Chapter 1.

A long time ago in a faraway land, when there were magical beings, sorcerers and sorceresses. Druids, witches, wizards, ogres. Fairies and potions all around the world, there was a kingdom called Elywoods.

In this remarkable kingdom, there lived a kind King and Queen; King Edmund and Queen Renelda, who ruled the kingdom justly.

The king and Queen were a handsome pair, flourishing in all ways that noble rulers with pure hearts were meant to. All things good were theirs. All things they desired, they had. Rich lands, vast in all gifts. Great people. Rich crowns of gold and precious gems. They had everything- except one.

The cry of a wee one was amiss within the palace walls. Giant walls that towered above everyone only echoed the voices of longing that came from the Kind King and Queen, who loved each other, immensely.

Each time the beautiful Queen Renelda cried; her heart heavy with the yearning to carry a babe to call her own, the kind, handsome King Edmund, would give her a reassuring embrace to hold her together.

But even kind embraces soon wear thin and the reality of life glares before one’s eyes.

Soon, obvious failures engulf a person so deep that they lose themselves to the abyss of despair. And so was the lot of beautiful Queen Renelda.

The balls and festivities of the kingdom, which were her favorite avenues of amusement soon became a reminder of her failure to bear an heir for the McLeod house. Sadness soon became her friend and slowly, she slipped away from the King’s grasp of love.

In those days, there were travelling people of supernatural abilities that went from kingdom to kingdom, displaying their gifts and arts for anyone to patronize. All around the kingdom of Elywoods, there were rumors that a powerful sorceress was passing by and intended to visit the kingdom.

Even within the castle walls, the rumors had gained ground. Talks about her powerful magic filtered through the walls and soon reached the ears of the good Queen.

Servants talk. Everyone knows that. But this talk was one that should never have reached Queen Renelda’s ears, for once it did, the pull was too great to overcome.

Night and day, she sought the alcoves of the great stone castle, seeking knowledge for the exact time that the sorceress was expected in the kingdom. The Queen, who had avoided food for months and was soon very frail, had found a reason to eat again as she waited patiently for the sorceress to arrive.

Alas! The day had come. The sorceress was in the kingdom. It seemed the sorceress herself had wanted the Queen to find her, for the news of her arrival floated like wisps to the ears of the Queen, luring her out of the walls of the castle into the dark night of Elywoods.

In a deep dark cave, where a fresh cascade of water gushed with life at the entrance, there abided the sorceress. Covered in a dark cloak to match the night and avoid eyes, for what would people say, when they see the good Queen visiting the cave of the sorceress.

Queen Renelda entered the cave.

Eerie in all imagination, the cave was extremely murky, smelling of wet earth and rot at the same time. There was a dank odor that smelled of blood. Yet, Queen Renelda found herself drawn to the scents. A certain golden and bluish glow streamed up ahead in the cave, dragging the Queen’s eyes from the sounds of snickering and squeaking that came from one section of the cave.

Just as she turned the corner into the glow, she heard a voice, cold and detached, fill the entire cave.

“Welcome, Queen Renelda!” The voice cried.

The Queen stilled in her steps and staggered back. Fear suddenly gripped her. Had she made a mistake by coming here alone? She thought.

“Don’t be afraid.” The voice continued. “You have come to the right place.”

The Queen spun around the spot, but found no one. She was alone.

“Come into the light, your majesty.” The voice drawled, eerily.

The queen followed the orders and stepped into the glow. It felt warm and tingly and soon, it crippled her and she found herself upon her knees, her hands fixed immobile to the ground by a powerful force. The queen grimaced in pain, but even the pain from the force was too great for her to scream.

“Don’t be afraid, they wouldn’t bite. They are just my sprites that are here to ensure that I am not harmed.” The sorceress drawled.

“Pl…Pleas… tell them…tell them to let me go…” Queen Renelda cried, hurtfully.

The Sorceress glared at her in a smug look and waved her hands in the air. Then all was quiet. Cold sweats trailed down the back of the Queen as she rose up.

Standing face to face with the sorceress, whose face was covered in the darkness, the queen spoke.

“I wouldn’t harm you… I am just here to seek…”

“An heir to the McLeod King.” The sorceress smiled beneath the darkness.

Queen Renelda stared at the woman shocked. Her gaze fell upon the many hands that sprouted from the sorceress. It was frightening. The woman was frightening. How did she know? She wondered.

“I know all your thoughts. And I know what would make you happy, your majesty. But in order to give you this, I want something in return.”

The queen, still surprised at the Sorceress’ knowledge of the depths of her heart, asked the sorceress to speak, for she was queen and would grant her everything in gratitude.

The Queen was always too nice. Her kindness was sometimes a blessing and a curse.

“A home to call my own, for I have wandered so long and I grow weary. So give me a home and I would give you what you seek.”

The queen stuttered, wondering at such a mundane request. In an instant, without thinking, she agreed, not knowing to what she had agreed. The sorceress gave a grin so dark that if the queen could see it, she would have walked away and never returned.