You know the drill; I only own the my original OC family.

About a week later, I woke with a start from my sleep, my breath coming out in ragged gasps as I remembered the terrifying images I had seen. And I honestly don't even know why it was scary even. I just felt an unshakable terror when I saw them.

In my dream, I had seen a great oak tree, with five smaller oak trees positioned around it, two on top and three on bottom. The great oak tree was the most wonderful tree I had ever seen in my life, and because it flourished, the other five did also.

Suddenly the lovely oak in all its splendor was broken into millions of tiny pieces and used as kindling for a great fire that roared from out of the first of the smaller trees, which was on top.

Then, because the great tree no longer prospered, the others met their downfall as well.

It began with the second tree on the bottom becoming sick and dying, followed soon after by the tree which had consumed the large one with fire, meeting the same fate as the great oak.

Then the the first tree on the bottom was uprooted by the second tree on the top.

This tree soon followed the others fate when it was smashed to pieces with a knife made of stone.

 Then the last tree, the third one on the bottom, was destroyed by ice and snow that came from out of the north.

And after the last tree had perished, all the remains were covered in snow. Then the dream had ended.

I glanced about my room, wondering what it could all mean, and how I played into it all.

Suddenly there was a knock on my door and a servants voice called out, "You're Majesty, the King requests your presence in the throne room in twenty minutes time!"

For a moment I sat in confusion, my sleep muddled brain trying to process the servants words. 

My brother the King wants me in the throne room in................... wait a second, twenty minutes! 

With a sudden rush of understanding, I frantically dove out of the bed and towards the bathroom with a call, "All right, Gareth, I'll be there, thank you!

Then with newfound speed I hadn't known I possessed, I hopped into my already prepared bath, and hopped out again five minutes later. Then when I was done, pulled on my cloths, which had also been laid out for me, grabbed my ring of authority, "which showed that I was a Count", and made it out of my room only eight minutes after I had woken up. That left me with twelve minutes to wolf down a bit of breakfast and make it into the throne room in a way that hopefully did not make me look like I had just run all the way there.

I wondered why I was being called down so early, for it was only about 6:40 AM right now, and I usually did not get up for another hour and a half, which meant it was probably important.

After acquiring some breakfast, I ate it all in about five minutes, and since it had taken me another two minutes to get to the kitchen, that meant I had about four minutes left to get to the throne room.

Ugh, bother these early morning engagements, I grumbled irritability.

If it had been left up to me, all this important stuff would have been put off until at least nine in the morning, but unfortunately the King had this lousy idea that important business is best done in the ealy morning. And if that wasn't bad enough, he requires everyone, to be punctual for everything. So if I was even ten seconds late, I was going to get it.

Then theirs the fact that he treats his siblings and subjects in practically the same manor, "Which in my opinion he doesn't know the difference," so I could expect no grace from him. I might as well have asked a dumb bear to let me play with her cubs.

Three and a half minutes later, I reached the throne rooms doors and stopped, straightened my slightly rumpled cloths, put on my serious court face, and opened the doors.

Sitting on the Dias, was King Caelin, looking as cold and aloof as ever, with the impassive Lord Kalin, standing on his right. The other four chairs around him were empty.

They both looked at me, neither face showing any emotion towards me in the slightest.

I wonder how important that makes me, to them?

Just as I had been instructed from birth, I stopped In the designated spot about ten feet away from the Kings throne and dropped to one knee and bowed my head saying, "Greetings my King, I request permission to rise and sit in your presence."

"Permission is granted, Count Rian", my brother replied.

Immediately I rose from my kneeling position and took my seat on his left, with Aiden's chair in between us.

I looked at him and still using my court language I asked, "What is it you wished to see me about, my Lord?".

Without even looking at me he replied, "As you can see, the rest of our royal siblings are off attending to other matters, which means I require your presence on a journey that will take four days in total. Are you able to accompany me, and Lord Kalin?"

Even through it was worded as a question, I was wise enough to know it was really an order, which meant I actually had no say in the matter."

"Yes my Lord, it would be my honor." Was my cordial reply, Though this was actually the farthest thing from it, it was also not an option to refuse.

"Excellent, let us begin the journey then."

And so it was that I found myself on Bastion, with four days worth of cloths in my saddlebags, and ridding beside my bother towards the lantern waste. On my brothers other side was Lord Kalin, both of whom were as silent as rocks as far as I was concerned.

Their was no talking, which I found to be extremely boring, but since their was no one on this trip that I was comfortable having any sort of conversation with beyond the normal pleasantries, it was not as bad as it could gave been. Then again, their was not more then five people I had regular conversations with at all, so I don't even know why I even thought of that.

You know, I don't think I have ever had a friend, have I? Just someone to talk too, or even just a friendly acquaintance to chat with, would be better then nothing. Someone to tell all my troubles too.

These thoughts saddened me, for I knew that sort of thing makes life worth living.

Speaking of which, what did I live for, anyway?

Nothing.

I thought hard for several minutes and decided this wasn't quite true. For I did love riding, exploring in the woods, watching wild, dumb animals, eating just about any kind of food, practicing my sword fighting, and drawing pictures.

Hm, I guess that's something at least, but what is that all really worth, when you had no one to share it with?

I decided right then and there that being royalty was not all had cracked up to be, like in my childhood storybooks would have me think, and ultimately I would rather not be royal at all, if I could have had a loving family and friends.

Instead, all I had was to ask, and I could have anything but what I truly wanted, servants that waited on me hand and foot, and siblings that ignored me most of the time, only addressing me when they had too, or when I could be of use.

Honestly, that's a really boring and rather miserable life, and it astounds me how I have only just realized it.

---------------------------------

Two days, and two sleepless nights later, we ended up at our destination, if you could call it that.

Which considering the urgency of this mission, I had been expecting a lot more of said destination, instead of some random part of the Forrest.

Although upon further inspection, I discovered that although this was the forrest, their seemed to be a very different sort of tree here then any I have ever seen before. It was the largest tree I had ever seen, and that was not even the weirdest thing about it, for it looked to be made of pure silver!

And although it bore no fruit, it seemed to be the most beautiful thing I had ever seen! Getting off of my horse, I walked up to it and gazed up at it in awe, wondering what kind of powerful magic had put their, for this was no ordinary tree.

I turned to my brother and asked, "What manor of magic is this my Lord, That a tree of silver should grow here?"

"It is called the tree of protection, your majesty, and it was planted their by a son of Adam at the command of Aslan himself." Answered a voice from over my right shoulder.

Theirs that name again, I thought, why is it that every time I hear that name I feel an outpouring of immense love, as if I had someone who really cared about me?

Startled, I whirled around, coming face to face with Amos the centaur prophet!

For a moment I stared up at him in shocked confusion, before asking, "Protection from what, Sir? And who is this Aslan you keep talking about?

Suddenly a large hand grabbed my arm and jerked me away from the prophet, and Lord Kalin was standing in front of me and my brother had me by the shoulders.

For a moment there was complete silence as everyone got over the shock of prophets entrance.

Then the prophet spoke again, moving to the right so that he could address me and my brother without Lord Kalin obstructing his view.

"Why are you trying to hide the truth from him, your majesty? He's old enough to hear the facts and decide for himself what he wants to believe. And he's going to find out sooner or later, and it would be better if he found out now, while there's still time. Maybe he at least can still change his path before it's to late."

Their was a pause before he went on, "I know what you are here to do, your majesty, and it is only one step closer in your destruction."

Caelin's reply was a half English, half snarl of rage that sent chills up my spin just hearing it, and it was not even directed at me; "Do I need to forbid you from coming into our presence, as well Amos? Because I will not tell you again; Leave my siblings and I alone!"

And as he shouted out those final words, Caelins grip on my shoulders became so intense that I nearly cried out in pain.

Amos nodded quietly and said to him seriously, "justice is done with, or without the help of the just, your majesty."

Then he looked at me, his stern expression softening when our eyes locked, saying; "Know that everything you have seen and heard is the truth your majesty, and understand that which you have been given, is not a lie". And then he was gone, lost among the trees of the surrounding Forrest.

As soon as he was gone, my brother spun me around to face him, saying in a dangerously low voice in my ear, "We are having a conversation about this later when we are in private, Sir!"

I nodded my assent, since I was to scared to do anything else.

Then he turned to Lord Kalin and began speaking in low, urgent tones, gesturing angrily in this or that direction.

I had never like my oldest brother, but I had never been frightened of him. I certainly had a reason to now, though.

A couple of minutes later, the soldiers we had brought along with us began pulling out ax's and walking towards the silver tree.

That was when I realized why we were here; to cut down the beautiful tree!

I took a step forward to confront my brother about this terrible act, but he turned around then, and with eyes that blazed with rages fire he said in a deadly wisper; "If you say one more word, you'll regret it, little brother!"

I backed down, although reluctantly, for something about this whole thing felt wrong, though I couldn't figure out why.

Why do I have this awful feeling the pit of my stomach that Caelin has just signed our death warrants?
What was so important about this tree that it had to be specially placed here?
Why is Caelin so determined to destroy it?
What did the prophet mean by what he had said to me?
And What did Caelin gain anything by bringing me with him to do this deed?