Moments passed awkwardly, with the two men unsure what to talk about. Finally, Zora emerged with the young girl. The queen patted her shoulder.
"Daddy," the girl said with her head low. "I don't want you to kill him anymore."
"Oh, that is excellent," the duke said, relieved. He looked at Zora with gratitude. "It has taken a great load off my chest."
The couple look at each other hopeful.
"In fact, I'm done with love. I do not want to talk of love or marriage ever again," the girl said and quickly went through the curtain.
"My sweet child. Matilda?" the duke stood up, starting to sweat. "Matilda. Let us not be hasty. I am sure there are some wonderful boys your age that would make a wonderful match," he followed her immediately.
Zora looked at the curtain, completely stunned.
"What did you tell her?" Aidan asked.
She shrugged. "Not much. Honest!"
The duke returned, only to give them a stern look. "Are you going, or should I fetch my guards?"
The two tittered anxiously. "No need. We were just leaving," Zora said, already glancing at the door.
As they left, night was already falling. They continued on with their boring task, not even realizing the epic fight that was taking place a few kingdoms away.
The unicorns were fierce and strong. With their combined forces, they could summon a cloud that would allow them to fly. But Viniria knew all their tactics. She would strategically separate them so they could not form a group. Her vines helped her jump over them like hurdles, and grab their slim limbs like a manic octopus. But that was not all. When their attacks grew more serious, Vinira formed sharp thrones on her ever extending appendages.
The unicorn queen gasped. "You... You have grown stronger."
"That is correct. While you were frolicking and running down hills, I was training my body to my roots and back."
One of the unicorns tried to stab her from the back. She managed to evade him, but was quickly grabbed again. His two friends bit hard into both her wrists. Viniria yelled out in pain. She clenched her bleeding fists and formed half a meter long thorns that pierced their mouth. They neighed in pain, letting go immediately. Their magical blood dripped, healing their former captive along with themselves.
"Why are you so determined to defend this child. It is not like he is one of your own?" Luna spoke again. Viniria glanced at her, furious. "That is what you don't understand. When you are the last of your kind, you bond with those you deem worthy."
The unicorns scoffed, some even spat. "A human? Worthy? There is not a single one worth living, let alone caring for."
"That is where you are wrong!" Viniria pointed her finger. Still, her attention never shifted. Despite facing her, the guardian's thorn-filled vines were still swinging, blocking attacks left and right. "There are kind humans left in this world. And as long as they are alive, I will not let you soil their good name like that!"
"You traitor!" Luna growled, aiming her glowing horn at her. "Do you expect me to sympathize with beings that nearly wiped us out? We were suffering! Hiding! Forced to run, never feeling safe. Hunted down like mere rabbits!" She lowered her head, ready to spear her former friend.
But the forest guardian has had enough. Managing to grab her mid-sprint, Viniria leaped as high as she could. To Luna's surprise, Viniria had managed to entangle all the unicorns into her indisputable vines. As she was hurling towards the starry sky, her face twisted in a growl.
"Enough! Do you think you're the only ones with tragedy in your past?" she yelled. Her figure looked menacing, illuminated by the full moon. Her greenish body covered in wounds, with her thorny vines spread in all directions. Each one gripping a terrified unicorn. From a far, their horns resembled claws and with her arms outstretched, she could easily be mistaken for a primordial goddess.
The unicorns were thrown all at once on the hard ground. Something their bodies could not easily recover from. Struggling to stand up, Vinira reached the grown, walking over to Luna.
"I have won, Luna. Against all odds, I am the winner. Which means that I decide your faith."
"That is true. The magical codex is clear on that," the hurt creature said, coughing. "Are you going to kill us now?" she asked.
Vinira thought long and hard. "Take me to the place you chose as your rest place."
The queen obliged. With a heavy sigh, she, along with her herd, walked towards a cave. Conveniently, it was located near the Leaping Meadows.
"Good. Now, go in," Viniria commanded.
"But, what if we cannot go back to sleep?" one unicorn asked.
Viniria frowned. "You should have thought about it before gnawing on my flesh, shouldn't you?"
Luna sighed again. "There is no point in talking to her. Go inside," she said sad. The unicorns slowly entered, one by one, with Luna entering last. Viniria waited with her arms crossed.
Taking one last look outside, Luna noticed something.
"What is it?" Viniria asked.
"Are those elves?" the unicorn said.
"Do not try to trick me! You agreed to this."
"I am not lying. Look!"
Vinira glanced back. Luna was telling the truth. From the dark forest, a river of light could be seen. Human-like creatures were walking slowly in perfect lines. Their facial features were exceptionally beautiful and their long hair was so shiny, it almost seemed like it glowed. Holding special lamps, the row of beautiful humanoid creatures slowly made their way towards the forest guardian. They wore clothes of pure white, with such intricate embroidery, it would be difficult to believe they were mere night gowns.
The forest guardian gulped, seeing their somber expressions. A tall elf man, seemingly their leader, stepped towards her. "A vast amount of noise has been disturbing our forest this evening. Might you know something on the matter?" he asked.
Vinira pressed her lips, knowing how grumpy elves could be.