Moonlight Bonds ; shadows of the crown

The sun hung low on the horizon, casting golden streaks across the castle walls. Prince Alden stood in the training yard, pulling on his leather gloves while ignoring the sharp voice of his younger sister, Princess Gwen, who trailed after him.

"You're absolutely impossible, Alden," she snapped, crossing her arms. "You promised you'd teach me how to use a bow today!"

Alden sighed, turning to face her. "And I will. Just not today. I need a few hours to myself."

Gwen narrowed her eyes, her fiery auburn hair glowing in the sunlight. "Let me guess, you're going hunting again? With Darian? What's so special about sitting in the forest for hours, waiting for deer?"

"Peace and quiet," Alden replied, smirking. "Something I rarely get when you're around."

She gasped, throwing a mock punch at his arm. "Rude! Mother says you're too serious, you know. You should take me with you-I'd make it fun."

"You'd scare off every animal within miles," Alden said, dodging her. "Besides, someone needs to stay behind and ensure the palace doesn't fall apart in my absence."

"That's not my job!" Gwen yelled as Alden strode toward the stables, laughing under his breath.

Darian, the royal guard captain, was already waiting, tightening the reins on his black stallion. He looked up as Alden approached. "Your Highness, I see the princess is as persistent as ever."

"Persistent is putting it lightly," Alden said, mounting his white horse. "Let's go before she convinces me to bring her along."

Darian chuckled, climbing onto his horse and adjusting the quiver of arrows on his back. "The princess is brave. Maybe she should join us one day."

Alden scoffed. "Brave doesn't mean quiet. She'd scare away our game before we even got to the forest."

The two men rode through the castle gates, the clatter of hooves echoing against the stone. The rolling hills of the kingdom stretched before them, giving way to the dense shadow of the forest.

-

The woods were alive with the hum of nature: birds chirping, leaves rustling in the gentle breeze, and the occasional snap of a twig underfoot. Darian rode a few paces behind Alden, his hand never far from the spear strapped to his saddle.

"You seem restless today, Your Highness," Darian observed.

Alden shrugged. "It's nothing. Just... the palace feels suffocating sometimes."

"You have much on your shoulders," Darian said. "But running to the forest won't solve everything."

"Maybe not," Alden replied, "but it helps me think."

As they ventured deeper into the woods, a faint rustling sound caught their attention. Alden paused, his hand tightening on the reins.

"Did you hear that?" he asked, glancing back at Darian.

The guard nodded, his sharp eyes scanning the undergrowth. "Probably just a fox or a rabbit. Let's keep moving."

Alden hesitated but nodded, urging his horse forward. The sound came again, faint but persistent, as if something-or someone-was following them. Darian's grip on his spear tightened, but neither man spoke of their unease.

They reached a clearing where a herd of deer grazed, their sleek forms dappled in the sunlight filtering through the trees. Alden drew his bow, focusing on his target, and released the arrow. It struck true, and the other deer scattered into the forest.

Darian retrieved the kill, slinging the deer across his horse. "We should head back before the sun sets," he said.

Alden nodded, glancing over his shoulder at the shadows creeping across the forest floor. The rustling sound was gone, replaced by an eerie stillness.

When they returned to the palace, the sun had dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of crimson and gold. Servants rushed to take the deer and horses, bowing as Alden and Darian dismounted.

Inside, the air was heavy with the scent of candle wax and polished wood. Queen Seraphina waited in the throne room, her emerald gown sweeping the floor as she paced. She turned when she heard their footsteps, her sharp eyes narrowing at Alden.

"You've been gone for hours," she said, her voice clipped.

"I was hunting, Mother," Alden replied, bowing slightly.

"You're the crown prince," she said, her tone softening but her expression stern. "You have responsibilities. You cannot keep running off into the woods like a commoner."

Alden clenched his fists but said nothing. The weight of his title had pressed down on him since childhood, ever since his father's death left the throne to his mother. He respected her strength, but he longed for freedom-something the forest alone seemed to offer.

Seraphina sighed, brushing a strand of silver hair from her face. "We'll discuss this later. For now, go wash up. Dinner will be served soon."

As Alden left the throne room, his thoughts lingered on the forest and the strange rustling he'd heard. Something about it had felt... unnatural. Shaking his head, he pushed the thought aside, unaware that his next trip to the woods would change his life forever.