The person standing in front of her was someone she thought she would never see again. Someone who she had lost all hope to ever get with. The girl for whom her heart beat. She looked the same, while also so different.

And even if she tried having casual relationships, her name was tattooed on her heart. For that reason whatever she felt towards Karol never worked out.

Zuzanna.

Zuzanna Winter.

She tasted the name on her lips, feeling like she was seeing her for the very first time. Unlike Noelle she was not well dressed, with short, brown, messy hair and a dark jacket paired with jeans shorts. She looked so unlike any other of the Lost Forest People; her eccentric style stood out like a sore thumb. It was too good to be true, and with what Noelle learned from her time in Dacnella... it probably was.

Zuza- the girl froze when she saw her, her mouth dropping to the floor. Then she made the move towards Noelle with a cry, throwing her arms around her before she even realised what was going on.

She felt like Zuzanna, and she sounded like her too. The feeling of her warm body pressed against hers sent shivers down Noelle's spine, and she slowly lifted her arms up, wrapping them around Zuzanna's back. Her eyes stung and her nose tingled, but she refused to cry as she hid her face into her friend's neck, breathing in the sweet smell she had missed so much.

Hugging Zuzanna felt like a puzzle piece just popped into place. A vacant void in her soul was mended, all that's to the girl enveloping her with her very being. Noelle missed that feeling so much, it hurt.

"I'm so glad you're okay," she whispered, her voice cracking during the syllables from the raw emotion in her voice. As a response, Noelle only hugged her lighter. "I w-was so scared."

"Is this real?" Noelle sniffed.

"I sure do hope so," Zuzanna giggled, pulling back and wiping her red eyes with her sleeves. The girls stared at each other, goofy smiles on their faces as they absorbed each other's presence like a sponge. Noelle's eyes flickered down to her rosy lips for only a split second as she felt the sudden urge to kiss her, before she managed to take control of herself and look again into Zuzanna's eyes. It was only her emotions acting up and getting the better of her, for Noelle knew she would never dare.

"How did you get here?" Noelle asked, once she felt like she had calmed down enough to speak without bursting into tears. The girls were lying down on Noelle's bed, bodies pressed against each other and Zuzanna's head resting on Noelle's shoulder. They took solace in each other, just being in the girl's presence made Noelle so much more positive and happy about everything. She loved all of the friends she made, but with Zuzanna, she felt like she had a chance. "You need to tell me everything."

"Oh, where to begin?" Zuzanna jokes. Noelle adored her smile. "I woke up, I don't even know how long ago, in the middle of the forest. I had to survive there, alone, for days, just eating plants and sleeping in the trees before I came across this village. They quickly took me in, and a kind couple let me stay with them. Everyone here knew about you, and how you're the Bride of Adron, and I was worried sick! As soon as I found out you were here, I tried to find you, but I couldn't so I thought to wait here for you."

"You woke up here too? What do you mean everyone knows about me?" Noelle asked, her brows furrowed as she narrowed her eyes. "Was I followed?"

"Of course not!" Zuzanna said. "People would leave this village and see neighbouring towns to try and see how you were doing. They saw your wanted posters too. I mean, everyone wanted to know if you were safe as you're Dacnella's saviour."

"I do not know if I'm capable of being anyone's saviour," Noelle admitted quietly. "I'm only 15, I don't want to stay here anymore, I want to go home!"

And finally, Noelle cried. Zuzanna wrapped her arms around her, like an envelope, as she let out all of the hurt she's been feeling for the last weeks. She cried, silver tears spilling down her cheeks and she could not stop, and while she tried to, it felt good to let it out. During her break down, Zuzanna never stopped rubbing circles into her back or comfortingly stroking her hair. Her lithe frame trembled and shook with each sob that she could not stop from wracking her body.

"Zuzanna I-I just want to go home," she cried, and her friend softly soothed her. With no one else, Noelle ever allowed herself to be so vulnerable. Not Lolita, not Roland, Karol... and certainly not Jawad.

Never mind, Lolita saw her at her worst too.

Noelle spent ages just hugging Zuzanna, finding solace in her. Zuzanna's calming aura had magical effects on her mind, and soon she felt much better after throwing all of her feelings and emotions out to someone she trusted.

"I expect you do give me a full account of your adventures, and I want to meet your friends," Zuzanna wiggled her finger in front of her face a while later. Since their reunion, the two girls had not left their rooms, and no one had interrupted them.

"My travels? Hmm, where to begin?" Noelle wondered, Zuzanna snickered. "I woke up in Adron's castle, and I found out he wanted me to be his wife. I escaped with my friend Roland, and we met Lolita, who joined us on our journey. Roland then got injured because we were attacked by wolves, so we had to find a village to get him help. We were then found by Adron's soldiers so we had to leave, and we came across another village, called Hunter's Ville where I met Karol, who helped us a lot, and Jawad, who took us to the Lost Forest. Let me tell you, it was crazy."

"I can imagine. You must be tired," Zuzanna said sympathetically.

"Yeah, but first, you need to meet my friends. Wait here, I'll get everyone!"

Noelle quickly left the room, rushing down the posh corridors and knocking on the white doors to her friends' rooms, even Jawad. She considered it to be better not to make him think he was suspected.

She gathered her friends, dragging them along with her free hands.

"There's someone I want you all to meet," she said, and threw open the door. Zuzanna awkwardly waved.

"So, this is Lolita, Roland and Jawad. They're my friends," Noelle introduced them, motioning to each of her friends in turn. "Guys, this is Zuzanna. She's my best friend, and she's also from London."

"Also from London? Did you guys come together?" Lolita asked, and Noelle shook her head.

"We just met each other here," Zuzanna informed.

Roland stepped forward to shake her hand, a pleasant smile on his face. "Hi, nice to meet you."

"Likewise!"

Noelle smiled proudly at the group of friends. Together, they could achieve anything, and for once, she truly felt confident about their future.

Adron stood no chance.

. . .

Noelle stood nervously in the great crowd of people, feeling out of place among them as everyone chatted and talked. They were gathered around a large, wooden stage placed in the middle of the town's square, where Queen Delilah was soon to give a speech about the rebellion.

Zuzanna was a natural born leader, and immediately handled the things Noelle could not when she told her about her plans to begin a rebellion. She single handedly organised the whole town, encouraging them to reach out to their friends and help with the rebellion. Jawad and Roland had left the Lost Forest to recruit those from foreign towns and convince them to join the uprising.

Soon, the Lost Forest was no longer "lost", as people from all over Dacnella stood around the stage, spread out over the entire town. In any direction she looked, Noelle could see the bobbing heads of the impatient audience.

She and Queen Delilah had gone over their entire script: Delilah was to begin with her speech, thanking everyone for coming and explaining the purpose of their rebellion as well as Noelle's backstory. Then, she would call Noelle into the stage and introduce her, then the girl would take over.

Never before had she spoken in front of so many people, and just looking at the amount of them made her feel queasy. Zuzanna placed her hand on her shoulder in comfort, and Noelle smiled gratefully. If you never face your fears, you will never overcome them, after all.

"Thank you all for attending," Queen Delilah began, holding her hands to her chest as she smiled at the audience. "The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the rebellion against King Adron, leader of Dacnella."

The crowd cheered and whistled as the Queen announced this, joyfully throwing their hands up in the air. The Queen patiently waited for the noise to die down, before continuing.

"I have been working closely with Adron's escaped bride, Noelle Park, who has also suffered greatly under his wrath. We aim to overthrow Adron's reign and replace the monarch with a ruler who will command their kingdom fairly and graciously. As we all know, in the years that Adron has been on the throne he has kept a tyrannical grip on Dacnella, murdering anyone who speaks out against him or disagrees with his views. He has instilled fear and misery in his people, not caring once for those who are below him," Delilah said, pausing once again to allow the audiences' reactions. Once silent, she spoke again, her smooth, calming voice washing over the crowd.

"I would like you to introduce you to Noelle Park, who shall join us and lead the rebellion along with me. Please join me on the stage, Noelle."

The crowd began to cheer, prompted by her friends, and Noelle carefully pushed her way through the crowd to get to the stairs of the stage. She picked up her black dress as she jogged up awkwardly, before joining the Queen on the stage.

"Speak normally, I have cast a spell so they will hear you," the Queen whispered. Noelle swallowed the lump in her throat, gazing at the crowd as she offered them a smile and a wave. No one reacted, other than a few strays who waved back.

That was embarrassing...

"Um, Hello. I'm Noelle," she said, deciding to begin with introducing herself.

Just follow the script, you know it!

"W-Without a doubt Adron has already heard the news of the rebellion, which means that we must act quickly with limited time. Of course, there is a risk of war, which could potentially happen, do I need everyone present today to be aware of that," Noelle said, looking at the crowd as she took a deep breath. She could see Roland grinning brightly as he held up a thumbs up.

"Adron has a powerful army, and we will need as many people as we can to stand a chance against him, so I urge you to recruit others. The fate of Dacnella lies in our hands. It is up to you to change its future! Will you take that chance?"

The crowd roared, and Noelle grinned at their enthusiasm. Fists were pumped in the air as they agreed with all of her words, screaming into the air. The atmosphere was mind-blowing, and Noelle felt high off of adrenaline.

Queen Delilah stepped in once again to go over their battle plan, in case they needed to. Though Noelle knew it was unavoidable, as Adron's anger would overpower his rationalism and she knew he would declare a civil war on them, and blood would be shed. The thought terrified her, and she knew that the only way for them to stop Adron's reign was to kill him.

She listened idly as the Queen explained their plan, occasionally making additions when she thought necessary. The crowd listened intently, and while she or the Queen were speaking, Noelle did not hear a breath from them. The longer she stood on the stage, in the centre of attention, the more comfortable she became.

The crowd gave it their all, cheering at all the right moments, Noelle felt like she was in a film. A hero. She felt confident, and unstoppable. Looking at all the people who came to help support her and her wild, crazy plan, her heart melted in genuine gratitude.

All of that she endured finally led her to this moment. When she became the leader of a rebellion... and a saviour.