FOUR

Looking Elaine up and down, eyeing her offered hand in particular, a smile spread across Odette's face as she reached out and shook the hand of the Princess. It wasn't exactly the gruesome results she had been looking forward to, but it was only a matter of time before the lives of everyone Elaine knew would be torn apart. 

No one ever succeeded with such a mission and there was barely any chance that a member of the royal family could survive the dangers that rested beyond the borders of Delphi. A wave of guilt washed over her as she heard the exasperated cries of her devastated parents and the ear bashing that Isabel was giving her - even though she had tuned the fairy's voice out. 

This would not be an easy decision for her family to accept, and she doubted that they would ever be okay with what she had chosen, but they knew why. She didn't even have to explain that part to them because they already understood that she was doing it for the love of family. What they didn't know though, was that she was doing this because she could. 

When Lucas had been killed there was nothing that she could have done to stop it - at least not to the knowledge of her parents, but there was, and she had failed to do that one thing. This time around she had the chance to save her people and didn't hesitate to take it. She would not make the same mistakes again. 

****

Finishing up the final preparations that her mother had insisted that she had made, Elaine finally felt ready to begin her journey. After the deal was made, Odette had informed her that the soul in question was now owned by Aidoneus in the underworld. 

A place that has earned a scary reputation, but had never been proved wrong due to no one being able to successfully travel there and back. Anyone who attempted usually disappeared as was never seen again. 

Though she was nervous about this quest, she was not going to let that be known. Not to her family, not to Isabel and certainly not to Odette. With her sword in its sheath, her shield attached to her back, and a satchel full of equipment slung over her shoulder, she was certain that nothing could go wrong. 

In fact, she was more concerned about her best friend tagging along - another request of her mother's, she couldn't stand the idea that someone else might suffer on this journey. Unfortunately, it was necessary in order for her to be allowed to go. 

Turning around and exiting her bed chambers, she made her way to the front of the castle, where she was joined by Isabel and greeted by her parents and grandmother who were as ready as they could be to say a tough farewell. 

Elaine hated goodbyes with a passion, but it brought her comfort to know that this was not one that would last forever. She was hopeful that Isabel and herself would only be away from Delphi for a couple of days. But that was only if there were no complications during their travels, which she couldn't be certain that there wouldn't be. 

After all the words had been said and hugs had been given, the pair of them headed down the concrete steps over to where the butler had already saddled up two horses ready for them to use in order to increase their travel speed. 

Although there would come a point where they would be unable to ride the horses any further, she had been informed of a safe and peaceful place where they could leave them in great care whilst they continued further. 

Mounting the horses, the two girls waved one final farewell to Elaine's family before setting off in the direction that the map told them. Although it was probably going to be a dangerous journey, she was grateful to have her best friend by her side. It made her a little less afraid and kept her from getting lonely. It wasn't until they reached the borders of Delphi that their silence was finally broken. 

"Are you ready Issy?" She asked, sucking in a deep breath as though it fuelled her bravery. 

"As I'll ever be." Isabel said with a half smile, her blue eyes looking towards the path ahead.  

With that confirmation, the two ventured their first few steps out of the kingdom in which they had spent their entire lives, and into the unfamiliar territory. Looking down at the map and then at what was in front of them, Elaine took note of the fact that they would be entering the forest in a matter of only minutes. 

Avoiding the direction on the map, which had been marked with a skull and bones stamp, she kept a straight line in her trail, with Isabel following closely behind. Before reaching the forest, they passed a bed of mushrooms, a beautiful lake and even a fairy garden.

Despite their reasons for being outside of Delphi, Elaine couldn't help but feel excited about finally seeing the beauty of the outside world for the first time ever. It was the feeling of freedom, and knowing that she was partially fulfilling a promise made to her brother that kept her from being anxious about this ordeal. 

It was proving difficult to keep her eyes in the direction they were headed while knowing that there were so many beautiful details around them. Two deers pranced around in the near distance as though they were playing a game of tag. 

They moved in sync with one another and as gracefully as any animal could, the one in front only stopped when it knew the other was right beside it. The trust between the two majestic creatures was so clear in their elegant movements and it made Elaine smile in awe as she watched them disappear into the distance after picking up the sound of the horses hooves. 

It was the two deer that showed them the entrance to the forest, and without a doubt after double checking the map, they slowly made their way inside.