Story Online: The Story Begins

The Story Begins - Derek

The Prince awoke suddenly, sat up and put his head in his hands. He had been troubled by same dream every night for the past month now. But as all dreams are, the details were lost as consciousness took over. All he had was a mere inkling of what his dream was about. War. Bloodshed. Death. But tonight was slightly different. Tonight there was a man in his dream. A handsome young man with long silver hair, wearing a regal robe with strange symbols embroidered on it. The Prince massaged his temples and leaned back into his bed, where he fell back into troubled sleep.

The following morning, the Prince took a morning ride on his fine white steed Julther. He oredered that none of his servants and underlings escort him. He wanted to be alone to unwind and clear his mind. As he was resting at his favorite secret spot in the forest near the castle (a shady willow beside a bubbling brook), he fell asleep. This time, his dream came to him clear as crystal.

"Prince Darius... I fear it is too late for the Kingdom of Elvia..." the silver-haired man from his dream before said. "I have tried to warn you many many times, but the magic is lost in your Kingdom. I speak to you only now because this tree was from a seed from a magic grove from the Kingdom of Lostarca and the magic is still strong here. The Grey Lord from a distant land has sent his dark magic into your Kingdom, and all hope is lost here. Your only salvation is to travel to the Kingdom of Gaebiland and search for a Queen. Only she can lead you to the cure you need to save your Kingdom and indeed, the entire earth you stand upon. Now make haste. You will find some items within the willow that will aide you greatly. Hurry, Prince Darius, Hurry."

Prince Darius awoke, his mind as sharp and clear as could be. He stood up, reached inside a hole in the tree and retrieved a dull and tarnished sword, a silver medallion with a cloud depicted on one side and an angel on the other, and finally a long blue cloak. Wearing these newly attained items, he rode Julther, swift as could be, back to his Kingdom.

Prince Darius could not believe his eyes. Within the few hours he was away, everything had turned to stone. Every man, woman, child and chicken in the village was now but a grey statue in motion. He ran into the castle, where he found his parents, King Falchion and Queen Snowaina at breakfast, forever frozen with their forks raised halfway. Prince Darius sat down and wept.

Prince Darus looked up and behind as he heard a noise behind him. It was one of the kitchen servants, a boy just a few years younger that him, who ran errands for the castle cook.

"My Prince! What evil sorcery has befallen on us! I was taking just a small nap in the Castle Garden and when i awoke..." The boy faltered and could not continue. "What should we do?" He wailed.

Prince Darius told him what to do.