Chapter 1: Where Is Willow?

When I was younger I always hid around the castle and the king --my father-- always yelled at me not to. I've been doing it for 12 years and then stopped when I turned 16. Today, it will be the day I turn 17 and I will have a knight appointed to protect me when I do run off. As I sit on my bed not knowing what today will bring I fail to see what person or rather what knight could possibly deal with me running around the vast kingdom. A knock on the door startles me and I put my heels on- slippers made high- and I walk up and open it. King Martin stands there with a guard right next to him.

He takes a moment to look me up and down and smiles "Ready to come down to the throne room to meet your appointed knight?"

I fake a smile "Sure, can't wait"

He trails down the hallway and I wait until he's out if earshot before slamming my door shut and getting dressed quickly. To be honest I want to meet this knight but on the negative side I am angry that I cant protect myself and fight by myself. I grab my little Spotter which is a machine made to track where you are and it makes a digital map of the kingdom. I make it downstairs and enter the huge throne room and not that my father sits on thr throne and smiles at me. The whole time I stare at the group of knights with disdain and when I get to the steps of the throne I stop. King Martin motions for a knight to step forward and I watch as a young knight about my age walks up and stops and the kings feet and bows down.

King Martin speaks up "The knight who shall be my daughters protector is from the line of royal guard family and his name is Linkin Winters known as Link from his mother who was a strong woman" he stalls and looks down at the boy but the boy just faces down.

He continues "You are now in charge of protecting my daughter from anyone who is to due her harm or is dangerous to her, are you aware of the rules that come as an appointed knight young man?"

The young boy nods but doesn't speak and he waits to be dismissed and once the knights all take their leave I notice that the boy is at the bottom step waiting.

I whisper to Father "He dont even talk Father. Why should I have a knight to protect me?"

He frowns and becomes agitated "These are my rules as you are now of age where you are in danger when you go running around the castle and the village"

I protest "But Father___" he cuts me off

"No buts, go be off and do what you want as you are safe now"

As I walk back to my room I feel the boys gaze at my back and I fluster a bright red and whip around "Just because your my appointed knight doesn't mean I can kick you out"

The boy frowns and nods his head without talking.

We reach my door and I let him in but as I make my way to the bed he stops in the middle of the room and stares at my window that overlooks the village below and the field hills. I turn to him and smile "Its a nice view I know, but I like an adventure so let's get going!" I skip back out of my room and the boy keeps up with me easily. As I make it downstairs in the main room my Father enters a door to attend a meeting with the other King Of Histicrow the other kingdom of ruin where the forgotten village is but its not so bad as my father puts it. King Michael is my Father's friend who is the ruler of thr other kingdom and had been for awhile even before my mother was Queen. As we walk around the village I take a look at some cute masks to blend in with ugly creatures and monsters that come out at night and stay at camps in thr mornings. One mask that looks like a Dwiddle which is a small rabbit with huge ears that they use to grab you and throw you. I look at the boy and smile "Come on! It won't hurt to try!" I grab his arm and he startles and I put the mask on his face. He looks so much funnier with a mask on that I cant help but laugh at him. He takes it off and nods to the lady who sells them and he grabs a mask with a flower on each side and it ties to the back of your head and he gives the lady some Korlo which is the name of the money we use here. I smile as thr lady hands him it. He holds it out to me and I take it from him.

"Is this for me?" I hesitate

He nods

I put the mask on and small at him and he just looks at me like I'm not even interesting.

"Can you say something or anything please?" I ask

He shakes his head and frowns

"Fine....." I trail off as I see a group of kids running towards us with huge smiles. A little girl pulls at my arm and a boy stares up at the knight. Linkin motions for thr kids to go away and the only boy who stays is a young one who is staring at Linkin. The boy smiles and asks Linkin "Are you brave and strong?"

Linkin nods and smiles at the boy

Thr boy frowns "I wish you could talk, so I could hear your voice"

Linkin opens his mouth but closes it and sighs. I continue walking once they are done talking.