The Tales of Wynter [BOOK 1]

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this theme is from danny-cass on tumblr. link to original post in external. i have edited it just to this story, so there are slight changes (ie. names, places, etc.)

     The newborn Princess of Hollows, Wynter, is sent away to live in the woods following a threat on her life by the powerful Lady Harlow. Harlow promised that on Wynter's 16th birthday, she will prick her finger on a spindle and fall into a sleep stronger than death. While no magic was promised, King Gael choose to avoid the risk and sent his only daughter away with the three women whom his wife, the Queen, entrusted with Wynter's life before she died following childbirth.

The women do their part raise and her into being a beautiful and soft-spoken young women with a bit of a wild streak, however, as per the king's orders, refrain from informing her of her royal blood until word of Lady Harlow's death is delivered. But as the years and the deadline pass, the women decide to let Wynter have more freedom and explore the nearby waterfall.

It is there that she meets Kai, the Prince of Alerra.

Kai's upbringing was nothing short of traditional, or rather, traditional for a future king. With no threats on his life and more freedom than what was probably safe, he often rode through the surrounding woods to clear his thoughts. All was going to plan on the warm spring day that he heard a maiden's voice resounding off of the trees during one of his afternoon rides. Entranced by the angelic voice and the need to see who possessed it, he followed the sound to a waterfall where he found, what he assumed to be, a free spirited, peasant girl dancing.

Not missing a beat, he joined her and so began their friendship. It seems all the better to Kai that she doesn't seem to recognize him as the prince and instead treats him normally. Weeks pass and the two continue to meet by their waterfall, unbeknownst to King Felix who, upon the first mention of his son liking a peasant girl, dismissed the notion. Due to his duty to his father, and Wynter's knack for coquettishly shying away from his serious romantic advances, Kai tries to refrain from becoming too attached to Wynter and begrudgingly accepts that he'll be forced to marry the princess from the neighboring kingdom of Hollows once she's found.

Despite their doomed relationship, Kai will often ask Wynter what she thinks of his kingdom, and she'll give her opinion which he takes back to his father to help improve the kingdom. Months later, the king announces that Kai will be picking a new bride at a ceremonial ball, seeing as King Gael had yet to "find" his daughter. Excitedly, Kai begs Wynter to attend the ball, and despite being instructed not to leave the forest by her three aunts, Wynter agrees.