It was a beautiful day full of light. The sky was light blue and the forest was dressed in the dark green color of the ending spring. In the lake in the middle of the forest the waters were shining as the sun was mirroring upon them. The peace and stillness of the waters was suddenly disturbed by the calm swimming of a group of beautiful white swans. They were going together like they were performing a harmonical swim. Suddenly another beautiful swan came among them. It was different from the others as it was more beautiful and was wearing a small crown on its head.
The birds on the trees flew up and the peace of the place was disturbed when horse steps started to sound in the close distance and they were coming closer and closer. After a brief time three horses showed behind some bushes near the coast of the lake. It was prince Anduin and two of his friends who were hunting in the forest. They were having bows and crossbows around their torsos. Prince Anduin was the lone child of the King , he was wearing the royal color clothing consisting most of blue and gold. His black hair was almost falling inside his green eyes but a well placed holder was keeping them back forming a beautiful ponytail.
Reaching the lake shores they went down from the horses to let them drink some water before they could continue.
“Look over there ! ” said Colin one of the hunters pointing at the swans.
“They are beautiful..” Anduin said , and he started to slowly move closer to see them better. As he was observing them more and more he noticed a little crown on the head of one of the swans. The strange swan as it saw the prince open its wings and made a small bow. As they were watching the beautiful creature ,they didn’t notice a strange looking owl that landed on a tree branch just behind them.
The owl’s eyes started glowing and immediately the swans started to scatter away scared. The crowned swan started to back up in fear. Anduin was watching carefully what was happening but the sound of a prepping bow took his attention. Olaf, the other hunter had prepared an arrow and was drawing his bow ready to shoot.
“We can take it with us..” he said. Prince Anduin jumped..
“NO wait..” he didn’t finish his words and Olaf was turned to stone. Colin was startled and making one step back ..
“Sorcery!! He..he turned to stone!! My prince this looks like an enchanted forest the swan with the crown must have magic abilities!”
“No.. I can’t believe that…”
“We must go.. we..we must not stay not even a moment more”
Both of them climbed on their horses and started riding away from there, not noticing the strange looking owl that was the source of this magic..
The kings castle was standing magnificent on the top of the hill in the middle of the kingdom. It had tall towers and big walls . The keep was standing proudly in the middle of the castle yard and around it 3 towers were reaching the sky. One for the queen, one for Anduin and one for military purposes. The prince was in his room looking outside the window towards the place where the enchanted forest and lake was. Colin was with him.
“It is indeed very strange” Anduin said.
“I don’t see anything strange. The swan with the crown has some kind of mystery. Don’t forget that no one until now has managed to reach the other side of the lake..”
“I can’t believe that that noble and beautiful swan had something to do with magic..”
“But you saw it with your own eyes. Olaf became as stone while he was trying to shot that swan. I believe it’s the best for you not to ever go there again. ”
Colin’s words were interrupted by a maid who came inside the room.
“Your highness the queen...” she said as she was introducing the entrance of the queen who was coming in the room. Anduin bowed.
“Mother.”
“Anduin. As you know tomorrow you have your 21st year old birthday. After your father died you are the only successor and from tomorrow you will be the king. “
“Yes.”
“Tomorrow at the dance you will choose the woman that you will marry.”
Anduin looked a little surprised..
“The woman that I will marry ?”
“Exactly. The king that will rule must have a queen at his side. Do not worry I have personally picked the 6 most beautiful princesses of the around kingdoms to come here tomorrow. You will choose which one you want to become your queen and the queen of our country.”
“But mother.. isn’t it too soon to choose for a bride?”
“No Anduin, it’s time for you to get a queen .Or maybe you have one already in your mind? One princess that you saw and fell in love with ?” Anduin moved his head negatively.
“No mother there is none.”
“Then you must choose.”She said as she turned away and start walking out of the room. The maid went out with her.
After the queen left the room Colin approached.
“Congratulations , my prince.”
“Colin, stop being funny.” He said irritated “I don’t understand why tomorrow that I ll become king to choose someone that I don’t love to make her my queen. And I don’t see the reason for congratulations.”
“I’m sorry my prince.” Colin said and lowered his head.
“But it is the will of my mother and I am the prince and I cannot deny her.”
“You were born as heir to the throne and you can’t change your fate. ”
“I know this very well.” He said and moved towards the open window. His sadness was shown as he made his hands as fists and hit the window frame … Suddenly in his mind came the image of the swan as it was looking at him, and turning his head he looked towards the area that was the mystical lake. More images of the magic swan came to his head..
“Colin..”
“Prince, what is wrong? What happened?”
“This strange swan with the crown I must see it again. It has charmed me beyond imagining”
“It is because it has cast a spell on you..”
“If this is true then I must see it with my own eyes. And then I will beg it to make Olaf a human again. ”
“Don’t do this my prince because maybe something bad can happen to you. ”
“No Colin. I cannot believe that a majestic and beautiful swan like that has anything to do with sorcery.”
“But..”
“Don’t try to stop me Colin.” He said and continue to watch outside the window lost in his own thoughts.
The sun was almost finishing its daily journey and slowly was going to its resting place, shining upon the newly formed human statue of Olaf. The strange swan separated from the group and started to move away. Prince Anduin and Colin showed again behind the statue and walked towards the lake.
“Patience Olaf my friend” Anduin said as he was passing his stoned friend. “Look Colin the swan with the crown is leaving. Lets follow it.” He said and started to ride faster towards the swans location.
“Yes my prince.” Colin said and started to follow him..
The swan was swimming unaware that it was followed by the two noble young men. After a while the road ended but that was not stopping the determined Anduin to reach his goal. As he moved out of the road he started to climb a rough hill in order to catch up with the swan. “I ll try to catch up you must wait for me !!” Colin said as he was finding difficulties to follow the stubborn prince. The way of the hill leaded up to the mountain and from there following a small dangerous path he ended up in a cave entrance. “I want to see where this beautiful swan is going.” He wondered and he entered the cave.
As he entered the cave the sound of his horse awoke the local inhabitants and a swarm of bats attacked him. His horse freaked out and tried to flee as it was scared. Anduin hopped down from it and let it run outside. He was determined to go on. The next room of the cave was full of needled vines. “Horrible place ” he thought as he pulled out his sword and started to cut his way through them. The swan was swimming alongside with the river that was going inside the cave. Prince Anduin was right behind it. Soon the cave reached an end. Outside it was already dark. The moon was shining in the night sky next to a magnificent tower. The tower was build on a huge rock on a small island in the water. The swan was heading towards the lower stairs of the tower. The prince hide behind a big rock and was watching the swan coming to the shore. Trees were on the shore obstructing the view of it for a while..
To the prince’s surprise when the swan hide from sight a bright white light shined behind the trees and from the shadow that was created from it he saw the swan to start transforming … to.. a woman.
End of part one.
Comments