So I know this comes a few days later than expected, I'm sorry. I try to stick to my usual update schedule, since everything that's normal keeps us all sane, but, as I said, it might be that I can't always make it. However, this is the longest chapter in this story so far, so I hope that makes up for it. Have a nice weekend, even if it's nothing like a usual one, and stay safe! ❤
Also, extra thanks to everyone who leaves reviews for this story, they make my days so much brighter, especially now. If any of you just wants to chat a bit, feel free to write a pm. ❤
The next day approached fast, and after a night of light sleep and a simple breakfast, Beatrice and Christina gathered their belongings and packed their bags. Given they only had few things with them, it didn't take much time until they were well on their way. Hiking wasn't that hard at first, as they were walking on a wide path. They saw that someone had walked here not long before them, as they could still make out the footprints. Judging from their number and size, there were at least three more girls ahead of them. They had no doubt they were heading towards the same destination.
The girls walked until it was time for their lunch break. They stopped at a clearing and sat on a stump to eat and relax their feet.
"From now on, it's going to get more difficult. We've almost reached the end of the area I know. We have to be attentive to not get lost, and also more vigilant. The closer we get to the Dark Forest, the more hidden dangers we could face. Usually, we avoid this part of our province," Beatrice sighed.
"Tell me about it. We don't go anywhere near the Dark Forest either. I mean, there's a lot of scary stories about what's looming inside it. My grandma used to tell us the eeriest of all when we were children. She wanted us to be aware of the dangers, she said, so we wouldn't take risks. But I often had nightmares after hearing her tales. Her imagery was very... vivid."
"So what is it that she told you about it? Because we were simply told it was dangerous and we shouldn't go there. In Abnegation, parents don't explain the reasons for the rules they set. They just exist, and we don't question them."
"Well, to make one thing clear, I don't know if any of it is true. It might just be stories. It is said that the Dark Forest is the home of the forgotten creatures. If someone is killed by dark magic, this is where the soul will go. But they are not pure souls anymore, they are cursed. The injustice of their death turns them sinister, so they seek revenge and try to pull everyone who dares to step too close into their everlasting darkness. Long time ago, a wall was build around the Dark Forest. It is supposed to be bewitched, so the souls can't cross it, but we don't trust it to keep them in. That's why we don't go any further than the fountain of truth, which is at least half a day's journey away from it."
"Oh wow. That sounds... awful. I've never heard those stories before. The only rumor I overheard two women talking about on a market was something about a black fog that would make you get lost. But that was a long time ago. I was still a child back then."
"Maybe both versions have a bit of truth in them?"
"I don't know." Beatrice shrugged and kicked a stick that was lying on the ground. "I guess we can't know for sure. Honestly, I tried not to think about it too much before now, but it gets harder to ignore those issues the closer we actually get. I mean, at least the part about the wall seems to be true, as it's part of our task."
"Yes, apparently. I wonder why it is supposed to be difficult. Is it just because it surrounds the Dark Forest, or is there more to it?"
"I wish I had an answer to that question. We'll see to it. Maybe it is a problem that the wall is bewitched?"
"We don't really believe in witchcraft in Candor. It is frowned upon, as a way to easily explain things that would require more honesty to truly understand. That's why we don't trust the wall to keep the souls contained. Witchcraft and magic are things that belong in the past."
Beatrice thought about that. Something didn't quite fit the mold, but she couldn't put a finger on what exactly made her frown.
"But the fairies and their magical melodies still exist. What about the boxes we were given?"
"I know. I don't know what to believe, actually. Have you checked your box, anyway?"
"Not after we left the castle. Maybe we should take a look."
Digging into their respective bags, they fell silent. But not for long, though.
"Look at that, one of my locks has opened," Christina exclaimed excitedly.
"One of mine, too," Beatrice replied, staring at her box.
"Why do you think it happened?"
"We must have done something driven by love."
Beatrice raised the box in front of her eyes and squinted. Tiny, elegantly curved letters formed a word beneath the lock that had sprung open:
'FAMILY'
Before she had even time to blink, it was gone, faded into nothingness as if it had never been there.
For a moment, she wondered if her eyes had betrayed her when Christina said, "Mine spelled 'friend', but now the writing has disappeared again."
"I read 'family', but the word is no longer there."
"So it is possible to open them. There has to be some magic inside them."
"That's what the fairies told us."
"Yes, and I told you we're cautious in Candor when it comes to magic."
"But how can you believe in sinister souls hiding in the Dark Forest, yet at the same time say the bewitched wall isn't bewitched enough to keep them there? Or that the fairies might not speak the truth?"
"I said we are skeptical, not that we completely deny its existence, like the Erudite. We're used to looking for the truth behind seemingly easy explanations. The Candor can be quite ambivalent regarding certain topics, and this is one of them. It's just one of the characteristics of our province, just like there are many things people never talk about in yours. You see, Candor and Abnegation are separated by the Dark Forest, but the way we talk about it is completely different."
"Okay, I understand what you want to say. But we can agree that there are many things about it that we don't know for sure."
Then their conversation turned back to the boxes and the locks. While they continued their journey on the path that became sturdier with each bend it took, they kept speculating about the reasons for the open locks. They assumed Beatrice's lock must have opened because of the Epaticamey root she had given her mother, but it was more difficult to decide what Christina had done to open hers. She insisted it had to have to do with helping Beatrice in some way or another, since she was the only person Christina had had contact with that she considered a friend.
After walking for a while, they spotted a wooden shack ahead of them. The path led them right towards it. They hesitated as they approached it, squinting left and right to make sure they weren't walking straight into a trap. When they were only a few steps away from it, the door was torn open and an old man blocked their way. He looked ragged, his clothes worn and partly torn, his hair clinging to his head in oily strands.
The girls had stopped dead in their tracks and stared at him. Beatrice's heart had sped up considerably at the first sight of the man's empty eyes staring at them, but it slowed down as she took him in. He didn't seem hostile. He was rather surprised to see them here, probably because he hardly saw any people this far out of the province's central area. His appearance was rather shaped by poverty and the life-hostile conditions out here than by hostility.
"Good afternoon, Sir," Beatrice greeted him.
She noticed Christina glancing sideways at her, but she was sure she was doing the right thing. They had to gain the man's trust, so he would let them pass.
When he didn't reply and just continued to stare at them, she went on, "We're on the way to the edge of the Dark Forest. We don't mean you any harm, we just want to follow this path. There's nothing you have to worry about."
"Nothing he has to worry about? Really, Tris?" Christina muttered under her breath.
Beatrice didn't look at her, just kept her eyes focused on the man's. It took him some time to react, but eventually, he nodded slightly.
"Yes, yes. There were more girls passing by my hut yesterday. Strange times, strange times. Not a soul in forever, and now this many," he said. His voice was hoarse, and he brought his left hand up to his throat, as if he didn't trust his ability to speak.
"I understand that this must seem strange to you, Sir. Please, can we pass?"
Again, many seconds went by before he took a step to the side, towards the shack he had referred to as his hut.
"Go on, girls, go on," he croaked. "But be warned. Your souls are pure, don't let them be sullied."
"Thank you, Sir."
Beatrice started to walk while Christina still hesitated.
"Come on," she encouraged her friend.
As they passed the shack, Beatrice peeked inside it through the open door. It looked sad and dirty, and she felt compassion for this poor man that had to spend his life under such conditions.
"Sir, is there anything we can help you with? Do you need anything?" she asked.
The man looked at her as if he didn't believe his ears.
"Fire," he said, then cleared his throat. "My fire died a few days ago, and it's been so cold. If you could help me light a new one?"
"We can do that," Beatrice replied and ignored Christina's slightly reproachful look. "It will only take a few minutes," she reassured her, and then set her bag down to take out the matches.
She helped the old man to set up his fireplace and then lighted the logs with one of her remaining two matches. He was so happy and overwhelmed by her help that she didn't have time to worry about Christina and herself. They at least had each other, and they'd be back first with her family and then at the castle soon.
"That wasn't really necessary, you know?" Christina said when they were back on the path.
"No, but I couldn't leave him like that. It's not what people do in Abnegation."
"But now we only have one match left."
"We'll manage, somehow."
They continued their journey quietly. Christina wasn't in the mood for more talking, and Beatrice was thankful that maybe her family wasn't as poor as it often felt. Sure, they didn't have much, but they had a real home and each other.
After walking for a while, they heard an inhuman sound ahead of them. The path led them right towards it. They hesitated as they approached it, squinting left and right to make sure they weren't walking straight into a trap. Beatrice knelt down immediately the moment she saw the injured dove in the bushes beside the path. It curred dolorously. She reached out to pick it up and carefully inspected the bird. One of its wings appeared to be broken, hanging loosely to the side, with white feathers pointing in all directions.
"Hey, little dove, did you get hurt?" she whispered soothingly. "We'll take you along with us and bring you back to the castle. You can stay with us until your wing has healed and you can learn how to fly again. We'll take care of you. With us, you'll be safe."
"But you're aware that it doesn't understand what you're saying, right?" Christina said with a smile.
"That doesn't matter, as long as she feels she's being taken care of."
She took a piece of fabric out of her bag that she carefully wrapped around the dove and then held it close to her chest to keep it warm. The poor animal had to be cold. She was determined to help it, as she knew it was its only chance to survive. Without help, it would freeze to death when the night fell. She'd give it water and food and keep it warm as she'd carry it all the way with them to the Dark Forest and back to the castle, no matter if Christina found it amusing to talk to an animal.
And so they continued their journey, the path underneath their feet more overgrown the further it led them into unknown lands. It couldn't be far now.
Finally, after walking for a while, they spotted a small house made of stone. The path led them right towards it. They hesitated as they approached it, squinting left and right to make sure they weren't walking straight into a trap. It stood out peculiarly from its surroundings.
"Hello?" Beatrice called, trying to avoid being startled anew.
"Hello, who's there?" came the answer from inside the house. One of the little windows opened and a face came into view, although it was hard to make out beneath the black beard covering half of it and the pointed hat had sunk down to the bushy eyebrows.
"Beatrice and Christina," she replied.
"Ah, more girls on their journey to the Dark Forest for the sake of the prince?"
"Yes, yes we are."
"Come in and join me for dinner, girls. Mine is almost ready, isn't it? It's not far from here. I can tell you what you need to know, can't I?"
Beatrice and Christina exchanged a look. Was it wise to trust this little man? But he was so small, reaching only as high as their hips, could he really put them in danger? And what other choice did they have, anyway?
So they joined him. He offered them his fireplace to cook for themselves, and Beatrice offered him some of her supply of fruit.
"Here, take these apples and a pear. I can imagine it's been a while since you've had fresh fruit out here."
"Thank you very much, my dear, you are too kind."
They continued their conversation while he roasted his potatoes and the girls stirred their soup.
"I haven't properly introduced myself, have I? I'm Al, short for Albert. Yes, and short is what I am, as you can see. Don't stare please, it's not polite. I'm a dwarf, just to cover that next question you're wondering about, aren't you? And yes, we still exist."
"So, uhm, are you living out here on your own all the time?" Beatrice asked, trying not to stare. She found it was easier when she kept her eyes focused on Al's face.
"These days, I do. My brothers and I used to live together, in a shared house. But it broke under the weight of the snow in a particularly cold winter, and we separated. Now each of us has his own little house, and we keep watch over the paths that lead to the Dark Forest, don't we? Three girls were here yesterday, but they didn't want to take their time to listen to me. Too bad, isn't it?" He didn't wait for an answer. "So from here, it's only a few hundred steps until the path ends. From there, you can go on only one at a time, so the Forest won't hear you. You step between the two stones that mark the end of the path and take about a hundred steps more, going straight ahead. Then you'll reach the wall, won't you? Just don't let your minds get distracted and wander off, or else you will get lost."
"Okay, that sounds manageable, thank you," Christina said happily.
It was true, it didn't sound that difficult. Yet somehow, Beatrice didn't believe that was all there was to it. They'd gotten this far without any real obstacle, and last week, only one of the two girls trying to fulfill the Abnegation task had received her gemstone. If it was this easy, what was the point in making it a task?
They set the table together and were about to devour their food. Beatrice was starving after walking the whole day, and she had to strengthen herself for the last part of today's journey that was still to come. But she paused with the spoon halfway to her mouth as she remembered the dove that had fallen asleep in her arms during their walk. She had set it down by the fireplace, close enough to enjoy the warmth, but far enough from it that it wouldn't get uncomfortably hot. She turned to look at it and found it awake, tending to its feathers.
Beatrice picked it up and placed it in her lap where she fed it small pieces of vegetables that she picked out of her soup with her fingers. The bird swallowed them thankfully, and Beatrice was glad it looked a little better after getting some rest and food.
After finishing their dinner, Al nodded towards the dove that had fallen asleep again on her thighs.
"You can leave that bird with me, can't you? I can take care of it until it has healed. That way, it won't burden you any longer," he offered.
"That's very considerate, but I'd like to keep it. I've always liked animals, but my parents never allowed me to have a pet, so this is my chance to take care of one, even if it's just for a few days."
"As you wish. Now, before you go, I want to give you something."
Al got up and rummaged in a huge chest that he pulled out from under his bed. He murmured something under his breath while he obviously searched it for something he had in mind. He paused when he had found it, then turned around and headed over to Beatrice.
"Here, take this pickaxe from me as a gift. I can imagine it will serve you well when the time comes to use it, won't it?"
She took it from him and turned it over to look at it from all sides. It was an ordinary pickaxe on which the ravages of time were visible. Her mind easily made the connection between the tool and the stone she'd have to take out of the wall.
"Thank you very much Al, you are too kind."
