As I am walking through a majestically enchanting meadow I am imagining it being a perfect place for young lovers to have
secretly stole away to be to together under the moonlight. The spray of prismatic colors blanketing the seemingly endless meadow is so dramatic that I am almost hypnotized by it. The loving caress of the ever so sleight breeze bathes me with kisses from the fragrant aromas coming from the different wild flowers surrounding me. Mesmerized I begin daydreaming of castles and other far away places that only young girls would dream of. Coming out of my reverie I realize that I had walked all the way through the meadow only to find myself just outside a dying valley with a grove of trees encircling it.
Looking through the eyes of innocence I tried to imagine the valley as it once was but couldn''t. I wondered what could have caused such decay in one area when everything around except the valley and trees was flourishing with life. Curious I was just about to step through the first row of trees when all of a sudden a voice boomed from out of nowhere.
"My dear Raelianna, don''t go any further. I implore you. DO NOT GO ANY FURTHER. There is danger here that goes beyond anything your mind could fathom. Please don''t go into the Valley. Please I beg of you not to go any further. Please turn around and go back the way you came. The danger is so extreme that it would drive even the sanest of men insane. Please Raelianna don''t go any further!" The voice pleaded as it faded away. Startled by the ominous voice I just stood there for a few moments. "This is nonsense." I told myself. I couldn''t think of any possible way this valley could harm me, but something in the back of my mind told me to be careful. I was just about to step into the trees when a little fawn jumped out stopped and looked at me and turned around and ran back into the trees. Chasing after the fawn laughing I forgot all about the voice. I ran after the fawn until exhaustion set in from the course of the last few days. I found a clearing that was shaped like a crescent moon with a pile of rocks at the tip to the north. I went over to the rocks and sat down. I had only been there a moment when I started to notice my surroundings were changing. I wasn''t really able to take stock in the changes because I heard a rustling noise behind me. I turned around just in time to see a Black Robed
figure step into the clearing. Taking a few steps back, wanting to keep as much distance between the figure and I as possible, I find myself backing into another figure. I feel my arms being grabbed and I was being pulled to the
ground by the one behind me and now two others. It seemed the more I struggled the more insistent they became and with more urgency. It was evident to me that they weren’t going to let go so I started to struggle even more. By now I had counted six figures, two on either side of me holding me down, the first one I saw and the one behind me holding my head. I don’t know how long this went on but when they had me firmly to the ground I knew that I was in real trouble. The first one I saw stood directly over me and was about to do something when all of us heard a blood curdling scream off in the distance to the left of us. Hearing the cry gave me renewed hope so I started to fight back again to no avail. I then hear another cry much the same as the first only closer this time. The robed figure that was standing over me turned and ran towards the cry and out of the corner of my eye I caught a flash of the sun shining off of something shiny as the robed figure cried out in agony as it dropped to the ground. Seeing this the ones holding me loosened their grip on me. Hoping this would work in my favor I jumped on the opportunity to get away only to have them grip down even tighter and with more force. The one holding my head ran towards where the first one went down. It was then I caught sight of a sword making a graceful arc throughting its mark taking down the second robed figure with ease. Seeing this, the others let go of me and ran. Realizing that I had no way of defending myself from the new arrival I started to get up hoping to get away before whoever it was got to me. Unfortunately I fell to the ground immediately after trying to stand. I had somehow injured my ankle in the struggle. All I could do was sit there and hope for the best. When I looked up once again I was looking into a very gentle face with concern in his eyes. He sheathed his sword and reached out his hand to me in a friendly manner. He helped me back over to the pile of rocks. Gently taking my boot off he told me that it was just a sprain. “My name is Breighton Trayven. You probably don’t remember me because you were a mere babe when I last saw you. I am or should I say I was a friend of your parents. When I lost track of you I thought I had failed your father. I know you are probably confused, tired and a little lost due to everything you’ve been through over the past few months. I lost track of you when your mother was taken and I have been searching for you and your sister ever since. Your father made me promise to watch over you if something should happen to him and your mother. I can’t explain everything because I do not know all of it, but after you have had a full meal and some rest I will do my best to tell you all that I know, okay?” He explained. Weary from the altercation all I could do was nod my head in agreement. He then picked me up and started off to the east of the clearing. We hadn’t gone very far before we entered a campsite. Now I realized how he got to the clearing so quickly and how he knew someone was in danger. He was close enough to have heard my cries during my struggle. He very gently set me down upon the ground next to the still burning fire, before he set about fixing us something to eat. While he was doing this it gave me a chance to think about the voice that tried to keep me from going into the valley. Looking back on it now I realized that I had heard that voice before, but I couldn’t remember from where. I must have been completely worn out because I only vaguely remember eating. The next morning I woke up to the smell of coffee and bacon. Rolling over to face the fire I see Breighton with a frying pan over the fire. He hadn’t seen that I was awake so he was surprised when I started to giggle. I couldn’t help but laugh at the way he had his forehead all scrunched up like he was thinking really hard on something. Propping my head up with my right hand and say, “Are you always up so early?” “Yeah I am usually up before daybreak. Breakfast is ready.” He stated cheerfully. Groaning at his cheerfulness I took a plate from him. We ate quietly and were about to gather up the dishes when a couple of robed figures, much the same as I had encountered the day prior, jumped into the campsite. Breighton yelled for me to hide. Quickly I found a group of bushes that had just enough room for me to sit in and look out and still be undetected. Once I was hidden I was able to watch Breighton in the battle in awe. The figures kept yelling, “Give us the girl and we will spare your life!” Breighton gave his answer with one graceful swing of his sword taking one down with ease. All I kept seeing robed figures dropping left and right until finally the ones that were left, I counted six total, turned and fled.