GWEN

It's nightfall, and Reagan is upstairs preparing a bag. She was pretty adamant about staying, but I persuaded her to come with me after some time.

She wanted answers, and I promised her some.

One thing I must say I hate about this mission is all the things I can't tell.

Reagan is the heir to the throne of Amberfall, but not only that, she is supposed to trust me, and I have no doubt she already knows that there are some things I am not telling her.

My first impression isn't as good as I wanted it to be, though I don't know what I was looking for it to be. What am I to do?

She is the person I am to fight alongside. She is my leader, she must trust me, but she has no reason to. I must believe in her as well, not only as a ruler but hopefully a friend.

I know it seems far-fetched for me to befriend a person of such stature, but it seems inevitable, seeing that we will be traveling and fighting alongside each other for the time being.

She comes down from her room with her bag and a bat.

"I'm ready."

I look at her, and she looks back. Her body language tells me that the pain she's going through is more than what she is letting on.

"what do you wish to do with that?" pointing to the bat

"Just in case, don't know what to expect, I guess."

I know it hurts her to leave all that she's known behind to venture and learn something a whole lot different than what she's used to.

"It's all going to be ok, you'll see."

She looks at me dead in the eye and says,

"maybe."

What worried me was not what she said or the look she had on. What bothered me was what facial expression she didn't have and what she didn't say.

She didn't have a look of worry or a tone of regret. It's like she's ready to give everything up, or she doesn't have anything to give up, and she's ready to have something new.

Either way, it worries me.

"I know the cost. Hopefully, it will all be worth it. I need some answers."

Her tone and demeanor once again shocked me, but I don't let it show this time.

"I know you do, but don't let it stop you from showing some emotion or stop you from feeling things."

She laughs not as one would to a joke but as if the words annoyed her. She walks off and out of the house, leaving me not taking a second look or the last rather.

She leaves.

I can't help but feel guilt, taking the blame for the behavior she displaced. I hardly know her, but I've heard of her so much that I feel like she's my responsibility.

It takes me some time, but I follow after her. There are some people outside, mostly kids scurrying around playing football in the middle of the street.

"Reminds me of my village when I was younger," I say to Reagan. She turns, giving me a slight chuckle, and says, "Does it?"

"Yes, my father was a farmer. We lived in a small village just off the borders of the Ardere nation called Ferrum Arc. We would play day and night whiles my father worked without a care in the world."

"What changed?"

The words slipping off her tongue were like a dagger to the heart. What changed? The answer seems so simple, but it never is.

I don't answer; I walk off, and she follows.

"Well, if you're not going to answer that, then at least tell me where we're going."

"The gate, it's the only way back to Amberfalls."

I wonder..is this the right thing to do? Taking her away from everything..nonetheless, I have an order...a mission, so to speak.

Bring the heir home.

Mother had always talked about this day how it should go.

But I don't think she accounted for the emotion that would soar through Reagan's head. I do feel for her. Having to leave it all behind for the unknown.

She follows me close behind. She hadn't said a word since we last talked.

I get it there's a lot to process, and I'm probably not the best to ask questions to see that there's a lot I'm not allowed to tell her yet.

I wonder what it is that she's thinking?

What fears does she have?

What worries her?

"How much farther do we have to go."

"It's not far off just in those woods and near the bridge."

Something seems to have her confused because she asks about it once again.

"There's no bridge in that woods, I would know."

She doesn't know that the bridge is a place between our worlds, only to be found when it wants to be.

Like it has a brain of its own. I calmly say, "there's a bridge. Just follow me."

It feels weird giving orders. Hopefully, I won't have to for long, and god knows it's not for me.

The sun's going down, and we've gotten to the entrance of the woods. Reagan goes to sit on a rock because she wants to catch her breath and drink some water.

I sit next to her watching the sunset.

"I'm not scared to go."

"I hate the fact that I'm not doing this with the ones I want to or the fact that once I'm in the forest, normal goes out the window, and I enter a world I know nothing about.

I'll be like a baby entering the world, having to learn everything from the bottom up. Except for me, I'd have to unlearn some and learn a lot.

I guess it's not all bad. I get a chance to live like my books, live the fairytale life I've always wanted, wish Simon and Will were here."

I don't say anything while she talks; I listen. She's opening up little by little. But whoever Simon and Will are, they must be of great importance to her.

"We have to keep moving. We need to get to the Gate before nightfall."

She gives me a quick chuckle and then follows behind me as we go into the woods.

We walk deeper and deeper in until we get to an uncharted part. The first step towards the gate. Its power so strong that if it wants to reach you, it will.

The gate can bring people together or break them apart. In this case, Reagan has been ripped away from her family and friends here but reunited with her true family.

We are close. I can feel the gate's energy coming closer and become stronger.

We walk for a while longer, and then we finally get there.

"We're here."

Reagan stands in awe.

The gates immaculate beauty has her in an utter loss for words. "I..I..when you said gate, I was expecting a door or an actual gate definitely not something as beautiful as this."

The gate is known only to some of the Amber lands as one of the most beautiful sites and is known as the Bridge of Malmorera. A site that not many can know of.

She seems happy she seems to be enjoying this a little but soon, reality sets in.

"This is really happening, huh?"

"Yes, but don't fear it will all be ok. In the end, you'll make new friends have a new family, and a new purpose."

Even though I said it, it didn't take away from the fact that I understood her fear.

"Let's go."

She hesitates and looks back at her surroundings, takes a breath, and whispers.

"I'll always remember you."

Before she turns back around, one measly tear rolls off her cheek.

She wipes it quickly, turns back to me, and then follows me as I continue walking into the bridge.

We've arrived in Amberfalls. The stars twinkle ever so bright. The fresh breeze dance around us as we stand there. It feels good to be back home.

Reagan stands staring at the sights, speechless to its beauty.

"Wow, it's beautiful, but where are we?"

I smile at her and say

"Amberfalls, but we stand at the core of the Edenwoode."

Her demeanor has changed. She seems hope-filled, but she was still barred.

She seems to be a little more open to being here, and I must do everything I can to keep her safe now that she is here.

The night is no place for an unskilled person in the Edenwoode. Though demons don't run these parts, it's still filled with other dangers like bandits, goblins, ogres, and the list goes on.

I must protect her at all cost.

We have some travel left, and it's going to be pretty dark soon. We must make camp somewhere safe.

I begin walking, and she follows, not asking any questions. We walk for some time, and then we make camp for the night.

Reagan sits next to the fire. She hasn't said a word since we got here, and I don't want to patronize her. Plus, I have other things to deal with at the moment.

I've had this feeling like we were being watched like someone was following us, but I brushed it off because why would anyone want to do that.

I need to check the perimeter to see if my instincts are correct.

"I'm going to scout the area. Stay here and if you see anything... scream."

She clutches the bat and holds it by her side, then gives me a nod.

I walk off into the woods. I walk slowly, watching my surroundings, carefully watching for even the slightest movement of a foe.

Mother taught me that. Never chase your prey. Always let them come to you.

As I wait, I see one shadow then another. Two-person team but why and who?

I wait for them to come out, and a few seconds later, I am attacked by two people.

I'm knocked to the ground. I quickly try to collect myself, and I face these enemies. I hit one and the other attacks. They clearly don't have any training.

I swiftly kick and knock one out now to handle the other. He was harder. He had some skills not as good as me but some to stall a little longer.

I go for his legs, pin him down and cause him to sleep. Two boys were untrained and unarmed.

Whoever sent them was as idiotic as these boys themselves. I tie them up and drag them back to camp.

When I get there, Reagan is already fast asleep, and the bat is still clutched to her side.

I tie my two opponents to the trees near us, where they lie lifelessly for the time being. After doing so, I lay near the fire, tired and a little winded.

The fire crackles as I just lay there listening to the silence of the woods. Oh, how I have missed this. I sit comfortably near the fire. Sleep isn't an option tonight.

Those two were unskilled, but the latter could have been much worse.