In a time long since gone, a girl called Serena began a quest to

return to the land ruled by her forefathers. Traversing bustling

towns, barren lands and raging rivers the quest for the home of the
father shed never known was almost complete. Serena thrust her
way through the last barrier of dense undergrowth. Once out from
under the tree canopy, the glaring sun momentarily blinded her and
she stopped at the edge of the strange forest. Strange because not
once had she heard the birds call, the insects buzz, nor had she
heard the scurrying rustle from a forest animal. She had felt totally
alone.
From the servants, shed heard tales of the wondrous castle
her father was building and dreamt of this home but the castle shed
spent years seeking was in front of her and was nothing but a
ramshackle dwelling. Blazing rays of sun highlighted missing roof
tiles, creating dark blots where the spring rain could not cling. A
concave hollow had formed where the little wooden house had
bowed from age and weather. The window frame had buckled under
the strain and held remnants of cracked glass.
The door hung ajar and swayed in the breeze, emitting a
rhythmic whine. Every now and then a stronger gust closed the door
and the house shuddered on its fragile foundations.
A few slabs of stone marked an unfinished path that stopped a
few feet from the house. It neither went to the house or led the way
back to the eerily quiet forest she had trekked through.
Tenacious thorny vines and weeds clambered up the walls, as
if the vegetation was trying to strangle the life out of the modest
dwelling.
After inspecting the house, Serena came to a decision. She
would build the castle shed seen in her dreams. It would have a big
tower and a beautiful garden that could be seen from every window
would surround it.
She lit the fire and ate a simple meal. The all-encompassing
silence made her afraid and she sang songs with beautiful words to

drive her fear away. Her magical voice broke the silence until she
eventually fell asleep.
Upon waking, she drew pictures of the castle she would build
in the name of her father. She walked through the silent forest to the
town to buy supplies and find men to help her build the castle but
all refused her money and pleas for help. She didnt understand the
fear on their faces and she returned to the wooden house on her
own with the heaviest load she could carry.
The next morning, she took a shovel and started to dig
foundations. She dug all day long, until her fingers were blistered
and bleeding but she didnt give up. She put on gloves and dug the
next day and the next. After two weeks, the foundations were ready
to be built but she was exhausted.
Returning to the town she bought a cart and pulled it full of
bricks through the silent forest. Still, no man came to her aid.
Everyday she went back to town and filled it with more bricks,
watched by the townspeople who looked on, whispering to each
other. After two weeks, the foundations of the castle were built and
Serena was tired but content with her work.
She rested for one day and went exploring. She came out of
the other side of the forest and walked up a big hill and came upon
a stunning sight. On either side of the hill was a castle. On one side
was a big dark, grey and gloomy fort, sitting proud and mighty but
with no signs of life. On the other side, was a bright, white castle
surrounded by groups of people who were dancing and singing. The
joy of the dances made her feel suddenly felt lonely. Missing her
loving mother and sisters she walked back down the hill, returning
to the wooden house in tears. She didnt notice the malevolent eyes
of the old Queen that watched her from the dark fort, or the
sympathetic gaze from the Prince who lived in the white castle.
The next morning, Serena planned to go back to town to buy
bricks. She would need hundreds of bricks to build the big castle of
her dreams. It would take months to pull enough cartloads to

complete the building but Serena was an optimistic person and

wouldnt give up, no matter how long it took. She was determined to
fulfil her fathers dream and reunite her family in her Castle of
Dreams.
When she stepped out of the wooden house, she saw a man
standing outside with another cart. He looked tall and strong and
was dressed to work.
Who are you? she asked curiously.
Im Leo. Ive come to offer my help. His smile was bright and
open and his blue eyes were friendly.
The sound of a bird twittering in a nearby tree surprised her. It
was the only sound shed heard.
Thank you, Leo. Im Serena.
Leo kept Serena talking about her family and her life before
her journey to her fathers land. When they arrived in town, Leo
spoke to the men. One came forward and offered to help.
Serenas smile was joyful as they pulled three carts to the site
of the castle. She showed them the picture of the castle she wanted
to build and Leo and the man started to build the wall of the castle
with her.
The next day, Leo and the man were accompanied by another
man from town. All three men arrived with more bricks. Serenas
heart lifted as she saw the walls grow higher with every brick. She
noticed that the single bird had been joined by two more. As they
worked, the men whistled to match their tune and Serena sang
along with her magical voice.
The next day, a fourth man joined them and Serena spotted a
little rabbit near the edge of the forest. It seemed that every time
someone came to help build the castle, another animal appeared.
Serena laughed at her imagination.
Every day, Leo shared his lunch with Serena. She loved the
kindness in his eyes and noticed how he threw scraps of bread to
feed the birds. Sometimes, when she sang, his voice joined hers and

all the workers would stop to listen, their faces lit with pleasure from
the beauty of the duet.
After ten days, there were ten men working on the castle
walls. Serena had noticed more animals, so perhaps shed been
wrong to dismiss her earlier imagination.
She wondered how she could ever repay Leo for his kindness.
He and the men refused to take money in exchange for their work.
After two weeks hard work, she made everyone rest for a day and
walked through the forest to the top of the hill. Her eyes were drawn
to the bleak grey fort. It seemed as if it was sinking into the very
ground it was built on and she sensed evil coming out of every
window. Shivering she turned to the white castle which seemed to
glow with a beautiful aura. Feeling happier she walked to the bottom
of the hill and was startled by a dark shadow.
Go away, it hissed. Youre not wanted here.
Whos there? she cried in alarm.
Someone who means you harm if you do not leave. Give up
building that castle of dreams. If you dont, something bad will
happen to you and to the White Prince.
Serena ran back to the wooden house, shivering with fright.
When Leo turned up the next day, she told him what
happened.
You dont need to worry, Serena. I will protect you.
But who is this White Prince the Shadow spoke of? Something
bad is going to happen to him if I dont leave. I must go, if I am to
save him.
You would give up your dream of building the castle to save
this Prince? You dont even know him. Leo looked amazed at her
thoughtfulness.
I am honourable like all my forefathers. I couldnt bear it if
anyone was hurt because of me.
I will warn the White Prince to be on his guard. He is young
and strong so you dont need to worry.

Feeling reassured, they continued to build the walls. Even

more men had arrived to work on the castle. There were groups of
woodworkers and blacksmiths who were making doors, window
frames and locks for the doors. Each day the walls grew higher.
Two weeks later, Serena visited the top of the hill again. She
was curious to see what was happening to the dark fort. It had sunk
even lower in the ground; the door was gone and the windows were
starting to crack. On the other side of the hill, the white castle
blossomed with the growth of new flowers. The Shadow jumped out
at her as she reached the bottom.
I told you to go away but you didnt listen to me, screeched
the Shadow.
Serena leaned back in fright.
I have friends here now. I dont want to leave, she replied,
drawing on her strength.
You must go. This is your last warning. The Prince will die if
you do not go.
With her heart shaking she ran back to the wooden house and
hid inside until the morning when Leo returned.
This time, Leo and the men were accompanied by a group of
women who were going to sew curtains and drapes for the castle.
Serenas delight at the female company was dampened by her fear
for life of the White Prince. She spoke to Leo in private about her
worries but once again he reassured her and told her to ignore the
threats.
If anything happens to the White Prince, you can just give him
a kiss and everything will be alright.
But how will I know if hes hurt?
Youll know, replied Leo. His eyes smiled warmly at her.
The forest was getting more and more bountiful and that night
Serena cooked everyone a delicious meal with food she gathered, to
thank them for all their hard work. She couldnt believe how much

the people in town had changed towards her. It was all because of
Leo and she realised just how special he was.
Work continued and at last the Serena and the men began to
start on the tower of the castle. As soon as the first brick was laid,
she heard a gasp of pain coming from Leo but he waved away her
concerns, insisting he was fine. The men and women from the town
looked worried but continued to lay the bricks.
Over the next few days, the tower caused nothing but trouble
as window frames buckled, glass broke and wooden beams cracked.
Serena couldnt understand what the cause of the problem and she
was concerned by Leos diminishing health, as he deteriorated and
weakened with every new row of bricks. She made everyone take a
rest day. Leo disappeared along with everyone else and she hoped
he would feel better. His encouragement gave her the strength to
carry on.
Alone in the clearing, she stood back and viewed the
unfinished building. Her dream was slowly coming true but at what
cost? Leo had been her one true friend during the whole process but
now her beloved building seemed to be sucking the life out of him.
Disconsolate, she sought refuge in the forest, which no longer
was the silent place shed first known. The chirping of the birds and
rustle of woodland bushes by the growing population of fauna kept
her company. She hummed a little tune until she reached the hill. A
mist floated over the area where the fort still hovered, just about
visible above land. On the other side of the hill, the white castle
radiated brighter than before, thriving with life and vitality while its
neighbour perished. She stood at the top, feeling the malevolence
surround her and like a magnetic forcefield it pulled her closer. The
dark shadow rose out of the mist in the distinct form of a human but
there its resemblance to a human ended. Its ridged and crinkled
skin clung to a skeletal frame, shrouded in a dusty blood red cloak.
The creature had long gray hair framed a gaunt and evil face that
was adorned by a crown of pulsing blood coloured stones.

Serena fought against the power of the force with all her
might, trying to push herself to the other side of the hill.
The creature breathed heavily with the effort to sustain the
power.
I told you to go away but you didnt listen to Nocturna and
now your Prince will die and you will die with him.
Serena tried not to listen to the deluge of evil words and
promises from the creature called Nocturna. She fell to her knees
with the effort of repelling the force and poured all her remaining
power into her voice, singing songs of joy and love for all that she
was worth. She sang of her love for her mother, for her sisters and
her new love for her friend, Leo. With each chorus, she was joined
with the music of the birds and gradually she felt the power weaken
enough for her to escape back to the castle.
As she ran down the hill, she noticed that the white castle had
lost its sheen and was fading as if it was just a mirage. How could it
be? How had her presence and the creation of her dream had such a
profound impact on the two neighbouring buildings?
She spent a sleepless night, cuddling up against the warm
body of a little dog that shed befriended, trying to figure it out.
The following days dawn brought the workers back but there
was no sign of Leo nor had anyone seen him. She saw the growing
signs of strain and anxiety in her new friends. The women made her
tea and brought her flowers but she couldnt drink the tea or find joy
in their offerings.
Her heart broke at the idea that Leo had left her or that
something had happened to him. Hed arrived faithfully every day
since the start of the castle and she knew it was unlike him not to
turn up. He was the leader of the men, telling them what to do,
instructing them on the best way to build and construct her castle.
The castle! Shed been so anxious about Leo that shed
forgotten the castle. She looked up and saw that there were only a
few tiles to be placed on the turret of the tower to make it complete.

She collapsed to her knees on the rough earth, sobbing in the

knowledge that the castle would never be complete without Leo.
A sound near the gates of the new castle made her look up
and a horse appeared at the entrance. A man was slumped over its
back. It was Leo.
Serena rushed to catch him as he slid unconscious off the
back of the large beast. His skin was translucent and white and felt
clammy. There was barely a pulse of life in him. She held him in her
arms, willing life into his weakened body while tears flowed down
her face. The workers gathered in a crowd around the couple, visibly
upset at Leos condition. There was a strange air of expectation
amongst them but Serena was too distraught to wonder at it.
As the life ebbed out of him, her voice rang out in music and
the magic of sound reached the trees and the sky. There was a
shriek from the crowd as the ground beneath them shuddered and a
cloud of dust appeared above the trees. Serena was lost in her
desolation and paid no attention to the noise and chaos around her.
Her mind thought back to all the precious moments shed
shared with Leo, remembering all the times theyd sung together,
joyful songs that lifted her heart. She recalled all the times theyd
shared a meal, sitting on a boulder or log, while he fed the birds that
hopped by, and laughing at the little thieving squirrels. She thought
over the conversations theyd had during which hed encouraged
her to stay and finish building, encouraged her to ignore the evil
shadow of the queen. Where was this White Prince that shed
promised she would know? Where was he when she really needed
him?
She stroked her fingers through his soft fair hair. Where is the
Prince? she whispered near his ear.