark half was eagerly awaiting the meeting of Marcus and Lucy.


Lucy sat down.

“Welcome Lucy to Galanden, the Golden Land, home to us, the Galande. I know of how you got here, following your brother and you need to know our history and our never-ending war against the Rimbelt. I guess I ought to begin at the beginning.”

Lucy made herself comfortable; she had a feeling that this would be a long talk. He continued.

“All came from the Heart, and many colours of people came and they fought each other. Peace was only made at one place, your world. Eventually, only two major groups of the people remained here, the Red and the Gold. The people of the Red, the Rimbelt wanted to rule and conquer everything and everyone, from a blade of grass to a country. The people of the Gold wanted to preserve the balance and nature of things, so it was only a matter of time before a great war began. Over the years, the Rimbelt have killed off our people. The only Galande left are in Faeriebarrow. The reason the Rimbelt haven’t come over the Dragongold Mountains is fear, I believe. The one thing that they will never admit to is fear. They are afraid that we will attack them. Long ago, a prophecy said that the great war will end when we each admit to our faults. I don’t know what we Galande fault at. Do you?”

Lucy thought for a long time. Finally, she said, “Pride. You and all the Galande I’ve met seem to be as proud as a hen with a new egg.” She blushed and cast her head down. The Elder smiled.

“Truly answered. Yes, that may be true. We pride ourselves on our generosity and honesty. The pride of humility. True heart, just like the prophecy said.”

“Prophecy?” She blinked her eyes in surprise.

“The same prophecy goes on to say, ‘when the two kindred have met again, the two lands will be cleansed of ancient sin’. My fore-father thought it meant when our two people have peace, all trouble will end. Now I see the true meaning. When you and your brother meet, peace will come. Now the Prince of Rimbelt marches his army to invade and conquer Galanden. Our own hope is you, Lucy. You must find your brother and bring peace to our world. I know only this: Your brother is in Rimbelt and is crossing over the Dragongold Mountains with the army. You must meet him in the mountains. I can give only this advice: follow your heart’s direction. I will give you a cloak the colour of the mountain rocks. Go now, you must travel faster than the wind and the Rimbelt Army!”

He looked down at a glowing orb near his right hand and did not speak again.

Lucy excused herself and left the Heart with many things on her mind. Marcus was in Rimbelt? Had he been captured? Was he ok? Galea and Kylere silently joined her and they walked back to the cavern, all with heavy hearts.


Lucy tossed and turned all night in a dream of Marcus crying for her, she running through a throng of people and just as she found him, a black shadow and red soldiers blocked her and then the dream began again, and again, and again, until warm gold hands stopped the cycle and she dreamed of running under trees like a deer. Warm light woke her up at last. Beside the bed was a golden-red cloak and as usual, a bowl of that mushy, yet tasty stuff. She ate quietly, thinking deep, sobering thoughts. When she was little, she could vaguely remember her father going away to war for the King. Fear had tore at her throat. Fear and Pride, Red and Gold, Sun and Moon, Night and Day, Hurting and Healing, separate yet one, free yet tied. She shook her head, puzzled. It was if she knew the answer, but not the question. At length, she got up and put on the cloak. It was softer than the richest silk yet more durable than her work clothes. There was a loud knock, and Galea and Kylere walked in.

“I don’t want to know what he said to you, but we’ve been ordered to take you to the Dragongold Mountains. The Elder must be going senile, sending you there.” Galea said gruffly. Kylere was more optimistic.

“We’ve brought you your supplies. This bag is your bedroll and food,” he pointed to a large, wide bag, “And this one is your emergency medical kit. It’s got bandages, some pills and some creams in case you get poisoned or something.”

Lucy asked them how far the mountains were away from the city. They replied 30 leagues as the bird flies, 35 as the dog runs. They agreed that it would be good to start their journey now. “Let’s go then,” Galea said urgently, “I hate to be outside the city for too long.” Kylere nodded.

“I know what you mean, it’s too dangerous now. By the way, I heard a rumor that the Rimbelt are attacking. Just my luck, to go out while a large regiment is prowling around. Well, it will get worse the longer we stay here, so let’s go now.”

They left Faeriebarrow through paths that seemed unguarded, but she was constantly aware of hidden eyes watching and waiting.


Climbing the Mountains

It took them only two days to reach the stony feet of the Dragongold Mountains. During that time, they seldom spoke and only truly slept a few hours. And finally, they reached the mountains. Kylere and Galea could hardly hide the fear on their faces, but they were too proud to admit to it. Lucy wanted to tell them the reason why they had to go to the mountains, but she knew neither wanted to hear it anyway and after all, it was a private, secret matter. Galea tried to cover her fear by acting sure of herself, but it leaked through.

“Gods, I don’t know why the Elder made you come here, the Rimbelt and everything. Oh Mother Goddess, I dddon’t want to leave you here alone, bbut we must go back to help dddefend the ccity.” Kylere let out a small grin at his sister’s stuttering.

“She always stutters when she’s afraid. Come, sister dear, we’ll go home and remove that cursed stuttering from you. Good bye, Lucy. It was an honour to have met you. Come on, we have red dogs at our feet. Let’s go.” Kylere turned to walk away, but he stopped when Galea refused to move.

“What?”

“We’re leaving that poor child alone against the Reds? No. No one deserves to die alone, without a friend in two days’ walk. I’ve grown fond of that strange child, and, well, I won’t willingly let her die alone, and that’s final.” She crossed her arms.

Kylere shook his head sadly. “I knew you would say that. I knew it. Well, neither will you stand alone with Lucy. And that’s final too.”

She smiled and turned back to face Lucy. “Well, it seems our paths continue to go on together. Where were you going?”

“The Elder told me to go up into the mountains to meet my brother who is lost.”

Kylere and Galea smiled to each other, looking across the years. “We both know what that feels like, eh Kylere?”

“Yes, and we both hope your journey ends the same way ours did.”


Climbing up through the mountains was much easier than what Lucy had ever dreamed it would be. She asked Kylere about this, and he replied, “The Dragongold Mountains were, according to legend, created by the gods. Anyone who wishes not to harm the people on the other side has the grace of the mountains, so to speak, and it is easier for them to pass through the mountains. I myself do not wish harm for the Rimbelt; I merely defend what the Rimbelt would take and conquer. But Galea, my sister, the grim soldier who wishes death upon all the Rimbelt is, as you can see, having a hard time. At night, we must rest for her, if not for us.”

The next day, they saw their first Rimbelt. Kylere saw it first. He pulled them all down to the ground.

“Quiet!” he hissed. “The enemy is below us.” Galea crawled soundless with many years practise over the slope. When she returned, she was almost shaking with rage.

“Blue Lights! There’s a redcoat spy down in that ravine we just past. I’m sure he didn’t see me. No doubt a scout sent to search for our dwellings or any sign of us.”

“Light!” Kylere swore under his breath. “That was close, too close for comfort. Luck was on our side back there. If he had looked up... We can’t count on it again. Let’s stay here tonight, to take them off our trail.”

Galea agreed. “It won’t be any safer ahead or behind, Lucy. Let’s make camp.”

“No,” Lucy said in a strange voice. “We must go on. He’s near, I can feel it. Something’s compelling me to go to that ridge over there.” She pointed to a long, flat plateau with fuzzy things standing straight in the orange sunset. Kylere shuddered.

“That’s the Gods’ Vale. According to the Great Book of History, the Gods lived there until their work here was finished, before they went to the Sky Palace. That forest over there, the Forest of Blood, is supposed to house the legendary Sword of Peace and the Crown of the Galande, encased by the mystic blue light of the gods. Do you understand why we have no ruler of the Galande? Our ruler has yet to come and the one who will wield the Sword of Peace. Maybe you’re the one we’ve waited so long for. Anyway, I don’t want to go near the Forest of Blood, but if you go, then I will too.”

Galea sat down beside Lucy and looked deep within her eyes. After a second, she broke contact. “She means to go Ky, and I will go also. I have seen it in her eyes. The gods call her. This is her destiny. If Kylere, Chief-Commander of the Galande Rangers,” she mocked him with a smile, “refuses to go, it will be kept between us. See how Galea, a mere Ranger, goes where her chief-commander dares not!” From the blush on Kylere’s face, Galea rarely caught him without words. Finally, Kylere stood up.

“Galea, I simply fear what all wise men fear. The power of the gods. Everyone fears the gods’ will. Look at yourself. How long has it been since there was a woman ranger before you? You had the calling and you’ve become one of the most famous rangers of all time. I guess that I’m lucky; they haven’t messed up my life yet. It’s funny because you wanted to become a healer, and...”

Lucy stood up and tapped her foot impatiently. “Are we going or not?”

“Yes, “ Galea replied. “As soon as my bard brother shuts up.”

Kylere opened his mouth, then wisely shut it. About three hours later, they had reached the edge of the forest. A blue light shone beneath the branches of the forest, exactly like the forest near her home.

“Separate, yet one.” Lucy whispered.

“What now, Lucy?” Kylere adverted his eyes from the forest.

“We wait. We wait for my brother, Marcus to come.”

So they set a large bonfire that night.


Reunited In Sorrow

During the past few days, absolutely nothing interesting happened to Marcus. He would get up, eat, ride until his rear was pleading, eat, ride some more, then sleep. The first interesting thing that happened to him was on the fourth day of the mountainous part of their journey. Their progress had been terribly slow, for they wished only death to the Galande. A scout rode towards Marcus in haste.

“Sir, my Lord Marcus. Just as the sun was setting, I saw smoke near a forest up on a plateau, not too far from here. Smoke means people, sir, and I rode straight back to tell us this.”

“Thank you.” He waved his hand in dismissal. He turned to Zarcus.

“I’ll ride up there myself. Old Aarcus could be seeing things and if they didn’t see him, they shouldn’t be any trouble. I’ll go now; they won’t expect a night visitor. I leave you in charge. Farewell.” Marcus heeled his horse off without a further thought.


Lucy. Where was she? She wasn’t in Rimbelt. Could she be in Ga-? No, he reasoned to himself, she couldn’t be. Maybe she had left and gone for Father. Maybe she had ended up somewhere totally different and far away from Rimbelt. Lucy. He missed her. It was strange. Whenever she was around, he wished she would just go away. Whenever she wasn’t around, he wished she was here. Lucy would like Rimbelt, he thought out of the blue. No, Lucy would hate it. She loved normal, pleasant things like birds flying and flowers blooming. He snapped himself out of his reflections on their past life. He was coming towards a forest with a blue light shinning within it like lightning. The hidden forest. And sure enough, there was a fire. Three figures, two tall, one small, sat warming themselves by the fire. Marcus rode up to them.

“Pardon me, fellow travelers, may I share your fire?”

He saw that the two larger people wore gold, while the smaller wore a cloak that was of a reddish-gold. The smaller one looked up at him and cried, “Marcus! Marcus!“ and hugged him.

“Lucy?”

“Oh, Marcus! Soon we’ll be able to go home! Isn’t it great!”

“Yes. It is.” He replied, frowning. “But who are your friends?”

“Oh! This is Kylere and Galea, rangers of Galande. They saved my life.”

Galea acknowledged him with a tilt of an eyebrow and Kylere bowed his head.

“Thanks for saving my sister.” He said to Kylere and Galea. Turning back to Lucy, he said, “I want to hear everything about your trip!”

“Not until you tell me yours.”

“I asked first.”

“I recognised you first.”

“Did not.”

“Did so.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Well, you don’t know, but...”

Kylere and Galea smiled as old memories came flooding back. Galea broke through the siblings’ mock fight.

“Enough, you two! You’re as bad as us. For argument’s sake, Lucy tell your tale first. Give Marcus a chance to catch his breath. Now start at the beginning, for his sake as well as ours. Now go.”

So Lucy and Marcus each told each other their varying tales. Kylere and Galea shivered when Marcus spoke Selena’s name.

“Selena has a bad reputation. She’s supposedly a dangerous enchantress. She lures young men to their deaths. Lucky for you to get out of Escarlet or you might have been dead by now.” Kylere stopped with a look of astonishment at Marcus. Galea now spoke.

“What Marcus told us about slaying the Elder doesn’t sound good. They’ve been life-long enemies. Let me see the sword she gave you.”

Marcus drew the sword from its sheath with a hiss. It was silvery shiny in the moonlight. He handed it to Galea. She examined the hilt carefully.

“There are hidden spells upon this sword. To raise the owner’s anger is one, but there are many spells inscribed to utterly destroy the Galande and the Elder. Now let’s test the blade.”

She softly left the blade touch her finger and it cut her deeply. Kylere was horrified, as was Lucy and Marcus.

Suddenly, her skin turned blue and the sword dropped to the ground from a loose, damp hand.

“Poison.” She whispered in a feeble voice. “It eats at me. I feel strange.” She swayed like a sheet on a clothesline. “Oh, I’m burning up. Burning. Mother, Father, I didn’t mean to leave you like that! Ky? Ky! Where are you? I’m lost!” She cried delirious. Kylere quickly comforted her and placed a hand to her forehead. He glanced quickly at Lucy and Marcus.

“She’s running a fever. Help me lie her down.”

Lying down, she turned her head and looked glassy-eyed at Kylere.

“Ky, I’m going now to the gods. Farewell, I had a good life. I gave it for a good cause. The sword’s poison is gone now. It won’t hurt anyone else. Ky, take care of the children for me. Farewell, and take care. I love you all...” Her last words were whispers that escaped from her heart.

“NO! Galea, Galea, don’t die. You can’t leave me alone. Galea.” Kylere sobbed, her now lifeless body in his arms.

“Kylere, she’s dead.” Marcus touched Lucy’s arm. She was weeping. For a long minute, they all thought of their pleasant memories of Galea. Marcus was the first to recover.

“She deserves at least a decent burial.”

Kylere nodded; his throat was too raw to speak. “We’ll give her to the land she loved and died for.”

So they buried her on the edge of the forest and placed the sword which had caused her demise in a stone as a grave marker. It read, ‘Here lies Galea, ranger of Galande, sister of Kylere. Good friend of Lucy and Marcus. In this stone lies the sword which caused many tears. She died bravely and fearlessly for her country. Always remember that.’ Since then, that area has been called Galea’s Point or simply, Swordspoint.


Choices

Kylere knelt by Galea’s grave for a long time. Lucy and Marcus took this time to talk alone.

“Marcus,” Lucy began. “I don’t think you want to leave this world. Do you?”

He sighed. “I don’t know, Lucy. All my dreams have come true here. I’m the ruler of a people and people actually listen to me for once. I feel like I truly fit in here. I’ve never felt like that before. I belong here, don’t you?”

She thought for a moment. “Yes. I feel the same way among the Galande. They’re just like me, in thoughts and feelings, even in looks. Yet part of me wants to go home, to see Mom and Dad. They would never believe us, you know. But we have to go now or never. Do you want to go home or stay here forever? We need to decide now. We both must go or stay, it can’t be only one of us. What do you choose?”

Marcus turned away from her and stared into the forest, glowing with blue enchantment. “I want to stay. I’m in charge of a country, responsible for a whole nation of people. If I leave Selena there...”

Kylere had silently slipped away from Galea’s grave and was standing motionless behind Lucy and Marcus.

“You don’t need to worry about her. She was exiled here by the gods. Somehow, she got herself named an honorary daughter of the King of Rimbelt. One day, Prince Marcus, who looked just like you,” he nodded at Marcus, “disappeared. Everyone blamed Selena for it. Nobody trusts her and they would have deported her from Escarlet if they could have, but that is forbidden. Don’t worry. No one would listen to her if you went away.”

Lucy gulped down a mass of emotions, mostly anger and fear. Why must she make these decisions? Who was more important to her, her brother or her parents? Suddenly, it hit her. The Elder’s words. ‘Listen to your heart.’ It told her how to make a true and just decision. She now thought of herself, her feelings, the part of her that made her Lucy. Her inner self gave back an overwhelming response. She now looked around the land like a child’s first look outside a door. This land was beautiful. So was the red land next door. Yes, she agreed with her inner self, I want to stay here too. She turned to Kylere.

“How far away are the armies? Where will they meet?”

He thought for a moment, then answered, “Hmmm. They should meet about here in little more than an hour, I think.”

“Then we’ve got to hurry. Come on, Marcus. We’re going to get the Crown and Sword.” They started to run into the forest.

“Hey Lucy, I take it that we’re staying here?”

“Yes, you want to and I want to, so why not? Mom and Dad can get the locals to help and someone will eventually end up with the farm. But I still hope that it won’t break their hearts.”


The Hidden Forest

It was dark and damp underneath the massive eternal trees. It was pitch dark yet the blue light luminated their progress through the forest. Every time they seemed to be close to the light’s source, it would seem further away. Finally, they sat down, out of breath.

“This..” Lucy gasped, “is getting us nowhere. Can you see a path, a building or something?”

“Let me see.” Marcus pulled himself up. “Hm. I don’t see anything. Wait, I see something. Doesn’t that shape over there look unnatural?” She stood up and peered on her toes.

“Yes, that looks like a shack of some kind. Let’s go!”

They raced off toward the shack. When they reached it, they were surprised. It was built completely of stone. The houses they were used to had stone walls and a thatched roof, but there was no thatched roof on this building.

“Come on, let’s go in!” Lucy pulled Marcus’ arm. “I’m willing to bet that the Sword and the Crown is in there. I think the blue light must be a decoy made to confuse people, to make them get lost.”

They walked into the building very self-conscious. All around the inside walls of the building hung huge tapestries in bright colours. Engraved in the floors, walls and roof were strange shapes and symbols. One was a triangle, another a circle, two more with wavy lines. In the centre, there was a long table with chair, all too engraved in those ancient hieroglyphics. Two cups and some food were on the table, as if someone had been expecting them. Also a fire was burning in the giant hearth. A fire? There would be no way that they could’ve missed the smoke. They looked at each other, very afraid. They ate the prepared dinners in silence.

Suddenly, a blast of wind and voice hit them. Smoke from the fire covered their eyes. When the haze cleared, standing before them was a group of people wearing all different colours. Yellow, green, blue, orange, they were all there. But standing in front of this eye-appealing group were two people, a man and a woman, wearing the rainbow. They silenced the people behind them with a hand. The woman spoke.

“Why have you come here?” Marcus answered.

“To find the Sword of Peace.”

“Why should you have it?” He took a breath.

“Because I mean to bring peace between our two people, the red and golden. I truly want this pointless war to end. All people and colours are equal; not one better, nor one less. If we all work together, we will succeed at life. If we remain separate, we lose.”

The lady nodded and turned to the man.

“This one is true to his quest. I will give him the Sword.” The man nodded agreement and turned to Lucy.

“And why do you want the great Crown of the Galande?”

She didn’t know what to say, so she just spoke what her heart said, not caring if it made sense or not.

“I wish to become the leader of the Galande because I believe in their ways, their customs. Their ways are my heart’s ways. As for being their ruler, I think they need someone with a lot of patience and courage and the will power to eventually cure the people of their weakness, pride.”

The woman seemed satisfied with her answer, but the man was not. “Why do you say that pride is the weakness of the Galande? Answer me!”

“Ichor!” The woman gasped. “You have no right to ask her that. It’s not one of the questions!”

“Aurora,” Ichor started, “I..”

“No,” Lucy interrupted. “Ichor has every right to ask me that. The Elder of Galande asked me what their fault was. I answered him and he agreed. Oh, and thank you Aurora for arguing for me.” Aurora’s face turned deathly white.

“You mortals aren’t supposed to know we, the gods’ names. That is one of our laws.” Marcus smiled.

“Well, I’ve always said laws were meant for breaking.” She smiled back a weak smile. Lucy decided it was time to return to the matter at hand.

“Ichor, do I deserve the Crown and does my brother get the Sword? I’m sorry for being impolite, but we don’t have much time on our hands. Also thanks for dinner. It was good.” Aurora blushed.

“It’s been so long since we fed our mortal children. I didn’t know what you liked to eat, so I guessed.” Ichor smiled.

“Yes, we will give you the two treasures you ask. Go now. Hurry. The armies are marching ever closer. Farewell. I hope to see you again, but I think not for awhile. Farewell.”

Ichor stepped away from them and slowly faded away. Aurora showed her hands. In her left was a pearl white crown with leaves, flowers and all the things the Galande loved in white gold. In her right was an ancient blade forged thousands of years before mankind. It was sheathed in an ornate leather sheath and she carefully unsheathed it. It was red, not a furious red, but a peaceful, dreamy red. Lucy and Marcus knelt before Aurora.

“Here I crown you Lucy, ruler of the Galande, the Golden People and the protector of Galaden.” She crowned Lucy and Lucy stood up, hardly looking her eleven years.

“The eleventh year, the year of the waking of power.” Aurora whispered, as if she was reading Marcus’ mind. She turned to Marcus.

“The Sword of Peace I give to you, Prince Marcus, heir to the throne of Rimbelt. May you use its marvelous power wisely.” She placed the naked blade into his hands, his small hands touching her immortal ones. As he accepted the blade, it began to emit a soft red light.

“Thank you.” She nodded her head.

“Farewell. We shall see you again. Farewell and good luck to you both.”

Aurora shimmered softly away.

“Marcus, let us go now.” Lucy said in a voice that was totally not like her own. It was more quiet and husky. He turned to face her. Standing where Lucy was a moment ago was a woman. She looked a little like Lucy; the hair and the eyes were the same.

“Yes, Marcus. Years have past for us but only an hour outside of the hidden forest. Come over here and look.” He looked in the bowl of water she had pointed at and gasped. He could hardly believe that the man looking back at him was himself. Marcus nodded bitterly. He must have wasted six or seven years in the shack. The best years in his life. Two tears plinked down into the motionless water.

“Marcus,” Lucy tugged at his sleeve, her eyes red with crying. “Come on, our people need us. Let the past be the past.” Her eyes clouded with memories. “No way back, only forward.” She smiled and they both walked out of the gods’ shrine to the outskirts of the forest.


Fear Overthrown

As the young Lucy and Marcus searched for the Crown and the Sword, Kylere stood patiently waiting for his fate. What did he care? All that he had loved was gone forever. Kytel and Galan, his parents, his wife and their children, even Galea, his twin sister was gone now. He sat down and looked towards the west, silently praying to the gods to strike him down with a thunderbolt now and save his anguish.

Suddenly, he saw a faint glimmer of gold. Galande, his heart leaped, the armies of Galanden are here to defend the Balance of things from the Rimbelt. As they marched on towards him, he could name some of the faces. His lieutenants, generals and even some of the weather-worn Rangers that had been friends of Galea. In the centre was the Elder, looking as hale as ever. But as he looked now to the east, he saw the Rimbelt troops marching on. In the centre of their ranks, like a queen bee, was Selena.

Oh Lucy and Marcus, his mind called, hurry! They were moving ever so closer. Hurry! And as if his call had been answered, two figures exited the woods. One held a flaming sword, the other wore a white-gold crown. Kylere had never seen those sacred items before, yet he knew what they were.

“The Crown,” he cried at the top of his lungs. “The Crown and Sword return. Peace, let there be peace and let all lay down their weapons, for the two kindred are here and have met!”

Everyone turned to face him and the two richly-dressed strangers at his side.

“Oh People of the Golden Land,” the woman calmly shouted. “What grudge do you hold against the Rimbelt?”

The Elder answered for the Galande. “We have none.”

The man now spoke, his voice rich and mellow. “People of the Red Land, what grudge do you hold against the Galande?”

Selena yelped back at him, “We have none, man. Get out of our way, for we come warring, not talking.” The Rimbelt cheered and urged their horses forward.

“Stop!” The woman yelled. “Why do you go to war? What is it that you fear?”

Everyone was silent, trying to find an answer for themselves. Finally a man, later identified as General Zarcus spoke up.

“My lady. I will tell you what we fear. We fear...We fear the gods. We fear that they will grow angry and destroy everything. So in order to stop this from happening, we must control the whole world and only Galanden remains unconquered.” All the Rimbelt soldiers hung their heads in shame.

The woman said sadly, “Who told you this lie, people of Rimbelt?”

Zarcus raised his head and in the old soldier’s eyes blazed a flame of hate.

“Selena. Selena, who was exiled by the gods, told us this.” A ring of angry men surrounded her, both Rimbelt and Galande. They chanted, “Kill her! Kill her! Death to the traitoress! Death!”

The man raised up the Sword. A bolt of red lightning shot into the air. They all stopped talking. “Bring the woman to me. I shall take her to the gods to punish her. Yet she still deserves some credit. If I am correct, wasn’t it you who brought us to this world?”

“Yes,” Selena hissed. “Yes. It was I who delivered you here. Lucy just got in by accident. I’m sick and tired of being blamed for Prince Marcus’ death. He fell off a horse and broke his neck. So I thought if I could find one named Marcus and convince him that he was really Prince Marcus, no one would blame me anymore. It didn’t work.”

She shrugged her shoulders as the Rimbelt and Galande led her up towards the plateau and the forest.

“Yet you saved your people without even knowing it.” The man said in a matter of fact way. But the woman looked angrily at Selena.

“You wanted the Elder dead, that’s why you made up that lie.”

Selena’s eyes flashed angrily. “Yes, I want the Elder dead. He’s the only one alive who knows what I did to get exiled here. My shame wants him dead.”

The man stood waiting. “Let’s go Selena, or would you prefer Argil Aegis?”

She stared in disbelief. “How do you know my true birth name?”

The man guided Selena’s horse as they went into the blue-flamed forest.

“Now,” the woman said after a minute or two, “I take it that the never-ending war has now ended peacefully.” There was no disagreement.


An Ending

Queen Lucille of Galanden and King Marcus of Rimbelt had many other adventures after this, but that is another story for tomorrow. Peace had been restored to the world and the Balance was beginning to recover. New lands and new people of colours other than gold or red were being born.

As for the potato farmer and his wife, one day when he was out walking by the outskirts of the forest, he found a small bracelet lying half submerged in the ground. He hurried back home to show his wife.

“See, I told you. He wouldn’t listen to me. The forest people have them now.”

The wife had to agree. They tried to forget their losses, but they never could. For every time they looked at the forest, they could sense the trees watching them, full of a silent secret the farmer and his wife would never know. The secret of the hidden forest.


This marks the end of the Tale of the Crown and the Sword







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