Look I caught something big!" A little girl rushed past the ladies washing clothes by the lake with a fish held by a small string wrapped around her fingers.
Water splashed everywhere as her little feet tapped the wet sand. "Nora!" A slim woman called out, stretching out her arm in front of the child to stop her.
Filled with glee, the child slid under the woman's arm and dashed right into the tents ahead.
"Oh, this child," she tittered, whilst shaking her head as she watched her run, hesitant to chase after her.
Without looking back, Nora dashed into one of the tents only to bump into someone and stumble backwards. Before she could fall, she found herself afloat mid-air and lifted her eyes.
"I'm sorry your…" She was immediately interjected by the sound of someone clearing their throat. "Um... Princess Amelia! I didn't see you."
she explained with a small smile gracing her thin lips as she tapped her toes lightly on the ground, a gesture signaling that she would like to return to her feet and stand on her own.
Returning her smile, a lady with graceful white hair peered down at Nora as her red full lips parted slightly, urging her sweet gentle voice out.
"What did I say about running around corners, Nora?" As though caught, Nora rubbed her knees together and pinched her fingers nervously. "Always keep your eyes up in case there is a predictor coming," Princess Amelia cautioned.
Instinctively, Nora swept a quick glance around and then up at the princess. "But there are no predictors here," she corrected.
The smile faded and her expression became ardent as the glint in her eyes shone brilliantly.
Even with such an expression, Nora swallowed. Something about it made her feel sceptical.
Right before her eyes, Amelia activated her magic and with a taunting voice asked, "Oh really?"
Suddenly her white hair glowed as brightly as the sun, pulling the attention of everyone present to her, just when she was sure Nora's eyes was fixated on her, she lunged forward in an attempt to scare the little one.
"Rah!"
To her amazement, Nora stayed still, admiring her instead, earning an enchanting laugher from Amelia. "Well, aren't you a brave little girl?" She winked and deactivated her magic before patting Nora's head and walked towards the tent's opening.
Watching her retreating figure, Nora's eyes widened. "Wait Princess, look! I caught a big fish today!"
Bending, she scooped up the rather small fish that had accidentally fallen when she fell and wiggled it in front of the Princess happily. "Wow! this is really good! You're getting better at Fishing!" Amelia smiled "Take it to your mama okay, she'll make it into fine fish stew for you"
"Okay!" The child ran off happily. As the child disappeared between the tents, Amelia's smile faded.
It's been two years and 8 months since the third attack and her father had began to go mad. He wouldn't even speak to her anymore because he felt as though he wasn't worthy enough to be her father much more a King.
She would often find empty bottles of wine on the floor of his room and him asleep, holding tight the picture of her mother. As she opened the tents curtains and stepped out, the women outside hurriedly rushed to greet her.
"Good morning, Your Highness."
"Good morning, Miss Enny."
"How did you sleep, Your Highness?"
"Very well thank you," Amelia responded with a light smile.
"Are you hungry, Your Highness?"
Another lady chimed in.
"Ah..."Her voice trailed off thoughtfully and the next second she shook her head. "Not now, perhaps later."
The ladies nodded in understanding and left her alone. This was how she was, like a free bird willing to do things she pleased. Amelia smiled and kicked off her shoes, prepared to assist in morning chores.
Perhaps she could summon a great wind to dry up the already washed clothes or help to make fires for breakfast. It was a weekend and Laundry day to prepare for the week ahead, so a lot of washing was going to take place.
The Lake was filled with women and children, chatting as they worked while their children played around in the sand. She smiled to herself. It hadn't been this peaceful in a while.
She sighed and made her way to the side of a young woman about her age who was bent over, her hand busy with clothes in the flowing water. Amelia straightened her dress and sat on a big stone by the woman's side.
"Ah! you finally woke, " The woman smiled brightly as she felt Amelia's presence, her eyes fixated on the clothes she was washing. "or you just stayed inside thinking too much of everything again?"
"I do not think too much, I just had a good night's sleep that's all" Amelia lied and stretched her arm to grab some clothes. "Ah ah ah!" the woman turned to Amelia pouting, "I'm done anyway, just these three that's all."
She tapped the cloths on the ground and smiled "When I'm finished you'll teach me that floating magic, Please?"
Amelia's smile widened as she answered "Most certainly Martha" The two women giggled and conversed, occasionally gasping and laughing.
Then, a terrifying scream was heard from one of the children. One that raised alarm to everyone at the lake. Children were known to scream out when playing but the shriek that emanated from the brush was horrifying.
The women at the lake turned their heads to the sound, some calling out their children's names in response to the sound to ensure their safety.
From a corner, a little boy ran towards Martha and Amelia, shaken with fear and his vision blurred with tears. Amelia picked up the child and patted his back with her eyes still searching the trees behind him.
The boy was shaking, he had goosebumps all over his body and he was breathing heavily. What would make a little child feel this much fear? A bear perhaps? If it was, the children towards them would say it.
Whatever it was must have rendered them totally speechless and petrified. Panic rose among the people as the children continued to rush to their mothers for safety with tears in their eyes.
Father's rushed out of their tents, armed with swords and arrows, ready to protect their wives and children.
"They're here, " Amelia heard Martha say before she herself eyes caught sight of what Martha had seen.
"King Aether's Soldiers." From behind the trees, they emerged like Beasts. Swords in hand and steam blowing out of their sallets.
They marched in unison and dust rose from underneath their heels, creating an eerie scene in front of the people. Amelia, feeling threatened, quickly handed the child to Martha and stepped forward, activating her magic.
"Stop right there!" She commanded in a loud tone. Her hair and hands glowing. The soldiers continued to march, ignoring her command.
Amelia spread her arms and with swift a movement of her hand, created a border that covered the expanse of the land her people resided in.
As the soldiers reached the border, they stopped due to the invisible wall obstructing them from getting to the other side. They stepped back from the border in confusion as they could not understand the magic that was used to create it.
For a few seconds, everywhere was quiet. Only the snorts of crying children and whoosh of hot early afternoon breeze could be heard. Amelia frowned at the horde of soldiers.
"What do you want?" she asked.
"We want the King" they replied.
"And Why?"
"We will not answer to you."
"The King is my father, " her white hair began to ascend as though she was about to be struck by lightning " what do you want with him?"
The soldier who Amelia concluded must be the commander looked at her. "He is needed in the Kingdom."
"For what?"
"Questioning and punishment." At that Amelia's eyes began to glow bright white, "So you think you can just walk in my kingdom and pull away my father like you're gods!?"
She began to levitate and items around her started to do the same. "If your King is so powerful, then he should come get him himself." She commanded.
"Now leave before I turn you to ashes." she said in a stern manner. The soldiers stared up at her as she glowed magnificently."So the elders didn't lie when they said she appears as though she is a goddess..."
A soldier whispered as he admired her beauty. "Fall Back!" The commander voiced out and they all obliged, turned back and marched in unison back into the woods and away from the small kingdom.
Only then did Amelia release the border she placed around the kingdom and slowly returned to the ground, her sun glowing hair gradually returning to it's natural white color.
She could feel the eyes of the people like spears stabbing into her back. But she understood them. She turned to face them and smiled wholesomely. "It is okay now... return to your duties"
She assured them and walked to the direction of her fathers tent. She heard the men sigh relief and the women whisper "It's okay's" to their children. They needed to move again, now that the bastards soldiers had found them.
>--------------------------<
He stretched his long legs and pushed his hips forward, his head rested against his index finger and thumb as he listened to his soldier speak.
"So, you're telling me, " he started and picked a berry from a bowl full of berries with his other hand and threw it in his mouth.
"That one small, pretty woman with magical gifts stopped you from bringing him here?" he laughed as he talked, his laughter echoing through the thick walls.
The commander swallowed heavily before he spoke. "Yes, My King" He nodded. The King picked up more berries. "And she had the audacity to summon me to her rat hole town called kingdom, and you could do nothing about it Gideon?"
He slid more berries into his mouth and closed his eyes as though savoring the taste.
"She had a force field around her people My Kin-"
"YOU DARE GIVE ME EXCUSES FOR YOUR WEAKNESS?!" The King rose suddenly, grabbed Gideon by his neck and lifted him off the ground.
The rest soldiers fell to the floor and placed their foreheads on the hard, cold ground shaking in fear. They could hear their commander gurgling and struggling just above them.
The King looked down at the rest of them still holding the commander in the air by the throat.
"She said I should be the one to drag her worthless father here by a collar, yes?" He asked rhetorically "Then so be it." His voice deepened.
He then released Gideon, who fell unconscious as soon as he hit the ground and walked away. "Ready the Dragons...we have a town to burn."