Morris's horse slipped a couple times, but he remained true and steady, huffing it's way up the small narrow path. Rounding the bend, Morris stopped Hitya and hopped off, walking towards an alcove in the mountain, pushing the snow out of the way to reveal an old wooden oval door. Hand on knob, she pushed it open and stepped into the bear den like room. The walls were dirt as were the floor, which was covered by giant rugs. A small rectangular table with two chairs sat by a fireplace, on the other side were two old throne chairs, rusty and broken, facing the large window which was now covered with snow. Morris walked to a steel chest along the wall by the fireplace, she opened it and pulled out a light blue silk gown and a long black cape with arm holes. Grumbling, she changed into it and stuffed her other clothes into the chest. Then she wrapped her braid into a bun and pinned it at the nape of her neck. Then looking into the small round mirror on the wall, she made a pulling motion from her eyes and now instead of the green, she had pale blue colored eyes. Clear glasses now appeared in her hand with two green eyes on them, something that the kingdom made for her to truly keep her identity a secret so that she can still live out her life in her village and visit the other kingdoms. It is something of a chore, but if it keeps Morris safe, she is all for it.

She walked out of the den and out into the cold, she pulled up the hood to keep the wind off her face and swung back up onto Hiyta and headed for her village of Blackstade, which was only a few paces more. She paused for a moment at the top of the path overlooking her village of bee hive-like houses and then to the sparkling jeweled palace on a tall hill in which flowers bloomed everywhere and goats ran wild. Peace filled her body as she left the snowy mountain and warmth filled her bones. Before she got to her village gate, she sat sideways on the saddle in the lady-like way she was meant to. But it was truly uncomfortable. Why would one make a woman ride this way? Looking ahead, she saw two small forms sitting by the gate, panic reached her heart and she placed a hand on the hilt of her dagger which was tucked into the pocket of her cape, but upon further examination it was just Noah one and Noah two. The twins that were not related by blood but could be. Both had locks of brown curls with soft warm honey brown eyes, both were tall and gangly and at the moment they looked like statues as their legs were stretched out in front of them. Their ankles peeked out over the tops of their worn boots since their overalls were too short. Straw hats were pulled low over their heads, their rifles rested carelessly across their laps, chins to their bony chest. They were just twelve years old but assigned to gate duty, donned with the task to kill the enemy. Morris decided to have some fun with them. She snuck up to Noah one and slid his rifle out from under his arms, he shifted but stayed asleep. She laughed quietly to herself as she got the other rifle too then she went back to her horse and then she screamed, the two bolted upright their hats flying off as they scrambled for their guns in their sleepy state. Morris couldn't contain it anymore, she laughed loudly, the boys stopped their movements and stared up at her from the ground. Red cheeked of humiliation, they rose and dusted themselves off

"Hello boys."

"Hello Morris." They nodded at her as they tried to redeem themselves by sticking their thumbs in the straps of their overalls.

"Lovely day isn't?"

"Yah."

"Guess so."

"I believe you will need these." She handed the rifles back which they took and held at their sides. Noah two stuck a toothpick in his mouth and opened the gate for her, she grabbed Hiyta's reins and walked through

"Ma'am?"

"Yes Noah one?"

"You won't tell none that we was sleeping?" Orris shook her head

"I wouldn't dream of it." Then she made her way to her own home, just a little ways from the rest of the homes, a tall tree with leafy leaves shaded their home from the harsh sun. SHe tied up Hiyta, gave her water and filled her trough with food. Then she stepped into her home and was met with a frenzy of feet as her brothers wrapped their arms around her legs. Their black hair damp from a recent bath.

"Nej, Kleine. Hello."

"Hello Morris! DId you have a good class?" She peeled them off of her.

"Yes it was good." She untied her cape and hung it up on the gook. "We learned how to drink tea with our pinkies up!" She told them with fake excitement as they wrinkled their nose.

"Ewww."

"Who likes tea?"

"The Matcha kingdom, that's who." She said, patting their heads.

"Will you show us how so we can laugh?"

"Maybe in a little bit, where are mother and father?"

"Outside."

"Then here, from Nyle." She placed jade green dragons into their hands. Nyle had carved them for her brothers, but their parents did not like those kinds of magical creature idols in the house. They gasped as they ran for their rooms with a clambering of feet upon the wooden steps that had never once broken under the stomps of anger and pounding of excitement it took. Morris headed into her room and placed a carving of herself on her dresser, one would not know it was her though as Nyle had carved the PeaceKeepr, clothed in her blue attire with mask drawn up. She changed once again into a white dress and a brown skirt that pinned around her waist and covered the hem of the dress, a plain thing, but that's what her village was known for. The village of the plain, nothing fancy since the palace was already fancy. They were told that they did not need to be fancy too or it would be too much for people that come to visit, but Morris did not mind as she was not one for frilly gowns or fancy things anyways. She walked downstairs and out into the garden where her mother tended to the herbs and her father sat on a bench reading, he had gotten frailer in his old age, his hair no longer grey but white, his back no longer straight but with a crook. His strong muscles now evaporated to nothing. Her mothers once beautiful face now lined with wrinkles, her hands old and bony. The one thing her mother still had was her brown colored hair, thanks to someone in the Matcha kingdom that extends wishes to the frail and old.

"Good evening.' Morris said as she approached them

"meine Liebe! You are home now."

"Yes mother I am. Do you need me to get anything for supper?"

"No, there is no need. We have been invited." Her mother said with a twinkle in her eyes.

"Invited? Where?" Morris asked with pushed together eyebrows.

"To Nusha."

"The third kingdom!?"

:Yes."

"Why?"

"They have a surprise for you Morris."

"What kind of surprise, father?" She asks taking a seat beside him

"You'll see."

'Come darling, let us get you dressed."

"OKay." Tryna took her daughters and together they made their way into the house. Tryna entered her daughters room and opened up her closets looking at them with diproval.

"Have you no gowns Morris?"

"NO mother, the Lady IN Waiting class hasn't given them ot yet.' Tryna frowned

"But I could have sworn I saw Diddle with one on this morning." MOrris just shrugged.

"What about your gowns, mother?"

"I suppose you could borrow one. We would just have to hem it a bit, but we have time."

"I'm sure it will fit, mother." Morris said as Tryna left. Morris did her hair while she waited for her mother to pull out some gowns. Entering her mothers room, she saw four gowns, one of yellow floof with lace, one of blue satin, one of red and one of green, all plain except for the sleeves which were long balloon sleeves. Morris curled her lip at each one but chose the green one as it stood out the least since it was such a dark color. This one was not of silk, but velvet, it dipped low in a V neckline, it was floor length and had a full skirt with too many extra parts that Morris felt as though she were drowning in fabric. Tryna gasped and put a hand to her mouth

"You look beautiful meine Liebe"

"Thank you, but I feel like a clown."

"Oh pish posh." Tryna said as she placed a necklace of string with a wooden heart around Morris's neck.

"What is this from?"

"My mother, she gave it to me when I was your age, I think it is just elegant." Morris glanced at herself in the mirror as she fingered it.

"Me too."

"Now, let us go find your father and your brothers." Arms hooked together, the pair stepped outside to see the wagon hitched and ready to go. Her brothers now wore their finest silks and her father wore a cotton shirt tucked into brown pants, over his shoulders was a red silk cape in which arms went through. He looked quite dashing.

"You ready?"

"Yes father." Morris said as she placed her hand in his and stepped into the carriage, her brothers stopped messing around as she sat in the middle of them. Then Tryna, now dressed in the yellow floofy gown of lace, sat facing them as father took the little seat in the front of the wagon. With a hiyah, the wagon jolted forward and the Rossa family was off to the Third Kingdom. The kingdom of secrets.