177 Princess Helena

AUTHOR'S POV

Everything suddenly faded to white. Helena's ears rang, that she became deaf for a while. She deeply felt a certain kind of heat all over her body… burning intensely like sitting close to a large fire. A sensation of falling, like she's dropping from a high place kicked in. The moment she opened her eyes, she found herself outside Wicce with Stellan by her side. Atrius, who was tying his coat after a decent bath, looked confused as he look around. Ottis and Umbriel remained dozed off on the cold ground, in each other's arms. Jacomus, who was previously wooing a Wiccan before he was pulled out of Wicce, was pouting his lips in the air. He was devastated to see Atrius, looking disgusted, right before him. 

It worked.

Wicce got their seal of protection back. Helena sighed heavily as she bear the truth. Without a doubt, she is a royal Celestial Soul Traveler, child of King Silvius and Beatrice of Caluso - a certain truth about her identity that was hidden from her from the beginning. An intense feeling of sadness pierced her heart as she think of the man who raised her. Gaius was a good father, and there was never a single moment that she was bereft of fatherly love and care like how she was always reminded of him. Helena felt a sudden surge of warm tears that fell down her cheeks. Not minding to wipe them off, she cried silently as the tears wash away her indescribable pain. 

It took time for Stellan to wake up from his own confusion. When he did, he was shattered to find Helena crying a river alone - a sight that's painful for him to see. He then locked the soul traveler in his arms, as Helena burst into more tears. She buried her face on the paladin's chest, with her arms around his waist. The paladin knight snuggled his face in her neck, kissing her softly hoping each peck would melt her sadness. He lifted Helena's crimson face up, wiped her tears and whispered, "Being a princess shouldn't be this bad". With that, Stellan suddenly knelt on his one knee, bowing at her feet as he offer his sword to Helena. "I, Stellan, the paladin knight from Hesam, vow to protect Princess Helena with my life, as I earnestly implore my loyalty and honor along with my fleeting daliance against anyone who'd cause harm to the rightful heir of the crown", Stellan formally addressed Helena as the princess of Nether. "My sword is yours, and I shall wield it at your command", he handed the hilt towards Helena who's unsure what to do. "You're supposed to to take it and tap the blade gently on each of my shoulders.", Stellan whispered as he steal a glance at the puzzled princess and winked. Helena quickly grabbed it and performed as told that made the paladin chuckle softly.

Jacomus, Umbriel, Atrius and Ottis, who were watching the two all along, immediately dropped on one knee too as they bow before the princess of Nether. "Long live, Princess Helena", Umbriel proudly said with teary eyes as he slowly accept that Helena is a woman when all along he thought she's a man. "Long live, Princess!", the rest shouted with their heads down.

Helena was at a loss for words. She completely had mixed emotions, spinning in her head. Then, she picked up four tiny pebbles, and threw at each of them. "You're all silly!! No need for all that I'm just Helena, or Haelan if that's what you are all used to", she said as she fan her teary eyes.

"Long live, squirrel", Ottis said with a slight nod. Thinking the title of princess doesn't suit her, Helena replied with a soft smile. "So that's why Merewiff's Springs did you good.", he realized.

"I still can't believe you're a woman. Like how were you able to hide it? Sheesh. Did you saw my manhood? I'm afraid you did", Jacomus worriedly thought about the things that happened in Brandenburg as he stood back up. "We sleep in one room!", he thought. Stellan couldn't even blink at that thought as he stood back on his feet grabbing Helena close to him, away from her friends.

"She doesn't, she goes out of the chambers when were all sound asleep and she bathe in the river in the middle of night", Atrius explained.

"That explains the pillows in the library", Umbriel figured.

"And how come you look so unsurprised?", Ottis smacked Atrius on the chest. Atrius grinned as he held the part where he got smacked.

"OH! You knew all along, didn't you?", Jacomus widened his eyes in surprise.

"Squirrel got her favorites", Ottis shook his head. Then he cleared his throat as he notice Stellan's hardened face. "I mean, royals have some kind of friendly connection", he forced a smile seeing Stellan's sudden change in mood as if he was ready to take them all down. He took another quick glance at the paladin knight, he can't help but be saddened as he remember his brother, Holden.

They all shared a good laugh outside Wicce. And the best surprise of all is the closeness of Stellan and Helena, that no one ever saw coming. Moments later, Iaso with a couple of Wiccans appeared at the entryway, along with a few horses. 

"Too bad we weren't able to share a nice meal before the barriers worked", Iaso regretfully said as she miss a chance to spend more time with them in her home. "Take these as a form of gratitude from the Wiccans", the coven leader handed over three horses and individually packed food for their journey. Atrius, Jac and Ottis took the horses, Umbriel kept the food. Areon with his large bag along with Helena's scepter trudged directly to Stellan, as if he recognize his owner.

"And for the paladin knight", Iaso personally handed a small brown leather purse to Stellan.

"What's this?", Stellan asked with knitted brows. 

"A parting gift, we'll never know when we'll meet again", Iaso said. Stellan opened it and found a pair of malachite emerald necklaces that he asked for Iaso earlier."You'll need people whom you can trust", the coven leader said.

"This is so not you, but thank you", Stellan accepted Iaso's gifts. He whistled for his winged friend and sent them immediately to Alesso along with an important note.

"Wherever your feet may lead you, I hope you all get there safely.", Iaso embraced each one of them. As she wrap her hands around Stellan's shoulders, she whispered, "Please convince Helena to fight for this kingdom", before letting him go.

"Wiccans suddenly became generous, this is such a memorable day", Helena shook Iaso's hand instead of hugging her like what the others did.

"It's not everyday that Wicce get to have visitors", Iaso clasped Helena's hand showing the damask arm cuff housing the Iaso's stone. "Use this well", she said before letting go.

"This is for you", Helena handed over her scepter that surprised Iaso. "I'll leave this scepter as a sign of my good will and for your people to live with an assurance that your security in your homes will always be in your hands", Helena was perceived as a great royal with such a bold decision.

"This is… too much", Iaso cannot believe her eyes at the grand gesture Helena just did. "I hope you won't regret this day", the coven leader have never seen any royal who have surrendered their swords that would destroy Wicce's barriers. Yet here's Helena who's either foolish or too humane for a royal, who's leavung her scepter at her own accord.

"I certainly won't", Helena said as she turn away. Stellan helped her ride Areon, followed by the Paladin Knight who gracefully hopped on the saddle behind Helena.

As they all prepare to depart at the perfect timing where the sun meets the sky, Jacomus couldn't leave with one question he required to be cleared. "Lady Boss Witch, before we set off, may you please answer my simple question.", Iaso creased her brows at the serious man. "Are you all cannibals?", Jacomus asked. Iaso folded her lips in a fine line and turned her back. With no plans to answer a question she find too funny, she returned to Wiccen as she struggled to contain her laughter leaving Jacomus' question hanging. "Madam Lady!! Heyyy!! Oh come one!!", he called frustratingly.

Atrius rode with Umbriel, while Jac and Ottis rode on their own horses. "Where to Princess?", Stellan whispered in Helena's ear that made her blush out of her sensitivity.

"To Caluso", Helena answered as they gallop away to the snowcapped mountains right ahead.

**************

BEORG MOUNTAINS

Under a soft woven cotton blanket of Millefleur patterns, Alesso gasped a single breath as he suddenly opened his eyes. He laid comfortably on his soft feather bed covered in emerald green silk with white lace in his room full of healing candle lights. If not for his terrible headache like splitting his head apart, he'd thank he's alive. His left arm is wrapped in a clean white bandage, with an arm sling that keeps it from moving.

"Thank goodness you're alive!!", Lord Axis exclaimed after almost a day of waiting for Alesso to wake up. "What happened out there? My goodness Didn't you saw it coming??", he fetched Alesso a glass of water.

"Wha-what happened?", Alesso tirelessly lifted himself up as he took sips of water aided by his uncle.

"What's the last thing you remember?", Lord Axis asked as he help Alesso sit up.

Alesso rested his back on a pile of pillows as he sighed loudly with his eyes closed. He was in a carriage to Beorgy with Father Bertram. The priest was forcefully giving him the traveler's stone.

"Where… where's the priest?", Alesso weakly asked in a raspy voice.

"What priest?", a slight frown drew on Lord Axis face. He was told that Alesso was alone in the carriage. "You were alone in the carriage when it fell over the bridge on your way home", he told the seemingly confused paladin archer.

"Are there any.. other survivors? My escorts?", Alesso breathe heavily as he feel his muscles in his back tearing.

"No, everyone's dead. Ogres are believed to have attacked your carriage. They thought you died along the accident. You're lucky I found you meters away from the carriage just in time", Lord Axis took a piece of paper that shows General Aether's report on what happened.

"I need.. to go back to the… palace", Alesso tried to get off the bed as he catch his breath. By the look of terror in the paladin archer's face, Lord Axis already knew something is wrong. "There's a.. priest with me, who holds… the traveler's stone", he revealed.

Lord Axis suddenly feel chills. General Aether lied about the situation. If he have arrived a minute late, Alesso would have died too, along with the other archers who escorted them. "Not in that shape Alesso. Rest today, fight tomorrow", Lord Axis said as put Alesso back to his bed. "Also, you got a package from Stellan.", he handed Alesso the small brown leather purse to the paladin archer before he went back to sleep.