She let out a harrumph with the thought then suddenly realized she didn’t recognize where she was. She’d been so preoccupied by her thoughts she’d let Lancelot follow a small stream leading aimlessly through her father’s land and toward the Earl of Westbrook’s land. “That’s where we are,” Allana said to Lancelot as the obvious presented itself. “I thought you had gotten us lost,” she scolded the horse. She looked around and decided it wouldn’t hurt to continue through Cunningham’s land. The area was uninhabited forest rather than farmland anyway. And it was different. She’d been all over her father’s land to the point where she and Lancelot could walk the land over blindfolded and not get lost. She was bored of exploring their land. Different was good. She urged Lancelot forward, still following the stream, and imagined herself exploring the wild, untamed wilderness of the Scottish Highlands. It probably wasn’t anything like them, but that didn’t matter to her. It was too beautiful and fascinating to matter. There had to be miles of forest around her, making her feel so isolated and alone. It was definitely the escape she needed. She let the stream guide her deep into the heart of the forest. It was so peaceful and lovely there. Spring was in the air, causing fresh blooming flowers and new green leaves to burst into the open. The sound of the stream’s running water along with the breeze rustling the leaves brought a sense of comfort to Allana’s lonely heart. If only she could stay in this grove forever. Suddenly, Lancelot stopped. A gloomy, large wall of briers stood in front of them, blocking their path. The stream continued beneath the briers, but this would be the journey’s end for Allana and Lancelot. She glanced around at her surroundings, listening to the grove sing as though welcoming her presence. Birds whistled from above, and water gurgled and splashed from below. Allana’s eyes widened. The stream sounded different on the other side of the briers like it was tumbling off the edge of something and falling into…what? There must be a waterfall on the other side of the wall of briers, she thought.
