Freya's POV

I woke up with an excruciating pounding in my head. The darkness I found myself in was slowly evaporating as I opened my heavy eyes. It took me a few blinks to finally get them open.

When I opened my eyes I was awestruck by the room I was in. It had cream coloured walls and there was a big mahogany closet across from the big bed I was laying in. The bed covers were a deep red colour with lots of swirly patterns.

Just as I turned my head I came face to face with a woman. I was immediately startled by her appearances and I couldn't help but to let out a small scream.

"Oh I'm so sorry miss. I didn't mean to scare you." She said. I looked at her with wide eyes as I took in her appearance. She resembled the features of a dear with ears that poked out of her dark brown hair and she had freckles across her nose that emphasised her doe like features.

"W-Who are you?" I asked her bewildered.

"Oh where are my manners? I'm Moira." She said with a calming smile that made me relax. She looked to be around her 40's and she had a motherly aura about her.

"It's nice to meet you Moira. I'm..." I said as I tried to remember my name, but I couldn't. I searched through my brain, but there was only blanks. How could I forget my own name?

"I...I don't remember." I said as I looked back at Moira.

"You don't remember?" She asked concerned.

"No. All I can remember is running through the forest before I fell into a black pit of darkness." I said as I recalled the only things I can remember.

Moira stared at me with concern as I felt tears forming in the back of my eyes.

"Why can't I remember?" I asked.

"I don't know...wait I found something in your pockets maybe it will jog your memory." As she grabbed the thing that was laying on the table next to my bed.

"It's a letter." She said as she handed me the folded letter.

I quickly read through the letter.

"It's addressed to a Freya, do you think it's me?" I asked.

"I believe so, after all it was with you."

"Who's Javier?" I asked as I looked down at the signed name.

"I don't know, I thought you would." Moira said, but I simple shook my head no.

A silence fell between us as my thoughts raced with millions of questions. Who was I? Why was I running in the forest? How did I get here? Where was I? The last two questions got me by surprise and I quickly voiced them to Moira.

"Where am I and how did I get here?" I asked.

"Your in the kingdom of Etheria and the king brought you here." She replied simply.

"The king?!" I asked with shock.

"Yes king Ronin. He found you in the forest being chased by wolves."

"Wolves?!"

"Yes you're quite lucky he was hunting otherwise the wolves would've caught you." She said.

"I must thank him immediately." I said as I readied myself to get up.

"Oh no no no." Moira said as she pushed me back down." You should rest a little longer, you can thank him later."

I only nodded as I laid back down. I could thank the king later.

"Well I must get going, I'll check on you later again. Do you need anything before I leave?" She asked and I shook my head.

She gave me a last tender smile before she turned around and left.

I threw my head against the pillow as I looked up at the ceiling. My thoughts were running wild once more as I asked question after question.

After a while my eyes started to droop and I let out a yawn before I laid back waiting for sleep to claim me.

-*-
Ronin's POV

I was sitting in my study when a small knock came to the door.

"Come in." I said in a low growl.

"Sire the girl woke up." Moira said as she stepped inside closing the door behind her.

"Did she? And who is she?" I asked curiously.

"She doesn't remember. She didn't even remember her own name. But we did deduct that her name is Freya according to a letter I found in her pocket."

"Freya..." I said.

"Yes and you were right." She said.

"About what?"

"Her powers. They are very strong, I could feel them." She said.

"Who do you suppose she is?" I asked.

"I don't know sire, but maybe her memory would return soon." She said and I nodded.

"I want you to treat her with the proper care and make sure she is well fed. Tell her she can stay as long as she pleases." I said.

"Yes sire." Moira said with a bow before she turned around to leave, but I quickly called her back.

"Moira."

"Yes?"

"Don't let her near my wing, I don't want her to see me. We might scare the poor girl off." I said in a gruff voice.

"Yes sire." She said one last time before she left and I was left alone once again.

-*-
Freya's POV

It was a while later when I was awoken by Moira. She brought me a tray of food and my stumach immediately let out a growl. We both giggled and I quickly devoured my meal.

Moira kept me company and told me all about the kingdom I found myself in. She said it was the kingdom of skin changers.

"Why do you have deer features?" I asked.

"Well, it's because the kingdom is cursed." She explained.

"Cursed? Why?" I asked.

"I'm afraid that's not my story to tell." She said and I dropped the subject as soon as I saw her saddened eyes. I quickly changed the subject by asking questions about her.

She told me that she was the head of the castle servants and that she 44 summers of age. She told me all about the history of Etheria and I was entranced by its story.

I wanted to tell her stories in return but I remembered nothing, not who I was or where I came from.

Moira must have noticed my behavior changing, because she suddenly patted me on the back.

"Don't worry Freya, I'm sure it will come back to you in time." She said with an encouraging smile and I felt hopeful.

She sat with me a while longer as we talked about anything and everything. I enjoyed her company and I could see we were going to become friends.

A while later we heard a knock at the door before I girl poked her head through the gap.

"Ella! What are you doing here?" Moira asked.

"I heard she was awake and I wanted to meet her." The younger girl said as she stepped inside.

"Ella this is Freya, Freya this is Ella." Moira introduced us. I looked up at the girl and gave her a smile.

"Hi, it's nice to meet you." She said.

"And it's nice to meet you." She gave me a smile back. Ella was a petite girl and resembled the features of a mouse. Her mouse like features looked familiar,but I couldn't place my finger on it.

Ella quickly joined in the conversation and I found myself laughing at all the tales they told me about the castle staff and their daily lives.

Ella looked about 15 summers and I suddenly wondered how old I was. If only I could remember.

They talked for a while longer before they announced that it was getting late and I should get some rest. I nodded in agreement before they left me to sleep.

My eyes was once again fixated on the ceiling above. Maybe some of my memories will return to me tomorrow, I thought before I fell asleep.

-*-

The next morning I was once again awoken by Moira. She came in with a breakfast tray filled to the brim with food.

After I fininshed my breakfast I asked Moira if I could see the king today.

"I'm sorry Freya, but the king is busy. But he did wish to send his regards and to tell you that you're welcome to stay here as long as you liked." She said and I nodded in thanks.

"Well can I at least meet the rest of the staff?" I asked and she nodded eagerly.

She quickly went to take the tray back to the kitchen before she returned to help me search for a dress. When she opened the closest I was surprised to see all the the dresses that was stuffed inside.

Moira looked through all of the dresses before she took one out she finally liked. The dress she chose was a simple lilac coloured everyday dress and I immediately liked it.

She showed me to the bathroom and I quickly went to put it on. After I was dressed I looked myself over in the mirror. I had dark brown tresses that hung to my shoulders with bright blue eyes. I couldn't help but wonder if I looked like my parents. Did I even know my parents? Were the worried about me? I quickly shook my head to clear my thoughts.

When I came out Moira told me that it looked wonderful on me before she led me through the castle.

The castle was huge and I was mesmerized with every step I took. Moira also introduced me to all the servants that passed by and I soon discovered that all the servants were very friendly.
Moira showed me all over the place and I was more mesmerized by each and every room. We walked down a long hallway before Moira turned right. But I did notice the door on the left side. Moira showed me all the rooms except the room I noticed in the hall and I got curious. But I didn't question the room thinking it was only a storage room of sorts.

After the grand tour I couldn't help thinking that the castle didn't have a library and I wondered why. But then I remembered the other door and thought that it must have been the door to the library and I knew I would have to explore to see where that door leads.

Moira lastly dragged me to the kitchen where she introduced me to the cook. The cook was round with dog like features.

When I looked around I saw that all the servants had animal features and I wondered back to the curse Moira told me about. I was curious about it but knew it wasn't my place to ask.

I took a liking to the cook almost immediately. She enlisted my help and started to show me how to prepare certain dishes. I spent the rest of my day helping the cook in the kitchen.

That night when I laid back in bed I thought about my family. I also thought of the kindness with which the servant treated me and I felt a calming sense of relieve overflowing me. Even though they weren't family and I hardly knew them I felt comfortable with them.

I might not know who my parents are or where my home is, but for the time being I could see myself being contempt here. That is until I find a way to find my parents.

After all the servants already excepted me as their own even though they didn't know who I was and I felt eternally grateful to them and the king.

Ah the king.

I wondered when I would be able to tell him how much I appreciated what he did for me, but it didn't look to be soon.

After all the king must be a very busy man.

That night I fell asleep trying to picture what the king would look like.