Someone was shaking me. I woke up from sweet dreams in this cruel, real world. My hair was a mess when I sat up in my bed. Wicky came in and pulled me up.

"Shower time!" She exclaimed and pushed me to the bathroom. She was way too excited. We should talk about it sometimes. I've made a small reminder in my head.

I was half asleep, and when I walked in the bathroom, I saw myself in the mirror. I looked like a monster.

Wicky sat me down and disapprovingly shook her head

"Girl, what were you doing with your hair?" I didn't answer.

"Well, let's get to work," she sighed.

She brushed my long hair, what I felt like pulling my hair out of my head. I was sitting there for years! When she finally finished, Paper face already filled my bath with warm water and scented it with etheric oil. She scrubbed her back, arms and legs gently and washed all snags out of her hair. When she finished, she toweled her dry with a rough cotton towel. She was soon dry. Unknown women brought in some dresses, mostly red ones. I didn't like any of them.

''Can I wear this one?'' I asked, holding a long, white dress.

She hesitates. "I don't know. Probably not."

"Please," I begged.

''Well... Yes, why not.'' I knew she will let me wear it. I'm a princess, and bad side of it was that many people were afraid to be honest to me.

I happily hugged her and ran to dress it. A few seconds later I was back.

''I guess I need someone to help me tie it?'' I said with a sweet look in my eyes. She dressed me up and put white sandals on my feet. A simple white dress was uptight with a golden clasp that matches golden necklace around my neck.

She finished with a picture of ice dragon on my wrist. I pressed two fingers on it and kissed them.

You will call her soon... I heard. The voice. She will be with you in the war. War? What war?

"What?" I called.

"What?" Paper face replied.

"Nothing. I mean... Didn't you hear that?"

''I heard what?"

''Uh... Nothing, I guess. I want to know if any war is starting in our district?''

''I'm not allowed to tell you that. Now, you're ready. Let's go,'' She changed the subject of talk.

''I will take that as a yes. So, with which district are we in conflict?''

''Again, I'm not allowed to talk with you about that.'' We kept walking in silence.

°°°

''Wicky, could you tell me something? Do you know about any struggle in our district?''

''I'm not sure... I heard something about impending war, but nothing else. That's what you want to know, right?'' She said while doing my hair.

''I don't know what to do!'' she said after playing with my hair for a minute.

''A simple braid would be great, thanks,'' I demanded

''Braided crown! Good idea, honey,'' she tapped my shoulder and started to work.

''And another crown on it? Hmm, I'm not sure.''

''You're right. Just two braids. So what was with your interest about the war?'' she asks while braiding my hair.

''It's about the dragon. The voice said that there would be a war and I'll need her.''

''Mhm,'' she mumbled and concentrated on the braids. She remained silent, and so did I. She was done fast.

''Shall we go now?'' Wicky questioned. I nod. We were walking in silence until we came to the empty hall.

''Servant heard you,'' she whispered.

''What?''

''He heard you. About the voice. If he tells this anyone, they may think that you are, I don't know, a bit mad?''

''Don't worry. I'll get out with it. Could we go now? It's a bit cold,'' I whispered back.

She led me to the foyer. My mother was standing there already, talking with the coachman. When she saw me, she grabbed me by my arm and pulled me in the carriage.

"Where are we going?" I asked when I was finally sitting on the small bench. My voice was shaking because horses were pulling the carriage through the holes in the road.

"We are visiting district 4. You're probably going to marry with Emanuel; they are wealthy and influential. We will get a huge amount of money and troops," she replied. This shocked me.

"You are... Selling me," I whispered, loud enough for her to hear me. My voice was now shaking because of a flood of tears, that were threatening to fly down my cheeks. I don't know why was I so upset about it, so fast and so much.

"Well, this sounds horrible if you turn it like this."

"That's awful no matter how you turn it! I don't want to be sold like - like a slave!" I screamed, now crying. I never thought how terrifying is it for them to get sold. But slaves are taken away from their families - but here, my family put me away.

"I'm out," I said and opened the doors of the carriage. It's not that high, I thought, before jumping out on the road. I took a breath and jumped out. I ruined the beautiful dress, but I didn't care much. I ran into the forest as fast as I could, and believe me - I am not a fast runner. I heard my mother screamed to stop, and by the time the carriage stopped, I was on the half of my way to get to the forest. I slowly stopped when I was in the shadow of the trees, dark and high as nothing I ever saw. I gulped and walked into the forest. Butterflies of all colors and shapes were flying around, flowers, with blossoms, big as my head was leaning towards my way.

"Anyone here?" I asked loudly. The silence was pressing on me from all sides, making me feel uncomfortable. Tears dried in a wind that was blowing through the forest, winding between the trees. I felt curiosity growing in me, mixed with fear of what could have happened.

"Who are you?" I heard a voice from somewhere.

"Who... Me?" I asked, even more curious than before.

"Do you see anyone else?" A rough voice asked.

"No. I'm Princess Sophia, Princess of..." I couldn't continue, when I saw a creature, about a meter high, green, with pointed ears.

"Are you an elf?" I asked

"Are you eight years old? Do I look like an elf?"

"You are truly not nice."

"I'm not supposed to be."

"But you could be," I demanded.

"Whatever. I never saw you here, and you are not unusual. Soldiers, take her to the Clan Master," he said. Dozens of green creatures stormed out of their hideaways.

"Wh - what are you doing!? Leave me alone!" I screamed and hoped for someone to find me. Instead of it, strong smell crossed my way, and I couldn't help myself but fall asleep.

°°°

I could see nothing when I woke up, as I also couldn't hear anything. Somebody tightly tied my wrists and ankles with a rough rope. I was laying on a cold stone, in a cave or something like that. They didn't treat me well, that's for sure. I saw sun rays were penetrating through the dark and throwing weird shadows on the wall of a cave. I could see the entrance, about hundred meters away from me, and pink dust in the air.

"Fairy dust," I said with enchantment in my voice. I immediately fall asleep. Again.