(Ash's P.O.V.)
I screamed as Peter's shadow released its hold on me from several feet above the ground. When I finally landed, I was surprised I hadn't broken anything. Well, anything I could think of. All I could feel was pain skyrocketing throughout my entire body. At least last time, when the Shadow had been taking me to Neverland, I had at least landed in water. Even if it did hurt, it was better than crashing right into the ground.
I slowly pushed myself up into a sitting position, grimacing in pain. I managed to look up into the sky to see the shadow disappearing into the sky as the sun began to rise up. I doubted that if I were even to mutter the words "I believe" to go back to Neverland it would work. Peter...no...Pan, hated me. I deserved his hatred. He would never forgive me. Not after this.
I would never go back to Neverland. Never see the lost boys every day. Never be able to hear their laughter when there was no one to worry about. Never take another step on the soil of the island. Never see anything of Neverland. But most of all, I would never be with Peter again. I would miss him so much. I don't think I could ever forget him. It seemed impossible to forget my first love. I wouldn't want to. I didn't want to forget every moment I spent with him. Even the times when I thought he was a bloody demon that's only purpose was to make my life a living hell on Neverland.
If only I had remembered my past on Neverland, my life there would have been so much easier. I would have had a better understanding. I might have gotten along a lot easier with Peter and the lost boys. Why my father would allow a sorcerer to hide my memories from me didn't make any sense! What had been so bad about Neverland that my father had thought it best to hide it from me? Sure the fairies hated me, and the mermaids too, and I had been kidnapped by pirates causing several fights just because of me, but it didn't seem all that bad.
Now if only I knew exactly where I was. I didn't even know if I was in Camelot. The shadow could have dropped me somewhere else, and I wouldn't even know it. I blamed that on my isolation from the rest of the kingdom. I had been kept hidden within the walls of the castle. I felt it unfair that I didn't know my own kingdom. It would have to be my personal study if, no when I found the castle. Especially if I was going to be Queen.
How was I going to pull that off? I had had countless number of lessons to prepare me for the day when it would be my turn to rule. And yet, I felt completely clueless. I had been a princess my entire life, expected to become a Queen, and I felt unprepared. With my father gone, once my people got word that I'm still alive, they'd be hounding me. Asking me questions, some where I'd gone, how did I escape the attack, some might ask me questions I wouldn't know how to answer. Who knows? I might be asked to sign some documents that I might not even have any comprehension about.
Taking a deep breath, I slowly got up. I wiped some dirt off of me before walking to who knows where. Hopefully I would come across a village of sorts, so I could ask where I am. If what Peter had told me about Camelot, this place couldn't be it.
Peter had told me that it was a complete wasteland. The ground ran with blood. Dead bodies were littered everywhere. For certain the bodies had to have disintegrated except for maybe any new ones that most likely were corpses by now. There had to be bodies everyday if they didn't agree with my aunt's rule. She'd have them hanged or maybe have them killed some other way. I couldn't even imagine what anyone would be going through under her reign. It'd be horrible. There was no doubt it. From what I had heard from her two previous short reigns, she had been ruthless, cruel, cold-hearted. They had compared her to my grandfather, Uther. Her reign had been similar to Uther's. The only contrast was that she didn't execute those who had magic, only those who would not except her reign; whereas, Uther had those who used magic.
Magic. The reason why my family was hated by those who practiced it. Uther had decreed that such practices were banned on the penalty of death. He claimed he thought of himself as a fair and just king because of when he had came to Camelot this kingdom had been in chaos because of magic. The people and him had apparently driven out magic from the realm.
My father didn't change the law even when he became king. It had been painful for him because he had lost his father due to magic. I understood. But unlike my father and grandfather, I shared different beliefs. I knew magic was used for evil, but I had hopes that it was also used for good. Magic isn't good or evil. It's how the person wields it that matters.
Looking around this place, everything was so vibrant. The trees swayed in the cool wind. The flowers blossomed. The grass was green, neon of it dead. The sun shone bright, lighting the way to wherever it was I was heading. Everything seemed beautiful. But nothing reminded me of the beauty of Neverland. The way the entire island was made up of trees creating a jungle. The beach that I hadn't really spent much time at. The smell of the ocean washing over you. The rushing of the waterfall at Dead Man's Peak behind the bushes of the deadly dream shade. There had to be so many other places on the island that I hadn't even seen. And now, I would never be able to. It's not like I could just go back and be welcomed with open arms. No. I'd be thrown in a cage for going back, or Peter might do something even more drastic.
"You there! Halt!"
I whipped around as the sound of horses racing right at me got closer and closer. I took a couple steps back as several of them rushed to a stop. The ranged from different colors: brown, white, gray, and black. Some of them had spots on them.
Shaking my head, I turned my attention to the rider in front who got off his horse and took out his sword. He had shoulder-length, curly blond hair. His eyes looked to be almond brown. He was quite pale, but not as if he was close to death. He wore silver armor from head to toe, no helmet in side, a red cape surrounded him. As I stared closely, I automatically recognized him.
"Leon?" I asked, just to make sure.
Leon had been a knight of Camelot since Uther's reign and throughout my father's. He had even become a knight of the Round Table, along with several other knights that my father had trusted. As I recalled, my father had told me that he's the most loyal friend and knight you could ever have. I had even heard that he's an amazing fighter and a great leader. He had been part of my training sessions when my father was teaching me how to wield a sword. He was a sparring partner, always besting me, until I got older and had eventually learned to beat him. It felt like so long ago, which it was. He had stayed loyal to my family even when Morgana had become Queen both times. I honestly doubted he would a third time, but it had been three years. "Princess Ashlynn?" He asked, sounding and looking surprised, before putting away his sword. He walked over to me and pulled me into a bear hug which I returned. I let go and pulled away as the rest of the riders unmounted, shock written all over their faces.
"Yes, I'm back."
"Where have you been?"
"I went somewhere safe, don't worry."
"We went to the Enchanted Forest to retrieve you, but the woman, Belle, said you had not arrived. We feared you had been kidnapped by Morgana."
"I'm sorry for worrying you all. It was not my intention. I was perfectly safe."
"Why did you never return?"
"I had heard that my aunt had taken over and had put out a reward for my capture. A pretty hefty reward apparently."
"Morgana never took over, princess. We drove her army back. They retreated and had made their resting spot at Camlann. Your father launched an attack, but they were waiting for it. We almost didn't make it, but we managed to defeat your Morgana's army."
"Where's my father? Is he back at the castle?" I asked, hopeful. Maybe Peter was wrong. My father had to be alive. That had to be the only solution! That was why they had gone searching for me in the Enchanted Forest. My dad told me he would send someone, and he did.
"Princess," Leon said, placing his hand on my shoulder. "Your father is dead. He died in battle. I saw him facing off against Mordred. Mordred had the upper hand and stabbed your father; however, your father managed to get back up and drive his sword through Mordred in return. Your father took Mordred's life moments before he died."
I pulled away from Leon's touch. My vision clouding over from tears that wanted to spill. I had desperately been hoping when he said Morgana didn't take the throne that my father was still alive. He had survived. But that hope I had felt evaporated. My throat felt clogged up as I fought to not cry in front of the knights in front of me. "Is his body back at the castle?"
"No. I'm afraid once we defeated Morgana's army we couldn't find any trace of your father's body. It's possible that he was taken from the fight. Even Mordred was gone, and he had sustained the same wound as your father. Mordred had died when he collapsed. There is no chance that your father made it. I'm sorry."
"If my father is dead, then why hasn't Morgana tried to take over?" I snapped.
"The rest of the knights believe it's because she knows that you are the heir to your father's throne. The heir that went missing the night she launched an attack. We have received word from survivors of neighboring kingdoms saying she came searching for you. She's been searching for three years, princess."
"Is Merlin back at the castle?"
"Merlin disappeared the same day as your father. He hasn't come back. We don't know if Morgana got her hands on him or not, but he's gone."
"Then who has been running the kingdom?" I shouted.
"I took charge for the period of time you were missing. But now that you're back, you'll have to take over."
"If the kingdom has flourished under your rule, it might be best if you keep that leadership until I'm older. I've been gone from the kingdom for so long. I fear that I've forgotten what is expected of me if I am to be Queen."
"Of course, your highness. If that is what you wish. However, I will consult you in matters that you will have to deal with once you do become Queen."
"Of course. My father wouldn't want it any other way." I smiled softly.
"Are you ready to go home, your highness?" Another knight asked. One that I didn't recognize. But as long as he was loyal to my kingdom and Leon trusted him, I would be fine with him.
"Yes. I'm ready to go home."