Chapter Five

It was finally getting dark, I noticed since I have been here that the days seemed much longer then they used to be back at home. Then again, maybe we were just passing through a denser part of the forest and I only assume it's getting dark because of the trees. I learned from Bemus that it had been a week and three days since we had passed through the mirror and into this strange and dangerous world. And I still haven't found a way to escape, even though I know it would be pointless since I have no idea the direction of what I was even looking for and it would be my luck that I would wander into the goblin camp again. Maybe it's a mirror in the woods. I thought to myself. Ah man, wouldn't that be neat and convenient? I snorted a laugh and Bemus who had been quiet for the last thirty minutes, made glances at me like I was the weirdo.

I had been away from home for a long time, and I wondered if Mom and Allen were out there searching for me. I even wondered if they had told my birth dad that I was missing and if he even cared. Maybe I was a distant memory to everyone now and they already held a funeral for me. I also wondered if my disappearance was big enough that I was put on the local news or if I was just another missing person face on the wall they have at Walmart, hoping that someone would see it and keep an eye out for me. Or in a morbid twist, what if I was already dead and this was a journey to the afterlife. And I actually fell down the stairs in the barn and broke my neck and they found me dead. That would be my luck after all.

I had to pinch myself to make sure that I was still alive, after all I had to be. I felt pain, I could feel my heart beating in my chest. The cuts on my arms and legs had bleed and already scabbed up. I was still alive, just simply trapped in a nightmare. Adn the more time I spent in this world, the more I began to believe that this was all real. After all, if it was a dream, I would have woken back up.

When the trees cleared we came to a very large mound of dirt. It had grass growing over the top as if it was just a huge hill. I yelped when at the base it moved and opened up for us. I gripped the back of Eastons military coat as we walked under the opening of the mond. I looked up with awe when the mond closed back up, it was as if we were in another world. There was a sky full of stars and trees growing beneath and we stood on a cobblestone walkway.

And in front of us was the wall of a large castle. I was in awe, at the sheer beauty of the fortress. Its walls were painted white, and it was brightly lit. Colorful flowers and vines lined themselves at the bottom and attempted to climb up the stone walls. If it was the day, and the sun hit the walls I wouldn't be surprised if it glittered. "Welcome home," Bemus smiled at me and we moved towards the large cast wooden door with symbols and swirls engraved in the wood. "Open the Gate!" Bemus put his hand on either side of his mouth to amplify his sound, tilting his head up towards the top of the wall, two heads popped up over the top. I could barely see that one of the guards on the top had large horns as if they were deers.

"For who?" Someone shouted back.

"For us!" Bemus shouted in reply.

"Who is us?" I mentally facepalmed. Easton sighed. But I couldn't help but laugh at this, Monty Python anyone?

"Us down here!" Bemus shouted, crossing his arms, clearly getting annoyed. I wanted to laugh at the fact that Bemus was getting angry, normally he is such a happy person that it was hard to comprehend the fact that he could even get angry

"Who is down there? We open the doors for just anyone."

"We are part of the Erlkings elite guard!" Bemus was practically foaming at the mouth. "So there! Now open the gate!" Bemus yelled, his face was beet red and his veins looked like they were about to pop.

"Captain Easton from the Archery Division, chosen as an Elite Guard to protect the Princess," Easton shouted, resting his hand gently on my shoulder. "Along with me is the Elking's changeling daughter straight from the human realm, as well as her appointed bodyguard Lieutenant Bemus beside her, who is also part of the Elite Guard. Will you open the Gate kind and loyal sirs?"

"Yes, of course, Captain." Easton sighed, crossing his arms as the gate began to lift. It made a loud creaking noise, I covered my ears as it went up. Dirt and rocks dropped from its spikes. I smiled up at Easton, he was so cool right then, and so calm. When I looked over at Bemus, he stood there like a dope head with his mouth hanging right open.

"Oh yeah, they open the gate for you." Bemus snorted in disbelief, clearly jealous of Easton.

"It's how you word your sentences," Easton commented in his rare but quiet voice. I followed the two through the gate, when we were past, it fell up with a loud bang as well as in a cloud of dust. I followed them through the courtyard that sat behind the gate. Chickens nestled by the cart with hay and on many other things that littered the courtyard. Most things looked like equipment for war. They led me to a tiny wooden door that had a dark and grim stairwell made of worn-down stone. Inside the castle, they gave me no time to gawk at the magnificent halls and wonderful artwork that hung on the walls.

It was no longer white like the outside but was covered with many colors, mostly greens, and browns. And there were so many plants that it seemed as if we could still be in the forest. We came to a throne room, and that is where we had stopped. Tapestries hung from the rafters, two thrones made of vines and had little flowers growing around the vines, they sat in the center of the long, large room. Sitting atop the largest throne was an older man. He wore a dark green robe, his long white hair was thinning and he had a white beard that landed on his lap. He looked tired and bored. But he carried an aura of power, a person to be feared. The King. I thought silently.

"Good work knights." His voice boomed, echoing in the hall. I looked at Easton and Bemus. They were kneeling before him with their heads bowed. Easton had taken his bow off, setting it on the floor in front of him. "It is late, you were to be here sooner and I wish to retire to my chambers for the night, so I take my leave." He stood up, there was a bright yellow hue that followed him. His bones seemed to bellow behind him as if it was alive. "We will talk in the morning, daughter." He bellowed walking down to the door on the right of the room. "Good night."

That was it?

****

I was standing alone in a garden that was once so beautiful, but now was long destroyed. The plants were nothing more but ash, some were uprooted and thrown all about as if someone was simply taking out the weeds. Seeing this once beautiful garden in the shape it was in made my heart cry out for justice. I had no doubt this was because of him.

Strong arms grabbed me at my waist pulling me to their chest, I leaned into the embrace, closing my eyes. No words were uttered between us, not even a sigh. There was nothing but silence. His arms were strong and made me feel safe as he stood there holding me, he even kissed me on the top of my head. I wanted to stay like this forever.. No confusion, no anger, no fear. Just this, in the cocoon of this man's arms.

I opened my eyes, waking up from that dream. I knew that it was a dream, but it was so realistic and it was such a wonderful dream. I wished that it was sture.

His touch lingered on my skin as I sat up, as if it was burned on like a tattoo. I looked around at my surroundings, my eyes were taking their sweet time to adjust to the lighting. The room I was in was unfamiliar to me; there was a vanity with a tall back chair, the large window, and the bed that I was in were different. I was frightened for a moment and then I remembered that the Erlking had given me. Bemus and Easton had walked me here last night, I didn't even change out my clothes when I came in. I simply laid on the bed and passed out, I hoped that this was no one else's room, but no one came to wake me adn when I first walked in the room it looked as if it sat untouched for a very long time.

There came a knock to the large wooden door, it startled me. "Princess," an unfamiliar voice called from the other side. "Are you awake?" I said nothing and laid back down. Closing my eyes, I wasn't ready to see anyone.