The Preparation

Even though it was 9 a.m., the sun refused to shine. As thunder and lightning raged on the ground, the heavens were obscured by thick clouds. The rain fell in torrents, making a buzzing sound on the ground. The weather appears to be linked to the kingdom's misfortune or perhaps to how Alice is currently feeling.

Her mind was confused with ideas as she paced back and forth in her room. The fire in her heart grew more and more by the minute, and she wanted to sneak out of the castle and go into the enemy's den to find the diamond. Her mind, however, is split in two as she mulls over the different outcomes along the road. If she goes, her father will surely be worried, and it might ignite a sudden war, which she doesn't want to happen. This is, so far, one of the most complex decisions that she had to deal with in her lifetime. 

She sat down and sc