Days passed with haste and soon cold autumn changed to winter. The sun showed up less and less on each passing day and every morning was as black as night.

During this dark season Richard stayed even longer times at Fredrika's house. Every day after the chores Fredrika listened his amazing stories of medieval England and in her thoughts she travelled into that time with him.

Her affection towards him grew deeper and deeper and it made her sad that the rest of the world didn't accept their friendship.

She was breaking their rules but now she had learned to keep her thoughts tightly inside of her heart which was hidden from their intrusive looks.

Fredrika sighed and closed her eyes.

- I wish I could go to your world and stay there, she said with dreamy voice.

- No you don't.

- Yes I do.

- Are you willing to give up from all of these miraculous things which had made your life much easier than mine?

Richard had a point in that and Fredrika had to confess that giving up from all modern luxury goods would be a tough call to make.

- Besides only the strongest ones could survive and death wasn't never too far away, he pointed out.

- I guess you are right.

After short pause Fredrika asked Richard to tell once again about his early life.

- I was born at the castle of Fotheringhay but castle Ludlow was more like my childhood's home.

I think I was five or six years old when I got my first sword. It was made from wood and a groom called Geoffrey made it to me. I felt so proud when I held it on my hand for the fist time and I was almost like a true knight. I also asked if he could have carved my name on its wooden blade but the poor chap didn't know how to write.

When I was a child I didn't understood how heavy burden it was to him to carry. I was born so high that I didn't lack of education which the people below of me were envious of.

So every time when you think ill about going to school remember that.

- I don't hate school I just hate the people which are at there.

- Well, at least you got even one friendly soul with you.

- Yes, thank you, she thanked and took a firm grip on his hand.

As days had gone by the ghostly presence of Richard's was warming up and his touch wasn't as cold as it had been. Also the blood on his face had eventually faded away and revealed a clear skin which was as pure as snow.

- Will you come to school with me tomorrow, Fredrika asked.

- Try to stop me, Richard replied smiling and they both laughed.

However poor Fredrika had no clue what was about to happen to her.

The dawn of upcoming change started very much the same as the other dawns of her life since she had moved away from home with her mum.

After the breakfast she got herself dressed and she gave her mum a kiss and then started to cycle through the snowy streets.

Richard was waiting for her at his usual place and he joined her.

The roads where slippery from snow and ice and when Fredrika was about to go over a busy street, it happened.

A school taxi drove furiously to the crossroads and it hit on poor Fredrika.

The dark world around her spanned around and the noise of braking car tires slashed the air.

The sound of crushing metal and breaking glass mixed into each other while a horse was whinnying somewhere near.

Piercing pain impaled her like an iron bar and she tasted blood in her mouth.

The force of the impact had thrown her on the road on her back and she was looking up at the black sky. Soon a pale face of a taxi driver appeared above of her.

Air had got squeezed out from her lungs so rapidly that for a moment she wasn't able to breath.

She lied immobile like a dead body while the man who had been behind the wheel gripped on her jacked and dragged her off the road.

Then suddenly her mum appeared near to her and tears were running down on her face.

She hadn't been too far away when the crash had happened and she had hurried right away out from her car.

- It's okay mum I'll manage, she whispered whit thin voice.

Her words didn't calm her down and she started to cry even louder.

- MY GOD FREADRIKA, she heard Richard's cry but she was too much in pain to look at his direction.

- YOU MURDERER, I'LL CURSE YOU, he shouted at the driver who sneaked back to his taxi.

- Richard, Fredrika whispered.

- I am here.

- Don't leave me.

- Don't worry I'll stand by you.

After a short moment, ambulance arrived and Fredrika was taken to the hospital.

Fredrika's mum and Richard stayed with her the entire day, they didn't dare to leave her alone.

Later on that day she had to be moved to another hospital where the doctor diagnosed a serious concussion.

The next moments were vital for her survival.

Heavy darkness fell upon her and she let her mind to drift away.

She wanted to get away from the hospital and her broken body, she wanted to sleep.

- Fredrika, darling try to stay awake, her mum prayed with broken voice.

However she was too tired to listen to her praying and she wanted to get out.

Richard sat next to her mum and she felt right away an invisible presence near at her.

She was too exhausted to be scared and she looked helplessly at the empty chair beside her.

Richard understood how serious the situation was and he knew that he had to help her.

- Please help my baby, Fredrika's mum prayed him.

- I will, he promised and laid his hand on her hand.

She pulled her hand quickly away when she felt a sudden cold on it.

Richard got onto his feet and leaned over sleeping Fredrika.

She looked so peaceful and it felt almost like a sin to disturb her.

However he had to since death wasn't too far away from her bedside.

Richard reached his hand towards her and touched lightly her forehead with his fingers.

He sensed that her soul was about to leave from her body and he had to prevent that from happening. Richard closed his eyes and focused all his willpower to break through the wall between him and Fredrika's closed mind.