2 || Chptr 2 || My Scars Are My Choices ||

☽☼☾ War Chooses Fates ☽☼☾

☽☼☾ But My Fate is Mine Alone ☽☼☾

They travelled for most of the night. Until they came to a small stream and decided to rest for a while. The young fae girl and her only friend, a horse who said many lifetimes pass. (Your name) fell to her knees, some noble she was meant to be.

But her nobility came from her father, and he was never around when she was small. Her fae blood came from her mother, and she was. She learnt everything- or tried to. And now, it could be her saving grace.

(Your name) fell to the stream, washing her hands in the freezing waters. Before cupping them and drinking whatever she could. Valleira also taking swift gulps from the water. (Your name) washed her face, washing off the blood, the smoke. But not the bruises or scars. They remained prominent on her body.

A reminder of the choices she had made.

'Rest, (Your name). I will awake you of danger or when we must leave. Sleep'

The young fae girl curled beneath a large tree. Her head resting against the trunk, it was stiff and hard. The earth beneath her cold and harsh. Her eyes fluttered close and she could sense Valleira's soul- watching for any threats.

☽☼☾ I Follow My Destiny ☽☼☾

The throne room was colder than before. The stone flooring storing the cold demeanour of the woman on the throne. Many nobles forced inside. Their knees on the floor, heads faced to her. The woman's long silver hair and slanted dark eyes watched the men in front of her.

"Is this all the nobility of this kingdom?" she asked mockingly.

"You sent the eldest son of every noble house to fight a war your too cowardly to show up to!" Eliest spat back. Her eyes turned to him, narrowing her eyes at him.

"What of the women?"

"There's none" Neil, a close friend to the Nighver family, snapped.

"Don't speak to the Queen with such lies!" Archer snarled; the Queen raised her hand. Signalling for pure silence.

"What of the woman you called sister?"

"She's merely a close friend, nothing more"

"You're lying Eliest Nighver"

The nobleman's eyes widened. His breathing hitching in his throat, how did the witch know his name? He swallowed drily. Before narrowing his eyes.

"Then I suppose you wouldn't need my information" the nobleman spoke, the words barely forming from his mouth. The woman chuckled.

"Indeed. Take them" she ordered. The knights taking the noblemen, all but Eliest, out of the room. Dragging them away to the dungeons below. Only the Queen and her two closest allies and the brotherly noble. "Tell me of your sister, she's intriguing"

"She is the youngest of the Nighver family. When my father lost his first wife, he met a kind woman and they had a child"

"So, she is not nobility by blood?"

"My father is her father. She is noble by blood. But if that doesn't make her a noble to you then know that she is more a noble than any other you will meet��

"Of course, she is. Bring her to me" the Queen turned to her allies. They nodded, "I want her alive. Let's see why the little noble is so special"

"She's just a girl!" Eliest shouted.

"We'll see," the Queen responded, waving her arm. The two men marching past and through the throne room doors. Eliest watching them, the doors closed. His sister would be hunted now.

He could not stop them.

And he could not protect her.

☽☼☾ I Follow My Destiny ☽☼☾

She was moving again. (Your name) not halting for a moment. Valleira walking beside her. The bay horse watching through the trees. The forest was beginning to thin out now. The young fae girl just seeing beyond the trees, she was getting closer.

She feared the world outside, unsure of where she'd go now. She had family, her aunt. But… did she want to endanger her to? It would be a far travel, but maybe it'd be worth it. Even if she stayed for a moment, just to get her bearings.

Fellow fae.

'Where do you wish to go?'

Velleira's voice was soft in her the young woman's mind. The animal's words a soothing reassurance to her confidence. 'Beyond the Falling Valley, towards the small village of Nimph' (Your name) responded. Valleira halted.

'You wish to travel through the valley?'

'We have done it before dear one'

'Indeed, but you were younger then and slept for most of the travel. I strayed heavily away'

'And why is that?'

'It's dragon territory'

The fae remained quiet upon hearing this. She swallowed and her throat tightened, barely allowing any movement. She opened her mouth, but nothing left.

'Oh… do you mean the beasts?'

'I do,'

'But they went extinct centuries ago, didn't they?'

'There are the whispers young one'

The fae girl fiddled with the rope in her hand, her silence overbearing. Valleira's face and muzzle now free from its holds, the mare looked to her young fae. The woman remained quiet; she had heard the whispers Valleira spoke of. They were the whispers of the animals and trees. Not everyone knew of the tree's and their voices.

Beastfolk were only able to hear the whispers of the animals and trees. The Forestfolk could hear and feel it all. They felt what the trees felt, they heard what the trees heard. They spoke to the trees and they listened to what the trees spoke back.

(Your name) could hear their whispers… soft voices. Barely hearable through the sky. Their leaves rustled and tousled like luscious hair upon a maiden so fair. The branches creaked, ancient wood showing their age.

The forest was one of her favourite places to be. Far out of sight from the world. Far from the dangers that lay beyond and behind. The fae girl's head rose at the sound of hooves, she turned to Valleira. The trees ordering them to flee, the hooves entering the forest.

Aggression and harm lacing their intent.

(Your name) turned to her most trusted and oldest friend, mounting and the pair began flying through the trees. (Your name)'s hands entwining in the bay's mane, her heart leaping into her throat. Anxiety flowing through her veins and sending her into a frenzy.

Valleira's hooves dug away the dirt, crashing through the thick plants, morning dew spraying across them. The forest was wet, and the musty odour of the wood and dirt filled her nose. What was once a peaceful feeling, now she felt the dew crawling down her neck.

Shivers being shot through her spine, her eyes searching for the glistening rays of sunshine- her freedom for a few days longer. The ending was near she could see it through her trees, it was edging closer and closer.

'Calm yourself, (Your name), they are still on the other side of the forest, far from us'

'Valleira, they could be anywhere, we need to hurry!'

The bay mare quickened, bellowing out short breaths from her muzzle. The fae girl threw her face to the pommel of her saddle, tears soaking her cheeks. The fear of her life being dragged away from her trembling hands more than scared her. It paralysed her.

(Your name) sucked in a sharp breath as Valleira and herself left the safety of the trees. The bay mare galloping out next to a river, Valleira's feathering on her feet blowing in the wind just as her mane and tail was.

Lady Nighver rose herself and her head turned. The forest was large, but she had walked most of the way. Whoever was chasing her, they were galloping- and they were charging fast. Lady Nighver turned her head away from the forest and looked out to the landscape. The river they were following was a metallic blue, grey and musty. The green was tall and luscious, standing tall and slowly shortening as Valleira reached the road.

The fae and mare approached a fork in the road. One path led to a low village of her kingdom, the other to a boxed valley to which she'd find no escape. And the third, a long wooden bridge. The young fae stared forward.

'What's the matter, (Your name)?'

'If we cross the bridge, they'll see our tracks'

'If we cross the river, it'll slow us down'

'Do we just run for it?'

'It'd be best to put as much distance between us as possible'

Wasting no more time, Valleira bolted forward- the young noble clinging onto her mane. Valleira's hooves were muffled under the thick wood of the bridge. They were closing in on the borders of her kingdom.

But she was afraid of what other challenges she'd face.

☽☼☾ I Follow My Destiny ☽☼☾

Archer slowed his coaled steed to a stop, staring out through the trees. He turned to Xavier.

"Which way do you think she went?"

"Forward, obviously" Xavier responded, his own black horse trotting forward. Leaving Archer behind.

"Obviously" Archer mimicked mockingly. Following swiftly. He rolled his eyes as the two knights began to canter, their horses bellowing hot breath as their feet struck the ground mercilessly. Archer's horse throwing his head as he tried to catch up to Xavier's own steed, wanting to be leader.

The two knights began picking up the pace, racing next to the river. Xavier's head turned and seeing the fae of the rivers and streams, fairies leaping through the air. Staring deeply at them, they dove into the water and swam into the dark depths. Xavier turned his head straight ahead, his dark horse racing forward.

The fork in the roads was swiftly approaching. And they race to the bridge. The wooden structure empty of any life. Xavier and his steed charged onto the structure, Archer not far behind.

"You sure this is the right way?"

"She wouldn't be dumb enough to go to the lower towns, or the boxed canyon. Besides, she's terrified- not cunning" Xavier responded sharply. Before adding, "Besides, the tracks in the road are fresh. Remember we erased any tracks of our horses"

"It could be a peasant though," Archer retorted.

"Doubt it" Xavier grunted.

☽☼☾ I Follow My Destiny ☽☼☾

Valleira eyed the ferret wearily. The creature standing on its hind legs. Barely keeping itself stable as it swayed. The young fae eyed the creature wearily. She furrowed her brows.

'You mean to tell me… you know the way to Cyrion?'

'Indeed, I do young Beastfolk. Allow me to ride with you and I'll take you there'

'I don't trust him (Your name)'

'Neither do I'

'Hey, hey!'

The ferret seemed sleazy, and (Your name) did not trust the animal at all. When she heard the howling of a wolves her eyes widened, and she gasped softly. The ferret turned back and his demeanour suddenly changing.

'Look! I don't exactly know the way to Cyrion from here, but I have a friend that does! Please, don't let them take me!'

The young fae could hear the crunching of sticks approaching quicker and quicker. Harsh snarls and snapping.

'(Your name) we must leave!'

'If you wish to join me, I grant you your wish. But you must hurry and promise you'll get us to Cyrion one way or another'

'It's a done deal girly'

The ferret leapt from the rock and onto Valleira's back, the mare speeding off down the small trail in the forest. Young (Your name) ducking and weaving away from the trees. Gripping onto Valleira's mane and praying to whatever God's might hear her.

The wolves were relentless, each snarling and snapping with conviction. They were shrunken in and greasy. Their muzzles held dozens of needle and canine teeth, stained with plaque and blood.

'Give the ferret to us girly!'

'Over our dead bodies, you wolves should learn to respect creatures. Just as other predators have done!'

A wolf leapt from a rock and aimed right for the young fae's leg. (Your name) sent her booted foot into the wolf's chest, the animal whimpering as it fell to the ground. Valleira huffed as she galloped, leaping through the trees. They were spreading out now. Large masses of land covering the earth.

'What did you do to them?' The fae asked, looking down to her new friend. The ferret gripped onto the noble's dress and looked up.

'They're new tyrants that came to this country, they attack or kill any animal that dares defy them'

'It seems the animal world is suffering and following in the footsteps of its human neighbours'

'Seems so girly'

'I'm (Your name) Nighver, Beastfolk as you know. And this beautiful mare is Valleira'

'They call me Quincy,' the ferret responded.

(Your name) turned her head and saw the wolves slow themselves. As the bay mare, the noble fae, and the ferret escaped to the horizon. Escaping to Cyrion for the hope of a new life.

If any of y'all get the sneaky reference in here, I'll be very happy. Quick hint, it's between Archer and Xavier. Sorry for a bit of inactivity in the chapter, just setting up the meeting of our next member, Quincy!

The status of this chapter is also unedited.

Credits for Inspiration (will be updated as needed)

Merlin- Julian Jones, Jake Michie, Johnny Capps, Julian Murphy

Cursed- Frank Miller, Tom Wheeler

Obscured- min 민