A blue moon swam across the inky sky as a warning bell rang continuously through the barren land, blood stained grass splayed below the stormy skies. Yells echoed from the distant castle, white shining walls kidnapped by the enslaving darkness thrust into this once peaceful kingdom.
This perfect home had been heaven to millions of families. Where dreams bloomed and no person either sorcerer or cursed beast was misjudged or misguided. All could carve there own name and there own profile.

The royal family was the most loved. A worthy king had ruled upon the fields of green, listening to everyone's decisions. He was harsh yet merciful, Strong yet caring, clever but honest. His name was Balinor

His Queen was well cared for. A bond so strong ran between them there was no doubt they would be together as long as life allowed. Hunith was a great queen. Attending to the poor and sick with her skills and bestowing potions and medicine to them, She saw all as equal and no man or women, boy or girl would be cast away from her. Even if they had nothing to give in return.

There daughter was the most cherished, She put herself in everyone's shoes whether it be with helping complete chores with the servants or harvesting the crops for farmers and collecting herbs for her mother even at the age of 15 all citizens knew Merlyn would be a great ruler.

She was a outstanding knight the best in all there kingdom (Even if some kingdoms thought no women should be able to fight), She lost no tournaments or battles. Merlyn had taught all the knights how to fight, How to learn someone's technique and there weak spots, How to launch a arrow fields apart with complete accuracy, How to escape from the hardest of foes. They were the best team known to man. Yet none could beat the princess. Her magic had bloomed inside her from the beginning of her life. Only a day after her birth Hunith had entered the nursery to find silver bubbles jumping from Merlyn's tiny fists. She was a powerful witch. The most powerful to walk earth, even as a 5 year old she had managed to defeat a stray griffin in the dark forest. Yet Merlyn was merciful she did not kill the beast but simply spoke to it and reasoned with the creature using magic. No one was a better warrior than she.

Everything changed on that faithful day where the blue moon had danced in the air ,Merlyn's 18th birthday, but it had all started years before Merlyn's birth, years before Balinor crowning, on a summers day in the future kings childhood. A new emerald eyed prince had been born a brother for Balinor but a cursed heart was found, filled with jealousy and despite for his older and more skilled brother. A boy soon to be king and a brother green with envy had dwelled in the castle for years, training for there future yet the younger brother Nandeth felt no change, nothing but a frozen heart . The troubled boy turned to dark magic and deadly antics. No person had ever been so lonely so afraid so driven by madness that his family nor his people could sway his hand. At 20 the man had attempted to murder his brother Balinor, whether he had killed a peasant or the king himself the same sentence would have been cast... Banishment.

The royal family despised themselves for hurting there own family like this but as proved, they believed in equality and sadly sometimes hard decisions must be made for the greater good
And so the prince had been cast from his home. No citizen took him in in fear of being cursed therefore he had wandered the borders for years. Never letting go of his longing for revenge.

It seemed Nanuet had now arrived for just that. For his vengeance, for his throne, for his brother. Only so he could cast the country into chaos, into flames, into ashes.

Chaos.

The only word able to describe the once great city of Asuala.

Smoke hurled up from the palaces turrets, red flames licking the citadels walls climbing and hurdling through the lower town where screams rang. Scared mothers flew back and forth searching for there lost children as men armed themselves against the deadly force betraying the country.

A blue and silver coat of arms hung from the throne room ( a silver dragon with golden eyes surrounded by flames) but was quickly torn down and chucked carelessly into the flames as a tirade of soldiers and sorcerers dressed in black scales burst through the doors. A dark haired man stood by the throne a iron sword incrusted with azul gems slung by his side , A royal blue cape falling from his shoulders with chainmail weighing down upon him. The same royal crest embedded upon his armour and cape. A crown of jewels balanced upon his long locks, mirth and magic swirled in his eyes, glaring hatefully upon the monster entering the hall.

"Brother, why must you do this? I never wanted to abandon you! Do you really think killing your own family, your own blood will fix this?" Balinor shouted. Hope and anger shone from his defeated figure. Shoulders slumped in submission.

"REALLY, You never wanted this yet you did nothing to stop it. Face it Balinor, I am no Brother of yours, You are not my family, You betrayed me... I did nothing" Nandeth screamed hateful tears streaming down his bloodied face. Whispering the last part as if it was the only word left in his stone heart. The truth.

Balinor bowed his head shamefully staring at the dark wood floor. He was broken and confused yet no tears escaped his eyes as he could not show the enemy weakness. Because that's all Nandeth was... An enemy.
He looked up at the traitors sneering face. AH irritated scar ran from his left eye to the right side of his mouth pulling his lip up into a set snarl. Hallowed, empty eyes stared at Balinor giving no emotion or clue as the king walked up to him and observed his body. Black ruffled hair leaked down his pale, shadowed face flecked with grey. A old ripped shirt hung of his weak frame, Magic being the only thing holding the dishevelled human together.

A Villain.

Balinor charged towards Nandeth running his sword through the head of his brother. Yet none of his guards moved, not even flinched as there masters body fell limply to the floor. Balinor's eyebrows knitted in confusion as the hair on the back of his neck prickled.
A knife tip emerged from his chest pain tearing through his limbs a wrangled scream pouring from his throat. Balinor turned his eyes to see a reflection of the body now laying in front of him running a sword through him.
"Goodbye brother"

Three figures ran along the crest of a large hill. One draped in a blue cape and the other two swamped in black cloaks. Daylight poured from the east side of the kingdom battling the jumping fires in Asuala. The smallest figure stopped and turned facing the fallen kingdom. Water pouring from her sapphire eyes down her rosy cheeks , Her pink lips quivering and her breath coming out in quick clouds.
Black hair framed her beautiful face single tears dripping down her long eyelashes falling past her thin frame and landing on the moonlit grass.

Why couldn't I stay. I could've helped. Could've stopped this.
Could have saved my people.

"Merlyn" Sir Will placed a hand upon her shoulder turning her away from the sorry sight and steering her towards her mother who stood at the edge of the forest. "It's not your fault, come on we need to get you and the queen to safety. Please Merlyn, when your uncles army is no longer outnumbering us we will call for you but it's impossible to win right now, even for you. Please Merlyn, for your kingdom"
'For my country'

Three people ran into the dark forest escaping from the horrors in the home land. Starting there new destinies.