Royalty

Three

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I woke up with the dawn's light leaking through the embroidered curtains of my four-poster bed.

I rolled over on my mattress, attempting to fall back asleep.

A hollow sounding click jolted me awake again. Someone had just unlocked my door. The thick oak door creaked as someone slowly pushed it open.

Who would come to my chambers this early? It couldn't be a maid. They came much later. Was it just the castle creaking? No. That was definitely my door.

My heartbeat quickened. My mind, no longer sluggish and sleepy, automatically began jumping to gruesome scenarios.

It was an assassin. This is how it would end. I was about to die. I had always worried about my assassination but never really thought it would happen.

I should scream, cry for help, maybe that way they'd find my body in time.

I imagined my bloodied form tangled in the bed curtains.

The floor boards creaked as the stranger approached, as if careful not to wake me.

I should put up a fight. Self-defense had been a short lesson, but nonetheless, my father had taught me the basics of protecting myself.

Now wide awake I sat up slowly, careful not to make any noise.

I would jump on my attacker as soon as they opened my curtains. Yes. I would put up a fight. I would not die huddled in my sheets awaiting my impending doom.

I readied myself to jump, preparing to take the intruder down to the ground.

The creak of the floorboards ceased. There was a short silence, then the curtains were pulled back.

I leapt into action, launching myself at them with mix between a grunt and shriek.

The figure screamed as I took them down, slamming against the floor. Wait...screamed?

I looked down at the person I was now pinning to the ground. My face flushed as I realized who it was.

"Waverly?!" I practically shrieked, breathless from my physical exertion and anxiety.

Waverly's blonde hair was everywhere and she had a slightly guilty look on her face.

"I was going to scare you, but I guess that plan sort of backfired." she said guiltily, her hands up defensively.

I let out an enormous sigh of relief as I sat back, freeing Waverly from my hold.

"I though you were an intruder coming to murder me." I groaned as she looked up at me with an amused expression on her face.

"Well it's comforting to know how well you'd handle a situation like that." She said grinning.

"Oh hush. I was prepared to be slaughtered. You had me frightened to death." I said, still trying to control my breathing.

"Well that was the ultimate goal, but you kind of ruined it with your deranged battle charge." she said giggling.

"Well what are you doing here anyway?" I asked, picking myself off the floor.

She too got up from the floor and plopped on my bed.

"I came to celebrate your birthday. I hardly saw you last night so I decided to arrange my own little celebration for you." she said looking proud.

"What exactly have you planned for this celebration?" I asked suspiciously.

She gave me a smirk before saying "Get dressed." Then she left the room.
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My maids wouldn't be up to help for another hour, so I wrote a note and dressed myself; a habit which I often did to the disappointment of my father. The maids didn't mind too much.

I decided on a white day dress with a fitted waist and a silky skirt that tickled just above my ankles

I twisted two pieces of my wavy hair from either side of my head and tied it in the back with a silk ribbon.

I headed off towards the front gate, making my way through the nearly identical corridors.

It was very easy to get lost in the castle and it was a wonder I even found my room at night.

I arrived at the oaken front doors. Two guards stood stationary on either side, their faces hidden slightly by their helmets.

At the sight of me they bowed and pulled open the massive doors.

Waiting on the other side was Waverly with a giant grin on her face. Her blonde hair shimmered in the early morning light.

She grabbed my hand as soon as I stepped foot outside and tugged me down the large set of stairs.

"Where are we going?" I asked her as she continued to tug me down the road.

No reply. She just grinned like a fool. I rolled my eyes and let her drag me down the road.

We had left the castle's grounds and were heading along the outskirts of the village.

We passed along the backs of shops and houses, all the while she continued to tug me.

"Waverly I can walk on my own you know."

"Shh..."

"Waver-"

"SHH!"

I gave her a weird look but remained quiet.

She lead me to the edge of the wood that surrounded our entire kingdom.
The tall trees loomed over us and I grew anxious as Waverly lead me toward it.

"Why are we going in-"

"Rowan I swear to the Gods if you make another noise I will personally see to it that you are pushed into the river." Waverly groaned.

"All right I'm sorry, you're just being so secretive." I said exasperated.

She just flapped her hand at me as she lead me deeper into the trees.

Finally she slowed down to a walk and let go of my arm. Her nail marks will probably be etched into my skin forever, I thought, rubbing my sore arm.

"A few days ago, I came out here to walk and was just wandering around when I found this spot. It was absolutely perfect. It's right next to a little creek that must be a runoff from the river. It's surrounded by birch trees and it's just so secluded and secret. I thought I'd show it to you. It could be like our special place." She explained as she continued walking.

"That sounds so pretty." I said imagining the sun glinting of a small creek as the summer breeze blew through the leaves. It sounded perfect.

"Here we are." She said after a minute. It was better than I imagined.

Pine trees towered serenely over us giving me a satisfying sense of protection.

The lime green leaves of the birch trees fluttered like butterfly wings as the breeze passed through them.

The creek bubbled softly and sparkled as the sun glinted off tiny rocks at the bottom.

"Oh Waverly it's beautiful." I breathed, gazing around at the entirety of it.

"I knew you'd like it." She said smiling proudly.

Just then something caught my eye.
Across the creek, just a little passed the trees stood a large grey boulder.

Hopping over the rushing water, I made my way over there.

Brushing a hanging willow branch out of my path, I saw that there was in fact a circle of these boulders.

The were tall and narrow and towered over me. Waverly followed me into the clearing.

"Don't remember these being here." she said under her breath as she stared in awe up at the massive rocks.

I just shook my head in wonder as I gazed up.

You would think that a formation strange as this would be a popular site, but I don't think anyone knew it was here.

Something was off about this but I couldn't put my finger on it.

To be continued...