Aurora and the Lost Forest

The river ran backwards on the day the queen vanished.

It didn't take long for the news to pass from ear to ear, sending the entire kingdom into disarray. Not only had the beloved Queen Madeline vanished, but the river began flowing backward. And soon would completely dry up, taking away the heartbeat of the kingdom.

The kingdom of Greystone's Edge is a prosperous land. Under the 50-year reign of Queen Madeline, she has brought stability and peace. With a birds-eye view, Greystone's Edge was abundant with great big oak trees, with leaves painted in the most beautiful reds and yellows, reflecting the autumn season upon them. There are small rolling hills littered with little homesteads that make up the majority of the townsfolks. The livestock happily roam and graze freely about as residents of the kingdom. The heartbeat of Greystone's Edge is a narrow but bountiful river that flows down through the kingdom from the northern mountain, bringing fish and clean drinking water to all its people.

The castle itself resembled somewhat of a makeshift structure. With its uneven surfaces and unfinished areas, it was built entirely with whatever stone and supplies they had available at the time. With four main towers stretching higher than any other point of the castle, each one strategically placed in the north, south, east, and west to warn of any dangers off on the horizon. The standout feature of the castle was all the beautiful stained glass windows, allowing as much of the natural light in as possible, leaving very few dark corners of the castle. As most castles are built to keep the people out, Greystone's Edge was built to welcome all, where the Nobel births and the townspeople were as one. On the outer western border of the kingdom sat a dense and unpopulated forest, among the people it was known as the lost forest, on the accounts that any who enter do not return. Scared of what lurks inside, the entire kingdom dared not to set foot near its entry.

Over the last 50 years, the people of Greystone River have not experienced the darkness that once plagued this kingdom. The few old enough to remember its dark past believe the old prophecy is being fulfilled. The old prophecy written in the great book hundreds of years ago states that during the season of the blood moon, strange anomalies will unfold, and enemies of old and new will rise against the kingdom to once and for all bring upon its demise.

With fear and uncertainty ramping up throughout the kingdom, the people now look to Princess Aurora, granddaughter of Queen Madeline. She is next in line to ascend the throne due to a fever that took the lives of both her parents just 5 years prior. Aurora, only 17 years old has big green eyes and olive skin, her cheeks flushed red from all her time out in the sun. Her hair was short, just shy of touching her shoulders, and was as black as a moonless night. Although Aurora is next in line to rule she has no interest in performing the traditional princess duties. She prefers spending her days off exploring the depths of the land, reading books, and fantasizing about one day having her very own conquest. Having never left the kingdom, her imagination ran wild with all the wonder and exciting things that could exist out there in the unknown.

Out of all the requirements of being a princess, there was one thing she did enjoy, and that was her weekly combat training. She has been training since the age of five and has since become a skilled warrior. Although she has yet to see or experience any real war, she does tend to defeat all of her training opponents. Because of her petite frame, she chooses to go with two smaller blades which she calls cloak and dagger. 'swords are too bulky and slow, they are for men who think that being strong will defeat your enemies.'

With days passing and still no sign of the queen, Aurora sits uncomfortably on the throne, mourning over her grandmother. Fearing the safety of her grandmother and the overwhelming thoughts, of how she is not equipped to rule over her people. The throne room doors burst open! A group of soldiers fitted in fine armor and wielding swords storm to the throne. Leading the charge is a knight, Sir Lawerence, commander of the queen's guard, a loyal servant to the kingdom just as his father before him.

Aurora startled by the commotion stands to her feet. Eagerly waiting for any news about to come." Have you found her?" she asks with a glimmer of hope upon her face.

Sir Lawerence approaches the princess with weary footsteps and lowers his head in disappointment. "I apologize princess, no luck yet. However, we did find footprints leading into the lost forest."

Aurora's soft glimmer of hope slowly fades from her face, "Are you sure? Is nowhere else you think she could be?."

Sir Lawerence meets Aurora's gaze, "We have searched every inch of the kingdom, high and low there is no other sign of her anywhere."

"Princess, I'm sorry to say this, but if she has gone into the forest, there is nothing we can do for her," Sir Lawrence explains cautiously. This does not go over well with Aurora, her pain quickly fades to anger.

She begins to shout "How do we even know the stories are true? When is the last time anyone has gone into the forest and never returned? Has it happened in my lifetime, what about in yours Sir Lawerence" Aurora belts in a rhetorical tone.

Sir Lawerence stands there, with his head down in defeat he whispers back "No princess. No man alive in the kingdom has seen such a thing with their own eyes, but"

She abruptly interrupts Sir Lawerence while pacing back and forth.

"That is because they are just stories, no one knows for sure what is out there in the lost forest. What I do know is my grandmother and your queen is out there! And someone has to save her!"

"Are there any of you brave enough to go?"

The aroma of sweat and fear fills the room. Eyes begin surveying each other, and not a single hand is raised. Everyone in that room knows whoever is tasked with going into the forest will ultimately not be coming back alive. Aurora looks out at the faces, these are the most strong, skilled, and brave soldiers in the kingdom, and not one dared to raise their hand. She can see how much everyone believes in the stories of the lost forest. She knows that once fear corrupts the mind it is doomed to fail. Sir Lawerence stands there with a broken ego and bruised pride, Aurora gently places her hand on his shoulder, and with respect and understanding she tells him,

"I cannot ask you to do something that I would not do myself, so I alone, will go find her."

A sudden gasp erupts over the room, Sir Lawrence tries to reason with her.

"Princess you are the last of your family, with the queen gone you are next in line to sit on the throne, and you are but just a girl. You must not go into the forest" exclaimed Sir Lawerence. With soft eyes, she looks at Sir Lawerence and says

"I need to go find my grandmother and the kingdom will be just fine. I'm leaving it in good hands while I'm gone. You, Sir Lawrence, will sit on the throne in my absence." he tries to plead his case for her not to leave but she stops him,

"It is what I command of you Sir Lawerence, do you wish to disobey your princess?" Sir Lawerence lowers his head

"No princess, you honor me greatly, I will take good care of the kingdom until your return."

"I must leave at once, we do not have time to spare, please bring me my armor and blades"

Aside from those in this room, no one must know that I have left, or where I am going. The kingdom is already under a lot of turmoil."

Sir Lawerence simply nods in agreement, but before he carries out her command.

"Might I suggest taking the great book with you? There could be vital information inside that could help you on your journey, and help you to return safely." Aurora graciously agrees.

Aurora stands battle-ready as she says her goodbyes to Sir Lawrence. The great book rests in a satchel strung across her shoulders. Her armor is as black as her hair and made of thin steel, compared to the armor of the queen's guard it is about half the weight. It is fitted only to cover her shoulders and torso or as she would say 'all the important stuff,' she prefers this to the more traditional armor because, for her, she needs to be able to move around more freely, since size and strength are not her strong suit.

Aurora begins her journey by sneaking out through a secret passage of the castle. As she makes her way down to the edge line of the forest, the closer she gets the quieter it becomes. She can no longer hear the birds or the bustle of the kingdom. The air is still, it's as if no life exists in this place. As she stands now face to face, only a few feet from the forest, the silence becomes deafening. Her heart begins to beat faster, beating so loud as if was pounding in her ears. She starts to second guess herself and if she can do this. She looks down and notices the footprints leading into the forest. With a slight tremble in her hands, she turns around one final time to look at the kingdom to the north, soaking it in for a brief moment. She turns her gaze back to the forest, takes a deep breath, and makes her way inside...