I was running down a long winding stairs, which opened up a hallway. I continued running, searching for an exit, a door, a window, anything. I turned a corner and was stopped by a door. It was not the door I was looking for though.

I stiffened with fear. Dread rose through my body and I could feel my heart beating in my chest. Every heart beat seemed to echo around me as the walls began closing in. I felt cold sweat drip down my back as the door began to open. It creaked open slowly, the metal hinges rusted. I gasped for air and tried to run, but was trapped.

The door continued to open and soon was opened completely. I let out a blood curdling scream as what opened the door stepped out of the shadows…

I woke with a start. My hair was plastered to my brow with cold, damp sweat and I breathed sigh of relief that it was only a dream. Lasarina was dozing next to the fireplace. The fires had been reduced top embers.

Spring was approaching and while days were cool and sunny, late nights and early mornings made you wish summer was here. I threw back the covers and was blasted with a rush of cold air. I wrapped my thick robe around my body and slid out of bed. My feet flapped against the cold stone and I hurried to the rug.

Still thinking of the dream I shivered as I poked the embers alive again. The sparked and began to glow brighter, like a phoenix rising from the flames.

It had been two weeks since the ball. Eirwen had not returned. I had managed to keep the people from panicking by telling them Eirwen had gone to live at a cousin's where she would learn the finer points of being a lady.

I thought back to the apple charm I had given her. It was a fairly simple charm, and not one of much power. It was simply enough to distract her for the night, not for her stay away from days. I wondered if I had messed up my measurements, but I distinctly remembered checking them and rechecking them before I had mixed them. Something was afoot.

I wandered to the large window to the side of my chamber and looked out into the night. I shuddered and decided I did not want to know who was behind the princess's lengthy excursion.

Unbidden, images from the dream came flooding back. The dream was recurring, a nightmare I had been dealing with for nearly every night. Every night it was the same. The long winding corridors and that door. It was not an unusual door. In fact it was very similar to the one I had seen at the Oak and Ivy Inn. It was the type of door you would expect to find on a small cottage in the woods, where perhaps seven dwarves or other mystical creatures lived.

I sighed and sat down on the window seat, knowing the nightmares would not stop until the princess came home.

The morning dawned over the meadow, the dew glistening in the grass. I blinked awake as the sun fell on my face. Yawning I realized I had fallen asleep on the window seat. A maroon blanket was draped across my body. I looked for where Lasarina had been dozing, but she was no longer in the room.

Stretching I climbed off the windowsill. No more of the nightmare. I felt restless, a great need swelling inside of me to go somewhere. A council meeting was planned for this evening, giving me the day to what I pleased.

Looking out the window, I guessed it was about 7:30 in the morning. Sure enough, after looking at my clock I learned I was right. Quickly I dressed, pulling out my old clothing from a pack under the bed. I threw on a pair of worn deer hide breeches, and a loose fitting hunting top, which I wore under a leather vest. Over my pant I pulled on a pair of black leather riding breeches, which Lasarina had given me when they no longer fit her.

I surveyed myself in the mirror. Luckily, my chest was small enough to be covered by my loose shirt, giving me the appearance of a young boy. I braided and knotted my hair back under my shirt before heading out the door.

I jogged past the meadows, where a few horses grazed on the lush, spring green grass. I entered the wooden building at the end of the trail. Smells of hay and grain flooded my noise as I walked down the aisles of horse stall. I walked to the end of the aisle, where a pair of grooms were trying to harness a black stallion into the cross ties.

"Leave him!" I ordered. They turned to me surprised. I was a little miffed when no expressions of recognition registered on their faces. Then I remembered where I was and what I was wearing.

One of the grooms stepped forward, a boy of about 19. He had rather long sandy brown hair, and bright green eyes, which were now flaring with anger and defiance. "And who might you be?" he asked haughtily, appraising me as though I were a piece of jewelry.

I cleared my throat and tried to think fast. "I was told I would find you here." I began, trying to make my voice a little deeper and manlier. "I am the new groom."

The sandy haired boy stepped back for a moment, looking a little bewildered. "I hadn't realized a new groom had been hired." He stammered. I smiled a sarcastic smile and walked forward towards the horse.

"Well, they have." I said shortly. I approached the horse, making small clicking noises. The horse snorted and looked at me out of the corner of its eyes, waiting to see if I would make any quick movement. Slowly I reached out and slid my fingers around its rope halter. It pranced in place, his heavy hooves clicking on the stone. Gently I reached out and stroked his nose.

I glanced at the sandy haired boy, who turned to grab the horse's bridle. He handed it to me and I quickly and gently slid the bridle over the horses head before removing the halter. While I stood holding the horse, the two others attached the saddle.

When they were finished I instructed them to hold the horses reins. Quick as a flash I mounted the horse. The sandy haired boy gave me the reins.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"I was instructed to exercise the horses." I replied curtly.

He grinned sheepishly. "By the way, my name is Evyn." He said, "And this is Fechin." I nodded. Evyn looked at me expectantly. "I am Grian." Evyn nodded. I nudged the horse with my heels and we trotted out of the stable and into the fields.

Eirwen stumbled about the forest. She was desperately lost. I should not be out here, she thought. Princesses don't get lost.

Despite her denial, she was lost. It had been days since she had run into the forest. She had wept until sunrise, when she discovered her hunger. Searching about she found some berries, which she swallowed quickly. Further wandering led her to a small clear stream. She had spent the last several nights sleeping next to this stream.

Sighing, she found her way back to the stream, where she lay down exhausted. The sunlight filtered through the trees, making her drowsy. As she was about to close her eyes completely a sudden noise in the forest woke her.

She glanced about nervously. When nothing appeared out of the ordinary, she relaxed slightly. Then she realized she was being watched.

Maeve watched as Redynvre coasted out of the stables on a stallion black as midnight. She smiled to herself, knowing Redynvre was in for a surprise. The horse was not what it seemed.

She thought back to Keir's orders.

"Send them out at dawn. They will find her quickly, perhaps in less than a day. Wait until I have this sorceress Queen before bring Eirwen back. Eirwen will be safe with them. Nothing but the best for my daughter."