Exile

“I cannot do that!” Twinkle Star yelled. Had her mother gone crazy? How could she possibly ask this of her?
“Chifre entrusted her to me, how can I go back and tell her I can no longer do so?”
“She can not stay, Twinkle Star. I have already made my decision. Calin will have to go.” Her mother said with a voice so cold it was almost artificial.
“I will not let her go! She is my daughter!” Twinkle Star screamed. This could not be happening. It simply could not be happening. She would not let anyone take her daughter away from her again.

“Twinkle Star!” Her mother yelled back. “She is nothing but your foster child. She is not your daughter and she will never be! I am only applying the law of this country on her, and I am even being mild. She is not to set foot on the land of the Friendship Lands ever again for stealing the crown and betraying this country.”
“She is my daughter! She may not be born to be but I love her as one! What will you do, will you exile her?” Twinkle Star cried.
She could no longer conceal her tears. How could her mother, who she trusted and loved so much, do and say something so cruel?

“Yes.” Regina answered after some hesitation. “She is never to set foot in this country again.”
“Then you are banishing me too.” Twinkle Star replied firm. She would not leave her child again. She had promised to protect her, to keep her safe, and she would not fail to do so again. She had already failed her once, and she had sworn it would not happen again.
“That is your choice, Twinkle Star. I will not banish you, but I cannot stop you from leaving. If Calin is so important to you… then you must do what you think is right. Just know you will be severely missed.” Her mother said, but Twinkle Star was in too much pain herself to recognise the pain in her voice.

“I will not be missed too much if you can make a choice like this. Please, mother, I beg you to reconsider.”
“I cannot. I am a queen, Twinkle Star. I have to do what is right for the country.” Regina said with a trembling voice.
“You think exiling a mere child is what is best for this country?” Twinkle Star asked, but her mother could no longer reply, so she simply nodded slightly.
“Well…” Twinkle Star whispered.

“I cannot argue you on your decision, my queen. Your word is law here, and you will not find me arguing with that. But I can and will not let Calin go alone. So if this is really your choice, than this is the last you have ever seen of me.”
Instead of replying, Regina looked away because looking Twinkle Star in her eyes was simply too hard. Twinkle Star did not know what else to do. She knew her mother would not change her mind. She had made her decision and as a queen, she could not come back on her word. But she had her own choice to make.

She forced her legs to work, and she slowly headed towards the door. She had hoped her mother would change her mind, that she would ask Twinkle Star to please stay, but nothing happened. When she reached the door, her mother had not yet said anything. She did not dare to look back for she was afraid she would give in and ran towards her mother, to beg her to let them stay. She had to be strong now, for the sake of Calin. Her girl… she would not leave her again.

When she closed the door behind her she found she was able to walk faster again. Her mother’s gaze no longer touched her. She rushed to her room and once there, she got her large bag from the top of her closet and filled it with her most important stuff, which turned out to be surprisingly little. She then went to Calins room to get a few of her most important possessions, including the stuffed bunny Calin always slept with, which once again brought tears in her eyes as it had been a gift from her mother. She always seemed to care about her, she had always looked like she understood the importance of Calin’s well being, but this was gone now completely.

Without wanting to know this was the last time she would walk in these corridors, she went back downstairs and sneaked into the kitchen where she gathered as much food as could possibly fit in her bag. Thankful that she had not ran into anybody, she left the kitchen and walked to the door. When she closed it behind her, she suddenly felt like this was the very last time she would ever see this castle. She had never felt anything so definite before. This was it… her final steps in these gardens. She wanted to enjoy them, she wanted to feel at home there one last time, but she found she already could not. This was no longer her home, and it would never be so again.

With her head low she walked towards the gate. It was still open, waiting for her to leave through it for the last time. With every step she took it came closer and closer and it seemed no time at all before she found herself on the other side. A chilly wind had grown stronger while she had been inside. The coming of winter… she had to find a place to stay for them quickly. As she turned around to walk down the path the wind slammed the gate shut behind her. The sound startled her, but she refused to look back. The future was ahead of her, not behind.

She followed that path that soon led her to Taira and Calin. Calin had left the river side and was looking at a large tree with Taira. It was obvious Taira was telling her something about the tree, but Twinkle Star was still too far away to hear what it was, and when she got closer they also noticed Twinkle Star, and stopped talking. She noticed the grave expression on Taira’s voice when she saw her bag. Had she known?

“Twinkle, Taira just taught me the trees have not died. They’re sleeping. We’ll be seeing them blossom next spring again, right?”  Calin said enthusiastically.
“Yes, honey… we definitely will.” Twinkle Star forced a smile on her face.
“Taira… Calin and I, we…”
“Are we going on another trip?” Calin interrupted Twinkle star.
“Yes, Calin, we are. I already got your stuff. Now, could you please let me talk with Taira for a little moment? I will explain everything to you later.” Calin shrugged and walked back to the river bank.

“What did she do?” Taira asked when Calin was gone.
“She… exiled Calin. She said Calin is never to set foot in this country again. But I will not leave her. If Calin is exiled, so am I.” Twinkle Star explained. Taira sighed.
“I was afraid she might do this. Aline, she… came in, last night, very upset, and asked for Calin to be punished. But Regina cannot punish a little child, so she send her away.” Taira tried to explain her mother’s decision.

“Yes, I know, she explained to me. Do you… agree?” Twinkle Star asked. She did not know why exactly she valued Taira’s opinion so much. Was it only because she was the true heir? She could not even bring to words how relieved she was when Taira shook her head.
“No, I do not. I feel it is way too easy. Instead of solving the problem she sends Calin away, hoping that everything will return to normal once she is gone. She will find out that it will not work this way, but I do not know if she will ever change her mind. But, Twinkle Star…”

Taira paused for a moment, doubting if it was wise to say what she was about to day.
“What is it, Taira? You can tell me.”
“Okay… Well, I think it may not be such a bad idea for Calin to go somewhere else. Somewhere where no one will look at her and judge her for who her parents are. Some place where she can grow up safe.”
“Yes… I know.” Twinkle Star agreed.
She had not yet thought if it this way, but maybe, for Calin, this was the best. The castle was strong and safe, but not for Calin, for she would always be judged on whatever happened in the past. Maybe, after all, that was what Chifre had meant… . You must protect her, and only you are able to.

Some place safe…
“Do you know where you will go?” Taira asked. A safe place, hidden from the world, a place where her daughter could grow up in peace. She stared at Calin, playing by the river bank.
We’ll be seeing them blossom next spring again, right?
There was only one place in the entire world where Twinkle Star had ever felt safe, and it would be so perfect for Calin. Close to the river that brought life, that purified, close to a forest where Calin could enjoy the trees and the flowers… But would she be welcome there?
You will always be my pretty girl…

Kiyoi’s voice sounded in her heart and she could not suppress her smile when she thought of him. Yes… her task was done. She had no reason to go anymore. The heir was restored… She stared at Taira. Was she the reason why Twinkle Star had left Kiyoi so long ago? Her task… for now, it was done. She could return to the only one that made her feel safe and secure. The only place where she felt Calin could be raised properly. The only place where she could fulfil Chifre’s message.

“Yes… I know where I will go. Taira, promise me you will not tell anyone. But I want to tell you, for I feel you must be able to find me, if there ever is a reason.”
“I promise, Twinkle Star. I will not tell anyone where you have gone unless there is an urgent reason.” Twinkle Star nodded. She trusted Taira’s promise.
“Follow Fiume. You will meet a rather dark forest. At the edge of the forest next to the river there is a little house. You will find me there.” She explained.

“Right. I will remember. Well, Twinkle Star… please, take care of yourself. Take care of Calin. Do what you think is right at all times. I will always be grateful to you for what you did for me, for Hikary. So if you ever need any help with anything whatsoever, do let me know.” Taira smiled. The sunlight reflected the young tears in her eyes.
“I will. Thank you, Taira. The same goes for you. If you ever need me… You know where to find me. Until then… Farewell, Taira. May the Guardians bless you and your future reign.” Twinkle Star bowed slightly for who she was sure was the future queen of the Friendship Lands.
“Thank you, Twinkle Star. May they bless you also. Farewell.”

Twinkle Star smiled one last time and then walked towards Calin.
“Well, Calin, shall we go then?”
“Right. Where are we going this time?” Calin asked almost enthusiastically.
How should she explain that they would leave, and never go back? Should she tell Calin that it was because of her that they were exiled? No. because it wasn’t. It had been her mother’s choice. It was never Calin’s fault. Who could blame a little girl from wanting to see her father?

“We are… going to someone I have met two years ago, Calin. We will see if he wants us to live with him for a while, but I hope it will not be a problem.”
“Is it far?” Calin asked. Twinkle Star smiled.
“No. It’s not that far. We will be there in about two weeks, even less when we fly a bit. But, Calin… I want you to know, I do not think we will ever return here.”
 “I know. I have already said goodbye to this land. I know, when I left for my father, I would not come back.”
“I see… Well, you were right. But do no feel guilty about that. It is not your fault.” Calin smiled, and suddenly hugged Twinkle Star.
“Oh, my dear… It will all be okay now. I am sorry. I am sorry for everything.”

Taira watched as Twinkle Star and Calin disappeared on the horizon, behind the hill. She would miss them… She had only been with them for a few days but she would miss them. Twinkle Star had been the only one who had talked to her without suspicion. She was the only one she felt she did not have to prove herself to. And now Twinkle Star was gone… And she had to do everything alone. She turned around at the castle, which glittered a bit in the faint sunlight.

Her home… Even though Twinkle Star was gone, this was her home. And Twinkle Star had wanted her to become the future queen. But as she had told her mother, things had to happen before she could become the heir officially. Her future was here, but the answers to her questions lay elsewhere. She would have to leave once more as well, before she could truly claim this place as home. She had to have faith in the future, or else nothing would succeed and everything would fall into darkness together with the stars. As she set her first steps back towards the castle, though, she knew that somehow she had to succeed. And she would see Twinkle Star once more, far into the future. And when they met, the fate of the world would once more be decided.