After walking through one forest after another for a solid three hours, the empress spoke up. 

 "I'm sorry to be a bother, but we need to stop my legs are weak." She said.

 "No problem. The dark realms weaken everything the longer you're there."  Magellan said, pausing for a moment. 

"That's how ultimate darkness works... We can stop wherever you like." 

     The empress nodded, and found the closest huge tree.

"There's good." She said pointing at an old oak with golden-glitter leaves. 

Magellan and Amberosia nodded and followed along behind the empress and sat with her under the large oak tree.

"Here, you may need to eat something." Amberosia offered, handing her two large muffins. 

"Thanks. I'm sure you're right." Ralvania said.

"She is right. As you eat and time passes, you'll be fine. Think of it as a soul's hangover." He said.

                      Then out of nowhere the three of them were struck in the top of the head with large sticks. Magellan looked up to see if it happened to be just fallen branches. Looking far up the tree, sat a forest creature. It looked to be a tree dwarf, short with dark brown hair and dulled grey eyes. The little thing wasn't any bigger than Sage.

  "What's that for?" He yelled at the dwarf.

"Move it, or rock will be next! Git!" The tree dwarf shouted.

Magellan could have easily drained him, but didn't want to in present company. 

"Should we just move?" He asked the witches.

"Come on." Ralvania said.

 The three walked about a quarter mile and sat back down on the forest floor near a patch of blue raspberry ferns, with the delicate lilacs in bloom. 

"Here, miss." Amberosia said, handing her a small vile. 

"What potion is it?" She asked.

 "Healing. I thought it might help you." She replied.

"I'm sure it will, good thinking." 

             Amberosia hugged her, so happy to have the empress safe. The castle hadn't felt the same without her, like an emptiness had stormed through the castle in her place.