Chapter 3 Stranger in the woods

Late in the evening of that very day, Carmen developed an urge to walk in the forest. She walked carefully out of her bedroom window,her hands and feet sticking to the walls like a magnet. She walked down the walls, slowly as if she were a spider. She then ran as fast as she could to the forest. No guard ever noticed her run, as the speed rate at which she was running was quick as lightning, but she did not feel it nor see it. She only saw herself run fast like she normally would when she was playing with Alex during the day. Then suddenly a strange woman appeared to her,she wore a red hooded gown.

"Who are you?" Carmen asked but she was not afraid,she felt safe.

The strange woman walked closer to Carmen,she then brushed her soft cheeks with her cold hand.

"You have grown up" The woman said.

"Who are you? If you don't anwer me now I will have to scream."

The strange woman smiled.

"Do not be hasty in your decision. I will never let any harm come to you, nor will I harm you."

"Why are you in the woods alone at night?" Carmen asked.

"The same reason you are in the woods. I wanted to see you."

"But I came here on my own. No one knows that I am here, no one told me to come." said Carmen.

"But you did come. Why did you come to the woods little princess?"

Carmen did not say a thing for a while.

"I don't know, I thought that I should come here." she said.

Meanwhile in the palace..

Shiandra went to check on Carmen and found her bed was empty.

She began to scream. Jordan heard her and rushed in to see what was happening.

"What is wrong?" Jordan asked.

"She is gone!" Said Shiandra, pointing to the bed.

"Where would she go? I will tell the guards to look around the palace,I am certain she is around here somewhere,you know how she can be."

And while Jordan and the guards were searching for Carmen, Shiandra was trying to find a way to explain to the King what had occurred.

"What! You lost my daughter?" The King shouted angrily.

"Sigh I found the window opened I think she is still around nearby, we will find her. Jordan is searching for her already."

"My daughter had better be unharmed otherwise I will slay you and feed you to the pigs! "Search the wood's!" The King instructed.

The guards went out in their numbers,looking for Carmen in the woods.

"They are looking for you." The strange woman said.

"Oh no. I will get in trouble for this. What is your name lady?"

"You will come across challenges in life as you grow, in those moments, remember the person these words. You are a queen and you can overcome everything that comes your way."

"Who are you?" Carmen asked the strange woman.

"Your father is worried, we will speak again soon. Listen to your father, he loves you very much. And when the time comes you will be married, I will find you a good soulmate. And you will reign as it is your right. Do not tell anyone about me. Be good Carmen."

The strange woman turned into a bat and flew away East.

Carmen stood there confused. Suddenly one of the warriors came from behind her, he hadn't seen anything that had happened.

"Here you are!" He said, then began to blow a horn to let the other warriors know that he had found Carmen.

The king was thrilled to see her daughter safe.

"Oh my Carmen!" Said King Cyrus, offering the child a hug.

"Don't ever do that again, the woods are not safe especially at night!" Shiandran was relieved.

"I am sorry for scaring you like that. I promise to listen to you both and to keep myself from trouble." Said Carmen.

Shiandra, Jordan and the King looked at each other. They were surprised to hear such words from her. She had spoken as if reciting what she was told to say.

"What were you doing in the woods so late?" Shiandra asked.

"Uhm.. I don't know I felt like going there."

"You just felt like going there, late at night?" Shiandra asked.

"Yes."

"Shiandra, please stop with these questions. At least the child is safe and has returned to us. That's all that matters. Isn't it?"

"Forgive me sigh."

Days passed. Carmen was planning to surprise her father with her very own lemonade which she had prepared herself. But curiosity crept in, she hid behind the empty wooden bench that was at least three metres away from the stables where the King and Jordan were sitting.Then began to listen to their conversation.

"I will not be able to be King forever. Kineti citizen's will need to have a new King to rule over them."

"You may not have a King to take your place, but you will have a queen that will. Carmen will be a good ruler." Said Jordan.

The King chuckled.

"We all know that won't happen. The throne needs someone with great strength, willing to die for it, willing to even kill for it. I need someone who is strong."

"Carmen is that person sigh. She is quick on her feet, with proper training she will be able to defend herself as well as rule over the Kineti. The people already love her. Stop worrying yourself needlessly. Carmen will be the right ruler, she is your daughter!"

The King's eyes filled up with tears,he was very sad.

"Carmen is not my blood. The citizens of Kineti will treat her otherwise, they will not respect her, they will say hurtful things because they know that she is not my real daughter, she is not my blood. " Cried the King.

Carmen's eyes widened, she was shocked to hear such things from the King. She ran to her bedroom and began to sob.

"Why would my father say that I am not her blood. If I am not his daughter,then whose daughter am I? The woman in the woods said that I am a Queen, but which country shall I rule?" Carmen wondered.