Closure...her final entry in her old journal....

[Lady Kyndra]

Oh, how long has it been since I've been able to write in here? I've been in Rhydin for over two weeks now and so many things have happened during that time. I know I should have written sooner, but I felt that since it had been almost 9 years since I last wrote due to my departure from Rhydin to visit my father and mother in Strathyre, I should start where I left off.

Before I begin, I have to say forgive me if I must stop or a tears falls to the page. For what I am about to say is not the joys and happiness that one should feel with a homecoming, but the pains and sorrows of a horrible nightmare that seemed like it would never end. If I had only known of the things to come, I would have never left. But I must write it down for it should not be forgotten and I will have my revenge.

As I looked through the pages, I saw my last entry was the morning of my departure. I was making final preparations and made a quick note that I would be back within 7 days. After I made that note, I departed from my home, heading east as I started my journey from Rhydin to Strathyre.

It was such a beautiful day. I remember it well. The dappled sunlight shimmered on the damp forest floor as a soft, a warm breeze swept through the air as I walked down the path to find a stone slab with 3 unique symbols beside a small silver pool. It was a special pool where one could step into it and travel through to a distance place without ever getting wet. Stepping into the pool, I quickly was drawn through the passage to end up in a small silver pool in the woods I played in as a child. Oh I how remembered the joys from those days. I quickly made my way to the edge of the forest. Although it had been years since I had been home, I remembered my way like I had taken the path yesterday. From the forest edge, I could see my home, Penkaet Castle, just across the open field. My pace quickened as I neared the massive structure. I was so happy to be home!

My happiness was very short-lived. As I walked through the gates on the outer wall, I knew something was wrong…horribly wrong. There was no expression on the faces of the emaciated tenants as they toiled over their tasks. A wretched smell of death hung heavily in the morning air. As I looked about, I knew something was very wrong, very wrong indeed. My father and mother would never allow their people to suffer in such a way. My steps quickened as I made my way to the main hall.

I opened the door and ran down the hall. I was on my way to the study where my parents spent so much of their time during the afternoon when a man stepped out in front of me, a terrifying, vile man with loathsome look on his face. As my eyes adjusted to the dim light that shown through a window slit in the wall. I knew in an instant it was foul Lord Argus Dougall whose lands ran adjacent to my father's.

'I've been waiting on you, Lady Kyndra' he said in a wicked, evil voice with a thin-lipped smirk.

Lord Argus had often visited our home seeking to speak with my father to discuss his willingness to marry me, the oldest unwed daughter of the Lord MacDraven. He had been trying to get an arranged marriage since I was 11 or 12. He not only wanted the title, land and wealth that I would have brought to the marriage, he wanted to have control of my gifts which he knew were special. He often told me that I held the key. Though, I have no idea what he meant. As I got older, he must have felt he had a better chance. But my father would never allow such a marriage with such a mean, dishonorable man as Lord Argus. He knew this man was evil and only wanted me for the power that I held. A power that only I had begun to learn about as I was growing older and things began to happen after just a thought.

Now, as I stared into those cold, black eyes, I knew my mother and father were gone. Gone... because of this horrid man standing in front of me. Suddenly, two of Lord Argus' men grabbed my arms. Their fingers dug into my arms as they started to drag me towards the North tower. With all my might, I struggled…trying to free myself to flee from that place. The guards continued to climb the stairs as they tightened their grips on my arms.

'Where's my father? Where's my mother?’ I screamed. “I want to see my father! Where are they?' I continued to scream as they dragged me along the tower stairs.

He only laughed as he turned and walked away. His laughter could be heard echoing throughout the castle. I could still hear it even as I was locked in the room at the top of the tower. Tears rolled down my cheeks as stared blankly at the walls in the room. A room that I used to enjoy as a child was now to be my prison.

It was to be my prison for over eight years. Years that seemed like an eternity while I endured unthinkable torture at the hands of Lord Argus who enjoyed the task all too much. As much as I would like to share them with you, I can not bring myself to put them to the quill. I have to turn away for a bit to collect my thoughts just to continue writing my story or I fear my tears will ruin the pages.

For all those years, I had little interaction with others. My meals were slipped through a small door at the bottom of the larger door to the room. The servants never spoke as they pushed the tray through to me even though I tried to talk to them. But I never had hard feelings for them for they were scared of their cruel master. I often would look out of my window slit to see a pile of burning bodies in the dark of night.

The only person that came into my room all those years was Lord Argus. He continued to offer his hand in marriage which made me violently ill to my stomach each time he asked. With each refusal, I would soon find myself my being escorted to a room in the lower level that was used as a torture chamber. My father never had a dungeon for he did not believe in such brutality even for criminals. I could have easily ended Lord Argus’ cruelty if I would have agreed to marry him. However, I’d rather die than to submit myself to that man. I often had the opportunity to accomplish this task throughout the years as I would face his wrath in that room.

During those years, I learned to enjoy the small pleasures of life as the company of a mouse that would visit my room everyday. I would often use my gifts to bring the mouse over to me just to have someone to talk too. Although he never had much to say, I soon learned that my gifts included the ability to read minds as well as send thoughts to someone else. I was even able to read the mind of a mouse which is quite interesting if you ever have a chance to read one sometime. Even though I could feel my power grow, I did not know how to use it. I spent a lot time trying to learn about my special gifts. However, there was something about the room that seemed to inhibit my attempts.

One day, I did happen to grab the hand of a young woman as she slid the tray through the small open door. She struggled to free herself from my grip, but I continued to hold fast as I closed my eyes to focus on her mind. I knew she was fearful but I sent a message that it would be alright but she had to help me to escape. With that, I let her hand go noticing a small scar on her index finger. ‘Tegwyn’ I mumbled as I fell back in shock for it was a scar that I knew all too well. It was a scar I had caused when I showed her a dagger I found by the stable as we were playing in our room. She was my youngest sister and she was alive!! I could not believe it. As I sat there, I could still hear her footsteps as she ran down the stone steps. I sighed softly ‘Please help me dear sister’.

Later that night, I woke as a heard the faint sounds of soft footsteps coming up the stairs. As the footsteps stopped in front of my door, I heard the jingle of the keys and a hard click as the key was turned to unlock the door. The door slowly opened to reveal a small cloaked figure. As the hood was pulled, a haunted face was revealed but it still was still the face of my younger sister Tegwyn. She quickly walked in made a quiet sign by putting a finger to her lips, handed me a servant’s cloak and we left that room. Since I had been there so long without trying to escape, Lord Argus did not keep guards posted by my door. So we did not have to worry about getting caught till we reached the lower levels. However, we knew the castle like the back of our hands, we were able to make our way out and past the outer wall without being seen.

Drawing nearer to the woods, we ran faster as we knew freedom was just beyond the tree line. I could feel my heart beating faster and faster. We continued to run as we made it to the trees. We ran all the way to that special silver pool just off the path beside a huge oak tree. I had found out as a young child that is was a special pool when I fell in and journeyed to a different world. Without stopping, we both jumped in to get away from a nightmare that had been our lives for almost a decade. As we drifted down through the darkness of the pool, I could feel that I was being pulled to the other side. As we resurfaced on the other side, I could see the stone slab with those 3 special symbols by the edge of the pool. I knew we had arrived in the land of Rhydin.

After climbing out of the pool, we headed west towards Rhydin. But I did not want to take my sister to the city till I knew it was safe for her. So we made our way south a bit till we reached a small farmhouse where a friend of mine lived. I felt it was safest to leave my sister in her company and travel alone to the city. After I found suitable lodging arrangements, I would return to for my sister. I continued on by carriage which brings me back to my arrival at the Inn.

As you can see a lot of things have happened since I last wrote. Things I hope never happen again for I don’t know if I would have the strength to endure the pain and suffering once more. I want to close this chapter on my life. I want to continue on and find love and happiness to help ease the deep pains that have plagued my heart over the past years. So as I close this chapter to start anew, I will end this journal with this entry and start a new journal as my life begins again in Rhydin.