The Light amongst the Shadows

The Journey Begins

"Fine," King Gregory stated flatly, "fine." Gwen smiled and raised her chin. She walked over to me.

"We shall start right away then, Father," she said grabbing me by the hand. We walked out of the door of the throne room. Prine Henry, Prince Edwin, Prince Griffin, and Collin followed closely behind.

"Are you mad, woman?!" Henry said grabbing Gwen's shoulder. Gwen shrugged it off.

"Maybe, but I want to do anything to help find Mum!" she hissed. Henry was drawn back from her attitude. I could tell he was about to retort, but Edwin placed a hand on his shoulder and shook his head. Henry, Griffin, Edwin, and Collin left in the other direction to get ready for our long jurney ahead. Gwen and I, the only two women on the jurney, went into Gwen's room which was still covered in blood.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" I asked her. I was picking out an outfit for her to wear for...for...for however long it would take to find the missing Queen. I wondered how Gwen would possibly cope with that fact that she'll have to wear just one thing, the whole trip. She was sitting on her bed staring out the pretty colored glass window. Her room was really pretty, but what Princess' room isn't? But it was especially beautiful when the light came through the painted windows just right. There was a dresser in the front of the room right next to the wooden door. In the door, was engraved a scene of knights conquering a dragon. In the back of the room next to a small wooden carved nightstand was Gwen's bed. It had a light purple veil that hung from the oak posts, and royal purple, silk sheets. She turned around and glared at me with her brown eyes. She got up to go to her dresser and she picked up her jeweled brush. She began to brush her long curly brown hair as she talked.

"Don't tell me you doubt me, too," she huffed as she took a seat, "You of all people, I thought-"

"No, no," I told her," I believe in you. But, it's going to be dangerous."

"I am quite aware of that, thank you." There was a long pause.

"I'm glad you're doing this with me. I won't be the only girl, at least," I said breaking the silence. Gwen laughed.

"Well, I'd hate to leave you alone with my idiot brothers," she told me with a small laugh. I smiled, but the smile wore off suddenly. What had I gotten myself into? I thought as we walked down the flight of stairs.

"It's about time!" Henry's voice slashed through my thoughts, "One of the reasons why I didn't want women on the trip." He said women as if it were some disease. I smirked sarcastically.

"Alright now, alright now! We're coming, don't you see?!" Gwen snapped. She had the same attitude as I did at times, and I loved her for it. Henry just huffed and turned away to his horse, petting her nose. Princess Marigold ran down the stairs, holding her dress above her ankles so she wouldn't trip. Henry turned around as they hugged once more before he went on this dangerous journey. She put her hands gingerly on his cheeks as they kissed romantically.

"ECHEMM!!!" Edwin "coughed." Marigold and Henry drew back. She kissed his check and ruffled his hair.

"Be safe, darling," she said, tears coming up in her beautiful green eyes. Just like her mother's eyes.

"I'll miss you," Henry said as he put his hand gently on her cheek. He turned around. "I must go." Prince Griffin helped his sister, Gwen, up onto her horse, Midnight.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked her. She rolled her eyes and hit his arm, playfully.

"Yes, Griffin," she responded. He nodded and shrugged. He mounted his horse, Philip.

"Right, then, let's get going," Griffin said. Henry huffed as he led his horse in front of him.

"And who made you the leader, eh?" he spat as his horse trotted ahead of us.

"I don't like him," Griffin stated, "I don't like him a'tall."

"Agreed," Collin, Edwin, Gwen and I said almost in unison.

"Ladies first, yeah?" Griffin said to his sister. Gwen rode her horse to where Henry was.

"What about you?" Collin asked walking over to me, "Are you sure you want to go." I took a deep breath.

"Yes, yes I'm sure," I lied. I wanted to help, but at the same time, I was terrified. Collin must have seen the worry in my eyes, because he held my chin up to look in his light brown eyes.

"I won't let anything bad happen to you," he said softly, "I promise." I smiled as my eyes got lost in his, but Oliver's voice and the sound of a horse galloping broke the stare.

"BRIGIT!!!" Oliver yelled, waving his hand up in the air. He had Mirabell around his waist.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"I need to do this!"  

"Alright then, come on, we haven't got all day," Henry called from far in front of us. Collin, Edwin, and I weren't even mounted on our horses yet.

"I honestly don't like him," Edwin stated flatly, with a hint of a smirk. I looked back at my two best friends.

"Tell Willow I wish her a happy birthday. Oh, and tell my brothers and sisters I said goodbye, too. I'll miss you," I said.

"Miss us?" Mirabell laughed, "We're coming with you!" I looked at her for a moment, pausing.

"What? Really, now?" I said. I looked at Oliver, "Is that so?" They both nodded as their horse trotted ahead.

"Come on, now, keep up!" Mirabell giggled. I smiled and Edwin offered to take me on his horse, Lilly, with him. He helped me up and I gripped onto his waist.

"YAH!" he said as Lilly started to run up to the others. Collin and his horse, Coal, trotted along beside us. I looked back to see what seemed like the whole village, watching us. They were waving, wishing us luck, and throwing flowers. I even saw Peter, smiling mouthing, "Be safe." I also saw Willow and Marge, and William, and Charles. The feeling of leaving my family made me uneasy. I tightened my grip around Edwin's waist and he looked back at me.

"Everything will be alright," he reassured me. But no matter what he said, I had a feeling I wasn't coming back for a long, long time.