Preface
Her hair shone brightly in the sunlight, flecks of gold and yellow glinting in the sun's rays. The hem of her red velvet dress rustled as it brushed along the grass. She ran quickly, relishing the feel of the dew covered grass between her toes. She darted behind a narrow evergreen tree, pausing a moment to catch her breath. Her heartbeat raced as the sound of footsteps grew louder, approaching from behind. She leaned slightly to one side, taking care not to expose any part of her slender frame beyond the shade of the tree.
"I found you!" screamed her sister. Her sister tapped her on the shoulder and took off running, the challenge to catch her left hanging in the air.
The two girls chased each other around the gardens and into the courtyard, laughter always following one short step behind. When they rounded the bend back to the gardens, she reached out and grabbed her sister around the waist. Playful yelps pealed through the shrubbery as they tumbled to the ground, effectively ruining the ornate dresses they were wearing, although neither seemed to care.
"I've caught you!" she cried pridefully, her sweet voice smooth as honey.
"Only because I've let you, dear sister!"
"You always say that," she chided, an impish grin adorning her face.
"That's because it's always true," her sister responded, falling backwards into the grass.
The young prince emerged from the shadows, no longer satisfied with his obscured view. He studied her carefully, allowing her beauty to steal his breath away. He'd never seen anything like her, so graceful and kind. Joy emanated from her lips as a smile spread across her face. Her love for her sister shone in all that she did. Even now she sat next to her, silently keeping watch while her sister dozed in the shifting light of the day. She plucked a few blades of grass from around her, tenderly weaving them together to form a tiny band. She lovingly slid the band on her sister's finger, whispering a prayer of protection over the girl's sleeping form. Tiny lines of worry creased her forehead. There was no doubt in his mind she was concerned about both of their fates. Tomorrow night's ritual would inevitably change their lives forever. He wished he could do something to reassure her, to soothe the wrinkles of unease now plaguing her lovely face, but he was trapped by the shadows and the necessary protection they offered him.
He knew the penalty for seeing her before it was time, yet somehow he found himself unable to stay away. He could feel her, sense her presence in the manor despite the walls which always stood between them. His heart ached with curiosity at the thought of her. Only when he watched her was his heart ever truly at peace.
He took a step forward to get a better view, noisily kicking a stone as he did so. The girl jumped, scanning the garden for the source of the sound. Her gaze fell on him and for a brief moment their eyes met. A powerful heat coursed through his veins as her blue eyes locked with his. He never wanted her to look away. Minutes passed, yet neither of them moved. A bird sang from its perch across the lawn, starling her. A wild blush pricked at her cheeks, causing her to reluctantly pull herself from his stare.
As he stood in the sun, his eyes still watching to see what she would do next, a vision came to him. He saw the young woman wearing a blue dress, gazing dreamily into a mirror at her reflection. A dagger rested simply in her hand, catching all of the light in the room as it brightened her already stunning features. She ran her fingers over it gently, closing her eyes as she did so. When she opened them a contended smile danced on her lips. Her head turned as if someone had called her name. She rose from the stool she had been sitting on, her movements as elegant as a queen's. When she reached her full height, pain flashed across her face, her hand swiftly clutching at her heart. Without warning she collapsed to the floor, her lips turning blue as her life began to leave her.
The image left him as quickly as it had come, knocking him to the ground with its weight. A powerful pain gripped his heart as he fought to stand. Sweat poured from his brow as he fled to the main courtyard, looking for his brother. He had no idea how he would stop it, but this was one vision that simply couldn't come true.
