Rumanus slowed his pace as he reached the wooded area at the edge of the field. With one final look at the village and the wall itself, he began his trek through the woods.


It was not long before he saw lights ahead, the source of which was a small village. Rumanus gaped at the sight, hardly daring to believe it; the wall really did hold a secret…and this village seemed to be only a part of it.

Rumanus stared at the village indecisively. Crossing the wall was one thing but to actually wander into and surround himself with this hidden village…well, that was another thing enitrely…on the other hand…had he not set out his door that night with every intention of having an adventure? and didn't this village present the perfect opportunity for adventure?

Squaring his shoulders, Rumanus came to a decision and strode toward the village.


The village seemed to be hosting some kind of fair, Rumanus realized as he walked the crowded streets. His eyes went wide in wonder as they flitted from stall to stall.

fortune tellers—

two-headed animals—

a jar of eyeballs that all stared back at him when he leaned in for a closer look—

Rumanus shuddered and backed away. He continued walking, his eyes roaming from one sight to the next until they fell upon a petite girl, perhaps a year or so younger than himself. She was leaning against a bright yellow caravan, playing with the hem of her shawl. He couldn't help but stare, she was beautiful with her dark curls and blue eyes.

She caught his gaze and the corners of her mouth turned up in a sly smile. Rumanus found himself slowly walking towards her, positively captivated by the beauty, her growing smile only encouraging him to get closer and closer—

"I don't deal with time-wasters, sweetheart."

Rumanus was taken aback at the figure now blocking his path: a short older woman, her dark hair pulled back in a bun. Despite the wide Chesire cat grin on her face, her eyes were cold and her brow arched as though daring him to challenge her. Rumanus turned his eyes downward causing the older woman to smirk triumphantly.

"Tend the stall," she threw over her shoulder as she began walking away. "I'm off for a pint at the Slaughtered Prince."

The blue-eyed girl strode towards Rumanus and stopped in front of him. "See anything you like?"

"Definitely."

The girl laughed causing Rumanus to blush as he realized what he had said.

"What I meant was er….the blue ones," he stammered, gesturing to the small flower display that lay between them. "How much are they?"

"They might be the color of your hair…or all your memories before you were three," she answered, arching a brow. "I can check if you like."

Rumanus narrowed his eyes at the peculiarity of the prices but before he could question the matter further, she declared, "You shouldn't buy the bluebells anyway."

She searched the little flower stand for a moment and plucked a single white flower. "Buy this one instead—snowdrop."

She rolled the stem between her fingers and held it out to Rumanus. "It'll bring you luck."

"And what does that cost?"

"This one, "she smiled, " this one costs a kiss."

She tucked the delicate flower into his lapel before turning her head and tapping lightly on her cheek.

Rumanus glanced down at the flower and then leaned forward to 'pay'. Just as his lips brushed against her cheek, the girl turned her head and caught his mouth in a proper kiss.

She pulled back, smiling widely and then looked around, "Is she gone?"

Rumanus looked around and nodded, "I-I think so."

Satisfied that her mistress was nowhere in sight, the girl turned her attention back to Rumanus. "Follow me," she said, holding her hand out to him.

Rumanus followed eagerly as she turned and walked back towards the yellow caravan. A gentle clinking sound stopped him in his tracks and he looked down to see a fine silver chain laying in the dirt. He knelt down and picked it up, his eyes traveling the length of the chain and stopping at the end where it encircled the girl's ankle. She stopped and turned, glancing at the chain and then him.

"I'm a princess, tricked into being a witch's slave," she explained. "Will you free me?"

"Yes, of course," Rumanus replied, pulling out his pocket knife. He picked up a length of chain and sliced clean through, separating the chain so that it now lay in three parts.

He widened his eyes as the length of chain still in his hand joined ends of it's own accord.

"It's an enchanted chain," the girl said sadly. "I'll only be free when my mistress dies."

She moved to enter the caravan but Rumanus stopped her, "If I can't free you, what do you want of me?"

She smiled slyly and grabbed his hand, pulling him into the caravan with her.


Later that night, Rumanus returned to his home in England, amazed that he had indeed uncovered the wall's secret purpose: hiding the magical kingdom of Misthaven.

And although he had enjoyed his adventure beyond the wall, Rumanus hoped it would soon be forgotten…

…nine months later, however, he recieved a rather surprising reminder.

"This was left for you at the wall," the wizened old guard explained one snowy night. He passed Rumanus a basket, "Says here his name is Baelfire."

Rumanus glanced between the baby in the basket and the guard. The old man looked back at him knowingly, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. As the he turned and began the trek back to his post, Rumanus closed the door, unable to tear his eyes away from his son.