The Prince and The Huntress

Chapter 5:~Enemies within walls~

Christian's friends/knights Aries, Garold, Thomas, Caelon, and Silveron rode through the woods. "Who's idea was it to go and search for Christian?," Thomas asked. "Aries!," Garold pointed out. And Aries rolled his eyes and shook his head. "At least we should try to find Christian!," he explained and the other knights sighed but agreed and they continued their riding through the woods.

Meanwhile, Gwydion now in his normal form as the young boy/man he is, got off his horse and fastened the reins before walking away only to transform into his form of an old man once again with long white hair and long white beard. He needed to find Christian before The King's men did. He walked over to his horse and let out a small chuckle. He then tried to get on his horse, but his weakness of being now an old man made it impossible to get on the horse. In that moment, Christian's friends/knights walked up behind him. "Move away from the horse!," Aries warned. Gwydion turned around and faced them. "Ah!," he said, "Gentlemen! What a pleasant surprise!," Aries looked at the man suspiciously. "We wish we could say the same thing about you after you attacked the guards yesterday," he explained, "Move away from the horse!... Please," Gwydion gave them a smile and straightened his head. "What lovely manners," he said, "I do admire a man who says 'Please'," "Now!," Aries exclaimed as he drew his sword and the other knights did the same. The knights surrounded Gwydion who walked over to Silveron and looked up at him confused. "Have you got bigger?," he asked, "I have watched you for many years," Silveron looked down at him. "Maybe it's you who's getting smaller," he declared. Gwydion looked up at him, smiling. "Nice!," he said, "I like it!," Gwydion quickly turned towards Aries. "Aries, really?," he said, "There must be something in the knights code in how to treat an old man!," Aries looked at Gwydion suspiciously. "You're not just any old man, are you?," Thomas took a step closer to Gwydion. "Maybe he escaped trial once, but he won't escape again," he said. "And you are not what you seen," Gwydion said, glancing at him. "Who is he talking about?," Thomas said, drawing his sword. "I have a good mind to run you through right now," he snapped. "I think if he's guilty to something, the King and The Prince would want him alive," Aries explained quickly. "Oh!," Gwydion exclaimed, "Oooh, no, really, Christian doesn't want to see me, believe me! And in fact, if Christian does see me, he will be in grave danger!," Caelon looked at him suspiciously. "Are you threatening the life of our Prince?," he exclaimed threateningly. And Silveron and Thomas pressed their swords at Gwydion. "Silveron!," Gwydion snapped, "Erase your sword, it does hurt!," And he turned around. "Yes, I am afraid to say," Gwydion began, "That if you don't let me go, then there's every chance that I will kill your Prince!," "Say that again!," Thomas threatened. Gwydion turned to him. "Hey, have you got ale in your ears!?," he exclaimed. Thomas yelled out in anger and swung his sword at the old man when Gwydion stopped him with his magic and sent Thomas to the ground. Silveron swung his sword that Gwydion broke with his magic and used his magic to press Silveron and Aries against each other before sending them to the ground towards Garold who fell backwards to the ground with them. Gwydion chuckled and walked over towards his horse and walked up on Silveron, Aries and Garold's backs to get on his horse. "Thank you, gentlemen!," he chuckled, "So considerate to help an old man!," And he got onto his horse and rode away.

Melinda walked down the corridors towards her father's throne hall. She looked through the doors secretly and saw her father actually crying. She knew it was because of the loss of Christian and her father would have never cried like this if it had been her who had ran away. She turned away and walked back towards her chambers.

She carefully closed the doors to her chambers behind her and she went further into the chambers over to her bed. She then noticed a letter on her nightstand and she looked around to see if anyone was there before opening the letter carefully. She read it silently for herself.

Dear Sister
Long I have known about the powerful magic you process, and I have now find out about your plan to take over your father's throne and get rid of your older brother. Seems like we have a same goal. I also seek revenge on your father and I want to make a deal.
Join me and my followers and we shall destroy your father in a way you would never have imagined. We shall together you and I, cast 'The Curse'
Meet me in the woods tomorrow and we shall begin to discuss plans. Remember, you're not alone, Sister
The Dark Witch

Melinda smiled wickedly for herself. "See you tonight, sister," she whispered quietly.

Melinda rode through the woods upon her white horse and she stopped in a clearing where she saw a woman with light blonde hair and blue eyes dressed in a dark and she wore a mantle in dark blue. "Hello?," she asked carefully. The woman turned around and breathed out in relief. "Sister!," she said and walked over and hugged Melinda. "I've been waiting a long time to meet you," she declared and stroked Melinda's long dark brown hair. Melinda unlike her brother, had her father's dark brown hair but her mother's blue eyes. According to her father, she was mostly like her and Christian's mother in more ways than one. "Cerridwen," The woman introduced herself. Melinda smiled wickedly. "So what's the plan?," she asked, "Where do we begin?," Cerridwen smiled wickedly and turned around. "Come with me," she instructed and she set off through the woods, Melinda fallowing her.

They came to an old temple place of stone where rituals seemed to have been done. "What is this place?," Melinda asked curiously though a little bit scared. Cerridwen turned towards her. "This is where we will cast the curse, Sister," she explained, "It's the birth place of all Dark Magic created by The Demon Queen Adrienne at the end of The Time of The Gods. It has belonged to The Dark Sorceresses since the beginning of The First Age as has The Dark Curse," Melinda looked around in amazement and Cerridwen turned towards her. "It is your birthright. Long have The Dark Sorceresses waited for the day a human being with demon blood should appear to us and now you're here," Melinda looked at her confused. "Us?," she asked. Cerridwen smiled wickedly and suddenly, Woman's in dark cloaks with unseen faces surrounded them from nowhere. Melinda looked up at Cerridwen. "We welcome you, Melinda Eaglewood," Cerridwen said and Melinda smiled wickedly towards her. "Let's begin our revenge," she said and Cerridwen smiled wickedly and turned towards the other Dark Sorceresses.