So I originally wrote this as a screenplay, an animated musical, but then found no one was interested in it, so I thought I'd try and rewrite as a novel. Since I just have to rewrite its format I should actually be able to finish this one to the end unlike my prior attempts at stories.

Prologue:

A cloaked figure slinked through the shadows of the Elven Royal castle, a powerful glamour letting them pass unseen past each guardsman’s eyes. The elven guards were all tall and fair haired with jewel toned eyes, gently pointed ears, and long, slim limbs clothed in gleaming metal armor. Finally the cloaked figure came to a beautifully carved rosewood door and with a silent spell forced both guards instantly into a deep sleep that they did not wake from even as they slumped to the marbled floor.

Entering the room, the cloaked figure spies an intricately carved cradle bathed in moonlight opposite the door and the child’s elven nursemaid sleeping on a chaise nearby. With a few gestures, the cloaked figure ensured their continued slumber and approached the cradle. Inside lay a green-skinned baby, with curly black hair, pointed ears and slender limbs curled about her. This was the Princess of Peace, Coralyn, the living embodiment of peace between the formerly warring Elven and Goblin kingdoms.

Leaning forward, the cloaked figure gently picked the tiny Princess up and settled her in one arm underneath their cloak. With their other arm, the figure reached inside a hidden pocket and pulled out a small object wrapped inside a bloody handkerchief. With a deft movement, they tossed the now revealed dagger out from the handkerchief and into the crib, then carefully tucked the handkerchief away. Then they swiftly exited the room.

A short time thereafter, as the cloaked figure is mounting a black unicorn, a great bell tolls and shouts resound from the now heavily-lit nearby Elven castle, but it is too late and Princess Coralyn has been stolen away. Eyes glow in the darkness as the cloaked figure rides swiftly through the dense magic forest, exotic flora seemingly pushed away by their very presence. Mist thickens and swirls around them, enveloping them in a near blanket of white that doesn’t seem to slow the cloaked figure at all.

They continue to ride until the mist thins again and the forest turns more natural, lacking the strangely colored animals or moving flora of before. Slowly the forest thins and they soon enter farmland. At one farm, several small hobgoblins caper about terrorizing the farmer’s cows. One sprays milk from a cow’s teat into another’s eye as another drinks directly from the teat. They are a rowdy bunch with the green skin, black hair, and large eyes common of the goblin tribes. Even here the cloaked figure and hidden babe pass unseen like a swiftly moving breeze.

The farmlands end and grassy sand dunes begin. The smell of the ocean is strong on the winds that move a nearby windmill. A pixie, with delicate dragonfly wings looks up as the cloaked figure passes by the window where they tie a young woman’s hair into knots, but sees nothing in the darkness.

Only the fiery red eyes of a large black dog spies through the illusion as the cloaked figure passes it hiding amongst the tombstones of a church. But Grim’s cannot speak and so the figure’s passage remains unreported.

The area the cloaked figure enters is becoming more populated. Cobblestones coat the road below his steed. They pass unseen by a group of drunks exiting a tavern singing merrily. They have entered the coastal city of Seamorn.

Soon the cloaked figure is riding along the coast until he comes to a large stone castle perched on the rocky shoreline. They dismount and hide their unicorn steed amongst the crags before hurrying to find the nearest gate. It is well-lit, and well-guarded, but mortals are no match for their faerie magics and the cloaked figure is soon beyond them.

They walk with the assured steps of one who has priorly scouted out their location and soon finds themself beside another cradle, staring at another royal Princess. This one is plump, pale-skinned, and rosey-cheeked, with a shock of lush brown hair atop her head. She is Bethany, the Crown Princess of Seamorn.

A gentle spell keeps her asleep and soon there are two babes laying next to each other sleeping quietly. The next bit of magic would be tricky. The cloaked figure unsheathed a knife and gently pricked Princess Bethany’s hand, moving it so that it would drip it’s red cargo directly into Princess Coralyn’s softly gaping mouth. Then, with several gestures and words unknown by any mortal, Coralyn’s appearance shifts to mirror Bethany’s. Unseen, the cloaked figure smiles and picks up the human babe, hiding her beneath their cloak as they smoothly sneak away.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

A faerie child left in place of a stolen human is called a changeling and theirs is a cruel fate. For though their glamour is almost impossible to break, leaving their new human parent’s completely unknowing of the stranger that has crept into the bosom of their home and thus given all the love and care they would to their own, a changeling remains a faerie in body. And no faerie can live forever outside the realms of magic they call their home, eventually they will sicken, and they will die. A fitting fate, the cloaked figure thought as he strode away, for a half-breed.

* * *

Back at the Elven Royal castle, the search for Princess Coralyn is still heated, but in one room high above most another Princess held a wine glass as she looked down through a window at all the chaos below and smiled. This is Princess Reina, sister to Queen Evelyn, leader of the Elven kingdom. Princess Reina is richly dressed in a brocade dressing robe, next to her is a golden cradle with a golden-haired and pointy-eared boy child, her son Prince Leonidas. A knock sounded at the door.

“Enter,” called Reina as she placed her wine glass down on a nearby table and a cloaked figure entered the room. “Jonas, is it done?”

The cloaked figure kneeled and removed their hood revealing a stern faced male elf with a scar bisecting his upper lip, “Yes your Highness. The dagger I left in the Princess’s crib will implicate a goblin Chieftain who has been particularly vocal about his disdain for the treaty.”

“Were there any problems?”

“None your Highness, the half-breed Princess slumbers tonight in Seamorn’s castle disguised as the human princess. In sixteen years she will sicken and die, leaving Seamorn without an heir.”

“The chaos as various mortals battle for power will feed the mists of Faerie and grow our lands. Long has it been since the lands of Faerie experienced a growth period and I will ensure the Elven kingdom is poised to grasp them all.” Reina glowed in rapture.

“Of course, we must have only the best for our future King.” Jonas said with a nod towards the babe in the cradle., “Our kingdom will grow strong under yours and your son’s leadership.”

Reina ran her hand gently across Prince Leonidas’ back before turning back to the other elf, “So what did you do with the human Princess?”

Jonas reached under his cloak and pulled out the still sleeping Bethany, “I thought you could do with a new maidservant.”

Reina smirked, “Always thinking of me.”

Jonas bowed his head, “Of course my Highness, I have sworn eternal loyalty to you.”

Reina stepped forward and placed one hand upon Bethany’s neck, a glowing band of magic wrapped around it before slowly seeping into her skin to leave a delicate blue collar tattooed upon it, “Take her to Madelaine. Tell her that the girl is now her responsibility and to make sure she is ready to serve me as soon as she is old enough.”

“Of course my Highness,” Jonas nodded.

“And Jonas?” Reina added, causing Jonas to freeze, “Do make sure to keep this quiet. You know what the consequences would be if you betrayed me.”

A bead of sweat dripped down the scarred elf’s temple at the thought of what awaited them both should they be found out, “I swear my Highness,” he spoke in earnest, “not an inkling shall pass from my lips. I would sooner die than betray you. Besides the fact that I swore you my very loyalty, you know my beliefs on keeping our bloodlines pure.”

Reina grimaced, “I really have no clue what my sister was thinking to marry that mongrel. And having a half-goblin on the Elven throne would only end in disaster.”

Jonas nodded, “As you say my Highness, but now that the people will believe to be murdered by a goblin the treaty will fracture and your sister’s marriage will fall into tatters.”

The Princess picked up her wine glass to raise a toast, “And with it, the chance of another half-goblin heir to the throne.”

“Leaving your son as the only possible heir.” cheered Jonas.

Reina placed one hand on Jonas’ head and stroked his hair, causing him to stiffen, “It’s good that you see what is at stake here Jonas. I would hate to lose such an excellent retainer.”

Jonas swallowed, “You are acting for the good of all of Faerie, for this future to pass I would gladly fall on my sword.”

Reina smiled softly, “If only all believed as you. Thank you Jonas for your unswerving loyalty. You shall be well rewarded. Now go please, I am weary.”

Jonas rose and gave one last bow before returning Bethany to beneath his cloak. As he stepped outside, she started to fuss and he shushed her, “Go back to sleep little one, a new day comes and with it a glorious return to how Faerie ought to be. All hail our future King, Prince Leonidas.”