Princess Willowyn's Arc

Chapter 3 of 70

The Queen's order still rang in Willowyn's ears. She was confined to her chambers for the night. So she sat at her window and watched the world she could not touch. Vines and flowers spilled down the pale stone towers. Beyond the walls, the dark forest waited. Her green fox curled at her feet, vines shifting through its fur. Willowyn traced her finger on the glass and felt the whole world slip past her. A soft knock broke the quiet. The door opened slowly. Aela stepped in, her golden hair pinned high, her green tunic still dusty from the training yard. She had guarded Willowyn since they were children, and she was the only person who ever asked what Willowyn wanted. "I heard what happened," Aela said. She crossed the room and took both of Willowyn's hands. "She will never understand me, Aela," Willowyn said. She pulled one hand free and spun water above her fingers. The small ribbon of water turned and shone in the moonlight. "I want to explore the world. I want to see what it offers. I want to try new things." The fox lifted its head and watched the water dance. Aela sat beside her on the window seat. She did not argue. She reminded Willowyn of the games they had played as girls, the times they had climbed the towers and hidden from the guards. "You were never happy staying still," Aela said. "Not once in a hundred years." She smiled, then her face turned serious. "So stop asking her. She will only say no." Willowyn let the water fall back into its bowl. "What are you saying?" "Run away," Aela said. She kept her voice low. "If these walls don’t keep you happy then maybe the choice you need to make is out there” Willowyn looked out her window, into the courtyard below, her people walked, danced and sold goods, while Willowyn sat day after day doing the same things. “Perhaps I may just do that Aela”