Elethien woke to the view of a dozen or so Foresters sitting around her, some of them dozing off while others looked blankly at her as their bodies fidgeted in discomfort, probably having been in the same position for quite a while by now. Some had their hands clasped together in prayer, their eyes shut while their mouths shifted and mumbled words that only came out as gibberish. They were clearly taught by someone to do so, their postures almost imitating that of Elethien despite having never seen her pray. They were all young, part of the group of survivors she and the Foresters had rescued from the Trelvenese. Raw, inexperienced talent. The present and future of the Kingdom of Foresters.
She sat up. Immediately, the prayers stopped, the young Foresters now all looking at her with rejuvenated energy.
‘It… worked,’ some of them gasped. ‘The prayers worked.’
Their eyes had a peculiar reverence as they looked at her, a gaze she wouldn’t find in Teion, Tarigen or the older Foresters in her kingdom. She couldn’t immediately make sense of what was going on, but… this was beyond mere authority, wasn’t it?
‘How long was I unconscious for?’ she asked.
‘Only a day, our Queen,’ one of them answered.
‘Where did you learn to pray?’
‘Commander Tarigen taught us,’ another replied. ‘He said it’s something you’d do to ask for a blessing from our god, so we decided to learn it so you can be healed. It’s the most we can do to repay your salvation.’
‘Commander Tarigen, huh…’ Calling me ‘Queen’ as well. Before she knew it, a hierarchy was already beginning to form in her ranks. And for Tarigen of all people to teach the new ones how to pray was also quite the surprise for her. Much had changed during her presumably short period of unconsciousness.
She needed to talk to him. And Teion as well.
She stood up, picking up her sword which had been conveniently placed by her side this entire time. The others also stood, two of them lifting the flaps of the tent entrance while others followed her like an entourage. Thinking they were simply going to disperse as soon as she headed out, she instead found them diligently matching her footsteps, taking care not to take even a single step ahead of her.
She wasn’t really used to this sort of devotion to her authority. But, she would admit, it felt good.
Tarigen was sitting outside, in his hand a book which Elethien obviously wouldn’t have the luxury to understand. Though it seemed coincidental that he appeared there just as she sought him, his unkempt hair and visibly dirty body displayed otherwise. The man had probably been waiting in that same position for the whole day.
‘I want to talk to you,’ Elethien said directly. ‘Privately. And with Teion as well.’
Tarigen turned his head. ‘First thing you say to me after returning from unconsciousness is this?’
‘There’s something I want to discuss.’
‘... Well, if you insist, our Queen.’
Somehow, hearing those words coming from Tarigen’s mouth felt extremely unnatural.
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‘So what is it you want to talk about?’ Teion asked. He was naturally overjoyed at first when hearing of Elethien’s recovery, but currently, he bore a slight tone of dissatisfaction after being forced away from his break.
‘You look very energised considering you haven’t even eaten anything yet today,’ Tarigen stated.
‘What happened during my absence?’ Elethien questioned the two of them. As she glanced around, she realised they had set up camp in an unfamiliar location, the wind now blowing northeast towards the direction of Prentdor.
‘Many, many things,’ Tarigen explained. ‘You probably noticed this already, but we are currently camped while en route to Prentdor, as you desired. Teion has distributed the looted supplies between everyone, but there are voices of dissatisfaction over how things are handled, especially from the younger ones. Most importantly, with the massive influx of our newly integrated people, there is now something of a hierarchy in the kingdom.’
‘I noticed. Why did they call you and I by titles?’
‘It, well…’
‘Tarigen, I’ll explain,’ Teion intervened. ‘It was obvious in the battle that you were the leader, but when you collapsed, there was immediately a worry of our momentum breaking down and allowing the enemy to counterattack. Tarigen quickly called himself commander and just chased the enemy away.’
‘As for the titles… Well, the name of ‘Commander’ just stuck afterwards,’ Tarigen added. ‘And the younger ones collectively decided to call you ‘our Queen’ as gratitude for saving them.’
‘Why do you also refer to me as that?’
‘To start a habit, I guess? Although I do admit it does sound a bit strange right now.’
‘Don’t do that,’ Elethien grimaced. ‘The others can call me that as I am the queen, but not you. Please.’
‘But—’
Teion shot him a glance.
‘Alright,’ Tarigen conceded. ‘Sorry, Elethien.’
With her worries somewhat addressed, she could now move on. ‘There are many more Foresters than before, aren’t there?’
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‘Thousands, maybe even ten thousand,’ Tarigen said. ‘We’re basically the size of a regular army now.’
‘I talked with some of them before,’ Teion added. ‘The new ones are all very enthusiastic and grateful for our rescue. But with the huge size of our population now, it will be hard to control all of them.’
‘I’ve thought about it myself and talked with Teion earlier, and we both think it’s time to have some sort of formal organisation in our ranks,’ Tarigen suggested. ‘It’s actually quite surprising we haven’t had this since the beginning of the rebellion, but with the influx of new people, we definitely need to organise ourselves to better establish the kingdom.’
‘And how exactly do you want to do this?’ Elethien asked. ‘I don’t want the kingdom to become as divided and unfair as Trelven or Rhinn.’
‘We need to have someone in charge of the noncombatant population and someone in charge of the warrior population,’ Tarigen answered. ‘The noncombatants may be physically weak, but they can offer vital support for the warriors when utilised effectively. The warriors are more straightforward as we already have strong discipline and loyalty in the ranks, needing only clear leaders to execute your dream. I have a bit of experience through my education, so I ask that I can be trusted to build this new system as we march towards Prentdor.’
‘As long as you have the guidance of Fate in mind, then I believe that what you do will succeed,’ Elethien permitted.
‘Do you have anyone in mind for the roles, Elethien?’ Teion asked.
‘Of all the people, I trust you two the most,’ Elethien stated. ‘Teion, you are one of the best warriors we have and already lead the vanguard in battles. You will lead the warriors as their commander. Tarigen, you are very smart at keeping organisation. You will lead the noncombatants. For everything else, that I leave to you.’
‘And above us two will be you, naturally,’ Tarigen said. ‘You are Queen, the leader of all Foresters and the spiritual leader of the rebellion. As only you can come into contact with Fate, you are also its representative for all of us.’
‘If any of us goes directly against the wishes of Fate, then may your blade fall upon our necks,’ Teion continued. ‘This will ensure our total loyalty as the kingdom grows larger and larger.’
‘I’m still sceptical of Fate, if I must be honest,’ Tarigen admitted. ‘But for the sake of your dream, I submit myself to this.’
Elethien smiled at her companions. They were coming to their own revelations, submitting to Fate just as she did before. The Kingdom of Foresters was finally coming together as a proper force.
‘Then let this be our vow,’ she approved. ‘A promise between us and Fate in order to build our kingdom.’
As she clasped her hands together, followed quickly by Teion and Tarigen, the wind began to pick up around them, the air like whispers as it sped past their ears. Fate was speaking to them, a confirmation of the covenant they had made.
You have done well, young one.
The Kingdom of Foresters finally took a step towards proper organisation. No longer would they fight in confusion led only by the vague interpretations of Fate’s signs, but in a concerted effort headed by Elethien and her companions. The guidance of Fate would become tangible under Elethien’s words, turned into concrete action through Tarigen, and leading to victory with Teion’s military prowess.
It was perfect.
‘I’ll quickly draft a constitution,’ Tarigen said as the wind died down to a breeze. ‘This is a new era for us all.’
‘And so fast of a progression as well,’ Teion nodded. ‘We’re almost becoming a true kingdom now. The only thing left is a proper capital where we can call our home.’
‘What is a constitution?’ Elethien asked.
‘A declaration of what we believe,’ Tarigen answered. ‘You’ll read that to us all, won’t you? You’re the leader, after all.’
‘Of course.’
As the two young men headed off, Elethien stayed put a little more as she looked at the sky, silently praising her God who brought such tremendous change and blessings to her and the Foresters.
Fate would always be in control.
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Soon, it was already night. Elethien began heading back towards the camp. As she entered within sight of the people, a crowd of young Foresters began gathering around her, their eyes gleaming with admiration and awe.
‘Elethien! Elethien!’ They chanted her name as she walked amongst them, the people separating to form a path towards her tent. Some of them laid down their cloaks as makeshift carpets for her to walk on, while others strapped green cloths or large leaves onto sticks as flags. It was all spontaneous, but somehow it resembled the fanfare that they’d sometimes witness when a prominent Trelvenese general inspected the ranks.
This was the highest honour the Foresters could give to their queen, an imitation of the reverence their oppressors would show towards their leaders.
Elethien had never received this before. This was the first time she was properly acknowledged as leader, her role cemented into the minds of her people. The veteran Foresters were warriors who followed her to chase the same dream of survival and freedom that each of them had. The younger, more numerous Foresters were new adults who she rescued from the brink of death against their oppressors. The former operated on a relatively autonomous basis, being part of the kingdom due to a common goal with Elethien being the catalyst for all of them to chase that goal. The latter had their lives indebted to her, forever tied to the fate of their saviour.
It was clear which group would prove to become the future backbone of the Kingdom of Foresters. The machinations of Fate had gifted her a people with unwavering loyalty to not only her cause, but her person itself. Not only was Tarigen writing an announcement to declare her as the supreme leader, but the people had already begun to accept her as their idol, their god. Her belief had paid off. She was in control once more.
She was blessed by Fate. Now, she was also blessed by her people.
Tarigen, with small splashes of ink on his face and clothes, was waiting for her with a piece of paper in his hand. As she arrived, he gave her the paper and gently turned her around to the crowd. She saw every single face in the audience, most of them very young yet including some with grizzled, aged expressions who looked at her as if she was an ageless, immortal being who descended from above, delivering them all from their previous suffering.
‘I’ve finished it,’ he whispered. ‘It’s all yours now.’
She looked at the paper. ‘I… can’t read, Tarigen.’
‘Then repeat after me. Loud.’
‘To all the Foresters, in the name of Fate who blesses us, I hereby declare the ideals which guide us forth as a people and kingdom,’ Tarigen began.
‘To all the Foresters, in the name of Fate who blesses us, I hereby declare the ideals which guide us forth as a people and kingdom…’
Following Tarigen’s words, Elethien delivered her speech with the gracefulness of a butcher and the volume of a hawker. Still, the Foresters were mesmerised, their eyes all upon their queen and saviour. It didn’t matter that Elethien wasn’t a particularly strong speaker, nor did it matter that, like most of them, she didn’t know how to read. Her ability and strength as a leader was enough to captivate them.
‘... In all this I pray, and may the blessing of Fate be with us all.’
She released her clasped hands and breathed a sigh of relief. Immediately, the Foresters raised their flags and cheered. Few probably knew the meaning behind the hierarchy they submitted themselves to or the rights they received, but they all knew one thing: they were finally a proper kingdom, at least in their eyes.
They had now completely submitted themselves to the rulership of Elethien and the worship of Fate. Though the God was still just an abstract concept in their eyes, the guarantee of victory was enough to drive the people to follow in her actions of worship. The fanaticism would not be hers alone, but shared amongst her people.
The Kingdom of Foresters would proceed into the lands of Prentdor invigorated, and raised high above their heads were banners and flags of green, representing the eye colour that distinguished them from all the other peoples, that once was a source of shame, but now a symbol of pride.