Chapter 1/Prologue

The night was still, the air was soft, the autumn moon shown down on the bounty of the world, and upon the deep green forest of evergreen kings. The wind caused the needles to whisper as they softly caressed one another. The forest was dark and still. No animal dared make a sound for they would not disturb the slumber of the trees. However, beneath the viridian vaults, at the base of the dark columns of spruce, hidden in the shadow of the forest, lay three sisters of evil. They waited for the eyes of the moon to wander beneath a cloud to move from tree to tree. They all breathed heavily. They were powerless, for they could not bring their charms or their staves for fear of being discovered by Luna.

They crept stealthily towards the center of the forest, for there they would find the treasure. Not just any treasure, but the greatest treasure of the forest, the treasure that gave the enchanted woods their magic and their power, and once claimed by the sisterhood, would give them unlimited power to exercise against all that is decent and good. They three alone of the Circle of Witches knew what appearance it took and how to steal it. They crept on.

They eventually came upon the clearing. All was calm and bright, the moon’s motherly glow enveloping the treasure, protecting it with her pure and cool light. The three watched and waited. They saw a cloud, sent by their other sisters approach. Luna would be alerted by the cloud so they would have to act fast. They waited and as the last light disappeared behind the cloud, in the darkness they did their terrible act. In an instant the moon’s rays returned upon an empty clearing. The wind picked up, the whisper of the needles turned to a moan of despair as the woods awoke to the horrible truth. The three had fled from the clearing to a concealed cave.

There was a flash of light as the three figures emerged from the cave. The leader was the only one’s whose face was visible. Her face gleamed with electricity and power. The woods had discovered them, the wind was fierce and angry, branches snapping and hurling through the columns landing all around. The entire scene was lit by the lightning in the sky, and the forest seemed like one giant monster facing off against the haggard hag. The animals and elves fled, the woods raged and the hag shrieked her cackle to the storm torn sky. Raising her hands above her head she called upon her new found power.

In that instant most of the forest was surrounded by a ball of red and blue glass, which spun around it slowly. Everything within it stood still, then the glass shattered, and it was as if the woods before had simply been a picture that was now gone. All the remained was scorched earth, black stumps, and the small patch of silver where the treasure had been. The three looked on the scene with a trio of cackles. They had done it. They were all powerful. But what they didn’t know was that they were also cursed.

When Manchineel, their young new sister had relayed to them the location and method for extracting the treasure she had failed to reveal one thing to them. The ones who stole the treasure ensured power for the entire sisterhood, however they would be forever fallen and dreamless, turned to stone. The leader who had reveled in her magic and squandered her share that would have protected her longer was first to see her fingers slowly begin to petrify. She shrieked flying back to the pedestal to undo the curse. However the treasure was gone! She fell by the pedestal as a statue of a mourning aged woman.

The second witch thought she could outwit the curse. First, she tried flying away from the now barren land, only to fall from the sky into the ocean. Standing up she thought to cross the sea by walking, and became a giantess, dressed in long flowing robes and with a crown upon her head. However, by using her magic so frivolously, she also turned to stone, a colossus guarding the path to the pedestal. She did get a chance to warn her sisters before she was petrified. She called to them in a dream, telling them that the entire order was cursed until the treasure was returned or the Circle all became statues.

The last one had hidden the treasure and carried it to the mountain where the elves were. There she revealed herself to have been an elf in disguise, sent to rescue the treasure. What became of the third sister no one knows. The elves could not set foot upon the land, impure as it was. So they took the treasure beyond the reach of Manchineel, the new leader of the order. They hid it in hopes that one day the chosen one would restore the treasure to the pedestal and in doing so restore the forest and hopefully stop the ice.

Ice began to spread from the pedestal and eventually the entire land was covered with the cold hard water. The peoples left for the surrounding lands, but some of the elves under their new queen Skuld the Fearless returned and became the Ice Elves. The Snow Trolls also migrated there, and made their home in the south and many a battle were waged between the two. Then Manchineel came to the continent, and the elves and the trolls became her vassals and she the mistress of ice and snow. The proud Witch then erected over the pedestal a great silver tower, to rule the ice lands. All feared the silver tower, and even more so the Silver Witch.

However Manchineel the Silver feared something even greater, her own fate. For as long as she and her sisters did not use too much of their magic they would not benefit from the sins of their sisters, and so they would not be under the curse, however, if ever they used too much magic the curse would begin to spread among them as well. So Manchineel the Silver Witch sent her sisters to search the lands and find the treasure before they were all destroyed.

So you want to know more about the story...

Well, tonight I finally got some feed back on the story. Apperantly people liked it (just for that you get to be in it and have good parts) but were confused by some of the details I ommitted. So here is the basic plot synopsis. And no. This is not part of the series I talked about before, this story is the one I left a small segment of below. Anyway here goes.

The Story
(So yeah, no title yet, but hey if you help me get it I'll acknowledge you in the front of the book)

The plot centers around three young(13-15) kids who come from a small village in the mountains bordered on one side by a place known as the Black Forest. None who wonder in ever return alive. They chase after a small girl form the village (who in turn chases a stray puppy she found) into the Black Forest. They fall asleep and when they wake up they are mysteriously at the other end. They find themselves in a world that is torn between the old icey ways, the modern firey innovations, and the mysterious viridian woods. At the lead of the old ways is the circle of witches. They each inflict some kind of malice on the world, and are all desperately trying to find something known as the "Treasure of the Forest". Contrary to them and their dictatorial rule, the modern movement is spearheaded by the Wreath confederacy. They are a group of human nations that serround the Bay of Bho and the innovative capital of the "world". Then there is the woods. The woods is called many things. The Black Forest, the Dark Woods, The Forbidden Forest, The Cursed Woods, The Emerald Band, and the Arborex. The Woods is basically a forest that serrounds the entire world. It use to cover it all but now it is only a ring around the main center. Everything except the begining of the story happens within the boundry made by these woods. Even when cut of by the ocean they keep going on the islands and the continents. This is very important. The Forest King once ruled the world but it was because of the "Treasure of the Forest" that the witches are now in control, however they have their limits and they need the treasure to go past those.

So basically, the three kids travel through the whole world looking for the treasure before teh witches find it. The problem is it hasn't been seen for 14 years. And no one seems to know what it looks like.

So thats the main plot idea. Other characters come in later and I will go over some of them soon. There is a very complicated story with the villains and I'll go over that too. And then of course there are many plot twists around each cornor.

So hopefully I have whetted your appatite. I'll also post a few more random sections I have written. Please keep in mind that these are still just freewrites/first drafts. The final product will definatly be shiny. :)

The Battle of the Great Ice Sheet

A few days ago I was inspired and wrote this. I figured since I mentoned my stories before I might as well include a few bits and piece here and there. So here you go. I would be greatly appreciated for any feedback.

The day had come. The Crimson Forces had set up camp on the shores of the Great ice Sheet. They had prepared for battle when a cried was heard from the tower. A figure had been spotted on the glacier top. It appeared to be a woman clad in black. The soldiers were confused, and the captains disregarded it, but Freya was stricken with fear as she ran to the captain’s pavilion.

“It’s the one called Skulde, Queen of the Ice Elves. We must prepare all troops immediately or we will all die!”

All soldiers were prepared, the Fyre Ghouls had their potions stocked and armed all their amulets. The healers prepared the crystal pendant and cast the protective shield on the entire camp. Then the captains gathered all the regiments and the cannon tanks and stepped outside the barrier and lined up in the cold snow, still not sure what to expect. They looked skeptically at Freya, and then up at the figure which now moved.

She was dressed in black velvet robes, with a black gossamer cape over her dress and long elbow length gloves. Her face remained expressionless as she gazed at the landing army. Her fierce blue eyes cut through the air and her long silky black hair waved behind her in the wind as she raised her hand in front of her.

The air grew tense, and the wind stopped as her long thin finger pointed forward. From the ice underneath her, a crack appeared. It traced out the figure of a soldier, and the broke as a soldier stepped out from behind it. He was dressed in full armor and his ears gave him away as an Ice Elf. Suddenly, cracks appeared all across the base of the iceberg. Soldiers stepped out all around the base to form a straight line. The line stepped forward to reveal another row behind them, and so on and so forth until an army had stepped forward.

While this was happening, the wind seemed to kick up the snow in spirals in front of the ice soldiers. With the flick of her wrist Skuld caused these to transform into Snow wolves, at least a dozen that quickly shortened the distance between them and the Crimson forces. As the wolves were upon them swords were taken out and magic spells cast. Soon the early morning sky was lit up with magical blazes shooting forth and light gleaming off weapons as the battle raged. The creatures were very fast and much larger than normal ice wolves. The forces had a hard time keeping them off, but eventually the last one was stuck down and the wounds quickly healed by the healers from behind the barrier.

The wind blew the gossamer cloak out behind Skuld at least five times her body length as it picked up. She turned her raised hand palm up hand open, and then clenched her dark hand in a fist. A sound like glass or ice shattering echoed in the recesses of the glacier and rebounded across the planes. In an instant the wolves that were dead a moment ago were all alive again.

The forces had to retreat behind the barrier because they weren’t prepared for this at all. The wolves scratched and bit at the barrier and some even tried jumping on it. Soon they were just circling waiting for anyone who would dare to make a move. The mechanist had a plan. They used the rod of Aconite to great a portal behind the wolves and end it at the other side of the glacier. Then all the troops surged forward causing the wolves to back up into the portal.

Instantaneously they were gone. From far away, they suddenly heard the beating of a drum and saw the ice elves begin to march forth slowly but deliberately. The witch must have thought that it wasn’t enough because she had hired some mercenary thieves to fight with her. They were standing on top of the iceberg with her watching for now.

“Osmund, you know the deal. Do what you must.” She said coolly.

“Er. I dunno. Wit no wolves its not gonna work.” He replied cautiously.

“The wolves shall return shortly. But if you feel you need more help that can be arranged.” She said glaring then raised both hands.
Cracks appeared similar to the soldier’s ones but this time they grew up all the way to the top of the ice berg. She gave a grunt as she lowered her hands suddenly, and the ice broke off revealing twelve gigantic ice giants. They towered over the battle field and had large thick heavy ice clubs and spears.

The captains gasped as they saw the creatures emerge from the mountain. The hordes had started jogging instead of marching and the giants were coming six on a side. The wolves were also back again running ahead of the troops. They were at the middle of the battle field before the captains gave the order. The tanks sent forward a blast of fire balls, which knocked down half a row of soldiers, but missed the wolves altogether.

The giants weren’t even scratched by the next volley which hit them directly. The wolves were almost at the three quarters mark and still nothing was working. The allies knew what they had to do, and knew it would also drain their energy and lower the barrier. All the Ghouls gathered around the crystal and began chanting together as their hands and pendants glowed. Meanwhile all the tanks were loaded to full capacity, which was so powerful that it would almost certainly destroy the firing mechanism afterward. The barrier slowly retracted back into the crystal which was glowing red now too.

The forces had reached the three quarter mark and the wolves were nearly on them when the signal came. The soldiers ran forward killing the wolves, before they reached the casters. The tanks sent their volleys at the same time as the crystal reached max power. The pillar of red fire blasted forth accompanied by the 30 shots fired by the cannons. It hit the entire ice army, engulfing it in a massive fire ball.

Everywhere ash fell in small flakes on the battle field. The giants were completely gone, the army obliterated and the wolves had been whipped out by the flames. A tattered flag blew over the desolate scene, was whipped up by the wind and carried up to the top of the berg. There it landed at the feat of Osmund.

“So this was your plan?” He asked with a snear.

“Watch.” Was all she said and then turned her attention to the fallen army. Raising both hands above her head, she closed her eyes and began to move her hands as if they had minds of their own, as if they were ravens circling one another as they descended. The air grew colder, the wind picked up spead. The air was sharp like glass, the silence like fresh ice. Then the sound. The same as before. The shattering sound. And all the troops stood back up. Every last one.

The crimson captains stared in disbelief. They were in trouble.


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So a few quick notes:

The crimson army is good, they are actually distarcting this witch while a small force is sneaking into the Tower of the Silver Witch to drain all the witches of their power for good.

The Fyre Ghouls are like small people the size of 10 year olds but with very freckled skin, crimson red hair, pinkish to hazel eyes, and they have slightly pointed ears (think elves from LoTR movies) oh and they can use a little fire based magic.

In my little world, elves are taller than humans, skinnier, and have very long very pointed ears. There are two kinds, good forest elves and bad ice elves. They split a long time ago for many diffrent reasons.

Oh and Vreya/Freya is a prophetess (more about her later). Basically when she says something, the Boat Peoples (her people) listen, while others are usually more skeptical. She is somehow mysteriously connected with the Witches... oooh mystery! love mystery! Anyway I might put up some more later. Until then.

Cheers from the South African.

BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD!!!!!

If you haven't heard yet, today I went for my second interview at Starbucks and I got the job!!!!

...well, basically. The manager said that he would have his assitent call to schedual the time for the training day, and that all I have to do is impress her on the phone! I got a really good fealing teh whole time we talked. It went great and he even showed me a bit of the machine and how Starbucks has upgraded the machine to make it better quality. Anyway... but I basically have the job.

For the longest time now I haev been in a place where I have had to remind myself of Job's statement, "Naked I came into the world and naked I will depart. The LORD gives and the LORD takes away. Blessed be the name of the LORD" and had to keep thanking God during the hard times. But now finally I can declare that the LORD does not only take away be He also adds. There is a time not only for tearing down but also for building up. Nefore I said this statement in submission to God's plan, and in the hope of His eventual blessing. Now I can say this as a testimony of what God did. My miracle during this season of miracles we are believing for as a church has come to pass. During the midst of a recession, while Starbuckses were closing down and laying off, I got a job at Starbucks. God is so good.

I write this, partially as a testimony to the glory of God, and partially as a reminder to myself. I know that seasons change and later on there will probably be another time of lack or need. These times help remove pride and force me to trust on God whole heartedly. But during those times, I will not allow teh enamy to bring in hopelessness and disspare. I will remeber the good works of the LORD and the wonders of His loving kindness. I will meditate on His goodness and His miraculous provision. I write this now, for my future self, as a reminder that God is good. He has provided in teh past, He will provide in the future. He is the same yesterday and forever and He alone causes the seasons to change. Whatever you may be going through remeber the wisdom God revealed to Solomn. "For everything there is a time and a season for those that live under the Son." and aslo the words of Paul, "Do not grow weary in well doing for in due season you shall reap if you faint not."

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