The Forest in the Room
He had already passed by her when he decided to go back and finally remove his mask of arrogance and aristocracy. It is one ordinary sunny day where the people in the castle must be spending in meaningless and mindless activities that not only don't benefit the land but also waste their resources. In fact, he left Sir Kururugi to supervise his useless relatives before they exhaust their limited wealth from gambling and parties.
So here he is, in the middle of the Forest of Winter Moonlight, without the company of any guard to protect him from sudden assassination, searching for the cure to his family's centuries-long dilemma. True to its name, the forest glows like the freshest milk of a healthy cow during night time where one can see the biggest sight of the moon nesting above its dreaming trees. Some say that it's because this land is the nearest place to the moon from earth. Some argue it's due to the fact that they are favoured by the Moon goddess that she cannot afford to part from them even for a short while. While there is a myth telling of a young prince trying to catch fireflies but caught the moon instead. Regardless, the moonlight has blessed them several gifts like fertile soil and abundance of game keeping the land thriving despite the smallness of its size.
However, when the sun is out and about during the day, the moon disappears taking with it its light and leaving the forest in perpetual darkness under the summer sun. The trees, the flowers and the animals fall asleep until the moon returns to wake them up at night.
He pulls at the reins and redirects his horse towards the way they came from. It is too dark to navigate through the forest especially at this time – noon – but Arthur is a black horse borne blind that possesses the sharpest senses the greatest soldier could only wish for.
They pass by sleeping boars and a dreaming bear. The birds are silently perched on the branches like figurines ornamenting the Drawing Room. Flowers, large and tiny alike, are bowed to the ground concealing from the viewer their kaleidoscope of colors.
"Whoa."
A young doe that is eating grass blocks their way, an anomaly in the deadness – the deadness of its surroundings perfectly reflected on its black eyes.
"Show yourself," he commands.
"And who is asking?"
A voice from behind him. The doe disappearing.
"And who is he who just gave the command?"
He turns around and finds the doe standing by the horse's arse but this time, its unfathomable gaze is directed to him.
"The king of this land," he answers with authority.
Once again, the doe vanishes before him.
"And why would the king seek a witch during the day… alone?"
And when he follows the voice, he is greeted by a woman, undressed, sitting leisurely on top of a mossy rock and conveniently looking down at him. Her long green hair conceals her breasts and perfectly blends with the plants around them. She possesses eyes of honey and gold that he can only compare with his crown. Her voice is soft and whimsical just like what her physical appearance suggests. But he knew how to not easily trust what he sees and get instantly tricked.
So he asks, "What is your name?"
"I am called 'C.C.', the Witch of the Sleeping Forest."
"C.C… C.C., are you the last descendant of the witches who lived here?"
"I am the only the descendant."
Lelouch nods, satisfied that his journey didn't come to waste. "Good. You must come with me." Turning Arthur around, he begins trudging back to the castle only for him to notice that no footsteps are following him. He glances over his shoulder and finds C.C. still sitting where he left her.
"What?" C.C. asks with a condescending laugh. Her eyes glimmer with amusement. "Just because you are the king doesn't mean you can order anybody to your liking and expect that everyone will heed your commands."
"I am the king and that is enough for you to follow me."
"Hmm. Sounds like a pompous man who thinks so highly of himself. Listen…" In a blink of an eye, C.C. is right infront him. She smells of waterfalls and budding leaves. Autumn freckles lightly peppered her face – so light that it is only noticeable when one is too near to her. And upon a closer inspection, he actually finds real leaves clinging to her hair. Suddenly, she pulls his arm down and she stands on her tiptoes to whisper on his ear, "You might be the king of the land but I own the forest. It lives because of me. It answers to my call. Now, you're the one who sought me alone here which means that you need my help which no one isn't allowed to know about, so it is better to ask nicely while I am still being kind… Your Majesty."
When she releases him, C.C. tosses Lelouch a triumphant smile which doesn't sit well on the king's ego. Now, who's the more arrogant here? It sucks that he has to give in to her demand but it is true that he sought her, and it is truer that he needs something from her that no one should know about. For once the public knows about his intention of bringing her to the castle, uproar would likely happen on top of people seeing him as someone powerless and vulnerable. A powerless king? He doesn't want to be remembered that way.
So Lelouch clears his throat and swallows his pride. Pulling at his collar, he says, "My apologies for being rude, milady. I humbly ask you to come with me so I can properly discuss my intentions."
"Why not discuss it here? Why should it be in the castle where the walls can hear and the windows can see?"
Because he feels uncomfortable in her bastion. Because he can feel the magic humming through the air, the witchcraft floating in the breeze and how it can easily render him motionless in just a snap of her fingers. Because he is starting quietly to reprimand himself for not bringing at least Sir Kururugi with him. The forest feels colder, more unwelcoming and he can only trace this behaviour back to the woman before him.
He badly wants to return where he is in full control of the place and people.
"Ah, so the king is afraid."
"Wh – "
C.C. goes back to her rock. She flips her long hair over her shoulder exposing half of her body. Lelouch focuses his gaze on her face. "Do not be afraid, boy king. I don't harm people regularly unless they hurt the forest. And I can feel that you aren't planning to. Now, tell me your intentions."
"I am dying."
C.C. raises an emerald brow and begins surveying the area. "And? Do you wish your body to be buried here? I can think of a few lovely places that I can lend you. After all, a mortal's decomposing body is the best fertilizer to nourish the land. Oh," her eyes widen in realization, her hands clasp together infront of her chest, "Oh! You are here with good intentions! It is rare to have someone voluntarily offer themselves to the forest. And a king at that! I will forever – "
"No!" he bursts. "I mean, I'm not here to be your goddamn plants' meal," she glares at him, "I'm here because of a myth."
"A myth."
"The Britannia's bloodline has been tainted by a curse. A curse that causes every ruler who comes from the family to die when they turn twenty-five. I am twenty-three now so I have to quickly find a way to break the curse."
"And you thought that I would know how?"
"Now, here's where the myth comes into play. The elders said that the curse first appeared two hundred years ago, after the kingdom made a pact with the witches of this forest to stop witch hunts but in return, the people will be able to peacefully use the forest's natural resources. My ancestors believed that your kind must know the origin of the curse and how to stop it, so for so long now, they had been asking for the assistance of a witch to find the cure only for them to die when they are about to reach their goal."
"Are you blaming us for your misfortune?"
Lelouch shakes his head. "No… Well, there are actually suspicions," C.C.'s eyes narrow, "But that's not my priority right now. I am here because there might be a chance that your predecessor might have passed down her knowledge of the curse and cure to you."
"Hmmm." The green witch starts twirling her hair as she stares unwaveringly at Lelouch. There is something both hypnotic and irresistible with the way she rotates her fingers and he wonders if this is what her victims felt before she lured them and turned them as offerings to the forest. Or so what the rumors say. "I hate to kill your hopes and burn them to the ground but the past witch and I never met."
"How could that be? Isn't she supposed to be your… mother?"
Lelouch falls puzzled when C.C. laughs again and this time, the sound is that of birds chirping. "Oh, is she really?"
"Well, where is she, then?"
"I don't know. Only the trees, the river, the soil know and they won't tell me."
Oh, damn, this is not looking good. In fact, Lelouch can already visualize the funeral the kingdom will give to him two years from now and it makes him shiver that his cousin, Clovis, will definitely insist on handling the matter turning Lelouch's funeral into a mad circus. Cornelia, his other cousin, is a much better choice. Right, he'll include that in his last will and testament. Lelouch groans in frustration. Perhaps, he should have heeded Waldstein's advice of finding a witch when he was younger. How foolish he was thinking that the curse could possibly skip him and he would be the one miracle king who survived the tragedy and be written in history books. So instead, he spent his childhood and adolescence learning and mastering the art of war.
And mastered it he did for he was able to conquer rich lands and find lost treasures during his reign. But what is the use these lands and treasures to him when he wouldn't be around for too long to utilize them?
What is the point of being hailed as the 'Demon King' when he can't defeat death itself?
Truly, he is foolish and arrogant.
"I'll give you anything you want just so you'll help me." He is desperate and he doesn't like this feeling.
C.C.'s eyebrows perk up. "Anything? Can you make the sun shine again over the forest?"
"Anything," Lelouch weakly repeats. "That is within my power and ability."
He waits with bated breath for the witch's answer. If she says 'no', that will be the end of him. Sure, he can seek the help of other witches but they can only provide mild remedies that will only last for a day or two. What he needs is something that will last a lifetime.
"Hmmm. I guess I have some time to spare," the witch shrugs and Lelouch can breathe again. "I'll come with you but in my own way. See you at the castle, Your Majesty."
And all of a sudden, the witch and gone and a crow has flown.
Lelouch tries to match the crow's speed worried that the witch would appear stark naked infront of the castle guards looking for him. But the ground is much harsher than the sky and gradually, the distance between him and the crow grows greater and greater until he cannot see it anymore.
"Did a young lady come looking for me while I was gone?" he asks the guards as soon as he arrives in the castle all the while surveying their gaze for a semblance of judgment.
"No, Your Majesty. But Sir Kururugi would like to request for your presence."
Walking, no, marching towards his room, he waves the guard away as he answers, "I can't meet him right now. Tell him that I'll be unavailable until tomorrow morning."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Upon reaching his room, Lelouch orders the servants outside to leave at once. He locks the doors behind him and surveys the seemingly empty room. Was he tricked? Was he made to believe in false hopes? He cannot put such act of betrayal past a witch. After all, he didn't make her swear on her name or more effectively, on the name of the forest that she loves so much.
Lelouch shakes his head and plops on his bed. A soft whimper causes him to swiftly scramble away and there, buried under the silk sheets and pillows, is the Witch of the Sleeping Forest, lying and giggling at him.
"Your horse is so slow that I was able to take a nap and have nightmares."
The young king immediately averts his eyes to the ceiling for God knows what it does to him seeing a naked girl on his bed. An attractive naked girl at that.
He clears his throat. "Can you put on some clothes?"
"I don't bring anything with me."
"Then use your magic."
"I don't have any magic."
"Wha -" He gives up and takes a spare shirt from his dresser. He tosses it towards C.C.'s direction and not until she is fully clothed that he allows himself to look again. The bottom of the shirt reaches the middle of her thighs. Though the length is still questionable, it is better than her wearing nothing... on his bed.
"So what kind of curse is it?" inquires C.C.
"I'd rather show you."
Lelouch almost laughs at the irony of the situation when this time, he is the one removing his clothes. If only eyes can scoff, that is what the witch's orbs are doing right now. She kneels on the edge of the bed as he turns his back on her.
A cold palm lies lightly on his skin, slowly sweeping across his back. Lelouch shivers at the sensation as if he is holding snow with his bare hand.
"Oh, dear, this looks terrible."
He sighs. "It is... It started like a small bruise when I was a child then it grows larger as I became older. It is painless, though, perhaps the only consolation I am getting from this problem."
"I sense betrayal, loss, anger and sadness not from you, but from the marks. Writhing, consuming, hungry. But... it is painless?"
He nods. "It is. So perfectly painless that sometimes I forgot they exist."
"Well, too much pain sometimes leads to numbness. How did the previous rulers die from this?"
"In their sleep during their twenty-fifth birthday."
Her fingernails slightly dig into his skin and Lelouch feels a surge of warmth on his back. It travels from the base of his neck down to the center of his hip reminding him of the vast deserts he had traversed. "The good news is it seems that the curse isn't resistant of magic."
"I thought you don't have any magic."
"The bad news is that it seems to only absorb magic. It doesn't resist but it also doesn't let the magic take effect. It's like… like a piece of cloth that even when soaked, will instantly dry. Like foolish people who are willing to hear the truth but do not believe them."
Hearing her metaphors does nothing to lift up the king's spirit. It is beginning to sink in that this could be the future of his life now, or rather, lack thereof. He doesn't deserve this. He doesn't deserve to die at an age when he should be at the peak of his reign and brilliance. He doesn't deserve to have his dreams and accomplishments stolen by a curse he wasn't even alive when created. A curse that takes innocent lives without mercy or remorse. He didn't ask for this unjust fate. And if there is one thing, even the smallest grain of sand along the shore, that will give a weak light to this predicament, he will take it. After all, a weak light is the brightest light in the darkness.
He only notices that he has been silent for a while when C.C. clears her throat. She must have expected for him to say something but his mind is a storm of thoughts that words couldn't express.
"I have to know more about the curse. Since both of us are clueless on its origin and secrets, I need to have access to any resource, book, manuscript, anything that can help me figure out your situation," says C.C.
"Wait, you're actually going to me?"
Looking over his shoulder, he is subjected to an expression he didn't expect from her - surprise. She shrugs. "Perhaps. Well, your offer is hard to ignore. And I thought that I can learn something about the past witches, too. Like, where they have gone."A spark of excitement flourishes on her eyes which completely changes her appearance. "Certainly, you have books in your library that contain something about us."
"You're really going to help me?"Lelouch asks again, still in shock.
Suddenly, two frigid hands cup his face. C.C.'s own moves closer to his and this time, he can feel the coldness travel in his veins. Many have wondered why the sun doesn't shine on the forest during the day and he thinks he knows the answer now. The witch has its light trapped in her eyes. They twinkle, they glow, they burn like the star.
She stops right before their noses touch and her breath is a hail freezing his cheek. "I truly am, Your Majesty," she whispers. "Witches are not necessarily bad. But everything comes with a price."
"And what about the forest? Are you willing to be away from it for a while?"
"I am the forest and the forest is I. Wherever I am, I carry it with me. I have one question, though."She releases him and lies down on the bed with a bounce leaving Lelouch dazed.
"What is it?"
"Why did you choose now to find a cure for the curse?"
"It is based on calculation. Two years... I needed at least two years to find a cure and within those years, at the last year to be exact, when nothing still works and hope is but an illusion, I have to find a wife to carry my child and legacy to rule the throne. That is how my bloodline survived all this time, though, of course, they married when they were younger than me. Let's say that it will be my most desperate last resort."
"Aaah."
Suddenly exhausted, Lelouch crawls on the bed with her. Lelouch is not a man of extravagance. Only rarely he indulges in lavish properties and gatherings and finds comfort on concise straightforward plans and designs. So, staring up at his plain white ceiling right now feels like staring directly at the moon. He has never set foot in the forest during the night. Mostly, he admires the moon through the balcony of his room that is located opposite of the forest and for that reason, his view is nothing extraordinary. But this moment oddly brings a sense of serenity and lull that only the moon can give and it is not even evening yet. Is it because of the possibility of a longer life opening up before him? The possibility of having more time to explore and conquer the world? Of living past twenty-five years old?
"Your ceiling needs stars."
He turns next to him and realizes the answer. Ah, yes, it's because of the witch – of her unearthly charm and mystic appeal. She brought the moon to his room. He almost laughs at the thought.
"And what is funny, boy king?" she curiously asks.
He shakes his head and returns his gaze back to the ceiling. "Nothing." He chuckles. "Life, death, and curses and cures…"
"And dying kings and disappearing witches."
"Your residence in the castle will be prepared at once. You will also have your own study room and endless access to the library. And most importantly, you will be given dresses and shoes to wear. Is there anything else…?"
But when he turns to her, the witch is already fast asleep on the sea of violet silk. Is that a soft snore he is hearing? It sounds like a cricket's hum. This time, he lets out a soft chuckle. He barely knows the woman beside him but he already put his life on her hands. He doesn't know if her intentions are entirely good and honest but he is willing to give her place in the heart of his castle. There is no guarantee that she wouldn't betray him in the end and would indeed feed his body to her plants but at the very least, there is already one truth tested and proven.
"I am the forest and the forest is I. Wherever I am, I carry it with me."
And truly, his room doesn't feel like a room anymore but it is eventually filled with leaves on hair, a cricket's hum, starless ceiling, snow-cold skin and sunlit eyes.
Stay safe and healthy.
