From the moment I faced the castle, my body moved by itself. I had no control over it. My eyes fixed on the tallest tower of this stone hell, while my bare feet carried me up the cold, stone steps. My hands pulled open the large, wooden doors, and I slowly crossed the large entrance to the stairs that led to the heart of this dead cold.

The child, my child, was crying from within the tower, and evil laughter filled the silence. I began to run, trying to reach my baby before the sorcerer could fulfill his evil deed. My long dress caught on a nail. I still ran. My dress ripped, and dragged on the floor, slowing me. I yanked it off and threw it on the floor, leaving me in only my slip. I grew cold from the wind whistling through the cracks, but I kept going. I reached the locked door and hit it with all my might. After a couple of tries, I broke in. I fell to the ground, broken and bleeding from my attempts. I got up. The sorcerer was about to kill my child. I ran at him. He took a knife out and lunged at me, piercing the right side of my chest, as I knocked him right through the nearest closed window.

I staggered over to the child, who had stopped crying, and took her in my arms. I sat on the floor, leaned against the wall, my entire body wrapped protectively around the baby, dying. I could not walk down the stairs or else I would be leaving this dark, gloomy place.

Then the sun broke through the darkness, and I knew the sorcerer was dead. I stood, slowly, still holding my child, and slowly walked to the broken window. There was a rainbow in the sky and the sun was shining on lush green fields and beautiful forests. The warmth of the sun hit me and took the chill out of the castle. And the castle was once again restored to its stately manor. The animals returned to their places in this land. However there was still no one to take care of my baby when I was gone.

An eagle landed on the windowsill, a great and royal creature with golden feathers. I held out my daughter and the eagle took her, by the blanket covering her. It flapped its wings and rose into the air.

I laid down on the empty bed to die, as a queen should.

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