The only light in the forest was the one atop of Earl Grey’s head. A strange presence was felt. It felt like the end of autumn, like the end of a season and like decay. Hoof-steps and owl were the only sounds. Both Sam and Earl Grey felt their hearts slamming against their rib cages. When he felt like they were far enough in, and with no sound of pursuers, the unicorn slowed to a brisk gallop and then to walking. The unicorn sighed. “I should’ve known it was a trap. Nyal was never to be trusted.” His voice cracked as he spoke. Sam didn’t know what to do. She hugged him and gently petted his mane as they tried to find their way through the woods. Sam pondered why the Author wanted her to help him. All I’ve done is need to be rescued. “I guess there was nothing we could’ve done.” She said in defeat. She hung her head and played with the ball of ice in her hands. Oddly enough it wasn’t cold to the touch. “What do you think it is?” “I am not sure. It is very familiar in some way, I can’t quite figure out why. I commend you for thinking quickly and grabbing it. Who knows? Maybe one day it’ll be helpful to us.” Earl Grey’s compliment helped Sam’s spirits lift a little. “I would recommend keeping it close to you for safety. I have no doubts that that fat cat will search for it; he’s not one to have his possessions taken from him.” Sam nodded and tucked it inside her shirt. “Where do we go now?” “Lionheart brought me here once upon a time. He told me that if the need would ever arise, to look for his crest and it would bring sanctuary.” “Where do we even begin looking for the crest?” Sam was growing less and less fond of the darkened forest. Earl Grey’s eyes had been searching for it since they entered the wood. He gave a glimpse of a smile. “No need to look for it,” He said joyously. “We have found it.” Finding the crest sparked hope in him. Carved intricately into a nearby tree was the insignia of a lion with a crown on his head. Sam almost missed it until the unicorn put his horn near it. The crest glowed with faint golden light. “It is only revealed by magic light,” Earl Grey explained. “It is to make sure that enemies that wander the forest could never find it.” A thin beam of light went from the crest to the unicorn’s horn and created a small spark. Earl Grey’s eyes widened and he took off full gallop. Sam held on to the unicorn’s neck as tightly as she could. She couldn’t believe the ease that he had running through the dark forest. Once they were deep in the belly of the forest, Earl Grey slowed to a trot. “Where are you?” He muttered. “Ah, yes!” They made their way into a clearing with two grand oaks. Sam could feel an old Magic radiating from the trees. It felt just like the dream doors did and she wondered if the doors were made from these trees. “Pay very close attention,” Earl Grey warned. “It takes only a blink of an eye to find our entrance and even quicker to lose it.” As they crept by the trees, a stone archway appeared between the trees. Underneath the archway, an ethereal mist swirled. Sam dismounted the unicorn, took the flower out from under her shirt, and stood before the mist. “I’ve never been here personally, but I’m sure you’ll be safe. I trust Lionheart knew what he was doing.” “Why do you make it sound like you’re not going with me?” Early Grey sighed. “Unfortunately, only a magical creature or one holding an approved magical item may pass through. We can’t go together.” Sam was confused. “I don’t understand.” Earl Grey smiled and his eyes sparkled at her as though she was his own child. “I am going to give you a gift. I want to keep you safe, so I am going to give you my horn that may pass through. I will not be a magical creature anymore. I will be that of a normal horse.” “I can’t do that to you!” She cried. Tears welled in her eyes. “What about defeating the Nightmares, and, and Lady and all the other people that need you?” He rested his head on hers and she was instantly calm. He gave her a gentle kiss on the top of her head. “I have full confidence that the denizens of this world will know what to do in my absence. I know that this is right and I would ask you to trust me. Please, take my horn and go be safe.” He bowed his head. Reluctantly, she hugged his head and pet his mane before grabbing his horn with both hands. She pulled gently and the horn came loose. The horn’s light diminished only slightly and felt warm in her hands, like a hot drink on a rainy day. When Earl Grey lifted his head, the sparkle was gone from his eyes. Every regal part of him had begun to fade away until he stood before her a normal horse. She reached out to hug him one more time, but the horse was spooked and galloped away. With the horn in one hand and the frozen flower in the other, she walked underneath the archway. She pressed the horn into the mist and a warm, sweet breeze blew around her. She wiped her tears, sniffed, and bravely walked through the mist. It was as though she just walked through a dream door. Bright light and the smell of flowers surrounded her. When her eyes adjusted she was that she was standing in an ocean of flowers; all of various shapes, sizes, and colors. She couldn't believe that such a place could exist, especially within the dark forest. She spun around to see if there was a portal to return, but there was nothing except more and more flowers. She turned around and walked forward, intentionally brushing flowers as she walked by. As she did, petals would rise into the air and parade behind her with melodious tunes. The sights and sounds and smells overwhelmed her senses. She was so joyful she felt like dancing. Then she came to a clearing and was struck with a wave of déjà vu. She scrunched her face as she tried to remember, then it hit her; this was the clearing she saw when she touched the ice flower in Nyal’s castle. Just then vibrations were felt in the soles of her shoes. Her heart raced and before she knew it she was tackled to the ground. She opened her eyes and saw a lion’s face. The creature seemed to be sitting on her, but oddly enough she didn’t feel any pressure on her. The lion nuzzled her face with his then took a step back. Sam picked herself up and stared hesitantly at the lion. He had golden, brown fur with a long, shaggy mane. He had a thin but muscular body, with strong legs and massive paws. His face was fierce and kind all at the same time. His eyes blazed like wildfires but held the deepest compassion. Even the sight of him invoked feelings of fear, but also security. He was a wildly magnificent creature. Then, as if Sam couldn’t be more amazed, the lion spoke. “I do hope I didn’t frighten you too much.” His voice was deep and strong. His words seemed to speak to her bones. “No, it-it’s okay.” Sam stammered. “Are you Lionheart?” “I go by many names, but yes, that is one of them.” Her eyes widened and before she could take control she began rambling off everything she’s been through since first arriving in the dream world. Lionheart didn’t interrupt or roll his eyes or make her feel foolish, he just sat there listening like an old friend. She then finished with a sigh and waited for him to say something. He starred for a while. Then began walking in the opposite direction. “Follow me” was his only command. She obeyed. As they walked she noticed that underneath where his paws would set blades of grass and flower stems started growing. So, that’s where all the flowers come from, she thought. The pair came to a decent-sized clearing where no flowers grew. Lionheart stopped right at the edge of the clearing and let out a long breath. The breath was as long and as soft as a song. When he had finished a sapling with two white leaves. “You should place that object you carry onto the sapling,” Lionheart said. She removed the frozen flower from its place tucked in her shirt; the ice remained unfrozen. “How did you know I had this?” She questioned. The lion smiled, “I sensed it as soon as you entered here. I’ve been waiting for it.” She placed it onto the sapling- had it grown?- and it sat with a gentle hum. “You know,” Lionheart said. “I’ve been trying to get you here for a long time.” “You have?” “Yes. I had a strong feeling that something like this would happen. I’ve been calling you since you entered your first dream door.” Sam was shocked. “That was you?!” “Indeed. I had hoped that you’d arrive sooner, but let’s not worry about that now. Please get some rest; you’ve had a long journey.” With that, a bed made of giant flower petals rose up next to her. She lay down on the petals. All her worries and anxieties began to drain out of her. She worried not about her family stuck in the hospital. She worried not about her brother and the other children, wherever they may be. She worried not about the lion that guarded her. She closed her eyes and gave herself over to a deeper than deep sleep. As she did, the sapling began to grow and a piece of ice around the flower fell to the ground and shattered.