Armendora - Chapter 10

Chapter Ten

The Truth about Ned

 

 

 

“GLORIA!!!” cried Alyssa.

“Alyssa, calm down!” said Ned.

“How am I supposed to calm down when my guardian was kidnapped by my own stepfather?” exclaimed Alyssa.

“Just calm down, dear,” said Lancelot. “We will save her. We still have time. But, we need to prepare Ned first. Otherwise, you will definitely lose.”

“Your grandfather’s right,” said Ned as he hugged Alyssa, calming her down. “It will all be okay. Trust me.”

“Right now, I don’t know whether I can trust anybody,” said Alyssa.

“Do you mean that you don’t trust me?” asked Ned.

“No, not that,” said Alyssa.  “I do trust you. It’s just that I can’t be sure if everything will be alright. My life has been unfortunate since my mother married that wretched Helmcit.”

“Well, then put your trust on me for just a few more days,” said Ned. “We need everything we can to fight him back.”

“Ned’s right, Alyssa,” said Lancelot. “We need to go to the Sacred Cave. The sooner we get there, the better.”

 

As they made their way to the Sacred Cave, Alyssa couldn’t help herself by thinking about Gloria. To her, even Ned’s comforting hands couldn’t calm her down. She felt like she had lost someone very important in her life. When she looked at Ned, she thought to herself I must protect him, too.

It took them half a day to get to the Sacred Cave. According to Lancelot, the Sacred Cave is where all the magic of Armendora began. According to legend, the Sacred Cave was the first Castle of Armendora. After that, the city grew and the cave was left alone, with a guardian to protect it from any harm. The Cave itself has its own power to actually tell whether someone was worthy enough to actually learn magic.

The Cave was extremely huge, which explained the legend why this place was used to be the Castle. Once they entered inside, the Cave suddenly glow bright with golden light. On the wall, letters appeared and spelled the words WELCOME BACK, PRINCE ALTHER, AND WELCOME KING LANCELOT AND PRINCESS ALYSSA in bright blue and green colour. There were old books on shelves and properly stacked on the floor with some other tools Ned could not recognize.

“Who’s Prince Alther?” asked Ned. “My name’s Ned, not Prince Alther.”

“Well,” began Lancelot. “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. Alyssa here just wanted to stop me from telling you the truth.”

“The truth?” asked Ned. “About what?”

“About who you really are,” answered Alyssa. “You see, according to legend, my father had a sister, Sarah. She was married to one of the citizens of Armendora. My grandfather here doesn’t approve of the marriage because royal blood must marry with another royal blood. So, he told her to live here and be the guardian of the Cave.”

“They had a son together,” continued Lancelot. “As far as I’m concerned, they left Armendora when Alyssa’s father died. Sarah couldn’t take it, and so she left Armendora through one of the gates at the Old Castle.”

“And you’re saying that they went to Haybury and actually lived there ever since?” asked Ned. “No wonder they were not surprised when I said to them I’m in Armendora right now.”

“You told them you’re coming here?” asked Lancelot.

“No,” said Ned.  “Gloria let me use her Hacker to call my parents.”

“Well, that’s not a good thing to do,” said Lancelot.

“Why not?” asked Alyssa. “His parents have the right to know where he is.”

“I’m talking about how dangerous the Hacker is,” said Lancelot. He sat on a chair and continued. “A Hacker can be easily hacked. Somebody might have been listening to Ned’s conversation with his parents.”

“And you’re talking about my stepfather?” asked Alyssa.

“Who else?” said Lancelot. “Maybe that’s why he kidnapped Gloria, for protecting the lost Prince.”

“Are you saying that Gloria was captured because of me?” asked Ned.

“Kind of, dear one, kind of,” said Lancelot.

“Oh, now I’m feeling guilty,” said Ned, sitting on a chair. “Thank you very much for telling me this.”

“Ned, it’s not your fault,” said Alyssa, sitting next to him. “We didn’t even know if that’s the truth.”

“Well, it is true,” said Ned. “I’m here, aren’t I?”

“What I mean is that we don’t know if you really are the lost Prince,” said Alyssa. “Besides, I think Gloria was kidnapped for protecting me. The note clearly addressed to me.”

“How are we going to know the truth?” asked Ned. “I’m really confused here.”

“What we need,” said Lancelot, “is either confession from your parents or something that clearly shows that you are the Prince.”

“How are we supposed to let his parents confess, grandpa?” asked Alyssa. “Besides, there’s no way that we can contact them from here. Not without a Hacker. Even that can be hacked, remember?”

“Um, Alyssa,” said Lancelot. “There is a Hacker here. It’s right over there by the bookshelves.”

And sure enough, the Hacker was there.

“Is it safe?” asked Ned.

“Only one way to find out,” said Lancelot. He walked over to the Hacker, examining it to make sure it’s not hacked.

“It’s safe,” said Lancelot. “No sign of interference.”

 

“Ned, are you okay?” asked Connie, Ned’s mother.

“I’m fine, Mom,” answered Ned. “Mom, can I ask you a question?”

“Sure, honey,” replied Connie. “What is it?”

“Are we really from Armendora?” asked Ned.

There was a long pause. Then, Ned’s father, Alex answered his question.

“Yes,” he said. “We are from Armendora. But it’s a long story. You can ask someone by the name Lancelot. He knows everything, and I mean everything.”

“Well, as a matter of fact, he is telling me about our family,” said Ned. “That’s why I’m asking you, is it real?”

“Yes, honey,” replied Connie. “It is real.”

“And your name is not Connie, its Sarah,” said Ned.

“Yes, honey,” said Sarah. “And yours is—“

“Alther,” said Ned.

 

Knowing the truth really hurts, especially not from his parents who only confess after Ned ask them really made Ned hurt. Seeing himself as an outsider at first, then suddenly became Prince of Armendora is something that Ned couldn’t bear.

“Are you alright, Ned?” asked Alyssa.

“Not really,” said Ned. “My parents just said I’m Armendorian, what would that make you feel?”

“Proud,” said Alyssa.

“We are proud of you, Ned,” said Lancelot. “You volunteered yourself to help Alyssa regain control on Armendora even though you didn’t know that you are Armendorian.”

“Really?” asked Ned. “You don’t find it weird?”

“Not weird,” Alyssa. “Shocking is the best word here.”

“Well,” said Lancelot, “we better start training you up for the war ahead.”

Armendora - Chapter 9

Chapter Nine

Where’s Gloria?

 

 

Armendora looked really beautiful at night, so beautiful that you’ll actually fell in love with the scene—the clear sky full of shiny, bright stars; the fresh, cool air, and the beautiful lights coming from the skyscrapers of Armendora; like a kingdom you can only imagine. It is a really sad thing about this kingdom is that even though it’s really beautiful, the king who is ruling at that time is really, really, really cruel.

King Helmcit, scarcely known to most people—apart from being the King of Armendora—is a really mean, nasty person. If someone walked past him, that person must kneel on the ground and say “Good day, Your Majesty.” Otherwise, that person would be beheaded. People lived in fear under Helmcit's rule because almost all crimes are punishable by death.

Alyssa’s mother, Mary Anne was the kindest queen the people had ever known. When her husband, King Baltrix died, she ruled Armendora with the greatest and kindest care, like Armendora was her own heart and soul. But, everyone could see that she was unhappy, even though she smiled whenever she met other people. So, the whole nation was happy when she announced that she will be married to Helmcit, her brother-in-law.

But, once Helmcit was announced king, he started to do terrible things. Since he had a stepdaughter, Alyssa, he cannot make his own son, Arthur to be king when he dies. So, in order to make his own son king, he has ordered the whole nation to search and capture Alyssa for treason. Knowing this, Alyssa fled out of her country, away from her only family to Earth to search for an ally.

After Alyssa had fled, Armendora was in a more critical situation. Houses were searched every single day to make sure nobody was hiding Alyssa. Worst of all, Alyssa’s own mother, Helmcit's own wife was locked in the dungeons because of Alyssa’s escape. The safety of Armendora now lies on Alyssa’s own shoulders.

Before fleeing Armendora, Alyssa promised herself that she would bring peace back to Armendora. But, she doesn’t know that it will be harder than she thought.

“In order to save Armendora,” said Lancelot, “you have to bring an ally that can actually fight. That ally must also know magic that Helmcit does not.”

“Magic that Helmcit does not know?” asked Ned. “What do you mean?”

“Helmcit learnt the darkest magic people have known,” said Lancelot. “How do you think he made all those Rotters?”

“Then, how should I know what magic to learn to defeat him?” asked Ned.

“That’s where we’re going;” said Lancelot, “to the Sacred Cave. You will learn all the magic skills you need to fight Helmcit.”

“Sacred Cave?” asked Alyssa. “Why there?”

“Because at the same time, Ned can learn about his family,” said Lancelot.

“My family?” asked Ned. “I know my family really well, thanks.”

“Not that family, Ned,” said Lancelot. “Your real family.”

“Grandpa, not now!” said Alyssa.

“What?” said Lancelot. “He must know, dear.”

“Okay. Whatever it is,” said Ned, “let’s go there first, okay?”

“Okay,” said Alyssa. “But, shouldn’t we wait for Gloria first?”

“Yeah, I think we should,” said Lancelot. “In the mean time, let’s rest here and I can tell you guys more about Helmcit and your mother, Alyssa.”

“What about my mother?” asked Alyssa.

“The part on what’s happened to your mother, apart from locked in the dungeons,” said Lancelot.

“What happened?” asked Alyssa. “Oh, grandpa, do tell me that she’s okay.”

“I won’t call chained to the dungeon wall and tortured every day okay,” said Lancelot. “Your mother was tortured, dear. Tortured in a way I can’t really describe.”

“Oh, no!” cried Alyssa.

“Every day tortured?” asked Ned. “That’s horrible! How could he do that to his own wife?”

“That’s because he does not love his wife,” explained Lancelot. “He marries Alyssa’s mother just because the opportunity of being King of Armendora. He doesn’t care about her. His mind was set on ruling Armendora. That’s why he killed—“

“Killed?” asked Alyssa. “He killed somebody?”

“Your own father, Alyssa,” said Lancelot. “He killed his own brother for his own benefit.”

“He killed my father?” asked Alyssa shocked.

“Is this true?” asked Ned. “How did you know this?”

“I saw it with my own eyes, Ned,” said Lancelot. “I was there when it happened. Helmcit slipped some poison in Baltrix’s drink and blames the cook for it. The cook was beheaded by the Queen.”

“Wow,” said Ned. “I can hardly believe this.”

“You haven’t seen anything yet,” said Lancelot. “Wait till you meet him. He’s capable of more extreme things than just poison his own brother. That traitor! He deserves to die.”

“When did he lock my mother in the dungeons?” asked Alyssa. “Is it right after I flee?

“No, dear one,” said Lancelot. “After you fled Armendora, Helmcit ordered the whole kingdom to look for you. When you returned here, you mother Sensed you. She suddenly said “My daughter’s back!” and Helmcit was excited, knowing that he will have another chance in killing you. So, he asked your mother about your whereabouts. Knowing his plans, your mother refuses to tell and she was sent to the dungeons straight away.”

“So, my mother was sent to the dungeons for protecting me?” asked Alyssa.

“Yes, my dear,” said Lancelot with a smile. “She loves you, remember?”

Alyssa smiled at Lancelot’s words. He’s definitely right. What kind of mother doesn’t love her own child? Ned hugged Alyssa, wiping her tears.

 

As they sat and talked more about Helmcit and what he did to Armendora and Alyssa’s mother, time flies by. But, there was no sign of Gloria. As the day gets darker, they started to worry.

“Where’s Gloria?” asked Alyssa. “She should be here by now.”

“Yeah,” said Ned. “I wonder what happened.”

“Let’s go and search for her,” suggest Lancelot. “Maybe she’s lost.”

“She can’t be lost,” said Alyssa. “She knows this forest like the back of her own hand.”

“Okay, I’ve had enough,” said Ned. “Let’s go and look for her.”

They searched here and there, but there’s no sign of Gloria. Even when they split up to cover more ground, Gloria was nowhere to be found.

“Let’s go back to the Tree House,” suggests Ned. “Maybe she’s there.”

Once they arrived at the Tree House, they were shocked to see it. Everything was messed up—from the books to the kitchens, even the bedrooms.

“Gloria!”

“Gloria! Come on, we’re late!”

“Glo—“

They stopped shouting her name when they saw a note stuck on the wall near Alyssa’s bedroom.

 

 

Alyssa,

            I have your beloved guardian with me now. If you want her safe, come and surrender yourself. You don’t want to know what will happen if you don’t. I’ll give you one week.

 

Your stepfather

 

“GLORIA!!!”

Armendora - Chapter 8

Chapter Eight

Grandpa Lancelot

 

 

“I’m fine, mother,” said Ned. “Don’t worry about me. Tell dad I said hello, okay? I love you.”

Ned was crying after he ‘hung up’ the Hacker. He’s been explaining about his disappearance from home; which made his parents worried sick. Alyssa put her hand on Ned’s shoulder, trying to comfort him. After Gloria had put back the Hacker in its place, she told them about her plan for tomorrow.

“Alyssa,” Gloria said. “I think it’s time to take Ned around; at least, around in the forest. He’s just been to the waterfall and there are a lot more to see in this Empty Forest.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Gloria,” said Alyssa. “We should be training Ned tomorrow; to prepare him for the war ahead.”

“But I don’t think Ned needs more training,” said Gloria. “Besides, he already knows how to make magic. Look at how he drew that sword.”

“Are you sure it’s okay?” asked Ned.

“Of course, dear one,” said Gloria. “Let’s get some sleep. You’re going to need the energy for tomorrow’s adventure.”

 

The next morning, Gloria woke them up early in the morning. After breakfast, they started to walk out of the house and into the Empty Forest for their ‘jungle trekking’. Ned saw great sights of the forest—from the waterfall to the Old Castle—where trees are greener and taller than the ordinary trees on Earth. The awkward emptiness of the forest troubled Ned so much that he suddenly asked the question he had asked before.

“I really have to ask,” said Ned. “Where are the animals? Are they hiding or dead?”

“Well, they’re not dead, that’s for sure,” came a voice behind Ned’s back.

“What the—“shouted Ned but something tells him that the ghost has something to do with Alyssa.

“Grandpa!” exclaimed Alyssa, hugging the ghostly figure of an old man, dressed in rich robes with a crown on his bald head.

“Grandpa?” Ned asked. “This is your grandfather? He scared me!”

“Sorry about that, your Highness,” said the ghost. “Didn’t mean to do that. Your question made me really surprised.”

“Grandpa, not now,” said Alyssa. “He’s not ready yet.”

“Ready for what?” Ned asked. “Why did he call me ‘Your Highness’ when you are the princess, Alyssa?”

“Well, let me introduce myself,” said the ghost. “My name is Lancelot and I am the 15th King of Armendora.”

“15th King?” said Ned. “Wow, you’re really old.”

“I wouldn’t call myself old, but thanks for the compliment,” said Lancelot. “I’ve been like this for the past 20 years!”

“Twenty years?” said Ned. “Wow, you’re really old!”

“Can you PLEASE stop that?” barked Lancelot. “Just because I’m dead, doesn’t mean that you can make fun of me!”

“Okay, okay. I’m sorry!” said Ned.

“Phew,” sighed Alyssa. “Finally the fight has stop.”

“Hi, Your Majesty,” said Gloria.

“Hi, Gloria,” said Lancelot. “How are you?”

“I’m fine,” Gloria replied. “I just remembered something. I forgot my lucky necklace at the Tree House. Let me go and get it first while you guys can catch up.” After that, she went through the forest without looking back.

“That’s awkward,” said Alyssa. “I thought she didn’t have a lucky necklace.”

“Never mind that,” said Lancelot. “You need to know what happened when you’re not around.”

“What happened?” asked Ned.

“Terrible things,” said Lancelot. His face was sad, really sad that you can actually tell that it’s much worse than terrible.

Armendora - Chapter 7

I wanted to release my tension from my mock exam a bit, so here's a brand new chapter of Armendora... Enjoy!

Chapter Seven

The Great Waterfall

 

 

 

They took about fifteen minutes to reach the Great Waterfall. From far away, the sound of the water splashing can be heard clearly and this made Ned really excited about his little swim. Once they arrived, Ned opened his mouth in awe.

Have you ever been to the two famous waterfalls in the world? Well, this waterfall is much, much, much bigger, wider and taller than the waterfalls in our world. But, the most curious thing is the water is not cold, but very warm; just like the showers at our home. The surrounding was really calming and cool, making the waterfall a really nice place to have a picnic. Karta the tiger followed them, to guard them in case there are unwanted visitors around.

“Wow, this is great!” exclaimed Ned.

“Really? I thought the waterfalls on Earth are much bigger than this,” said Alyssa.

“No. This waterfall is much bigger,” said Ned. “The biggest I’ve ever seen!”

“Well, come on then. We don’t have much time. Let’s swim!” said Alyssa. She dived straight away into the pool. Karta followed her. Ned watched at first, thinking whether to just dive in like Alyssa or go in slowly.

“Come on, Ned! What are you waiting for?” shouted Alyssa, waving her hand, telling Ned to jump in.

“Is it deep?” asked Ned.

“Not really. Come on!” shouted Alyssa.

Ned dived in. He didn’t think of the deep of the pool, or even the fact that he’s swimming with the girl he loved. The only thing on his mind was the fun he’s about to have. I bet you guys are wondering what they are doing in the pool. Truth is they didn’t do anything! Just swim, swim, swim and swim. Boring, isn’t it?

 

They were enjoying their swim, laughing really hard when they heard a low rumbling noise coming from the north of the waterfall. They stood still in the waters, listening for the strange noise. At first, they thought it was Karta. But, seeing that Karta is also pointing her ears here and there, they knew it wasn’t her. They move closer to each other, with Karta defending them. Slowly, they walk out of the waters to their towels at the bushes. And there is where it happened.

Two Rotters jumped out of the bushes, their claws pointed towards Alyssa. The three of them immediately backed up, screamed as the Rotters stood in front of them. Then, it came out of nowhere. Just when Alyssa was in her weakest point, Ned suddenly drew a sword out of thin air and fought the Rotters bravely.

“Ned! Be careful!” was the only words that came out of Alyssa’s mouth. She’s terrified and surprised. How can the Rotters find them here? What possible trail that had led the Rotters to them? As far as Alyssa had confirmed, and she’s absolutely sure, that she had all signs or hints that they had left behind ‘erased’.

As Alyssa thought about the trail, Ned had managed to kill the Rotters. Surprise was on Ned’s face as the sword vanished from his hands.

“How did I do that?” asked Ned.

“How should I know?” Alyssa replied.

“Then, how am I supposed to know what and how I did what I did?” Ned asked again.

“Hmm. I think Gloria should know. Let’s go back and ask her. But we have to be careful. There might be other Rotters around,” said Alyssa.

 

As soon as they got back from the waterfall, both of Alyssa told the story to Gloria over lunch, with Ned filling in details that Alyssa had forgot. After lunch, they gathered at the living room to listen to Gloria’s explanation of the magical event that happened at the waterfall.

“Hmm. I think Ned’s family is from here,” Gloria said.

“WHAT?” both Ned and Alyssa exclaimed. “How can my family come from here?” asked Ned. “As far as I’m concerned, my family came from Haybury.”

“That’s the only theory I can come up with. You see, only the ones who came from Armendora will have magical powers. Have anything happened in your life that no one can explain?” asked Gloria. “Something like it happened by magic?”

“Once,” said Ned after a pause. “When I was ten, there are bullies in my school. I was bullied all the time. But one day, they tied me onto a chair. I was screaming to them, asking them to let me go. I was tugging my hands; to free them as those bullies laughed at me. Suddenly, my hands are free—like my hands went through the ropes—and the bullies are shouting in pain, clutching their stomachs—like they are being punched or something. After that, no one bullied me again.”

“See!” exclaimed Gloria. “That proves you are from Armendora.”

“I have lived in Haybury since I was born, Gloria. How can I be Armendorian?” Ned asked.

“Simple,” Gloria began. “Your ancestors must have come from Armendora. They must have left Armendora, either by mistake, forced to leave or willingly leave Armendora. Either way, your ancestors must have first arrived in Haybury when they left. So, they must have been living there ever since.”

“Are you saying that I have Armendorian blood in me?” Ned asked.

“Yes, dear one. You are truly an Armendorian,” said Gloria.

Accepting the fact that he is from Armendora really troubled Ned. He just can’t believe it. One minute you’re from Haybury; the next you have Armendorian blood running in your veins. Even though it’s hard to process, Ned has to accept the fact that he is Armendorian. Ned was sitting outside, looking at the trees surrounding him when Alyssa sat next to him.

“Are you alright?” Alyssa asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” said Ned.

“You look troubled,” Alyssa said.

“Of course. I still can’t believe the fact that I’m from here,” Ned said. “I mean, I know how this made you feel, but me? I still have to get used to it; get used to this.”

“Don’t worry,” said Alyssa, taking Ned’s hand. “You’ll be fine. I’m here, okay? I’ll help you with this. Gloria will teach you everything she knows about magic.”

“Are you sure I’ll be fine? What if I mess things up? What if I make a mistake and… ruin everything?” Ned asked.

“You won’t, okay? I promise you. Gloria and I will help you the best we can,” said Alyssa.

“She’s right, Ned,” said Gloria. She was standing behind them. “I’ll make sure you won’t make any mistake.”

They watched the sun set together—which amazes Ned because that was the first time he watched sunset—before they went back in for dinner. Gloria was a really good cook. Ned really enjoyed his dinner that night—roasted beef and mashed potatoes. After dinner, they went straight to bed. Gloria had prepared the guest room for Ned and before they go to sleep, Gloria came into his room with a box in her hands.

“This is a Hacker,” said Gloria, handing the box over to Ned. “It’s like a telephone in your world.”

“Who am I supposed to call?” asked Ned.

“Your parents, of course,” said Gloria.

“I can call my parents from here?” Ned asked.

“Of course,” said Gloria. “I wouldn’t have taken this out if it can’t be used.”

Chapter Seven Coming Soon!

Chapter 7 - The Great Waterfall will be posted this Friday. But, since my writing has been held up by my assignments and my upcoming mock exam tomorrow, I can't update any more until I've finished writing another chapter from where I've stopped.

In the meantime, do wait for Chapter Seven and wish me luck for my exam!

Pause on Armendora... Mock Exam!

I'm very sorry to say this but I'll be pausing "Armendora" for a moment due to my upcoming mock exam... More information, click here.

I'll be posting a new chapter of "Armendora" sometime in April, way after my mock exams. So, wait for it and wish me luck!

Armendora - Chapter 6

Chapter Six

Miss Gloria Grayne

 

 

 

“’Boy’? What does she mean by ‘boy’?” Ned asked curiously as he looked at the note that Alyssa had let go as soon as she finished reading it.

“It’s you. I’ve had these dreams and I drew them on pieces of paper. I’ve put them in frames on this table. That’s why I was so surprised when we came in just now. I thought my stepfather had come and get them,” replied Alyssa.

“You’ve been dreaming about me? How come? I’m kinda surprised and curious right now,” said Ned.

“It’s quite complicated. It’s one of the many reasons my stepfather wanted to get rid of me. I can see the future, especially in my dreams. I can see them and clearly remember them. That’s how I know you. Even though I didn’t know your name, I can clearly remember your face,” said Alyssa, looking at Ned.

“Hmm... OK then. I think I understand it right now. Come on, let’s have some dinner and go to bed. It’s already dark outside and we need a good rest for tomorrow’s journey,” said Ned.

 

Their dinner was ordinary for Alyssa but very weird for Ned; roasted deer and apple juice. For Ned, camping is something common but he had never tasted any food cooked on fire like he’s experiencing right now. Every time he went camping, his mother will provide home-cooked food. They just have to reheat them on the fire and eat them. This was a new experience for Ned. Little did Ned know, this was also a new experience for Alyssa. She had never eaten with a boy before and in her dreams, she had had several meals with the boy sitting next to her. She’s waited for this moment for a very long time.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment for a very long time,” said Alyssa, breaking the silence.

“Really? I’ve been longing to have a date with a girl,” said Ned.

“So, can this be considered as a date?” asked Alyssa. She had finished her dinner and now was facing Ned.

“Yes, of course it’s a date,” said Ned. He finished his dinner with a cough.

“Are you alright?” asked Alyssa, patting Ned’s back.

“Yeah, I’m fine. I drank too fast just now,” said Ned.

“Do be careful. I don’t want to see you choking,” laughed Alyssa.

“Haha. I’ll remember that,” said Ned.

 

That night, they slept in the two separate bedrooms. The sound of the forest made it easy for Ned to fall asleep. Alyssa, on the other hand, felt strange, like someone was watching them. She felt like there’s someone hiding in the tree house, unseen, waiting to strike her. So, to make sure she feels safe, she went into Ned’s room and slept beside him. The following morning, Ned was quite surprised to see Alyssa sleeping beside him.

“Are you alright? What are you doing here?” asked Ned.

“I’m sorry. I was afraid last night. I can’t really sleep. That’s why I came here. I hope you’re not mad,” said Alyssa.

“Of course I’m not mad. I was just surprised that you didn’t wake me up first,” said Ned.

“I didn’t want to disturb you,” said Alyssa.

“It’s okay. At least you know what to do when you’re afraid,” said Ned.

 

Their breakfast was as simple as last night’s dinner—bread and jam (no toast) and some juice. After that, they continued their journey to Alyssa’s guardian’s place, hoping that there’s no danger waiting for them along the way. The forest was as quiet as it should be. No animal sound; just the rustling of the leaves blown by the wind. About half an hour, they reached the waterfall, the one that Ned had seen when they were at the Old Castle. At the same time, Ned can see a clear path, like a road for travellers leading the way. They followedthe path and about ten minutes later, they reached a small cottage. There is smoke coming out from the chimney and as they walk towards the cottage, they can smell cooking food coming from the cottage. Alyssa knocked at the door and a few moments later, the door was opened and out came a very nice lady. She’s quite tall and her face was very pretty.

“Your Highness! You’re back!” exclaimed Gloria, hugging Alyssa really hard.

“Can’t breathe, Gloria!” said Alyssa.

“Sorry,” said Gloria.

“This is Ned,” Alyssa begun, gesturing to Ned. “He’s—“

“The boy who’s been in your dreams for the past month. I can see his face, dear,” continued Gloria.

“Hi. It’s nice to meet you,” said Ned, holding out his hand.

“We don’t shake hands here in Armendora. We hug,” said Gloria, giving Ned a big hug.

“I’m sorry,” said Ned. “I’m new here. So, I’m not really familiar with the customs and cultures here.”

“Don’t worry. You’ll learn more than you can imagine. Except now, the customs have changed. There are a lot of new rules and I’m breaking all of the new rules,” said Gloria.

“You mean the rules on Alyssa?” asked Ned.

“Of course. The king is so frustrated to know that you have escaped. I was worried so I went to our tree house and took all of the pictures. Come in!” said Gloria. She finally realized that they were talking outside. “Come in, children. Really sorry about the mess,” said Gloria, leading the way.

 

Gloria’s house was like an ordinary house. You might think you’re back in your world, except that you’re not. The only thing different in the house was Gloria’s pet; a tiger. Ned was shocked when he saw the tiger lying on the floor in the anteroom. The rest of the house was as ordinary as ever; the couch, dining table, kitchen; everything was the same as his own house back in Haybury. The only thing missing was the television, which is quite common when you’re living in the forest.

“Please, Ned. Sit down. Make yourself at home while I make something to drink. It’s still too early for lunch,” said Gloria.

“Thanks,” said Ned. “It’s quite scary to sit with a tiger in the house.”

“Well, you’ll get used to it. This is Karta, my pet tiger. She helps me with the hunting,” said Gloria.

“She’s really sweet, once you get to know her,” said Alyssa, petting the tiger. “Hello, Karta! Long time no see!”

The tiger rolled herself, happy to see Alyssa again. She let out a small growl, which frightened Ned.

“Now, now Karta. Ned’s new here. He’s still getting used to seeing a tiger in a house. Come, Ned. She’s really tame,” said Alyssa.

“I don’t really know how to pet a tiger. I’m used to cats,” said Ned. He’s still sitting on the couch, scared to even approach the tiger, as if the tiger will eat him once he get too close.

“Oh, come on. It’s just like petting a cat. Except, this cat is a bit bigger and stronger. Come, she’s eager to know you, right Karta?” said Alyssa.

“Okay. I’ll give it a try,” said Ned.

You’ve all been to the zoo, right? You all know how a tiger behaves when approached by a human, especially one that she’s not familiar with. Just imagine, the tiger was crouching as Ned approached. This made Ned a little scared. But, he tried to maintain a calm, steady face and this helped a bit. The tiger was rolling once Ned petted her on the head.

“Hehe. This is quite funny. She’s acting like a cat! I’m definitely enjoying this moment. It’s not easy to touch a tiger; to even approach a tiger will need a lot of courage. Good girl, Karta!” said Ned, playing with the tiger.

“Now that’s more like it!” Gloria said, carrying a tray with three glasses on it. “It’s good to see you making some progress around here, Ned.”

“Thanks. I can’t really believe I just played with a tiger,” said Ned. The tiger looked like its smiling and this made Ned happier.

“Well, come here. Enjoy your drink. Refresh yourself. Alyssa, take Ned to the waterfall later for a bath. I hope you know how to swim, Ned. Here, we bathe in rivers or lakes,” said Gloria. “I’ll get you a towel.” And with a quick move, Gloria went into her room and came back with a white, fluffy towel.

“Thanks. You’re really great, Gloria,” said Ned.