1. Ciera G.
Birds and An Elk
My family crest is an odd sort of thing. It is the shape of a shield with four birds and an
elk on it. This crest is as welcoming as summer yet as feared as fear itself.
When I was born in the village of Rosenburg, in the kingdom of Nightfall, my mother
died and my father, who couldn’t bare to look at what killed his bride, left me. I was found by
the queen’s midwife who had just delivered the queen’s still born child. Everyone in the castle,
excluding the tutor, rejoiced and I was adopted into the royal family.
I was named William in 1612, and was the heir to the throne. My tutor, Malvex, helped
me excel in my lessons. He was known to be a true sorcerer, but rarely showed it. During a
lesson about tree fairies, we ventured into the woods.
“Are you, or are you not, a sorcerer,” I asked with a sudden burst of courage.
“Not to answer a master’s question with a question, but I shall. Why do you ask this now,
rather than asking when you still had the ability to change your fate?” A smile slowly crept onto
his face.
“You confuse me,” I replied with a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. “What fate can’t
I change?” As these words left my mouth, a symphony of snakelike sounds floated from his.
The hisses and gurgling left my skin prickled, with fear I assumed. The sounds stopped,
and I fell. Darkness flooded my vision. It felt like time was passing by.
When I awakened, I still saw darkness. Time had passed by. One hundred years felt like
a moment’s rest. The once sanctuary of Nightfall had become Knightsfall, named after how
Malvex took control. My father, the king, died along with the rest of the people in the castle.
Everyone had fled. The only signs of hope, or happiness for that matter, were the tree fairies by
what I thought was my head and twinkling candle in the gloomy palace.
I tried to move but to no avail. It felt like I was rooted in place. Rooted in place? Tree
fairies? I tried to call for help, no sound emerged. I was trapped in a pitiful, old, enchanted tree.
More screams tried to be heard when a beautiful young maiden strolled by.
Her golden hair shimmered like beams of light, eyes sparkled like the stars, and laughed
like the wind in the trees. It was Laina, Malvex’s only daughter. I felt like I was chopped down
and burnt by love. As she passed me, her face showed a puzzled expression and she turned

2. around. Laina stroked the right side of the trunk where my family crest showed without my
knowing.
I glimpsed her running to the castle only to return later in a black cloak with a book. As
she read about the curse and es her father, I stared, mesmerized by her beauty. Mysterious words
poured from her mouth, trying to save me. Nothing worked.
She slept in the branches by day and tried again every night for nine days. On the ninth
try, she lost all hope.
“If I could save you, I would. If he wasn’t my father, I should. If you loved me too, I
could. None of that matters! I’m in love with a tree!” These cries broke what I had left of a
heart. It was all true; she loved me. I realized that I returned her love as she began to fall asleep,
weeping and singing, at my side.
My darling, my darling
My love, my light
I start to sing
With love and fright
Of you not returning.
My darling, my darling
My one true love
I start to sing
Of your new life above.
As I begin to cry,
I say farewell and goodbye.
I couldn’t sleep. I felt that same tingling sensation as her tears seeped into the roots and
song echoed in my head. The night seemed to last forever because I suddenly woke to a cool
breeze on my skin. Skin?!? Laina awakened, saw me, and cried tears of joy. As I turned to
embrace her, I saw the kingdom.
When I was freed from curse, Malvex ran in fear of destruction. Knightsfall quickly
became Nightfall and everyone returned. Laina and I walked, hand-in-hand, to the once again
lively village square. I became King William with a choice of who to wed. No maiden other
than Laina could fill my heart. We were married and often ventured into the woods where we
first met. Every time, we would pass the tree with the family crest neatly engraved on the right

3. side.
THE END