Princess Willowyn's Arc

Chapter 40 of 70

Willowyn woke to sunlight on her face. For the first time in weeks, she felt rested. She had slept a full night in a soft bed, safe inside Kai's castle. The minx stretched beside her, then leapt to the floor. On a chair by the door lay a folded gown. Queen Shuri had kept her promise. Willowyn rose and shook off the last of her sleep. The gown was pale blue, sleeveless and cut close. She slipped it on and smoothed the fabric. Then she gathered her long red hair and tied it up off her neck. She turned to the window. The gardens spread below, bright with flowers and clipped hedges. Beyond them stretched the pine forests she had crossed to find Kai. She had come so far. Today would bring something new. A knock sounded at the door. "It's Kai. Are you awake?" "Come in," she said. The door opened. Kai stepped inside, his dark cloak thrown over one shoulder. He stopped when he saw her. Color rose in his cheeks. "Wow," he said. "You look so beautiful. Not that you don't always." Willowyn crossed the room and pressed one finger to his lips. He fell silent. She smiled. "Thank you," she said. The minx wound around Kai's boots. He laughed and scooped it up. Willowyn heard voices through the open window. She stepped closer to listen. Below in the gardens, people had gathered. They spoke in low, eager tones. She caught her own name, and then more words. The beautiful elven princess. The one who crossed the sea. The one who stopped a war with water. Willowyn stiffened. "They're talking about me." Kai joined her at the window. "Word travels fast. You healed a dying prince. You raised a river between two armies. People here have never seen anything like you." She watched the crowd. A month ago she had been a girl across the sea in a castle with no knowledge of this kingdom. Now strangers in a far kingdom spoke her name with hope. It frightened her a little. It also felt like the thing she had always wanted. "They think I can help them," she said. "Can you?" Kai asked. Willowyn thought of her dream. Peace between all kingdoms. Water and moonlight bent to healing, not harm. She had crossed an ocean to begin it. The rest was waiting below. "I want to try," she said. A horn sounded from the courtyard. Not an alarm. A summons. Kai's face changed. He set the minx down. "That's my father's call," he said. "He’s home from his hunt”. Willowyn's rest was over. She had slept, she had woken, and now the day demanded her. "Then let's go see what he has caught," she said. She took Kai's hand. Together they left the quiet room and started down the winding stair, toward whatever waited in the golden hall below.