156 Truth About The Past 1

Astrid looked at him and her faded smile rose again.

'He has changed much since I met him. He is more open, friendly and happier than before. I hope he doesn't change.'

White Wing chuckled at their conversation before bringing them back to the situation at hand.

"You both have rested and replenished your strength and power. Now, you can journey out of the forest."

"Yes and thank you honestly for that."

"I want to thank you for safely bringing my granddaughter and great-grandson back to the forest peak."

"Thank you."

"But before then," It started speaking but stopped all of a sudden. Jareth and Astrid took one more glance at each other, then back at the Elder.

"Yes?" They asked the bigger beast.

"I need to speak with the girl, alone." 

"Me?"

"Yes, you."

"Okay. While you are at it, Jareth come let me show you around," White-Fire said. 

"Okay." He looked at Astrid once more and mouthed, 'Be safe.' Then turned and followed the other beasts out. 

When Glacier was sure they had all gone, it fixated its gaze on her. Its look was so intense, that she felt nervous under its gaze.

'Why did Glacier become serious all of a sudden?'

'Because what I have to tell you is serious.'

Her eyes widened when she heard its voice in her head. She had completely forgotten they could mind-communicate.

"Urgh, why do you beasts keep doing that?" She threw her hands in the air, frustrated at their ability to invade minds and give someone the shock of their life. 

"A little warning next time, please." 

She folded her arms in front of her chest as she looked at it. When she didn't get any reply from it, she puffed her mouth and pouted her lips at it.

"Ahh! Two-legged beings," Glacier said with a sigh.

"Two-legged… Hmph," she turned her head to the side with her arms still folded in front of her chest. "You are so much like your granddaughter. No wonder you are related."

"And you are so much like her."

"Like her?" She turned her head to face Glacier and relaxed her arms. "What do you mean by, like her? Who? White-Fire?"

"No silly. Leia."

"Say what now? Who is Leia?"

It was Glacier's turn to be wide-eyed. 

'What does she mean by who is Leia? Doesn't she know her grandmother? Oh!'

As if realization struck at it, he finally understood her point. Of course, she wouldn't know about Leia because her grandmother died the year she was born and she has been lost to all.

"Your grandmother, Queen Leia of Fortland."

"You knew my grandmother?" There was a hint of disbelief in her voice.

It nodded its head at her and replied, "Yes, I knew your grandmother."

Her eyes dimmed as she looked at it. She moved from its front and circled it. Watching and analyzing it from every angle.

By the time she was done circling it, she came to a stop in front of the beast. 

"You knew my grandmother?"

"Yes, I did."

"Then you know who I am?"

"Yes, I do."

"Meaning, White-Fire knew as well?"

"Yes."

"How come you know my grandmother so well?"

"I also know your maternal grandfather and mother too."

"If you know so much about them, then that can only mean one thing. You were my grandmother's beast companion. Am I right?"

It didn't reply to her question, it only smiled at her.

"What was she like, my grandmother?"

"She was as beautiful as you. Leia was a caring soul. She was brave, shy, strong, powerful and selfless. How come you weren't told about her?"

"My aunt kept my whole life a secret from me. Well, until I had a power surge and was chased all over."

"Where is she now? How come she isn't with you?"

"Aunt Nerissa died while we were escaping the human kingdom," she said sadly.

A teardrop escaped her eyelid when she looked down. She reached up and wiped her eye with the back of her hand.

"I am a truly sorry child."

"It is okay. She could only tell me a bit about my heritage before she was killed. To be precise, she told me about the day I was born and how my mother gave me to her and made her leave the kingdom, while she faced the threats alone."

"Your mother was a brave queen. Braver than any queen the magical realm had ever seen."

"Braver than my grandmother?"

"Yes. Even Leia always said so. She called your mother, her brave star."

A small smile crept up her lips at his statement. She was proud of her mother.

"I know you would be braver."

"Me? No, I am not half as brave as my mother. I didn't know her, but from what I heard, she was a brave and powerful queen. The whole kingdoms fear her and not me. I am being chased because they think I am her."

"Who told you that? You are feared the most. Isadora was a half breed fairy with so much power and you are daughter… You are what the realm has never and may never see again. Well, except you produce a tri-hybrid."

"Huh, why would I do that?"

'Seriously? Is she really asking me that?'

"I am not the one who fell in love with an elf. Oh well, it runs in the generation."

"Hey!" 

Her cheeks flushed instantly at the thought of bearing a child for Jareth.

"Easy child, I was just being an old beast."

"My grandmother, why were you not with her when she died? Why didn't you protect her? It broke my mother so much. At least that was what Aunt Nerissa told me, but all through the story, I never heard any mention of you. Why is that?"

"For that, I am sorry, but there was nothing I could do."

"Nothing you could do? What do you mean by that? You are supposed to be able to sense when she is in danger and all that. How were you not able to do anything?!" Astrid half yelled.

At that moment she was feeling so emotional. She couldn't believe her grandmother had a beast companion like Glacier but still died irrespective.

Perhaps if it protected her well, then Leia wouldn't have died and perhaps everything would have changed.

Just maybe she would still be with her mother and people and perhaps Aunt Nerissa wouldn't have died.