The witch watched the prince as he bathed and floated in the stream. The little toady made her way to the middle nation firmly outside of the witch's reach.

The witch smiled. She couldn't get into the Middle Nation but her daughter could. Estelle never loved Cassandra's father but she traced his lineage to the sorceress who created the Middle Nation.

The idea of all those dragon maidens in one place was too tasty. All she had to do was have her husband let her in.

He refused. Her husband soon realized the real reason Estelle married him. But by that time, it was too late, Estelle was already carrying his child—A child who would be able to break the nation seal. A child that would be just like her, guided by Estelle's own hand.

She killed her husband before the birth of their daughter so that he could never have influence over the girl. But he delivered a deathbed curse.  

"Estelle." Cassandra's father said.  "You have lived your whole life consumed by revenge but it will be forgiveness that does you in."  

Estelle threw her head back and laughed.  "Oh Edmund.  There is no such thing as forgiveness."  

The witch raised her daughter to be just as evil as she.  But despite her best efforts the girl would never turn evil. Cassandra was too much like her father. She had too much good in her. She would never open the seal of the nation for her mother. But perhaps, she would do it for prince Nicholas. The witch smiled. Her planning was finally beginning to pay off.

***

"Hey Prince Putrid." A voice called a moment after Nicholas left the water.  He whirled around looking for the source.  Only the little mad princess called him that.  

"Where are you?"  He called out.  He would retrieve his heart.  He had to.  

"In the water, little toady."  The voice called and it was indeed coming from the stream.  Nicholas and Cassandra cautiously peered into the stream.   The reflection of a face floated on the water top mere inches from where Nicholas had finished bathing.  

Nicholas jumped back at the visage of the witch.  "What do you want, mother?"  Cassandra asked impatiently.  

Estelle laughed.  "I wanted to warn you." 

"Oh?" Cassandra said crossing her arms over her chest.  

"I was watching your boyfriend bathe and noticed that his little toady is more like a little tadpole."  Estelle laughed.  

"I'll have you know, my toad is fully grown!"  Nicholas said defensively.  

Cassandra sighed.  "She's just trying to get a rise out of you."  She told him.  "Well if that's all mother, have a good day."  Cassandra raised her hand over the water.  

"I heard you lost the heart."  Estelle said quickly before Cassandra could disconnect the conversation.  

"Well then it sounds like you're getting what you want."  Nicholas said. 

"All I want is for my daughter to be happy."  Estelle said through the ripples of the clear water.

"If you wanted me to be happy than you wouldn't have cursed my boyfriend."  Cassandra said coolly.  

"Perhaps it was foolish of me."  Estelle sighed.  "But I know where the girl took the heart."  She said.  

"And we should believe you why?"  Nicholas asked.  

"Because if you die boy, my daughter won't forgive me. So I want to help you get the heart so that you can make the potion to save your life.  

"I'll never forgive you."  Cassandra said.  "Dead or alive, I lose my boyfriend either way."  Cassandra said.  "For if he lives he is honor bound to marry the princess of the North."  

"One problem at a time."  Estelle laughed.

Cassandra and Nicholas looked at each other both knowing that they could not trust the witch but also not having much of a choice.  

"She's in the middle nation."  The witch said flippantly.  

"There's no such nation."  Nicholas said.  

"Of course."  Cassandra said at the same time. Nicholas raised an eyebrow at his girlfriend.  

"It's a dragon worshipping society.  Nobody with ill intent can get in but I just so happen to have the key."  Cassandra winked then waved her hand causing the water in the stream to fly up and spin dismantling the witch's image.  She needed to make a plan without her mother's interference.