A new perspective

As Coren was organizing the people, it did not take long for him to see Prince Helder talking to that strange creature, humans are instinctively afraid of what they don't know, and that thing was not known by them.

All of them were worried, on the other side the princes' guards were the same, both of the groups rushed, worried about his safety.

Just as they were reaching the location, they saw Prince Helder raise his hand meaning them to stop, so they did.

"There's no need to overreact, this is Petal, a child of the forest, and she owes me something" said the prince looking at them serenely "And if any of you try to hurt her, know that you will be breaking my trust".

"She will follow us in our journey for now, don't forget, in the past we and the children made a pact in front of the Old Gods, breaking it is as bad as breaking guest right" Helder played with their honor mentioning this, no First Men with a right mind would break it, unless they wanted to be blocked forever of joining the Old Gods in death, not that it mattered to him, he had immortality after all.

"If you are so eager to rush here then it seems that you are ready to depart, gather your things and we will head to Banefort Castle" said Helder authoritatively, he then proceeded to the gates swiftly with his guards and the child in tow.

It did not take long for them to set off, it was already sunset, and they did not have much light to continue the journey, and after some time marching Helder ordered them to set camp near a grove of Weirwood trees.

Campfires were set, and those who had tents raised them, those who did not tried as best as they could to feel more comfortable, if it was winter, many of them would be dead by daylight, even if it was not the North, the weather could be relentless.

Inside his private tent, Helder sat in his makeshift bed, thinking about his plans, despite being cold and calculative he sometimes caught himself thinking about the far future, almost daydreaming. When he realized that thinking too much about ethereal things was pointless he shook his head and went outside.

As he opened the flap outside Petal was waiting for him, most of the travel was quiet, but as they marched both he and the child of the forest made an accord, to meet after most people were asleep. If he could Helder would lock her up inside his tent and not let her free till she fulfilled her deal, but in fear she would run away, he chose not to tighten the leash too much, so he decided to let her roam a bit.

"It is time child, follow me and we will make a new pact" said Helder as he walked towards a secluded corner of the grove, Petal wobbled behind him, despite her race's cunningness she was honest, as honest as a green little thing of magic and horror could be.

Standing both in front of a Heart Tree both of them could feel a foreign presence, it seemed that the Old Gods were watching, Helder felt it, after being in the presence of a superior divinity he could feel it somewhat, even if was much lesser.

Petal eyed him carefully and said, "Human, we are in front of the Gods, state your wish, if it's within my means I will try my utmost to fulfill it".

Helder suddenly took out his dagger, which caused Petal to almost run away, but seeing that he did not attack her she calmed down a little and watched him cut his palm, with a look that indicated that it did not seem to hurt him.

He looked at her and demanded "Give me your hand, you will feel just a little cut" When she extended her hand she felt great pain, after all having your palm cut across was not as easy as Helder make it seem.

The prince then proceeded to grab her injured hand with his and said "I Helder want you Petal to teach me the magic and rituals of the children of the forest, no trickery and no deceit, when you pass me all your knowledge you will be set free, it is only just, after all, I saved your life, and what a long life it is".

Petal gritted her teeth and replied, "Very well, I will teach you everything, on the condition that you do not hurt or kill me, and not just you, anyone under your command too".

She had to make sure, after all this human was cunning, as she was alone she did not have that much power to stop him if he wanted to hurt her, after all, magic took time to prepare and as history showed, human strength of arms and cunning could beat an unprepared child of the forest.

"I accept, now this blood oath is complete, break it and your soul will never join the Old Gods after death" said Helder with a calm smile on his face.

Seeing that he accepted Petal could feel a little more assured, her tense frame relaxed, and she even tried to smile, now this human was her student for the foreseeable future, 'If he has talent, it will only take some years, and if he doesn't I will outlive him anyways' she thought grimly.

Both of them parted ways, Petal vanishing in the forest, in the morning she would be by his side again. Helder walked calmly to his tent, taking in the scenery, Weirwood Groves were impressive things after all, white trees with human faces carved on them crying tears of bloody sap, eerie and peaceful.

Entering his tent Helder placed his dagger on the side of his makeshift bed and prepared to sleep. The night was restless, and once more he dreamed.

Rushing through a forest, he felt the scent of his prey, again he was a bear, but this time he was much bigger and much more monstrous, a big brown bear boar¹, he was running after a lioness, she was injured in the hind leg, it felt weird to Helder, he did control it at all, it was as if he was a spectator in his own body.

The hunt did not last long, the lioness was exhausted and fell, the bear not wasting the opportunity bit it in the back of the neck and thrashed it around till the lioness died.

As the bear started to consume the flesh, Helder suddenly gained control of the body, in his mind he was a little disgusted, but he did not feel that bad, certainly influenced by being in this boar's body, but he did not have to worry for long, for after some time he was embraced by sleep again.