The White Knight (Short Story 4)

 I woke up, conscience to only two things: I didn't know where I was and I was bleeding from the side of my head. The forest around me was dark and ominous. Someone was laughing.
  "Ha ha ha ha, you call yourself me? I'm ashamed that I was ever a part of you," said a figure. When they stepped into the light I say it was myself, as if looking at a walking and talking reflection.
  The memories started flooding back it, I started to remember what had happened.

  I had been walking home from my friend's house on a cold winter night. I had the feeling I was being followed, and kept looking behind myself to see nothing. I started to walk faster.
  I was almost on my road when a girl stepped out in front of me. She had white hair, pale skin, and light blue eyes. "Help me," she pleaded in a musical voice that was unlike anything I have even heard. "My name is Snow  Glacies and I need your help. Someone is after me, protect me."
  She looked so scared. I agreed and followed her as she ran into the forest.
  She stopped at two small trees that seemed to be woven together to form an arch. She turned to me and said, "This leads to my home land. I need you escort me home, for someone is trying to kill me.  If we can make it to my father I will be safe. Please, will you take me.?"
  I was confused on the details, I couldn't see how a nature-made archway in the woods would take her home. She looked terrified, I couldn't say no. I answered, "Okay, I will."
  She smiled and then waved her hand. What looked like a ball of snowflakes appeared and flowed through the air to the archway. When it hit it there was a light blue glow that surrounded the archway and then filled it. Snow grabbed my hand and walked through it. I close my eyes as I hit the blue.
   I opened my eyes expecting to be on the other side of the arch, but I was somewhere else entirely. I was in a forest of trees that had white trunks and light blue leaves. There was snow all along the ground, yet I wasn't freezing. Then I looked up at the sky, it was still blue, only a lighter creamier color.
  Snow did a twirl and said to me, "Welcome to the Winter Kingdom."
  "Hold on, this isn't right, tree's aren't this color. The sky it's different and why is the Sun pure white?" I said in confusion. "Where are we?"
  "The Winter Kingdom of the Mist Realm. I'm the Winter Princess Snoweria Glacies, but everyone calls me Snow."  
  "All right, Snow, let me get this straight. You are being chase by someone that is trying to kill you and you need me for protection. You also took me to a different world, possibly a different planet or dimension and I have to get you to the King."
  "Yes, you are correct."
  "Okay, okay, okay, umm, sorry but I'm kind of freaking out here. I mean, why me? I'm Kellin Hownes a normal kid from Jonesville. How can I protect you?" I said.
  "Kellin, you can protect me because you have a good heart. You will help anyone if you can. I know you can protect me, here let me help you," she said and then she twirled sending snow flakes to surround me.
  When the snow disappeared I was wearing what looked like a white chestplate and there was a white sword in my hand. I was dressed in armor like a knight. I felt like one.
  "You are my White Knight, you can protect me. "Here," she gave me the necklace that was around her neck, it was a light blue crystal on a chain, "This will aid you." Then she twirled and her shirt and blue jeans turned into a white dress. She looked like a princess.
  "We should get going," I said. She was right earlier, I did want to help. I wasn't sure how until I she gave me this armor.
  "You see those two hills in the distance?"
  "Yeah"
  "The Winter Palace is behind them. We need to hurry and try to get there before nightfall," She said as she practically started to skip in that direction. I followed along, watching the surroundings.

  After walking for what seemed like hours I asked her, "Snow, can you tell me more about our pursuers?"
  "They are the warriors of the Summer Kingdom. They want to capture me in hopes of gaining control of the Winter Kingdom's powers and land. They want to control the Realms, starting with the Mist Realm."
  "Okay, thank you. So, um, what are you all exactly? It's hard for me to think that you all are human."
  "We are called many names in many Realms. In your world we are often referred to as Fairies. I believe there was once an author and playwright from your world that managed to get a  glimpse of our realm and wrote a book about it, that became really popular in your world. Although he had it wrong, in the book he said that the Summer Fey were the good Fey and the Winter Fey were the bad ones. In this realm, the Winter Fey protect your world and ours from the Summer Fey who want to conquer all realms," She explained.
  "Wow, I didn't know that. You know, this place is beautiful, I can see why you want to protect it," I said as I looked around. We were walking along a glowing blue stream. I sat down on a rock and  said, "Snow, how about we take a break real quick, we've covered a lot of ground.
  "Okay," she said, "Are you hungry, I have some Orile Cakes on me, they are small little cakes that will renew your energy."
  "Sure, do you have any water or anything?"
  "Yes."
   Soon we were snacking and enjoying a little picnic. I told her about high school and the dangers that I had to face like the school lunches. We laughed and were having a good time, when I heard snow crunch, somewhere around us.
  I stood up, sword in hand, as fairies with skin hinted with red came out of the trees running. I slashed at one, turning it into nothing but leaves. Another came at me and lunged at it, but it parried and slashed at my face with sharp claws. I dodged and shot my sword into it's heart. More came at me and I watched as two grabbed Snow and dragged her into the wood. I slashed and thrashed at the opposing Fey, trying to get an opening.
  By the time they all had fallen, I was alone. I ran into the wood looking for her, I had no idea where she could be. I fell to my knees and screamed in frustration.
  I had no choice but to find her. I looked around in the sky and saw that in the distance there was sky with an orange hue. It was in the opposite direction of the Winter Kingdom but I had to go. I sprinted in that direction.

  I ran for hours. Night had fallen by the time I had entered the Summer Kingdom. I noticed the change, there was no snow, the trees were dead and black, and it was too warm here. I ran until I couldn't go on anymore.
  That is when I stepped out from behind a tree. I looked at myself, how could this be? There were no mirrors anywhere around here.
  "I've been waiting for you, that is to say, myself. You're late, I was starting to get bored," he said in my voice.
  "Sorry for keeping you, what do you want?" I said as I slowly started to circle him, with my sword out.
  "I want you. To die," he said and he came at me, striking his sword on mine. He slashed and cut, I could only block. I blocked his low swing, then he hit me in the head with his hilt. I couldn't see, I fell to the ground enveloped  in darkness.

  I stood up, I remembered everything.
  "So, are you prepared to die this time?" the doppelganger said with a laugh.
  He knew how I fought, it was going to be hard to beat him. I had to, for Snow. I summoned all of my strength and courage and ran at him leaving my left side open.
  He saw this, and took a swing at it. I spun and hit him across the back with my blade, leaving a large gash. I ran at him again as he turned around and gave one last good swing, severing the head.
  I watched as my features turned into the ones of the Summer Fey. It had been magic all along. I didn't have time to think, I had to save Snow.

  Snow was scared. She was locked a dark room. The Summer fairies had told her that she would see the King soon, and he would summon her father to sign over the Winter Kingdom.
  Snow knew this couldn't happen. Kellin will save her.
  What if he couldn't though? What if they had killed him.
  She would have to fight her way out herself.
  She heard foot steps in the corridor, then the lock on her door was being unlocked. She stood behind the door and swung her fist.

  "Ow, Snow it's me," I said as I rubbed my head. Then I let the spelled around me unfold, showing it was really me.
  "Kellin!" She said jumping at me and hugging me, "You came."
  "I'm the White Knight, I had to protect my princess. Come on, we have to get out of here. Can you do any magic right now?"
  "No, they made me drink a potion that prevents me from using magic until it wears off."
  "Okay, things are gonna be a little harder. I'm gonna put the spell back on me and get you out of here. Here put these on," I said, giving her iron cuffs.
  "Why?" she asked.
  "I have to get you out of here, it will be easier if it looks like I am escorting you."
  She put the cuffs on and I put the spell back on me.
  We walked along the deserted corridors until we came to an intersection. We chose to go right, the way I had walked in. When we got to the stairs that led out of the red bricked castle we looked down and saw hundreds of Summer Fey walking through the gates. We couldn't get out that way.
  "What are we going to do?" Snow asked.
  I looked up and saw what appeared to be dragons. I pointed up and Snow said, "Those are Salamanders,  they are the Summer Kingdom's pets."
  "They are also our way out, come on," I said grabbing her arm.
  We ran through the castle, and found a set of stairs. I raced up them and fought the guards. After they all were destroyed I found a long chain and jumped on a Salamander. I wrapped the chain around it's throat and beckoned for Snow to get on.
  Then with a swing of the reins we were up in the air. Flying to the Winter Kingdom.

  Once we were in the Winter Kingdom the Salamander started to tire.
  We managed to get to the start of the valley that the Winter Castle was in and the Salamander started to fall. We were going to crash. I grabbed Snow and we jumped into a large pile of snow as the Salamander crashed into a hill. Snow wanted to see if it was okay, but I told her we had to get to the Castle.
  We ran through the gates, up the stairs, and then into the throne room.
  A large white man, with a white beard and a light blue crown rose from his throne and said, "Snoweria!"
  "Father!" Snow exclaimed and ran into his open arms.
  When they broke from the embraced she introduced me. "Father, this is Kellin Hownes and he is my White Knight. He saved me from the Summer Kingdom."
  "Kellin, thank you. For your service, you are here on known as the White Knight of the Winter Kingdom. I am forever grateful, thank you."
  "Thank you Kellin, I knew you could save me," Snow said, and she kissed me.

  I am Kellin Hownes and my picture is on milk cartons around America. I am the White Knight of the Winter Kingdom and love of Princess Snoweria. I will protect her with my life and my heart.