Emerald

**Do not own photo above but inspiration for dress in chapter!**

Emerald

Tonight, will be the night! I've thought about it for months but tonight I'm finally going to do it. I'm going to cross the tree line into the mountains and see 'the Other World.' I know I need to pack for a few days and extra of my scent hiding pills in case of emergency. I've read of the creatures out there, but I've never seen one Werewolfs, Vampires, Dragons, even Demons nor do I want to. I do however would like to see the way the humans live.

My twenty-first birthday is coming and soon I will be expected to marry my father's pick of my suitors a man I barely know. Then we will take the crown and be the next rulers of the Mythrein Kingdom. Before I accept my responsibilities, I want to see the world. I push my fork around on my plate and hear my mother's voice "Emerald dear, Are you alright?" I snap out of my thoughts and straighten my back. "Yes sorry mother, Todays lesson must've tired me out more than I thought." I lay down my fork and my mother smiles at me from down the table.

"May I be excused for the night?"  I ask my parents hoping they don't push further. Lucky my father accepts my excuse and nods his head once at me before speaking "You may, and Emerald get some sleep tonight. You need to be well rested for tomorrows ball. I will pick from your suitors tomorrow so its a big day and I'd like your input." His words sent a shiver down my spine, but I hid it well before replying "Of course father." I picked up my napkin from my lap and laid it across my plate. I moved my legs to the side and lifted my dress so I could stand gracefully like I was taught.

I bowed to my parents before turning an walking out of the dining room. My heels click down the corridor as I walk toward the kitchens. My dress is a light shade of pink and the bodice is tight with a high neckline held up by thin straps. As it gets to my waist the tulle is frayed out and toward the bottom is covered in flowers and butterflies made from the same tulle and sewn on. I had a plan and it had to be perfect for everything to work right.

My best friend Amalia works in the kitchen, and I'll need to pack some food for my trip. I know this will be a fight and she will try to talk me out of it but if it comes down to it, I'm her princess and future Queen and I will command it and her discretion if I must. As I approach the door, I can smell the fumes from the cleaners used after preparing tonights meal. Most of the servants are probably in the break room eating by now.

I open the swing doors to the kitchen and instantly see two servants who bow to me as I approach them. "Your Highness"  they speak in union. I smile kindly at their courteousness. "Thank you for your services you are now dismissed" I nod my head at them as they leave the room. In the back of the large room by the sinks is where I find Amalia scrubbing away, a smile instantly grows on my face when I see her. As I get closer, I speak "Hey Amalia"  she turns as I speak and wipes her hands on a towel before sarcastically bowing to me. "Your Highness"  as she raises, she speaks again "And wow you used my full name, is this official business" she giggles and sits the towel on the edge of the sink.

"Well, kind of I need your help and it requires your complete discretion." I tell her relaxing my shoulders a bit. Around Lia I didnt have to be perfect, and she will never know how much I appreciate that when the world around me holds me at such a high standard. "Anything for you Em!" she replies as she leans back on the sink. "I need some supplies"  I say lowly almost a whisper getting ready for her to argue back when she realizes my plans. "Okay? Like what?"  she stands to her full height and walks closer to me and folds her arms over her chest. "What are these supplies for exactly?"  she questions me further.

"Listen  Lia I already know what you're going to say to me. You already know what I'm doing I've been talking about it for years now. I just have to do it before I take the throne and never get to. I just want three days of normalcy before I'm tied down for life. All my life my decisions have been made for me. What I wear, what I learn about, what I eat down to whom I will marry for once I want to make a decision for myself Lia. Please help me?" I give her my best puppy dog eyes.

I know I've won when she lets out a sigh and drops her arms from her chest "Well when you put it like that how can I not help my best friend but if you're not back three days from tomorrow I'm going to the King and telling him everything so he can find you." she walks to the closet and pulls out a basket and fills it with breads and cheeses and a few non-perishables. Then covers the food with a cloth napkin and closes the baskets lid. She walks toward me with the basket in hand, but I can tell her minds racing with worry behind her eyes. She hands it to me hesitantly and gives me a smile that doesn't reach her eyes. "Please be careful out there Em we've never been beyond the tree lines for a reason it's not a safe place, you're my best friend I can't lose you." I watch a lone tear fall down her face as she speaks.

I step closer to her and wipe the tear away. "Don't worry about me I will be in the human village and even if I encounter another supernatural I will have scent masking pills to hide myself." I take the basket and pull her in for a hug. "Thank you for the help, I will see you in three days Lia." I pull back and smile at her as she tells me to be safe to which I of course promised I would.

I head straight for my bedroom after leaving the kitchen I didn't want to draw attention to the fact I'm carrying a basket full of food to last a few days. After I get up the many flights of stairs I enter my wing of the castle. I walk down the hall to my bedroom. The first thing I do is hid the basket in my closet until tonight and change into my night dress. I've never been a fan of the servants helping me dress and undress so unless its absolutely necessary I avoid it at all costs.

It's already pretty late so now I just have to wait until people start going to their rooms. Since we are hidden the castle normally isn't heavily guarded. Four guards roam the outskirts of the castle but the protection spell around us hasn't been penetrated in over 500 years. To the rest of the world witches are extinct. After I finish packing a few clothing items and packing the stash of scent masking pills that I've saved from my lessons I climb in bed to wait until the right time.

Soon I'll be leaving for 'the Other World' and my mind was racing over all the possibilities of what could happen there. I've never left Mythrein before, 'the Other World' was a complete mystery to me. I suppose thats what draws me to see it. Its a few hours after midnight now and I think its the perfect time to make my move.

I silently climb off my bed and pull on a dress I got from Lia so its less flashy than my 'royal wardrobe.' I pull on a cloak and throw my bag over my shoulder before picking up the basket and headed for the bedroom door. I place my hand on the handle and freeze, I take in a deep breath and release it as I turn the handle and pull open the door.

I walk into the hall of my personal wing and where I know I won't get caught it's the woods I'm nervous about. I walk down the stairs almost silently thanks to the flats Lia gave me to wear with a back up pair just encase and a few other outfits to blend into a human village. I've met humans before we have several humans living among us here but they have also been sheltered inside the walls of Mythrein.

I get to the back door of the castle and the closest spot from the castle to the portals. I pull the dark cloak over my head and start moving I know I'll have problems if I stop moving. It doesn't take long before I hear someone walking by me. I duck into a bush and watch as two guards walk past me talking and not really paying attention to their surroundings.

I wait until they pass and then I close my eyes and focus to the sound of their steps. I wait until I can't hear them anymore before I start again but this time faster. I can feel the power from the portals so I know I'm close. After a few more uninterrupted minutes I reach the portals and I start to slow down. The sight is beautiful the grass has tiny star like glowing dots all over and the portals are huge bright orange rings almost as tall as the trees.

I look behind me expecting to see my father coming to stop me but when I'm met with nothingness I smile widely and run through the portal. When I open my eyes I'm met with very different trees short and stocky instead of the usual tall trunks and bushy tops high in the sky. Mountains surround me and it's well traveled almost a road formed with all the wagons that have repeatedly driven over this spot. I look away from the mountain and start following the pathway to hopefully find a village close by.