The man left both guards wounded on the floor, one unconscious. He sheathed his sword and ran over to the door. He grunted as he lifted the heavy bolt, and then let it fall to the floor with a thud. He pulled the heavy doors open first before rushing back to me. He lifted my tiny body up while gasping for breath. Then, seeming extremely worn out, he dashed into the next room.

I began fading quickly, but I could hear the many heavy footsteps pounding after us.

The chamber the warrior had brought me to was lit by torches and the moonlight that poured through the only window. I looked up to see two small crystal clear cases displayed on decorated oak stands on a raised podium. In between the two clear cases, on a much larger oak stand, lay a light blue cushion. On that cushion rested the most magnificent thing I had ever seen – a sword shimmering brilliantly in the moonlight.

He pounded up the steps, giving me a closer look at the glass enclosures. In both cases were identical necklaces. Each pendant held a crystal in the center of the entwined silver. They seemed to glow with beauty, until I realized the gems themselves produced the white light.

He laid me down gently on the floor next to the stands. I gave a little yelp as he unexpectedly snatched the sword on the cushion and brought it down as hard as he could on the left case. The clanging sound must’ve been heard in every room in the castle. I would have expected it to have shattered with the littlest tap so that’s why I found it very confusing to find that it didn’t even crack. He brought it down hard a second time, a small fissure appearing.     “Come on!” he grunted urgently. He bashed it again and a larger crack resulted. I saw him gather his remaining strength and go in for one more blow.


Exhaling triumphantly as it shattered, he snatched the necklace, ignoring the broken shards that cut his fingers. The guards were almost to the door when he knelt next to me. My eyes were fluttering, but I felt him lift my head and place the necklace around my neck. At that moment, a bunch of soldiers burst into the room. Without a moment to lose, the warrior put one hand on my forehead and the other on the necklace. He mumbled something and then… it seemed as if time slowed down.