Kingdoms Unknown: Kingdom of Fire

Chapter 1: Beyond the Wall

I march out of the big, cobblestone castle on the top of the cliff of Edrin. Anger fled through me as I did so. I look up to the tree towards the end of the garden in the castle grounds, and see Ash and Melody. I hear over there, trying to calm down.
"Oh, look, she's back" Melody said.
"She looks mad." said Ash, "I hate it when she's like that."
"Don't worry, she's never mad around us."
"I don't know, she looks like she's going to pop."
"Well stop looking worried, here she comes."

I finally reached the tree looking over at them. Melody has blonde hair with blue eyes. She always wears her hunting outfit-a tucked white top under a brown jacket, and black skinny jeans with a brown belt covered in multiple pockets around her waist, and to top it off, her dark brown boots that comes above her ankles. Ash is a bit shorter than Melody. He has curly black hair and black eyes. He wears a casual brown top over blue pants with black leather shoes. "Hello Ash. Hello Melody. How is it going?"
"Better than your day, I bet." said Melody.
"I can't believe my parents, they tell me nothing!"
"Still trying to learn of the outside world." said Ash.
"Yes, I am not giving up."
"Maybe, it's time to."
"Don't be ridiculous, Ash!" my voice risen, then lowered. "Besides, I have a plan. Meet me tomorrow night, and I'll tell."
"Why tomorrow?" asked Melody.
"Well, you'll both need time to pack."
They gave each other looks of concern but then shook their heads in agreement. It was settled, we are meeting tomorrow night. We gave each other goodbyes, then Ash and Melody were off. Just in time, too because the second they left, I was called in by a servant. Here we go again, I thought.

I entered into the family lounge. Just my luck that both my parents were there. The king who has brown hair and blue eyes like mine, and he wears a royal red robe with white fur on the edges. The queen who has red hair, like mine except mine's frizzy, and blue eyes as well. She wears a light blue dress with yellow on the edges. They both wear gold crowns on their heads, but mom's is much smaller. "Hello, mother and father." I say.
"Merlinda. We know you are upset about our secrecy towards you, but please understand it's for your own good " said the queen.
"Yes, we would not have kept it secret if It was not bad." the king added.
"I Understand." I agreed.
"By the way, have you thought about the dress for your wedding to Prince Nathan?" the queen asked
I gasped at that phrase. I forgot that I was betrothed to Prince Nathan. He is the prince of our neighboring kingdom, Baltnia. The marriage, which is the day after tomorrow, will bring our kingdoms closer than they are. I don't want to marry him, though. We have nothing in common, and he always wants to control me. I am no man's puppet. "I have not thought about that yet, however I will soon." I replied.
"Good. You may go, now."
I bow my head, "Thank you, your majesties." Then, I left the room, and headed straight for mine.

"I can't believe this!" I shouted. Then, fell directly onto my bed. Why do I have to go through this, I thought. The only good thing from marriage to Nathan is that I'll be a queen, like my mother, but, I let that go. I'm just going to go to bed, and let all my troubles disappear.

However, it wasn't like that as I slept. I had the dream that came upon me for weeks: I'm in an abandoned village that was snowing. I hear a roar in the background. Next, a red dragon began chasing me while sending fire balls in my direction. We come to a cliff, by which I fall over. As I fall, the scenery changes to a misty blue world with a crystal castle. A voice speaks to me saying, "Your destiny has come, Merlinda." At that point I wake up to the morning sun in face. Why I keep having this dream, I have no idea. Any way, it's a new day, so I start packing what I need-spare clothes, food, and other things. It was 2:00 when I finally finished.

Since I had time to spare, I went to the open area outside the castle gate to practice my sword skills. I practice back swings and turns on a tree in the area. I'm practically an expert swordsman, but I can't let my family know, or they'll take it from me. It's pretty much all that keeps me sane besides my friends. My swords name is Grace because of how it moves, in the proper hands. It's made of steel with a golden handle, wrapped around the handle was golden wire. I have no idea of how I received it, though. It just popped up at the castle doors one day. All I know is that it's my favorite, and only, sword.

The time came, when Ash and Melody would meet me. They came to my window, and signaled to me by throwing rocks. Good thing the window was open. Just as I was about to leave, "Merlinda, might I have a word?" I'm glad I put my travel clothe under my emerald princess dress because it was my mother.
"Hello, your majesty." I replied.
"Sorry to bother you, but we are still waiting on that wedding dress."
"Hey!" Melody shouted in a loud whisper
"What was that?" the queen asks
"Nothing." I say quickly. "Stables." I whisper.
"Pardon?"
"I was just thinking the stables could use a touch up, agree?"
They got the message, and made their way over the stables.
"Perhaps, but the dress?"
"Don't worry, I have decided to got with the light blue dress."
"Great!" she said with joy. "I'll tell the dressers. Good night, dear, bye." She left out happily.

I'm just glad it's over. I take off the princess dress, and revealed my real outfit-a navy blue dress that comes over my shoulders with a black belt where I put my scabbard for Grace around my waist. Then, I blow the candle, and exit out the window. I rush to the stables and meet with Ash and Melody. "Sorry for the delay, guys"
"So, how do you plan on getting us pass the kingdom wall? It's heavily guarded by the guards." Ash said.
"Well it's not call guarded because servants watch it, bug a plan would nice." Melody added.
"I have a hidden exit just within the village." I answer.
"Cool!" they say in unison.
"Yeah, but let's hurry, the area is heavily graded at this time."

After that, we head out with our horses to my secret exit out of the wall. It isn't very big, but it's enough for us and our horses to go out and come back from. It's a straight forward tunnel that leads to the other side of the wall. I discovered it a while back, but I'm not getting into it. "Alright guys, do we have everything?" I ask.
They nod and we go in one by one with our horses behind.

I come out the tunnel first. It's sunrise when we each come out of the tunnel, and into the woods. I plug up the tunnel with some stones lying around. Then, when I turned around, everything was wonderful to me, "Wow, this is great!" I say in excitement. "Let's get going." As we head through the woods, we each have a look of wonder and excitement. A little further down we stop by a creek to see where we are going. Ash joined us, after he tied the horses down near the creek to drink. My horse is Snowbell, a white horse with blonde hair. Melody's is Shooter, a black horse with matching hair. Ash's is Mist, a brown horse with white patches and black hair.

"So, where's the exit to this maze?" asks Melody.
"About another two miles." Ash replied.
"Funny." she says sarcastically.
"Come on guys, focus." I said.
"Here's a map I found in my dad's archives." Ash said. "I have no idea where he got it from, but it will come in handy for us."
He opened it up, and it showed what has never before been seen on our normal maps. There was our kingdom in top right corner, and Nathan's just under. Then there were five other kingdoms I didn't know. The one we're heading to is called Flamis (fl-am-is). I wonder what will find when we get there. "That's enough looking. Put it back." Ash puts the map back in his bag. Just after, we hear rustles in the leaves.

"We've got company." whispered Melody. An ogre soon bursted from behind the trees, he was a pale green giant about 6 feet tall. Wearing an animal fur vest over his huge shoulders, but it can't close due to his belly being so big. His shorts were also animal fur that came up halfway to his thighs. Besides that, this guy looked hungry, and I think we're on his menu.