It wasn't much of a surprise to everyone, seeing as she had been battling the sickness for a long drawn out month, but it certainly wasn't welcomed. She and her bed had been surrounded by our entire family, sisters, brothers, uncles, grandmas- even the little younglings were clinging to her bedside quilt by the end of it. We wouldn't have let her slip into the unknown alone. Within the last few minutes of her regal and thought out life, she had looked into the eyes of each being around her, as if telling them a message that they and they alone were only allowed to know. When her soul had connected with mine, when her eyes had searched mine, I knew. I knew something was going to happen-- something big. I wasn't let down.

As soon as we told the locals, the entire empire seemed to turn a neutral colour of grey. The bright blue sky was masked by sad clouds, the sun, blocked out by their thickness. The once colourful and busy marketplace, buzzing with activity and happiness, was suddenly filled to the brink with slow moving shoppers, a sad look perched on their faces. Even the birds seemed to slow down their songs slow enough to assume a new song of slow sorrow. It was expected-- the sadness I mean. Everyone who had known my mother-- which has been the whole empire-- had fallen in love with her and her kindness. She was the kind of person who you just felt like you had known forever even after you had just met her. She had this ethereal beauty about her, like a veil of beauty and tranquility. She was the peace maker of the family.

But now she is gone. Gone forever. Where, I do not know. I cannot fathom, even, as I have never experienced death. What a dark word, that is: Death. Just by saying it you cringe, the edges of your lips brought down into a frown as you pronounce the word. I shudder at the thought of death. Though it must be better than living at this point. I do not taunt death, I do not want to die. But I simply believe that in dying you become happier.

Shakily getting up off the wet grass, I felt as if my entire body had been drained of life. I felt empty inside, weak, and hollow. I didn't know what to do with myself. So I ran. Ran, ran, as fast and as far as I could. I did not know where I was going, but I knew that I had to get away. Away from these expectations, away from the crown, away from this life.

Running through the gardens, I paused for only a second on the edge of the forest that posed as a backdrop to our castle. Breathing hard, I looked over my shoulder, and I felt hollow once more. How could I bring myself back to my family when I have no voice! I would be the laughingstock... or worse, the one everyone pities! I suppose it would have been better if I had been the quiet one. But I wasn't. I was usually the life of the party- I was gorgeous, loved, and rich. I had so much in store! Bitterly laughing to myself, I pushed my body into a sprint once more, running hard into the forest in front of me.

Lunging over fallen tree trunks and skirting around the bumps and nooks of gnarled roots, I ran as fast as I could through that forest. To me, this was the great unknown, because no one had ever ventured into these woods before- at least, that was what I had thought at the time. The firs and branches of different trees grabbed and tugged at my clothes-- but I didn't care. I was just so mad. How could my mother have done this to me? Feeling a cramp form in the side of my stomach, I started to jog. The forest was darker here, the sunlit patches on the ground gone. Instead, there was a cool mist floating around me. The trees here didn't stand up tall and proud, not like the ones surrounding the castle. No, the trees here leaned to one side, as if their weight was just too much for them. As I looked around me, there seemed to be two paths. One lead further into the darkness, the other seemed to lead out of the forest. Just then, a tinkling filled the air. Its gentle, melodic ring mocked everything around me, and instantly I was happier. I realised it was a bell, a little one at that, but just it's presence seemed to reassure me. It's song got louder, then started to fade away. Scrambling around, I tried to locate its position within the thicket. I couldn't be left alone here! Whirling around, I craned my ears, and just as it seemed to fade into nothingness, I realised that the sound was coming from the darker path. Not looking back, I scrambled over rocks and dips in the path and tried to follow the sound.

Now, about that voice of yours, she croaked, mostly to herself. Grabbing my chin, she thrust my head upward, and examined my throat. Ahh, this is the work by someone very powerful. Mm, powerful indeed... she said, her voice dropping so low that I could not hear her even if I tried. Snapping her head back up, her eyes giving nothing away, she suddenly smiled. Well, seeing as your running, you might as well come with an old lady that has done it for years. I looked up in alarm-- how did she know I was running? And her eyes twinkled mysteriously in reply. Nothing gets past me, girl, she said solemnly. So I gathered up my rags and scrambled into the caravan after her.

Gasping as we hit a bump, I scrambled around until I remembered where I was. You fell asleep, girl, the gypsy said beside me. The sky had darkened, and, instead of being in the middle of the forest, we were riding along an old deserted highway, no where near home. The moon was full, giving the earth and eerie vibe to it, and the sky had an almost purple tint to it. The trees that ran parallel to the road were dark and burnt, as if a forest fire had just ripped through-- though I couldn't smell any smoke. Suddenly the gypsy beside me whistled to the horses pulling the caravan-- surprised I turned to ask, but instead she just pressed a finger to her mouth, and started: You know, being a gypsy is a lot harder than one would think. People think ' oh, they're a gypsy, their life is easy ' but it aint. I've got no money most of the time, and people spit and sneer at me. But I aint done nothing wrong. These horses, well, you'll never know where I got them. But that I got them fair and square, so I don't want you saying nothing. Oh, well, I guess that aint a problem, and continued to laugh at her own joke. Gently murmuring to the horses she pulled over into the forest, and into a little clearing. Considerably more cheerful that she was a few minutes ago, she said We'll just stop here for the night. and continued to unpack. Starting a small fire she tied up the two lanky horses up to a tree with little sprouts of grass surrounding it and settled down to warm her hands. I felt I should as well. Eying me over as I walked to the fire, she said Here, let me read your future darling, and grasped my right hand within her palms. Pulling her index finger over the ridges and bumps in my hand, I felt her grip on my hand become stronger. Suddenly she had stopped the circulation within my wrist and her breathing was coming in little short bursts. Getting up quickly, she pointed at me shakily and said You will stay away from me, girl. Hear that? Stay. Away. and ran into the back of her caravan, throwing a ratty old blanket out as she did so.

It happened on a very bright day in the early summer.
The marketplace was extremely busy, and there was many new trinkets that I had been meaning to buy. There was this boy, merely a boy, who kept following me. Weaving through the crowds, I became increasingly paranoid as I never lost him in my peripherals. Wheeling frantically into a dark alley, I started running. He was right on my tail, that boy. Only a boy.

I, well, I lost it. I'll say this with a heavy heart-- I became the monster. Waving frantically around, I stared hard at the boy, and the glint in his eyes that said he was going to turn me in. Losing all control, for, I had loved the life I had gotten to live for a mere couple weeks, I killed him. Yes, you heard me right, youngling. I killed him. It shocked me to the core, as his last breath came out as a whisper. I could not believe the blood on my hands was of my doing. No, wouldn't believe it. Backing away, I ran. Ran as fast as I possibly could. But it was no use. The stone that my heart had become started to consume me. The hard, cold granite coursed through my veins, and into my organs. It hardened within me. I had broken a Muse law, and for that, I had to pay the consequences.

I ran fast into the tavern, up into my little room, surrounded by my trinkets. They comforted me in my last minutes. Looking lovingly at each one, I thought of all the money Gertrude would get by selling my findings. Feeling everything within me constrict and turn to stone, I tried to remain calm-- I knew this would happen. I had seen it in my mother's eyes the day she died. I had seen it in the eyes of Gertrude when she read my palm. I had been destined to die. To kill. And then to die.

Breathing calmly, sitting on my bed, I knew I had just minutes. By now, the whole marketplace was screeching and screaming- someone had found the body. I heard heavy footsteps come closer to my room. Hurried ones. Gertrue knew. She was coming. Standing up tall, I tilted by head straight ahead. Waiting, waiting. Finally, the door burst open. And with my last breath, I raised my finger to my lips. Be silent. I said, in a clear, strong voice.