Far away from the Forest of Silence, two companions shivered in the dark. Around them, cold stone and bars trapped them in their cell. A wooden door stood firm at one side, and if one listened particularly hard, they could likely here the shifting of the Grey Guards on the other side. No candles lit the room, but sunlight fell in from a small, iron barred window.

It was the morning sun, dim and still cool.

It did little to warm Jarred, the blacksmith, or Anna, the seamstress.

"Do you think he is alive?" Anna asked in a whisper. She curled herself closer to her husband and shut her eyes. Exhaustion colored her voice while starvation stalked her form. Anna looked very different than the somewhat plump woman that had lived in the forge overlooking the City of Del. She had lost her figure and her healthy color. Her skin hung off of her awkwardly; stretched in some places, too taut in others. Meanwhile, dark circles hung from her eyes. Her worry as well as general discomfort often kept her from rest these days.

Beside her, Jarred shifted an arm to warp around her. He gazed down at her with soft eyes.

"If he was confirmed dead, they would have used that by now." Jarred murmured, referring to their daily interrogations. Each day, they were questioned on the whereabouts of the heir to Deltora. Everything the couple had ever told to the man they knew as Barda had been leaked to the Shadow Lord's forces, including the fact that they knew where the heir was. The couple had never been so glad that they had decided to keep that particular secret (and all that it revealed about themselves) close to chest. Anna nodded into Jarred's shoulder. She didn't bother poking holes in his statement. They were both aware that Leif could be dead and no one, not even those seeking his life, might know. Still.

They had hope. Leif might still be alive. They would not betray that hope. Anna opened to her eyes to look back at their dreary cell. Strange, it seemed to be getting brighter much more quickly than the morning sun would normally allow.

Anna jerked upright as she stared at the brightening bricks. They were brightened far more than should be possible from that single window. Yet, Light continued to stream through the window to brighten the room in a bright, artificial light.

"Jarred." She hissed. Shakily, Anna stood. Beside her, Jarred jolted out of his half-dazed state and looked around in awe. Together, the coupled turned to peer through their tiny window.

Far off, into the distance a pillar of bright, white light rose into the sky. It was so bright that the light it created lit the world to a harsh, white shade that almost burned their eyes. Anna found herself unable to stare directly at the pillar of light but instead found herself fixated on the smudge of Forest the magical light (for what else could it be, truly?) was originating form.

"The Forest of Silence." Anna whispered in disbelief. How could this be? The Forest had been a place of darkness long before the Belt was destroyed. As a young girl to be sent to Del, her caretakers had often told her stories of the dangers within the Forest as warnings. Yet now, the brightest light she had ever seen came from it.

"Leif." Jarred croaked. "It must be Leif!" The blacksmith gasped out. A fervent look of hope and wonder overtook his face as he gazed out over the land. Anna felt joy flutter back into her chest at his pronouncement. For his words were indeed true. What else could cause such a thing in the Forest but the might of the Belt being reunited with one of its seven gems? It had to be Leif. There was no other answer Anna would accept.

Tears glistened within Anna's eyes and dripped slowly down her cheeks. Her son was alive. He was alive and fulfilling the quest, reuniting their people.

A bright smile remained on her lips even as the Light began to dim.

The door clanged open behind her and the sound of heavy breathing filled the cell. Ah, so it seemed their tormenter had seen the light as well and had now come to demand answers.

No matter.

Anna turned together with her husband; a smug grin of victory painted on her face. Let him ask his questions. She would never betray her son.


Alright ya'll. This wraps up the Forest Arc. Ergo, I'm taking a break.

Not a super long one (hopefully) but I do try to update other things depending on the time of the year. Next up is my Naruto fics. Then I'll probably go back to my HP xovers. Then I'll work on my transformers and my DP xovers... and then I'll probably get back to this and write the Lake of Tears arc.

Anyway, enjoy life till then. Bye!