Page 26 of Lily of the Valley

"Woods that spread across the whole of the continent, the various parts called by many names, protecting all who dwell there so long as their hearts are pure, repelling all those who would do the woods and its people harm. There is nothing in the world that compares to the Laughing Forest, and no power matches that which is found here in the heart of the forest. You are one of the precious few permitted to wield that power."

"I don't wield it," Lily said softly. "I ask the forest for help and so far it is willing, as our goals are united.

Penelope sighed. "Were they as beautiful as legend said?"

"And even more besides," Lily said.

Scout rolled her eyes and turned away to go back to the fire, throwing more wood on it like the fire had insulted her mother. Lily stared after her in bafflement, but only went with Alice and Penelope as they carted her off to go foraging for things to use for lunch and dinner.

Thanks to Scout, and with further help from Alice, she managed to return with a nice haul of mushrooms, nuts, and late season berries. Plopping down next to Scout, who was carving up a couple of rabbits, she sorted through her collection. "Look at this! I'll be the only queen in the world who can tell edible mushrooms from poisonous."

Scout laughed, which made Lily far more pleased with herself than it should. "But can you tell after they've been cooked?"

"Could you?"

"Only with one or two of them," Scout said, smiling that warm, approving smile Lily loved far too much.

Leaving Scout to her rabbits, Lily set to work on cleaning the berries, then cleaning and chopping the mushrooms, and finally the nuts, which took a great deal more work than the other two.

By the time she was finished, everyone was more than ready for lunch. Leaving the others to finish getting the meal ready, Lily went to wash up in a nearby brook. When she was clean, she sat down on the bank and slid the ring off her finger to examine it again, admiring every little detail, the intricacy of the carved pearls, the delicate emerald leaves… and the strange inscription. True Love's Kiss.

Sighing, she slid the ring back on her finger, stood and dusted off her clothes, and returned to camp—just in time to be handed a cup of tea and some fresh bread slathered with some sort of nutty paste. "What is this?"

"Walnut butter."

"Huh." She took a bit, and barely kept from moaning at the taste. "This is amazing."

Penelope grinned. "Haven't made it since I was a child, but we had so many walnuts gathered between the three of us, why not?"

"I love it."

They gathered around the campfire, Lily sandwiched between her friends, Scout sitting with Josiah, and ate a lunch of roasted rabbit, mushroom stew, and fresh bread with nut butter. It was nothing at all like a fancy banquet in the palace, and Lily absolutely loved it. If only they were here for a good reason, friends simply enjoying some time together. Still, any moment of joy was to be savored, she'd sure as hell learned that lesson.

After lunch, Lily trekked off with Penelope to bathe in the brook. By the fire, Alice, Scout, and Josiah were clustered close speaking in low tones. "I swear to god if they try to sneak away in the night…"

Penelope giggled as she undressed. "I don't think they'd be that stupid, not after your dressing down earlier." Her grin softened to a gentle smile. "You're already a good queen, Lily. You'll be a great one. I'm sorry your father can't be here to see it."

"Thank you," Lily replied, blinking away tears. She slipped into the water, swearing at how chilly it was, but cold water wasn't going to keep her from getting clean. There was no telling how long it would be until she was able to take a proper bath in her own chambers again, so she'd take what she could when she could.

When they were scrubbed clean and shivering slightly, they dried off, pulled on their clothes, and then settled on the bank to dry their hair and simply rest.

"So…" Penelope said playfully.

Lily quirked a brow. "So what?"

"You and Scout?"

"Me and Scout nothing," Lily said flatly. "She hated my guts when we first met, after she had to save me and take me to her cabin and got dragged into all this mess. She probably can't wait to get back to her normal life. Nevermind the danger she's in just by her former pack knowing where she is now."

Penelope's look was entirely too knowing.

"Shut up, I like you better when you're using your brain on other people," Lily muttered.

"She looks at you like she wants to stay, not like she wants to leave."

Lily sighed. "It doesn't matter who is looking at who like what. I have bigger concerns, it would be the epitome of selfish to focus on a personal romance right now."

"Fair enough, but you also shouldn't let a chance at happiness pass you by simply because the timing is awful. If we waited for perfect timing, none of us would get anywhere."

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