The Heart’s Truth

My heart pounded in my ears as I reached the top of the staircase. I held my breath and listened for any movement behind me. I did not think I was being followed, but it was only a matter of time before the Council would come searching for me. “This is not a kingdom I want any part in ruling,” I thought to myself. Looking over my shoulder into the familiar shadows below, the fear I felt was replaced with anger. The network of caverns and tunnels that I had always known as “home”, now seemed nothing more than a glorified dungeon. I took in a deep breath and allowed that anger to fuel my actions. The air felt heavy as I slid through the old, barracaded passage to my left and kept moving through the darkness as quietly as possible.

After what seemed like an hour of climbing, a strange, new scent hit my nose. The new scent made my heart flutter, but it skyrocketed when a loud, wailing siren suddenly went off in the distance below me. “Crap,” I muttered, “Those old farts caught on faster than I expected.” Adrenaline flooded my system and I barreled forward. The passage before me seemed to change drastically and I paused. I threw caution to the wind, because I knew that if I hesitated at all, the Shadow Guard could find me. “I can’t go back now...I WON’T,” I breathed and pushed forward. Suddenly, the ground gave way beneath me and gravity pulled me down. My heart jumped into my throat, cutting off a scream as I struggled to gain footing. I lost that battle and roughly rolled down an embankment. I grunted when I came to a sudden stop with a hard THUD against a boulder. I winced when I could feel the bruise on my right side already forming. “Well,” I groaned as I pulled myself up, “That was graceful.” I could not help the smirk that formed at my own sarcasm.

Brushing myself of what I realized to be sand, I finally looked around to get my bearing. I was in a cavern that seemed much brighter than I was used to. A warm breeze rustled my hair, and I followed its direction. When I turned, bright slivers of gold came through thick, hanging foliage and danced across the ground before me. I walked up to it and cautiously raised my hand. The facets of light played across my skin and my hand trembled. Taking a deep breath, I pushed forward through the hanging ivy, and my eyes instantly shut as they were assaulted with a brightness I had never known. In hearing the most peculiar sound, I slowly opened my eyes with slight apprehension. My heart skipped at the sight of what seemed like thousands of tiny mirrors dancing across endless blue. I had never seen such a sight! As I approached, a barrel of water crashed down and came towards my feet. I recognized the sound as what had peaked my curiosity. “What a calming sound,” I whispered to myself.

I had only ever known the myths and legends of the ocean that was now in front of me. I could feel my anger flare once more as I realized everything I had ever known or been taught was a lie. Tears threatened to fall, but I held them back. I was not going to allow the Council to have anymore power over me. As I took a deep breath of the salty, but fresh, air, I reached into the collar of my tunic and pulled out a long silver chain. Looking down, the silver, heart-shaped locket was warm against my palm. My mind was racing as I traced the etching that depicted a rose blooming beneath what I had learned to be called a “moon”.

Years ago, my Grandmother had given me the locket in secret and told me, “The truth of our past will one day come to light, but you must guard this and NEVER tell anyone you have the key.” Before I could ask what she meant by those words, my Grandmother disappeared. For so long, I had been left with so many questions, constantly hounding the Council on the whereabouts of my Grandmother. They would always give my lip service of their concern, but there never was any leeway in her disappearance. My mind went back to several weeks before when fate set a new course for my life, and my questions finally started to be answered.

“Queen Kara!” I rolled my eyes and groaned internally before I turned and faced a particular thorn in my side. A tall, thin man with slicked back salt and pepper colored hair, rushed up to me through the corridor. He adjusted his black, velvet tunic as he got near, and I had to physically hold myself back from bolting in the opposite direction. Plastering a sweet smile upon my lips, I spoke, “Yes. Lord Barthorne. What can I do for you?” He must have been running around looking for me, because he seemed out of breath. He bowed quickly before berating me, “Your Highness, you shouldn’t be walking through these corridors without as Guard to keep you safe! It was also very difficult to locate you!”

I fought hard to keep my inner hatred for this man from showing upon my face. “My Lord, I had finished my work and just wanted to take a short walk through my kingdom. I enjoy speaking to the people and learning of any suggestions they may have,” I said before turning to avoid him seeing my eyes roll. He followed along and spoke quietly, “My Queen, there is an urgent matter the Council must discuss with you. We have an intriguing character in custody who wishes to speak to you. This particular person said ‘twas a matter of great importance.” He leaned in closer to my ear and I grimaced internally. This man! What he whispered next made me stop, “They said it had something to do with the disappearance of your Grandmother.”

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