With parting gifts and kisses, she kept it swift. With a glass vial in hand and a mind steadfast, she found the tree she had to pass.
" A tree so aged that it is about to die. A tree so fated only to make you cry. Ask not what you desire but what you need, and then the answer will come indeed. Help first and the favour will be returned or leave to find yourself too curst to be cursed."
The Queen had told her not to worry, it was only a vial that she had to carry. The Princess took a step towards the tree only to see it wasn't free. Paralysed with fear she was, just like the tree she came to a stop. Chains shifted, the inanimate branches shook wildly in the wind. The redhead could feel the power, she saw a Wolf killing her father. Her mind was racing but her legs collapsed, she fell on the ground, for air she gasped. She crawled upto the roots where she knew what she had to do. Some glass broke, some viscous fluid fell. The heat was enough for the chains to melt. A gust of wind blowed in her face, as if saying thank you with grace. She then knew where she was, her mother had waited for eighteen years to pass.
"Mother!" the redhead cried, she ran into arms which were open wide. A long lost love unites, tears flooded the sight. Eighteen years a mother apart from her child, now together they would never leave each others side.
The night was young, the moon shone bright, ice fell as if it would bury the whole site. A young man and woman walked side by side, a tiny baby rolled in a blanket - their soul and pride. Then came a howl, the parents panicked. The wolf pounced out of the blue, there was nothing the father could do. The young man died. Brave as she was, the mother struck, one arm holding her baby, other a pocket knife. Arms and legs bleeding, she knew how would be the end of this strife. Suddenly a carriage came by, a Lady stepped out and the Wolf ran. "Keep her safe" these words left her mouth. "Leave me, the devil will be back soon. Run. May God Bless my child."
But the devil never returned and the woman never died. A husband lost and a daughter she never tried to find.
To be continued....
