The Girl of Autumn

The guard, his grip as iron as his determination, finally cornered Elsa, her escape thwarted by his vigilance. The Queen, her face a mask of frost, decreed a harsh punishment – Elsa was to complete her homework under the open sky, a stark contrast to the warmth of her castle chambers.

The autumn air was crisp, the wind whipping through Elsa's hair. A solitary tree, its leaves ablaze with fiery hues, offered a meager shelter. Moonlight painted the scene, casting long, dancing shadows that seemed to mock her predicament.

For Elsa, it was a very mean punishment. Her stomach rumbling in anticipation of her favorite dinner that would be served that day: a delicious mushroom soup coupled with crisp sourdough and tasty strawberry jam. She sighed and pulled out her homework. The pages rustled in the wind, a haunting echo of her predicament. As she scribbled, her thoughts wandered to the forbidden playground, a tantalizing mystery that now felt even more distant.