Chapter 5

Chapter 5

The sun shone down on the flowery valley. Klaus, Holly, Ivan, Bella, and Aconite rode on the bright red cart across the winding road. The golden fields bent and waved as the wind ran through them. White clouds skittered across the blue sky, and the towering castle shrank in the distance behind them.

As they neared the woods, Klaus could see all sorts of spiders and creatures waiting in the shadows. Klaus caught Aconite’s eye who gave a malicious grin as she kept riding towards the woods. Everyone else was too busy talking to notice the creatures waiting for them. As Klaus was about to warn them, Aconite placed her old withered finger on his lips, and all speech left him.

He tried opening his mouth, but he couldn’t. Holly asked him why he was so silent all of a sudden. Klaus tried pointing towards the woods, but she just tilted her head sideways in question. Klaus got up and began waving his hands pointing towards the woods, but everyone only laughed at his bazaar actions. Klaus looked worriedly at the group sitting in the bright red cart.

Then he realized something. Aconite’s cart was faded red not bright red. He reached towards the painted wood, and began rubbing at it with his finger. The paint came off, revealing glass underneath. With realization of what was going on, the world suddenly stopped. In a split second, all the color drained off the cart, the people in it, and the world around it, revealing bright, shining glass underneath all.

Klaus was not on the road home. He was in the bright white room, rubbing one of the glass walls. As he realized where he was and that he was probably asleep, his eyes opened suddenly and he sat up in the luscious bed. He was back in the guest quarters of Castle Alexander.

Getting up slowly, he walked out of his room. The large window in the stone passage showed the morning sun barely beneath the horizon, coloring the world in eerie blue light. Klaus rubbed sleep from his eyes as he continued walking. Turning around a corner, a pale hand grabbed him, covering his mouth.

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Holly tried to open the door to the throne room as quietly as possible. There in the pale morning light, illuminated by a window nearby, Queen Alexis of Alexandria sat on the cold ground within the small white chalky circle. She looked up as Holly entered wiping tears from her eyes.

“Hi there.” Holly said quietly.

Alexi only looked at her questioningly, asking why she had come with her eyes.

“I came because.” Holly looked around, “I know you are not a witch.”

Alexi stood up, quickly and urgently nodding.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t come earlier, but I had to wait until the Captain stopped guarding you. He only just went to sleep after guarding you all night long. You know, he’s still devoted to you.”

Alexi’s eyes began to tear up again. She nodded in agreement, then waited for Holly to continue.

“I don’t know how to undo Aconite’s charm, but what I can do is this for now.” She said handing Alexi a blanket and pillow. “Get some rest. Later today before we leave I’m going to prove you’re innocent.”

As Holly’s hand reached across the chalk line, Alexi pulled her in the circle and spoke to her urgently.

“Holly, thank you, but I have to warn you. I know the answer to the riddle. I have been thinking about it all night. I know who the real witch is.”

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Ivan let Klaus go as he pointed towards the stairway, motioning for silence. The two crept on in the shadows. They climbed the stairway to a passage that led to a storage room. Then they followed some more passages till they came to a dead end. There, on the left side of the wall, was a small sliver of golden light. Both crammed to try and get a good view.

There were two figures in long black, hooded robes with their backs to the two. They were in a heated argument when Klaus and Ivan arrived.

“No, you may not take the girl! I have already made the necessary preparations!”

“Bhut I tink our seesters know. If, you-know-who, found out…”

“She won’t. Not until it is too late that is.”

“Yous know dat none kan hide from her silver eyes. Let mee tek da girl to Sylvania. Der ve kan perform de ritual in de voods.”

“No, we would be in Oleander’s territory, and she would betray us. She has only one mistress.”

As the conversation continued, Klaus and Ivan began fighting for a better view, trying to see the other figure. They already knew that one must be Laburnum, but the other one’s voice, while familiar, was elusive. The two figures walked out of the room, and Klaus and Ivan pushed the fireplace out of the way.

They walked into the room and looked around. Just then, the library door opened again. Klaus dove behind the large globe and Ivan behind the chair. Laburnum entered again. She looked around, taking her hood off, and as she did, the entire black robe, cape, and hood retracted back into the broach on her shawl. She was back to her normal self. She walked past Klaus who silently circled the globe.

She stood in the middle of the room, then opened the fireplace and entered, letting it slide behind her. The two came out of hiding. They tiptoed back to their room to talk about what just happened.

“So, Laburnum’s the real witch.” Klaus said pensively.

“It seems we were too quick to follow her words.” Ivan said, polishing his specs. “You know, it was so strange. I had a dream the moon came to me and told me that Alexi was innocent. Then I was in the library and I heard their conversation.”

“You’ve been having strange dreams lately too?” Klaus asked surprised.

“No, not really. This was the first. Why?” Ivan asked, sitting up.

“No reason.” Klaus said, trying to get his mind off the glass room.

Then the door slammed open and Holly ran in. Jumping on the bed with the two, she grabbed both by the collars and pulled them down secretively.

“Guys, we were wrong. Alexi is not the real witch.” She said looking around secretively. “Laburnum is!”

“We know!” Ivan said, “We just heard her talking about taking a girl, I’m guessing Alexi, to some forest place for a ritual of some kind.”

“Wait, who was she talking to?”

“We don’t know.” Klaus said, getting up off the bed. “But we have a bigger problem. What are we gong to do? Come on, we’re only three kids, against a witch. No one will believe us over her. They might even think we are accomplices.”

“So we can’t out rightly expose her.” Ivan said thoughtfully.

“Arg! Why does everything have to be so complicated!” Holly said as she began pacing the room.

“We don’t even have any allies.” Ivan observed, and just as he said it, the door opened and the Captain walked in.

“Yes you do!”

“An’ me as well.” Aconite said stepping out from behind him.

“Good, now we have to get some sort of plan ready.” Holly said urgently checking all the windows to make sure no one was eavesdropping.

As the planning commenced, the sky grew bluer and bluer by the minute. Aconite’s dove’s innocently sat by the windows keeping watch, while Burt the Imbecile guarded the door. Inside, everyone was trying to keep their voices down while at the same time trying to talk at once.

Klaus got tired of all the planning and decided to check up on Bella. He entered her room, finding her sitting on her bed talking to Silver. The dog barked softly when he entered, but remained by Bella’s side.

“You know, I still have to thank Silver.” Klaus said talking softly. “Silver led me to you tonight.”

“I know.” Bella said petting the dog’s golden hair. “She told me all about it.”

“Did she now?” He smiled sitting down next to Bella.

“Yip. She told me how she had to change herself into a giant with seven arms to tear the door down and knock the guards out.”

“Oh I see. And then what.”

“She wasn’t finished telling me yet.” Bella said pointedly. “She was just getting to the good part about the glass room and the white light.”

“Wait, what?” Klaus asked taken completely off guard.

But before he could ask anything else, Holly and Ivan entered the room and told him they had a plan. He followed, looking back to Bella and Silver. He smiled a reassuring smile, but below the front he was confused. How could she have known?

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“So the plan is simple. Well, actually the plans are simple. But we have to time everything perfectly.” Holly said, addressing her troops like a real general.

“Um, why don’t we just do what we did with Alexi?” Klaus asked confused.

“Well, we have lost the element of surprise. She knows that Aconite’s powers are not just for healing, but that they are also containment.”

“Af’re las nights perform’ce, she’l most likely b’ wearn’ a r’flective charm.” Aconite explained.

“If Aconite tries to trap her, the charm will reverse on Aconite.” Ivan explained.

“So, instead we have to disarm her manual.” Holly said, motioning to Ivan.

“Okay. So, this is Laburnum’s ring.” Ivan said holding up the book for all to see the illustration. “According to this, it is her main source of power, or something like that. The wording of the book was somewhat vague.”

“If we destroy the ring, she will be defenseless.” Holly said stepping up. “But to destroy the ring it has to be cast into boiling water. So, the plan will consist of three teams. One team, headed by Ivan will be outside manning large cauldrons of boiling water under the pretense of it being laundry day.

The second team will be led by myself and Aconite. Its purpose will be to draw her attention and hopefully buy enough time for the third team to get the ring off her finger using the trap door above her. Captain, you will be leading that team. Alright, any questions?”

“Um. Yeah. I have a question.” Burt said raising his hand. “What happens if the plan doesn’t work?”

“That is not an option.” Holly said with resolution. “The witch must be stopped. No one will be safe as long as she is free.”

With that thought, everyone left to prepare for their parts in the plan. Ivan beckoned Holly, Klaus, and Aconite over after everyone else had left. They shut the door tight then had a whispered conference.

“Burt made a good point.” Ivan said. “We need a back up plan.”

“We don’t have time!” Holly said irritably.

“I might have one.” Klaus said speaking up. “If worst comes to worst, we need to protect Bella and the other defenseless people in the castle.”

“We can evacuate the servants through the tunnels to the flower fields.” Holly said.

“An’ I can keep yon young un’ safe with me. If yer plan should fail, I shall transport us to m’ home in the Republic of Koal.” Aconite said. “Once ever’ting settles douwn, meet meh dar.”

“That sounds good.” Klaus said. “So, which team am I with?”

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Laburnum entered the half lit hall. The Queen was standing indignantly within the chalk circle, clutching her blanket and pillow to her face. The haggard laugh filled the vaulted ceiling as the real witch approached the young girl.

“Hahaha! So, yous now da trooth, ya? Hehehe, yous is very klefer girl, but not enough!” The witch cackled.

The Queen could only look daggers at her betrayer. For years the nurse had tended her, had watched after her, had been her most trusted and most loved advisor. She had been like Alexi’s mother. But know Alexi saw her for who she really was. She had been using her, and while it hurt, it also filled her with anger. She clutched the blanket harder, her knuckled turning white.

“Hehe, you knows vhat. I knew dat you vould see de trooth vhen da boy spoke. Dat you knows da ancient verse he quoted from da kastil’s loolabys speek of da queen’s nurse. For many yeers I half vaited for dis moment. To reveal my troo self.”

With a touch of her hand, the magic broach on her shawl caused her entire frame to seemingly begin to expand. Cloth rippled like it was made from water, and her face twisted and contorted until with a final shake of her head she had transformed herself into her true form.

She was always a very large and imposing woman, but now she had grown extremely obese. A large dark unibrow ran across her forehead, her nose swelled into a wide button nose, and a large mole had popped up on her upper lip. Three brown hairs sprouted from it one after another. She wore her dark brown hair in two hair buns on either side of her head. On her finger was a ring with a red and white swirled enamel amulet.

“Vhel, vhat do you tink?” She laughed and snorted as she said. “Vhat, da princess is speechless?”

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The three teams were ready. Klaus shifted in the dark, bumping into the Captain. They were squished inside of the small chute leading down to the main room. They were all carrying extra weapons to toss to the others, but hopefully that wouldn’t be necessary. Hopefully, Klaus would be able to grab the ring first, and if he failed, the Captain could just slice it off.

They sat in the silnce and waited. Klaus’ mind began to wander. The room. The light. The voices. What did it all mean? Why was this happening? Should he tell anyone, or would they just think he was crazy? The oppressive darkness seemed to be heavy with doubt as they waited.

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The boiling water sent columns of steam up into the sky. The various servants had been sent away through the secret tunnel in the prison. Now, several embarrassed soldiers were dressed up as maids pretending to do washing. At least three had already burnt themselves on the water. Ivan rolled his eyes as he looked to the cool, dark doors, that seemed so peaceful in the morning sun, but that were ready to burst forth with furry at any second.

He sighed as he watched the sun line move across the building starting at the roof. When it hit the top lancet windows, it would color the entire hallway with brilliant red light. That would be the signal for the ones hidden in the shaft to attack. Then it would be their part. Even if Klaus got the ring it would be pointless if they didn’t destroy it before Laburnum got it back. But that was all easier said than done.

Ivan wished it had all passed. That he was back, sitting in the huge library enjoying the History of Alexandrian Magic. But then again, he though, it was because he read it that they were in this mess now. The sun kept lowering almost touching the windows. It would soon be time.

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Holly watched the shadows as they became shorter and shorter. The edge was on, but it was a good edge. The kind that reminded any old soldier that they were still alive, still kicking. The adrenaline threatened to enter her veins but she resisted the urge to let it. If she let it take her now, she would not think clear enough to make sure everything went as planned. They had to make sure the distraction was convincing.

Laburnum would be expecting some sort of trap. She had probably spotted the look in Holly’s eyes. Now would be their only chance. Laburnum had to be stopped. Something deep inside Holly told her that this must be the one they called the Bavarian Witch and if she was then that made the entire situation much more dangerous. The shadow reached the center line of the courtyard, signaling the tme had come. Holly nodded to Aconite.

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“Vhel, yous friends are sleeping soundly. Soon, dey too vil realize der mistek and vhil come to rescue you. Den, dey vhil all pay. Yous may remember, a long tem ago vhen you learnt aboot da Bavarian Witch. Vhel, I am herr!” The witch cackled as she snorted and gloated. “Yoor friends vhil all dies!”

“No!” Alexi yelled, stepping out of the circle, drawing her sword from inside of the blanket.

“Vhat! How is dis possible!” Laburnum asked confused, backing off.

“You are the one who will die this day witch!” Alexi said walking forward furiously.

“Ha, you stink dat leetle sword vhil help yous?” The witch snorted.

“No, they will.” She said motioning to her friends behind the witch.

“Alexis are you alright?” Holly called.

“Stay back everyone. She is the Bavarian witch!” Alexis called urgently.

“Dat is right! Yous half all herd about my rath, but today you vhil feel it!”

She pointed her stubby little finger and began muttering, when Aconite stepped forward holding her staff. The other witch smiled shaking her head as if to reprove Aconite for interfering. Then she raised her hand and shouted,

“Torspel!”

From her finger shot a beam of orange light that collided with what appeared to be an invisible barrier, turning into a brown material that crumbled away. Aconite raised her staff and shot a beam of white magic at Laburnum. But instead of hitting her it seemed to hit some sort of liquid and then bounced back at Aconite and the group, who all barely dove out of the way, Aconite disappearing and reappearing to the left of the group.

“Ha, did yous tek me for a fool? I hav my protektif barrier on!” Laburnum called in triumph.

“Protect this!” Holly yelled throwing a javelin at the witch. Labrunum simply stepped back, allowing it to glance of the stone in front of her. Behind Holly, a swarm of dove flew in and began to circle the room like a giant horde. Laburnum waved her hands like a conductor cackling as each dove she pointed fell to the ground a brown statue that broke into pieces on contact.

“Holly, I’ve to call ‘em back!” Aconite yelled over the noise.

“That’s fine, we’ve almost got her where we want her.” Holly called back.

Alexis had been circling trying to get a good opening. The chance came and she lunged forward. The witch however had anticipated the move and immediately countered with an orange glowing sword that sent sparks flying each time it made contact with Alexis’ sword. The two continued on as Holly also grabbed her sword and joined the fray. By now Laburnum was fighting with a sword in each hand. She was surprisingly fast for such a large woman.

“Ha, you seem surpised. Did you stink you ver de only good schordsman?” She taunted as she countered an incoming ball of white magic from Aconite.

Then she seemed to suddenly grow tired of the entire ordeal and popping her grotesquely thick neck and cracking her stubby fingers she brought both hands in, dissipating the swords, and then sent both open palmed out towards the two swordswomen. As she did this a wall of magic flew out of both hands towards the unsuspecting girls. They were thrown against the walls of the room.

“Ye shall leave dem young ‘un alone. Do ya hear me Laburnum! Yew hav disgraced all magick with your afron’try!” Aconite said, swinging her cane at Laburnum, who countered with her ring.

“Yous half not learnt how too fight a reel vitch yet half you?” Laburnum laugh as she suddenly turned her hands, inverting Aconite and levitating her above the ground upside down.

“An’ neither have’ yew!” Shouted Aconite as she righted herself, turning Laburnum, and throwing her through the air onto the designed spot.

“Now!” She called as her doves flew against the roof beating their wings on the trap door.

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That was the signal. It was the right hour. The sun was in the right position and the shadow had already passed its mark. The Captain order all the weapons readied and then pulled on the latch. The problem was that it only raised an inch then fell back. It was the right time and the right moment and they had gotten the signal. And they were stuck in the shaft. Klaus shook his head in disgust as he watched the Captain try to lever the door open with three of his men and a spear in the confined space. He could hardly bare to imagine what it must look like from below.

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The entire battle had stopped. Laburnum, Holly, Alexis, Aconite, and all her doves stared at the ceiling, where the trapdoor was being nicely outlined by the dust and dirt that was falling between the cracks as someone was obviously trying to open it while standing on it at the same time. Holly held her head as she tried to channel her anger at Laburnum.

“Those idiots.” Was all she could say.

“So, yous tought you could be tricky?” She said shaking her head, causing her massive triple chins to sway like overfilled watersacks.

The next instant Silver ran in, followed by Bella. The girl caught up to the dog that was barking at the witch, and threw her arms around Silver’s neck. Laburnum’s eyes seemed to light up when she saw Bella. Raising her ring she sent a beam of the magic right at Bella and the dog. There was a large explosion and on the spot that they stood was only a blackened bow, like the ones on Bella’s dress.

Old Chapters 3 + 4

Bella was escorted through the huge castle by the two elderly gentlemen and four soldiers dressed in red uniforms and tall black hats, carrying long curving swords. They walked through the main courtyard, and up the large flight of stairs leading to the main throne room. As they stood before the doors, the two gentlemen looked at one another, than rapped on the door three times in unison.

“Enter!” A distant voice called from inside.

The two great white doors, studded with red jewels opened slowly. Inside Bella could barely believe her eyes. There were candies and lollipops as big as trees everywhere. She was led to a large and ornate table that stretched for what seemed like forever, but that was only set for two. She sat at one end, and squinted to try and see the other end.

“Where is the girl!” The voice asked irritably.

“Your Majesty, she is here at the other end of the table…do you wish her to enter your presence?” One of the gentlemen asked nervously.

“Well, if I didn’t I wouldn’t have invited her! Bring her here!” Came the reply.

Bella rose from her seat and walked over to the other end of the table. She was so hungry looking at all the sweets and treats that adorned the room. She walked and she walked down the long room following the table. Eventually she started to make out the other end. There was a huge canopy that had silk curtains hanging down. Sitting underneath the curtains was a girl, about Bella’s age, with a purple dress and purple ribbons in her black hair. She had a diamond necklace and crown on her head and looked very regal.

“You may leave us..”She said, then looking at the gaurds onher sides, “..that means you too!”

When all had evaquated the hall, she turned to Bella and smiled. Snading up from her small golden throne, she walked out from under her canopy and sat down next to Bella.

“So whats your name?” She asked, her voice notticebly sweeter and higher.

“My names Bella. Are you Queen Alexandra?” The young girl asked.

“Yes, but you may call me Alexi. I had you brought here to be my official friend.” Alexi said smiling even bigger, “We can be best friends in the whole world.”

“Okay!” Bella said, followed by a growl from her stomach.

“Oh! You must be hungry!” Alexi said, “Here have some tea and cake.”

Alexi clapped her hands, and several plates with cake in them appeared, along with two tea cups with sweet tea in them. She and Bella ate the cake and drank the tea as she told Bella about Pastri, the Kingdom she was in.

“Well, the kingdom is bordered by the Great Woods on one side and the Ocean of Ice on the other three sides.” Alexi spoke with cake in her mouth, “So it makes it easy to rule. See, no one could ever really attack us because we are surrounded by the sea.”

“So why are you Queen if you are so young?” Bella asked sipping from her cup.

“Well, when I was still a baby my parents went into the Great Woods and were turned into statues.” Alexi said, gulping down some tea. “But luckily I had Yagba my nurse to raise me. She is the one who taught me to summon tea and cake like that.”

“So,” Bella asked, pausing to think of the right words, “…she knows magic?”

“Yes,” Alexi answered enthusiastically, “But she’s not a witch. She’s one of the Woodland Elves.”

“Oh, so why can’t she turn your parents back then?” Bella asked.

“She doesn’t know that much magic…and even then she couldn’t go back in the woods. The other elves hate her because she taught me their secrets.”

The conversation then turned to unimportant matters as the two girls kept talking for hours. Later, they went outside and played in the garden until Alexi was called by one of the gentlemen to take care of some official business. As she left, Bella was escorted back to her room. On her way up the stairs, she saw a dark figure peeking out from one of the side doors.

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The three were still running when they came upon a path winding through the hills. They followed it, the going much smoother on the broad, even road. According to their map, it would lead them to the Castle. The plan so far was not much.

“So let me get this straight,” Klaus said, going over what they had so far. “Ivan, you are going to scout out the west side of the castle, Holly the east, looking for a way in. Meanwhile, I’m suppose to distract any soldiers we may encounter. Don’t you think we should be a bit more specific?”

“Well, we don’t have anything else, other than the rough sketch of the parameter on the map to go on.” Ivan said as they stopped for a few seconds to catch their breath.

“I like the plan.” Holly said, looking off towards the distance. “Its simple. Its flexible. Most importantly, it can work. That’s if we all do our parts.”

“What about once we are inside?” Klaus asked as they started running again.

“Well…” Ivan’s voice trailed off.

“We would make our way to the largest room. It would probably be a throne room right? Well, that’s were the witch will be and I’m pretty sure that’s where we will find Bella.” Holly said off handedly as she suddenly started curving off the path to the bushes.

“Yeah that’s what I was implying.” Ivan said, noticing her course change. “Its perfectly logical tha-”

He was interrupted by Klaus’ body being shoved against him by Holly, who pushed them all of the road and into the bushes. After a few seconds, Ivan opened his mouth to ask what, but Holly’s vice like grip covered his mouth. He had never realized how strong Holly was, but now that his jaw was being crushed against his skull he did.

A cart rattled up slowly on the road. It was old, weather worn, and had at one point been painted red, though it was so faded and chipped one could barely tell. The harness hung in the air in front of the cart as if on some invisible horse’s back. At the reigns was an old woman with long unkept white hair and a long white robe. She was thin and gaunt with big red hoop earrings hanging from her long earlobes. Her face was so wrinkled that her lips weren’t even there any more, and instead her mouth was bordered by many long lines.

“Ye three young uns in yon bushes best be gettin’ out o’ thee mod. I knows thine hiding place well, an’ sure as nought ‘ul be ate alive by yon ‘squeeters.” She said in an old sounding voice, turning her milky blind eyes towards them.

They rose slowly, Klaus and Ivan still flustered from getting shoved into the mud. Holly walked up to the path and spoke, “Thank you marm. We are travelers… and we know that not everyone on the rode is friendly.”

The old lady found this hilarious, and while she had herself a good, haggard laugh, Holly quickly pointed at the letter from the elves, specifically at the word ‘witch’.

“My der.” Said the witch, smiling as if she knew what Holly had done, “ye ar right ‘bout that. Not all ar friends, but some may turn ot to be ‘n time.”

“I am Klaus, this is Ivan and Holly, we seek the Castle of the Bavarian Witch.” Klaus said speaking up.

The old woman smiled, then looking in Holly’s direction said, “I can sense that thou has mad contact wit the Woodland Elves. So ye probly knowth that I be a witch. Donest theou be alarmed, for I be a white witch. I do specialize in protective, curative, and transportive magiks alone. I lev the tricky thungs and curses up to the dark ord’r.”

Ivan and Klaus seemed to relax more at this statement, but Holly seemed even more tense. The three walked along with the witch, who called herself Maydle. The conversation was dull for the most part, with Maydle trying to find out more about their quest. However, with Holly’s insistence they didn’t divulge anymore of their stories.

“So Maydle how far is it to the Castle?” Klaus asked, as they came to a cross roads.

“Well, if ye follow yon path, the on thine elvish frinds marked for thee, we shall rech it by let afternon. However, the path is watched, and hath many of her servants guarding it. The capturing all who take the rod. Thats why I never do.” She said pausing.

“Is there another way?” Klaus asked, looking up the other path.

“Wiel, ye can trav’l with me. But, be f’rwarned, thee journey, tis two days. We would hav te stop fur de night.” She said smiling, showing her three teeth.

Reluctantly they accepted her offer and set our on the other path. Up the road the elves had recommended and over the next two hills was the castle they had been seeking.

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Bella was having the time of her life. Anything she wanted was hers in an instant. Not just that but she had a new friend who was her age, something she had never had growing up in her village. But in all the perfection, there seemed to be something wrong. Everything was just a bit too perfect.

When Alexi had gone to take care of some government matter, Bella snuck down to the stables to see silver. The small Labrador was excited to see her, but as soon as she let Silver out of the stables the dog ran for the Castle. Bella chased after. As she followed the dogthrough the castle she let her thoughts be known.

“Silver, I think there is something going on that no one is telling me. I don’t know why I feel like this but I think that there is something we are suppose to do here.”

They kept going deeper and further into the castle till they came to a large room. As soon as Bella stepped inside after Silver, the torches on the sides magically lit. A crow cawed and flew across the large room, the walls of which was covered with shelves of books.

Silver ran across the expensive looking carpet, stepping on a hand design on it. The far wall started sliding over, revealing a secret passage. Silver ran in and Bella as usual followed. There were stairs that went down and led to a large room full of paintings leaning against one another.

Bella turned when she heard the wall slide back and saw the torches go out. She was in the pitch darkness and didn’t know how to get out. Silver made a howling noise and suddenly the tip of the dog’s tail started glowing a strange white light, like a firefly had landed on it.


“Wow! How did you do that?” Bella asked the dog, who just barked back at her happily, “Are you magical? I knew it! I knew when I saw you that you were special! So what else can you do?”

The dog didn’t respond, and so Bella amused herself by exploring the many paintings. There were some that looked like paintings of royalty, probably Alexi’s family and ancestors. There were others of buildings and animals and creatures that Bella ahd never seen before. While she was still busy looking at some, she heard voices from the library.

“…if we are to positively identify her.”

“I know we have to be sure. Look here is the book that describes her.”

“mmm…brunette hair…blue eyes…and a birthmark on her left shoulder shaped like a star…this is it!”

“Okay, lets make sure. She won’t be happy if this is a wrong girl.”

“Alright, lets check the portrait.”

Bella heard them scuffle around trying to find the right spot on the carpet. Silver pulled her behind a stack of painting she had not looked at yet, and then the dogs tail stopped glowing and all went dark. After a few seconds light came in through the sliding wall.

It was the two gentlemen she had met previously. They walked down the steppes and stopped. She thought they might start looking around too but instead she found out otherwise.

“Alright so it’s an enchanted painting right?” The one asked.

”That’s right, we should be able to summon it.” The other one said.

“Well lets see.” He said clearing his throat. “We seek the painting named ‘The Two Daughters of King Nicholas XII’.”

Immediately a painting of two babies next to Bella started rattling and then glided over to the two. The second one checked the name at the bottom to be sure. Then he motioned to the other gentleman to say the words.

“Painting. Please age the picture 8 years.”

It started glowing and when it stopped the two leaned in to get a good look. They both smiled, then placed the picture against another canvas. They walked up the stairs, and tapped the wall three times. It slid open and then close again. A few minutes later Bella came out of her hiding place and Silver’s tale was glowing again.

She was glad that she knew how to get out know. As she opened the door, her curiosity got the best of her and she went to see what the two had been looking at. She picked it up and held it to the light. On the painting, the two babies had aged to age nine. The left most one looked like Alexi. But it was the right most one that shocked Bella, because the other princess was herself.


~~~~~~~~

The caravan walked all day long along the path. Holly had been silently letting Ivan and Klaus know her fears concerning Maydle as they marched on. She had pointed out the moss on the stones along the way and how they showed that the groups was really going in a large loop. Klaus and Ivan didn’t seem too worried.

As they pitched camp for the night, the boys gladly excepted Maydle’s offer of some sleeping bags. Holly refused, saying that she preferred sleeping on th eground. But really, she didn’t trust the old hag. As everyone’s eyes began to droop shut, Holly pretended to go to sleep.

Several hours later, everyone was firmly asleep. Maydle stirred from on top of the wagon. She took some hobbled steps towards Klaus, and reached in her robe. She pulled out a menacing dagger and razed it. Suddenly she felt a blade against her own neck.

“So, ye ar whetI took thee to be?” She said her eyes turing to Holly.

“That’s enough of that! Don’t even look at me. I know about your ways. I know how you laced those sleeping bags with sleeping potion, and how you can turn me to stone by staring at me with your real eyes!” Holly said, raising the witch up from the ground.

“Well, you do know more then I thought,” The witch said, her voice no longer concealed by her fake accent, “but I would have thought that you would then know better than to step within one of my enchanted circles!”

Holly’s eyes went wide with fear as she looked down and realized she was indeed standing in a withcling trap. It was a simple circle draw in the dirt, but it had been drawn with the witch’s magic cane, which made it enchanted. Holly should have known better.

“Hehehe! You can’t harm me know! And you can’t leave the circle either until someone outside of it pulls you out!” She said grinning maliciously, “Now to take care of your friend.”

“Klaus! Wake up!” Holly yelled, but her words couldn’t leave the circle either.

Maydle kept getting closer to Klaus with the knife. As she raised it once more, there was a distant noise heard from up ahead of the path. It sounded like wind chimbs being battered in a storm. It was the witch’s turn to be filled with fear. She started scampering towards her wagon, but then realizing that it wouldn’t go fast enough.

She pulled her cane from her robe and drew a line in the path, muttering as she went. Holly had slumped down and uttered a silent prayer for her companions. As she gased up the path she saw what looked like a mass of fireflies caught in a tornado.

“Faeries!” she said, with a shudder.

Maydle had drawn another enchanted circle around herself and smiled wickedly at Holly. They were both safe inside the circles, because fearies dared not cross the lines. But Klaus and Ivan were still in danger, and the fearies were coming closer.

~~~~~~~~

Ye Olden Storie

So today I was looking around my computer when I came across the original first four chapters of my story. I wrote these almost six months ago. They are very diffrent from the ones I haev now, so I thought I'd post the first two chapters for a comparison. Oh, and don't worry, chapter five is almost done. :)

Book I:
Seeking the Lost Sister

The pale moon hung over the clouded sky. The wind blew fiercely over the tops of the viridian trees, causing their branches to sway and evergreen needles to scratch faintly against one another. The needles made an erie whispering noise, as if the trees were speaking. That's because the trees were. The wind picked up speed, wistleing between branches, and the whisper turned into a moan. The forest was crying out. Down between the massive brown columns, deer and other small animals fled, while birds took to the skies to get away from the forest. They could sense what was coming. The two figures running with the bundle however could not. All they heard was the pounding of their hearts as they raced to get out of the forest, the moan of the trees striking fear into their souls. As they reached the edge, they stepped into the grassy field, nearly getting knocked over by the fierce gusts, and accidentally dropped the treasure they were carrying. Branches broke, and the forest roared with rage as the two figures stared at the bundle, which has started to glow. The forest suddenly seemed darker, thicker, angrier. Lightning streaked the sky, and rain started pelting down. The two ran away, not waiting to see what happened to the treasure they has dropped.

~~~~~~~~


"Bella!"

"Bella! Where are you!" The cry rang out and echoed back over the small village.

The upset old woman, dressed in big billowing black dress and wearing a clean white apron walked down the windy main street of the village of St. Sherone. The small village of about forty-five people was at the foot of the great Northern Most Alps. On one side were the rolling mountain hills. On the other were the river Djag and the open fields, were a few families raised wheat and turnips. However, the woman was too tired to take in the serene surroundings as she called for her granddaughter.

"Bella! You have to come bath! Now!" She said as she walked past the bakery.

"Hello, Gran Helda." Called Franz the Baker, "Looking for Bella again?"

"Yes Franz, have you seen that little rapscallion today? She's hiding from me again." Said the cross grandmother.

"Well, no actually, but I bet either Ivan or Holly has." Franz said, pointing to the mountain.

"All I know," Said Gran Helda," is that she better not be playing up in those heard lands again. She knows she's not old enough to be up there yet!"

Grandma Helda briskly bustled up the mountain path that led to the heard land. The winding path went up through the foothills, to the top platue of teh mountain. There, huge fields of yellowed grass and the occasional wildflower bush spread out across teh face of the mountain. Clustered in one place was a large black blotch, which was the herds of black goats grazing on the foliage. A stone's throw away, three figures lay in teh grass, watching the clouds slowly move across the blue sky.

"Ivan, look that one looks like a goose!" Said the red haired girl.

"Oh, I see it." Said the boy with the black hair parted at the side," Look at that one, it looks like a giant..."

"Tree?" Asked the other boy with the dark brown curly hair.

"That’s the one Klaus!" Ivan said, polishing his glasses on his grey sweater, "A cumulus if I'm not mistaken."

The girl rolled her green eyes and turned back onto her stomach, resting her head on her elbows. "I am done with cloud watching, how about you two?"

"Holly, we've only been doing it for an hour." Said Klaus, rolling over, not caring about getting his grey sweater dirty.

"Yeah, I know, but we do it every day! Don't you guys want to do something exciting! Like go rafting down the river, or explore the Black Fo..."

"Don't even say it! Do you want to bring us all bad luck!" Said Ivan fiercely, sitting up in the grass.

"What, you believe all those old wives stories about the woods?" Holly asked mockingly with a grin, picking grass from her pale green dress.

"Its been proven over and over again that the woods are cursed, that’s why we don't talk about them!" Ivan said, turning away, polishing his spectacles again.

"Ha! I'll prove that the Black Forest isn't cur..."

"Holly! Ivan! Klaus! Where are you!" Gran Helda's voice rang over the field.

"Now look what you've done!" Ivan said crossly, pointing at the distant figure as he got up.

"Don't be silly! Gran Helda didn't come up here just because I called the woods by its name." Holly said indignantly, getting up too.

Before they could argue more, Gran Helda arrived huffing and puffing.

"Oh dear! Saints preserve us but I'm not as young as I use to be!” She said as she caught her breath.

"What is it?" Klaus asked getting up slowly from his spot on the grass.

"Oh Klaus! Your sister Bella's gone missing again! You haven't seen her by any chance have you?"

The three shook their heads but agreed to help search for the missing child. They brought the herd back down early, letting them eat in the field instead, as they went looking for the little one in all teh usual places. Holly checked Mrs. Wikkerschtein's large woven baskets. Ivan checked the tree house by the river. But no luck. Klaus was walking up the road, trying to think like his little sis, when something caught his eye. It was a red ribbon in a bush at the top of the street...that led into the Black Forest.

"She wouldn't..." he groaned, as he started up the path to the woods.

As he walked, Ivan and Holly came running up, followed shortly by Gran Helda. She was about to ask where Klaus was when she saw the two staring at the trail, with Klaus reaching the entrance to the woods. The whole village had stopped working and were looking up at the forest. They knew what it meant of the little one went in there. None who entered ever returned. No one would follow her in. None dared.

"Puppy, puppy, puppy. I have a pwetty puppy." Came the sing song voice.

All the heads turned to the small figure walking up from the bakery. She would have looked like a small girl, about 6 or 7, with brunette ponytails and a faded pink dress, if she wasn't covered in dough. Gran Helda shot Franz a dirty look, who simply raised his shoulders in innocence, before she ran to the small girl. Her face was a mixture of anger and relief as she went on.

"Oh Bella, my sweet Bella. Why have you been so naughty! Letting Gran think you were gone! But it doesn't matter now that your back! But next time you'll be in big trouble...."

Before she could finish, a bark came from behind Bella's dress. A small golden Labrador peaked out behind the faded pink, whining for food. Bella picked the puppy up none too gently and held him up as her prize for all to behold.

"Look! I gots a puppy! His name is Silver, cause he had this around his neck when I found him." She said as she put him down and pulled something out of her pocket.

She held up a silver chain with a flat stone in the middle. Ivan took the stone and examined it while Holly started rubbing Silver's belly. Klaus interrogated his little sister about the puppy.

"Where'd you find him?"

"By the river. Silver swam right up to the bank and got out."

"Why were you hiding in the bakery?"

"I was warming Silver by the ovens cause my dog was wet silly."

"Wha-" But before Klaus could continue, Ivan called him over.

"Look at this! This is exquisite. This is no rock my friend!" Ivan said with a twinkle in his eye," This is a piece of petrified wood. It's one of nature's rarest miracles, and for the dog to have had this around its neck must mean it belongs to someone important."

"Oh...the poor puppy is all skin and bones! It must have been missing for a while. Here lets go get it some hot food." Holly said leading the dog to their house.

"I wanna feed my puppy!" Bella said, but was briskly carried off to her bath, crying, " Silver save me! They're trying to drown me with soap!"

As Klaus watched Holly feeding Silver, and Ivan examining the petrified wood, he felt slightly strange. He'd never come that close to the woods before, and having stood at the very edge gave him butterflies in his stomach. Just thinking about it made him feel dizzy and he sat down. Silver ran up to him, and placed its head on Klaus' leg, looking up at him with a knowing look. Even though it was only an hour before sunset, Klaus felt his eye lids grow heavy, and sleep enclosed him.

~~~~~~~~

There was bright green light everywhere. From somewhere in the green mists, Klaus heard a voice calling him. He turned to the voice but all he could see was the blinding green light. The voice called him again, this time louder.

"Klaus..." It was soft and loud at the same time.

"Who are you!" Klaus called back.

"Klaus...you must follow...."

"Follow? Follow what? What do you want me to follow?" Klaus asked confused.

"When the time comes...you must follow...you must follow her..." It spoke with authority.

"Who? Who are you?" Klaus yelled at the voice, "Who am I suppose to follow?"

"You must follow her...she will guide you to your destiny..." It spoke with urgency.

"Klaus!" Ivan's voice cut through the dream.

Klaus open his eye, blinking at the darkness. It was night, and a sickle moon hung in the clear sky. Ivan was running towards him, while several villagers came out of their homes in their night robes, confused looks on their faces.

"Klaus! You have to come quick! It's Bella!" Ivan yelled, scampering up the steep path on all fours.

"Not again! What has she done this time?" Klaus asked annoyed.

"She went into the Black Forest!" Ivan stammered, his eyes wide with fear.

~~~~~~~~

Holly was standing at the entrance of the woods with a torch in her hand, calling after Bella when they got there. She quickly explained to Klaus the situation. Apparently after Klaus had fallen asleep under the big tree next to his house, they had left him and eventually went to bed. In the middle of the night, Silver started barking, waking Holly and Bella. Holly looked out her window and saw Silver dashing up the main road heading straight for the woods. When she and Ivan came running out they were just in time to see Bella run after Silver into the Black Forest. Klaus stood there, staring at the path that led into the darkness. What could he do? No one ever returned from the forest.

"Klaus!" Holly said irritated, "Come on! We have to follow her! Maybe she isn't too far in and we can save her before its too late!"

"Are you crazy Holly?" Ivan said angrily, "We can't go in there! Bella is gone...forever!"

Holly looked at Klaus pleadingly. Klaus was thinking, but before he could make up his mind, Holly said, "Fine! You two can stay here! I'm going after her!"

As Holly ran into the woods, Klaus remembered the voice in the dream. He looked at Ivan, who was holding their lantern, and Ivan knew what he was going to say.

"Fine! But don't say I didn't warn you!" Ivan said, wrapping his scarf once more around his neck.

"Thanks Ivan. If we're going to find our way back, we'll need your knowledge." Klaus said as he and Ivan stepped into the forest.

"You sure will! Not that we'll ever find our way out again! But still, at least I know about the..."

Before he could finish, suddenly several vines dropped down and grabbed them around the waists, pulling them up into the trees.

"What were you saying?" Klaus yelled, as the vine started gripping them both harder and passing them from one vine to the next deeper into the forest.

~~~~~~~~

Bella was lost. She had caught up with Silver just as she entered the woods, but now she was scared, and tired, and lost. Silver seemed to know where they were going. The dog kept running, following a path that only it could see. Bella stopped, her eyes starting to close on their own. Silver stopped when the dog felt Bella's hand slip of its back. Through her half open eyes, Bella saw a glowing light, and then felt strong arms pick her up and put her on what felt like a horse. She fell asleep to the sound of the heavy breathing of the animal.

~~~~~~~~

Holly was still looking for Bella's trail. At first it had been easy to see, the flat grass, the footprints on the moss, and the white of the broken braches. But then it had suddenly vanished. She felt like she was going round in circles when she heard a muffled grunt. She looked around but saw nothing. There it was again! The sound seemed to be coming from two trees. As she got closer, she realized they weren't trees but two people covered in vines. Taking a long tree branch she swung it hard and accurate, cutting the vines off from the ground. The two figures struggled loose, and soon the familiar bushy brown hair and large round spectacles revealed the identity of the two "trees".

"What are you guys doing here?" She asked hotly.

"We decided to follow you." Ivan said. "We figured you would need our help."

"Me? Need your help?" Holly asked with a grin. " It seems to me that I'm the one doing the helping."

"Right." Klaus said sheepishly, "And thanks. So have you found Bella?"

"No, I lost her trail." Holly said pointing the way she came.

"I suggest we continue the conversation somewhere else." Ivan said getting up fast.

"Why?" Klaus and Holly asked simultaneously.

"Because the vines are reconnecting!" Ivan yelled, as he pointed at the squirming mass of tangled shrubbery.

The three started running briskly through the forest, going up rocks and down ravines, dodging between large brown trees, all the while looking for a sign of Bella. As they ran Ivan explained the forest to them.

"The forest is not something to take lightly. Step on a sapling, and you will turn to stone. Disturb the forest and it may turn you into a tree. There are many reasons why people never make it out of the forest. The most common reason why no one ever returns is the carnivori. They are the vines we saw back there, and they eat only human flesh. Luckily that wasn’t a full grown one."

“But if no one ever makes it out, how do you know so much about it?” Holly asked ducking below a low hanging branch.

“Well, last year when I apprenticed in Vale Abbey, I met an old hermit by the woods. He said he had gone in and talked with the Feyfolk, a race of creatures that live in the woods. He studied with them for a while and learned all their knowledge before returning to the Abbey.”

“And you believed this nonsense about Feyfolk?” Klaus asked skeptically as they splashed through a shallow stream.

“Well, they may have called him Geoffrey the Mad, but he’s been surprisingly accurate up till know.” Ivan said as they climbed over a large fallen tree across a ravine.

As they rounded a large boulder, they found one of the red ribbons on Bella's dress. By it they found strange tracks in the moss, like some kind of giant animal tracks. They continued for hours, running and following the tracks. They didn’t talk anymore as they realized that there was something big that was after Bella.

~~~~~~~~

Bella’s eyes opened to the sound of running water. She was lying on course gravel next to a stream. On the bank was a large dark figure, but the night was too black and trees too dense for her to see what it was. It turned and saw that she was awake, then spoke in a soft and motherly tone.

“Bella. Bella. You should not be awake yet little one. Go to sleep Bella, for we still have a long journey to make before we reach the other side of the woods. Go to sleep little one and dream of sweet smelling flowers and talking trees. Sleep. Sleep.”

Bella’s eyes dropped shut to the mesmerizing voice. The figure walked closer, revealing herself to be a giant gray wolf with deep golden eyes. She picked Bella up. And placed her on the warm, soft, back. The wolf started off at a face pace run, jumping over boulders and logs like a jackrabbit. Soon, there was no trace that the two had ever been there. No trace except for the red ribbon lying next to the stream.

~~~~~~~~

The exhausted trio stumbled into the clearing, completely focused on the large tracks leading them on. The air was nippy with cold, and the advent of dawn colored the whole world with a strange and ethereal blue light. As they kept walking, Klaus thought he heard giggles echoed around them. He was so fatigued that it didn’t quite register in his mind. He was using all his energy to keep his eyes open, and then he heard the song.

It was like an angel’s voice, high, sweet, and distant, almost faded away. It poured into his soul like warm milk, lulling him to sleep. He knew his knees fell to the ground, but he was so captivated by the song, he didn’t feel it. In the corner of his eye, he saw Ivan collapse on his face, and Holly lie down slowly against a tree.

“Lets take a quick rest. We can continue in a little bit.” Her voice sounded far away and different than usual.

Klaus’s eyes closed, the last thing he saw was a figure dressed in long flowing green robes walking out of the woods before them.

~~~~~~~~

The sound of chirping birds called Ivan from his dreams. He smelled smoke and something like roasted beets. He opened an eye and was greeted by the sun shining over the tops of the distant trees. Klaus was still asleep across from him, and Holly was poking something in the fire.

“Hmm. Something smells good.” He mumbled sleepily.

“Morning!” Holly said with a smile. “ How do you like your dandelion root?”

Ivan made a face, then sat up and took in his surroundings. They were literally out of the woods, in the clear barren field of red dirt. Here and there were patches of green grass and white snow. Behind them lay the Black Forest, which did not look nearly as black or scary as it had the night before, and before them stretched open country as far as the eye could see.

“Where are we?” Ivan asked getting up.

“I’ll explain once Klaus is up too. We were put under an enchanted sleep so there’s no point in trying to wake him up till he’s ready to wake up.” Holly said matter-of-factly, “You can go wash up in the stream over there by the blackberry thicket before breakfast.”

As Ivan left, Klaus began to stir. He was still asleep, but he was asking questions. He kept saying “Who are you” and “Who do you want me to follow” as he twisted around on the ground, yelling louder and louder. Holly ran to his side, grabbing a nearby flower as she went. Placing his head on her lap, she poured the dew inside the flower into his ear, speaking softly to him as he instantly calmed down. When he was soundly asleep again, she laid his head back down and went to stir the fire. She could only imagine who was trying to talk to him in his dreams.

~~~~~~~~

Across the plains, over the icy sea and beyond the land of snow, in a colossal silver tower, two crystal blue eyes, as cold as the northern winter snapped open. Someone had interfered with the dream. The cold calculating eyes searched the clouds for any new news on the three’s progress, but there was none. No matter. The boy would have to sleep again sometime.

~~~~~~~~

Bella woke up about the same time as Ivan did. She was in a large, warm room, with light brown walls with studs of red and green jewels every now and again. She was woken by the smell of sweets and sugar, as the heavenly aroma called her from her dreams. The doors to her room swung open and in came two men dressed very formally.

“If Your Highness is ready, the Queen is ready to receive you.”

“Where am I? And were is my puppy?”

“Oh, you are in the Castle Bvarium, Home of Queen Alexandra the Magnificent. Your hound has been taken care of, and you may see him once your audience with the Queen is over.”

“Okay.” Said the young girl, but before she could utter another word, six ladies came rushing in all talking at once.

In less then two minutes they had washed, dressed, perfumes, make uped, and primed the young girl. Bella almost laughed when she saw herself in the mirror. She looked like a clown, with her fancy, poofy dress and hair all made up with at least 50 bows, and face painted red and white with make up.

“Come now.” Said one of the two men. “We cannot keep the Queen waiting. And it’s almost breakfast time.”

~~~~~~~~

Klaus woke up, feeling more tired than he felt before going to sleep. Ivan and Holly were sitting by a fire, eating some kind of root, and the sun was just over the tops of the trees.

“Where are we?” Klaus asked sitting up.

“Good morning sleepy head.” Holly said, handing him a piece of blackened root, “Breakfast?”

“Um, I’m not really that hungry, thanks anyway.” Klaus declined politely.

“I’m actually curios as well as to how we came here Holly since you seem to know so much.” Ivan said, gulping down a piece of root less burnt than the rest.

“We stumbled upon your Feyfolk Ivan. They handed me this, after you two had already fallen asleep.” She said pulling out a birchbark scroll.

Klaus took it and read,

“To Our Weary Travelers,

We apologize for our behavior, in placing you in an enchanted sleep, but you nearly entered upon one of our main encampments. We deduced that you were in pursuit of the small child carried by here and so we hoped to make amends by spiriting you to the other side of the forest, on the side closest to where she is being kept, in the castle of the Bavarian witch. We are sorry but we cannot presently leave our woodland realm to aid you further, but may the forest ever smile on your fates, and may fate bring our paths together under more amiable circumstances.

Godspeed,
Woodland Elves”

Klaus handed the parchment to Ivan when he was done. Ivan reread the letter and studied the tiny map accompanying it. Klaus walked over to where Holly was sitting, staring into the fire.

“So what do you make of it?” Klaus asked, biting of a piece of burnt root and regretting it instantly.

“Well, if Bella is being kept in the Bavarian Witch’s castle we need to hurry. Probably break camp as soon as possible. And…Klaus, can I ask you something.” Holly said, turning to look at him. “What were you dreaming about?”

Klaus thought for a second then said, “Well, it’s this dream I’ve had before, where there’s a bright light and a voice calling me. Except this time, I felt like something inside of me wanted to know more. Wanted to know details about who I am suppose to follow.”

The two sat by the fire, an awkward silence settling in, then Holly said, “I think you should listen to the voice, but not ask anymore questions. If its fate, like the woodland elves said, than we don’t need to question it and just do what it says.”

Before they could talk any more Ivan came running over, a look of childish pleasure on his face. “I figured out the map! According to this we are about two hours march from the Castle. We can figure out a plan on the way. For now, I think its better if we get going sooner than latter.”

“Alright, it sounds like a plan.” Klaus said getting up and putting out the fire.

Soon the trio were back on the move, this time over the rolling hills, casting one farewell look to the forest before they turned their backs on the woodlands and started jogging. Unbeknownst to them, hundreds of emerald green eyes were watching them anxiously as they left. Once they were sure, they faded into the darkness of the forest, and soon everything was quiet again.


So thats the first two old chapters. If you guys like I can post 3 and 4 too. The main diffrence in the old ones and my new ones is the style. In this one, the style is done in the classical method, kind of like the Redwall Series/Narnia Series. In the new chapters I haev been writing in the naturalistic style, developed in the 1870s that is more like Lord of the Rings, much more detailed. So, I am personally not sure which style to use, and thats why I would really appreciate your opinions. Which one works better for you and why.

Chapter 3, um I mean 4 :)

Hey thanks for putting up with the long wait. Here it is. So I did the math and chapter three is so long that I think I might just end up spliting it into 2 chapters. But that means finding a good place to split. For now, we'll call this chapter 4, even though technically its chapter 3 part 2.

><><><><><><><><><

Klaus walked out of the quest quarters but then when he came to the turn, he couldn’t remember if it had been the third left after the second right or the second left after the third right. Or something in between. He decided after a while to follow his instincts. He walked down the steps he came to and noticed the sun coloring the sky orange outside. Soon he’d have to meet back up with Ivan.

He kept walking down the stairs and came to another split. He took one way but it only led to a small side room, probably for storing food. He retraced his steps and found the next room’s door locked. But, the key hung on a nail next to it. Taking it down he entered. The room was dark, but there was a large bowl full of oil in the middle. He grabbed a candle outside and threw it in the bowl. The light cascaded across the room that was packed with gold. Klaus stared around at the riches that surrounded him. His mouth hung open as he tried to comprehend the vast mountains of gold, ivory, and precious stones.

Outside the Captain saw the colomn of black smoke coming up out of the roof of the treasury. He called two gaurds and gave them whisepered instructions. Then he walked to the door that led to the treasury. If this was a thief he would regret the day he had been born.

Klaus walked around the massive piles looking at variety of riches. On one hill he saw a man made out of gold. On another he saw an elephant of silver with real ivory tusks and diomand eyes. Everywhere were ornamental swords and shields and crowns and it was all too much to take in.

The next moment the door burst open and Klaus jumped like a child caught with his hand in the cookie jar. The sneering Captain stood in the doorway.

“So, what have we here? A thief? I hate thieves.”

“No it’s not what it looks like!”

“Who are you boy! You’re obviously not one of the Goodwife’s birds. Now would be a very good time for you to start telling the truth. But maybe a stay in the dungeon will help you remember.”

“Wait listen. I’m not a thief! I got lost and I-”

“Silence! You will receive ten lashes for interrupting me!”

Klaus was about to turn and run when he saw the two gaurds enter behind him with spears ready. He let out a defeated sigh as they took him away. The captain gave a menacing smile as he waved his spear under Klaus’ nose.

“Where to Cap’n?” Asked Burt

“The dungeon.”

“The royal one or the-”

“No! We are not having a repeat of what happened with the girl and he won’t be getting any special treatment! Now take him out of my sight!”

“Wait! What girl?! Is her name Bella?!? Please! Sir if you know where she is tell me!”

><><><><><><><><><

Holly had gone to see Aconite but as she was waiting for the Healer to come back she had suddenly felt an urge to leave. She didn’t know why but she knew she had to go. Her leg was feeling better but it still bothered her.

She walked through the castle not sure which way to go. She had gotten lost again and faced the fifth dead end in a row. With a painful sigh she slid down the wall and sat on the ground, leaning back as she tried to remember how to get out. As she looked down she noticed a gap running under the wall. Lying down with her nose to the crack she could smell fresh air underneath. All she needed was something to lever the wall with.

She grabbed a wall sconce but instead of coming off it tilted to the side and the entire wall moved up into the ceiling. The cool dank air flooded over her as she stepped in. She grabbed the other wall sconce that was still lit and began walking down the staircase she found.

><><><><><><><><><

Ivan was still in the library as the sunset over the land of Alexandria and the Castle Alexander. He turned the page of a large leather bound volume half as big as him. It was a manuscript of the History of Alexandria. He couldn’t put it down, the tales of kings and queens, heroes and monsters, and above all magic drew him in.

He got up and took his candle down from the fireplace to go find a codex the large manuscript talked about. It would answer a lot of questions he had about the magic in Alexandria. He wondered up and down the aisle following the catalogue but couldn’t find the book. He kept looking but it wasn’t where it was suppose to be.

After a long time of frustrated search he went back to his chair by the cozy fireplace. Then as he sat down he remembered how many times in stories he had read, an item people looked for was hidden in plain sight. He began to furiously search the chair. He tore off the pillows, dug deep into the chair, felt along the lining, and tipped it over to check the bottom.

“Ahhh! This is getting no where!”

He yelled as he threw a pillow across the room. It struck the big globe and caused it to turn ever so slightly. His eyes went wide as realization dawned on him. Yelling with excitement he grabbed the fireplace poker and raised it above his head crying victoriously.

“Of course! Its in the globe! I should have thought of it before!”

But just as he was poised to shatter the antique artifact with the brass poker he heard a grinding and scarping sound behind him. Turning he gasped as he saw the whole fireplace had moved to the side revealing a secret passageway. Walking over to the fire place poker stand he saw the small button the poker had been depressing.

He pushed the button and the whole fireplace swung back into place. He released it and the passge was opened again. He repeated this several times, scratching his chin as he thought. Satisfied that the door would not close on him he grabbed a candle and walked in.

What he hadn’t noticed was the fireplace was now over a small string that it burned through quickly. The string snapped and a large sword fell from the rafters. It embedded itself into the secret button with a clang of metal on stone. All Ivan heard was the slam of the fireplace behind him as the darkness fell on him.

“Well, I guess I have to go forward now.” He said with a gulp.

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Klaus walked with the guards across the green to a large wooden door with metal studs covering it. The door led to a long torch lined passage way and at the end to an antechamber with four other doors leading from it.

“Hey! Who went into the broken cell!?!” The Captain roared.

“Oh, er sorry Cap’n. I found it like that.” Said the poor guard.

“Well someone couldn’t have just walked out of the empty cell now could they!”

“Sorry Cap’n.”

“Why are you down here anyway?!” The captain fumed.

“Oh, er yes, um, Burt thought it would be a good idea if I, er watched the, um, animal. In case, it, you know, tries to…”

“Escape?” The Captain rumbled.

“Y-yes…” Said the poor guard.

“Here’s a real prisoner for you to guard!” He said handing Klaus to the guard.

Klaus was placed in the cell with Silver and watched through the bars as the Captain and his men marched away. He truned and saw his cell mate was a small golden retriever who looked intently at him. It just sat there staring at him in an unnerving manner. He called the guard and soon he heard the whole story about Bella from him.

“So, what’s going on with the dog?” Klaus asked nervously.

“Oh, the animal is here as a way to control the little girl. Once we’re done with them both they’ll be let go. The Captain may seem mean but he’s really a big softy at heart. Wouldn’t hurt a fly that one.”

As the guard continued his monochromatic mumbling Klaus felt the dogs eyes burning into the back of his head. He turned nervously and walked over to the animal. He placed his hand on Silver’s head and immediately he was overcome with a feeling. Like when he was in front of the forest. The room grew dark and in the back of his mind he knew he had collapsed into the dusty straw.

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Holly kept walking. As she followed the stairs she came to a fork. She marked the way she had come with an x and continued on. Coming to another fork she repeated the marking system. By this time the fencing outfit had become bothersome. She decided to keep the leather gloves, boots, and pants, but dropped the padded breastplate and made her way through the darkness.

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Ivan came to a fork in the tunnel. He drew a coin from his pocket and flipped it to decide on a path. Then he was off. His face was itching beneath the mask but he decided to keep it on. His candle was beginning to get lower and lower and he picked up the pace. The tunnel finally brought him to a large storage room of some kind.

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Holly stepped into a large storage room of some kind. She immediately noticed the white figure walking in from the opposite side with the low burning candle. She pulled own her fencing mask which she had luckily forgotten on top of her head.

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Ivan saw the masked figure on the other side of the room. From the leather outfit he thought it must be a soldier of some kind, but the mask was what worried him. He didn’t notice the sweater the figure was wearing because of the darkness, but he did see the sword in its hand. Trying hard to stop his hands from shaking he tried his hardest to sound like Aconite.

“Elo. I am birdie man of Mother Aconite.”

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The thing seemed friendly, Holly thought, but all the same she was still on her guard. She decided not to talk at all, so as not to let it know she was just a young girl.

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The masked warrior didn’t give a reply. Ivan felt sweet begin to run down his neck. He moved to the side and the warrior did too. They were circling one another slowly, as if they were in a duel. Except Ivan had no sword.

“Em. Wheel. I seek information.” Ivan said

The figure nodded and continued circling.

“Look. For. Girl and Dog.” Ivan said with many hand motions.

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Holly knew something was wrong. The man in white was asking about Bella and the dog. That must mean that he didn’t know where they were. Or maybe he was looking for a reaction from her. Either way, she decided to remain quiet as they stopped circling one another and stood still watching. The silence was deafening.

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By now, both had circled completely around to the other side of the room. As the candle and torch light vaguely illuminated the silent scene, the tension built in the very air around them. Then Ivan reached down and grabbed a heavy cloth at his feet and threw it at Holly. Her torch was extinguished and he quickly ran down the passage behind him. Holly, thinking he would be upon her any second dodged and weaved out of the room into the darkness behind her and quickly sprinted down the passage Ivan had come from.

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The Captain came to the room where Bella was being kept. He sighed as he pushed the solid gold door with diamonds studs open to reveal the richly decked marble room. It had crimson gossamer drapings everywhere, with a silver fountain of a cherub pouring water into a large pool with colorful fish swimming inside of it on one side and a large solid ivory bed decked with lion pelts and with a curtain made of butterfly wings sewn together in the other corner. In the middle was a small table set for three people with small porcelain cups and plates on it, and seated around it were the two gaurds and Bella. He cleared his throat and immediately the two sprang to attention awkwardly. The little girl just scowled at him for interrupting them.

“Well, if you’re all done with your tea party it's time for you to go before the Queen!”

“Wait, first I need to get my new crown I found.”

“No, no! Wait that’s not yours! Here give it.” He said reaching for the crown.

As he did, he slipped on a pillow, tripped on a small chair and went flying into the fountain. Bella picked up his keys and ran out the door locking it, as the two dim witted guards were trying to help the Captain out of the fountain.

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Klaus was in the white room again. He sighed as he realized he was probably asleep. Another gold star appeared in front of him as he sat down on a glass chair that appeared out of nowhere.

“You, who are called Klaus, listen.”

“Yeah, yeah. I know don’t listen to the voice.”

“Just listen to me! I don’t have much time.”

“No, I’m tired of these stupid dreams. What do you people want from me!”

“Wait. This is not the first time you have seen this place? Others have spoken to you? Speak boy, I have no time for your childishness!”

“Y-yes. There were other stars. And, and a voice.”

“What did they tell you?”

“The stars told me not to listen to’her’ and the voice just asked where I was.”

The star sighed a sigh of relief then spoke with urgency, “Good, listen, when you awake you will be free. Follow the dog. Its name is Silver and it will guide you well. It knows not only this castle but also where your friends are.”

“Alright.” Klaus answered as he felt a soft breeze begin to blow against his face.

His eyes opened and he was in the cell again. Silver was standing by him, still watching. He looked and saw the door hanging by a single hinge and the gaurds all knocked unconscience. Then he followed the dog out the door and back the way he had come to the green as the pale moon began to rise.

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Holly continued following the passage. After many twists and turns she found herself at a fork. One way had the footprints in the dust of the creature in white. She decided to go the otherway. This led her to another long passage filled with spider webs. At the end she came to a circling flight of stairs that led upward to a small room, an antechamber to a large richly decorated parlor.

“Yous der! Tek off da mask!” It was the nurse from before.

Holly complied. There was no point in trying to hide her identity anymore. She stepped forward trying to look lost.

“Sorry, I got lost trying to find my room. Could you please direct me to the guest quarters?”

“Geest korters only for geests! I know yur seeker-et. Yous no substitoot. You is imposter!”

Holly decided that the time for being subtle had passed and that she had been in the room long enough. Throwing her mask toward the nurse, she started running.

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Bella ran across the green as fast as she could. From behind her she heard the sound of expensive crashing followed by the captain’s steaming roars as they were gaining on her. She came to the first door to the main building. She tugged and pushed but it didn’t budge at all. She ran to the next one but had similar bad luck. The building had all been locked down for the grand ball that night. She continued down the side of the building trying more doors as the Captain drew closer.

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Ivan had come to the end of the passage after taking the other fork. There in a small room illuminated by a single shaft of white light was a stone pedestal. Upon the stone pedestal lay an open, worn leather tome.

Ascending the three small stone steps Ivan stood breathlessly and traced the intricate design across the vellum pages. As he began reading the old Latin script his curiosity was kindled. He read faster and faster as his brow furrowed and pages turned with increasing speed. As he finished a sentence, he picked the book up wide eyed. Just then, a button depressed by the book clicked up and the spot he was standing swung down, dropping him still clutching the book down a long shaft.

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The glittering candle light and classical music filled the air as servants attired in their best scurried about with silver dishes and goblets and wealthy and noble guest mingled about in the large pillared main hall of the castle. Princess Alexi was radiant in her lilac silk gown and diamond tiara as she moved through the throng greeting familiar faces and new acquaintances.

The evening was going just as she had planned. There were few things that the Princess enjoyed more than a ball. Usually she didn’t worry too much about the details, but she did take a certain pleasure in paying attention to certain small details, such as flower placement, food temperature, and of course, color coordination.

Not that Alexi ever worried too much. After all, she was the princess and nothing bad every really happened. As she moved fluidly through the main room, past the musicians and the conductor, she came to the throne at the very end of the hall. There, next to the dais, was the door leading to her private parlor and beyond that the Queen’s personal quarters.

“Yer Majesty.”

“Goodwife Aconite. I’m glad you could be here for the ball.”

“An’ how goes it with the Queen?”

“The Queen is peaceful today. She has not been this happy in a while.”

“That’s comfertn’ news.”

And so the evening went on. Everything was going excellent until just after sunset. After the evening star had risen, before the moon was at its zenith, the first problem occurred. Alexi was sitting on the throne, enjoying the evening’s entertainment, when the door behind her opened and Holly ran in.

Holly was followed closely by Alexi’s nurse. Both froze when they realized they had run into a room full of people, who were all staring at them at that moment. Alexi gave a nervous laugh then motioned for the musicians to keep playing. Soon the ball was back in full swing, though the conversations were now mostly centered on the strange interruption.

“Your majesty-” Holly began, but she was cut short by the Princess’ raised hand for silence.

“It’s fine. I’m sure you have a perfectly good reason. But first let’s get you into some better cloths for a ball.”

“Bhut m’lady.” The nurse began, but she was silenced by the same hand.

“Laburnum, this is my new friend. Whatever it is she has done to upset you cannot be so great as to be worth this commotion.”

And so the three walked quietly out of the throne room and into the small parlor. Laburnum the nurse was steaming with irritation. Holly was glad she had a chance to explain herself to Alexi while the two went into the room to find a suitable dress. They talked and Holly spun a tale of how she had simply gotten lost in the castle. Laburnum was completely silent, but the scowl never left her face.

Then the three were back in the hallway, Holly wearing an emerald green dress, with her hair held back with a light green headband, set with a jadestone. She felt strange in the new outfit but Alexi had insisted and so they walked through the crowd, Alexi introducing her to many people, none of whom she could recall.

As they made their way past the left side entrance, the right entrance burst open, letting the cool night air in with it. The entire ballroom again became silent as the grave, and all eyes stared on the two figures now before them. One was dressed in long flowing white robes, while the other was a small golden retriever puppy. The one in the robes tripped as he stepped forward, and fell into the group of musicians. A cello bow knocked his mask and hat off as he tried rising.

“Klaus?” Holly said shocked.

“Holly?” Klaus asked with even more shock on his face. He had never seen her in a gown before.

“Well, it seems tonight is the night for ill-timed interruptions.” Alexi said slightly irritated.

“I’m sorry your majesty. This is one of the friends I told you about before. Princess Alexi, this is Klaus.” She said introducing them.

“And the dog is yours as well?” Alexi asked with a grimace.

“Well, no you see, this is the dog that led-”

But before the sentence could be finished, the dog jumped towards the left hand doors and began barking excitedly. A second later there was an urgent knock on the door. Alexi motioned for the gaurds to unlock the door. A small girl with curly blond hair tumbled in.

“Bella!” Holly and Klaus called at the same time.

Bella ran to the two, who embraced her warmly as the side doors burst open as the captain and ten guards entered. The captain was red faced and panting after the short sprint, and dripping water on the expensive rug. Taking a few seconds to catch his breath fully he called victoriously.

“Ha! I’ll show you little girl! You think you can make a fool of the Alexandrian Guard. Well, I’ll lock you up for ever and ever!”

“Captain!” Princess Alexi said with fire in her eyes, “What are you doing!?! You’d better have a good reason for this disruption!”

“Well, you see…um…the girl…and the dog….” He stuttered under her heated gaze.

“That mean captain’s been chasing me and trying to hurt silver, and not giving Burt his vacation time, and saying naughty things.” Bella chimed in.

“What! That lazy good for nothing got more vacation than he deserves! And he-” But he was interrupted by the firey glare of the Princess. “But, but, you see she was a prisoner. They were all prisoners!” he said pointing to Holly and Klaus.

“What?” Alexi said frustrated. “Holly is my new fencing tutor, and friend.”

“Dat is vat I try to say before.” Laburnum the nurse interjected, “Dis girl. She is not reel tooter. She is fake. She told yous lies abowt being teacher!”

“Is this true Holly?” Alexi asked with shock.

“Yes, but it was only because we were afraid.” Holly said not daring to meet Alexi’s gaze. “We snuck around because we had to save Bella and we couldn’t let the Queen capture us.”

With this last comment the whole room gasped. The awkward silence stage had long since past, and now the entire ball had gathered to watch the exciting events unfolding. Alexi seemed perplexed by the last statement. Rubbing her temples as if she was trying to comprehend she asked pointedly, “What made you fear the Queen so?”

“We saw what she had done to the land. How she enslaved the people to work in the flower fields while sending all the flowers and perfumes away to make money for herself.” Klaus said, stepping forward.

“What proof do you have of this?” Alexi asked trying hard to keep her turmoiled emotions hidden.

“Just look at this castle. The money had to come from somewhere. The money to pay the musicians, to pay for the food, and to pay for the servants.”

“Also,” Holly added, “The Queen was the one who sent the Captain to capture Bella. That’s why we feared her.”

“It's true.” The captain said holding out the order and pointing to the wax seal, “It does bare your seal, Queen Alexis.”

Holly and Klaus gasped with shock as they stepped back. Alexi’s eyes were closed as she spoke through gritted teeth.

“After my mother passed away, I chose to retained my title as Princess Alexi, but it is true, I am actually the Queen Alexis, the one you have slandered so.”

Just at that moment, a panel in the roof opened and from a secret shaft Ivan fell on top of the captain, still clutching the tome. As he dusted himself off and adjusted the spectacles, he gave a haggard cough as he tried to act nonchalant infront of the staring audience.

“Um, just thought I’d drop in?” He said nervously, but instead of laughter he was greeted by the sound of cricket song from outside.

“You must be one of the imposter’s friends.” Alexi said coldly as she walked away. “You have all betrayed my trust. Laburnum, Captain, see to them as you see fit.”

“Wait!” Ivan called as the soldiers began surrounding them. “Don’t do this! There’s something you don’t know.”

All eyes turned to him, and Alexi herself turned her head slowly to signify she was listening. Ivan gulped as the tale quickly slipped trhough his lips,

“While exploring the library I found an ancient book. It's about the Circle of Witches!”

The room was filled with a universal gasp and recoil at the mention. Ivan held up the book as he continued,

“The Circle of Witches, the evil group bent on taking over the world, has infiltrated the castle! One of the people in this room is not what they seem!”

Everyone in the room began talking all at once, with nervous glances flying left and right. Then Ivan opened the book and read a passage difficultly as he was translating from Latin.

“On Summer’s night, when moon light was bright,
The wicked one came nigh,
The regal mask, hid the evil task,
Do not believe Regina’s lie.”

Many confused eyes scanned the room looking for someone named Regina. However, Laburnum cried out in horror as realization struck her. Truning to Queen Alexi she clung to her, begging, “Please! No! Tell me dis is lie! Milady, yous kannot be vitch!”

All eyes turned to Queen Alexis. Her eyes went wide and she raised both hands but before she could make another move, Aconite had lept forward with her staff raised. A bright light filled the room as she utter magical incantations. Doves fluttered in through the doors and windows and began circling around the princess, creating a tornado of white feathers. As Aconite spoke, her voice seemed to echo and rebound and she struck the ground with her staff with each step she took.

Alexi had thrown her hands up to protect herself from the birds, and as she did, a large purplish bubble appeared around her, and with a resounding pop, it sent birds flying in various directions. Everyone looked on her with horror, but then Aconite held her staff with both hands and struck the ground a resounding blow, saying, “Luxia Regina Mortum!”

A white circle appeared on the ground around Alexi. “Well, there you have it.” Aconite said, now without her former accent. “Long have I sensed a growing evil in the Queen and suspected this much. Do not fear. She can do no harm while she is in the enchanted circle. Her words and actions cannot leave its bounds. This witch will never again trouble this fair land. ”

The worst ball in Alexandrian history was over and the people left chatting animatedly about the revelation of the Witch Queen. It was decided that the Witch Queen be kept under the silence charm to prevent her from using any magic spells. At one end of the main hall, several figures sat on the once lush red carpet, surrounded by dead candles as they talked in the cold gloom of night. At other end was Alexi in the circle sitting pensively, glaring towards them.

“I can’t believe the Queen is a witch.” The captain said, staring down at the ground. “All these years of following her orders without question only to find out she’s a witch!”

“Ve vere all fooled." Laburnum said, wiping her eyes with a large floral handkerchief.

“I don’t understand how none of us could have sensed any evil in her.” Holly said as she pulled off the long elbow length gloves.

“Witches are notoriously cunning Holly.” Ivan said, looking up from the book. “It’s not your fault you couldn’t recognize her as one.”

“So, since all this is over, I guess we can go home.” Klaus said, laying back on the carpet.

“Yeah. We can go home.” Holly said looking down.

“Well, it's to late for you to travel, especially through the Forbidden Woods.” The Captain said, “You can spend the night if you want. In the morning I myself and a company of guards will escort you home safely.”

“Thank you.” The three friends replied.

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As pale Luna paraded through the glistening heavens, watching down on the still castle, her light flooded down to a figure in a lilac evening gown, sitting in the now dark and abandoned throne room. The figure looked up at the moon, and held her hand up, letting the light cascade on her hand. Then she whispered into her hand. Satisfied with the message, she closed her eyes again, and opened her hand, as her echoing words traveled up the moonbeam.

End Chapter

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So I had figured out everything almost a month ago, how I was going to have everyone barely missing each other and then have the final climactic scene with Alexi/Alexis. I wrote everything in about three days, last week, but when it came to the ending climax where Alexi is accused, I just couldn;t figure out her character, how she would react to things. Then last night, it happened that a certain person, who shall remain anonymous, compared a certain Rider to a princess inspiration struck. So then I just had to add the last part in and here it is. Its probably very confusing, so ask away if some parts seem incoherint or unintelligible. Until next time.

Peace

Busy busy busy...

Okay before I give you the good news I need to apologise in advance for the following. I just need to vent a little.

Sorry I haven't updated lately but to say things have been hectic would be an understatement. Last week was my "vacation". Lets just say that if that's vacation I think I'm glad I'm at the point where I won't be getting summer vacation anymore. Aparently vacation means that,

"Jean has more time so he should be able to do more for us"
-parents, siblings, pastors, friends with issues that need counseling

But that was last week. Lest talk about this week. Yesterday was my first day of class. I missed my class because Jason broke his arm, the bus came ten minutes early, and my grandmother's new husband turned out to be possesed. So today, between watching my baby sister while my mom took Jason to get his cast, and moving my grandmother's junk from her house to our house to her storage place, I completely forgot I had to be in court today for a seat belt ticket. And it's only Tuesday. I still have the whole week ahead of me for things to get "better". So I'm sorry, but in the midst of all this I've had to put writing on hold.

There now I feel better. Well, I do have to say that it hasn't been all bad. Saterday night I was surprise dby all my friends with a graduation party. To any who read this now I would like to say thank you. I know I wasn't my normal fun self, but I really did appreaciate it and it was great. I felt loved.

Oh, and before go some blog news. I have just figured out that I can actually allow anonymous comments so if you have wanted to comment in teh oast but didn't have a blogspot now you can. I just ask that all anonymous ones please be signed. Thanks.

Wel, I'm off to do my Mythology homework and maybe finish chapter 3. I might post either or both. We'll see.

Cheers

Chapter 3, Part A

Eh, so I figured that its almost been a week since I said I would post. Sorry, things have been crazy. Planning 3 suprise birthday parties and two going away ones along with finals can drive a person kinda looney if you get my drift. Anyway, heres the first part of chapter 3. I'll do my best to get the next one up sooner. Now that schools done you would think I would have more time... :(

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Chapter 3

The darkness was everywhere. It was complete, utter, stifling darkness that pervaded everything. Holly walked along the tiled floor, feeling her way through, as long thin hair-like roots matted against her head and face. With one hand she felt ahead of her in the darkness and with the other she guided herself with the wall. She walked on until she felt a dusty rough wood door in front of her. Pushing on the door, she heard the ancient hinges creak as light flooded her eyes.

Holly was standing in a small stone room. High above her a single small window let in a thin shaft of white light that fell across the wooden door, the straw covered floor, and the rusted shackles. She was in a prison cell. Walking over to the door she pushed it open easily. In the antechamber she was in she saw five doors leading in different directions. She tried three of them and found them locked. The fourth had a passage similar to the one she came out of. The last one led to a long stone hallway lined on both sides with torches. She followed it to another large door, this one with metal studs across it.

She stepped out of the door into a side courtyard. Across the green she saw the huge castle’s main building. Surrounding the green was large walls with various buildings attached to them. She heard voices from behind her and quickly ran into the main building. Her leg wasn’t hurting as much anymore, but when she exerted herself she felt it throbbing again. She looked around and found herself in a large columned hallway. The columns were capped in gold and large paintings hung on the walls. The carpet was lush and red and trimmed with gold. At the far end of the hall was a dais with a gold floral throne. She heard a door open next to it and she quickly ducked into a door on her side.

She found herself in a long room with an equally long table set with fine silverware and linen napkins with many candlesticks spread around the clean white room. She walked to the other side and through a passage that led to the kitchen. There were many people bustling about and they didn’t seem to even notice her as hurried calls were made to prepare the Queen’s dinner.

She walked past the busy people and into the next room. There she found an equally long room, but this one was dirty, low lit, and full of servants eating and laughing. She snuck along the wall still not drawing any attention. She walked out quickly and found herself on the opposite side of the main building standing in a similar courtyard. A door to her right began to open and she lept into the nearby bushes, biting down hard to stop from crying out from the pain in her leg.

She crawled into an adjacent building. It was dark but she found her way to another doorway. By this time she was thoroughly lost. She saw she was in the servant’s quarters but had to retreat hastily when she heard people coming from all directions where ever she turned. Back in the dark room she found some flint and tinder quickly lit a wall sconce. She was in the armory and heard voices behind both doors. She was trapped.


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The faded red cart pulled up to the castle gates. The large looming red gates were set a foot deep in the wall which meant the wall was probably three times that thick. Goodwife Aconite sat on the bench surrounded by her doves. She smiled her toothless grin as she looked up at the soldiers on the wall with her clouded eyes.

“Good afternoon Mother.”

“’An to ye me sonny.”

“It’s a good thing you came. Her majesty has been asking for you the last few days. Her fencing tutor seems to have caught some kind of sickness an’ has been in bed the last few days. Oh, and the cook broke his arm again.”

Aconite’s smile broadened, “Oh aye. I did forsee he’d pay no heed to me warnin’s.”

“That and the cows aint been giving us much milk lately.”

“Well, it seems I’d best hurry in then.”

“Is all your magic dispelled yet? You know the doors won’t open unil you do.”

“Oh that’s right. One last thing.”

She tapped her long white cane against the cart floor and two of the doves flew over next to her and in a burst of white smoke transformed into people. Both were dressed in long white robes with red bell shaped hats. Each one wore a chalky white mask with large round eyes and an elongated bird beak.

“I’ll be needin’ Pom an’ Pokko to aid me wit yon cows.” She said as the gates opened and she rode in with her cart.

Aconite pulled her cart up in front of the large decorated doorway of the main building. She got off and directed the two figures to take the cart away as she hobbled up the stairs leaning heavily on her cane. She talked merrily with one of the guards and was soon joined by the hearty cook who gave her a kiss on each cheek and like everyone else called her mother. A scrub girl ran up to tell the cook about a mysterious person she had spotted passing through the kitchen. The three left for the kitchen as the two white figures pulled the cart into the stable against the far outer wall.

“That was close.” Said Klaus, taking off his mask and dropping it in the hay.

“Careful! Someone might see us!” Ivan yelled jumping on top of him and pushing him into the heap of hay.

“Get off of me.” Klaus said trying to stand up.

“Then put the mask back on.” Ivan insisted.

“Fine.” Klaus complied. “ But I don’t see why we have to wear them constantly.”

“Because,” Ivan said getting up. “ apparently everyone around here knows that Goodwife Aconite’s birds are ancient. If they see us without the mask and our cover is blown we’ll be thrown in the dungeon and will be no help to Bella.”

“Lets think of a plan then. This castle too big for us to search from top to bottom.”

“Hmm. What if we split up? We’d cover more ground that way.”

“I don’t know. If we get in a dangerous situation we’d be best off together than apart.” Klaus said pensively. “but I guess it does make sense. You take the left side, I’ll take the right.”

“Right. Lets meet back here by nightfall if we don’t find anything.”

The two left the stables and began walking along acting as if they had important business to attend to. Klaus entered a room that was nicely decorated but not too fancy. A few maids were making beds with sprigs of lavender tucked between the sheets. They noticed him and bowed. He asked for directions to the dungeon. After a long series of jumbled and difficult directions he walked on. Ivan also found himself in the guest quarters. He simply kept walking, having no idea where he was going.

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The Captain held his head as it felt like a hundred nails were running down chalkboards. Of course there were no nails or chalkboard, no there was something far worse. Bella had not closed her mouth since they had first picked her up. He had thought there would be no easier task then taking the young girl the Queen had ordered arrested to the dungeon. But they had to stop five times on their way for bathroom brakes and water stops. And then there was the talking, whining, screaming, and complaining. He was sure she hadn’t taken a pause to even breathe since they had left.

“My puppy better be okay. Did you ever have a puppy? I bet you didn’t ever have one or else you wouldn’t have hit Silver like that. Only mean people would hurt a poor defenseless puppy like silver. Only mean people even hit to begin with. My Granny says that hitting is bad and only bad people hit. That makes you a bad people. Granny also says-”

“Enough! I can’t take it anymore! If you say one more word about your mangy mutt I’ll cut you into a million pieces!”

“No you won’t! The Queen wanted me alive. Burt told me so.” She said motioning to one of the other gaurds. “And besides you’re not big or strong enough to cut anyone into a million pieces. That’s not muscle, that’s fat.”

As she giggled and a few of the gaurds suppressed smiles, they Captain grew more red by the minute. He stared straight ahead as they kept going acting as if he couldn’t hear her. That just made her talk even more and even some of his dimwitted soldiers were getting in on it. He gave a few dirty looks but one in particular didn’t get the message and in an instant the Captain smacked the back of Burt’s head hard, the metallic sound echoeing on the path.

“What did I say about hitting! When we get to the castle I’m telling the Queen about that. Then you’ll be sorry. She’ll make you eat broccoli or carrots or squishy icky green peas. And she’ll send you to bed with no dessert. And give you a bath with ice cold water. And she’ll make you clean up the stable poop. And she’ll-”

“If you don’t shut your mouth right now I’m gonna toss your runt into the pond when we get to the castle! So be quiet!” The captain yelled steaming.

However this threat of his had a new and entirely unforeseen consequence.

“Waaaaaa! Waaaaaa! You’re mean! Waaaaaa! Silver can’t swim. She’ll drown! Waaaaa! Waaaa! My poor puppy! Waaaaaa! Waaaaaaaa! Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!”

And so it went until they finally came to the castle. It was late afternoon when they arrived and not even the sight of the spectacular castle up close could stop Bella’s crying for her dog. They entered by the side gate and made their way around the circular green.

“What do you want us to do with her captain?” Asked the dimwitted Burt.

“Throw her into dungeon until the Queen has time for her.” The captain said smiling, relieved at the thought of getting rid of the nuisance.

“But Captain, it’s much too drafty in the dungeon. She could get a cold.” Burt said worriedly.

“Don’t talk back to me! I’m the Captain! Put her in the south cell, that one doesn’t get any drafts.”

“Um, well actually we’re busy renovating the south cell. It wasn’t completely up to code so…”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Said the captain, smacking his forehead for the umpteenth time that day.

“I guess that leaves the royal cell…” Burt said hopefully.

“What! The royal cell is only for imprisoning nobility in the finest comforts.”

“Or we could ask the queen to stay in the royal cell and put the girl in the Queen’s chambers.” Came the dimwitted reply.

Sometimes the Captain couldn’t believe how moronic his troops could be. “Don’t be an imbecile! Put her in the royal cell. But throw the mutt in one of the dungeon cells.”

The Captain and the rest of the guards took their horses to the stables. As they were putting them away, the captain noticed the chalky white residue on some of the straw that had been pushed down. He was about to inspect it when he was called by a page who summoned him for the Queen.

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Holly decided to try and act as if she had a reason to be in the armory. Taking a blunt training sword off the wall she unlatched the door and stepped out looking at it intently as if she knew what she was doing.

“Ah, excuse me miss.” Came the tall thin page’s calls.

“What? Can’t you see I’m very busy? I need to inspect all the swords today to make sure they haven’t caught rustiatis.” Holly said toughening her voice.

“Rustiwhat? Never mind. You must be the substitute sword instructor the Queen requested.” The page said hopefully.

“Why yes! Yes I am. That’s me Cidrek Von Skouwselhuimer. I have arrived!”

“This way please.”

She followed the attendant looking nervously for a way out. They went back out to the green on the opposite side from the stables and there was a party of attendants and maids. In the middle stood a young girl probably 16 or 17 with long black hair and deep brown eyes. She wore a fencing uniform like Holly, and by the look of determination in her eyes Holly knew she must be Holly’s “student”.

“So is this the one that has come to replace my instructor?” She asked.

“Yes, Princess Alexi. This is, er, um…your substitute tutor.” The page muddled.

“Well, let’s see how well you can do.” The princess said, lowering her mask, saluting with her sword, and calling, “En guard!”

The two went at it. They were both apprehensive at first neither sure about the other. They started of with a few basic thrust and parries as they circled one another. Then they went at it. Steel gleamed in the dusky air as the biting blades hummed through the air. They met with clashes that echoed around the castle. It seemed the two were equally matched. The second round started and as they went on, it seemed Holly was getting the upper hand. She was even beginning to enjoy it. However, each time she put her left leg down it send pain up her side causing her to loose focus. Still, soon the princess called for a repast.

As both took their masks off to drink some water, the princess was surprised by Holly’s age. She asked her about it as they rested before the next and final round.

“Oh, I was a child prodigy. I learned many things the many years I was on my own.”

“Well in that case if you don’t mind, I’d like you to stay on as my person tutor, and maybe even friend.”

“I would like that, but unfortunately I have to leave soon. I’m actually looking for my friends.”

“Well, stay with us then for at least a few more days. I heard the Healer arrived today. She can take a look at your leg. If this is how you fight with a twisted ankle I don’t want to know how well you truly are with the steel.”

“Um. Sorry to intrude your majesty but the Captain of the guard is here. He wishes to speak with you. Alone.” The page said nervously.

“Alright. Tell him to come here. In the meantime, one of the servants will show you to your quarters my new friend.”

Holly left and entered the main building again. A man covered in armor passed her on her way through the columned hall. She quickly slipped away from the servant girl and decided to go look for Bella. As her leg throbbed with pain again she sat down and caught her breath. After a few seconds she decided that maybe seeing the Healer might not be such a bad idea.

The Captain walked up to the princess who was pulling off the last of her cumbersome padding. A woman dressed in a plain brown dress two sizes too small had just finished speaking to her. He saluted but before he could say anything she interrupted him, “I actually don’t have time for your report right now captain. I was just informed that some of the plans for my grand ball need adjusting. Apparently the red flowers will not match the purple ribbons. You can talk to my nurse if there were any pressing concerns today.”

As she walked off followed by attendants, the captain turned to the large plump lady in the faded brown dress.

“As the Queen ordered, we found the girl she had foreseen and we captured her. She is in the royal cell right now.”

“Oh, is good. Yous half alvays bean goot capten.” The nurse said in her heavy accent. “Is okay. Queen vill see yous reel son. Den she give yous much revard for ketching girl.”

“Thank you. I’ll go and see to the night watches before dinner.”

“Many tanks. We sleep safe wit yous her.”

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Ivan was hopelessly lost. He had wondered up and down passages and everything looked the same. He rounded one corner only to face another. Then the next thing he knew he was standing in front of a large mahogany door with curly gold script running around it. He pushed it open and there he found himself in the largest library he had ever seen. Books lined the shelves going from bottom and disappearing in the darkness far above. The faded leather spines spoke of millions of subjects and topics. He was in heaven.

As he walked forward he remembered Bella and Klaus and Holly. He should be looking for them. But then again. He was hopelessly lost already. If he looked around he might find an atlas or map of the castle. Besides, he would only be in there for a few minutes. He stepped in and closed the door behind him.

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