The fire burned low in the great hall, its golden glow casting soft light over the princess and her father. Tonight, the king seemed more somber than usual, as though the story he carried weighed heavier on his heart.
“Do you know of the Forgotten Grove, my child?” he asked, his voice calm but tinged with sadness.
The princess shook her head, setting her tea aside. “No, Father. What is it?”
“It is a place that no longer exists,” he said, his eyes fixed on the fire. “But long ago, it was a sanctuary, a haven hidden deep within the heart of an enchanted forest. Only the lost could find their way there, and only those with sorrow in their hearts could truly see it.”
The princess’s curiosity was piqued. “And what happened there?”
The king leaned forward, clasping his hands together. “That is where Lila lived. She was a Pari of the forest, her beauty as wild and untamed as the grove itself. Her hair shimmered with the green of spring leaves, and her laughter was like the rustling of branches in the wind. She had no interest in the mortal world beyond her trees, for she believed it was filled with greed and despair. But all of that changed the day a broken prince stumbled into her grove.”
The princess straightened in her seat, captivated. “A broken prince?”
The king nodded. “His name was Idris, the youngest son of a mighty king. But his kingdom had been ravaged by war, and with it, his family was taken from him. His father and brothers had fallen in battle, and his mother had succumbed to grief. Left with the weight of a crown he did not desire, Idris fled his palace, consumed by sorrow. For days, he wandered the wilderness, lost and heartbroken, until the forest itself seemed to guide him to the Forgotten Grove.”
“And he found Lila there?”
“Yes,” the king replied, his voice softening. “Idris collapsed at the edge of the grove, his strength failing him. Lila, drawn by his pain, emerged from the trees to find him lying among the roots. At first, she was hesitant. Paris did not often involve themselves in the lives of mortals, for their curse made such entanglements dangerous. But there was something in his eyes—an emptiness so profound that it stirred her heart. She could not leave him there to die.”
The princess smiled faintly, already sensing where the story was headed. “She saved him, didn’t she?”
“She did,” the king said. “Lila nursed him back to health, feeding him with fruits from the grove and water from its enchanted streams. As his strength returned, so did his voice, and with it, the story of his grief. He spoke of his family, of the war that had claimed them, and of the guilt that weighed upon his soul for surviving when they had not. Lila listened to every word, her heart breaking for him.”
The princess’s expression grew wistful. “She must have fallen in love with him.”
“She did,” the king confirmed. “But it was not the kind of love that burns brightly and fades quickly. It was a quiet, steady love—one born of compassion and the desire to heal. Idris, too, found solace in Lila’s presence. Her laughter began to chase away his shadows, and her touch brought warmth to a heart that had long been cold.”
The king paused, his gaze distant. “But Lila knew that her love came with a price. To remain by Idris’s side, she would have to give up her immortality. Worse still, she knew that if she bore him a daughter, she would not live to see her grow. Yet, she chose him. She chose love, knowing full well the cost.”
The princess’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. “What happened to them?”
“They were happy for a time,” the king said. “Idris regained his strength and returned to his kingdom with Lila by his side. Together, they began to rebuild, their love bringing hope to a land once ravaged by despair. But as fate would have it, Lila soon became with child. When their daughter was born—a child as radiant as the first bloom of spring—Lila felt her immortality leave her.”
The king’s voice grew heavy with sorrow. “She held her daughter for but a moment, whispering words of love and hope, before she closed her eyes and left the mortal world forever.”
The princess wiped a tear from her cheek. “And Idris? Did he find happiness again?”
The king’s expression softened. “Idris honored Lila’s memory by raising their daughter with all the love and care he could give. He taught her of her mother’s courage and kindness, ensuring that Lila’s legacy would never be forgotten. But the grove—Lila’s sanctuary—was never seen again. Some say it disappeared the moment she passed, a testament to the love she had left behind.”
The room fell silent, the weight of the story settling over them like a heavy blanket.
“Do you think Lila regretted her choice?” the princess asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
The king looked at her, his eyes filled with both sadness and pride. “No,” he said firmly. “For in giving her life, she gave Idris a reason to live and their daughter a chance to carry on her spirit. Love, my child, is often a choice—but for some, it is the only choice worth making.”
The fire crackled softly as the princess sat in thoughtful silence, her gaze drifting to the window and the stars beyond.