Twenty one
Junia's pov
I heaved a breath after running far away from the library, I brought out the map and studied it. I am very far from home. The seelie kingdom is on the north side of the Dragonhold. I crossed my bag on my body as I headed to the mountains.
Despite my cloak, I still felt cold but I can't afford an inn right now and I don't know if Ashmaris had his men searching for me.
Climbing up to the mountains is not as easy as I thought, I attempted to climb the mountain five times before I finally got to the top of the mountain and lay flat on my chest.
My knees were aching really bad, I sat up right and placed my hands on each knee to heal myself. I brought out the map and studied it trying to figure out my way back home.
Right there I dozed off, it was the first light that woke me up. My body aches from sleeping on hard rock, I moaned as I stretched.
After eating out of some fruits from my bag, I got ready to leave, standing on top of the mountain.
I looked around down at the city to mark out my route, I sighted a royal entourage and carriage going through the streets.
Without thinking much of the entourage, I climbed back down which took almost all my energy.
I sat at the bottom of the mountain after reaching the ground trying to catch my breath. I rested a bit and started my journey, clutching my cloak and my bag around me.
By the time I went to the streets, it was already crowded. People moving around, put out their wares to sell.
I walked past a pub, I could hear men from inside the pub yelling. I entered an alley when a man who was pushing a cart came towards me so fast that if I stayed any longer on the road, he would ram the cart into me.
A breath left my mouth in relief, I was about to step out of the alley when a hand pulled me back.
Pushing me against the wall, it was a man. "You smell different, what are you?" The man said he was wearing Noble clothing.
"Let me go." I tried to get out of his grip but his grip was too strong.
"You smell too pleasant that your scent caught my attention, I have to follow you here." the man said.
"I don't know you—" I was about to say to him, I didn't realize my cloak was off my head.
"Your ears, you are not a dragon" his eyes widened, I took the opportunity that he was distracted and used my magic on him, putting him to an illusion.
I picked my bag which had landed on the ground and pulled my clock back on my head and ran before my magic wore off from him.
When I reached the outskirts of the city, it was late because I found it difficult to navigate the way but I didn't stop walking.
I walked through the woods until my legs gave out. I found a place to rest but I couldn't sleep after what had happened in Umbravele. The woods don't seem dark like Umbravele but I still couldn't get my mind off the incident.
After resting for a while, I started my journey again determined to get out of the woods. I used some fireflies as light that I caught using my magic to make some leaves into a shaped lantern and put the fireflies into it.
Still not giving up, I walked out to the woods which leads to the bank of the stream, I rushed towards the stream to get some water to drink.
I finally relaxed and decided to have some rest and passed out right there next to the stream.
The next day, I woke up early and started my journey with the map in hand as I journey all afternoon and by night fall without resting, wasting time. Healing myself when I have weak knees, I reached a familiar environment.
I knew right there I was near home, my stomach warmed out of excitement to my father and Rin. I walked into my once beautiful home and kingdom, houses have been burned down, some in reconstruction.
And there was silence, my home was too silent.
They haven't even recovered yet from the attack and I was starting to believe a man who killed my husband.
My hands gripped my cloak as I walked up but I wouldn't be able to get to my father's palace in time without any help and I couldn't use any more magic because I am already weak.
But I will get to the palace, reunite with my father and we will plan our defense before Ashmaris and his men come.
This time we would make sure to take them down.
I found a young male seelie and his ox who was coming back, probably from the field. I walked towards him, "Good day" I greeted, waving my hands as I approached him.
"Good— good day." He responded, he stepped away from me. "Who are you Lady?" He asked.
"I am—" I said approaching him again but he brought a small sharp knife.
"Stepped away from me, who are you strangers?"
I removed my cloak, and put my hand s to show him I wasn't armed. "I am a seelie, Princess Junia."
"The princess?" He said he was surprised.
"Yes" I said stepping closer he let the knife down, "Can you please take me to the palace, I really need to get there"
"You want to go to the palace tonight?" He asked.
"Yes, it is possible we reached there tonight right?"
"If we leave now, we will arrive after midnight but I don't think you want to go to the palace–"
But I cut him off, "please just take me there with your ox" I begged.
"Okay, I will take you there." The man agreed, "By the way I am Leif" the man introduced himself..
"Nice to meet you, Leif" I smiled even though it was dark and he couldn't see my smile. I would definitely reward his kindness when everything starts to go smoothly.
"Let's head to my home, it is just two to three houses from here. I would like one more ox and a cart. The moving vines are now weak from the fire" he explained.
"Alright, thank you" the dragon really did a lot of damage here.
Ashmaris and his men nearly burned my entire home but this time it is his that will burn.
We headed to Leif's house after he got his oxen ready. We started our journey to the palace and I slept throughout the entire journey to the palace.
Leif woke me up when we arrived, the palace that was known to be the brightest place in the seelie kingdom, is now a shadow of itself.
The atmosphere was gloomy.
"We have arrived," Leif said.
"Thank you so much, Leif"
"You are welcome, your highness" Leif made a slight bow with his head.
I stepped out of the cart and moved towards the entrance of the palace, emotions rushed through me.
Pain of how my home had been destroyed and anger that was directed to myself for almost giving in to that deceitful dragon.
I pushed the large gate open, there were no guards at the gate.
As I walked in, I glanced around and there was light in some chambers, which was enough to give them the same light.
We used to have.
I headed straight to my father's study as soon as I entered the palace.
Bursting into his study, my father was sitting on his chair, his head buried into a large book.
He didn't notice me, he was flipping through the pages hurriedly.
"Father" I called softly but he didn't hear.
"Father" I called again and my voice was louder.
His head slowly lifted and his eyes landed on me . His eyes widened.
"Junia" He called my name, he stood up from his seat. I walked closer to him, tears already streaming down my cheeks.
"Father" I cried and ran to him, throwing myself in his arms.
"Junia, you are here. My precious daughter" my father wrapped his arms around me. Holding me tighter.
"Yes, I am. I escaped that evil dragon" I sobbed into my father's arm.
"You shouldn't have come here, Junia" my father pulled away.
I frowned, "what do you mean? I escape we can fight against Ashmaris s his men."
"That is a little late. Ashmaris men are already here" My father said.
"What do you mean father, it can't be true that they are not here right?"
My father's face said it all, the weakness. The fear.
"They are really here" he said, he looked away.
Just as my father said that, the door pushed open.