Lotte was shaken from her slumber. Her room was still dark, and she could see star glittering like gems in the night sky. Mother Willow was bustling about. Lotte heard fresh water being poured into her basin and then a candelabra illuminated the room. She threw her legs over the side of the bed and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Not much was said at dinner. Mother Willow rushed their feast, but Lotte needed the sleep. Sleep. Lotte could use another day of sleeping. "What time is it?" Lotte asked through a yawn.
"It's nearly daybreak. We'll need all the sunlight we can get!" Mother Willow urged. "Wash up. Eat yer bread. We will meet yer in the great hall." She hastened to the door. "Bring yer pail, too," she advised, and with a turn of her heel she was gone.
Lotte inhaled her bread it seemed, and clumsily washed her face. On the table by the basin was a white dress, neatly folded and pressed. A lavender apron hung over the chair. Lotte lifted up the garments and was very thankful to be able to change. She smoothed her hair as she walked down the spiraling steps toward the great hall, when turning a corner she ran head first into the young man.
"Ow!" he exclaimed, and then noticing her frightened face, said more curtly, "Are you alright, Lotte?"
"Yes. I'm fine, um...."
"Simon," he introduced himself with a half-smile.
Lotte smiled shyly back. At first glance of Simon she believed him to be cold and distant. Another part of her believed he despised her. He had called her 'Earthling' as if she was from another planet. She brushed away those thoughts and proceeded to the great hall where Mother Willow was waiting impatiently.
"Thank goodness!" she said with relief. "The sun is nearly up!"
They headed out of the castle. Simon held a torch to light the way until the sun began to shine. They walked several miles through green pastures, when finally they came upon a very grim looking forest. Lotte felt a chill in the air as they entered it. Even with the sun dawning it was dark and foreboding.
"There is a spring is up here. We can stop for a drink of water." Simon marched ahead carrying the torch. Lotte hastened to keep close for light and warmth.
The forest was wild. The trees grew as if they were twisting with agony. Sharp rocks cut up from the ground. It looked as if the forest grew on the side of a mountain. Simon led the way, as if he had come the route before, and after a few more miles of walking and climbing the trio came upon an entrance to a cave.
"The spring is inside," Simon announced. "We have time for only a few moments rest. Then the sun will be fully risen and we will have only a few hours to make it out before nightfall." His voice was grave. Lotte did not want to think what would happen should they not make it out in time.
The cave was littered with gems, and Lotte thought of Poe briefly, until a trickling of water was heard and the cave was filtered with brilliant light. It danced from the all corners of the cave, like someone had painted rainbows. The spring itself was as blue as a sapphire. Lotte almost didn't dare take a sip.
Mother Willow and Simon stood idly by. "Go on, dearie," Mother Willow pressed. "Take a sip!"
Lotte thought it strange that Mother Willow and Simon did not seem interested in taking a drink, but resolved that they were just being polite. She knelt down before the blue water and with a graceful hand proceeded to scoop up the water in her palm. Before she was able to bring the water to her lips, the spring began to boil and bubble.
"What's happening?" Lotte cried, stepping back from the violent waters.
"It's a Truth Spring," Simon called out. "We want to make sure you are who you say you are." Mother Willow stood alongside Simon with tears in her eyes.
"It's not that we doubt yer, sweetheart, I just want ter save my home!" She collapsed into her son's arms. Simon watched on as the spring bubbled and began to rise. It kept rising, as if a glass wall was all that stood between it and the trio. When it came down in a wave, crashing over Lotte and her company. The dancing light was gone now. All that was left was covered in darkness.
Lotte tried to catch her breath. Darkness could not be a good sign. "D-did I fail?" she called out. There was no response. Fearing they had left her she screamed out again, "Mother Willow! Simon! Please! I never asked for this!" Tears burst from her eyes beyond her control. She felt she could no longer be brave. She longed to be home. She wondered if her Mother and Father had been looking for her, or if they had forgotten her already. She imagined being trapped in the cave, inside this terrible forest, forever.
"Do not fret, my child," a gently voice called to her. "You are the Light which will save our world." Lotte turned to see that part of the cave wall had been covered with water, flowing along. Within the water a figure was becoming clearer. First, Lotte saw vibrant red locks, then brilliant green eyes, and finally the full form of a woman. Her dress was the dust of diamonds, it reflected off of the water like glitter in the sunlight. Her skin was pale, and around her neck was strings of pearls.
"Who are you?" Lotte said wiping her tears, admiring the woman's beauty.
"I am Kleo. I am the mother of all magic. I have brought you here to save my children."
"The mother of all magic?" Lotte asked bewildered. "Could you do nothing for them yourself?" Lotte knew her questioning was selfish, rather she was afraid of her task.
Kleo looked lovingly at Lotte, and stepping through the barrier of water, came face to face with her. Lotte nearly had to close her eyes, for the diamond gown shone so brightly. "The Queen Chaya has banished me here, to live among the spring in darkness. My magic has been stripped from me, but some of it resides within you. You see, you are a descendant of Chaya, and the magic that she stole from my children rests within you. You have to power to end the evil curse Chaya placed on both of our worlds." Kleo took a strand from her neck and handed them to Lotte.
"This is all I can offer you on your journey. Whenever you are in need of help, make a wish on one of the pearls, and help with be with you. Your task is simple. You must find Chaya's crown, that is where she bound her spell. When you have it, you must destroy it. Only then will our world return to its glory, and you return to your home."
Before Lotte could reply, another wave of water crashed over Lotte, and she was standing by the spring as before. Simon and Mother Willow looked stricken and pale. In Lotte's hand were the string of pearls Kleo had given her.
"I am the one," Lotte said, mustering all of the courage within her, "I know what I must do."
The forest was not as terrible after all. After leaving the cave, Simon led them alongside a brook quite like the one Lotte first encountered. The forest was still quite dark, and there were no birds to fill it with singing, the only sign of life was from the brook as it flowed over rocks and pebbles.
"We need to find Chaya's crown," Lotte instructed, breaking the silence. "Once it is destroyed our homes will be restored."
"It's not going to be easy getting a thing like that." Simon paused, a grave look overtook his face.
"Why is that?" Lotte pressed. "She's dead isn't she?"
"Precisely, that," Mother Willow shivered. "And she's buried in your world!"
"What does that have to do with her crown," Lotte questioned.
"She was buried with it," Simon declared. "We're going to need to find Poe."
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