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"I've had victories and I've had losses. and I've learned that it's the losses that require us to be brave." - King Arthur
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Bailey lightly kissed Tristan's forehead before pouring a fistful of dirt over his lifeless body. She used a pocketknife to carve an intricate design into the wooden plank beside him. A tree stood in the center of branches and roots that curled around it and connected to one another, creating a never-ending cycle.

"I can hear horses in the distance," Robin warned. "Bailey, we need to go."

With a quivering lip, Bailey wiped the tears from her face with her dirty hands and said her final goodbyes to Tristan. "There will be justice for you," Bailey whispered in a shaky voice before tracing the tree design with her finger. "A vita ad mortem, pacem invenies." She spoke a soft "I love you" before burying her face in Robin's chest.

Robin slowly led her to the horses, helping her onto one of them as Aura took the reins.

Their steeds quickly fled the fiery town, eager to be free of the ashy, polluted air. As they rode, Bailey wrapped her arms around Aura, sobbing into her shoulder. As the sun went down, Bailey's eyes finally dried and she fell into a light slumber until they found suitable spot for camp.

That night Bailey didn't join them around the fire, instead opting to sit by herself in the moonlight.

Each night that followed as they traveled to the Crystian palace, Bailey woke in a cold sweat from a nightmare, and each night, she would sharpen her sword by the campfire, her eyes trained on the flickering flames. She hardly spoke a word as her three friends theorized ways to obtain the Letters of Destiny, her mind numbed by the pain.

"Hey, Bailey," Aura cautiously approached her friend on their third night of travel. "Is there anything I can do for you?"

Bailey shook her head but cleared her throat before Aura could walk away. "I'm sorry. I know that stakes are high, and I need to focus."

Aura's eyebrows furrowed as she placed a hand on Bailey's shoulder. "No, don't worry about it. You should take all the time you need to grieve."

The brunette nodded, her neutral expression morphing into a sorrowful one before she let out a soft sob.

"Bailes..." Aura trailed off in a whisper, pulling Bailey into a tight embrace and petting her head.

"How am I supposed to tell my mother that her youngest child is dead? I couldn't find my father's body, that should give me hope—but it doesn't. What if Hunter brought him to Onyx and she killed him right on the spot?"

Aura pulled away and looked into Bailey's eyes. "We will find your father, alright?" She held out her pinky finger. "I promise."

A small smile that didn't reach her eyes formed on Bailey's lips as she half-heartedly twisted her smallest finger with Aura's.

Carolyn watched them from a distance, her knees tucked to her chest. Her posture straightened as Robin sat next to her. "How can someone do that—and to a little kid?"

Robin shrugged. "Some people are just purely evil at heart. That's why we've gotta keep going."

"I don't think I know how to keep going at this point," Carolyn stated bluntly with a sigh, her eyes meeting Robin's. "How many more people are Onyx and her minions gonna kill? How many more innocent children?" Carolyn looked down as her voice broke through her last words.

Robin gave her a sad smile before putting an arm around her shoulders. "Come here." He wrapped her into a warm hug, resting his chin on top of her head.

Carolyn slowly stirred awake the next morning to the sound of birds chirping. Her eyes traveled along the tree line as the forest buzzed with wildlife activity. Carolyn turned her head to see Robin sleeping next to her, his arm still around her small frame. She quickly pushed away from his body and could feel her face heat up with embarrassment. The blonde quietly tip-toed out of the camp, stretching her legs as she took a short walk through the woods.

The colossal cedar trees slowly parted, Carolyn pushing past the prickly green branches to see the path in front of her. She let out a shriek as she reached the end of the trail, nearly falling fifty feet off a cliff. Once she had regained control of her breathing, Carolyn slowly looked up.

For miles in front of her, there were few trees blanketing the plush, green land. Carolyn's breath hitched in her throat as her hazel eyes admired a towering, golden castle in the far distance. It appeared small from where she stood, but if it was anything like Fabula's other palaces, it would surely have a substantial dose of magnificence up close.

The castle had many crystalline towers attached to it, the highest one spouting light from its tip like a second sun high in the morning sky.

Carolyn smiled brightly, in awe of the palace's beauty. She quickly dashed back to camp, tearing her friends from their slumber and clamoring to gather their belongings before darting back to the cliff.

"Isn't that the Crystian castle?" Carolyn asked, receiving an affirming nod from Robin.

"I don't think I've ever seen anything so beautiful," Aura muttered.

The four friends quietly trekked towards the palace of gold and crystal; their view unobstructed as they traveled through the small valley. Towering mountains loomed above them as the smell of wildflowers overtook their senses.

They eventually entered through another dense forest that led uphill. The plush, mossy ground sunk ever so slightly as the horses trotted through the wilderness. The soft commotion of echoing voices reached their ears as they neared the bustling town of Caeshire. As they made their way out of the woods, the trees grew shorter in height and were colored a more dull, sickly shade of green.

They traveled alongside a murky river that led them into town, which was brimming with people of all ages. Caeshire seemed to be a hub for business and trading, its multitude of shops filled with citizens of various occupations. It was the largest town they had come across, but it looked like a humble village compared to the towering castle that stood behind it.

The friends scrambled to adjust to the chaotic town's energy and multitude of bodies as they reached Caeshire's gates, their eyes used to only seeing trees from their past few days of travel. They pulled their hoods over their heads as they led their horses into the city, quickly finding a stable to keep attention diverted from themselves.

Their boots clopped against the dark stone streets as every one of their senses was awakened by the swarm of new sights and smells.

Thousands of people migrated through the streets. Farmers hulled their fresh produce to awaiting stalls while dressmakers sat in the shop windows sewing beautiful gowns.

Despite the glowing faces that surrounded him, Robin couldn't help but notice the families in rags that sat at every corner, shaking empty tin cans with pleading eyes.

As the three girls walked in front of him, Robin's ears perked up at every jangle of coins and his eyes trained on the canvas pouches that hung from the belts of well-dressed men that he passed.

"Pardon me," he said as he bumped into a man in a fine suit, his nimble fingers grabbing a small handful of coins from the man's moneybag.

A sense of nostalgia washed over Robin as his pickpocketing skills resurfaced after what seemed like years of hibernation. He gleefully approached one beggar after another, dropping a small pile of coins into their hands or bowls.

When he finally caught up with the twins and Bailey, a single mother in a tattered cloak with sunken features and her young son captured his attention. The small boy resembled more of a skeleton than a child and clung to his mother as his large brown eyes watched the countless people passing him without batting an eye.

Robin sneakily grabbed two small bread rolls from a baker's cart before approaching the duo.

The mother wrapped her arm around her child and brought him close, slinking back into the little cover her cloak brought her.

Robin offered them a small smile before handing them the pastries and dumping more than twenty gold coins into her shabby bonnet on the pavement in front of her.

Aura, Bailey, and Carolyn turned around when the boy gave Robin a high-pitched, "Thank you, sir!"

Bailey watched the little boy with bated breath as memories from only a few months prior flashed before her eyes. An echo of laughter.... a gap-toothed smile. Soon the little boy morphed into the person Bailey longed to see the most. "Tristan..."

Tears welled up in her eyes, but as she took a step toward him a hand wrapped itself around her arm.

"Bailey," Aura whispered. "He's gone."

Bailey stopped as Tristan morphed back into the poor little boy, her heart sinking as her mind stopped its cruel joke. Her body started to tremble as the tears finally spilled. She was quickly wrapped in a tight hug as Aura whispered sweet comforts in an attempt to calm her down.

They trudged forward as Bailey tried to recompose herself. She pulled her cloak's hood lower over her face as she attempted to steady her breathing.

The four joined the sea of people as they crossed over a lengthy, arched stone bridge that passed over a ravine with a rushing river below.

When they reached the other side, their eyes were met with rows of brightly colored stalls that sold trinkets and goods from what seemed like every kingdom in Fabula. Even from the entrance of the marketplace, the four could see royal guards in gold armor patrolling the path that led to the castle's grand doors.

"Well shit," Carolyn mumbled, crossing her arms as she mentally counted the number of soldiers she saw. Forty? Seriously? That's a little much...

Robin's skilled greens surveyed the marketplace as he and the girls slowly made their way closer to the palace. Every path he could find that led even somewhat close to the castle had a least one guard planted with their hand on their sword. A small smile formed when he saw a small group of women depart on a beaten dirt trail at the back corner of the market. They wore simple garments but carried whickered baskets filled with fresh produce and cloth.

He whistled for the twins and Bailey to follow him as he set off down the trail.

Small cherry blossom trees lined the pathway, but they were no match for the ones they had seen in La Vie Meadow. Even though it was still spring, the trees looked as if they were ready to go into hibernation. Very few of the pale pink petals still clung to the drooping branches and those that had already fallen crunched underneath their boots.

As the dirt path rounded an ivy-covered stone wall, Robin, the twins, and Bailey were met with the entrance to the Crystian palace's servants' quarters.

An overwhelming aroma of bleach and roses invaded their noses as men and women of all ages scurried around tubs of scalding hot water filled with sheets and gowns.

An older, slender woman with a crooked nose stopped the four before they could even step one foot inside. "You are the newly enlisted, correct?"

"Um...yes ma'am!" Aura said quickly.

"Where are your uniforms? I could have sworn I asked Darcy to deliver them."

"I'm afraid not," Robin answered curtly, subtly covering Excalibur's scabbard with his cloak.

The older woman sighed. "Why am I not surprised." She pinched the bridge of her nose before waving the four of them in. "Come on, I haven't got all day." She walked past a wooden bench and threw a small pile of clothes behind her without looking. "You will call me Madame Blanche. Once you are changed you are to report to me immediately, understood?"

"Yes ma'am!" Carolyn said, trying her best not to roll her eyes in case the woman had a pair in the back of her head.

The four of them quickly changed into their uniforms. Carolyn instantly hated the scratchy brown fabric of the long-sleeve dress and the coarse apron she was forced to cinch around her waist.

Robin walked out wearing a simple, loose cream tunic with canvas pants and shoes of the same material. He quickly stashed their satchels and Excalibur behind a covered bench as the old woman approached them.

Madame Blanche tossed the three girls matching bonnets and did not look away until each had their's securely tied around their heads. She led them to a wall with two large wooden doors on either side of a detailed map of the castle. "You are to take those vases to Her Majesty's chambers. Use the servant's staircases as much as possible—Her Majesty does not like when you trail dirt on the floors," she ordered, pointing to four black vases filled with dark purple roses.

Fitting, Carolyn thought as she eyed the flower arrangements.

"Do not dilly-dally or you'll be fired faster than you can pluck a flower." Madame Blanche curtly nodded her head before shooing them off and turning her attention to a poor maid who dropped freshly clean linens onto the floor.

Robin quickly retrieved their belongings as Bailey scoured the map for their next destination.

"Felicity said that the letters are somewhere in the nursery which is..." she extended her finger to a small room in the northeast corner of the palace, "there."

"Then let's go," Carolyn said before picking up one of the vases, faltering at its unexpected weight.

The four followed a group of maids who walked through a torch-lit, windowless corridor.

"This is where we'll find the stairs to Her Majesty's chambers, correct?" Bailey called. The three young women gave her a strange look. "Sorry, we're new," she added.

"I can tell," the tallest said curtly as she pushed open a small wood door, flooding the hallway with sunlight from the other room. She gestured behind her with a nod of her head. "The stairs are at the end of the hall. Hope you don't get dizzy easily, it's a long way up. Look for the door with the key etched into it."

The second all of the other servants exited the hall; Carolyn's hand flew to her head and tore off her bonnet.

Aura gulped as they approached a narrow, spiraling staircase. She couldn't even see the top despite the torches. "This is even taller than Aurora's tower!"

"Well then let's get climbing," Bailey huffed as she led them up.

Around and around they went, their path barely visible in the torchlight. They passed floor after floor up the seemingly endless stairs.

Bailey let out a relieved sigh as she dragged her aching legs off the stairs and onto the stone floor, a dark wood door with a small key etched into it in front of her.

It took a few seconds for their eyes to adjust to the bright sunlight that streamed into the hallway the second the door left its frame.

A wide hallway with a towering, stained glass ceiling welcomed them from the dark servant's passages. A royal purple runner ran down the middle of the light stone floors. Beautifully crafted paintings hung on the stone walls. However, no matter how much light was let in, a thin blanket of cold darkness lingered over the space.

Bailey led them down the hallway, looking around each corner they passed in precaution until coming up on the right one.

A single, white door sat at the end of the short side corridor. A spectrum of rainbows reflected from the ceiling's glass danced on the door's surface and bounced off of its smooth brass handle.

Bailey gently placed her vase of flowers on the floor before approaching the door. She let out a frustrated sigh when she turned the handle, but it didn't budge.

"Allow me," Robin said, plucking a bobby pin from Carolyn's hair and kneeling down to become eye level with the door's lock. He slid the pin into the keyhole and began to wiggle it back and forth. Within seconds, the door let out a soft click and slightly opened.

Time seemed to stand still as Robin pushed the door open the rest of the way.

Blanketed in years' worth of cobwebs and dust sat two identical cribs, each with a fawn painted onto the headboard. Mobiles with golden suns hung from the ceiling above the cribs. Golden candelabras sat on light wood nightstands that were placed next to each crib, with a white rocking chair placed in the corner farthest from the stained-glass window. Lavender curtains were tucked on either side of the window, with designs of birds and butterflies adorning the glass pane. Behind the rocking chair stood a small bookshelf littered with toys and a small library of children's stories.

Aura walked over to the shelf with trembling legs. While everything was covered in a thick layer of dust, one book stood out amongst the rest. Its body seemed to be untouched by time, with a large sketch of a butterfly sat in the middle of the brown leather spine. Aura pulled it out and ran her fingers over the smooth green cover and black Tree of Life design.

Carolyn joined her and flipped open the front cover to be greeted by a thick pile of aged parchment. She opened one of the folded pieces of paper and smiled as she read. "We found the letters, guys." Her eyes widened as she picked up the entire pile.

On the title page of the book, a note written in the most beautiful handwriting stared back at the twins.

Aura let out a shaky breath before reading the note inscribed on the aging parchment:

To our beautiful twins, our gift for your Christening is this collection. These stories of our world are our heritage, our past. One day we hope the magic in your souls shall be strong enough to add your own stories to this collection. We love you with all our hearts, your mother and father,Felicity & Anthony

"Mom and Dad were supposed to read these stories to us every night to get us to fall asleep..." Aura choked out as she skimmed the pages of vibrant drawings and stories with happy endings. "But they couldn't...they never got the chance..."

"Hey," Carolyn soothed, rubbing her hand against her sister's arm. "We have everything we need. We're about to set things right."

Hello Lovelies!
We're finally here in Caeshire and in the Crystian palace! 
Okay so we're not going to torture you guys as much in the tear-jerker department for much longer, but not gonna lie that note from Felicity & Anthony do be kinda sad...but now we're at the final stretch of their mission!

QOTD: If you can remember it, what was your favorite gift you received from your parents as a kid?

Until next chapter!
♡ Melody & Rebekah ♡