The Truth Over The Wall

Chapter 1 Part II: Her Own Hero

Another story that might catch Fate's attention would be the one I will tell you now. I will try to be quick about this one.

                                                      Her Own Hero

Do you remember Princess Claire? Yes, the heartbreaker. And Prince Henry? I know you hate him. But listen.

Just listen.

The palace of Tafah looks like a jewel box. The walls are round and smooth and blinding white marble. And the turrets are tall and capped with beautiful, bright hats.

And the walls are carved with people, stories and words that humans used to speak to the winds and earth. Before they forgot that the winds even had a voice.

King Leopold had five children. He had eight brothers who had their own children. And their wives had come from abundant royal families with cousins and aunts and uncles to fill a village.

Needless to say, it was a large family.

There is a beautiful, ancient forest that surrounds the palace of Tafah. And one time too many King Leopold had been made to realize that there were witches living in that wood.

And once people walked into the woods? They did not walk back out.

King Leopold sent a messenger to the witches, carrying his word that they should leave.

And so Tessa, their Queen, killed the messenger. But she was gracious enough to leave the bloodied corpse on the gates.

And this prompted Leopold to launch an attack on the witches and kill their Queen.

Tessa's granddaughter Fiona swore vengeance on Leopold. She would end his family and she would sit on his throne as Queen.

And so it began.

After four hundred and fifty five years the last of Leopold's family was a Prince named Henry who married a princess named Claire.

And together they welcomed into the world their beloved daughter: Hanalea.

Hanalea had never set foot in Tafah. Since the time she had been born she had been kept hidden away from the battle in her maternal grandfather's castle.

And from the moment she turned five she tried every trick she knew to run away.

She had made it past her nanny, down the stairs, through the stables upon a horse when...

Sir Richard grabbed Hanalea off the horse and began carrying her back.

"That time," She told Sir Richard crossing her arms, "I almost had you."

"Indeed you did," The kindly knight nodded, "I guess I have to be very, very careful to make sure that doesn't happen."

"But it could," Hanalea wriggled in his arms so she could face him "Someday maybe? It could?"

Sir Richard sighed and looked down and said, "Maybe."

"Maybe," Hanalea nodded to herself.

Maybe not? That's true.

But maybe yes? Just maybe?

Yes.

Henry and Claire were loath to leave their child behind in Marabeck while they faced Fiona's army. But Princess Hanalea was all that was left of Leopold's blood, and a dream of a free Tafah.

They fought side by side for their people for eighteen years. And they died in battle.

Their daughter was only sixteen.