Take The High Route.

I decided to take the high rode and get above it. Several limbs were in my way as I had to move around them but they gave me some thing to hold onto at least when the wind blew. The branches got thinner as I went. It didn't take long before I was almost to the seed. The fruit was right there in front of me only a few yards away but I didn't think any of the branches would provide good footing.

I slid down between a fork and grasped a branch with my hands. I kept telling myself to not look down as I kept my eye on the fruit. It was hard to not look down though when almost everything in front of me was down. I grasped a second branch as I got close until I was right there at the fruit.

"Please let this work." I said taking a deep breath. I reached out and touched the fruit and pulled. It came loose and I smiled as I held it in hand. I put it in my pouch which was a little tricky with one hand but I managed. Then I heard the branch I was hanging on crack. I quickly turned and grasped the other and began to head back but the one in my left hand snapped leaving me dangling. I looked around for another branch to hold my weight on but there were none.

I took it nice and slow bad had to grasp on for dear life as the winds blew. My hands slipped and I barley managed to grasp a smaller branch as I hung dangling in the air as the wind blew. I didn't know if I could climb back up. The branch held my weight for the second but it was thin and flexible. I saw the other branches below me from the low route that I didn't take but there was some distance between them and me. The High Priestess said I could use magic but it took me a second to think of any spell that would help me other then teleport but if the apple was any indication I knew it wasn't an option.

Something the queen had said rung in my head. "It is a test of determination. How far you are willing to go and how much you are willing to risk." If I swung for the other branch I wouldn't probably make it if I tried to climb back up the branch would most likely snap. A spell finally came to mind. My magic was amplified here from the magic of the tree. If I missed I at least had a plan. I took a deep breath and took a leap of faith for the branches below. I flew through the air for a second or two and hit one with **** and threw my arms over it. I heard something crack. A rib maybe from the sound of it and the pain in my side. I struggled to get my foot up on the branch but it slipped off and then so did I. I feel through the air and turned to see the ground below me.

"Sonum impetus tempestatis." I said and swirled my hands around one and pointed down focusing all of the magic in me hoping it was enough with the magic in this place. It took a second or two for the updraft of the whirlwind to hit me and slow my fall. I knew it couldn't stop me unless I suddenly grew a pair of wings. I smiled as I aimed for the lake. I just hoped I could slow myself enough so that it didn't feel like I was hitting a stone wall. When it got close I straightened my body a went in feet first.

I felt the pain of hitting the water in my legs but it let me know I was alive. I came up gasping for air as if I had just taken my first breath as a newborn baby. One of my legs was broken and the other possibly sprained but my arms worked at least. It took a few minutes to reach the shore since I had to swim around till I found the opening in the castle wall. The elves pulled me out of the water and onto the shore. They helped me up and I was able to stand on one leg. It hurt to walk let alone breath.

I saw several people come out of the lift as we approached. Princess Seren came forward hugging me tightly which hurt like hell but it was worth it. I saw the queen and the Arch Magus approach. I took a knee and pulled out the fruit.

"Your grace." I said holding out the fruit.

"You are a brave man. Only a handful have ever taken the fruit and fallen but you are the first to have ever survived the fall." The Queen smiled. One of her attendants came forward with a small chest in hand and opened it. I put the fruit inside and she closed it.

"Twilight." She said softly and then handed the box to the arch magus.

"High priestess." The Queen looked back.

"My grace." She smiled stepping forward.

"See that he is brought to the healing pound." The Queen ordered.