"Wake up! Wake up! "Princess"..." The guard said sarcastically. "Today is your 18th Birthday! Here is your Birthday breakfast, and later for your Birthday present from the Queen, you will be getting a nice big AXE!" He slid her the same old bowl of Gruel that she got everyday in the past year and a half, since she was falsely accused and convicted of murdering her father the king. The Princess opened her eyes. She knew full well what day it was, and was dreading it. The guard laughed as he walked away. He was a cruel man, loyal to the Queen. Suddenly a large Raven flew up and landed on the ledge outside of the barred window of her cell. It squeezed through the bars and fluttered to the floor, and walked up to her, and boldly pecked at her "breakfast"! She was surprised to see the boldness of the large black bird. It shook it's head and wiped the foul tasting stuff from it's beak and looked up at the Princess and Cawed, then hopped up on her cot next to her and Cawed again. "My aren't you the bold creature today." she thought to herself. She had seen the bird flying around outside of her window everyday since she was first locked in here. But it had never been so bold as to land. Curious, the Princess looked at the bird. She notices a small container strapped to the Ravens neck. Slowly she reached out towards the bird. It didn't move. She looked closer and saw a clasp holding the band around the birds neck. She carefully unhooked it and looked at it. A closer look at the container revealed a screwed on cap. She unscrewed the cap, and shook out the contents onto her pillow. There was a clear container that was glowing blue! And a folded piece of paper. She unfolded the paper, and read the note on it. Happy 18th Birthday Princess. Please drink the contents of the container now! This will help with your upcoming execution. It was signed with an X. "What is this?" thought the Princess. "What is this glowing liquid in the container? Poison? Some kind of potion to make me compliant, so I won't struggle of fight my fate?" The Raven Cawed again. Nodded it's head up and down. Then turned and flew to the window, looked back at the Princess, shook it's head again, then squeezed through the bars Cawed and flew off. The Princess set puzzled for a few minutes. Then she heard footsteps coming. "They're coming for me." she thought. Then she decided to do what the note said. Quickly she unscrewed the the lid, and drank the glowing blue fluid, not knowing what was going to happen. Surprisingly the liquid tasted good. Then a faint wave of warmth flowed through her body. But it didn't scare her. In fact it seemed to give her an inner strength feeling. It calmed her fear. Then she heard the key turning the lock on her door. Quickly she hid the note and container in her pillow. She sat up straight and prepared herself for the guards to get her and chain her up and take her down to her date with the Axe!                                                                                   (to be continued!)