In A World of My Own - Book One

As the sun finishes rising, a little house suddenly materializes out of the thin air in the middle of the amber fields.

"Whoa!" I whistle. "How did that just...pop up like that?"

Vyndren scoffs. "Crude spell but I suppose it's enough to fool a human." I roll my eyes. "There's a protection charm over the house so it disappears at nighttime to conceal whoever might be resting there, and then it reappears in the morning so they can be on their way."

Cool.

We make our way over to it and he opens the screen door for me. "Help yourself to whatever's inside. And you should probably get some sleep, something tells me you'll have an early morning tomorrow," he looks around, lips slightly parted as if tasting the breeze for whatever is coming.

"Tomorrow morning?" My heart lurches. "So soon? But...but I don't know what to say! Should we run over some mock conversations?" I'd hate to look like an idiot in front of the White Knight's apprentice.

He stares at me for a moment -like I'm an idiot- and now shakes his head. "I have to hunt. There's a well in the backyard for when you get thirsty and there's a pantry in the house filled with dried goods. You'll be fine while I'm gone."

"How long will you be gone?" I anxiously question. "And where will you hunt at?" I look around, there is nothing but fields all around us, oh and a big mountain on the horizon, but he won't go all the way up there, will he?

"Not...long... Anyway, I'll see you later. Rest. Take care." He adds and now he summons his wolf beast in a flourish, the huge beast looms to life in an explosive burst of red and black glittering magic. Vyndren swiftly climbs up its back, nodding at me as the wolf rears back its hind legs, I slowly wave before they take off.

Now I'm here all alone. Awesome.

A quick look around the house tells me it's nearly bone bear with small pieces of furniture scattered around. I flop down on the bed with a sigh. A cloud of dust billows up into the air. Whoa! I sit up and wave my hand back and forth to clear the dust. Gross. I groan, though now fall back on the creaky springs. 

It feels so strange to be on one of these things again. I have spent like, two weeks sleeping on the ground and this soft-with-dust-bed feels more like a rock to me now. I hope I'll be able to get used to the finer things again.

I wonder about Mom again, uncontrollably yawning and roll over on my side. Where is she...? Will the Court really help me find her? Will I really be an Alice...? Will I...? Won't I...? Can I?

***

The night is fading as I wake up, wow. It's tomorrow already. Have I always been such a heavy sleeper? I guess I've earned a long, hard rest after everything I've been through lately. And actually, I don't just feel well-rested, I feel energized, this makes me want to do some magic.

I definitely gotta look my best meeting the White Knight's apprentice for the first time.

I spin before the mirror in the room and my entire body briefly glows glittery white and now as I stop to stare at my reflection the lights fade away to leave behind this stunning dress I have invented purely out my imagination. But it feels like I'm paying homage to the dress Vyndren first gave me.

Only this is way cooler. Just saying.

This dress is the same shade of blue, like my eyes, and has a boat-neckline, and sheer blue cape-sleeves that fold like butterfly wings over my shoulders. The skirt hits just above my knees and is trimmed in white lace and has a swirly, whimsical pattern of various shades of blue sprawled across it. White lace covers my otherwise bare back, and the lace winds around my throat and down my chest to form a lacy belt cinched across my waist. I even add a black ribbon in my hair and now strap on a pair of snazzy black little square heels.

Okay, I'm as ready as I'll ever be.

I wander outside to look around and hop off the porch when I see my Dark Rider. He's leaning against the corner of the house, arms crossed, head bowed, and his hood is up.

"Vyndren?" I hurry over, he looks up.

He does a double take, looking me over once, then again more slowly, finally he blinks and now meets my eyes. "Adara..." He clears his throat. "So, I've been scouting this morning and it appears that there is a carriage -White Knight class- on its way here. Finally. I'm guessing it'll be here in about twenty minutes or so..." Vyndren trails off and looks me over again. "You look...really lovely, Adara."

I blush. "Um, th-thanks." My heart is doing summersaults. "So um, I...I mean, I've been thinking, will I uh, ever see you again?" Please say yes, I cross my fingers behind my back.

He stares at me for a moment, now shakes his head. "I doubt it. But really, you'll be better off never seeing me again."

I feel my heart plummet. "Yeah, but you..." I hesitate but now decide if this really is the last time I'll ever see him than I might as well say it. "You're my best friend, Vyndren." I say earnestly. "I... I don't want to lose you."

He looks at me in surprise. "I'm...Really? What about everything?" He asks quickly. "Don't you hate me?"

I shakily smile and shake my head. "No. I couldn't hate you even if I wanted to. And I've wanted to once or twice." He winces. I smile more. "I mean, yeah, some things have been pretty...eventful but more than anything you've helped me find myself on this crazy journey. You were the first person to...I don't know, see me. You taught me stuff, and that's really important to me. And there were all those times when you said you believed in me even when I didn't believe in myself. That's so special. Really, to me, that's everything. I've never had a real friend before, and I've never met anyone like you. I'll really.... miss you, Vyndren. We have...we've had a time, Chief." I grin sadly, my heart aching.

"I've...never really had a friend before either." He slowly smiles, it melts my heart. "Believe it or not, you've made a difference to me too. I've never met a... person as forgiving or compassionate as you and I know that I'll never meet another person like you. I shall not forget you, Adara... I hope the Court serves you well. I know you'll make a difference," he bows his head, looking away from me, his fiery eyes dim as if with pain.

I blush. "Thank you, Vyndren." My heart churns with disbelief as much as pain, this is really goodbye, isn't it? I have never had to say goodbye to anyone before. This is hard. "I'm sorry." I say quickly. And I hug him.

I think I catch my Dark Rider off guard. He's tense and frozen for a heartbeat, but after a moment he hugs me back and I think I might cry at the preciousness of this moment. I feel like I could melt in his embrace, his arms are wrapped protectively around me -for possibly the last time ever- and he gently strokes my hair as our foreheads rest together. "Adara," he softly kisses the corner of my mouth. "I will miss you."

I keep my eyes closed and put my hands over his caressing my face. I muster a smile even though I feel like crying. "I already miss you, Chief."

A moment later he pulls away but keeps his hands on my shoulders. "You'll be fine. Just remember what I told you about confidence and self-trust. Believe in yourself, you don't need them, they need you. You can do this, you've already done the impossible," he looks me over. "I know you'll make it. I believe it. I believe in you." He steps back and for once, actually bows to me, grandly and respectfully. "Farewell, Adara...My Alice."

I give a wobbly smile. "Good-bye, Vyndren. My Dark Rider."