Protectors of the Realm

Chapter 4

Nina's POV

    After Tony dropped me off, I immediately went to my room.  I looked at the dress that I couldn't wait to wear to my birthday party Saturday. Yep, I've had the dress for a while because it was custom made just for me, but I didn't want to tell my friends that. They love to shop and I can't help indulging them.  I'll tell them soon though.  I decide to take a nap and wait for them to get here because I know we won't be sleeping tonight.

    *Dream*

    I find myself in a beautiful open field with trees surrounding it.  The grass is so green. I take my shoes off because I just have is to run. I run as fast as I can, letting the wind flow through my hair. I open my arms wide and lean my head back. "This is amazing" I think to myself. "Nina" I hear my name whispered with the wind. "Nina" I stop running and look around.  I don't feel alarmed it's as if I know this voice.  I continue to walk in the direction I hear my name. "Nina" it calls again.  "I'm here" I reply. "Come Nina, I've been waiting for you a long time" the voice says.  I continue walking and I see a path lined with flowers and I choose to follow it.  I continue walking for what seems like hours, the entire time the voice is guiding me.  I come to another field and gasp.  "OMG, what is this place, it is beautiful" I say.  All around me is a field surrounding by thousands of purple roses.  I bend down to smell one and ohhh it is the most delicious smell ever.  "The roses are beautiful, aren't they," the voice says much closer to me.  I stand up and see an older woman standing amongst the roses.  She looks oddly familiar, but I don't know why.  "Hello" I say as I slightly bow my head in respect.  "Ah, my child. Finally, you have reached me. I've been waiting for this day.  Come, let's talk, I'm quite sure you have a lot of questions." I follow her into a cabin that seemed to appear out of nowhere.  She must have heard my gasp. Because the woman just chuckles and says, " Oh my child, you have so much I need to teach you." 

    We enter the cabin and I can't help to feel even more relaxed.  The smell of Jasmine and Lavender are all around.  I breathe in and sigh.  "I love the smell of Jasmine and Lavender" I say.  The woman just laughs and shakes her head.  "Sit my child, It is time you know the truth." she says.  I look startled as I sit down. "The truth?" I ask.  "yes, my child, you don't have much time and I need to start training you.  But first.  My name is Antonina Grace," she says.  I gasp out of shock.  "Y-y-you are m-my namesake" I stutter.  She just smiles.  "How can this be, you were born like centuries ago. You were the first Queen." She continues to smile. "Let me start at the begininning"

    Queen Antonina's Story (Dream)

        When I was a young child, my parents moved to  because they had nowhere else to go since they were banished from their home.  They refused to promise me to a wealthy man who was 30 years older than me.  They wanted me to live my own life and choose my own husband.  When we arrived, there were so many people, but they looked at us strangely.  However, my parents told them why we were here and what there hope for me was and the people helped us tremendously.  It wasn't long before they finished the beautiful house for us.  I became friends with the kids in the community and attended school.  My life was so carefree, but that all changed when I turned 16.  See even though we were apart of the community and accepted, there were many things that we were unaware of, that were hidden from us.  

    On the night of my 16th birthday, I was super excited.  I was getting dressed in my room when all of a sudden I hear people screaming.  I looked out the window and there were flames coming from many of the houses. My parents were outside trying to get as many of the children into our home.  I ran downstairs as quickly as I could to help.  My mom was bringing out blankets and trying to get the children and mothers comfortable. My dad was outside and me being the child that I am, wanted to be where the action was, so I ran outside to help my dad.  My dad saw me and even though he wanted me to go inside, he knew I wouldn't.  He called me over to him and told me to continue to hand him buckets of water.  But before I could grab the bucket, a loud howl resounded through the place.  We all stopped.  Then through the smoke appeared about a hundred wolves and we quickly saw that we were surrounded.  I ran to my dad and he just held me as he whispered, "It's ok sweetie, we will be ok."  I just held him tight.  As the wolves stalked closer, I found a braveness that I never knew I had.  I remembered reading in a book that wolves were scared of fire.  I ripped my dress and wrapped it around a piece of wood and set it on fire.  My dad kept calling my name but I refused to listen.  I couldn't just stand there and watch my community die. I took the burning piece of wood and ran I was going to try and set a ring of fire to keep my family and friends safe.  As I was running, a wolf starts chasing me.  One of my friends is telling me to keep running and not look back.  I didn't listen, I looked back and saw one of my friends running after the wolf that was chasing me.  My friend leapt in the air and changed into the most magnificent wolf I have ever seen and began fighting with the wolf that was chasing me.  Then everything went black.