The sun had risen high, but the palace air remained cold with panic.
The courtyard buzzed with frantic footsteps and voices when suddenly—one of the soldiers came bolting toward the king, breathless and pale with urgency.
"Your Majesty!" he called, sliding to a stop before Aldric. "We found something!"
Aldric turned sharply, eyes sharp. "Speak."
The soldier pointed over his shoulder. "While we searched the west wing of the palace gardens, we found a small iron gate—hidden beneath ivy. It was open. It must have been how Her Majesty left."
Aldric's entire frame stiffened. Without hesitation, he strode forward. "Take me there. Now."
The soldier spun, leading the way with long strides, and Aldric followed, flanked by Kael and other guards. They moved swiftly through narrow stone paths until they reached it—a crooked, rust-covered gate, barely noticeable beneath overgrown ivy and wild rose brambles.
The metal door creaked in the wind, swaying faintly. Open.
Kael's eyes widened. "We never knew this even existed."
Aldric did not reply. His gaze followed the narrow path beyond the gate, which trailed down a slope and disappeared into thick forest.
Kael stepped beside him, voice low. "This leads into the wilderness, Your Majesty. The forest beyond the palace."
Aldric went to the royal stables immediately, mounted his horse in one fluid motion. "Saddle the others," he ordered. "We ride."
The others obeyed immediately. Within minutes, hooves thundered through the gate and into the depths of the woods. Birds scattered. Leaves burst from branches in the wind. The royal banner vanished into the treeline.
"Queen Aurora!" the soldiers shouted again and again.
But Aldric did not shout that name. He shouted only one word, one name that burned in his chest.
"Aurora!"
His voice tore through the trees.
They went deeper. Past brooks, over fallen logs, through narrow paths nearly choked with vines. But no sign. No trail. Nothing.
-
Aurora was still running.
Branches tore at her arms. Brambles scratched her feet. Her nightdress was soaked from dew and dirt. She did not know where she was—only that she had to keep going.
She was crying, sobbing quietly. Her breath came in short gasps, throat raw from screaming. Her feet were bleeding now—cut and bruised from sharp stones and tangled roots.
At last, she could go no further.
She fell to her knees in a bed of damp moss, hugging her arms around her legs. Her shoulders shook. She was cold. Terrified.
And then his face appeared in her mind—strong, stern, safe.
Aldric.
Through broken sobs, she whispered, "Where are you? Please… save me." Her voice was so soft, barely a thread of sound.
Far away, deep in the forest—
Aldric jolted. He straightened in his saddle.
Kael turned. "Your Majesty?"
Aldric's hand shot up. "Silence."
For a moment, he heard only the wind. Then it came again. His name.
"Aldric…"
Whispered on the breeze, like a ghost—but it was her voice.
For a moment, he was confused. He looked around, thinking she might be near, that is why he could hear her. But there was nothing. Then it dawned on him… what if the voice was guiding him to where she truly was?
He turned his horse sharply to the left. "That way!"
He did not wait for confirmation. The others followed as he galloped through a narrow path of gnarled trees and thorny hedges.
Deep in the forest, Aurora stood again.
Her legs were shaking. Her breath ragged. But she began moving again—walking, stumbling, running. Her lips continued to move though her voice was weak.
"Aldric… Aldric…"
And with every whisper, it was as if she lit a torch in the darkness. He could hear her.
He followed the voice.
It got to a point, he does not hear her voice in his head anymore.
"Please," he prayed under his breath. "Say my name again."
And like magic, the wind carried it to him.
"Aldric…"
He jerked his horse and rode in the voice direction…
Time passed like a blur. The trees thinned slightly. The air grew colder.
Then—
"Queen Aurora!" voices called from ahead.
Aurora's eyes widened. She turned and ran, crashing through branches, ignoring the stings of leaves slapping her face.
And then—
"Aurora!"
A loud cry, strong, desperate.
She burst through the thicket—
And there he was.
Aldric stood off his horse, scanning the woods with wide, frantic eyes. The moment he saw her—dirty, trembling, her white hair tangled, her face bruised—his heart nearly stopped.
She ran straight to him.
He caught her.
She buried her face in his chest, sobbing so hard her body trembled. Aldric held her tightly, one hand cupping the back of her head, the other wrapped firmly around her waist.
He exhaled, forehead pressed against her hair, eyes shut in relief.
"You found me," she whispered brokenly. "You really found me…"
The soldiers cheered, smiling with joy and disbelief.
Kael muttered, "Thank the stars…"
Aldric removed his cloak, place it on her. He lifted her into his arms and placed her gently onto his horse. He climbed up.
She leaned into his back, resting her cheek against his shoulder. Her arms wrapped around him like she never wanted to let go.
And together, the king, his queen, and the riders began the long journey back to Velmora.
-
The sun had begun to sink beneath the distant hills by the time the palace gates came into view, its golden light casting a soft glow on the white towers of Velmora. The moment the guards stationed atop the walls saw the approaching riders, shouts erupted.
"They have returned! They have found the Queen!"
A rush of excitement swept through the palace like wildfire. Courtiers hurried from corridors, maids and pages abandoned their duties, nobles stepped out onto balconies. All eyes turned to the grand courtyard where Aldric and his men rode in—dust trailing behind them, and at the center of it all, Queen Aurora, clinging gently to the King's back.
Her white hair was tangled, her nightdress torn at the hem and stained with earth, but she was there—alive.
When the royal horse came to a halt, Aldric dismounted and turned to help her down. She moved slowly, her legs weak, but the moment her feet touched the stone—
"My lady!" her maids screamed in unison.
Lira was the first to reach her, nearly knocking over a stable boy in her rush. The others followed behind, tears streaming down their cheeks. They threw their arms around her in a flurry of sobs, laughter, and unfiltered joy.
"You are safe!" Lira whispered, holding Aurora's hands tightly. "We thought—we thought—"
Aurora gave a faint, tired smile. "I am here now."
Faye wept harder. "You do not know what today was like. We looked everywhere… we could not breathe, we could not —" She stopped to wipe her eyes, laughing through the tears.
Their reunion filled the courtyard with warmth, and even the guards, who stood stiffly in formation, shared quiet glances of relief.
Inside the palace, a servant ran breathlessly to Queen Ava's wing. The moment the news reached her, she stood up from her seat and closed her eyes for a brief moment, murmuring, "Thank the heavens."
She sent word immediately for warm blankets and the royal physician to be brought to Aurora's wing.
But not everyone shared the same purity of joy.
Selene stood at her window, fingers tightening around the curtain. She had watched the reunion from afar, face unreadable. A storm of emotions twisted in her chest—confusion, jealousy, lingering fear.
Meanwhile, Virelda sat alone in her quiet chamber, staring at nothing in particular. Her fingernails tapped anxiously against her armrest.
Her heart raced slightly—but not with joy. The fear that had wrapped around her chest all day began to loosen, but a different discomfort took its place. Relief, tainted with bitterness.
Still, both queens knew one thing, whatever punishment might have awaited them if Aurora had not been found was now avoided. They could breathe.
Back in the courtyard, Aldric stood quietly, watching as Aurora leaned into Lira's shoulder, exhausted. His eyes never left her. He lifted a hand.
"Summon the royal physician," he ordered sharply. "Immediately."
Kael gave a sharp nod and turned.
Within moments, a team of palace medics arrived with a litter, clean robes, ointments, and warm cloths.
With her maids supporting her on each side, she was gently led back into the palace she had vanished from—surrounded by cheers, questions, whispers, and unrelenting relief.
But through it all, Aurora remained quiet. She said little, her thoughts still tangled with what had happened in the woods. The voice. The sleepwalking. The fear. And most importantly, her mother.
And yet, as she was guided through the halls, she felt the weight of Aldric's gaze on her—steady and silent.
For now, she was safe. And though the mystery that once seemed strange had begun to unfold, one thing remained certain—she would not yield to them.
-
Ever since that day, Aurora had slept soundly. No visions. No dreams. No silver-eyed woman calling her name from the dark. Silence had returned to her mind like a calm after a terrible storm.
The palace had resumed its rhythm, albeit with a subtle difference—everyone looked at her differently now. Whispers followed her, but so did awe and a curious respect. Some even said she had returned glowing, as though the forest had kissed her with ancient light.
A few days passed, and the bruises on her feet and the marks on her arms had healed thanks to the royal physician's care. On the fifth morning after her return, she rose early, dressed in a pale blue gown embroidered with tiny pearls, and made her way to Queen Ava's chambers.
Inside, Ava was seated by the window, combing through scrolls with a cup of warm tea steaming beside her. When she saw Aurora enter, she sat straighter, concern softening her face.
"Mother," Aurora said quietly, bowing her head.
Ava stood, crossing the room swiftly, and took her hands. "Aurora. You look better."
"I feel stronger now. That is why I came—to thank you," she said softly. "You cared for me when I was gone, and that… it meant more than words can tell."
Ava nodded, holding her gaze. "Why did you leave, child?"
There was a pause. Aurora's eyes drifted to the window. "I… I heard a voice," she said quietly. "A voice I knew. I followed it, not realizing how far I had wandered." She let a faint smile touch her lips. "Foolish of me, I know."
Ava tilted her head, searching her face. "It was dangerous," she said at last, "but I am glad you returned." She squeezed her hand gently. "Rest now. This palace is not always kind, but you are not alone in it."
Aurora bowed her head again. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
After she left Queen Ava's chambers, she walked slowly through the east hallways, her steps taking her almost unconsciously to the King's wing. She had not seen him—not truly seen him—since the day he found her in the forest.
The guards bowed as she approached his doors. "Is His Majesty within?" she asked.
One replied, "He is with the High Lords in the council room, my lady."
She nodded. "I will wait."
They opened the doors for her, and she stepped into his private chambers—an elegant, richly adorned space, yet warm. His books lined an entire wall, the table scattered with open maps and royal letters. A red cloak rested on the back of his chair.
Aurora drifted toward the shelves, trailing her fingers along the spines of his books. So many volumes—philosophy, war tactics, poetry. She paused on a leather-bound copy of The Songs of the North Wind. He had a poetic soul, after all.
She walked to the table, touched the sealed ink pot, then the ring lying beside it—a heavy golden signet. Everything about the room told a story. And somehow, it comforted her.
The door creaked.
She turned.
Aldric stood at the entrance, his cloak still on, his gloves half-removed. When he saw her, a flicker of something warm passed across his features.
"Aurora," he said. "You are here."
She bowed slightly, hands folded. "I hope I am not intruding. I came to thank you."
He stepped into the chamber and closed the door behind him. "You are not intruding. I have been meaning to see you… but you have been kept indoors for rest."
"I was told to rest. I obeyed."
He smiled faintly. "Good." Then his gaze softened, serious now. "I shall not ask where you wandered, Aurora. Though truthfully… I long to know. When you are ready, if ever you are, I shall be here to hear it."
Her eyes met his, a quiet beat passed between them. "I have heard, Your Majesty. And I thank you—for finding me. For coming after me."
Aldric stepped closer, his gaze gentle. "You frightened me greatly."
She looked down. "I frightened myself as well."
There was a silence again, filled not with tension, but something tender. Her eyes lifted to his once more. His presence felt grounding, like the forest wind had carried her home only to place her in the eye of a different kind of storm—one stirring within her now.
"I should allow you to return to your duties," she said softly.
"Not if you wish to remain here," he offered.
But she shook her head, bowed once more, and turned toward the door.
Only as she stepped back into the hallway did she feel it—her heart, that once beat in rhythm only to survival, now thudded differently. Slower. Fuller. For him.
On her way back to her chamber, Aurora crossed paths with Selene in the hallway.
The Queen, flanked by two silent servants, paused. Her expression twitched with something unreadable—perhaps annoyance, perhaps curiosity.
"Well," Selene said dryly, her arms folded. "The lost lamb has returned."
Aurora offered her a calm, indifferent smile. "And not a day too soon, I imagine."
Selene tilted her head. "Wherever you went… you have returned looking more confident than usual. Maybe the woods taught you some tricks?"
Aurora stepped forward slowly. "If they did, I assure you, they are not tricks you want to test."
Selene's lips curled, but before she could reply, Aurora walked past her, not looking back.
The power shift was subtle. But it was there. And Selene felt it.
Aurora walked back to her chamber in silence, the halls humming softly with the distant sounds of palace life. The maids, who had been dusting corners and folding linens in near silence since her return, rushed to attention the moment she entered.
"My lady," one of them said breathlessly, "you are back."
Aurora smiled faintly. "I would like some grapes. From the spring, if it pleases you."
They beamed with relief—this was the Aurora they recognized. "Right away, my lady!" they chorused and scattered quickly, eager to please, eager to keep her close now that she was safely back in their care.
Left alone for a moment, Aurora crossed the chamber to her favorite spot by the window—the tall arch framed by velvet drapes. She lowered herself onto the cushioned ledge and leaned slightly against the stone. Her gown shifted gently as she pulled her knees up and rested her arms on them, gazing out.
Below, the palace courtyard spread out in elegant symmetry—white stone paths, quiet gardens, guards at post, and life resuming its order. But beyond the palace walls… the trees loomed. Silent and endless. The forest whispered on the wind, dark and deep. Even in daylight, it held a shadow of memory.
She stared at it for a long time. At the path that swallowed her. At the woods that tried to claim her.
Then, she whispered—quietly, firmly, to no one but herself.
"I am no witch. Nor shall I ever be one."
The words settled into the air like a vow. She said them not to erase what she had seen, or heard, or feared—but to defy it. To name her will, above whatever destiny those women tried to bind her to.
Just then, her maid returned with a silver tray, the grapes glistening with frost.
Aurora turned with a gentle smile. "Thank you."
She took one grape, placed it on her tongue, and returned her gaze to the woods.
She had chosen her silence. For now.