Frost (EDITING)

THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD

The early morning breeze whipped across Hazel's face, causing her hair to fly all over. This invited a remark from Cedron,

"If it isn't the Wicked Witch of the West!"

"Must you be so rude?" Amber scoffed.

Ced nodded sheepishly.

The rebels had assembled by the river, ready to set out for their first major quest.

"How are we going to get to the Land of Oz?" Hazel asked, "We don't have any magic slippers, as far as I know."

"Yes, we don't. Perhaps Princess Snowflake will be kind enough to share her plans with us, soon." said Nate.

"Don't be impatient, Nathan. I have thought everything through." Snowflake replied, appearing suddenly, "We must travel by the winds."

The thought of it made Hazel queasy, as she recalled her recent experience of the airborne journey.

Unluckily for her, things were much worse, this time round. They called upon the tempestuous South Wind, that picked them up in its invisible arms and tossed them about like a broken leaf. The wind hissed loudly in her ears and blew strongly. Hazel felt like she was stuck in the eye of a storm.

Finally, the wind dropped her onto the ground. She felt extremely dizzy and nauseous.

"Careful, Hazel." said Amber, grabbing hold of her arm, just as she began to fall to the ground.

Hazel saw a road paved with bright yellow bricks ahead of her. It shone like a path of gold surrounded by a dark forest on both sides.

They had arrived at their destination.

The Emerald City was visible in the distance. Its towers reflected most of the sunlight that fell on them, making it impossible to look at them.

They walked up the yellow brick road, till they reached the gates of the City.

"I am Princess Snowflake, leader of the rebellion. We are here to see the Good Witch of the South." Snowflake informed the Guardian of the Gate.

The Guardian nodded. He handed each individual a pair of green tinted glasses.

Hazel burst into laughter as she saw Ced put on his.

"What is it?" he asked.

"You look like you're straight out of 'The Matrix'." Hazel said, "A movie."

"Who is a movie?"

Hazel chuckled. "Never mind."

Her surroundings were coloured green and the structures around her truly appeared to be made of emerald. However, this deception could not fool anyone. The city was in a state of desolation. There was rubble and ruins from battle. The shops had been closed shut, with not a single individual outside on the streets.

"La vie en rose." Hazel remarked. Life seen in rosy hues.

"La vie en vert, to be precise." said Ced.

They walked up to the witch's castle and were immediately taken up to the throne room.

It was a sight to behold. The walls had emeralds embedded in them and a huge greenish gold seat stood at the far end of the room. The witch got up to greet them.

Hazel took off her glasses. Glinda, the good witch looked as ethereal as imagined. Her deep red hair fell in ringlets on her shoulder and her light blue eyes looked at them ever so kindly.

"Thank you for heeding my call." she kissed Snowflake's brow, "I knew that my daughter would never disappoint me."

"Daughter?" Amber asked. Hazel looked at Ced and Nate, who were equally confused.

Snowflake turned to face them. "Yes. Meet my fairy godmother, the Good Witch of the South."

****

Fiona's thoughts never deserted her ; the bitter taste of betrayal was still fresh on her tongue.

The mind cannot always see what comes ahead. Each turn in life is unpredictable, no matter how careful and wise one has been.

" Princess."

Fiona looked up at the soldier.

" It's Madame Rosalind from the Chateau." he said.

" Send her in."

The woman with a hawk like nose and keen eyes, hurried inside.

" Have you any news ?"

" Yes, Princess."

" And it is both good and bad." Fiona said.

" Yes." Rosalind said, looking taken aback, " Are you already aware of it , Princess ?"

" How might I be ?" Fiona asked , " Enlighten me, Madame."

" The search forces have no lead on the location of the fugitives."

"As always." Fiona sighed.

" They seem to have vanished from the face of land." Rosalind said.

" They have not."

" Did your son suggest anything to you , before parting ?" she asked.

Her insides seemed to freeze. Nathan. Her dutiful son.... She felt a piercing ache course through  her, as bitterness, anger and sorrow came at her altogether.

" Pardon me, Princess. I should not have ..."

" We have had no contact since. He left without a word." she managed to say.

" Well, the good news is that we have found the man we had been seeking for some time." 

" Where is he now ?" Fiona asked immediately.

" In the dungeon. His insolence was unbearable. Never have I encountered such a despicable and ill-mannered person in my life !" Rosalind said.

"And that is why he is of use to us. Where was he found ?"

" In the woods, roaming about , hunting. But Princess, he asks a price to high for the deed he has been asked to perform."

" I fear that we need him too badly, Madame. Perhaps, he is aware of this fact too."

" Shall I call upon him, then ?"

Fiona sighed.

"Bring in the Huntsman."

******

CLIFFHANGER !!!!! HAHAHA !

So what do you think Fiona is planning to do ?

This chapter is dedicated to @live-artistically for writing 'Like Hurricanes' . It is the best book I have read on Wattpad. It is a story with characters that actually make you think . Noemi will always remain a piece of my heart and has greatly inspired me in a time when I was really in need of it .

She taught me to smile back at Life , fall in love with its little details and realise that even if everything is temporary , just seize the moment.

Oh Noemi Defelice !

May the stars watch over you

Bookworm