My mother, was my father's mistress, but when the queen could not produce him heirs, he married my mother. I don't remember much of her, but I remember her sweet voice, telling me “our bloodline was special” and “we were one of eight.” But I could never understand, what she meant. By the time her words caught up to me, when I wanted to know, needed to know, it was to late. She was gone, caught by death.

Since then I have aged, now at sixteen, I wish to explore. For once in my life I want to go past the forest line, a place I have never known. I have explored every inch of this castle, and its grounds, but never past that forest line. Ever since I was little, a part of me has been missing, and the forest has been whispering to that part. If I go in, I can find that piece, but I ignored that erge, until I couldn’t.

The forest was deep and dark like a never ending ditch. All except for a small, blue light, that glowed brighter and brighter, as I found myself closer and closer. It seemed that the piece of me that was missing, became fuller, and fuller, almost complete, with every step. I felt a sense of peace, and quiet, that I never had in my busy castle life. There was no wonder of outside of the gates, there was no Prince Adam your father is calling for you, no Prince Adam it is time for fencing, no Prince Adam it's time for some other big event. No, instead I was just Adam, not this big figure, everyone will look up to one day. For once I was hopeful, oppose to being overwhelmed about my future. But how could this tiny blue light do all this.

Men have traveled these forest, time and time again. Why have none of them followed this light? Why have they not brought such magic to my father? When I reached the source of the light, I felt full. But how could a simple stone, fill what I couldn’t. Of course the stone was anything but simple, it was a perfect heart wrapped in thorns, with a blue light that was almost blinding. I was so caught up in awe, with this stone, I was startled by a girl behind me.

“You see the blue light too?” her words were soft and airy, and reminded me of my mother. Her Hair, raven black, just like mine. Our Violet eyes meet each others.

“Pardon,” what does she mean I can see it too? “Shouldn’t everyone be able to see it?”

“Well, no.” she picks up the stone from the grass, and walks toward me. “I brought it to Ms. Peterson, and all she saw was a stone wrapped in thorn, no one in the orphanage did. Just me”

“Then how come I can see it?”

“I don't know” We both sat in silence, in awe of this thing we now shared, just two strangers. “My name is maddilyn, but people just call me Mad”

“Why Mad?”

“Because they say i'm crazy, maybe.What about you?”

“What about me?”

“Your name?”

“Oh, prin….” no, not here, here I'm “Adam”

“Nice to meet you Adam” She paused, thinking about what to say next. “Do you feel different”

“I mean sometimes, but doesn't everyone?”

“No, I mean right now”

“Well I guess? But I don't know”

“I do, I feel my life puzzle is more complete.” in the distance a bell goes off “I must go, it's supper time.”

“Same place tomorrow?” I shout at her with a smile.

“Of course!” she shouted back, her smile matching mine. Then she was gone, and I realized in that moment it wasn’t the stone that was making me full, but her.

When I reached the castle, all was Quiet, more so than usual. Not only was it Quiet, but It was still, not even bird in the sky, or guards marching. I ran through the large wooden doors, into the entrance halls. It was the same as always, except for everyone was frozen. I ran through the castle, looking in every room, and in every one, people were frozen. I make my way to the throne room. The grand room frozen, my father frozen to the throne.

I travel past the large mot, and run around town, another place I have never been. People were frozen all around me, children frozen crying in their mothers frail arms. Men solid in place, holding wheelbarrows full of hay. Women hanging ragged and patched clothing out a line, from their window. Sewer rats in a stand still place. All around me frozen. I was absolutely revolted by the still scene around me. So perplexed considering the grand kingdom I grew up in.

Detestable or not, the whole area was frozen, and I couldn’t help but think of the blue light. Could It be, that magical light I found, causing such a sight. I couldn’t get that light out of my head, I had to see it again, and maybe get some answers. I run through the kingdom, back to the forest line, and without hesitation make my way to the center, terrified of what would happen to my home.

When I reached the stone, I investigated my surroundings, nothing but trees and grass. It was hopeless, there was nothing, no hint to what was going on. I felt more empty and lonely than ever. Until I wasn’t. I heard the crunching of leaves in the distance, and I could feel my hole being filled once more.

“Mad” I run toward the crunching “Is that you?”

“Adam, you're not frozen!” I could feel her coming closer and close.

“Neither are you?” We finally meet again. Her pale face pink, and her braided crown disheveled, from the running.

“Then why is everyone else” She asks, as we stroll back to where the stone lies to rest.

“That’s why I came back here. I thought I could find some answers”

She only nodds, when we reached the clearing, a figure was there. It wasn't human, it was made of the blue light, and was slightly blurry. She had antlers coming from her skull, and fire red hair. She was a stunning image of the cottage witch, I grew up Hearing about.

Staring at us the light spoke “Destiny has started” Her voice was fruity, and distorted “Come and find me, I'm over the Mountain.” when she looked me dead in my eyes, I felt as if my heart stopped. “Please Hurry, time is running out” And with that she was gone, and an hourglass appeared, with the phrase two days over the top.

“What does she mean?” Mad asked, as I shove the stone in my pocket.

“I know as much as you.” To be honest, I knew exactly, the secret my mother was talking about, But Mad could never know, she can not know where I come from. I follow her through the woods, into the town.

“What destiny” She let her hair follow over her shoulders, pulling out a few twigs. “I'm just supposed to reproduce and die” I don't say anything, I don't have anything else to say. “Why, are we the ones who have to do this.” She continued to walk, and I followed, no Idea of where we are going. She stops and looks at me “we are children”

“Not really” But we are still young.

“Not the point” she continued angrily through the town.

Running I caught up to her. “Ok, can you at least tell me, where we are going”

“Were you not paying attention?” rolling her eyes

“Well yeah, but isn’t the mountain that way” I point behind us.

“Yep” She heads in the right direction, and we were up the mountain.

It was a long and cold journey, but we made it to the top just before sundown. The air was crisp, like an apple, and the ground was as hard as a rock. It wasn’t the ideal place to sleep, but we only had so much time, and we needed our rest.

“I think we should make camp here” I say, trying to find a soft patch of grass. We both find shelter under a large oak tree. I take the stone out of my pocket, and watch the two change to one. “We start sunrise tomorrow” I yawn, but she was already asleep. So I let the sound of crickets lull me to sleep.

The song birds sang, and the suns rays kissed my eyeballs good morning. But what really woke me was the smell of a fire, and fried egg. I look to see Mad over a fire cooking an egg in a hollowed out log, that had been cut in half. If it wasn’t for the hunger that had come over me, I would question her.

“Great your up!” She moves the log off the fire. “Just in time.” I join her in eating the overcooked egg. “Sorry it’s a little burnt.”

“Hey, food is food, right” I can't help but laugh “but we should start heading down the mountain”

“Alright, let's go.”

We made the three hour hike, through what seemed like tree after tree. The only thing keeping me sane, was the constant conversation from Mad. No matter what she told me about her, I couldn’t help but keep my secrets. I wanted to stay Adam, as repugnant as it might be.

“You know, around you, I feel different?” She would say, while skipping along.

“Oh yeah.” I know the feeling, but I won't tell you. “How So?”

“In the orphanage, I felt like a part of me was missing, but around you, that part, that I felt was missing was there.”

“Oh” what else am I supposed to say, I feel the same way.

Time kept going, and the conversation kept flowing, until a small cottage was visible in the distance.

“Hey Mad,” She looked back at me. “I’ll race you.” and I started running.

“Hey, No fair.” She runs after me, smile across her face. “Wait up.”

“Nope, all is fair in the game of war” But I slow down, to match her.

“Well if it's war you call it, then let the battle commence!” She yelled back at me, as she ran past me.

We both ran, leaving the kingdom behind us, until we reached the cottage. “I win!” I shout, panting, resting my hands on my knees.

“Barely” she used a tree to stop herself. “Now let's get talking to this witch”