Chapter 7

There was a loud bolt of lightning that rattled the trees on the forest's hood. Eleanor stood there, baffled, watching everything that was going on. She turned around when she noticed a shadow by her side and happened to notice Lucas, who didn't seem to notice her and continued walking.

She followed him and was led to Beasurys Lake, which was breathtaking even though it was already dark. He finally stopped and turned around to face her. Lucas smiled and extended his hands for her to take.

Eleanor raised her arm slowly to reach for his hand, but she felt as if something had passed right through her. She couldn't figure out who or what it was until she was pulled into another dream.

A dream in which she sees herself as a person walking through an empty hallway with another person by her side. 

"Your royal highness, you should be sleeping right now. Walking around these large halls is bad for your health." A girl's familiar voice spoke up. Eleanor was about to turn to the left when she awoke.

Eleanor sat up and took a look around her. She sighs as she realizes she is safe and sound. It was still dark outside, and the moon shone through the window at her.

Another dream. She stood up and walked downstairs slowly. She looked at Asmia, who was knitting quietly, as she stood in front of the door.

"I’m going out for a walk." She asked Asmia's permission, and she noticed that she nodded her head but did not turn to face her.

"Take care not to stray too far from here." She heard as she closed the cabin door.

As her shoes hit the damp ground, the wind whips through her cheeks. A fog was coming out of her mouth as she breathed. Eleanor looked around, but all she saw was the darkness of the forest.

Eleanor glanced up, watching the clouds gradually reveal the moon's radiance. From where she stood, the moon shone down on her, illuminating the beauty of the night.

"Are you even the same moon that I see from where I belong?"

Eleanor's eyes welled up as she mistook herself for standing in the front yard of her parents' house. She imagined that if she turned around, she would see their welcoming house, enticing her to come inside and give her parents a tight hug.

But all she could feel was the cold air of the forest and the sound of the trees being blown by the wind, whispering to her as if they were comforting her, and hearing the sounds of an owl that seemed to be talking to her.

*     *     *     *     *

Staring at the candle-lit lantern at the table, Eleanor sighed as she turned her gaze to Asmia, who was comfortably sitting on the couch in front of the fireplace, holding two wooden needles while picking up a ball of wool yarn.

"Do you know how to knit?" Asmia questioned, sensing Eleanor's gaze.

"Actually, it is not my forte." Eleanor responded timidly.

"Oh, really?" she exclaimed, surprised. "Perhaps you should try to learn it?"

"I don't really know how because I was never taught, but if you say so, I'll try my hardest to learn."

"That's the kind of determination I admire. Pick up these needles and take one of the balls of yarn in my basket."

Eleanor climbed out of the kitchen chair to comply with Asmia's command and gathered the materials she would need. She then sat down on the magenta carpet on the floor, not far from Asmia's couch.

From the beginning, Asmia guided her on how to do a proper knitting pattern. It was difficult for Eleanor at first to keep up with Asmia's instructions, but she eventually learned so quickly and was able to do it continuously.

"I suppose I should get some rest now. My back is already aching from the constant knitting. Are you going to be okay here by yourself?"

"Yes, go ahead and take a nap. I'll clean up around here."

"You must also take a rest. We have something to do later."

Eleanor nodded, and the old lady retired to her small bedroom to sleep. She began to pick up the soft yarns and re-arrange them in the round basket. She walked slowly so as to not wake Asmia, who was snoring softly in her bed.

She can't help but breathe deeply as she lies back down on her bed. After a while, she fell asleep again.

"How come I've never seen these portraits?" A woman's voice was heard speaking.

"You're not supposed to be allowed to see it." A man responded.

Blank. That was all she could see. Nothing but distant voices could be heard. Eleanor realized she was dreaming, but she was also aware that she was fully conscious. She had the sensation of lying on a cold, liquid surface on solid ground. Eleanor made an attempt to move her hands. She could feel it moving, but her gaze remained lost in the never-ending darkness. It felt as if it was devouring her.

"Hello?" She tried to speak, but her voice remained trapped inside her throat. The word didn't really come out, it sounded muffled. Eleanor then became terrified. She can feel sweat forming on her head because she can't see anything and has no idea how to wake up.

The voices grew more distant, until they sounded like murmurs. 

She tried to pull herself up with her hands, but then she felt a hand grab her shoulders and pull her off the ground.

Eleanor was startled awake by the sudden movements, drenched in sweat, panting, and noticing Asmia staring at her with confusion written all over her face.

The sun had already risen, but she was trembling from the sweat running down her skin and from the cold wind blowing through the small window.

"Did I startle you?" Asmia asked, while looking at her with concern.

"No. I was just having a dream." She was panting and trying to catch her breath. Asmia looked at her with curiosity.

"Can you tell me about your dream?"

Eleanor sat up and tried to remember what she had dreamed about, but all she could recall was the blank and emptiness of where she was lying in her dream. She closed her eyes as she remembered being trapped inside a never-ending darkness.

"It was blank." She replied truthfully. Asmia's brow furrowed and she turned around to retrieve a woven fabric from one of the chests.

"Then how come you look so weary?" she questioned, her back to Eleanor.

"I'm not sure. I didn't feel at ease in that empty space, and I was aware that I was dreaming." She explained.

After a while of silence, Asmia finally spoke up, almost whispering, "How come?"

Eleanor stopped standing when she heard what Asmia said. She blinked a few times before processing what she had said and turned to face the old lady, who was still busy gathering fabrics.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"Nothing at all, dear. Go ahead and take care of yourself. We have a lot to get done today." As she stood up to descend the ladder, the old lady casually stated.

"I think I heard some strange distant voices." She continued. But the old lady continued to descend the ladder, paying no attention to her.

Eleanor sighed, thinking that Asmia was avoiding the topic.

*     *     *     *     *

"You should be able to pull this, shouldn't you?" Asmia said this while holding a rope tied to a bucket and dangling from a tree.

"I guess so." Eleanor replied and took the rope from Asmia.

She held the rope tightly and pulled the rope with her weight and a strong grip, and the bucket was lifted high enough for the sunlight to touch it.

"That should be enough for the herbs to dry in the sun." Asmia then showed her where she should tie the rope.

"Asmia, about earli-" she tried to bring up the topic again.

"There are things that I must not tell you right now. Please bear with it for a while." She said directly while picking up a potted plant and arranging it in its proper place.

"What am I not supposed to know?" she tried to persuade her.

"Lady, there is a forbidden knowledge to which I must adhere." She sighed as she looked at Eleanor, who was frowning and staring at her hands. "And that’s not going to work." She commented as she noticed Eleanor attempting to make Asmia feel sorry for her.

Eleanor also sighed as she gave up.

I’m really curious.

Asmia's earlier reaction had been bothering her mind all day while she was helping Asmia with household chores and learning other things that would help her adapt more to the world in which she now lives.

"I'm not certain yet." She spoke again after a long period of silence as they walked through the forest.

It was already late afternoon, but the trees had shaded the ground from the sun. There are just enough lights escaping the leaves for them to see where they're going. There are some lights escaping the leaves, enough for them to see where they are walking.

"Are you uncertain of what?" she asked.

"With what happened to you."

"What exactly happened to me?"

"Go and pick those lubucce." Eleanor frowned before picking up the mushroom-like object on the forest floor.

Asmia always cuts off their conversations and avoids the topic of her dream.

"Those kinds of dreams are common." Eleanor turned to face Asmia as she spoke. "I suggest that you shouldn’t worry about it."

"This world…" Asmia spoke with a straight face in front of her.

"It has far too many wonders that I was unaware of." She turned to face her.

Eleanor just stared at her, listening to every word she said.

"That's why I can't respond to you until I'm certain of what I'm thinking."

"I apologize for being too persistent to know." Eleanor apologized sincerely, as she realized that she was being overly persistent.

"It’s alright. I understand your frustrations." Eleanor noticed that Asmia had finally come to a halt, and that they were now standing near the edge of a cliff.

Eleanor's hands trembled uncontrollably as she held her breath. She heard the old lady speak again as she took more steps backwards, closing her eyes.

"Every single thing in this world is too complicated. Every piece of knowledge that you get is not everything and is not presented in its entirety. Take it easy so as not to break your sanity and end up wandering in madness."

Eleanor opened her eyes, which were filled with tears, as she looked at Asmia, who was standing at the edge of the cliff, unfazed, despite the strong wind.

The wind was howling. It untied the old woman's braided hair, allowing her long hair to escape the hair tie that was holding it in place.

"But don’t be scared of anything that will come your way."

Eleanor stood there silently, her heart racing, just staring at her and amazed by the old lady's bravery in standing there despite the fact that her body was already frail.

"Because one day, you will be able to overcome your fears and stand over here."

Asmia stood there for a moment, taking in her surroundings, the infinite horizon.

"Let's return now." Asmia turned around and began walking away from the cliff. Eleanor was still silent and unsure how to respond, but again, she continued to follow her.

Eleanor cast a glance at the cliff as they walked away from it, before being consumed by the forest once more.

The mere thought of her standing over there gave her goosebumps.

They picked more herbs as they trailed the way back to the old lady’s cottage.

"I know someone who can put you in touch with someone who can help you get a job in the palace." Asmia stated as she placed the basket on the kitchen table. Eleanor cast a glance at her as she separated the herbs.

"You can earn for yourself and have a much better life in the palace." She took a deep breath after saying those words.

Eleanor bit the inside of her cheeks as she heard what Asmia said.

I'm not ready to leave yet.

"However, could I please stay a little longer?" She pleaded, her eyes swelling as she awaited the old lady's response.

Inside her heart, she had a strong desire not to abandon Asmia alone. She wants to help her and keep her company.

"You may, but don't get the wrong idea that I don't want you here." Asmia responded while facing the cupboards.

“No, I’m not.” She frowned.

“Then how come your eyes are swollen?” the old lady said, mockingly.

“It isn’t swollen and you haven’t seen my eyes yet.” She responded defensively, but the old lady simply laughed.

"The person I was referring to was my nephew, Olivia." She's the one you'll be looking for."

“Are you not going to take me to her?” Eleanor asked.

"Oh no, I'm far too old to travel for very long."

“Well, I guess that’s true.” Eleanor responded slowly, with sadness in her voice.

“And, you need to be independent because once you go there, I’m not going to be there to guide you. Do you understand?” Asmia’s voice almost cracked as she spoke.

“Can we not talk about it yet?” Eleanor said, her gaze returning to Asmia, who was still turning her back on her.

She is aware that eventually, they will have to go their separate ways. But not yet. She didn’t want to think about it for now.