BᏒOᏦᎬN ᎢᏒUᏚᎢ Well, this was it I supposed. This was the end of my life as I knew it. I looked down at myself with one thought biting at me. Was it worth it? Was it worth all of the work I had put in over the years? I started my job as a palace guard after I met the prince by chance. It had all been one mere coincidence after another, and I really didn’t know why it had even happened to me. Why me of all people? A mere girl from the village of Schwin, a small town that hardly anyone had heard of, let alone pay attention to. I had endured a whole year of trying to fit in with the palace guards, despite being a girl, and had finally found my place. They now respected me as a fellow guard, and I didn’t want to let them down. All of the hard work and months of building up trust would be broken in a matter of minutes. But I knew that I couldn’t just let things go as they were. Tied up in a wagon just a few paces away was a little girl—probably only eight or so. She had been troubling the villagers by robbing their houses—from what I had heard, by means of magic—and was finally being brought to the palace for punishment. I had felt my heart soften toward the girl when I looked at her. She was just so little and confused—alone without family or friends. She had golden locks and blue eyes, her little face dusted with freckles. However, her eyes held a seriousness that no eight year old should have. Her childhood had been stolen away from her, and I wasn’t going to just let her be brutally punished when it was hardly her fault that no one had been there to steer her into a better life. The villagers had claimed that she didn’t have a name, and everyone simply called her “Goldilocks”. I looked in front of me in determination. Anyone who wasn’t completely heartless would see that this poor little girl needed help, and that was exactly what I was there to do. I fingered the sword at my side and gained confidence from it. It was a gift from the prince actually, and I felt the slightest stirring of guilt that I was using something he had given me against him. I could wield it quite well though, and as long as I got the little girl safe and out of danger, I believe that I could bring myself to face him. And I would do my best to help the girl as well—leading her towards the correct path in life. I strode forward silently and pressed myself against the side of the wagon. In the front were two guards. I knocked one of them in the head with the hilt of my sword, and he went crumbling to the ground before he could make a sound. The other guard looked at me with wide eyes and opened his mouth to shout, but I knocked him to the ground. His breath was knocked out of him, and he stared up at me with wide eyes. And in them, I could read one emotion—betrayal. I winced as I knocked him out as well. His name was Thomas, and I had recently started making friends with him on the journey. It pained me to treat him in such a way but I had chosen to do this, and there was no turning back now. I opened up the wagon and was confronted with the sight of the girl staring at me with wide eyes. “I’m here to help you,” I whispered to her as I started cutting her bounds. Once I finished, I brought her out and made for the woods. Once we were secured in a safe screen of trees, I finally felt it was safe to talk. “What is your name?” I asked. “Goldilocks.” She answered quietly. I shook my head. “No. You’re real name. The one that your mother gave you when you were born.” The little girl looked down and didn’t respond. “Did she give one to you?” The girl nodded timidly. “Yes. I remember that she did. I remember that she loved me dearly before they tour her away from me. I’ve tried to remember but I can’t.” “Who’s they?” I asked softly. Something in her demeanor changed and suddenly she took on a fierce edge. “They took Mommy, but they said that they had to—that they had no other option. And besides, they are the only ones who took me in when I was all alone. Whatever I do, I do for them, and they deserve it!” I was still disappointed that I hadn’t figured out who “they” were, but nevertheless I shook my head. “No. They lied to you. They tried to take you under their wing so that you would listen to them. Now tell me; what is your name?” “Goldilocks!” She hissed. That is the name they gave me, and it will always be my name!” She tried to dart away, but I grabbed her by her arms and looked into her eyes. “Names have power, so please, please, try to remember what your real name is. If not for me, then for you.”
She seemed to concentrate, and finally, she started stuttering. “Fl- Fl-Flor-Florence.” “Florence? That’s a beautiful name. Remember who you are, no matter where you go. I’m helping you right now, and I am giving up a lot to help you. You have a big life ahead of you dear Florence. Choose your actions wisely and remember who you are.” Suddenly a shout broke the stillness of the woods. “She’s gone! Someone get over here!” I squeezed Florence and kissed her on the top of her head. You should go right now. If you follow this path for about three miles, and then take a left and follow that for a few more miles, you should happen upon a small village. My friend owns an Inn there, just tell you that Adira sent you and she will see that you are well accounted for. I really wish that I could do more, but this is all. Safe journeys.” I gave her a pack with food and water in it, and she was gone. Just as she left, I heard her whispering over and over to herself. “Florence, Florence, Florence.” Florence was well out of sight by the time the guards burst into the clearing I were at, Prince Wyatt at the head of them. When he saw me, he stopped short, sucking in a breath. “Adira?” “Yes Wyatt, it is me.” “Please tell me that you are out here trying to search for the girl.” I gave a long sigh. I thought that I had prepared myself for this moment, but apparently not. I knew that the truth was going to get out, and so I decided that I would be honest. I opened up my mouth to confess, but before I could, a new guard ran up to us. Thomas. “It was her! She let the girl loose. I was on duty and I saw her. She was the one who knocked me out.” I looked into Thomas’s eyes and was devastated by the hurt I saw in there. Wyatt looked at me. “Adira, please don’t tell me this is true.” I stared Wyatt in the eyes. “He’s telling the truth.” Suddenly guards seized me, and I didn’t struggle.There was no escape, and I knew it. Thomas seized my arms and roughly twisted them behind my back. He had hardened his face into a stony expression, and wouldn’t let his emotions leak through. On the other hand, Wyatt was quite the opposite. I looked back at him one more time. His expression was stormy and he looked torn. It looked like he wanted to single-handedly fight all of the guards and free me, while at the same time he wanted to see me thoroughly punished for my actions. I didn’t know what to feel as disappointment filled his eyes. Because to him, I was nothing but a failure.
