Snow flakes fell fast from the grey sky, and all Leora could feel was cold swirling. She was spinning and spinning in the snow, eyes closed in happiness. She loved the snow. She breathed in the frosty air and smiled.
"Umm, I really really hate to interrupt this most beautiful sight, but, you need to change. You'll catch your death." Aden said taking Leora inside the entrance to the cave on the side of the mountain.
"Here, find something to wear." He gave her the dark violet bag. She opened it and searched for a dress.
"Ah, this'll do!" Leora said pulling out a scarlet dress. She stood up, and looked at Aden. He looked back some what confused, but then her mind clicked with his.
"Oh, right! I'll just go and wait outside, ha!" He said foolishly. "Real smooth Aden! Real smooth!" He said to himself in the snow.
Leora tied the two red ribbons up in front making her stomach tight. She really loved the feeling that she could make herself look skinner. She looked down at herself, admiring her dress. 'I feel just like…well, Sleeping Beauty!' She said in her head.
She leaned down and put her torn green dress back into her sac. But, as soon as she did, she felt something. Something, hard.
Aden stood twiddling his thumbs outside, looking out at the blowing snow. But then, he heard, "Aden!" and hurried inside.
"What is it my princess?" He asked. But then, he saw her holding a book. A very big book.
"I brought it back to my room that night. I put it on my bed, and must've packed it in with everything else; since I threw everything on the bed!"
Aden nodded, "Well, let's have a look, shall we?" He opened the book and started to read.
He skimmed through the pages, flipping here and there. "It's a history book." He stated.
"A what?" Leora said in disbelief.
"A history book. About the history of the nine kingdoms. It's a renowned book. Gives biographies of each of the rulers, knights, wizards, heroes. I've read it a few times. Quite interesting."
"I found it laying out on the library table. On a certain page. Oh, but I shut it!"
"Wait, there's a book mark!" Aden said flipping the mark over to a couple hundred pages more. But, before the read, the two of them heard a very disturbing, awful sound.
It was like a moan, or a gigantic growl of some sort. Obviously, it was…
"The beast!" The two gasped. They immediately put the book and their belongings away, and looked into the dark cave. It was a very long tunnel, with no light.
"There's no way I'm going in there!" Aden exclaimed.
Just then, Leora became light headed, and was becoming very dizzy. "What's wrong?" Aden asked. She kept rocking back and forth, then, she fell to the ground cold.
"Leora! Leora! Stop it please! Oh, finally! You're awake! You could've gotten us eaten!" Aden whispered.
Leora woke holding her head. It throbbed terribly. "What happened? Why were you telling me to stop?" She whispered.
"You were singing at the top of your lungs! I'm amazed the beast didn't hear you!"
"Singing?" Leora suddenly thought of the elf back in BramleWood. She knew it must've been the same song. Slowly, Leora stood up and picked up her sac. She took out a dagger she had hidden inside and tied it around her waist with it's belt.
"What are you doing?" Aden panicked.
"I'm going in there." She said looking into the deep black tunnel.
"Oh, no you're not!" Aden stood in front of her and crossed his arms. Leora smiled sweetly up at the tall wizard.
"Either move like a gentleman, or be moved. And I promise you, I've made boys twice your height cry!" She said cracking her knuckles.
Aden quickly moved aside, "Fine! Go!" Leora curtsied mockingly and began to walk away.
He watched her go, and finally made up his mind, "Wait! Wait; I'll go too. Here, we'll need this." He went over to the side of the cave and found a large bone. He tied a piece of a shirt from his bag and held it out in front of him. His eyes began to glow a bright green, then suddenly, the cloth began to burn.
They started to walk into the tunnel when Leora mentioned, "You know, you could make lots of money in Las Vegas!"
"What's Las Vegas?" He asked. Leora chuckled and they disappeared into the tunnel.
"HONEY I'M HOME!" Wolf said bouncing into the Sleeping Castle. He put his things down and a servant took them. He ran through the castle heading straight towards Leora's quarters.
"Oh little sis! Where are you?" He ran up the stairs and around the corners, dodging butlers and maids as he went. Sliding, he stopped in front of her door. He burst the doors open and jumped into the room, "LEO-"
He stopped as he opened his eyes, "-ORA?" He walked around the room and hunted every corner of it. She wasn't there, he knew this because her room was spotless. He opened the balcony doors and looked outside into the sun. Nothing.
Standing at the doorway was Virginia, "She's not here Wolf."
Wolf turned and went straight up to her, "What do you mean she's not here?"
"I have two things to show you that I just received." She said almost in tears. She handed Wolf a piece of parchment and Wolf read it. It was the letter that Leora wrote to her made almost two weeks ago, the night they left for their honeymoon.
"Oh! Why would she leave? What would make sweet happy Leora ever want to leave?" Wolf had such a spectacular honeymoon that he forgot all about the wedding party.
Then Virginia gave him another note. It was a card, and Wolf opened it. After reading it, his face turned red. He ripped up the letter which had read:
To Sir Wolf and Lady Virginia,
We courtly invite you to join us at
A very special Wedding
It will commence at 12 O'clock this Sunday
At Queen Cinderella's Castle
1st Kingdom
This will align the 1st and 6th Kingdoms as one
We hope you will join us at the crowning of
The future King Damien and Queen Reena
Wolf went out onto Leora's balcony following her trail with his nose. He smelled the air, and realized that she wasn't alone. Virginia tried to come and comfort him, but as soon as she saw his face she took a few steps back and covered her ears. Wolf abruptly let out a tremendous howl.
Leora looked back behind her and swore she heard the cry of a wolf. But then, the growling of the beast grew larger, and she knew she had to go to it. Then, the two saw at the end a brilliant light. Leora began to run, and Aden desperately followed her.
Then suddenly, she stopped in her tracks, and Aden came running into her. Getting up from the cold ground, Aden was about to speak, but Leora covered his mouth. She put a finger to her lips and tip toed onward.
They were right next to a gigantic whole. It was about one hundred feet deep and scorching bright. They couldn't see anything, only the brightness. They moved closer to the hole, and got right behind a rock and quietly peeped over. Hearing a final growl, they gawked as they looked onto the beast which both of them feared.