Destined

Chapter 7

Princess Arwen woke with a startle. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes as she sat up in bed. She had this eerie feeling of being watched. The princess looked around her familiar room. Nothing was out of place and her door was firmly closed. The bright full moon shone in through her window. The princess never had her curtains drawn at night. She had an excellent view of the nights sky from her bed and would often fall asleep stargazing.

The candle by her bedside hadn't long gone out. There was a thin, whispy grey trail of smoke leading from the spent wick up into air. The smell it produces was one of the little princesses favourites. Often she would find herself blowing out candles on purpose just to get a whiff of that smokey scent.

Seeing all was as it should be the little princess lay back down. She turned on her side and faced her window. The princess' window over looked the stone court yard. The White Tree of Gondor stood proudly in the centre.

A flash of red from outside her window caught the princesses eye as she brought her covers up over her head. The princess thought it was the flickering glow from a torch light. Curious to see who was about at this hour the princess tip toed out of bed and made her way over to her window.

Princess Arwen perched herself on her window seat. It was a cozy comfy seat. Covered in furs and plush pillows. As the princess looked out of her window she saw no candles burning, no torches. Not a soul was about. The night was quiet and still.

She looked down at the glorious white tree. It had become a symbol of peace throughout the lands. As the princess was about to retire back to her bed she saw the flash of red again. It was at the base of the tree. It was the same red thing she had seen in the forest. This was definitely no fox. The red mist weaved and danced through the branches of the tree. The white tree looked like it had been set ablaze as the red mist licked at the ends of the branches. Princess Arwen felt drawn to it. There was some invisible force pulling her towards it. She placed her hand delicately on to the glass of her window as if she would be able to touch it. To feel the red mist weave through her fingers instead of the branches.

The princess quickly threw on her riding cape and her canvas slippers. It was the middle of summer and the night air was warm. The princess, as quickly and as silently as her feet would carry her, made her way through the palace. Once in the courtyard the princess slowed her pace. Tentatively she made her way to the tree. It stood tall and proud and unwavering. The light of the moon bathed the tree in white light that made it look like it was glowing. There was no sign of the mysterious red mist but the Princess could still feel it.

Princess Arwen felt a sudden breeze blowing through her hair. She turned to face the direction of the breeze. She faced the stone walls that lined the path up the hill to the court yard. They were about waist high and the stones that lined the top had been shaped into perfect curves. She saw the red mist disappear over the wall and she followed after it.

When the princess reached the wall, she watched the mist as it slithered and snaked its way down the hill side. It paused briefly before it quickly shot into the forest. The little princess felt the pull of the mist growing stronger. It was if it wanted her to follow it, guiding her to something. But what? Fuelled with adrenaline and the sense of adventure, the little princess gave chase.

The grass was soft and bouncy underfoot as she flew down the hillside. The necklace her grandfather had given her thudded heavily along her collar bone as her movements caused it bounce. Just as the mist had done, the princess paused for a second, slightly hesitant to enter the forest. She had rambled through these woods many a time by herself. She knew them like she knew herself but in the dark it was different. She had never been in them alone, in the dark before. The forest was enveloped in darkness. The moon's light couldn't penetrate the thick canopy of the towering trees. Thoughts of the Leshy from the Continent filled her mind. The Princess tried to convince her self they weren't real. Only stories told to children keep them out of the woods. The woods were black. The princess could make out faint shapes of trees and bushes. The red mist once again no where to be seen.