the Heart of the Mountain

I had originally started posting photos taken during our trip last month, for the story I started back in 2012, just posting them in the order they were taken, and have changed my mind. Since we got home I've been busy photographing the interior scenes from the story, so I've decided to start over and put the interior scenes together with the trip photos in the order they would be in the story.

So, let's start at the beginning again, with Kyle heading to the castle in the Windy Mountains...

Meanwhile in the castle, the King and his Granddaughter were sitting down to dinner...

The King seemed lost in thought....

His granddaughter, Aeran, was concerned. "Are you okay Grandpa?  Is something wrong?"

"I'm fine my love, but there is something I need to talk to you about. Something I should have told you years ago."

"I'm getting old, and as my only heir, the crown will fall upon you when I'm gone. There's just one problem. As a female monarch you will need a special talisman to secure your position in the eyes of all the neighbouring kingdoms and war lords. It's a very special large diamond in the shape of a heart, uncovered generations ago deep in the mountains."

"I don't understand.  Is that a problem?" she asked.

 "Yes. Because I no longer have it." He sighed. "Many years ago, when I was a young man, I fell in love with a war lord's daughter. We were passionately in love, and I asked for her hand in marriage. But her father refused, unless I gave him the treasured 'Heart of the Mountain' as a dowry.  Of course my father, the King, refused.  But I was desparately in love, and couldn't see any other solution, so secretly took the talisman and paid the bride price.  It wasn't until after the wedding that my father discovered what I'd done, and then it was too late. He was furious, and explained that without the jewel, any daughters we might have could never become Queen in their own right. That I would need to get it back somehow."

"So now, that my days as King are numbered," he continued, " it's extremely important to track down the jewel and get it back."

"Otherwise you won't have any authority when you become Queen."