The Golden Year- The Sorceress

The Golden Year- Chapter 1

Under normal circumstances I had no problem speaking my mind, however, with a deadly, magical blade pointed at my temple, I had to keep my thoughts to myself. One swipe and I would be dead. One flicker of his wrist and it would all be over. I was defenseless.

I stood on the edge of a cliff. I peer over to see the waves crashing on the rocks below. But if I don't watch my step, I could fall right off the steep, sheer rock face. The grey gloomy clouds were quickly becoming dark. I admire the wild ocean, its waves rolling and reeling, topped with white spume. It was a dark blue surging giant that crashed into the jagged rocks below. The thunder rumbled overhead and shook me thru and thru. A storm was brewing.

"We are taking you to the Dark Lord." The malevolent creatures had hunted me down, captured me, and trapped me here. There was only one thing to do and I didn't know whether I would survive it or not. But it was my only chance of escape.

I will admit, I fear death. I am terrified of it. But what scares me far more is my fear of living. The fear of living a life without him.

Is it not twisted how our fate lies in the hands of the things we love -or that love us- and sometimes the things we love lead us to our ultimate self-destruction? Self-destruction is such a beautiful but deadly thing.

My destruction began with lies and secrets. The world is filled with lies and secrets; I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised when one attacked me. The truth is that everyone has dirty little secrets but you will never guess mine.

"I rather die," I whispered and leaped off the cliff face, falling thousands of meters at a time and crashed into the icy, seawater.

Life had not always been like this for me. The adventure all started when I went to work at the castle, which seemed like a very long time ago...

"You are here for the 'golden year'?" The plump, red-haired woman addressed as Mrs. Harrison questioned. I nodded. The golden year was a law ordering that citizens of age: sixteen, served the castle for a minimum of one year.

I thought it was an irrational law. Why should we give up one year of our lives to serve? Where was the freedom? It was like we were slaves and I hated the nobles for it. Their arrogant ways and the way they treated people made me sick. Where I was born and where I come from doesn't define me.

Most girls though, thought it was an honor to serve. They worshiped the king, the nobles, and most importantly the prince. They prepared their entire lives for this very moment. Each of them trained from birth to charm the eligible prince. Girls of this Kingdom and others traveled far and wide to see him. They adored him.

It was safe to say I was not one of these girls. I hoped I would never lay eyes on such an arrogant noble.

Today was my sixteenth birthday. I still didn't believe it. The time had passed so quickly. It seemed only yesterday when I was playing in the cornfields with the twins from my orphanage. I was far away from home now. The hectic, bustling, crammed city surrounded me now.

Mrs. Harrison frowned. "Well, I suppose you will do." She sighed. I followed her through the castle archway, the drawbridge was lowered. We crossed over the moat. The high brick walls surrounded me; they seemed thousands of meters high, unreachable. The handpicked, white stone covered the castle from the walls to the towers. The beautiful deep blue-tiled roof made it seem even more elegant.

The small windows had matching blue flowers for the decor. Rumore's most appreciated architects had designed it. No expense had been spared. It was by far one of the biggest wonders of the world. The gardens were said to be beyond beauty. "You're not what we were expecting but you will do." She moaned. I wanted to say 'I would leave if that were what she wanted.' Serving at the castle for one entire year wasn't my cup of tea.