The Beginning

In the land of Scelta, everyone is born with a gift. So, it was no surprise when during one hot, sticky summer afternoon, a little girl's apple mysteriously turned into a large tub of cookie dough ice cream. It was a surprise, however, when the Queen of such a powerful world learned that this same little girl, along with three others, would one day be able to accomplish much much more.

It had been two hundred years since Scelta had experienced an unfortunate fate. Because of this, the four rightful heirs to the Sceltan Throne had never set eyes on each other. Along with the Queen as their leader came poverty and crime. What had once been a prosperous world became a constant struggle for survival. This is where we begin our journey, the journey of four young strangers who are destined to meet, but forced to choose their own destiny.

A young mother clutched her child against her body in the cold of the winter night as a desperate attempt to keep her little girl quiet. The branches that floated above the frozen ground scraped against every inch of the young mother's body. The gap between those that were tracking their trail and herself was rapidly becoming smaller. They were getting closer with every step. She could sense their presence. The young mother attempted to pick up the pace of her flight as she hobbled deeper into the unknown darkness. She quickly found that the weak legs and sprained ankle beneath her did not provide much support.

By now, the young mother had lost all sense of direction. Despite her need to move forward, she constantly found herself looking back at what had been left behind. She could not see them, but she knew they were there. For her daughter, anything was better than the fate that would occur if the Royal Guards found them.

The sprained ankle, cuts and bruises that she had obtained during her long flight told the young mother that she was almost to her new destination. She once again could sense it.

Just when the young mother thought that her body could not take any more, when she thought she had lost the race, she reached the mailbox and gently placed her quivering hand on top.

"Offen ahora," the young mother whispered as a sharp jolt ran through her aching body. When she opened her eyes, she found herself standing in the middle of the deserted city street. Only street lights guided their journey. The young mother carefully studied each building that crossed their path in order to remember her way back. It did not take long before they came across a large sign that read Hudson Street Orphanage. She carefully placed her child on the cold cement steps and secretly tucked a crumpled paper in the blanket that had shielded her little girl throughout their flight.

"Take care little one," she whispered, rang the bell, and disappeared into the darkness.

The door to the orphanage opened allowing a gust of cold wind to sweep through the entryway. Finding little ones on the front steps was not unusual for Mrs. Montague in her line of work, but somehow from the moment she saw her, she knew this child would be special. She picked up the child and wrapped her securely in her arms. Mrs. Montague reached and pulled the crumpled paper from the baby's blanket.

"Ashling," she whispered. It was an unusual name. Mrs. Montague guarded the paper as she closed the door tightly behind her. One day, when the time was right, she would know her mother.