Chapter 3

A month had now passed.

Roaring that trembled their house, waking everyone else up and startling Linda, who was in the kitchen preparing breakfast. 

They all ran outside and were shocked when they saw a group of Lions in their front yard. Two Lions were seen to have pulled a carriage and the rest of the Lions looked like guards. 

One of the Lions, a Lioness, walked forward and said, “My name is Carla, and we have come for you, please get ready to leave. I won’t make His Majesty wait for long.”

Before anything else was said. Algar stated firmly, “I would rather die, than to let you take my precious daughters.”

Linda, Liese, and Lilli were scared of what could happen to their father and if the Lions would really kill him. But, their worries were all for naught when Carla made a suggestion.

“Then why don’t you come along with your daughters. His Majesty wouldn’t mind at all.”

In a serious tone, “But, you must come with us, as per your agreement with His Majesty, Trespasser.”

Linda, Liese, and Lilli were all slightly relieved, especially since their father wouldn’t die.

They all quickly got ready as per Carla’s request and hesitantly got into the carriage the Lions pulled here. Then they left.

On there way to the “Beast’s Den”; is what they called it, Linda asks one of the Lion guards,

“How did you know where to find us? It’s quite strange that you knew where to find us.”

The Lion looked to Carla for permission to answer Linda’s question and Carla nodded in approval.

“First, the name’s Evon. And we used that “singing, soaring” lark, as ya’ called it, to track y’all down”

Lilli blushes in embarrassment from Evon’s mocking.

Liese sternly says to Evon, “You didn’t need to mock her! How did you even know she said that?!” 

Evon growled in irritation and said, “From ya’ trespassing father! Did ya’ really think he and his lackey’s were alone with His Majesty? 

Algar interjected and shockingly said, “What! So.. If I hadn’t made that promise... We wouldn't have made it out alive..."

Carla was offended by Algars statement and growled in irritation.

“Do you think we and His Majesty are barbarians?! We would’ve just taken you all as prisoners for thievery and trespassing!”

In a more serious tone, “You should be lucky that His Majesty let all you thieves go free with the lark!”

After a moment of silence, Linda spoke up and said, “We are grateful to His Majesty for letting our father go, but why did His Majesty make such a proposition to father?”

Carla responded, “As much as I would like to answer the many questions you have, it’d be best to save it for His Majesty.”

It took them approximately 4 hrs to enter the forest and another 4 hrs to reach the end of the forest road; including time to rest. When they entered the forest, everything gradually became darker and darker. Linda, Liese and Lilli were all amazed by how dense the forest is, like night has fallen.

The Lions roared, but this time their roar felt gentler and then suddenly fireflies began to appear. The fireflies lit up the darkness of the forest like stars in the night sky. Linda, Liese, Lilli, and Algar all thought,

“It’s as if the Lions called upon the fireflies.”

After an hour, they started to see light again. It looked like daytime again, but it seemed... artificial.

They started to see the civilization of both Lions and Humans. And in the middle of it, was a large neo-renaissance style castle that was surrounded by water; except for the road leading to the front entrance gate.

They were all stunned by how beautiful and serene everything about this place was, and were curious about how a town and castle that large hadn’t been discovered.

Carla says, “Welcome to “The Forest of Capet”.”

Lilli then asks Carla, “Are we going to that big castle?”

“Of course, you are required to meet with His Majesty. But, before that you will be greeted with a feast and lodging, so you all can be presentable when you meet His Majesty tonight.”

Lilli and Liese both excitedly say, “Yaay, food!”

Linda asks Carla, “Why are we meeting His Majesty at night?”

“You will see why when you meet him.”

Then Algar worryingly says, “What does he plan to do with us?”

Carla, annoyed with Algar's views of His Majesty, growls and says, “Trespasser, how many times am I going to remind you that; we may be Lions for now, we aren’t barbarians! Especially to be so rude when His Majesty showed you Mercy!”

Linda made her father apologize for making Carla angry again.

“Father, you must mind your words. Making the Lions angry won’t do us any good.”

“You’re right, I’m just... Still frightened by the Lion; their Majesty; is all...”

Evon interjected and said, “Well, yea~ that’s expected, His Majesty don’t take kindly to trespassing thieves, Trespasser.”

Evon’s statement made Algar and Lilli feel guilty, and Algar was silent the rest of the way.

Once they were at “Capet’s Forest Castle”, as introduced by Carla, they were kindly received with a banquet. After the banquet, human servants showed them to their rooms and gave them a hot bath and clothes that were like draped garments, like what everyone else was wearing.

While they were waiting for night to fall, Algar stayed in his room to sleep off his anxiety and stress. While his daughters was amazed and surprised by how welcoming the people and Lions of “The Forest of Capet” were while they were exploring the town's market with Carla as their guide.

Lilli says, “This market is like something out of a storybook”

Liese agrees and says, “Even the food looks better than our market's food!”

Then Linda says, “How about we come back and actually shop?”

Both Liese and Lilli excitedly said “Yes!” While Carla is extremely pleased with how much they were enjoying their time.

Once night fell, everyone got ready to meet His Majesty. While being escorted, they realized something was different... They couldn’t find a single Lion. Instead, they saw people that they didn’t see when they arrived earlier. When familiar voices greeted them, voices that sounded like Carla and Evon, but they looked human. They were all confused by how the Lions they saw earlier are now Human.

But, before any of them could say or ask anything, Carla says, “Please hold every question you have for His Majesty.”

Then Evon says, “We will escort y’all the rest of the way.”

In the throne room, they saw a man sitting on the throne that was so handsome, that all of them blushed.

“Bow before His Majesty” said one of the guards.

“You may rise.” Said His Majesty, before he continued with, “Let us introduce ourselves before we get into why you’re here and me answering your questions.”

He then smiled while glaring at them with his sharp purple eyes and said, “I’m Leonardo Capet, King of “The Forest of Capet”. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

-End of Chapter 3