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Video name: Zach Hemsey - The way

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Alena's P.O.V

"They refused to talk about your father." Said Art staring at Ardal. "For some odd reason, they wouldn't allow us to understand what actually happened on this mountain. Even king Leonidas doesn't know that one of his knights is missing, even better he's dead."

Ardal took a deep breath before he spoke, "I don't understand when you'll take a hint and shut the hell up!" He roared.

I reached for a fresh tart Mary had packed for our journey and slowly moved closer to the tensed knights. As the night fell Leon knew better he had to stop. A thick mist was surrounding us, but I never understood why wouldn't fly and end this.

I faced Leon, there was a distant look clouding his eyes. But once he felt my eyes were fixed on him, he gazed back at me right away.

"Why won't we fly?" I asked in a hushed voice.

"That what killed Drake. Who ever's terrorizing this forests knew his weakness when they learned his secret. I can't do the same mistake." He said calmly. "We can't ride now. Look around us princess, the think mist is everywhere, I can't risk my men's like and mounts for my arrogance." He added grimly.

As I was about to move away from then, Ardal touched my shoulders lightly, stopping me.

"Don't leave, my lady. You better stay near us. You don't want a creep you steal you, do you?" He asked smugly.

"I'm afraid they already did," I said with a small smile covering my lips, drawing a high laughter from the knights.

Leon closed his eyes once again, and slowly I saw Cain reaching us slowly. He snatched the whiskey jug from Art, handing it to me. "Drink, it will keep you warm," he added.

Before the jug touches my hands Leon snatched it, drinking the whole thing. "I don't think my dear princess can drink such things."

I had no choice but to nod, weakly. A worried expression spread across my face when Leon moved into the woods without a single word.

Art leaned closer to fire camp as he spoke, "Some said that they still can hear the bleeding of all the victims in this forest. They can hear their pleading for mercy when the mist becomes so dense." He said as he looked around then his eyes were fixed on Ardal.

Ardal was beyond annoyed as he spoke, "The only thing that people will talk about is the hair of a weird looking creature who was cut into tiny little pieces with my own hands if you didn't shut your big mouth."

Art ignore Art as he moved closer to me, asking, "do you believe in ghost, my lady?"

Before I could speak I could feel the weight of something on my shoulder. "My dear princess, wasn't raised like us men. She's a lady, after all, she comes from a very well known royal family." He said mockingly.

"But if I remembered correctly, our queen Violet is just like us." Argued Art.

Leon laughed heartily when he heard Art, "My mother is different Art. She lived like a stable boy to hide don't get me started. Both of them come from different households. My mother was raised as a lady and a warrior at the same time."

I couldn't help but to listen. Leon was so proud to be the son of Violet, the way he spoke about her showed love and admiration.

"No, I don't believe in ghost," I said slowly.

Leon nearly shocked as he stared back at me. "After everything that happened and all those angry dead armies, you still don't believe in ghosts?" He asked in disbelieve.

"No, I don't believe in them. They are here because of magic that's the only reason. Strong black magic for protection Leon. The dead are gone and that is their shadow remains."

"They are ghosts," He argued.

"You are a group of ignorant men who doesn't understand the basic things in magic so don't try to argue with me," I said shooting him a dark look.

"Wait did she just call us ignorants?" Asked Art like a three years old.

"If you weren't ignorant you would've known that she was talking about us." Said Ardal. "Sometimes I wonder how you manage to survive this long with your fly brain."

Then unearthly cries started to echo through the forest. I was so frightened, I had the urge to leap into Leon's Arms.

"There's no need to worry, that was just a wildcat," He said in a sleepy voice. Then he turned to face Art. "Why don't you go on with your stupid tales, maybe they'll help me sleep. After all the princess is not afraid of ghosts." He said locking his eyes with mine.

I cleared my throat and right away everyone's eyes were on me. "So you count yourself strong men with your gossips and love for tales?"

Leon's eyes narrowed before he spoke, "We aren't in the ancient maze princess." He hissed. "Out here words are such a strong thing and the truth is even worst. It can kill, so don't say another word if you value your pathetic life." He added bitterly.

I challenged him as I crawled closer to him. "Why? Did the harsh truth killed your mother before?" I asked knowingly.

"It looks like you can't hold your tongue even if you tried and if you wanted to know the truth then you'll get it."

Leon closed his eyes slowly as if he was recalling the memory. "When a young Princess called Violet was collecting lilies, she found an injured dragon. Their friendship may look harmless at the time until they made a huge mistake."

"What did they do?" I asked.

"They fell in love." There was grimness in his voice.

I shook my head, "why was that a huge mistake?"

"Because they were born to be enemies. My mother was the daughter of Hector Knight a Legend and my father is a well-known man for a very long time."

A wave of shock started to control my body. I knew what happened to Queen Violet, but never I've never imagined that she was the granddaughter of Rosalie. One of the strongest Queen's who ruled before she was killed by a traitor.

Leon's eyes were staring into the thin air, "Every time, Violet managed to escape her grandmother's eye, she would meet him, This kept happening until my father made my mother his Queen and the mother of his children."

"But I knew for a fact that Rosalie won't allow her grand-daughter to walk away like that," I whispered.

"Rosalie, never gave up on her grand-daughter. My father made a huge mistake long ago or that what Rosalie believed." He said taking a deep breath.

"What did he do?" I asked.

"That's not my story to tell, princess. When you meet my mother, if you ever did, you can ask her."

I remained quite accepting defeat for once, but that doesn't explain why this place was haunted. "Then why do you fear this mountain."

"I told you drake was killed here, they found his blood and armour, but they never found his body. Other men tried to walk this forest and mountains and they've never returned.

"You know what! I think wildcats and creatures are hunting in these grounds, Leon. That's all."

Even though I said earlier that I don't believe in ghost, and the weird sinister of darkness, while laying on my side in the middle of this forest, watching the light mist creeping toward me, creating different forms, but one was clear. I could see a hollow-eyed skull and a young dragon, they were inviting me to get up from my warm bedroll.

I turned to face the other side, I couldn't believe this was happening. I knew that I got a destiny to fulfil it, but things started to get more complicated.

I was kidnapped by a group of dragons. Who I knew that I should fear more than a fearless ghost.

Or like that suffering man who was staring into the dancing flames. The almost empty jug of whisky dangled from his strong fingers.

Leon knights were snoring lightly, leaving him to face this dark mountain all alone. His features held no fear as the shadows played over his strong jaw line. I couldn't help but wonder what he was seeing in those burning flames.

Did he see the face of the young foolish princess who gave her heart to the black dragon? Did he saw how she trusted her enemy?

Did he see how the black dragon suffered for a crime he never committed? Endless armies were after his blood and a woman blinded by hatred and pain were her only drive?

Did Leon have the right to trade her for the Ancient Maze? Why couldn't I find the strength to hate him even when I knew what he was going to do?

But what if Alvin refused to gave Leon the throne, I knew that I'll be the one to pay the price. I knew that I'll be the one left to collect the broken pieces. I knew I would never look at Alvin the way I looked at Leon. Would I be just like my mother restless ghost roaming this world? Would I be punished like that?

Another sharp shiver ran across my body. This time, it wasn't because of the ghost, it was for the sake of my child. I knew that my heart may never survive this.

However, here in this haunted wood, I was comforted by the sight of him. By the thought that Leon was watching over them all. My tired started to feel heavy and soon they were shut.

A piercing cry shattered the peaceful silence. I wasn't sure how long I dozed, I sat upright. I felt alarmed. The cry was the same one we heard earlier, but this time, it was terribly closer. And there was no doubt that it was a suffering woman's scream. It sounded like a cry of a woman who was about to lose everything she held dear and there wasn't anything she could do about it.

I pressed a hand to my stomach. I looked around checking the knights, they were still sleeping soundly. With eyes felt with tears I scanned the forest, thinking that maybe the cry was an ego that still played in my head because of a nightmare I just had.

I glanced over, searching for Leon, but he wasn't facing the fire anymore. I turned to the other side trying to find Ardal, but he wasn't in his bedroll either.

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"Leon," I whispered as I moved slowly through the dense underwood surrounding our small camp. "Leon, are you out there?"

My hushed words were met with ultimate silence. But I was grateful, as I wasn't met with that dreadful cry. If I had I would leap out of Art's boots.

I moved aside the thick trees, taking few steps into the wood. The white mist started to move in a weird way, it was playful as if it was her silent guide in this forest.

Goddess of fire, we don't want to harm you. Go back, this is not your war.

Something whispered to me, I took a deep breath. My heart was flapping like a bird, yet I felt a strength spreading through my body. I didn't understand it at all, but it made me feel stronger.

"This is my fight!" I hissed. "The moment my path crossed Leon's it became my war," I answered in a firm voice.

The idea of Leon here all alone with Ardal made my blood run cold. I didn't have the heart to turn back and leave them to face their doom.

I looked over my shoulder and saw the campfire it was still close. Then I heard a loud crack, like that of a boot snapping a branch, I turned my head around. "Leon, are you out there?" I called softly. "Leon?"

The forest seemed to hold t breath as if it was an old sinister watching what was about to happen. Didn't I argue earlier that Ghosts are not real? But right now, I take all that back.

What if this wood was cursed? What if that cry was nothing but a trap? A trap to lure the foolish to their doom. Could this be the reason behind Drake's death?

I couldn't help but wonder if I was about to be next. I knew that I had to go back to the camp as I started to have this uneasy feeling running within me.

Yet, when I turned around the campfire vanished. As the dense white mist surrounded me, making it impossible for me to track my steps back to the camp.

My heart started to bang against my chest, I wanted to scream, but something stopped me. I was afraid that I would be answer with another cry.

I moved slowly among the misty forest, kneeling aware of the irony of my situation. I was worried that Leon might return to the camp only to find me missing. He would never believe that I was running to him, he would think that I was running away from him.

I tried to calm myself, I shouldn't worry because before I knew it I will be back in my warm bedroll.

Soon my hope started to die as I felt, I was moving in circles. The mist was making it very hard to tell where I was going and for a fact I knew that I was lost.

I was lost in my terrifying thoughts until I heard another twig cracked. I froze, holding my breath. Was it my imagination playing tricks on me. Were there steady footsteps following me? Was the mist keeping them hidden?

I couldn't help but think that there were scary creatures following me, and I might not be alone after all.

I couldn't help, but to wonder was the mist dense on the night Ardal's father's died? Had someone sneaked on him without warning? Was he hunted like an animal within this forest?

A shrill yowl sounded in my ears, I turned around slowly and saw yellow eyes gazing down at me in the darkness.

I couldn't stop the scream to escape my lips, growing through the mist.

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Leon's P.O.V

I really hated this place.

I was willing to risk my own neck along with the dragons and my knights, but I couldn't risk, Alena's and my child's life. If they weren't with us, I would've left this forest by now, but they meant the world to me.

I was far away from our camp, but even on a dark night and with the heavy mist I could find my way easily.

I couldn't help but to think about Alena, she was bold enough to ask about my history and Ardal's. I fed her nothing but lies. I told her that I didn't fear ghost, but in reality, I believed in them and feared them as well.

I knew that this wood wasn't cursed, but I was. I knew that I had to find Drake, Ardal's father's. I had a feeling that he was still alive somewhere. I knew that I had to find him to find peace because I own this much to Ardal as well.

I had no fear of the mist moving through the forest. Then I froze in my place, there was a sharp cry disturbing the silent forest. Yet, it wasn't a cry of the night. It was a chilling scream of a woman.

I was terrified because the scream didn't come from beneath me. But when I looked around I saw a figure, flying out of the forest, heading straight into my arms.

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