A Stranger in My Father's Castle

Ch. 1.

As I run I can feel the moist soil under my bare-feet, the wind in my long bronze hair, and my green dress whipping around my legs. The forest is my escape. It's where I go to get away from the work of the farm where I live with Mother. It's just me and her to look after the place; it's hard, especially since mother has been very ill lately. I have never met my father. With all the extra work that has been going on lately, I have been quite stressed. I made sure to get done early today so I could go for a run in the forest. Running here relaxes me. I was deep in thought when all of a sudden, a pair of arms wrapped around my waist as I passed a nearby tree.

"Ah!" I screamed, "Luke! You about gave me a heart attack! I can't believe you!" Luke, a boy whose family lives one farm over, is my best friend. We have known each other since we were five, and we would do anything for each other.

"Calm down Madeline. Who else would it have been?" He said rolling his eyes as he leaned against a nearby tree.

"I don't know! That's my point!" I replied looking up at him. "What is it that's so important that you had to interrupt my run?"

"Well I was going to give you your birthday present... but I can tell that both it, and I, are not wanted here," He said as he started walking away. I ran up to him and stopped him.

"Okay, Maybe that's important enough to stop me," I said trying to grab the small pouch out of his hand.

"Oh no," he said, "Now you have to wait until we get to your house." And with that he started running towards home. I rolled my eyes and started after him. When we got there my mother, Luke's parents, and his two brothers were waiting for us. We went inside where Mother had prepared a nice soup and some bread for supper. When everyone had had their full it was time for gifts. Both of our families were poor, so the gifts were always handmade. Which in my opinion, made them that much better. Luke's parents, Barren and Melina, were the first to give me my gifts. They gave me a new dress along with a pair of shoes. Second, came the twins Griffin and Brady, they were still too young to be able to craft things, so they each gave me a bouquet of wild flowers. Then Luke came up to me.

"Can we go outside?" he questioned.

"Um... sure," I said walking out the door, "Why did you want to come out here?"

"No big reason. I just wanted to give you your gift." Luke replied with a blush. He then handed me the pouch from earlier in the forest. I took the small object from the pouch and gasped.

"Luke! It's beautiful! Would you help me?" I asked in excitement. He took the necklace from my hands and I lifted my hair so he could tie it. As soon as I felt its weight hanging from my neck, I walked over to the water bucket to look at my reflection. It rested perfectly upon my chest. The necklace had a light blue-grey stone carved like the moon and tied with a black ribbon. "Thank you. This is Beautiful. Did you make this yourself?" I asked, tears beginning to form in my eyes. He nodded. I ran up to him, giving him the biggest hug I could manage. I held onto him just enjoying the moment.

"Luke! It's getting dark we should be getting home," yelled Luke's father.

"I'm coming!" yelled Luke as he gave me one last hug. "I'll see you tomorrow in the forest okay?" He said as he walked towards his family.

"Okay," I replied back. After they were out of sight, I went back into the house. When I walked in, I found Mother sitting at the table with a small wooden box on the table and a larger box next to her on the ground. The smaller box was so small that I could easily fit it in my apron pocket, the other one was very large and could probably fit all of my dresses and still have room inside for me.

"Madeline, my dear, please sit down. Everyone has given their gift to you, now it is my turn." she said patting the seat next to her. I sat down as she opened the smaller box. Once it was open, a peaceful melody floated out. I instantly recognized it as the lullaby Mother sang to me when I was small.