~ CHAPTER 1~
The land of Helium was the most sacred and honored place of the world. King Azane ruled it with peace and justice. Helium was the one place where everyone could live in harmony, the world around them waged in war for many centuries, Queen Delma sought to take control of Helium for she was in control of the 8 other realms and was only one realm away from taking the entire world down into the darkness with her. The Black Stag prevented her from doing so it protected Helium for many centuries keeping it invisible from her eyes. But every 500 years the Black Stag would be vulnerable for a year while It searched for the next guardian of Helium also leaving Helium visible to the Queen's eyes.
A prophecy had foretold this would happen so Queen Delma would be ready to hunt the stag before it chose the next guardian. But it also said in the prophecy that the next guardian would be the one to lead the army of Helium to destroy the Queen along with her servants. So the world hung by a small window of opportunity on both sides. The race was on.
Ria grabbed her little sister's hand and pulled her out of the path of the galloping horses.
"Watch it!" said Ria annoyed
"You almost got trampled!" continued Ria as she dusted her sister's clothes off.
"Sorry, but I wanted to see the horseys..." mumbled Lily
"Its ok.. just be careful! Go to auntie and tell her I'll be home at noon" said Ria pointing Lily in the direction of her Aunt Sandra who was busy buying bread.
Ria watched Lily get to her Auntie before turning away pushing through the crowd of people who were busy selling and buying things. She walked through the castles doors hurriedly.
"Hey wait!" Called a male's voice from behind.
Ria rolled her eyes turning around towards the guard that glared at her.
"You know the rules and you'd better keep them! No one outside the castle after late noon, understand?" Said the guard giving Ria a warning look.
"Yes, yes I know I've always come back before then" said Ria annoyed.
"Well not from what I've heard from the other guards"
"Alright I understand that I've gotten in a bit of a tassel with Andrew, but I will come back in time.. I promise!" said Ria starting to turn away
"Alright, don't break that promise or you'll not be leaving this castle at all" said the guard walking away back to his post.
Ria ran off down the dirt path letting the wind blow through her raven-black hair, her sea green eyes watered from the wind.
She continued on until she could run no more coming around a bend that entered into the lush forest. Ria walked quietly through kicking a rock into a stream with annoyance.
"Why is it that none of us ever get to see the outside world anymore?" said Ria talking to no one in particular.
"Its all because of that stupid prophecy.. why can't I have been born after it had been fulfilled? continued Ria.
"Ack! I'm such a whiny person!" exclaimed Ria angerly.
Ignoring her constant questions running through her head Ria walked down the forest's path enjoying the fresh air and the singing of the stream that rushed by. Ria finally arrived at her favorite tree which she had built a small platform on top where her many books and artwork stayed. Climbing a rope that hung down Ria swiftly arrived at the platform which was a good 60 feet high, she liked the privacy and height that it offered.
Rummaging through her many drawings Ria pulled out the one that she had been working on for a while now, it was a picture of the Black Stag. No one had ever seen the Black Stag but they had heard tales of its beautiful stature and its massive rack of ivory antlers that it so proudly carried. Ria had drawn the Black Stag to the best of her abilities and as accurately as she could. Ria lost track of time with all her drawing and reading and as the sun started to fall over the mountains and plains Ria fell asleep.
