Chapter 70: THE HIDDEN CAVE

“Eldarion? What are you doing here?” I was so confused. He walked up to me and picked up the fish along with the arrow given to me. How is it even possible that he can see me?

“I'm just trying to survive, princess.” He turned and left. I let out a small laugh; it seems rudeness is still his middle name.

“Oh my God, I have missed you, princess,” Albina said, running towards me with her hands spread wide open. She attempted to hug me, but her arms went through my body, which left her shocked.

“Really?” I asked her with one eyebrow raised.

“What happened to you, princess?” She curiously asked as she kept swinging her arms in and out of me. I don't know why she has to be so freaking annoying. I stormed off to meet Elba.

“How come all elves can see me but humans can't?” I questioned her.

“That's because you are the one who thinks you are invisible when you have a body.”

“I don't understand; I don't have a body.”

“Then what is she?” She asked, pointing at Alda.

"Oh.” That was the only word that left my mouth.

“You are practically not a full spirit since you have a body you are cultivating. So that means you can be seen, but if you are without a body, no one can see you.” 

“Why was she not able to touch me?” I asked, referring to Albina trying to hug me.

“I don't know, princess; you can't possibly think I know everything. I only happen to know the few questions you have asked so far, but that doesn't mean I know everything.” She replied.

"Fine, you don't know everything, but I'm sure you can tell me what these two are doing here.” 

“As you know, their father is a chief, and he is being held captive by your sister. They managed to escape, and they are one of the many survivors here.”

“What do you mean by many survivors?”

“Sometimes I wish you would stop asking questions and be more vigilant like her,” she said, referring to Alda.

"Albina, pack these fish into the baskets; we have many mouths to feed.” It was only then that I noticed the fish packed at the side of the river. 

Albina packed the fish up in a basket while Eldarion carried it. Elba led us through the woods until we arrived at a small village packed with elves.

“Are they the survivors?” Alda asked me.

“I guess.” We were being stared at as we passed. Elba made us stop at some point to share the fish with the elves. I felt touched; they all had a big smile on their faces as they thanked Elba for the fish given to them.

Is this really the future Alma wants for Álfheimr? I can't believe I have been this blind for so long.

“Siofra, it's not your fault, but you can work towards saving everyone.”

“How am I supposed to face them? I never knew that everyone was suffering this much. How am I supposed to stop Alma from causing more damage? I don't even know the first step to take.”

“I think you should start by believing in yourself.”

Believing in myself? Accepting that I am the next queen of Álfheimr, but how? I need time to myself. I start walking away, not sure where I am headed. I saw a little boy standing behind a tree and peeing at me. It was only then that I noticed that I was still holding onto the fish Eldarion gave me.

"Hello,” I said to him, but he ran off and fell. I walked up to him and helped him up. He should be about four or five years old. I caught him looking at the fish; he must have been hungry.

“Do you want this?” He nodded and quickly took the fish from me before running off to meet a lady I assumed to be her mother.

“Are you okay?” Eldarion asked. I knew he followed me when I left, but I was not in the mood to talk to anyone.

“If I said I'm okay, what would that make me?”

“No one here is blaming you for what happened. Every single one of us here is ready to fight by your side as long as you will be our leader.”

“What if I'm not ready?”

“We will still fight back to restore the peace we once had in Álfheimr. You are the new queen of Álfheimr, and it is your duty to lead us through this battle.” I looked up at Eldarion; he still maintained the cold expression on his face.

“I wish I had your courage.”

“Come with me." He started heading towards a house that wasn't so far from us. When we arrived inside the house, I saw an elderly man smithing.

Bows of many shapes, including arrows, were seen all around the room. The same goes with the swords.

“He is one of the eldest men among us, and he is a blacksmith. He volunteered himself to provide us with weapons we could use. Everyone of us here is willing to fight, but having you by their side will be a great help.

“Eldarion, this is a suicide mission. Have you seen the beasts Alma created? They are rocks that can smach us into paste in one hit.”

“Not if we know their weak point. There is someone who has been waiting for your arrival. She instructed me to bring you to her once you are here.”

“Who?” 

“Just follow me." We walked out of the blacksmith’s shop through the back door. Another wooden house was seen at the far end, close to a mountain. When we arrived at the front door, Eldarion knocked, and an elderly woman opened the door. She smiled at her Eldarion before letting us in. Eldarion gave her some fish he had with him before leading me to another room.

“Go in; she is waiting for you.” He said that and left. I wanted to call him back, but he was gone. I was scared, but I stepped in. I saw an elderly woman sitting on a chair, but she had her back on me, so I couldn't quite see her face.

"Hello,” I said, calling for her attention.

“It took you so long to get here,” she said. Her voice was familiar, grandma? I waited patiently for her to face me, and when she finally did, I felt tears running down my cheeks.

"Grandma.” I just rushed into her arms and cried my heart out.

Alda’s POV

I have been following Elba around since Siofra left. She has been walking around, checking up on each of the elves and making sure they all had something to eat.

“You must be hungry and tired; you also need to change that dress.” She said. I'm glad she has finally acknowledged my presence around her. I looked at my dress and couldn't recognise it anymore.

The once-beautiful blue flay dinner gown now looked far from beautiful. It was torn all over and covered with dust.

Elba took me to one of the wooden houses and gave me food and a new dress.

“I know it's not up to the one you were wearing, but this will keep you more warm.

“Thank you, Elba; you are a good person.”

“Don't jump to conclusions just because I gave you food and clothed you. All this is nothing to me.” She was trying to be tough. I wonder how someone like her ended up with a curse.

“You are not a bad person, so stop posing yourself as one. I have been observing you since the first day I met you, and I know you are not a bad person.” I said to her and took a bite off my bread.

“What about you? Are you a bad person?”

“No, but my kindness was used against me, and I lost the only family I have left in this world. What about you? What is your story?

How did you get to be Almaruda?”

“I stole her powers, which were lost in an ancient cave. I never knew it had a curse attached to it; at first I called it a curse, but now I call it a blessing.” 

Her green eyes held lots of emotions. I wanted to ask her more questions but couldn't.

“I need to go see how our warriors are going on with their practice. Do you want to come with me?”

“Yes, I had love to.”

“Wear this; let's go,” she said, placing a pair of boots in front of me. I wore the boot and loved how comfortable I felt in it. It was so comfortable against the skin.

I followed Elba out in excitement. Our very first practice ground was sword practice. The two elves on the fighting field should be about sixteen or seventeen years old. They looked so young and innocent, yet deadly with the sword.

The way they swing around with the sword, like it was some children's play,.

“Wow, they are so skilled.”

“They are getting so many moves wrong. If they are going to fight an army of rocks, then they need to be more perfect.” Elba said.

“Are they really going to fight those monsters?”

“They have to; we need all the help we can get. That’s why we are planning on visiting each village to free the elves that are held captive by those beasts.

We need more warriors if we want to win this battle.”

“But they are so young.”

“I know, but if they want a better tomorrow, then they will have to fight for it.” My heart broke into a thousand pieces for them.

“Elves are good at archery and marksmanship. We can use our bows and arrows even with our eyes closed. Sword practice is just an additional skill, just in case.

So tell me, are you good at archery?”

“Not really, but I can learn if you are willing to teach me.”

“If I'm willing to teach you, but are you willing to learn? ”

“Yes”

"Fine, I will be your teacher, but first we need to discuss our next move with someone.”

“Who?”

“Siofra's grandmother.” My eyes widened in shock; she found her.

“You found her!.”

“Actually, she found me. She is the one who figured this place out. It seems like she already knows something like this will happen. A situation where the queens can't help us. We can only save ourselves.”

“Where is she? Siofra will be more than happy to see her.”

“I think they have already met. I instructed Eldarion to make sure of that. But we need to join them for a little meeting. It won't be long before the portal opens.”