Lillian

I had taken cover in a small house deep in the woods over two days ago, but I could not get the thought of what I had done to the Kingdom out of my mind. All those people had been my friends. They had all treated me with the utmost respect and kindness, and I had left them to rot in there; simply because I did not know what to do about the dark magic that had wrapped around the king. 

My mind kept drifting to the Prince, who had left on his quest mere hours before I had placed the curse on the Kingdom. I had damned him to the same life as his father though he had never wronged me as his father had done that day. It made my heart ache to think that he would return to find the once strong Kingdom crumbling in on itself. I knew that his father would send him after me. I just hoped I would be able to persuade him to help me find the cause of this dark magic that had to cause the change in his father. 

I luckily not alone in my troubles. In the corner of the small house standing in front of the fire stood a girl who was not much younger than me. She had fiery red hair that was left long and fell down her back. She wore a simple white dress that did not fit her frame at all. I knew that her green eyes were closed without her turning around as she took in the story of what had happened in the castle that day. I watched her as she twisted a lock of that bright red hair around her cream-colored finger before it fell back into place on her shoulder.

"What do you think I should do, Rose," I said, standing and moving towards the younger girl, "I risked everything to help the Kingdom, and I throw it all away in a moment of weakness simply because Charles had threatened me." Rose just shook her head and went back to tending the shimmering purple liquid that was in the cauldron over the fire. I watched as she added some rose pedals before turning around to face me.

"Sister, I do not know of the magic you used to place this curse upon the Kingdom, but I would say you should stay here and wait for the Prince to come looking for you," she said softly, placing her hand on my shoulder, "besides he is far less likely to hurt you. Didn't you say that he has always been far kinder than his father?" She smiled sweetly before turning back to her purple concoction.

I knew that my sister did not know of the magic which I had used, for she did not possess the same magic as me. While I had the magic to manipulate reality and heal, she had a far kinder magic, Earthen Magic. Her magic drew upon nature and the world around her. Most people looked down on anyone with her powers as weak, but I knew my sister, and if there was one thing that my sister was not as weak. But even our mother mad deemed her magic as useless and kicked her out of the council before anyone could protest.

"Yes," I said, moving to stand next to her, catching the sticky sweet smell of the liquid in my nose, "he is kinder, but after what I have done, I don't think that he will treat me kindly." Rose rolled her eyes and let out a laugh. "You underestimate yourself, my sister. People have always been far kinder to you than you let yourself believe." Rose turned and smiled at me. I watched as her green eyes danced in the firelight before she turned away. I knew then what I must do.

"I must go to The Council of Elders and request their help with breaking the curse." At my words, Rose whipped around. Her eyes shown with fear as she grabbed my shoulders in her hands and shook me violently. The words that left her mouth were rushed and stricken with fear. "You cannot! Do you not remember what mother said?" Of course, I remembered what mother had said: that I was on my own once I had left the council. I nodded at Rose.

"I must go through Rose. If I am to help the Prince and the Kingdom." Rose looked down at the ground sadly, and I watched as tears slipped from her eyes and ran down her cheeks. "They will not listen to you, Lillian. You have forsaken their ways. I do not see them taking you back with open arms." I reached forward and pulled her into a tight hug. "I do not expect them to take me back, Rose. I must at least try; besides, I just need guidance." I pulled back from her and smiled. She nodded before wiping her tears.

Once I was sure she was okay, I grabbed my cloak from the rack by the door. Swinging it over my shoulder, I made my way to the front door. I turned to look at my sister, who had followed to the door. "If I do not return in five days, then you know what you most do." Rose nodded. "Of course, but if the Prince comes, what should I do?" I paused to think for a moment. If Elliot did come, I would have to have Rose do something that she never wanted to do. "Tie him up and do not let him go until I return. I can't have him getting hurt." Rose nodded at me. Then she held out her hand in which a small jar of the purple liquid she had been brewing sat. "For your journey." I nodded and took the jar from her hands, and made my way out the door.

I made my way into the woods. I knew that this journey would be long and hard, but at least the route was familiar to me. This was a journey I had made a million times when I was younger. My mother had always walked me from our home to The Council each day, but that had been long ago in a time before I had forsaken the old ways. I knew now I would have to face The Council for the first time since I left it, and that was what scared me the most. Hopefully, my mother would take pity on me.