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The weeks passed quickly, and soon tiny blades of grass nudged through the lingering patches of frost. Glimpses of wild violets peppered the ground, and the days grew longer and warmer with each passing sunrise. Within the Heart of the Forest however, it never ceased to be anything other than a tropical paradise, the air within always warm, humid, and teeming with life. Birds and woodland frogs filled the air with their peeps and chirps and the thick mass of plant life engulfing the amphitheater flourished.
It was a welcome respite from the weather, and for Tillie, a way to avoid further confrontation with Lina. A stalemate had befallen them, and the two had given each other space ever since the encounter at dinner the day Lina and her mother had arrived. Their mothers’ well-meaning encouragement to repair their friendship had thus far remained futile.
As an antidote to the situation, Lina spent time in her bedroom, content to read, paint, and draw, taking music lessons from Gemma, and also in the kitchen, learning to cook from Cora and Jeppe. On occasion she left Kellandale to visit her friends.
Jamie, Graham, and Elinora couldn’t help but feel unsettled by the silence between the two of them, and Jamie took it upon himself to check in on Lina, often stopping to chat with her to make sure she was all right. Lina continually assured him she had enough to keep busy and was just fine. But he sensed a sadness in her, and he knew Henry felt it, too. He also knew how stubborn Tillie could be, so he was forever trying to find a way to talk to her about it without her becoming too frustrated with him. For the time being, he knew Henry spent time with Lina, and knew he would be a good friend to her.
Meanwhile, Elinora, Tillie, Graham, and Jamie continued to seek the adventure of the forest. The woodland animals quickly bonded with Graham and Jamie, just as they had Elinora and Tillie, and it wasn’t long before they were all asked to be human representatives within the council of beings—an honor that came with great responsibility. It didn’t need to be said, but they knew they were walking in Sir William’s footsteps, and they took it upon themselves to properly learn the ways of the forest to help protect it as he had.
Mister, along with the other squirrels, spent time schooling Elinora, Tillie, Graham, and Jamie in their cunning tactics to make Kellandale Wood seem treacherous and fearsome. Tillie devoted herself to learning how to recreate the deafening racket the squirrels made, and was also rather fond of making the bizarre, throaty sound she referred to as the Warble. Elinora and Graham focused their time on learning the art of illusion, which often involved throwing stones and acorns, and shaking tree branches, while Jamie spent time with Mister learning to mimic the sound made by Monkey—that terrifying low growl that rippled through the forest and caused the earth to rumble.
At the end of the lessons, they would take time to lie in the center of the amphitheater, the sun’s rays warming them, and the breeze cooling them, until they were lulled into a quiet sleep. In these moments, they were rewarded by the heart of the forest with more of its secrets.
Intense and overwhelming thoughts and images drifted into their minds. Moments in time, both past and present, were shared with them. It was like gazing through a mysterious kaleidoscope while serenaded by the songs of universe, filling them with feelings, visions, and sounds. After this rush of feeling came a stillness, then lightness and clarity, and an unspoken understanding of the mysterious connection to of all life, and to nature. In this way, the forest spoke to them, using its own language. It was the very same language that allowed them to communicate with Henry, and it enabled them to understand the forest animals when they were near him, just as they could while they were visiting the heart of the forest.
In time, the forest also divulged to them more of the terrible histories of the animal lives lost hundreds of years before. During this dark time, the forest had been clouded in fear, and the animals were tormented by the humans plaguing the forest with their weapons, fire, and thirst for blood. The children felt the anguish and pain the hunters had inflicted upon the forest creatures, and devastating images of animals being hunted drifted through their minds.
Later came visions of the uprising, when the torrential powers of the earth, river, and forest combined with that of the animals of the forest and manifested into a singular protective force. It shielded the forest’s inhabitants—some who had lived there from the beginning, many who had been brought into it from faraway lands, and others who had come seeking shelter and safety—all of whom had been invited to live there by the forest. This energy also had a side effect, dulling and warping the passage of time, which allowed the creatures of the forest to live for a very, very long time.
The Lady of the Forest, Monkey, and the Messenger had eventually come to dwell there, and they joined forces with the energy of the forest. This alliance created a force unique to Kellandale Wood. It allowed the energy to grow even stronger—strong enough to drive out the hunters who desired dominance over the natural world. Finally, peace had returned to Kellandale Wood and had remained ever since.