Moonhold

My name is Aurora and I live in a quaint little town of Lost Wood. It's such a beautiful little town with its shops around the square. My mom, Elizabeth, runs a bakery shop. She makes the best wild berry biscuits around. Even though I love my little town I long to live in the palace.

"Aurora, be a dear and go pick some more berries for me, I have all of these orders to fill or I would go myself, " Mom asks as I walk into her bakery one morning. " Of course," I say as I grab my basket and head out to the woods on the edge of town. I don't mind picking berries. It is better than being in the hot bakery.

As I am picking some blueberries from the blueberry bush a handsome man with dark brown flowing hair, dark green eyes, and sun-kissed face rides up. "Excuse me, my lady, could you tell me where the town of Lost Wood is," He asks politely as I am awestruck by the stranger's good looks. His deep dark green eyes sparkle as he dismounts from his horse. "Yes, sir, it is straight down the trail and through the trees," I answer sweetly as I continue to stare into his eyes. He smiles at her as he kisses her hand "Thank You, my lady." Prince Aradan smiles brightly. "Might I be so bold to inquire your name?" He asks.

I blush deeply, I hope that this handsome man doesn't see. "It is Aurora Carra, good sir."

"Aurora, what a beautiful name for a beautiful lady."

"And your name, good sir?"

"It is Bra`dan, my lady." He continues. "So you say it's down this trail and through the trees?"

"Yes," I say then pause a second. "You know my basket is full, why don't I just take you." He nods and takes my hand as we walk towards my quaint little town of Lost Wood. " What brings you to Lost Wood," I inquire as we make our way through the tree line. Bra`dan stops suddenly in his tracks with a worried look upon his face. "I am a messenger from the King." He lied. Even though I knew he had lied, I didn't want to call him out on it. He didn't need to know that I was an Empath. I couldn't help but think how safe I felt with my hands in his. "There's nothing wrong with that," I say. "It's good honest work"

"And you my lady, what do you do when you're not gathering berries," Bra`dan asked. "I work with my mother in her bakery shop," I answered, suddenly proud of my mother's bakery shop. "That one right there," I said, pointing to the little shop with the different flowers out front.

Bra`dan stops in front of Isabel Adams's cottage. He noticed me cringe when he stopped. "I take it you don't like the family who lives here," He says with a warm, comforting smile on his face that almost knocked me off my feet. "Um, yes I do. It's the Adams's cottage, I went to school with their daughter Isabel," I scoffed trying not to show her hatred for Isabel.

"Well Mrs. Aurora I must deliver this message and head back to the castle, but I would like to see you again.

"Me too, good sir," I smile happily.

I turn to head back towards my cottage on the far side of town. I didn't care that people were staring at me as I half dance half skip down the street. Off in my own little world, oblivious to everything around me.

Mom is sitting at the table when I come dancing through the door. "Hi, mom, I've had the most beautiful day," I say in a singsong voice as I twirled around. Mom smiles in her all-knowing smile, "I see, he must have been really handsome to put you in this wonderful mood,"

"Oh mom," I blush as I put the basket of berries down on the table. "There might have been a cute guy that I saw while I was picking berries."

"I knew it," Mom laughed. "So what is his name? Where is he from," She started her million and one mom questions. I broke down and told her everything about how he wanted directions to town, how I decided to show him. However, not his name, that I would keep to myself.

A few days later I was helping in mom's bakery when Isabel shows up with her mother "Aurora I didn't know you worked here,"

"Yes, I do," I mumble, as I glance back and forth between them calming myself while waiting for some more snotty comments from the pair.

"My mother owns the shop, so I help out," I add. Isabel just rolls her eyes like she's bored. "I have an order for a batch of your mother's wild berry biscuits," Isabel's mother sneered at me. "And NONE of those day-old ones that you try and pass off as fresh," I looked at Isabel then back at her mother "Fine come back in about an hour," I seethed angrily through my teeth.

Isabel looks over at me "So I got invited to the Prince's ball can you believe it, I got the invite yesterday," She exclaimed. So that was the news Bra`dan had to deliver to them. Thankfully, my mother comes in from the back before I could pop off that it was probably a pity invite. "What do you want Iris," My mother glared at Isabel's mother. "Did you come to try to put another pathetic spell on my shop or my daughter and me."

"Neither, I just came for some FRESH blueberry biscuits and be mindful they are a treat for the prince tonight," Iris bragged as she gave a little laugh.

She grinned. "Oh, were you not invited to the Prince's ball, it's to celebrate his birthday also he is supposed to choose his bride," "No, but then again, I don't try to seduce men," I say smugly, trying to hide my disappointment, but it was no surprise her father was also in the King's favor so of course she would be invited. "We will be back in an hour for the order," Iris quipped as she hotly sauntered out of the bakery with Isabel by her side.

Mom got all upset and yelled as she left through the back door of the bakery " I'll be back." I stand there dumbfounded by what just happened. My mom always told me money was money. We have to treat customers the same she didn't care what coven they were with. So this reaction from her took me for a loop. I had to find out what was going on.

Promptly an hour later Isabel showed up for her order of blueberry biscuits. "What's wrong with your mother? She is usually half-way polite," She asked.

"I don't rightfully know that's my mother's business anyway," I answered smugly. "Well," She started, but then decided against it, paid for her order and walked out.

With no more orders to fill, I decided to close up shop early and try to find out what is going on with my mother.

It didn't take me long to find my mother since there are only two places she goes and that is home or to my grandmothers. I found her with my grandmother picking vegetables from the garden. As I walk up I catch a bit of what they were saying. " I know mom but how am I supposed to get her to the ball, she wasn't formally invited." My mother was saying as she pulled up a carrot.

"I know, dear, but we can't let that little Adam's witch marry the prince you know as well as I do that the prophecy states that the firstborn daughter with a flame birthmark is to marry the Prince and my granddaughter has a red flame birthmark on her," My grandmother stated pointedly.

"Hi mom," I say as I walk up to them. "Are you alright,"

"Oh, hi there sweetheart," Mom says as she looks over at grandma and slightly shakes her head. "Yes, everything is fine," She answered nonchalantly,"Did you close up early,"

"Yes, I finished the order for Isabel then closed up the shop since there weren't any more orders so I decided to come and find you," I reported to her. "Oh okay, what did you need then," She asked. I just stood there looking at her in shock. "She can't be serious. Had she forgotten just a few hours ago that she had stormed out of the shop and left me to do the orders," I tell myself.

"You stormed out of the shop plus you pretty much yelled at a customer," I affirmed. "I want to know why,"

"I'm sorry dear, but no," Mom warned.

Grandma looks over at my mother with a disgusted look on her face. "Well, if you won't tell her I will," She bellowed. She then looked over at me in her sweet grandmotherly way. "Have you heard about the prophecy of the covens my dear," She asked me sweetly. I looked at her then over at my mom who looked a little upset at her mother then back at my grandmother. "No, I haven't what prophecy," I asked, sitting on the ground as if I was a little child waiting for a story. Mom went and got her and grandma a stool to sit on. While grandma started her story. "It started when the first five covens formed. There was a great seer who wasn't a part of any coven but was very respected by all of them because she could see the past, the present and the future. One day she gathered all the High Priestesses so she could share what she had seen for she knew it would change all the covens for the better or for worse."

"I have seen the great reckoning of the covens," The Seer started. "There will be a chosen one born with flames upon her body, she will marry a great king and bring great power to the covens. She will guide the coven to peace or to war,"

"When she had finished all the High Priestesses rushed off to check all the girls of their coven for the mark. All except for one who stayed behind your great grandmother Morgan," Grandma said as she stopped her story to take a drink. "Morgan asked the Seer what she meant by bringing great power to the covens," The Seer replied, "If the chosen one is of white light she will bring unity between the covens and the townspeople, but if she is of the dark she will be the destroyer of all the land." Grandma stopped talking again and was staring at me. Then came over to me. "You see, my child, you have the mark on the inside of your arm," She explains as she pulls my shirt sleeve up past my elbow. I stare at my birthmark which looks like a red blob on my arm and not a flame. It's one of the reasons why I always wear long sleeves plus it hides my ever so freckly arms. If only I could hide them on my face. "I'm sorry grandma, but I'm not the girl it talks about in the prophecy," I say looking her square in the eyes. She just laughs at me as I excuse myself and start to head to our cozy cottage. "We have to get her to believe us, Liz," Grandma said as she turned around to look at my mom. "Who am I to disagree with her," Mom shrugged as she stood up dusting herself off. "I'll see you later at the circle tonight mom," She stated and gave grandma a kiss on the cheek before she left.

When I get home, I start a fire in the hearth so I could start a stew for supper, I then head outside to the garden for some vegetables when I see mom coming up the road. "Hi mom, I was just about to pick some vegetables for stew," I said as she opened the garden gate. "Thank you, dear, I'm sorry for what your grandmother put you through earlier," She apologized. Mom looked like she was still upset that grandma had gone behind her back and told me about the prophecy. "Mom," I said lovingly. "It's fine, I don't believe I am the savior anyway,"

"Well, that isn't exactly true," Mom stated uncomfortably. "You do have the flame mark on you," I pull up my sleeve one more time showing my ugly red birthmark on my arm. "This looks nothing like a flame to me," I declared. Mom ran her hand lightly over my big red blemish, and it turned into a small red flame. "I disguised it when you were little to keep you safe," Mom explained. "Do what," I exclaimed. Before she could explain I stormed out of the vegetable garden and headed to the forest. I go to my secret spot in the trees. I needed to ask the goddess for healing and for guidance.

As I was making my way through the trees I had a feeling that I wasn't alone.

I stopped in my tracks and cast out my senses. Bra`dan was walking close by.

I decided to turn around and start walking in a different direction. I really wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone, but when I turned around. "Hello, you," He smiled, taking my hands in his. "What are you doing out here this evening? Picking more berries for baking."

"No, I just needed some fresh air, but unfortunately I should be getting back there is a meeting I should be getting to."

"Are you sure you want to go to a boring meeting," Bra`dan beseeched. "You could just stay and spend some time with me."

"You know what I would rather spend time with you than go to the meeting, my mom can feel me in on the important things later," I smiled, hoping mom wouldn't be too worried. We wander around the forest in silence until he asked "What is going on in that beautiful head of yours,"

"Oh, it's nothing important," I said, not wanting to sound like a spoiled child who wasn't invited to the ball.

He stopped in a clearing and laid down in the lush green grass, then pulled me down beside him. "Come on you can tell me anything, I haven't or wouldn't tell anyone anything you tell me." Bra`dan comforted me.

I roll on my side to face him. "Fine," I say as I roll my eyes at him. "That horrid girl, Isabel Adams and her mother came into the shop today bragging about how they got invited to the Prince's Ball and how I hadn't, it's childish, I know, but I would love to go just to show her up." Bra`dan sat up with a giant smile on his face. "How bad do you want to go," He asked mischievously. I stared at him for a minute wondering if he was picking on me or what, but I decided to take a chance. "I really would love to go, but even if I could, I don't have anything nice to wear,"

"But, if you could go, you would, right?" Bra`dan questions me again.

"Yes, a million times yes, I would love to go," I screamed out loud.

"Well, it so happens that I got an invitation to go plus I can bring someone with me," He smiled brightly. "So Miss Aurora would you be my date tomorrow night for the Ball,"

I sit in front of Bra`dan stunned "I would be honored to be your date," I said in a whisper.

The next morning there came a knock on our cottage door. When I answered the door there standing in the doorway was a messenger sent from the palace with a package in his hands.

"Mrs. Aurora, I presume," He asked.

"Yes, I am Aurora," I answered confused at the package being handed to me.

"A gift from the palace," The messenger said with a bow before he turned to leave.

"Um, Thank you," I said as he walked down the path.

"A gift from the castle," Mom smiled in amazement.

" I know, I wonder what it could be," I said bewildered as I stood there still holding the box in my hands.

Mom chuckled "Well dear the only way to find out is to open it,"

I slowly and carefully sat the package on the table as if whatever was inside was fragile, who knew what was inside of the box, all I knew was that it was from the palace. As I carefully untie the pink ribbon and lift the lid I see the most beautiful blue dress with lace. Along with the dress was also a beautiful blue headpiece to match. "Who would send me this beautiful dress," I ask mom spinning around holding the dress," Mom takes the dress from me and folds it back up "I don't know maybe a sweet young man who asked you to the ball perhaps,"

"I don't know maybe, but look at this dress you can tell he spent a lot of coin on it if it was him,"

"Well you're never going to find out if we don't get you ready to go, so go down to the river and wash, while I get supper going,"

"You know that they are going to have food there,"

"Ladies do not stuff their faces in front of suitors let alone Royalty, now go," Mom orders as she pushes me out the door. As I am disrobing by the river bank I can't help but feel like I am being watched. "Hello, Is someone there," I called out before taking off my undergarments, nothing but the birds singing and the breeze through the trees. I stepped into the cool water mindful of where I stepped so as not to fall. I wash up then just relax in the water until the feeling of being watched comes over me again. I climbed out of the water, wrapped my dress around myself, and headed for home. When I made it to the clearing the feeling was gone. "What am I thinking it was my brain playing tricks on me there was no one there," As I walked into the house mom sat me down at the table and started brushing my hair, braiding it, while telling me that I need to hurry up and eat. Finally, I slipped into my beautiful new ball gown. It fits perfectly. Just as someone knocked at the door. Mom opens the door as I catch a glimpse of a well-dressed man standing in the doorway "I am here to pick up Miss Aurora," The driver says with a bow. "I'm Aurora," I said, rounding the corner. "I thought my date Bra' dan was coming for me," The driver bows again "Yes my lady he was, but he got a bit behind and sent me to pick you up,"

It didn't take us long to arrive at the ball. The Prince's Valet was waiting in front of the palace as we pulled up. "Come with me please Miss," As he offers his hand to help me out of the carriage. "Where are you taking me," I ask nervously as we head down a long hallway. "I'm sorry Miss I have orders not to tell you," He replies as we stop at a door at the very end of the hallway. He knocked on the door "Miss Aurora for you," The Valet announced. "Please let her in," Comes a male voice on the other side of the door. As the Valet opens the door my heart skips a beat as I see Bra'dan standing in front of me dressed as the Prince. "Bra' dan, why are you dressed like that," I questioned him.

Bra'dan reaches over and takes my hand then leads me to a chair. "Please sit," He pleaded as he gestured toward the chair. I complied nervously as he continued. "My name isn't Bra'dan," He stopped and took a deep breath. "It is Prince Ardan," He stopped again waiting for me to say something, but I didn't. Again he continued. "Aurora, I've wanted to tell you from the moment I met you in the woods that day I saw you picking berries," Prince Ardan stopped again hoping I would say something, but I still did not speak. I just sat there in shock at what this man that I had trusted was telling me. "Please, Aurora, please say something," Prince Ardan begged. When I still wouldn't reply he pulls out a beautiful diamond ring with a gold band and presents it to me as he gets down on one knee. "Miss Aurora, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife," He asked. As if the fog had lifted off of my head I heard his proposal. "Are you serious," I yelled at him. "You want me to marry you after you spent months lying to me about who you were," I turned and ran out of his chambers.

Instead of taking the buggy home, I decided to walk home. I haven't been scared of the dark since my mage's sight kicked in. Ever since then I have enjoyed walking at night. It's quite peaceful. I walk around in the still of the night letting myself calm down before heading home. About an hour later I made it home. Unfortunately, as I walked in I saw that mom was still up waiting for me. "My dear is everything alright," She asks. "Yes mom I'm alright, it's just been a long night," I answered faking a yawn. "I only ask because Prince Ardan came by looking for you," Mom said questionably. "Oh, he did, did he," I snapped not really at her but at the fact that he had the nerve to come to my house. "Did he tell you that he lied to me, then had the nerve to ask me to marry him," Mom reached for my hand and guided me to the table? "Yes he did mention it and," She then put her finger up to shut me up knowing I was fixing to say something. "I also know why he didn't tell you who he really was, foolish yes, but I understand why he did it, you see Aurora, what you didn't let him explain to you was that he didn't want to marry someone who didn't love him for who he is. He wanted to marry someone who loved him as much as he loved them," Mom explained only as a mother could do. I sat there for a while taking in what mom had said. "CRAP," I moaned. I felt as small as a grain of sand. She was right. I hadn't allowed Prince Ardan to explain himself. "It's late right now so I'll go and see if he will talk to me in the morning," I tell her. "Alright just don't wait too long," Mom warned me.

Before I had even gotten out of bed the next morning word of the Prince's engagement to Isabel Adams. "Oh mom," I cried, "How could he choose her after he had asked me to marry him first? I didn't even get a chance to go apologize to him for storming out and now it's too late," I cried, throwing myself on my bed. After a while, I finally calmed down.

Mom had already left for the bakery. I knew I had to do something before the Prince married Isabel.