Chapter 1

Winter had reached Grado and everyone was gathering firewood, sewing clothes, and anything else that would prepare them for the next few months. Emperor Vigarde was readying his carriage to check on the city and see how everything was going.

"Horses are fine, sir. Shall we be going now?" A soldier saluted Vigarde as he stepped out of his castle.

"Let us go." The emperor stepped into the grand carriage and sat down.

A soldier took the reins and looked back. The soldier was used to seeing baby Lyon in his father's arms on his trips to the city. "Emperor Vigarde, where's Prince Lyon?"

"I left him the care of a trusted servant. I wouldn't want the prince to catch cold at such a young age."

"You're right. Well then, let's be on our way."

The horses galloped at a peaceful pace and the snow flakes had begun to fall from the skies. Fortunately, it wasn't a heavy snowfall. Vigarde had to admit that Grado looked its best during winter, even though it was the most torturous. It seemed that winter was the longest season to endure, especially since there was a lack of food.

Vigarde sighed at the thought of the hardships that will soon come. He didn't know that the soldier would hear him.

"Sir, is something wrong?"

"It's nothing…"

"Alright…"

It went silent for a few minutes and that disturbed Vigarde. He couldn't help but to start a conversation, "So when will we be at the city?"

"Not long. Maybe just a few more miles and we'll be there in no time. Why ask?"

He shrugged and replied, "It was too quiet."

The soldier took that as an answer and continued steering the horses. They were getting closer and closer to the city now so they had no time for breaks. On top of the road that they were on, they could spot the city's oil lamps. It was quite the sight to see.

"The city is magnificent. Don't you think so milord?"

"Yes… it's beautiful isn't it?"

"Yup. Well we better be on our way."

The soldier tenderly kicked the horse's side and it went off. The road was steep and the horse ended up running down instead of walking as it was told.

"Hey Gallant! Calm down!" The driver pulled on the reins, but no matter how much it tried to stop, there was always the ice to make it slip.

Emperor Vigarde had crashed into the seat in front of him, but he felt just fine, just a little dizzy. He looked out the window as he had one hand keeping him from crashing into the seat again. He saw a young blonde girl with beautiful shiny eyes just a few feet from the rampaging horse. He thought she would be smart enough to stay away from the horse but she ended up walking towards gallant with one hand held out as if she were going to pet him.

At the head of the carriage, the soldier saw the same thing, "Hey girl! Stay away!"

She paid no heed to his words and gently touched the horse's mane with her little hands. Vigarde watched everything she did and knew that there was something in her that would make her blend out from others.

The king stepped out of his cart and looked down at the girl. She looked up at him and said nothing. Instead, she bowed her head and walked away. "Wait. It is not polite to walk off on a king."

She turned her head back at him and looked him in the eyes. They held kindness and tenderness within them. She had never seen those eyes in such a long time. Without even thinking, she walked back to him.

"Emperor Vigarde, I'm sorry but we must really be going. We have no time to be talking with strangers."

"She is okay… I have never in all my life seen a human no less a child be so courageous to pet an out of control horse such as ours." The king shifted his eyes back down on her and said kindly, "Young lady, please tell me what your name is and why you are so far away from town."

The blonde no longer looked at his eyes but at the ground covered with snow. Her voice was weak and quiet, Selena…"

"Hm? You're saying your name is Selena?"

Selena nodded.

"Can you tell me why you're so far from town now?"

"I…I have always been this far from home."

"Now, now. Don't tell me you were born here. You must've been born in a warm house. Now I'll return you to your family if you tell me where they are."

"My parents…? They're gone… They were taken away from me…"

Both the king and the soldier looked at her with a concerned face. Neither of them knew what to say. The soldier did the best he can to comfort her, "It's okay…Everyone loses their parents soon…"

Vigarde glanced at him and right away he knew that he was meant to be silent. "Nevermind. Forget what I said."

The king bent down to her height and put his hand on her shoulder. "Tell me, how did your parents…leave you…?"

"What difference would it make? They'll always be gone. If I told you they wouldn't come back." Her voice was cold as she spoke. Vigarde felt as if she was blaming him on her parent's death.

"Selena…By the way you speak, I assume that your parents horribly, right?"

Selena nodded, "That's all I'm going to explain…" She turned around and walked away. Why would he care what happened to my parents? The way they died…It wasn't right! I know it wasn't! I saw the death of my own parents…Mom's tears and cries…Dad's courage…

"It seems we should be going now, sir."

"You seem to be in a hurry. Why's that?"

"Well, it's not good to hold up everything that you planned on doing."

"If you're in such a hurry, you go to the city on your own. Tell me how it's going and I'll stay here."

"But…" His majesty stared him in the eyes, "Okay…I'll come back as fast as possible." He kicked Gallant's side and off he rode, leaving Vigarde alone.

As the soldier left, Vigarde went on searching for the girl. He walked past a few bushes where he had seen her go and saw some white rabbits run about. Chasing after them was Selena. She spotted him as she ran past and stopped.

"There you are Selena. You should try to confide with others to solve your problems."

"Sir…Please, just leave me alone. No one can help me…"

"Selena, I'm king not to just create orders but to help others too."

The little blonde picked up the rabbit and said, "Will you promise not to tell…?" She put one of the rabbit's ears between her index and middle finger.

"I promise…"

She got near him and began whispering in his ear. Vigarde couldn't believe what she was saying. It was such a horrible story, he couldn't even to begin to imagine what it was like for her.

When she was done, he managed to reply, "Selena… your parents died like that?"

"Yes…They were killed by the hands of a trusted friend. I watched everything…Mom was crying and telling me to run. Dad was trying to protect both me and mom, but it was too much…"

The king would expect her to cry by now but she held in her tears. Then she continued, "But my mom said that I must live my life the way I want it and to be happy." She smiled, but Vigarde knew it was fake.

Then an idea came into his head. "Hey Selena, how about coming with me?"

"Go with you?"

"Yes. It's better than staying out here in the cold. I'll give you a warm bed and clothes and everything else a girl needs. You'll be just like a daughter."

The rabbit jumped out of her arms and went back to its family. Selena couldn't hold in her happiness anymore. She jumped into his arms and tears of joy came out of her eyes. "Oh thank you so much! I promise I'll be the best I can be and help you!"

An hour later, the soldier returned from the city and spotted the king and Selena. He pulled the reins and the horse stopped. "Milord, I'm sorry if I took a long time. It wasn't meant to be like that. Everyone was in the road and I couldn't-"

"Enough. You worry too much. Now just help Selena get to the seat by you and let her take the reins."

"What? Are you sure about that?"

"Did you not see the way she stopped Gallant? I'm sure this young girl is a natural horseback rider."

The man looked at the king then Selena. He let out a sigh and hopped off. He lifted Selena onto the seat and handed her the reins. "Alright Selena. Gently whip the reins and he'll go walking. If you need to stop, pull the reins, got it?"

She nodded and both the soldier and Vigarde got to their seats. The soldier sat next to her while the king took his seat in the carriage. Selena whipped the reins and guided the horse as if she had done it a million times. The soldier was surprised at how good she was and thought that maybe when they return to the castle, he would give her a horse. That is if Vigarde let him.

"You're a magnificent horse driver… just like what Emperor Vigarde said. Tell me, would you like your very own horse?"

"You would really let me have my own horse?"

"Of course. Your skill is magnificent. Maybe if you were able to handle a sword then perhaps you might be able to grow up as a soldier. But that's just a maybe."

"I prefer magic over swords and lances since my mom used magic. My dad used sword fighting skills and everything, but I feel more like my mom."

Vigarde overheard them and called back, "Well Selena, if you want, we could teach you the skill of magic if you want."

"You would really teach me?"

"Of course."

Selena smiled and thought, I can finally live my life how I want it…Just how Mom and Dad would've wanted me to. If I can, I will avenge you two. I promise…