Lily's Tree

I can not tell you the exact date I though of Lily's Tree, and I wish I could.  I didn't start writing down the exact date and time of my story ideas until eighth grade and, alas, I started Lily's Tree in sixth grade.  I have gone through many drafts of this story, never quite finishing any of them, and the draft I am on now will probably be the last.  It's been strange to really see the characters grow up in my mind to the point where I know their whole lives and have them all planned out.  Below, you can read the prologue for Lily's Tree.

Lily's Tree-the prologue (video on film page)

A dark figure stood in the road.  He was wearing a cloak and a hood covered his face.  Trees were on either side of the dirt road, rising along a slight incline.  The sky above was dark and a full moon hung in the sky.  Another man appeared at the edge of the woods and walked over to the first.

"Carson," the second man said, "That is your name, isn't it?"

"Yes," Carson said, "But I have not had the pleasure of knowing your name."

"My name is not important," the man said, "Now do you have the gold?"

"That depends," Carson said calmly, "Do you have the girl?"

"Yes," the man turned back toward the trees.  "Come!" he said sternly and another, smaller, figure came down the slope to the road.  "Here she is," the man said.

"A child?"  Carson laughed.

"Not an ordinary child," the second man said sharply, "She is an Oplatlo."

"And you say she can tell the future?" Carson said, "Then prove it."

The man smiled and turned to the young girl.  She had light brown hair that fell straight down her back.  Her dress was dark green and she was also wearing a cloak, but the hood of hers was not pulled over her hair.

"Show him," the man told her.

The girl made a sour expression, but obeyed.  She looked at Carson and grimaced.

"A dark future ahead for you," she said with a hoarse whisper, "You will meet your death in a sword match on the tenth day of December."

"That proves nothing," Carson addressed the man, "It's just a story, that's all."

"A story with just enough seed of truth," the man said darkly, "Everything she has predicted came true."

"Like what?" Carson asked skeptically.

"She predicted a rainstorm tonight," the man said.

"It is night," Carson said.

"And look at the sky," the man pointed upward, "Clouds covering every star and the moon is barely visible."

"All right," Carson said, "She saw the clouds and made a prediction."

"But she made that prediction eight days ago," the man said.

"It still isn't raining," Carson said bluntly.

The girl shook her head as a drop of rain fell on his nose.  "It will," she said.

"All right," Carson said, "So it's about to rain.  Yes, I see, maybe she is right.  Now, what information have you promised this girl can give me?"

"Go on," the man prodded the girl in the arm, "Tell him."

The girl took a deep breath then looked Carson in the eye.

"En October thirty first," she said, "A colee flo be chel.  En cole thirteenth chelday cola flo arela cole effra pelar and shrat thar rina.  The coleemarel kat grace flo frer and Felonia flo shrament."

"You brat!" the man slapped her across the face and she stumbled backwards.  "Tell it to him in English," he said, "You are the only one who speaks that ridiculous language anymore."

"On October thirty first," she said through gritted teeth, "A girl will be born.  On her thirteenth birthday she will recieve her full power and tear through time.  The princess of Grace will fall and Felonia will crumble."

"Interesting," Carson said, "A prediction of the destruction of Felonia.  October thirty first?  That's tomorrow."

"Yes," the man said, "And many princesses rule over our kingdom, as I'm sure you know."

"And she will fall," Carson said slowly, "Very interesting."

"And my gold?" the man insisted.

"Yes, all right," Carson reached into his pocket and pulled out a few gold coins.  He dropped them into the man's hand.  "And you will not take any credit for this information?" Carson asked.

"No, it's all for you," the man grabbed the girl by the arm, "Now, we must go.  I hope you take this information to the royal family with great care."

"I will, sir," Carson said.

He dragged the girl across the road as the rain started to fall.  The girl kept glancing over her shoulder with desperation at the man called Carson.