A Princess's Heart and Pendant

Chapter One- But who will protect everyone else?

Chapter One- But Who Will Protect Everyone Else?

It is an uneasy kind of warm. A combination of blood and sweat are dripping down my face. Stones are sinking into my feet, but I keep moving. "RUN PRINCESS" A shout of desperation hits me, and I do as it says. Keep running, I tell myself.

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The sun comes through my almost translucent lace curtains. I not so eagerly get up. First staring at my cream ceiling with painted vines and flowers until finally sitting up now looking at my pale-yellow sheets.

"Good morning princess"

"Natalia if you curtesy one more time."

"I'm sorry I just don't want to disrespect you"

"You never could. How's she doing?"

The look on her face says it all.

"That will be all then." I send her away a little colder toned than I intended. "I'm so sorry I didn't mean—."

"I know your Grace." She gave me an understanding smile.

It's not the same around here since mother has been stuck in a coma. 4 months, 3 weeks and 5 days. The people think it's medical induced... so we wish and so we spread (I never liked lying to our people), but those within the castle know its sinister truth. It's dark magic. Why did it have to be her I wondered. Why couldn't it have been me? My father walks in, "I need to speak with you, in my den quickly. Come right away." He closes the door. I hear him whisper to a guard and nervousness presses into me. I dress quickly in a simple pale pink dress and my hair is unbrushed as it falls just above my bellybutton in its wild waves.

"My Princess, I must escort you"

"Why is that necessary Hanson?"

"It is. Let us move quickly"

I don't question any longer.

"Father! What is going on?"

"I do not want you to be afraid"

"Of what?!"

"The darkness. The evil that has locked your mother in that torturous purgatory forced to see and experience who knows what?" He starts to yell.

"It is coming, and it is after you." Tears start running down his face.

"Wh- what do you mean father?!" My heart is instantly heavy, and fear hits me until my knees feel weak.

"You know the powers you have, you're the heir to the throne. They want both. And they will stop at nothing to get it. Your mother wouldn't hand you over when I went on a... business trip with the King of Cornelia, they knew she was alone with you, they did this to her because I was gone!"He yells but his voice is shaky.

"No, it seems they did this because of me!"

I cry, "I am so sor- "

"No. It is not your fault. We knew your gifts would bring this on. We just hoped somehow it wouldn't. The dark magic seemed to be gone but that's what they wanted us to think and we were naive fools for believing it was all over that easily. I taught you how to read a map. You must follow this. Your brother is not coming home after his excursion, he instead will meet you there at the Kingdom of Skyland. I didn't think this would happen so soon, so I didn't get to warn the King of everything." He sighs.

"The Kingdom of Skyland? They are our sworn enemies." I question.

"No, the King and his family are close family friends bonded to us for generations, in secrecy out of protection. Show him this pendant and he'll know exactly who you are. Dear, listen to me. You must trust no one." He said gently and firm but his pain within each word is piercing into me so hard that I wince. He notices and takes a few steps back.

Someone from the inside is helping these things! ... these horrid creatures. Two guards who I know for sure are the only ones you can trust will escort you along with your cousins Morris and Sylvia ... this map is in case their journeys end" (he means death... due to defending me) all of our training, it was for this. I made you strong and your mother made you wise. Use everything."

I feel so confused and overwhelmed. I have a million questions, but I realized the most important one... "Father. What about you and mother?!"

"We" he tries to change the tone of his voice to one not so broken. "We cannot leave with you." He turns his head so he isn't facing me.

I bawl. Running into him "I can't do this without you both."

"It's the only way you have a chance. We have to act as if everything is normal to our people. We can't leave them defenceless and when those things come for us, you'll have already been almost there. I'm so sorry" he cries now handing me my bag "everything we can explain is in here. Read everything. You will leave first thing tomorrow!"

"My Lord!" Hanson bursts in, "something isn't right!"

"What is the matter?!"

"It's the Queen, she's bruising, and her nose is bleeding, guards in the west wing were found dead."

"That's impossible! How would they have known? Your mother is trying to warn us, she can't waken. She's trapped in her body but - "

Hanson stares at me eyes wide open, my father turns to me I feel liquid on my lips I touch it seeing blood on my fingers. I feel it. Something is off. Burning in my throat. And glowing blue flame looking lights started from my palms moving around my arms.

"They ARE here. What did I teach you if your body reacts to the dark?"

I breathe it away, the alert I feel. But the heat is still in my throat.

"Your eyes are still glowing. Breathe through. Turn it off! Hurry!" I do.

He hands me clothes of a guard in training. "Put this on right away, follow Hanson. You have to leave NOW!" My father shuts his eyes for a second. I hear the words, but I can't move. Screaming and loud noises of horrific cries and murders come from the west side of the castle. "Honey, go now! Follow what we have taught you. We love you so much. You and your brother!" Tears roll down both of our faces. He walks over to Hanson handing him weapons and armour while I change and put my satchel on. Guard Cannon runs in with my mother.

"MOTHER?!" I run towards her, as my father does.

"How?!"

"It was time. I needed to protect you; I sensed it. It got me out of that... state. You have to leave! Right now!" She tried to snap out of that agony and emptiness that's beating inside of her but it was too late, I felt it and it was excruciating.

"I just got you back!" I cried.

She hugged me tightly. "You have to go, your brother will need you, everyone will."

"We need to leave your Honours, they're getting close." Cannon speaks quickly

"They put their flesh in us. if we go with you, they'll know where you are!"

"We need to leave, they're coming!" Hanson shouts.

"What about Sylvia and Morris?!"

"We'll make sure they know! Go!" My father yells. One last hug and Hanson and Cannon practically drag me away through the hidden corridors. Tears are falling from my eyes, but I feel so much fear and sadness until I feel almost numb. They put me in a carriage, get in themselves and tell the rider to go, and quickly. What is happening. I hold onto my father's pendant.

"Your highness we will protect you at all costs. I swear it to you." Cannon says. I stay silent and stiffly nod but who will protect everyone else I wonder.