The Silver Rose by Sierra White
I shouldn’t be out here. Many of my kin have warned against leaving Jubilia at night. The protection spells around the city don’t extend into the forest. However, I was trained well by the teacher at the school of sword, so I have my bearings and the sapphire encrusted sword belted at my hip for protection. I’m not concerned. Still, I’m not reckless. I know that my auburn hair and pale skin make me an easy target, so I stick to the shadows and avoid the moonlight. I can’t be caught out here; I have reasons for being out at this hour. The leaning, towering trees beckoned to me, urging me into the forest to join them. I risk it because I know I must be destined for something greater than the existence I currently lead. As a princess of Jubilia, I have many duties I have to attend to, duties I would rather ignore. I would much prefer to be sparring with Aloain, the master at the school, or practicing archery in the fields, but mother insists a princess should not partake in such things. If the forest can somehow reveal what I really should be doing, I am willing to venture out and find it.
A twig snaps just then beneath my feet, only a small one, but it alerts my sensitive ears. Their pointed tips reveal much more than a normal human could discern, and I move with the elflike grace of my race to a different shelter behind a thick oak. I listen for others who may have heard me, but hear only the wind sighing through the branches. Cursing myself for being so careless, I continue my flit from shadow to shadow.
The pull I feel in the forest leads me deeper than I have ever ventured before. The moonlight disappears, hidden by the thick leaves swaying over my head. Then the trees begin to look sickly, and then dead altogether. I glance around, suddenly aware of where I am. I’ve reached the edge of Jubilia’s magical aura, and the Dead Forest on the outskirts spans before me. I hesitate. I’ve never left the aura before, and I have heard hundreds of stories from the Wise Ones never to enter the Dead Forest. Any who have, have never returned. The pull I feel in my heart strengthens, as if it notices my hesitation. I finger my sword and rock on my heels. Should I go in? What if I never come out? I spend a long moment deciding, and then finally the desire to find the source of what called me here wins out, and I exit the aura of Jubilia.
I unsheathe my sword and hold it out in front of me. It gives off a faint blue light as all natural light fades. Soon, I can see nothing but the sword’s glow. I swallow nervously, and then shake it off. I should not be afraid. I am a princess, skilled with the blade. Nothing should scare me. Yet, I have never seen darkness so black as that in the Dead Forest. It swallows everything, and the light from my sword does little to penetrate it. I am glad I have it, though. Better to be able to see a little than none at all.
The little that I can see allows me to slip around entangling branches and avoid tripping over bulging tree roots, but it wasn’t enough to warn me of the animal until it was right in front of me. A hulking black wolf with piercing yellow eyes gazed at me from a few paces away. I leapt backward, controlling my screams. I pointed my sword threateningly at it and gazed levelly back. The wolf growled in response to the glowing blade and lunged. I danced out of the way, twirling the sword over my head. I had expected as much. The wolf skidded into the darkness. I spun in a circle, facing every direction with my sword out. The wolf leapt from behind, but I was ready for it. A back flip put me out of the way, and I knew I should just end it now. However, killing any kind of animal went against the values of the elves. I sheathed my sword and quickly planned a way to make the wolf run.
I formed a spell on my lips, and when the wolf came at me again, I released it. A lightning bolt struck the ground a few feet away from it, and it started in shock. Another one hit the ground in front of me, and I snatched it out of the air. It crackled between my fingers and sparked down my whole arm. I grinned at the wolf, daring it to come any closer. Its yellow eyes widened in terror and it whined pitifully before turning and fleeing into the Forest. I released the lightning back to the sky. Lightning was my specialty. It worked every time.
After the encounter with the wolf, I had no other issues in the Dead Forest, except for a small hole in my cloak caused by a trailing bramble the glow of my sword missed. It could easily be fixed, and this was a cloak I had found in the bottom of my trunk. Never had been my favorite. I soon forgot about my cloak as I walked. The pull tugged me on, but I soon realized how far I had gone when I saw light. Had I gone through the entire Dead Forest?
I quickened my pace and burst through the trees, expecting to see a way out. Instead, I was met with a clearing filled with grass, a bubbling stream, and roses growing in a large bunch. I sheathed my sword in what felt like respect for this patch of life in the Dead Forest. I examined the clearing carefully, not wanting to disturb the peace.
The dying rays of the sun actually pierced the cover of trees. A thought occurred to me. I had been outside the city’s boundaries for almost a day. Everyone would be wondering where I was. But the peace of the clearing was so nice; I figured I could stay for a while longer. I scanned the clearing for a place to rest. Eventually I reached the center of the clearing, where on an elevated mound there sat a single, sparkling rose the color of silver.
The moon cut through the trees, reaching its highest point in the sky. The rays illuminated the rose so that it shone with a brilliant light. I stared in wonderment at its beauty. The pull in my heart quickened, and I knew I had found it; the thing that had called me out here. I knew this in the depths of my being. I reached for the rose, and as my hand neared contact with it, the rose seemed to glow ever brighter. I wrapped a hand around the stem to pluck it, and as I did, I realized that this rose had no thorns. I pulled it from the ground, and it slipped like butter from its position.
Even after being plucked, the rose maintained its silvery glow. I leaned forward to smell it, and it lit into a silvery ball, temporarily blinding me. I opened my eyes to the rose spiraling in the sky above my head, glowing brighter with each rotation. When I could no longer look at it, it burst, and the petals drifted towards my right hand. I caught each one in silent wonder. They formed the rose again on my wrist, and after a final flash of light, it went dark.
I stared at my wrist, where the silvery design of the rose was imbedded. It looked as though it had been inked on my skin with rays of the moon. I felt a rush of energy surge through me, and the overwhelming sensation caused me to lose consciousness. The last image I saw was of the rose before the ground rose up to meet me.
I awoke around midday flat on my back in a bush of roses. I straightened and looked at the sky, squinting. My eyes grew wide. It was now my second day out of the city. I had to get back. I got up stiffly, though I didn’t feel tired. I felt like I could run for years. However, I dreaded entering the Dead Forest again. Even in the daytime, it had been pitch black. After all, I had entered the clearing as the sun was setting. I ran a hand through my now tangled hair. There was no other way to go, I rationalized. Then I remembered the events of the last night, and glanced at my wrist. Sure enough, wrapped around my wrist with swirling silver designs, the mark of the silver rose shone. I was curious about the mark and the significance of finding the rose, but at the moment, I had to get back to Jubilia. The only question was which way do I go? Eventually I unsheathed my sword and chose a path.
But the minute I began to enter the forest, the mark on my wrist turned to fire. I grabbed at my wrist and cried out, dropping my sword. I raised my hand to my face and examined the mark. It was glowing red, the color making the designs look like blood. I picked up my sword and tried to ignore the fiery pain, but a few more steps in the same direction and I was writhing on the ground. Oh, I can’t go on like this. I thought, and with that thought the pain abruptly stopped. The rose faded back to its silvery color, and I managed to get to my feet.
My instincts told me not to continue in that direction, so I turned away. I chose the opposite direction, and the same thing happened. The rose turned an angry red color and sent tendrils of fiery pain up my arm and whole body. I understood that the rose was trying to help me. As I backed away from that direction, the pain and color faded once again. I turned to my right and took a few tentative steps forward. Nothing happened. The rose remained silver. I kept walking, and still nothing. When I reached the edge of the forest, I paused. The rose was getting cooler, sending swathes of refreshing ice up my arm. I took this to be a sign and chose that direction. However much I dreaded venturing back into the Dead Forest, at least now I had a guide.
When I entered the Dead Forest again, the darkness swallowed me. I despised this pitch black darkness that nothing penetrated. I found I could see nothing. Just as I was about to take out my sword, the rose sent soothing tendrils up my arm. I paused. It was brightening, and radiating its powerful silvery glow. Soon my whole body was surrounded with a silver aura, and I could suddenly see everything. I felt an enormous wave of relief. Filled with the same burst of energy I had felt when I first received this gift, I took off running through the Dead Forest, exercising no caution. It felt like I was flying.
I was a beacon, shining blissful light on everything in my path. Given my pace and the ability to see, I emerged from the Dead Forest before the sun had set. As I entered the magical aura of Jubilia, the rose faded to its original silver with a tingle of cold. It was as if it knew I was safe. I tucked that arm into my cloak, not wanting anyone to see it who didn’t have to. I would show it to the Healer, Izilda, first. Maybe she could tell me what it was.
No longer having to be careful, I made my way with the speed of an elf back to the city. When I burst through the front gates, there were massive cheers and cries of “She’s back!” and “Princess Ezmea is alive!” My people all rushed at me, eyes shining, and started singing. I smiled at them all. Then I gave them my apologies and told them I must speak with Izilda. They parted for me, forming a path, and I hurried through it, one hand wrapped protectively around the rose on my wrist.
When I entered Izilda’s home, she enveloped me in a hug. “Oh, my dear Ezmea,” Was all she said. I hugged her back fiercely, then told her about the pull that had led me to the Dead Forest and about my adventure, leaving out the rose until the end. She cupped my chin in her frail hand and examined my face. “Ezmea, your eyes!” she gasped, backing up.
I was confused. “What about my eyes?” I asked. She pointed to the mirror over her table. I walked over to it, and was shocked by what I saw. My normally crystal blue eyes were now startlingly silver.
“You did not tell me the whole story,” she said, eyeing me warily. I sighed and nodded.
“No Izilda, I did not. I found something in the Dead Forest.” I pulled back my sleeve and showed her the rose. She covered her mouth with her hand.
“My dear,” she said when she found her tongue. “You found the Silver Rose.”
I nodded, in shock as to how she knew. I told her the rest of the story, and her eyes grew ever wider.
“It’s just like the legends foretold,” she said quietly, staring at me.
I had never heard these legends. I asked her to explain. She took a deep breath.
“Once, long ago, there was a powerful elven wizard named Danabi. He was the greatest student the older wizards had ever seen, but he had dark aspirations. He wanted to become the king’s heir because the king had no children. Danabi thought that by extending the magical aura of Jubilia out to the rest of the forest, the king would surely make him his heir. He spent many years working on a spell to stretch the aura, and when he thought he had perfected it, he went to the border and began the incantation. You see, changing the border is something only a royal can perform, and Danabi was not royalty. When he tried to stretch the aura’s border, it snapped, letting loose an explosion of energy that stripped every leaf from the trees, destroying the land, and killing Danabi in the process.
This area came to be known as the Dead Forest, and none were permitted to enter. It is a maze of haunting and dark beings. However, there is another side to this story. It is said that the king greatly mourned the loss of Danabi, and laid a white rose at the edge of the forest in memory of him. Danabi’s spirit entered the rose, hoping to find salvation, and in turn it became silver. The rose soon faded, never to be seen again. The king received a dream about the wizard, and in it Danabi expressed his sorrow for the lost forest. He explained to the king that the one who possessed the spirit to restore the forest would be given the silver rose. Many years passed, and in time, elves began to wonder if the Dead Forest would ever live again. But now here you are, Ezmea, and you bear the mark of the Silver Rose! Easing Danabi’s grief will return the forest to its normal state. But grief is a powerful thing, my dear. Danabi lost everything in that one mistake, everything. Unleashing it could have disastrous results.”
I nodded my understanding. “But it is my destiny, Izilda,” I insisted, clasping her wrinkled hands in my own. “I have to return the Dead Forest to its original state. I owe Danabi that much. His spirit chose me, and that means I have a chance to change the world. It’s certainly better than sitting in a stuffy castle greeting suitors for the rest of my life.” The Rose sparked as though it agreed with me, and I gave the healer a pointed look. Izilda simply shook her head and moved away from me towards the back of her home. She withdrew from a cupboard a bow of gleaming ivory and a quiver of arrows.
“These belonged to your father,” she said, handing them to me. “They will probably come in handy. You can go collect supplies from the kitchens, but I am not sure how long this journey will take.”
I held the bow carefully, as though it were glass. My father’s bow. It truly was like holding a piece of him. I strapped it to my back along with the arrows, and shielded the rose behind the folds of my cloak. “What about Mother?” I asked Izilda. “She won’t let me leave.”
Izilda pointed to the inked rose on my wrist. “I will deal with the queen. That is more important right now than any rule she may have placed. Now go, child, and may the spirits guide you.”
I folded her in an embrace and exclaimed my thanks. She simply shooed me out the door, but I saw the smile on her face before it blocked her from my view with a wooden thud. Spinning on my heel I raced for the palace’s kitchens.
The workers there greeted me with bows and murmurs of “Your Highness,” but I waved them off. “I need provisions for at least a month,” I ordered. They all scrambled to collect them: water, fruit, vegetables, bread. I folded them into a sack I found on the table and slung it over my shoulder. No one questioned what it was for, me being the princess and all. I nodded my thanks and bid them to get back to work. They complied, and I was gone.
I knew Izilda would graciously calm my mother, so I immediately fled the city. I pulled the hood of my cloak over my head as I wove my way through the crowd, careful to avoid bumping into anyone. I finally burst through the front gates and was once again outside. The mark on my wrist came to life upon exiting, sending cooling tendrils up my arm. I touched it with the tip of my finger and felt the pulse of life emanating from its center. Renewed with determination, I raced off, eager to reach the border and begin the greatest task of my life.
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Thanks to my inhuman speed, I arrived at the edge of the woods before long. The Rose pulsed even quicker, urging me inside. The minute I entered, the brilliant light of the Rose returned, illuminating all before me. I’d had a purpose on my way here, but now I wasn’t sure which way to go. What now? I thought, all confidence gone. I didn’t know how to return the life to the forest, much less so where to begin. The Rose simply glowed, offering no direction. I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. Might as well pick a direction. Maybe the Rose will respond then.
I removed the bow from my back and cocked an arrow, then began walking, tensed in expectation of the fiery pain. But it didn’t come. I continued, and nothing happened. Hoping I was going in the right direction, I began to run. The forest became a blur as I leapt logs and cleared withered bushes, flying like a star through the trees. Anytime there was a hint of fire, I shifted direction. My path zigged and zagged, but I trusted the Rose to know where to lead me.
Eventually, I came to a massive tree, stripped of all its leaves. It appeared to have been dead for centuries. I raised my bow and scanned the clearing for signs of life. The wolves, as I had learned upon my first trip here, were vicious. As I made my way around the trunk, there was a low growl. Sure enough, a huge black wolf stared at me with unblinking eyes. I paused, preparing to shoot. The edge of my cloak slipped back, revealing the Rose wreathed around my arm. The wolf stopped growling and dropped its head to its paws as though bowing. I lowered my bow in utter confusion.
The wolf raised its head after a moment, and silver gaze met yellow. The Rose pulsed again, fervently this time, and the glow around me increased. Tipping its head back, the wolf let out a mournful howl that echoed through the forest. A strand of the Rose’s vines uncoiled from my wrist and launched itself at the wolf. I tried to stop it- he was no longer a threat- but it moved like lightning. The gleaming tendril touched the top of his head and remained there, quivering. A deep, rugged voice sounded inside my head.
“Who are you? Why do you bear the Mark?” It took me a moment to realize the voice belonged to the wolf. His gaze, still fixed on me, now glowed with questions. I drew myself up to my full height and mustered all of my courage to reply.
“I am Ezmea, crown princess to the throne of Jubilia. I bear the Mark because I was chosen by the spirit of the wizard Danabi,” my voice faltered under his unwavering stare, but I regained it. “Who are you?”
A sound emitted from his throat, guttural and strange. He was laughing. “Ah, Danabi. He was foolish too. My name, however, is not important. If it was, the reason has been lost to time. I am the Guardian of this tree, the last one of its kind standing in this forest. The last chance the trees have to regain life. Is that why you’re here?”
“Yes, it is,” I replied nervously. The wolf’s voice was imposing enough even without the penetrating stare. I placed the bow back over my shoulder and glanced at the tree.
“Well? What are you waiting for, princess? Save this forest! It has but days left!” The eyes narrowed and a growl slipped between his teeth.
“But, I don’t know how…” I trailed off, expecting fury, but it had passed. The gaze switched to one of contempt.
“Of course you don’t. He didn’t either. One should not attempt things they don’t understand. The results can be deadly.”
I glared down at the Mark on my wrist, pulsing brightly in the gloom. I hadn’t received instructions on how to save the forest. I threw my satchel and the bow on the ground. My month of provisions would do me no good if the forest lost all hope in days. “Some help you are,” I told the blinding light from my wrist. There was a lance of pain up my arm, as though the Rose was angry with me. If there was a way to give this light to the darkness, I would take it. If only—my gaze fell on the bow, gleaming white against the black of the forest floor. I snatched it off the ground and eyed the wolf, filled with an idea. “What if I give it light?” I asked. He tipped his head sideways, curiosity filling his eyes.
“I do not know,” he admitted. “The tree has not known light for centuries.”
“It’s worth a try,” I announced, and notched an arrow. I raised the bow straight and aimed it at the center of the tree. The Mark veritably hummed with power next to my ear. I took a deep breath, and prepared to release. “Grant this forest light,” I whispered. The Mark flared brighter, and unwrapped itself from my hand. It coiled around the arrow in a spiral, and the petals of the Rose became the tail, replacing the feathers.
In awe I released the arrow with a resounding twang. The beam of light soared through the air and came to rest in the center of the trunk, where it seemed to soak into the bark. A ball of light surrounded the tree, and each branch became the purest white. Leaves the color of silver sprouted from them, and were torn away in a fresh breeze. Everywhere they went, life followed. Green leaves burst forth from every tree. Sunlight once again scattered the darkness. A silver leaf landed on the nose of the wolf, and he was surrounded by light too. It entered every inch of his fur and melted all the darkness away. Soon before me stood an incredible white lion with silver eyes. He extended a paw and knelt in the deepest bow. “Princess. You truly are the savior of the forest. Your light has returned me to my true form, uncorrupted by the darkness that held this place. Forgive me for ever doubting you.”
I stood in astonishment of the change around me. I ran to the lion and threw my arms around his neck, burying my face in his thick mane of snow. He rose and pressed his face to my hair. I noticed, through his fur, that the Mark remained on my wrist, though it no longer pulsed with light. When I raised my head from his neck, I noticed something in the distance half hidden by the thick leaves of the trees. A figure of a man hovered over the ground. His robes billowed around him, and his hair floated in a ring around his head. He gave me a nod, and his eyes shone with gratitude. The Mark fluttered gently once more, and I knew that this was the spirit of Danabi, free of his grief at last.
A twig snaps just then beneath my feet, only a small one, but it alerts my sensitive ears. Their pointed tips reveal much more than a normal human could discern, and I move with the elflike grace of my race to a different shelter behind a thick oak. I listen for others who may have heard me, but hear only the wind sighing through the branches. Cursing myself for being so careless, I continue my flit from shadow to shadow.
The pull I feel in the forest leads me deeper than I have ever ventured before. The moonlight disappears, hidden by the thick leaves swaying over my head. Then the trees begin to look sickly, and then dead altogether. I glance around, suddenly aware of where I am. I’ve reached the edge of Jubilia’s magical aura, and the Dead Forest on the outskirts spans before me. I hesitate. I’ve never left the aura before, and I have heard hundreds of stories from the Wise Ones never to enter the Dead Forest. Any who have, have never returned. The pull I feel in my heart strengthens, as if it notices my hesitation. I finger my sword and rock on my heels. Should I go in? What if I never come out? I spend a long moment deciding, and then finally the desire to find the source of what called me here wins out, and I exit the aura of Jubilia.
I unsheathe my sword and hold it out in front of me. It gives off a faint blue light as all natural light fades. Soon, I can see nothing but the sword’s glow. I swallow nervously, and then shake it off. I should not be afraid. I am a princess, skilled with the blade. Nothing should scare me. Yet, I have never seen darkness so black as that in the Dead Forest. It swallows everything, and the light from my sword does little to penetrate it. I am glad I have it, though. Better to be able to see a little than none at all.
The little that I can see allows me to slip around entangling branches and avoid tripping over bulging tree roots, but it wasn’t enough to warn me of the animal until it was right in front of me. A hulking black wolf with piercing yellow eyes gazed at me from a few paces away. I leapt backward, controlling my screams. I pointed my sword threateningly at it and gazed levelly back. The wolf growled in response to the glowing blade and lunged. I danced out of the way, twirling the sword over my head. I had expected as much. The wolf skidded into the darkness. I spun in a circle, facing every direction with my sword out. The wolf leapt from behind, but I was ready for it. A back flip put me out of the way, and I knew I should just end it now. However, killing any kind of animal went against the values of the elves. I sheathed my sword and quickly planned a way to make the wolf run.
I formed a spell on my lips, and when the wolf came at me again, I released it. A lightning bolt struck the ground a few feet away from it, and it started in shock. Another one hit the ground in front of me, and I snatched it out of the air. It crackled between my fingers and sparked down my whole arm. I grinned at the wolf, daring it to come any closer. Its yellow eyes widened in terror and it whined pitifully before turning and fleeing into the Forest. I released the lightning back to the sky. Lightning was my specialty. It worked every time.
After the encounter with the wolf, I had no other issues in the Dead Forest, except for a small hole in my cloak caused by a trailing bramble the glow of my sword missed. It could easily be fixed, and this was a cloak I had found in the bottom of my trunk. Never had been my favorite. I soon forgot about my cloak as I walked. The pull tugged me on, but I soon realized how far I had gone when I saw light. Had I gone through the entire Dead Forest?
I quickened my pace and burst through the trees, expecting to see a way out. Instead, I was met with a clearing filled with grass, a bubbling stream, and roses growing in a large bunch. I sheathed my sword in what felt like respect for this patch of life in the Dead Forest. I examined the clearing carefully, not wanting to disturb the peace.
The dying rays of the sun actually pierced the cover of trees. A thought occurred to me. I had been outside the city’s boundaries for almost a day. Everyone would be wondering where I was. But the peace of the clearing was so nice; I figured I could stay for a while longer. I scanned the clearing for a place to rest. Eventually I reached the center of the clearing, where on an elevated mound there sat a single, sparkling rose the color of silver.
The moon cut through the trees, reaching its highest point in the sky. The rays illuminated the rose so that it shone with a brilliant light. I stared in wonderment at its beauty. The pull in my heart quickened, and I knew I had found it; the thing that had called me out here. I knew this in the depths of my being. I reached for the rose, and as my hand neared contact with it, the rose seemed to glow ever brighter. I wrapped a hand around the stem to pluck it, and as I did, I realized that this rose had no thorns. I pulled it from the ground, and it slipped like butter from its position.
Even after being plucked, the rose maintained its silvery glow. I leaned forward to smell it, and it lit into a silvery ball, temporarily blinding me. I opened my eyes to the rose spiraling in the sky above my head, glowing brighter with each rotation. When I could no longer look at it, it burst, and the petals drifted towards my right hand. I caught each one in silent wonder. They formed the rose again on my wrist, and after a final flash of light, it went dark.
I stared at my wrist, where the silvery design of the rose was imbedded. It looked as though it had been inked on my skin with rays of the moon. I felt a rush of energy surge through me, and the overwhelming sensation caused me to lose consciousness. The last image I saw was of the rose before the ground rose up to meet me.
I awoke around midday flat on my back in a bush of roses. I straightened and looked at the sky, squinting. My eyes grew wide. It was now my second day out of the city. I had to get back. I got up stiffly, though I didn’t feel tired. I felt like I could run for years. However, I dreaded entering the Dead Forest again. Even in the daytime, it had been pitch black. After all, I had entered the clearing as the sun was setting. I ran a hand through my now tangled hair. There was no other way to go, I rationalized. Then I remembered the events of the last night, and glanced at my wrist. Sure enough, wrapped around my wrist with swirling silver designs, the mark of the silver rose shone. I was curious about the mark and the significance of finding the rose, but at the moment, I had to get back to Jubilia. The only question was which way do I go? Eventually I unsheathed my sword and chose a path.
But the minute I began to enter the forest, the mark on my wrist turned to fire. I grabbed at my wrist and cried out, dropping my sword. I raised my hand to my face and examined the mark. It was glowing red, the color making the designs look like blood. I picked up my sword and tried to ignore the fiery pain, but a few more steps in the same direction and I was writhing on the ground. Oh, I can’t go on like this. I thought, and with that thought the pain abruptly stopped. The rose faded back to its silvery color, and I managed to get to my feet.
My instincts told me not to continue in that direction, so I turned away. I chose the opposite direction, and the same thing happened. The rose turned an angry red color and sent tendrils of fiery pain up my arm and whole body. I understood that the rose was trying to help me. As I backed away from that direction, the pain and color faded once again. I turned to my right and took a few tentative steps forward. Nothing happened. The rose remained silver. I kept walking, and still nothing. When I reached the edge of the forest, I paused. The rose was getting cooler, sending swathes of refreshing ice up my arm. I took this to be a sign and chose that direction. However much I dreaded venturing back into the Dead Forest, at least now I had a guide.
When I entered the Dead Forest again, the darkness swallowed me. I despised this pitch black darkness that nothing penetrated. I found I could see nothing. Just as I was about to take out my sword, the rose sent soothing tendrils up my arm. I paused. It was brightening, and radiating its powerful silvery glow. Soon my whole body was surrounded with a silver aura, and I could suddenly see everything. I felt an enormous wave of relief. Filled with the same burst of energy I had felt when I first received this gift, I took off running through the Dead Forest, exercising no caution. It felt like I was flying.
I was a beacon, shining blissful light on everything in my path. Given my pace and the ability to see, I emerged from the Dead Forest before the sun had set. As I entered the magical aura of Jubilia, the rose faded to its original silver with a tingle of cold. It was as if it knew I was safe. I tucked that arm into my cloak, not wanting anyone to see it who didn’t have to. I would show it to the Healer, Izilda, first. Maybe she could tell me what it was.
No longer having to be careful, I made my way with the speed of an elf back to the city. When I burst through the front gates, there were massive cheers and cries of “She’s back!” and “Princess Ezmea is alive!” My people all rushed at me, eyes shining, and started singing. I smiled at them all. Then I gave them my apologies and told them I must speak with Izilda. They parted for me, forming a path, and I hurried through it, one hand wrapped protectively around the rose on my wrist.
When I entered Izilda’s home, she enveloped me in a hug. “Oh, my dear Ezmea,” Was all she said. I hugged her back fiercely, then told her about the pull that had led me to the Dead Forest and about my adventure, leaving out the rose until the end. She cupped my chin in her frail hand and examined my face. “Ezmea, your eyes!” she gasped, backing up.
I was confused. “What about my eyes?” I asked. She pointed to the mirror over her table. I walked over to it, and was shocked by what I saw. My normally crystal blue eyes were now startlingly silver.
“You did not tell me the whole story,” she said, eyeing me warily. I sighed and nodded.
“No Izilda, I did not. I found something in the Dead Forest.” I pulled back my sleeve and showed her the rose. She covered her mouth with her hand.
“My dear,” she said when she found her tongue. “You found the Silver Rose.”
I nodded, in shock as to how she knew. I told her the rest of the story, and her eyes grew ever wider.
“It’s just like the legends foretold,” she said quietly, staring at me.
I had never heard these legends. I asked her to explain. She took a deep breath.
“Once, long ago, there was a powerful elven wizard named Danabi. He was the greatest student the older wizards had ever seen, but he had dark aspirations. He wanted to become the king’s heir because the king had no children. Danabi thought that by extending the magical aura of Jubilia out to the rest of the forest, the king would surely make him his heir. He spent many years working on a spell to stretch the aura, and when he thought he had perfected it, he went to the border and began the incantation. You see, changing the border is something only a royal can perform, and Danabi was not royalty. When he tried to stretch the aura’s border, it snapped, letting loose an explosion of energy that stripped every leaf from the trees, destroying the land, and killing Danabi in the process.
This area came to be known as the Dead Forest, and none were permitted to enter. It is a maze of haunting and dark beings. However, there is another side to this story. It is said that the king greatly mourned the loss of Danabi, and laid a white rose at the edge of the forest in memory of him. Danabi’s spirit entered the rose, hoping to find salvation, and in turn it became silver. The rose soon faded, never to be seen again. The king received a dream about the wizard, and in it Danabi expressed his sorrow for the lost forest. He explained to the king that the one who possessed the spirit to restore the forest would be given the silver rose. Many years passed, and in time, elves began to wonder if the Dead Forest would ever live again. But now here you are, Ezmea, and you bear the mark of the Silver Rose! Easing Danabi’s grief will return the forest to its normal state. But grief is a powerful thing, my dear. Danabi lost everything in that one mistake, everything. Unleashing it could have disastrous results.”
I nodded my understanding. “But it is my destiny, Izilda,” I insisted, clasping her wrinkled hands in my own. “I have to return the Dead Forest to its original state. I owe Danabi that much. His spirit chose me, and that means I have a chance to change the world. It’s certainly better than sitting in a stuffy castle greeting suitors for the rest of my life.” The Rose sparked as though it agreed with me, and I gave the healer a pointed look. Izilda simply shook her head and moved away from me towards the back of her home. She withdrew from a cupboard a bow of gleaming ivory and a quiver of arrows.
“These belonged to your father,” she said, handing them to me. “They will probably come in handy. You can go collect supplies from the kitchens, but I am not sure how long this journey will take.”
I held the bow carefully, as though it were glass. My father’s bow. It truly was like holding a piece of him. I strapped it to my back along with the arrows, and shielded the rose behind the folds of my cloak. “What about Mother?” I asked Izilda. “She won’t let me leave.”
Izilda pointed to the inked rose on my wrist. “I will deal with the queen. That is more important right now than any rule she may have placed. Now go, child, and may the spirits guide you.”
I folded her in an embrace and exclaimed my thanks. She simply shooed me out the door, but I saw the smile on her face before it blocked her from my view with a wooden thud. Spinning on my heel I raced for the palace’s kitchens.
The workers there greeted me with bows and murmurs of “Your Highness,” but I waved them off. “I need provisions for at least a month,” I ordered. They all scrambled to collect them: water, fruit, vegetables, bread. I folded them into a sack I found on the table and slung it over my shoulder. No one questioned what it was for, me being the princess and all. I nodded my thanks and bid them to get back to work. They complied, and I was gone.
I knew Izilda would graciously calm my mother, so I immediately fled the city. I pulled the hood of my cloak over my head as I wove my way through the crowd, careful to avoid bumping into anyone. I finally burst through the front gates and was once again outside. The mark on my wrist came to life upon exiting, sending cooling tendrils up my arm. I touched it with the tip of my finger and felt the pulse of life emanating from its center. Renewed with determination, I raced off, eager to reach the border and begin the greatest task of my life.
______________________________________________________________________
Thanks to my inhuman speed, I arrived at the edge of the woods before long. The Rose pulsed even quicker, urging me inside. The minute I entered, the brilliant light of the Rose returned, illuminating all before me. I’d had a purpose on my way here, but now I wasn’t sure which way to go. What now? I thought, all confidence gone. I didn’t know how to return the life to the forest, much less so where to begin. The Rose simply glowed, offering no direction. I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. Might as well pick a direction. Maybe the Rose will respond then.
I removed the bow from my back and cocked an arrow, then began walking, tensed in expectation of the fiery pain. But it didn’t come. I continued, and nothing happened. Hoping I was going in the right direction, I began to run. The forest became a blur as I leapt logs and cleared withered bushes, flying like a star through the trees. Anytime there was a hint of fire, I shifted direction. My path zigged and zagged, but I trusted the Rose to know where to lead me.
Eventually, I came to a massive tree, stripped of all its leaves. It appeared to have been dead for centuries. I raised my bow and scanned the clearing for signs of life. The wolves, as I had learned upon my first trip here, were vicious. As I made my way around the trunk, there was a low growl. Sure enough, a huge black wolf stared at me with unblinking eyes. I paused, preparing to shoot. The edge of my cloak slipped back, revealing the Rose wreathed around my arm. The wolf stopped growling and dropped its head to its paws as though bowing. I lowered my bow in utter confusion.
The wolf raised its head after a moment, and silver gaze met yellow. The Rose pulsed again, fervently this time, and the glow around me increased. Tipping its head back, the wolf let out a mournful howl that echoed through the forest. A strand of the Rose’s vines uncoiled from my wrist and launched itself at the wolf. I tried to stop it- he was no longer a threat- but it moved like lightning. The gleaming tendril touched the top of his head and remained there, quivering. A deep, rugged voice sounded inside my head.
“Who are you? Why do you bear the Mark?” It took me a moment to realize the voice belonged to the wolf. His gaze, still fixed on me, now glowed with questions. I drew myself up to my full height and mustered all of my courage to reply.
“I am Ezmea, crown princess to the throne of Jubilia. I bear the Mark because I was chosen by the spirit of the wizard Danabi,” my voice faltered under his unwavering stare, but I regained it. “Who are you?”
A sound emitted from his throat, guttural and strange. He was laughing. “Ah, Danabi. He was foolish too. My name, however, is not important. If it was, the reason has been lost to time. I am the Guardian of this tree, the last one of its kind standing in this forest. The last chance the trees have to regain life. Is that why you’re here?”
“Yes, it is,” I replied nervously. The wolf’s voice was imposing enough even without the penetrating stare. I placed the bow back over my shoulder and glanced at the tree.
“Well? What are you waiting for, princess? Save this forest! It has but days left!” The eyes narrowed and a growl slipped between his teeth.
“But, I don’t know how…” I trailed off, expecting fury, but it had passed. The gaze switched to one of contempt.
“Of course you don’t. He didn’t either. One should not attempt things they don’t understand. The results can be deadly.”
I glared down at the Mark on my wrist, pulsing brightly in the gloom. I hadn’t received instructions on how to save the forest. I threw my satchel and the bow on the ground. My month of provisions would do me no good if the forest lost all hope in days. “Some help you are,” I told the blinding light from my wrist. There was a lance of pain up my arm, as though the Rose was angry with me. If there was a way to give this light to the darkness, I would take it. If only—my gaze fell on the bow, gleaming white against the black of the forest floor. I snatched it off the ground and eyed the wolf, filled with an idea. “What if I give it light?” I asked. He tipped his head sideways, curiosity filling his eyes.
“I do not know,” he admitted. “The tree has not known light for centuries.”
“It’s worth a try,” I announced, and notched an arrow. I raised the bow straight and aimed it at the center of the tree. The Mark veritably hummed with power next to my ear. I took a deep breath, and prepared to release. “Grant this forest light,” I whispered. The Mark flared brighter, and unwrapped itself from my hand. It coiled around the arrow in a spiral, and the petals of the Rose became the tail, replacing the feathers.
In awe I released the arrow with a resounding twang. The beam of light soared through the air and came to rest in the center of the trunk, where it seemed to soak into the bark. A ball of light surrounded the tree, and each branch became the purest white. Leaves the color of silver sprouted from them, and were torn away in a fresh breeze. Everywhere they went, life followed. Green leaves burst forth from every tree. Sunlight once again scattered the darkness. A silver leaf landed on the nose of the wolf, and he was surrounded by light too. It entered every inch of his fur and melted all the darkness away. Soon before me stood an incredible white lion with silver eyes. He extended a paw and knelt in the deepest bow. “Princess. You truly are the savior of the forest. Your light has returned me to my true form, uncorrupted by the darkness that held this place. Forgive me for ever doubting you.”
I stood in astonishment of the change around me. I ran to the lion and threw my arms around his neck, burying my face in his thick mane of snow. He rose and pressed his face to my hair. I noticed, through his fur, that the Mark remained on my wrist, though it no longer pulsed with light. When I raised my head from his neck, I noticed something in the distance half hidden by the thick leaves of the trees. A figure of a man hovered over the ground. His robes billowed around him, and his hair floated in a ring around his head. He gave me a nod, and his eyes shone with gratitude. The Mark fluttered gently once more, and I knew that this was the spirit of Danabi, free of his grief at last.