Half and Half
King Septimus

Panic rose into Dawn's chest when she opened the Box. She realised that she was not outside the castle, like where she wanted to be. She was inside a dark room, which was lit by strange blue lanterns, that looked like lava was flowing inside them. The room was long, and had large, thick trees growing in front of the walls. The leaves of the trees were a glowing blueish-white, and when Dawn stepped out of the Box her feet landed in soft, dark grass. There were glowing moths fluttering above Dawn's head. Dawn looked in front of her and saw a magnificent throne, large and dark, with black cushions. She wondered where she was.

Suddenly a figure emerged from the shadows. Dawn stepped back in fear. Where was she?

"How did you get here?" the figure said in a deep, rumbling, and slightly hoarse voice. Dawn shivered. The room was cold.

"I... I was traveling by Box, and, erm, I wanted to appear outside of the Palace. Where am I, sir?" Dawn asked. The figure's face was lit by a lamp, and Dawn saw him. He had a long, black beard and grey eyes, and his face was very pale. He carried a long staff with a blue jewel set in the middle. A long, dark cloak that appeared to be made out of feathers hung from his back, and the man had a very stern face, and many scars. Judging by his pointy ears, he was a pixie. Two white fawns were on either side of him, their fur glowing brightly. If Dawn stared at them for too long, her eyes hurt.

"You're in the palace. I am King Septimus. Who are you, child?" Dawn exhaled.

"My name is Dawn Runebloom, sir," she said. The King raised an eyebrow.

"Are you, now?" he said. Dawn nodded.

"Well... maybe you are. You have wings. And sharp ears. Maybe... just maybe..." King Septimus looked up at the ceiling, as if thinking very hard. Then he looked into Dawn's eyes.

"Who are your parents?" he asked finally. Dawn sighed.

"I'm really not sure..." Dawn said. "I was raised by a nanny, but I'm not sure if she knows." The king nodded.

"Can you tell me your nanny's name?" he asked.

"Her name is Fanfire," Dawn said, and it struck across her mind that she didn't know Fanfire's last name.

The king gave a long, shuddery sigh.

"You must have many questions, and once you are safe I will explain everything to you," he said. Dawn nodded, but at the same time wondered why she was not safe.

"Come. We must go now," the king said. He walked over to a dark wall, and Dawn followed him. She turned her head to make sure Alinar was coming, and then dread came over her, like a thick fog wrapping around her brain.

Alinar was not there.

He had not come with her. Dawn's eyes stung. She needed to go back. She had become fast friends with the little Elf, and would now do anything for him.

"What is wrong?" The king noticed Dawn's tearful eyes.

"I... I made friends with an Elf," Dawn said. "He came to Pixie Grove to replace his sister, and on the way we found each other, and started to travel. But I left him at Pixie Grove, because..." Dawn stopped talking. Should she tell the king?

"We can talk later," the king said. He opened a heavy door, and Dawn was surprised to see that there wasn't a Guard outside. They ran down a long hall, with the two white fawns trotting after them. They went through lavishly decorated rooms, long flights of stairs, and through many corridors. Finally they reached the front hall, and the king straightened his cape and knocked on the front door. The Birch Guard opened it, and seemed quite surprised to see Dawn.

"We need the carriage," the king said hurriedly. The Birch Guard nodded and walked off. Just when he left the Fairy Godmother came around the corner.

"Fiddlesticks!" she said, looking down at her shoes. One of them was cracked. She sighed and reached into her bag, pulling out a new pair of slippers, and slipped them on her feet. Then she looked up and saw Dawn and the king.

"King Septimus!" the Fairy Godmother said, "What on earth are you doing out here? You seldom exit the castle." The king nodded and said,

"Yes, I am well aware of that. I must take Dawn to safety." Just then a large, brown carriage wrapped in vines and pink flowers came in front of the castle, with the Birch Guard driving it. The King, Dawn, the Fairy Godmother, and the two white fawns crowded inside.

Dawn's brain was feeling quite muddled, with all that had happened in the last ten minutes. She had met her father for the first time in years, yet he told her to go away because she was in danger. She had also lost Alinar, and was now riding in a very crowded carriage with the Birch Guard driving. Then Dawn suddenly felt a lurch. The carriage was flying.

Dawn was exhausted.

She lay back, just wishing she could sleep and get rid of all her worrying thoughts. She closed her eyes, and soon she fell fast asleep.