Forbidden Love; Its The Best Kind (Link x Reader)

|| Chapter 50 || A Fairytale of Truth

I apologize for the really slow updates. As always, I've been struggling to both find ideas for certain parts of the story (mainly filler) and time to even write at all. Thank you for your patient, though :) ~Maple

The forest was vast. Green seemed to be the only color for miles on end, only stopping for a small spring or pond before showing up again on the other side of it. It became such a tiring color the more you had to look at it.

Stopping, the young male looked down at the open book in his hands, frowning at the scribbles. Between and next to each printed word laid sentences of handwritten ones, trying to translate each page of the book into a language that could be understood, although, each attempt proved useless.

He slammed the book shut, throwing it as far as he could into the bushes with a shout of anger. Bringing his hands to his head, he tugged on his red hair, falling to his knees as tears pricked in his eyes," why does everything have to be so damn difficult!?"

Curling his knees to his chest, he cried silently to himself, accepting the fact that he was completely and utterly lost. He convinced himself no one cared. He abandoned everyone to go out in search of some 'made-up' place he should've known was never going to be there. It was all a stupid fairy tale he was childish enough to actually believe! His father was going to be infuriated...

Lifting his head, he could've sworn he heard a voice. It was low, but he knew he heard it. Wiping his tears, he pushed himself off the ground and stood as tall as he could," who's there? Reveal yourself!"

More whispers came before a man stepped from the shadows, wearing a long red and white outfit. The young teen almost laughed at how much it looked like a dress," who are you? Tell me now, don't hold your tongue if you know what's good for you."

The mystery man raised an eyebrow," gnisu eh era egaugnal tahw. ynnuf skaeps eh?"

"Don't speak gibberish. Tell me who you are!"

"Od ew dluohs tahw?" Two more men stepped out of the brush, equally confused.

"Sdrow hcus kaeps neeuQ eht draeh evah I {I have heard the Queen speak such words}."

"Yllaer {really}?"

"Sey, yob siht htiw od ot tahw wonk lliw ehs spahrep. ralimis gnidnuos sdrow tsael ta, htuom reh morf emoc meht draeh ev'i tey, ylerar meht sesu ehs {yes, she uses them rarely, yet I've heard them come from her mouth, at least words sounding similar. Perhaps she will know what to do with this boy}."

They all seemed to come to an agreement about something, leaving the traveler to stare at them as if they had three heads each," what are you talking about? Don't mumble to each other and ignore me when I ask you questions!"

The first man said something, gesturing for the young male to follow as the other two ran into the forest ahead. The male raised an eyebrow, not wanting to go with some crazy strangers, however, would he rather be eaten alive by some monster out in those woods?

Crossing his arms, he followed the group who seemed pleased by his choice, talking among themselves again in their funny language while leading the way.

~~~

The younger man looked to the two guards who stood at his side, getting annoyed when having to wait so long for some reason he didn't know. It was hard to know anything about the people or where he was when he couldn't understand a single word they spoke. Someone in the strange place had to speak his language, right?

One of the guards stepped back into the hall, motioning for him to follow inside the room he had disappeared in minutes ago.

Entering inside, he was almost blinded by the bright light in which shined through the large windows. Narrowing his eyes, he could see two figures ahead much clearer; a woman and a man to be exact.

The guard bowed then went back into the hallway, leaving the guest to look towards the two before him," who are you people? Do any of you speak in clear words?"

"I apologize for the confusion. Not many people here speak in your tongue as it's seen as quite complex to us," the women instantly spoke, a thick accent lacing her voice," my guards have informed me that you were wandering out in the forest alone. Do you live in one of the nearby villages?"

"No, I'm from Amadahy."

"Ereh morf yaw gnol a s'taht. yhadama?" The guard at her side whispered, the women nodding, equally shocked.

"Is there a reason to why you have strayed so far from home?" She questioned.

"I'm searching for the Kingdom of Anicetus. This book spoke of it, but it's all I have to go off of and nothing it says makes much sense; I can't translate anything, that is."

The woman smiled a bit, leaning back and placing her hands on her lap," well, it seems your search is now over."

"You mean this place is Anicetus?"

"It is. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Aeshia; I am, as you most likely can see, the queen here. This is Aatto who you can think of as second in command. May we have a name to call you?"

The boy looked to them both, biting his lip in question," Adrian...the second."

"Adrian," she tried the name," why were you searching for this kingdom? I can tell it wasn't you wanting to simply prove a fairytale as fact."

He debated what to say, thinking over his words carefully," I come from a poor family who cares not for me. I've heard stories about Anicetus being a place where everyone can be happy and accepted, so I did everything I could to find it. I know you probably have no time for outsiders, but please, I beg of you to let me stay."

Aatto narrowed his eyes, glancing at Aeshia. He was about to say something, however, the Queen stood and smiled," well, we can't turn a blind eye to you seeing as how weak your journey has made you. For now, I will allow you to say and build strength. Then we'll discuss more on the situation."

"Thank you," Adrian dipped his head.

"Retal revo mih kool emoc ot rotcod a rof llac ll'I. Smoor tseug nrehtron eht ot mih ekat esaelp," Aeshia spoke to her guards, the two of them nodding then escorting Adrian away while leaving her and a concerned Aatto.

"Neeuq ym, seil eh {he lies my queen}," the male observed, following Aeshia as she walked towards the large windows, looking down upon her land outside.

"Erawa llew ma i {I am well aware}."

"Hguone llew mih wonk t'nod ew...nam siht tub ,ytirohtua ro sdrow ruoy tbuod ton od I, em evig rof? yats mih tel uoy tey {yet you let him stay? for give me, I do not doubt your words or authority, but this man...we don't know him well enough}."

Aeshia sighed, glancing at Aatto," esle gnihtemos otni taht nrut nac ew, spahrep, fi dna yhw wonk ot hsiw I. niap si ereht ,seye sih nihtiw? rednow I yaw siht lla emoc eh sah yhw. suoiruc ylpmis ma I. ezilaer I {I realize. I am simply curious. why has he come all this way I wonder? within his eyes, there is pain. I wish to know why and if, perhaps, we can turn that into something else}."

Aatto bowed his head yet said nothing.

"Everyone deserves second chances in life. If I didn't give them, where would you be now?" Aeshia questioned, studying the outside world while waiting for an answer.

"...I'd be hung in Amadahy," he whispered, looking down at his hands.

"If you can change, I see no reason to why that boy can't have a chance to. Allow me to at least try and change his heart the way I did you."

Aeshia took her leave while Aatto stayed behind, closing his eyes for a just a second, recalling all the harsh judgement he had once been given. All the times people saw him as nothing more than a petty thief...a killer even.

When he lifted his gaze to the window outside, he was reminded he wasn't that anymore. He was the Queen's loyal guard, the same one she trusted to be at her side no matter what happened. He no longer had to steal or kill. He was a new man with a new story and a new name; a new purpose. Even then, he doubted that everyone could change.