Falling

Prologue

The fields were forest green with grass that grew on almost every season. The sky was a brilliant blue, and the sun shone bright every day. This was the land of Lux, which means, "light" in Latin. And the place was just full of light. There were events and parties and balls held at the palace of the king and queen. When their daughter was born, they knew she'd grow up to do the same and spread light throughout the whole land.

The little princess was ever so excited to rule. Her life was dedicated to helping others, which she knew she could do leading. Watching her parents, she began to note and remember what exactly made a leader be, well , a leader.

"Mother, when can I wear this crown?," she asked one day in the meadow, where she had noticed its beauty for the first time. It wasn't just jewelry to Renata. It signified power and honor. Her mother chuckled. Removing the crown from her head, she told Renata words she told herself to never forget. "You will wear it when you become a true leader, age or not, you cannot be leader if your heart simply isn't ready. You must work hard with honor and courage. Do you understand, Renata?," she asked her daughter, her coppery locks shining in front of her mother. She nodded. As a child of only five, Renata was very intelligent and clearly understood the words that had been spoken to her moments before.

Her relationship with her parents was a close one. Each Saturday, they'd go to the meadow to have a picnic, along with her baby brother, Ashton, who was only one.

Her father chased her around the green fields, her giggles sending a shot of pure happiness into her parents hearts. When he caught her, she'd break free, letting this time her mother to help catch her.

One day, in particular, Renata had gone farther away from the meadow and into the woods, where she was told to never enter. They said there was dark magic inside.
This had her question everything, but alas, her parents told her nothing.

This evening, however, she knew she would get the answers she wanted if she went inside. She looked around, seeing fog and trees that were black with leaves whiter than the snow. She was in awe of the place. She gasped as she saw a deer nuzzling her side with love. She laughed, feeling the warmth of the deer into her fingers as she pet it.

Suddenly, she heard her parents screaming her name. "Renata! Dear, come back here!," shouted her father. She could hear the worry in his voice so she decided to head back.

When she returned, her mother's face grew with joy as she saw her daughter. She hugged her tightly, letting her red hair fall into her daughter's face. "Where were you Renata? You had us both worried!," said her mother with concern. Her father was catching up to her mother, holding Ashton in his arms. "I'm sorry, Mother," she said.
Her father handed Ashton to her mother, who was beginning to walk towards their horses.

Her father turned towards her, and with pain in his voice he said," This is not queen behavior. If you want to keep that crown, I suggest you don't go and do something as daft as what you were doing right now," he said.

She nodded. "I'm sorry, Father. I promise to never do it again," she said, her blue eyes starring at her father's brown ones.
He nodded. "Very well. Come now, and walk to your mother," he said. She obeyed.

That night, Renata could not stop thinking about the forest. She wondered what other beauties hid in the trees. "Renata, eat your soup," said her mother. Ashton gurgled as the maid lifted the spoon to his mouth, which contained minestrone soup, one of her mother's favorites.

She felt unsettled. Not saying about she saw to her parents made her feel uneasy.
"Father, Mother. What do you know about the forest near the meadow?," she asked. Her mother dropped her spoon while her father held his wine cup halfway to his mouth.
Chuckling while she retrieved her spoon from the ground, her father gave her daughter a stern look.

"Why on Earth would you be asking of that foul place?," he asked surprised.
"I saw wonderful things, Father. Trees with white and deer and the whole place foggy," she said smiling.
Her mother sighed. "My dear. You know how much we love you. But this illusion you've built up in your head? It's quite strange and certainly not the behavior of the future queen," she said.
"I'm not lying! I really saw all of this!," said Renata with frustration.
"That is enough, young lady! You are done with your supper! Gwen, take her to her bed chambers," her father said with anger. "But Father-"
"Go now, Renata!," he yelled, pointing his finger to her.
"Come, child. Listen to the king," said Gwen sweetly.
Renata turned red with anger but followed Gwen to her room, where she was being watched outside her door so she couldn't escape.
She sat on her bed, trying to understand why her father was angry. Surely, if she could just show them the forest, then they could believe her!
However, she knew that wasn't possible. They would never agree to go!

But, what if I went alone to bring proof? They would believe me!

But how will I get out?

Renata had suddenly found the perfect idea. She opened her door to the guards, who were asleep on the ground. Quietly, she tiptoed out of the hallway and to the front door, where no guards were in sight. Taking her wrap, she fled into the night, unprotected.

She ran for what seemed like an hour but she knew it was little time. Faintly, she could hear shouts and horses. They must've realized she was gone.

Finally, she reached the forest. Into the fog, her jaw dropped when she saw the forest was not the same as it had been this afternoon. The place looked frightening to her, with goo oozing out of the grass, which was dark. The trees, which had been beautiful before, were now dead to its core. Scared, she tried to run out but the forest would not let her.

"Help!," she screamed. "Someone help me!"
"Come to me," said a voice. She looked up to see a figure that was extremely beautiful, with pointed ears, sharp jawline, and unruly black hair. As if she was under a trance, she followed his sweet, velvety voice towards him.
"There you are. Now, hug me, child. I feel so alone," he said sadly. She nodded, and in her trance like state, she began to embrace him but stopped when she heard the voice of another, but no one else was in sight. "Do not let that enchanting fey get to you!," shouted the voice in her head. She felt frightened again. The fey began lunging for her until the voice told her to run, and she sprinted away. She ran and ran.

The fey was now nowhere in sight but she ran. From a mile away, she saw a cottage. She knew she could get help there.

But she didn't look where she was going. She tripped and hit her head hard on an Obsidian rock, a rock that turned whatever touched it black. She rolled away, and lost consciousness, while her beautiful coppery hair now turned black.

A few hours later..

The girl awoke in a strange room, lying on a strange bed. She didn't know how she got there. In front of her stood a woman with curling black hair and gray eyes and alongside him was a man with blonde hair and blue eyes. "Do you know where you are, dear?," asked the woman. Renata shook her head. "Are you my parents?," she asked. The couple looked at each other then said calmly, "Yes, sweetie,"
She smiled at them, then winced. Her head throbbed but she didn't know why. "You fell," said the man. "You were in the woods." "Why?," she asked confused. "We don't know," said the woman sweetly. "Just sleep now, okay?," asked the man kindly.

She nodded and soon slept. "Who do you think she is?," asked the man. She shook her head. "Herbert, I don't know. But she has amnesia. What if her family is looking for her?," asked the woman. "Layla, what if they left her on purpose? Maybe this is a sign. A sign that we finally have a child, after all those miscarriages," said Herbert.

They nodded. "We will raise her as our own then," said Layla. They stared at the child, wondering if this really was a sign.

Little did they know how wrong they were about her.