Meadowpeak

Levi had walked for what seemed like miles lost in thought. He knew he had wandered far away from the border of the magic that protected him and the others from people who sought to destroy dragons.

He sighed and looked up through the trees as the rays from the sun danced between the branches and among the leaves, the wind softly blowing through the treetops.

He wanted this to be over. He wanted things to go back to the way they were, but most importantly, he wanted his mother back. He never should've left her like that. Now, if he never saw her again, he would only remember the hurt expression on her face, and she would never know how sorry he was.

He closed his eyes as he let out a soft moan and fell to his knees in the dirt. Why had this happened to him? He had the perfect life living in the castle as a prince with his mother. Memories of just the two of them lifted his spirit.

Even Snow White. They had been the best of friends before their parents married, but once Snow's mother had died, she was never the same. The young girl he used to chase in the market place was suddenly replaced by the monster who tripped him constantly scrapping his knees until they bled. Once his mother and her father had married, she changed into the most horrifying person he had ever known.

Levi lowered his head. He wished Snow would have remained the loving stepsister just as she was the kindest friend. He didn't understand how something like that could change a person in such a drastic way. He knew the pain of losing a parent, but that didn't turn him into a monster.

His burdens weighed down on his shoulders. He wasn't a monster yet, but... Would he become one? What if he one day became as bad as Snow or even worse? Would awakening his dragon turn him into a beast? What if he became someone who wanted to serve under Rokoda instead of standing beside Maleficent taking back the kingdom in the name of the Dragon King?

He gripped his hair as he gritted his teeth. Why was there so much pressure on him? Rumple said he was a dragon, but what if he didn't want to be one anymore? Would the dragon still makes it way out anyway? Or would he lie dormant forever?

Levi's eyes shot open as a twig broke in the distance around him. He sprang to his feet, balled his hands into fists, and frantically glanced around. Was it Elyssa? Could she have come to find him? Or Lancelot? He was out here in the woods too somewhere, right?

He froze as several men emerged from the bushes welding swords. "Well, well," one of them said with a rough voice. "Looks like we've found one."

Levi raised his fists as his eyes narrowed, and his heart pounded against his ribs. "What do you want with me? Go away!"

The man who had spoken before laughed. "Sorry, boy, but the Queen's orders."

Levi gasped as a sack was thrown over his head from behind. "Get off me!" He tried wiggling free from the muscular arms that had wrapped him up, but he found it was of no use.

He was thrown to the ground, and he groaned as a knee dug into his ribs. His hands were forced behind his back, causing a great amount of pain from his wounded shoulder, and someone bounded them with rope.

He was hoisted to his feet, shoved forward, and lifted onto what felt like a horse lying over the front of the saddle on his stomach. It was hard to breath, and he felt like he was going to tumble forward being unable to catch himself. He felt himself slipping when someone gripped his shirt in their fist. Within seconds, the horse started into a brisk run.

Questions raced into Levi's mind as fear gripped his chest. Who were these men? Where were they taking him? What did they want with him? Did they work for Snow White? Were they bringing him to her? Had she made it this far in her search for him? He couldn't let them bring him to her. He couldn't let her win.

He started rocking back and forth on the horse hoping it would listen the mans grip on his shirt and he could fall off the horse. The tied his hands, but not his feet. If he somehow made it off, maybe he could shake the bag off and take off running. Though, how would he outrun a dozen horses?

He tightened his jaw. He had to try. Put up even a little fight. Let them know that he wasn't going easily. He pulled his knees up pushed against the horses shoulder. He felt the mans grip release as he went sliding off the horse backward, praying he wouldn't get trampled on. He fell to the ground, struggled to regain his feet, and took off running while trying to shake the bag off his head. If he was right, and they were traveling on the path, there shouldn't be any trees in his way until he could get his bag off.

"Grab him! Don't let him escape!"

Levi continued shaking his head until the sack flew off. A small grin arose in victory, but disappeared just as quickly as he ducked under the arm of one of the men.

Just as he made his way to the back of the line of horses, a burly man slid off his horse in front of Levi. Levi gulped as his eyes traced the man in front of him. He was tall. Very tall, and looked like he worked out every day of his life as his muscles bulged.

"Nice try, but you're not going anyway," he said.

Levi's eyes opened wide as the man raised a fist. With one swift motion, pain erupted in his cheek, and he fell to the ground as darkness surrounded him.

***

Levi awoke to the sound of a lock clicking open. His eyes were blurred, and his head felt extremely heavy. He didn't know where he was, nor could he get his eyes to fix on his surroundings.

The sound returned, and a door a few feet in front of him swung open. He squinted his eyes trying to see through his blurred vision who had walked through the door.

A woman walked in wearing black pants, and a pink tunic. Her curly blonde hair bounced over her shoulders as she strode inside.

His head perked up as his eyes slightly opened wider, although his left eye almost felt swollen. "Elyssa?" Hope filled his voice as the blonde continued to step closer.

She bent over and leaned in close to his face. The closer she got the clearer her face became, and that spark of hope vanished. He lowered his head as he swallowed.

"Who's Elyssa?" the woman asked, a smirk in her tone. "Your girlfriend?" Levi didn't say a word. The woman thrust her hand forward, and gripped his chin causing him to cringe with the pain in his jaw. "Let me make something clear. You are my prisoner now, and you will do as I say." She chuckled, and glanced down at his shoulder. "I know who hunts you, and if you think Cinderella is bad..." She smirked. "I'm much worse."

She turned around and stormed off, her heels clicking on the cobblestone. "Get him strung up in the room. I'll be in a few moments."

"Yes, my lady," someone said as she strode out of the door.

The door latched closed, and he sighed as he lowered his head. He glanced around as his vision zoomed in and out of blurriness. His heart sank as he realized he was in a prison.

His legs felt numb. He tried standing or even moving them out from underneath him, but they were held back by something. Something that clanked as he pulled. He glanced up to his left to see his arms suspended above his head by shackles. He was amazed that he hadn't felt any pain in his arm yet. He looked down noticing that he was on his knees, and his ankles also shackled to the wall.

He looked straight and blinked trying to clear the last bit of fog. He frantically glanced around as his heart raced. Where was he? Who's placed was this? Judging by the sound of the men who shut the door, he had to have been in the presence of a queen. But who? He clenched his eyes trying to think. Pink tunic, blonde hair... Dread overpowered him as his eyes slowly opened.

Aurora. Maleficent didn't make this person sound like someone he wanted to meet. If she had tortured Maleficent, her friend, in such a way by burning off her wings, and trap Tathuna inside Lancelot, he didn't want to imagine what she would do to him.

He clenched his hands into fists and pulled against the shackles that bounded him to the wall. He stopped as a sharp pain jolted through his left arm. There it was.

Another sound came from the door drawing his attention away from the pain. A few seconds later, two men dressed in black armor stepped inside. One of them men unhooked the right side of his shackles, tossed the key to the other knight, and he unhooked the left side.

The two Knights grabbed him under his arms, and dragged him out of the cell preventing him from being able to gather his feet. "Let go of me! Where are you taking me?" He winced at the pressure on his shoulder, but he wouldn't give the knight's the satisfaction of seeing him in pain.

They took a turn right then left, and walked through a doorway on the right. They dragged him inside and as one Knight clasped shackles around his wrists, the other began hoisting him to his feet by the chain bolted to the ceiling.

Levi stood barely on his tip toes as his hung by his wrists. Without saying a word, the Knights exited the chamber, and closed the door behind them. "Hey, come back! I'm not finished yet! I demand you release me!" He wiggled his wrists back and forth, but found it did little to no good.

He lowered his head with a sigh. How could he have been so stupid? He should've never wandered that far from the beach. He should've stayed inside the safe zone.

His head jerked upward as the door opened, and Aurora slowly walked inside. The door closed behind her, and she stood staring at him intensively. He narrowed his eyes returning the stare. This witch could try all she wanted, but she wasn't going to get anything from him.

"So, Prince Levi." His face went blank at her words. She knew his name. "It's a pleasure to meet you." Aurora began to slowly circle him as she laughed. "Or, might I say, it's a pleasure to do some damage to the stepbrother of Snow White."

His stomach churned as he swallowed. "How'd you know it was me?"

She stopped in front of him. "Your face is only plastered on every tree in the forest. Only a fool wouldn't recognize you."

He lowered his gaze not wanting to look her in the eye.

Aurora straightened herself. "So tell me, Prince Levi, what were you doing out in the woods so far away from home?"

He rolled his eyes. "It's called running from my maniac stepsister."

She smiled. "Yes. But my men tell me you were approaching from the east side." She crossed her arms and shifted on her feet. "That's Maleficent's country. Only certain people go there." She took slow steps forward until her face was inches from his. "I think there's more to you then meets the eye." A smile grew from ear to ear sending shivers down his spine. "I can see we're going to have quite a lot of fun together."