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Josephine sat poised in the castle's tower while the warm spring breeze caused stray strands of hair to dance around her face. The princess watched with envy has the blue jays fluttered in the wind. There were times that Josephine found herself wishing that she would sprout wings; perhaps then she could leap from this balcony and fly away from this place she had grown to hate. Hate, she shuddered at the word that skimmed across her mind at the thought of Marcus. When did I learn to hate? she asked herself, but the feeling of loathing was overwhelming and undeniable at the thought of being trapped in this tower until her wedding day, and possibly long after that day. 

"He isn't a bad man," Josephine muttered to the blue jay that had landed a few feet away from her on the balcony's stone rail. The little bird cocked its head at her in what Josephine took as disbelief. 

"Oh, come now. He really isn't. Papa said he'd take good care of me, and," she paused looking around her confinements. "And, that he'd protect me...I guess in his mind this is a way of prote--." Josephine was cut short as the bird spread its wings and leapt from the balcony. She watched as the bird soared over the courtyard. "I guess even a bird doesn't believe the things I try to convince myself to believe."

Josephine remained on the balcony as the sun began to fall past hills in the distance. As night fell, Josephine lit a candle, fearful of the darkness. She pulled the fur blankets from her bed and dragged them out the double doors to make a pallet on the hard stone floor of the terrace. As she lay on her back, green eyes stared up at the dark sky in admiration of the stars. Her mouth gaped open as one by one the stars began to plummet towards earth. The stars glowed brighter and brighter as they descended upon Josephine. Skepticism and amazement filled her and she closed her eyes and wished a million times over: "I wish for wings! Give me wings!" She chanted the words until they felt overused on her lips and, then, she continued until tears were rolling down her flushed cheeks. Eventually the princess drifted to sleep beneath the shower of burning stars. 

"Princess," the voice of the chambermaid broke into Josephine's subconscious and stirred her awake. "Prince Marcus sent me with breakfast for you." 

"Thank you, Martha." Josephine spoke softly, sleep still weighed heavily on her brain. The memory of the falling heavens jolted her awake quickly though. "Martha," she asked, "I need to ask you something." 

"What is it, Princess?"

"Last night, did you happen to see the stars?" 

"Oh, yes! It was a perfectly clear night; great for stargazing. Sometimes, some of the other maids and I will take dinner outside and sit beneath the stars. Last night was one of those times--" Martha realized she was rambling and quickly bit off her words. Being the servant of Prince Marcus had made her, and the other workers, timid. Josephine recognized Martha's quiet retreat and comforted her.

"That sounds rather lovely, Martha dear. One day, perhaps I can join you?" The very thought of the Princess sitting on a thin blanket in the grass was enough to trigger a snicker from Martha who quickly covered her mouth. 

"Forgive me, Princess. I didn't mean to laugh. I think it would be lovely if you were ever permitted to join us." 

"Me too, Martha, me too. I have one more question for you, if you have the time?" Josephine knew before she asked that Martha wouldn't leave until she was dismissed, but kindness came so naturally to her.

"Of course, Princess."

"Did you happen to notice the stars...well, were they falling?"

"Falling?"

"Yes, falling, right out of the sky."

Martha chuckled, again, "Falling stars? No, Princess. You must have had one terrifying dream. Are you feeling well?"

"Yes, Martha," Josephine sighed, "I'm feeling just fine. I just had such a vivid dream. But, it wasn’t terrifying at all. It was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Do you mind if I have some time to myself, Martha? I'd really love to think. Thank you for bringing up breakfast." Martha bowed and walked out the door, locking it from the outside as she left.

Josephine tried all day to forget what she had seen in the sky the night before. If only she could dismiss it as a dream and get back to her mundane days in the tall tower, but it was eating away her thoughts. The day passed without a single visit from Marcus, but that was nothing new and Josephine had grown accustomed to it. To him she was nothing more than a beautiful trophy. It was doubtful that she would ever leave the tower. 

As night fell, Josephine found herself staring at the skies. The stars were still and there were no streaks of white fire across the black horizon. Dismayed, Josephine shut the balcony doors and crawled into her bed, but she couldn't find sleep and she tossed restlessly as the night drifted by her. When the moon was highest in the sky, a sharp gust of wind against the double doors blew them open and Josephine sat up in bed, gasping. She pulled the blanket up around her and sat silently listening to the darkness. A soft coo came from the balcony and Josephine felt her body tense. 

"Who's there?" she called out, but was only answered by the same soft coo. She gathered her courage and shifted to the edge of the bed. Her toes came in contact with the cold stone floor and she tiptoed closer the now open doors. 

"Hello?" she called again. A sleek, scaly head peeked around the corner and Josephine stumbled backwards and fell. She scrambled for the door on the other side of the room and tried to call out, but her voice faltered. She pressed herself against the door and clinched her eyes shut waiting for the dragon to attack her. Her thoughts were racing as the seconds passed. 

Maybe he's gone? she thought after what seemed like hours. Josephine took a deep breath and turned to face the balcony. She stared at the dragon; his sleek skin gleamed under the luminescence of the moon. She pressed her back into the door, but didn't turn away. The dragon was solid white and had large silver translucent wings. Josephine finally let her breath free and took an unsteady step in the dragon’s direction. The animal cocked his head at her and stepped towards the princess. They two continue to walk closer to each other timidly until finally the creature was in arms distance of the girl. Josephine gingerly reached out her hand, palm down and waited for the dragon to close the distance. He bowed his head and pushed up against her hand. 

"Hi there," Josephine said, as she grew more comfortable with the large animal who had barely fit through the door way. Josephine let her hands run down the spine of the animal as she admired his seemingly glowing white skin. Suddenly, the dragon turned and headed back towards the balcony doors. The movement startled Josephine and she stumbled backwards. As the dragon stepped through the threshold, he expanded his large wings and poised himself for flight. 

"Please don't go!" Josephine called out to the beast and he turned to look at her, tilting his head. Josephine rushed to his side. 

"Take me with you?" She could hear the desperation in her own voice, but she didn't care. The dragon dipped his head, brushed the side of the princess face and then bowed. Josephine's heart raced as she climbed onto his back. 

"This is absolutely crazy," she said aloud. She felt every muscle in the animals back as his wings opened and he leaped from the balcony. Josephine smiled as the wind pushed through her hair. As the pair peaked in the sky they were joined by what seemed like hundreds of other fire-white dragons. Josephine streaked across the sky in a blur of white and she couldn't help but wonder what girl was making a wish on her and her dragon as they darted over the kingdom that she was escaping.