Once Upon a Time
Prologue
Hello everyone! I am officially back after dropping of the face of the earth for a month and I am presenting to you a new story! Well, it isn't really new. New to some of you at least. The brilliant writer Bibee took a little break and left this story in my hands. The first 16 chapters belong entirely to her and I will take no credit. For all of you that have loved this story long before I came into the picture, I need your help so I don't screw this up. :)
Disclaimer: I do not own Mortal Instruments, or even this chapter. I only own the author's note.
The fire underneath the mantelpiece was low and the room was filled with a dark light. A little girl with hair the same color as the flames sat upon her mother's lap, a book in hand.
"...And the handsome young prince saved the beautiful princess from the dragons-keep, and they lived happily ever after. The End." Her mother said, closing the book with a muffled thump. "One day, you will find your happily ever after.'
The little girl looked up into her mother's eyes, her green eyes young and innocent behind copper lashes. "Is that why you and Father are sending me away, Mother?" She asked as she played with the hem of her dress.
"Yes." Her mother answered softly, as her eyes began to fill with tears. "That is why you are leaving." The first drops landed on the rich satin of the little girl's dress, staining it a darker color. "But when you return, you will be a beautiful Queen, I know it." She pulled her daughter into her and held her tight, not even noticing as the little girl's eyes fluttered closed and her breathing became deep and regular. The woman sobbed silently into her daughter's hair until the thick mahogany doors of the drawing room opened and a man stepped inside.
A head of salt-and-pepper hair was half hidden beneath a war helmet ash and blood stained armor covered him from head to toe. "Jocelyn,' He said, his tone grave. "It is time."
Silently the woman stood up, her daughter still in her arms, and exited the room, following the man down maze-like corridors where portraits of lavishly dresses men and women hung on the walls. From a distance, the sounds of battle could be heard. The woman pulled her daughter closer. "Will she be happy?" She asked, not taking her eyes off the sleeping face of the girl in her arms. "Where she is going, will she be happy?"
"She will be in one of the most remote areas of the kingdom, miles from the nearest town, and Lucian will look out for her. She will be perfectly safe." The man said, not turning as he spoke.
"You know that's not what I asked, Valentine." The woman said. "I asked if she would be happy."
He didn't reply.
Once they exited a large pair of doors, the sounds of battle grew louder, the faraway crash of steel against steel raising hairs on the back of the woman's neck. They hurried now, half running through a stone-paved courtyard towards a man sitting upon a thunder grey steed, the hood of his black cloak drawn up.
Taking a last glance at the little girl's face, calm and unlined with the peace of slumber, she handed the girl to her armored husband, who in turn handed her to the man upon the horse, which neighed impatiently.
"Quiet Balios," The man said soothingly as he rubbed the horse's neck with one hand, the other holding the girl's body against himself. In the darkness of night, only broken by the haze of red and black smoke, it was almost impossible to make out the girl, the only hint, the single red lock that escaped from the man's cloak which she was hidden under.
"You will take her away from here?"
The hooded man bowed his head. "Of course, your Majesty."
The sounds became louder. Closer. They did not have much time until the battle was upon them. Valentine pulled a sword from a sheath, the metal reflecting the pale moonlight half obscured by black smoke. He scanned the courtyard, and seeing the dancing shadows against the courtyard passage walls, turned back to the woman. "Jocelyn, we do not have much time."
"Lucian." She whispered, locking her piercing gaze on the mounted man and pressing a crumbled, hastily wrote note into his hand. "Look after my little girl."
"Of course, your Highness." And he rode off.
The man pulled his wife after him and away from the soldiers advancing on them as the little girl disappeared into the darkness of night.
I will update this story probably every other day until I have published all of Bibee's original chapter. Then, it'll be every other week when I actually have to write them myself. I want to thank Bibee for giving me the opportunity to try and wrap up such an awesome story and I hope I don't screw it up!
See you guys later,
ByTheAngel99
P.S: I hope all you Americans have a great Superbowl Sunday and get fat off all the delicious junk food!