The Girl in the Woods

Chapter 9

The following day, Suranne woke up later than usual. Gwyndolyn's bed was already empty when she woke up. She gets down from her bed lazily and makes her bed before going out to wash her face. She checks outside and nobody is home. She went to the hut where the knights were staying but nobody was there. She thought that they're all gone to their farm that's why she decided to go to help if she needed to. She quickly grabbed her red cloak hanging on the wall and wore it. And before she goes out, she grabs a boiled potato covered on top of the table. She sighs because of every day having a boiled potato. She is not complaining, but their life being isolated in the woods does that. She thought that if she can only do something to end the isolation, they may have a life full of freedom outside, freedom to roam around, freedom to choose what they wanted to have for food. The reason why she ate plenty of food that Prince Darvyn had ordered for her.

She quickened her pace to their so-called farm. It is a small farm cultivated by the knights with the help of Helga. It is surrounded by huge trees in the middle of the woods, enough area to receive sunlight and air to sustain the plants to grow well. Root crops are the main product of the farm, corn, and veggies. Suranne saw Orlando and Frio gathering more root crops. She is wondering how long they have to stay in such a kind of life; hiding from the evil threats from outside. She cannot fathom the reason why they said they had to protect her where she knows there is nothing to be scared of. She has been outside of the woods several times but she came back safely.

“I've been outside of the woods, but nothing happened to me,” she thought but covered her mouth instantly when she remembered something.

“Is it because of the power that I possess? My extraordinary agility? Who am I anyway?” It is frustrating for her to think that no one can explain to her. She heaves a sigh. She now realized how extraordinary she is compared to her winged friend Gwyndolyn.

“Suranne, come join us!” Helga called her. She didn't notice that she is with Frio and Orlando. Kitler is not around so she assumes that he is outside of the woods again.

She takes off her cloak and hangs it on the loose branch of a tree next to her. Her stares roamed around their small farm. She looked up but covered her eyes with her arm when the glaring rays of the sun hit her.

“Hey! Why aren't you coming to join us yet?” Gwyndolyn came and asked her? She removed her arm from her face and looked at her winged friend.

“Why didn't you wake me up?” She asked, pouting her lips pretending that she was sulking.

“You didn't sleep well, I know. You were uncomfortable last night and kept changing your position. Is there anything that bothers you?” Gwyndolyn asked, looking at her intently.

Suranne avoided her gazes. She has no plans to tell her about Prince Darvyn. It's not that she doesn't trust her only friend, but she felt uncomfortable telling her about a certain guy. She doesn't even understand how to tell her about it. She is still confused and bothered about what she feels the moment she remembers him.

“I was just thinking about myself, my identity. That's all!” She lied. She knows she wasn't able to convince Gwyndolyn the way she raised her brows, but she doesn't want to tell her for now. She is still confused about her feelings and she is still thinking about her identity.

“Then let's go. Let's help them,” Gwyndolyn told her.

They happily gather all the crops of their farm and clean them under the shades of the trees when Suranne remembers something.

“Uhm, Frio?”

Frio, who is busy with the crops, lifts his head to look at her.

“Yes, My lady?”

“I am just wondering why sometimes we have foods that aren't harvested on this farm. Where do they come from?” She asked curiously.

Frio looked at Helga, asking her permission to answer. When Helga nodded, he turned to Suranne.

“We bought those foods from the nearby villages using our crops as a p*****t for their crops,” Frio explained. A day before, Frio, Helga, and the other knights talk about telling her slowly about small things. Their way of diverting her attention is to keep asking about her identity.

“Can I go next time?” She asked looking alternately to Frio, Orlando, and Helga for their approval.

“If we need your help, you can go,” Helga replied but she was darted with a questioning look by Frio. Helga just shrugged her shoulders. She knows it won't happen.

Suranne nodded and continued what she was doing to help them with the root crops.

When they're done, Suranne helps the knights to carry all their products back to their hut.

That day, Suranne didn't plan to go out of the woods but she has the feeling of uneasiness when she thinks of Prince Darvyn. Her actions didn't escape from the sharp eyes of her winged little friend.

“Is there any problem?

“ Nothing!” She shakes her head. The truth is, there is something in her that is pushing her to go out of the woods but she tries her best not to be under the control of her feelings. She ignores it and makes herself busy.

The next day, Suranne and Gwyndolyn went to their favorite place, Fernhill. There was nothing they could do that day and they felt quite bored. They find their routine each day is boring because of doing the same activity daily. Fernhill is their favorite place to unwind as it overlooks the two Kingdoms. The breeze helps them relax and calm their mind, the chirping of birds is like music to their ears. They often fall asleep at the place and only wake up when hungry or Helga will come to call them.

At Lakeside Village, it's still morning, the sun continues rising, and the breeze is getting warm. People on the street started being busy with their day-to-day routine. Prince Darvyn is getting ready for his magic show for the kids. He gathered his stuff while waiting for Nicholaus to come back. He asked him to check outside if there are signs of the girl's presence. He waited the previous day that she would come and ruin his magic tricks, but no traces of her presence. The night after he treated her for a meal, he had trouble sleeping. He smiled when he remembered how she managed to finish all the food he ordered for her. Her cute reaction was when she was embarrassed after she realized that she finished all the food. The same night when he is wondering why the girl seems hungry with such kind of food. Seems her first time eating such delicious meals.

“Your Highness, Nicholaus here,” he heard Nicholaus outside of his rented room.

“Come in!” He replied.

Nicholaus then came in. He seems to be rushing for the news. He bowed his head to show a polite gesture to the Prince.

“Your Highness, we noticed someone suspiciously. He seems to tail us,” Nicholaus announced.

Prince Darvyn's eyes widened. He didn't expect such kind of news because there is no reason for someone to follow them. He thinks that someone is not the subject of the Kingdom. He knows being the Prince of the Kingdom that no one will do that kind of thing to him. There must be another reason and he wanted to find out.

“Tell the others to keep an eye on him. Don't let him know that you discovered him. We need to find out why he is following us,” he said to Nicholaus.

Nicholaus nodded and spoke. “I already told them to be alert and keep an eye on him, Your Highness.”

“Good!” he responded.

“About the girl, no traces that she is around.”

There is a sadness flashed on Prince Darvyn's face the moment Nicholaus speaks. He expected him to tell him something positive about the girl.

“Maybe she is not coming. Let's get ready for our usual routine to entertain the residents, especially the kids,” he said tonelessly. He seems to have lost his energy after hearing it from Nicholaus.

After he got ready, he went down with Nicholaus. On the stairs where people inside the tavern can see apparently, Nicholaus tagged his outfit to get his attention. He turned to him with brows creased wondering. His eyes moved like asking him the reason why he stopped him. Nicholaus leaned closer and whispered. Prince Darvyn slowly turned in the direction that Nicholaus had just mentioned. He saw a person who seemed focused on his tea, wearing an old straw hat. On the next table were three other knights. He turned to Nicholaus and the latter explained to him that they planned to lure the guy and once caught, they can ask him the reason why he is following them.

Prince Darvyn then continued going down but his eyes focused on that guy. He went straight to join the other knights. He sits on the stool facing the next table where the guy is sitting. The three knights were about to stand to give a courtesy but he raised his hand to stop them. The three knights then sit back and pretend that they were just busy with their tea. Prince Darvyn can't see the guy's face because it was covered by some strands of straw.

“Your Highness, are we going to entertain those kids?”

“Yes, we will!” He answered.

After a couple of minutes of staying inside, they all go to the usual place where the kids are waiting for him.

“Mister, are you going to have fun with us now?” The kids asked immediately after they arrived.

“Yes, of course!” He replied. He then takes out all his stuff and lays accordingly on the small table. After he laid them in a row, his stares darted to everyone. He saw the excitement in all the people that surrounded him, especially on the kid's faces. But, in his right direction, he saw the guy who seemed to be following them. He looked at Nicholaus from afar telling him the guy's presence. The knight nodded after he received his message.

Prince Darvyn started the show but disappointed faces in front stopped him for a while. They seem not to be enjoying his magic show. He was thinking of changing his techniques when he saw that familiar red cloak in the middle of the people in front. His energy seems radiated after he saw the face of a person he has been waiting to appear to since yesterday. He smiled thinly looking in her direction then started again. He remembers the magic tricks that he showed the day that girl ruined it. He planned to do the same to send the message to the girl that he saw her. He swerves his right hand to gather the cards in the air forming like a dragon. Then his left hand moved it and hovered on top of the audience.

“Wow! Amazing!” The audience clapped their hands full of excitement when the cards formed like a dragon hovering on top of them. Prince Darvyn can feel that the girl is trying to help him control it and do some amazing movements. The children are screaming and shouting in excitement.

“More! More!” The audience is shouting for more when he says that is the last one.

“Next time. I have something to do for now. No worries I am here for a couple of.days.” he replied, smiling at them.

After the show, Prince Darvyn looked at the guy with a straw hat but he was gone. His knights also are gone, the same as his three other knights. Nicholaus came to speak to him. Nicholaus told him that the other knights are following the guy.

“Good!” He shortly replied. He then turned his gaze to where the girl was standing just now. She is still there standing confidently holding her cloak. Their eyes met. Nicholaus just shakes his head when he finds himself invisible in the eyes of his Highness. Prince Darvyn walked towards the girl.

“My lady, I'm glad you're back,” he said after he bowed his head to Suranne. “And thank you for your help just now to entertain my audience.”

Suranne smiled. “Just call me Suranne,” she replied. Prince Darvyn scratches his nape showing his cute reaction to Suranne's statement. Simple yet gives him excitement.

“You want me to accompany you to stroll around?” Prince Darvyn asked.

“Sure! Is there any amazing place you could show me?”

“Of course!” He replied thinking of his favorite river. The place is close to the village.

“Can we go there now?” Suranne expressed with excitement.

They then went to the said place after Prince Darvyn stacks his things inside his cloth bag. Nicholaus is following them. Prince Darvyn decided to just walk so he could speak to Suranne properly. While on their way, they both laughed at their silly jokes and experiences. Suranne started being comfortable with Prince Darvyn's presence. She is ecstatically happy but chosen not to show off her feelings to the prince. Earlier, at Fernhill, she told Gwyndolyn that she wanted to go out of the woods and the latter agreed and helped her. They agreed that Gwyndolyn will follow her outside if the time they agreed to meet outside the barrier. Her winged friend asked her about what she was going to do outside but she didn't respond.

“We're here!” Prince Darvyn exclaimed as soon as they arrived at the place. Suranne's eyes widened in astonishment when he saw the river. It's her first time seeing a river. She took off her sandals and ran to play with them. The water is so clear and gleams when hit by the sunlight. The sound of the water flowing seems to calm her mind. Suranne closes her eyes as she feels the breeze and coolness of the water on her feet. She takes a deep breath to feel the amazing place.

“Do you like the place?” Suranne opens her eyes abruptly when she feels the warm breath of Prince Darvyn on the skin at the back of her neck. In her excitement, she didn't notice that the hoodie of her cloak dropped from her head. Her heart seems to skip a bit when Prince Darvyn again speaks. She felt that same electrifying feeling creeping down her spine. It sends goosebumps to her that make her rub her arm with the sleeves of her cloth. Her mind seemed in a daze that made her wobble when she planned to move forward to get away from the Prince. When she made a step, she stepped on a pile of stones underwater that made her out of her balance. She closed her eyes and screamed in fright thinking that she would fall onto the water but she felt two sturdy arms catch her instead before her body touched the water. She then felt like floating when those arms carried her. She knows no one but only Prince Darvyn will do it to her. She felt comfortable in his arms and subconsciously clung her arms around his neck. The feeling is new to her. She doesn't understand but she is satisfied and excitement arouses in her. She feels like doesn't want to let go of Prince Darvyn's arms that are carrying her.

Prince Darvyn put her down on the stony side of the river, arms still on her waist.

“Are you okay?” he asked looking at her intently.

“I...I am!” she stammered averting her gaze away from him. She cannot look at him as he is looking at her intently and to realize that their faces are just an inch away seems that she can hardly breathe. Her heart seems flattered thinking that their bodies are just too close. “Let me go, please..”

Prince Darvyn removed his arms from her waist. “I'm so sorry!” he said afterward.