F – Forest

This story was written for the 2025 April A to Z Blog Challenge. Twenty-six words, one for each letter of the alphabet, were pre-selected by a random word generator (MacChatGPT) and were included for each section of the appropriate letter in the Challenge. The chosen word is highlighted within the text. To start the story from the beginning, go to https://www.hdhstory.net/Storyblog/?p=4443.

When last we met in Part 5 – Elegant: 

Following the clues provided by the dancing birds, Adriana made her way to a grand palace where she was met by the Queen, welcoming Adriana on her return, which confused Adriana, as she had never been there before. The queen said that they had much to discuss. 

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Destiny – Part 6 (forest)

The queen led Ariana to a royal chamber. The guards remained outside.

Adriana admired the plush carpeting, the ornate embroidered curtains around the large windows, the tapestries covering the walls depicting historic events, and the doorway to the balcony. A sitting area with comfortable chairs was by one wall near a grand fireplace. A picture of a much younger queen hung over its mantle. Adriana was overwhelmed.

The queen motioned Adriana to sit down, then sat opposite her. 

“It is you,” the queen said emphatically as she gazed into Adriana’s eyes, “we welcome you back. What do you know about yourself?”

Adriana didn’t know what to say. How was she known to this queen? How could she have returned to a land she had never been to? The most perplexing question was why she felt that she was home.

“I’m guessing I know very little about myself,” she started. She went on to talk about her family, her mother and father, older sister and brother, where she grew up on Glendan, reaching the age of nineteen and choosing her destiny to be a princess, where there had not been any royalty for years. She talked about biting the apple and ending up in this land, about the help she had received from a chimera and a mountain climber, and how she followed clues to end up at the palace. 

As she explained all of this, the queen continued staring at her. The queen’s facial expressions showed multiple emotions – compassion, astonishment, pride, and love.

When Adriana stopped talking, the queen addressed her. “My dearest Adriana, you do, in fact, know little of your origin. But the story of your life touches my heart. We now know the decisions made at your birth were the right ones, for you are here, strong and wise. It is time for me to fill in the gaps and set you on the course to discover who you are.

You were born here in Glandisol. You were found in a field of blue flowers in the middle of what is now called the Forbidden Forest. The peasants that found you brought you to this palace, as a note attached to the blanket you were swaddled in read, “Please save my little princess. Don’t let them find her.” The queen pulled a tattered paper from her robe and shared it with Adriana.

We did not know whether the term “princess” was a term of endearment or a royal title. 

Then, when news of your finding got out, came rumors of marauders seeking your death. We needed to act fast. I engaged the services of a soothsayer and a wizard. The soothsayer foretold that you would return when you reached the age of nineteen but could offer no explanation of your birth. The wizard was charged with transporting you to another land and fostering you to, what I must assume, were the parents that raised you. He was also instructed not to reveal anything about you other than that you were an abandoned baby. Your parents were told never to reveal how you came to be in their family. 

Though the queen’s story explained how Adriana got there, all the information shared gave her many more questions. Why didn’t her brother and sister share any of this information? Were they sworn to secrecy also? Was her desire to become a princess connected to her birth? Was she already a princess? 

That was the question she asked out loud. “So am I really a princess?”

“That I do not know,” was the queen’s reply. “In my heart, I sense royal blood in your veins. However, without proof, there is nought I can act on. You must find that out yourself. You must go to the Forbidden Forest to find what you seek. But beware, there are those that still seek your demise. Should they find you, all may not go well.”

Adriana had lots to think about. She was fed well that night, given a chamber to sleep in, and the next day was directed on the way to find the Forbidden Forest. The queen suggested that some royal guards escort her. However, Adriana refused. She felt that she’d be safer if she went on her own. 

To be continued in G – Grow