Chapter 1 One

The hallways were silent, too silent. The maids had retired to their quarters on the instruction of the king.

King Oswald and his wife Queen Harlow walked down the hallway to their daughter's room. The little Princess Leia lay under the covers but she was not entirely covered, the bed cover stopped at her neck. Her body was weak and she didn't move.

The queen's eyes were still covered in tears. The king tried severally to make her stop but she would not. Queen Harlow moved closer to Leia and brushed the strand of hair that covered her face.

"Mama" Leia whispered and the queen forced a smile.

"I'm here baby," Queen Harlow said as she smiled at her.

"I'm tired mama and my body hurts" Leia cried softly.

"No. Don't say that baby, you will have to be strong for mama" queen Harlow said as she softly caressed Leia's face.

"I can't, I'm trying so hard and I want to sleep" her eyes closed after that, and the queen panicked.

"Leia, Leia. Come on, speak to mama. Daddy is here too baby"

Then king Oswald moved closer to his daughter's bed. The king and his wife held her hands. They tried to hold back the tears.

Leia was their only child and she was terribly ill with no idea on how to cure her of this strange illness. The king and his wife had tried all they could to save her but no one seem to have a cure.

Every medicine they tried had failed and they had little or no options left to try. Their little girl was dying slowly and it hurt.

After ten years of childlessness, they were blessed with a lovely daughter Leia and now she was gradually leaving them.

Leia coughed harshly and her small body began to shake as she coughed even louder and their fear increased. Tears wouldn't stop flowing from Queen Harlow's eyes. What was going to happen to their daughter?

There was a gentle knock on the door and the king and queen froze.

"Who could be here by this time?" The king wondered

The king had told all the maids and guards to stay clear of the room tonight. So he didn't stop wondering who could defy the order of the king.

He stood up and approached the door quietly and cautiously. He hesitated a bit before he finally opened the door a little. Then he saw Ross. His most trusted guard and his body was relaxed. Ross was an exemption. He must have news.

"Your highness" Ross greeted

"What's the news, Ross?" King Oswald asked the huge man.

"She is downstairs. I wanted to inform you first before bringing her up to the room to see the princess" Oswald nodded

"Did anyone see you while you brought her inside?"

"No. The guards and maid had all retired when I got her into the palace. She is currently in the stables"

"And the villagers? The advisors? Do you think they will suspect anything?"

"No. I was discreet in my search for the witch"

The king nodded. "Okay, bring her up to the room, the door is open. Just knock twice and push it open when you return" Ross nodded and went back to get the witch.

King Oswald returned to meet his wife and daughter. He went to his daughter's bed.

"Was that Ross? What news did he bring?" Queen Harlow asked

"He found the witch" the king answered and a relived look crossed the queen's face.

The last healer they had brought to heal Princess Leia had promised that this witch would put an end to their daughter's illness. They had searched everywhere for her.

"Where is she then?" The queen asked

"Ross is bringing her up" and the queen returned her attention to her daughter who was lying stiffly and had not made any movement.

Her breathing was a bit loud and it was steady and that gave the queen hope.

Two knocks were heard on the door and it was pushed open. King Oswald stood up immediately alongside his wife. He wanted to greet the witch who had just come into the room with Ross.

The witch had a scowl on her face as she studied the room. She did that for a while and then her eyes landed on the little girl and she strolled further into the room ignoring the King and the queen.

The witch got to the Princess's bed and her long crooked nails trialed along the face of the little girl.

Leia's eyes opened immediately and she gasped in fear. The woman leaning over her was horrible to look at.

"Mama" Leia whispered in fright and her mother ran over to her and held her hand.

"Be calm my child. She is the one to heal you" Queen Harlow said as she drew soothing circles at the back of Leia's hands.

"There is no cure for her ailment" the witch announced in a cold voice.

"What?" Queen Harlow shouted and then She looked at her husband who stood confused and Ross as well.

"But... healer"

"Tena. Tena!!" The witch corrected

"But Tena you said...."

"I know what I said" Tena cut him off.

"Herbs you will give and remedies you will try but she will not be saved. Unless..."

"Unless what?" King Oswald asked impatiently.

"I'm willing and ready to do anything to ensure that my daughter is saved. Even if you want gold, silver, an estate, even a portion of my wealth. Anything you want just name it. I'll give anything for you to just heal my daughter" King Oswald added.

He had spent so much already. A couple tons of gold was nothing to him at this point. Leia was his only child. His heir and all he wanted was for her to survive this ailment.

The greedy advisors had been waiting for an opportunity to snoop in and take his place as king. If Leia were to die today, they will all get their chance but he will never allow that to happen.

This throne was his family legacy and he would stop at nothing to protect it from those vultures.

"Do not promise what you cannot give" Tena said moving away from the bed and facing the king. He was a desperate man making promises. He was going to say anything just for her to heal his child.