Chapter 35: The Journey to the Northern Forest

[Luceille’s POV — Ashcroft Manor — Outside the Manor — Later]

The morning air was painfully cold.

I stood outside Ashcroft Manor, staring at the endless stretch of snow ahead of us while the wind tugged at my cloak.

Normally, I would have complained about the weather; actually, I still wanted to complain, but today, I couldn’t, not when my babies were sick.

The fox beasts were being kept inside the manor under the care of the healers. Aurelius had assured me that their condition had not worsened, but somehow, that wasn’t enough to make the knot in my chest disappear.

Cedric stood before us, his expression unusually serious. "Your Grace, allow me to accompany you. As captain of Ashcroft’s knights, how could I possibly allow the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess to travel into an unknown forest without protection?"

Cassian was quiet for a moment, then he said, "No."

Cedric frowned.

"My lord—"

"You will remain here." His tone left little room for argument as Cassian continued, "We don’t know how long this journey will take. It could be several days before we find the elves, perhaps longer if the forest conceals their settlement."

He glanced toward the distant mountains. "And while we’re gone, the border villages will be vulnerable."

Cedric’s expression became serious. Cassian stepped closer to him.

"The fox beasts being ill is already known to some of the surrounding territories. If word spreads that Ashcroft’s defenses have been weakened because the Grand Duke has left, bandits and opportunists may attempt to cross our borders."

Cedric lowered his head. "I understand."

"Protect the villages." Cassian’s voice hardened. "Keep the roads guarded. Double the patrols near the border, and if anyone approaches the villages without authorization, deal with them accordingly."

Cedric placed his fist against his chest. "Yes, Your Grace."

I looked at him. "Please take care of everyone while we’re gone."

Cedric’s expression softened as his eyes moved briefly toward the manor. "Of course, Your Grace and I will make certain the fox beasts remain safe."

I nodded.

Then my eyes landed on Aurelius; he was standing beside several packed supplies, holding the map that had nearly caused me to question whether civilization had truly existed before Google Maps.

"Make sure my fox beasts stay alive."

He sighed. "Your Grace, I am an archmage, not a miracle worker. I will do everything within my power."

I stepped closer as I said, "If anything happens to them...I will never forgive you."

Aurelius rubbed his forehead. "I understand."

Then his expression became more serious. "But Your Grace, you must understand something as well: the faster we find the elves, the better the chances of saving them."

My fingers curled into my cloak.

"I know."

"We cannot waste time." He studied me for a moment, then he held out the parchment. "This is the map I mentioned."

I took it carefully and then unfolded it. Immediately, my confidence dropped. Mountains, rivers, trees, and some mysterious symbols and a line that appeared to have been drawn by someone while riding a horse during an earthquake.

I stared at it.

"It’s an ancient regional map." Cassian glanced at the parchment as Aurelius glanced between Cassian and me. "I cannot guarantee that it will lead you directly to the elven village. Their settlement is hidden by ancient magic. It gives you the general location."

I looked down at it again, and Cassian took the map from my hands. "I’ll keep it."

Aurelius nodded. "Follow the western ridge until you reach the forest. After that, the map becomes unreliable."

Aurelius’s expression softened slightly. "Your Grace, remember, you also have to convince them to help you. They are stubborn too."

I knew exactly what he meant; the beings who hid themselves from other beings...they surely hate humans and remaining beings. It...will be very tough to convince them.

But for my babies...I can do anything.

A sudden silence fell over us; for a moment, nobody spoke, then Cassian reached for my hand as his fingers closed around mine.

"Come."

I looked up at him and nodded. We began walking toward the waiting horses. Mia stood near the manor entrance; she looked worried, very worried.

The moment I reached her, she bowed. "Your Grace..."

I smiled faintly. "We’ll be back."

She nodded, though her eyes remained anxious. Cassian approached the horse before I could climb up myself; his hands settled around my waist and lifted me effortlessly onto the saddle, and then he mounted behind me a moment later.

His arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me securely against his chest. The moment the wind hit us, he pulled his thick woolen cloak around my body, covering me almost completely.

"Please cover yourself, too...Cassian."

"You are more important."

I went quiet and said, "Think about me and protect yourself too."

"I will."

Thankfully, the weather was not that cold today. I tightened my grip on the reins, and the horse began moving.

Slowly at first, then faster.

Ashcroft Manor grew smaller behind us; the familiar walls disappeared beneath the falling snow. I looked back one last time. Somewhere inside that manor were the fox beasts I had come to love.

They were waiting for us, and I was going to bring them back a cure.

I turned toward the mountains.

The Northern Forest waited beyond them, unknown, ancient, and possibly dangerous.

And somewhere within its depths lived the elves. I tightened my hands around the reins.

"Hold on, babies."

Cassian’s arms tightened around me. "We’ll find them."

I leaned back against his chest, and the horse carried us farther into the snow. Toward the northwestern mountains, toward the hidden forest, toward the elves and, hopefully...toward the only thing that could save my babies.

***

[Luceille’s POV — On the Road to the Northern Forest]

The farther we rode, the quieter the world became.

The familiar roads of Ashcroft Territory had disappeared behind us hours ago, replaced by endless snow, towering mountains, and forests so dense that even the sunlight seemed reluctant to enter them.

I sat in front of Cassian, wrapped almost completely in his thick cloak as his arms remained around my waist, keeping me firmly against his chest as the horse moved steadily through the snow.

For once, neither of us spoke strangely... I didn’t mind. I leaned back slightly, resting against him.

"Cassian."

"Hm?"

"Is the forest still far?"

His chin lowered slightly, almost brushing the top of my head. "We shall reach it soon. Do not worry."

I looked ahead as the mountains were getting closer.

"We will reach it before nightfall."

I nodded, and his arms tightened around me. For a while, we continued riding; the cold wind brushed against my cheeks, but the warmth behind me made it bearable.

I could hear his heartbeat, steady and calm.

Almost ridiculously peaceful considering we were heading toward a mysterious forest inhabited by elves who apparently didn’t enjoy visitors.

I glanced at his hand around my waist. "You don’t have to hold me, like I may fall anytime."

"I would rather hold you for an entire day than allow you to fall from this horse."

I immediately remembered my previous cliff incident; his arms tightened, then his voice came quietly beside my ear.

"Just stay closer to me, beloved; it eases me."

"You also have a remarkable talent for finding dangerous situations. I would rather follow you into every dangerous place than have you face one alone."

My expression softened as he rested his chin lightly against my head again.

"So stay beside me."

I smiled.

"I am."

"Good."

His arms tightened immediately, and my heart did that annoying little thing again.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

He is too gentle with me, and I stare straight ahead. I was sitting on a horse, wrapped in my husband’s cloak, listening to his heartbeat and getting emotionally attacked by wholesome domestic affection.

"When we find the elves...and what if they don’t help us?"

His expression became serious. "Then we will find another way."

"And if there isn’t another way?"

He was silent for a moment, then he answered, "There will be."

I looked back at him; he wasn’t smiling now. His blue eyes were fixed ahead, filled with absolute certainty.

"There must be something. Elves would like to negotiate with. We...just need to find that thing."

I stared at him and nodded because he was right. Elves must be after something too right? There...must be something.

We continued riding, and the snow became deeper. The trees became taller, and eventually, the mountains opened into a massive valley.

I lifted my head, and there beyond the final ridge stood an enormous forest. Dark green trees stretched as far as I could see, their branches covered in snow.

Mist curled between them as the forest seemed to breathe.

I stared.

"Oh..."

Cassian slowed the horse. "We’ve arrived at the Northern Forest."

For several seconds, I simply stared.

This was it.

Somewhere inside this forest were the elves; somewhere inside this forest might be the cure and somewhere inside this forest were answers that could determine whether my babies lived or died.

Cassian dismounted first, and then he reached up toward me.

"Come."

I placed my hands in his as he lifted me down carefully and set me onto the snow. My boots sank slightly as I looked toward the enormous forest.

Then at the map and then back at the forest. I slowly turned toward Cassian.

"We reached the forest...but how are we supposed to find a hidden forest?"

Silence.

Cassian looked at the forest. I looked at the forest. Aurelius’s map was completely useless in my hands. I slowly unfolded it again: mountains, trees, a river, and a mysterious circle.

We are about to enter the forest, but...we are still clueless about how...how we can find the hidden village?

There’s no doubt that it must be hidden with some magic. So...how are we going to find it?