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Th e Archway of Escape

There once was a place in the forest where people went to find solace,
peace, and escape. It was a beautiful place, one that tricked the eye into

seeing the impossible and made the mind believe it had found magic.

Sheltered by tall trees and hidden from prying eyes by an array of plant
life, only a few fortunate souls ever stumbled upon the secret

clearing and each of those souls had something to learn from what the
grove offered. Perhaps the most striking detail of this place was the fact

that it was not entirely natural. Acting as a focal point there stood a
large, crumbling archway.

Some thought that it may once have been part of a magnificent palace
that had long since gone to ruin. Yet there was no evidence to suggest
that any other architecture had ever existed in the small area of wood.
The archway was constructed from brick and stone. The colour of rust
and sand, it towered over the little pond which lingered beside it's edge. A
fair amount was missing from one top corner, giving it the appearance

that it had been crumpled by some giant ages ago.

Graceful Roman columns held aloft the single tier of the structure and
the base of that tier was decorated by carvings of ancient figures,

performing traditions forgotten by time. These pictures told marvellous
stories and it was not uncommon for wandering travellers to pause and
stare at them in awe as though hoping to glean some secret knowledge.

That was where the writers found most of their inspiration, trying to
bring to life the fables that had been etched how many centuries before.