*
*
She collapsed. Not able to move her legs, she dragged herself deeper into the scratchy cornfield. The crunching of the grass became closer and closer, she pulled herself deeper and deeper until the crunching footsteps had become a whisper. She was safe. Her muscles began to relax as she stared up into the darkening sky.
Carrie was a beautiful girl but she did not think of herself as such because her older brother Tarrik had always made fun of her weight. As she lay in the cornfield, her short, brown curly hair glistened in the moonlight.
Carrie grew up in the small village of Warania off the kingdom of Shyesia and didn’t feel very special. Her mother was a tall woman with long curly red hair, and like most of her children was rather cubby. She loved all her children with every inch of her heart, but she was not around much anymore because she had to work three jobs just to get the bills paid and keep the children fed.
Before she new it, Carrie had fallen asleep. As she turned over, she jolted awake in so much pain it was hard to stay quite. Then all at once the horrible memory of that nights events rushed back into her head like a speeding bullet.
“NO!” She shouted. She put her hand over her mouth to keep her self from making any more noise. She poked her head above the tall grass, her heart going so fast it felt as though it would beat out of her chest. Nothing happened. In that moment, it felt as though the whole world was at peace. Then, out of nowhere, something nearby rustled in the grass. Carrie froze and whimpered. But yet again, the field was silent.
Once again, she lay down just to find herself jolting back up. But this time she heard two voices. “What is it !?!?” said a high squeaky voice. “Shhh” hissed the other one.
“W-who’s t-there?” Carrie questioned in a faint whisper. “Stay quiet” “I will if you do” said the squeaky voice. “SHUT UP NIM!” Shouted the deeper of the voices. “Jeez Rim, ya didn’t have ta be so rude about it."
Carrie gathered up all the courage she could muster and shouted: “I said, who’s there!” “Should we show our selves Rim?” Nim asked. “Mine as well” said Rim snottily. Carrie began to back up as the rustling became nearer. “THUMP!” Carrie had run into a rock. “You ok?” said Nim in her high-pitched voice. “ Yeah I’m-” Carrie stopped speaking. In front of her stood two young looking raccoons.
Pg.1
6 Years Later
“Its time to wake up!” Rim yelled though the cottage door. “COMING!” Carrie yelled back. She got up, pulled on her long patchwork skirt and brushed the hay off her dirty, yellow blouse.
“CARRIE! HIDE!” Came Nims voice loudly from of in the
distance. She stood there. Shocked. “What’s going on?” she asked herself. “Is everything ok?” Carrie was worried, and as any scared and worried teen would do, she decided to see what was going on.
Before Carrie could reach the door, it started to creek open. “Hello?” Came a low, handsome sounding voice. She was too afraid to talk. Her mind started racing. “What if someone found out I’m here?” “What if I’m taken to Shyesia and turned into a slave?” So frightened by the thought of being taken to Shyesia, she had forgotten about the mysterious and yet handsome voice.
“The cost is clear, come on girl, come inside.” Said the voice, this time more urgent then before. “Come on Zane, this place is tiny” Said a second higher voice. “Come on girl, its safe you don’t have to worry.” Said Zane. Carrie had found her voice. “She doesn’t want to come in, its to small for her, she will be more comfortable in the cornfield out back.” “W-who’s there?” came the shaken up voice of Zane. “I SAID SHOW YOURSELF!” he shouted.
Out of the darkness stepped the tall, thin, pale body that the now sixteen-year-old Carrie had become. Zane stood there, transfixed in her beauty. Carrie’s curly hair, though much longer and now coved with straw, was as beautiful as ever. “Who are you?” Zane questioned her. “and what do you mean ‘she doesn’t want to come in’?”
“Didn’t you hear her?” “She said ‘Come on Zane, this place is tiny’” Carrie replied.
“ Are you ok?” “I think you should go up to Warania and get some help.” Said Zane. “ARE YOU KIDDING ME!” she yelled “The whole village would think their seeing ghosts!” “What is that supposed to mean?” Zane asked curiously. “Ah, ah um, n-nothing…..” She sputtered. Zane gave her a concerned look.
Pg.2
The silence in the cottage was deafening. The two teens stood there awkwardly
glancing at each other every ten minutes or so. Carrie opened her mouth to speak but Zane interrupted. “So do you live here?” he asked waving his hand around in air.
“Um um um yeah…yeah I do.” She said worriedly. “Your not going to tell anyone are you?” Carrie said in a soft scared voice. “Heavens no, if my mother knew I was even talking to a peasant-” He stopped “I’m sorry I didn’t mean-” “ Why are you calling me a peasant…unless…” She looked him up and down.
His clothes were white and red with gold stitching, and the patch on his right shirt pocket looked oddly familiar… “Your not a p-prince a-are you?” She said tears beginning to form in her eyes. “ Well yes actually I am… are you ok?” “Why would you care” She snapped, tears now streaming down her pale cheeks. “I’m sorry I called you a peasant I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings, I just ment-” Again he stopped him self.
Carrie had collapsed on the floor, her hands shaking like a leaf on a windy day. “HELP!” Zane cried but no one came, there was however a faint taping upon the cottage window. Zane got up and walked over to it. There, sitting on the windowsill were two raccoons, both with expressions on their faces that looked a lot like concern…
“Let them in.” Carrie mumbled. Zane did as she asked, not wanting to make her any more upset. The two raccoons jumped onto floor and then ran to Carrie’s side. “Rim, Nim, I need your help.” she said in a soft sweet voice as she tried to get up. “Go fetch the herbs.” The raccoons scampered off into a dark corner and returned four minutes later with a hand woven basket containing seven jars of herbs. “What the-” Zane began to say.
“Take care of the house while I’m gone ok Rim?” Carrie whispered. “WHAT! You expect me to let you leave in this state!? You’re talking to RACCOONS! You’re a danger to your self, if something were to happen to you-”He shook his head. “I wont allow you to leave this house.” Zane was fuming. “I refuse to take orders from scum like you” She said. Carrie was furious at this command; she had never taken orders from royalty and she was not about to start now.
Zane was stunned; he had never been talked to like this. In away it was refreshing but at the same time he felt as though he could drag her up the castle and put her in a prison sell. “NO.” He said to him self. “Just let her go, if she gets hurt it’s not your fault.”
Carrie was at the door, but Zane appeared in front of her. He put his hand upon her shoulder, she jerked away. “Please move.” She said sadly. He walked to the dusty bed and sat. Carrie opened the door and ran back into the scratchy cornfield, weather she liked it or not, she was running away from her fears yet again.
Pg.3
“Wake up Carrie” It was Nim, her voice was shaky and she looked very concerned.
“What’s going on?” Carrie questioned, a tone of fear in her voice. The sun was already setting. “ Just get farther in the field and make sure you can’t be seen, ok?” Carrie could tell something she wouldn’t like was about to happen. “Fine, but will you and Rim be ok?” Carrie asked. “I’m more worried about you, but yes, we will be fine, now go, HIDE.” Carrie crawled off deeper and deeper. By the time she had reached the heart of the field, she was so tired she fell asleep almost immediately.
The soft touch of his hand against her cheek jolted her awake. Carries jaw dropped as she looked into the eyes of what seemed to be an angel. He’s smile glistened in what light was left by the sunset. As he placed hand behind her back to help her sit up, she spoke. “Who…are you?” she ask him. “ Alastiar, prince of Shyesia, and you are….” But before she could answer him, Zane spoke. “Her name is Carrie, she lives in the cottage you found me at.”
“Oh.” Carrie could hear anger in Alastiar’s voice so she did not speak. “Get the horses”
“But Al-” “I said, GET THE HORSES!” “Ofcorse.” Zane said. Carrie was frightened, “Where are you taking me?” She asked in a faint whisper. “Up to the castle.” he said in his now calm voice.
They all looked up at what had to be the most beautiful castle ever. “Were here.” Said Zane in a stiff, cold voice. The ride had been smooth for the most part but the last half an hour or so had been rough. Carrie had never ridden a horse before so when Alastiar insisted on her riding behind him she knew she wouldn’t have much control. Alastiar got off first and then assisted Carrie. “What a gentlemen” she though to herself. “Ill be right back.” He told her. She smiled a little but Zane gave her a look of pure anger and it wiped the look right off her face. Now he was staring at her. She store right back. He looked away fighting back what looked like a tear.
“ZANE!” “Where have you been?! Mummy’s worried sick-” A girl stopped bye his side. “What’s that.” She said in a snotty voice as she nodded at Carrie. “Oh. Um Addi this is Carrie.” Her turned to Carrie. “Carrie this is Addison” “my sister.” He added after a questioning look Carrie gave him. “ That still doesn’t explain what its doing here.” Addison said. “I still don’t really know.” Said Zane. “I guess you could say she’s just some stray Al wanted to bring home.”
Carrie couldn’t understand why his voice had so much hatred in it. Before she could say anything, Alastiar returned; a twinkle in his eyes he said: “Carrie, my mother wants meet you.” Zane and Carrie spoke at the same time. “Me?” “Her!” Carrie gave Zane a confused look. He continued looking at Alastiar. “Why on Earth would our mother want to meet a peasant?” “Zane, watch you mouth, how would you feel if I called you say….scum?” “Oh I think I had my share of that nickname today” Zane said. Carrie snickered. Zane turned and walked away. Carries stomach sank. “I-” “Don’t worry about him, he’s just a girly boy.” “Oh come on Al, his not that girly.” Addison said sarcastically.
Pg.4
The Queen was pretty but something about her didn’t seem right. The three of them stood silent for about ten minutes the Queen looking Carrie up and down, then Alastiar spook up. “So, what do you think?” “She’s just as beautiful as you said dear.” Alastiar smiled. Carrie began to talk; “M-me?” “Ofcorse silly, do you see anyone else here?” Alastiar replied. Carrie looked a round the Dinning Hall; then back at Alastiar and said: “ Well no, but I don’t understand what you mean…” She trailed off. The Queen had put her hands upon Carries shoulders and was leading her toward a long mirror framed in what had to be pure gold.
As she looked into the mirror, she saw a face, but it couldn’t be….
She lifted her hand to brush her hair out of her face; the reflection in the mirror did the same. She touched her face, how had she have become so pale? “There’s no way this is you Carrie, look how skinny she is…” She put her hands around her waist, there was no doubt about it, she was looking at a completely different girl. “I told you so.” Said Alastiar, a big grin spreading a crossed his face. He turned to his mother, “Mummy, shall we have a chat?” “Ofcorse dear” She said, a smile now spreading a crossed her face as well. They left the hall. She was alone.
She walked to the nearest chair and sat. She was just thinking how she must have been sitting there for at least a quarter of an hour when the sound of a door opening and closing pulled her out of her thoughts. It was Zane. He froze mid turn. His eyes widened in fear. Carrie spoke, “Have you seen Alastiar?” “Yes as a matter of fact I have.” He said grimacing. “Well…” She said trying to get him to say something more. “I expect they will be here soon.” He said. “Thank you” said Carrie as she bowed at Zane. He quickly turned back around and headed for the door. “I’m sorry.” Said Carrie. “ I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He said quickly. He opened the door, poked his head out and left.
Alastiar and the Queen reappeared. It was a good thing to because Carrie was thinking about leaving the Dinning hall to go look for them. A grin still spread a crossed his face Alastiar said: “ Carrie, Ill see you later ok?” “Yeah but what do I do-” He smiled and left. “Well, looks like you be needing a new outfit.” She clapped her hands. Four middle aged women appeared and started measuring her.
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