Our Immortal Souls

.: Prologue :.

A long time ago

The rain poured down onto the forest, flooding the dirt below. Animals scurried along the forest floor, dodging the collapsing branches as they plunged downwards from the heights of the oak trees. The wind was harsh, slashing at the young woman's face as she continued galloping through the extensive tangle of trees. She had ridden furiously for hours, clinging onto the rains, her cloak drenched from the torrential weather. Still she didn't seem to tire.

Her purpose was more important than her comfort. These were dire times and everybody had a role to play. Hers was to fix the mess she had started, the death she had failed to prevent. For too long the young woman had been in grief, one so deep that many believed her mad. To make matters worse, the woman had disappeared in the middle of the night for what appeared to be a wild treasure hunt in the depths of the Endless Forest.

Creatures of the most magical, yet dangerous breed looked as the woman rode by. As tempting as this beautiful woman seemed to them, not a single creature touched her. Protected by a force unknown by most magical beings, the woman was a safe as one could be riding alone in the dead of night. This force kept her alive and safe until she had reached her destination.

The woman stopped at the bottom of a mountain. Its edges where sharp, its side steep enough to make anyone think twice about climbing. Still the woman dismounted her horse, tying him to a nearby tree, before heading towards the small path carved on the side of the mountain.

The first steps were the worst, as the rock beneath the woman's feet was covered in rain and debris. Stumbling, she made her way up, almost slipping over the edge and into the void. As her hands started to cramp from grasping at any possible support, a cave becma visible. A wave of hope overcame the woman. She was close, she could get answers, she could avenge her son.

As the cave's opening became closer, the women instinctively reached for the side of her hip. Hidden under her cloak, she clenched the handle of her dagger. As feeble as it may seem, the creature that lay inside the cave was more dangerous than anything the woman had ever encountered. Despite the protective force that lay on her neck, the woman hesitated before entering. The last time she had left this cave, she had been given a burden heavy enough to break most. Now she found herself seeking answers from the same creature. She should be coming to kill it, not beg from it.

A breeze blew from inside the cave, an invitation to enter. The young woman obliged and entered the cave without turning back.

As the woman walked deeper into the darkness, the air became thicker and the silence unbearable. Magic seemed out of the walls and floated throughout the space, blind to the human eye. The cave and it's secrets was no place for humans, even magical creatures avoided its entrance. Yet she had no choice and no time to waste. Every minute spent here could mean the start of a war.

Clutching her dagger, the woman thought about her necklace. It would keep her safe, it would change things, she told herself. She knew it was a lie.

The woman stopped as torches magically lit throughout the cave, leading her further into its depths. Without hesitation she followed the path they marked, until a figure became visible. As the young woman came closer, a old woman's face became distinguishable. Under the dim light, the old crone's bony features and purple pupils were frightening. If it weren't for the grief still heavy in her heart, the young woman would have turned and ran.

The younger woman stammered, "You were right… my son… the, the star… red… your wicked magic… my sweet son, he's, he's dead." The troubled look on her face was replaced with one of anger and despair.

The other woman did not respond, her face lacking expression or emotion.

"I tried, I tried to stop it. But you, you tricked me. You told me to look for the red star. I spent weeks talking with astronomers, trying to find when such a star would appear. I was a fool to believe that someone like you would help me," the young woman said. She was now in arms reach of the old woman, close enough to slice her throat… but she didn't. Instead she retreated and looked into the soulless eyes of the old woman. "You must tell me more. I must know."

This time the woman answered, "Forgive me, your grace, but if I have understood correctly, you seem to have not been satisfied with my last prediction."

"Trust me, if I had a choice I would have you burned on the stake, but here you are, alive. However horrible your last prediction was, it was still true," the young woman insisted "I will pay you with gold and more."

"I thank you for your generosity, but I must warn you that knowing the future comes with a price greater than gold."

"If you are truly an oracle, then you shall let me pay the price and hear more. I must know, this cannot happen again."

"As you wish, your grace." the oracle responded calmly.

There was a moment of silence, an eerie sensation spread throughout the cave and out into the forest. The oracles purple eyes rolled back into their sockets as she opened her mouth. Yet it was not the oracle speaking, it was a force greater than man, greater than even the gods. A force of truth and knowledge, older than even Chaos and the beginning of time. And through the mouth of the oracle, the prophecy was spoken,

"Three daughters shall rise,

One of gold, One of fire, One of snow,

With the power to destroy humankind,

For if the crown falls,

The shadows will ascend,

And when the bells ring,

It shall be the end of all."

The silence resumed, the air became lighter, the energy gone. All returned to what it was, except for the young queen. Her face was struck with horror, despair, and fear. "What is the meaning of this, I don't understand. Please, you must explain. I must know more," the queen pleaded.

"I have answered your requests. There is nothing more I can do, so leave your pretty necklace and go" was all the oracle responded. Her tone was harsher, one filled with magic darker than the queen had ever known. She knew it was a lost cause.

Reluctantly, the queen obliged, giving her the enchanted necklace. It could have been a powerful tool, but the queen feared the oracles wrath enough that the thought of refusing was chased out her head.

Empty handed, the queen returned to the mouth of the cave. Silently she mounted her stallion and rode back home, knowing she had failed. Unless she could find the wits to decipher the prophecy, everything could be lost and there would be nothing left but the lost souls of the departed.

Hey everybody,

This is the re-writing of the original Our Immortal Souls. I want to clarify that this time I am ready to follow through with the story. The first time I tried this I did not prepare the story. I understand if some people might be hesitant to submit, but I hope that I can get a good amount of submitters. To all people who had previously submitted a character, feel free to re-submit her. I hope you guys enjoy the story.

I tried to put some information on my profile, but I understand that I haven't revealed everything about the world, but I want some information to come out through the story itself. Just in case it wasn't clear, this story happens in AU and a medieval setting. Please feel free to ask me questions through PM and Pinterest. The stories Pinterest is called Immortal Souls and my personal one is IMadeUReadThis.

Camille