Chapter 1


Hello! This is actually a reboot of a story by the user Hellel, who has left her fanfic in the dust. I messaged her and asked her if it would be alright if I picked it up and continued it. Luckily, she gave me permission.

I am reposting edited versions of her chapters. Her versions were done so long ago and contained many grammar and spelling errors. I took out quite a bit of purple prose, but each chapter is still essentially the same. After the first three chapters, I will actually be the one coming up with each chapter. (She only wrote three chapters)

If you would like to read the original (be warned, there really is a lot of grammar issues), you can look up Hellel on this site and read it.

I've essentially kept a similar description and the same name.

NOTE: As it reads much like a Harlequin, I will, most likely, write it like one. ALSO, there is no order to my updates. I will update AT LEAST once every two weeks.


The rain had begun falling down in thick sheets as everything around them grew darker. Everywhere they turned looked the same as they walked through the thick forest. The day had grown so terrible. It was hard to believe that everything had begun so well earlier.


Close to the mountains in the north, there were two villages divided by a thick forest. Long ago, the citizens had made a main road that trailed around the forest and connected the two villages together.

In the first village lived Lukas and Alexander. The two were known as the "quiet brothers". They were very much unlike every other boy in their village simply because they preferred to be alone and were keen on minding their own business. They were rarely approached about their behavior, but people seemed to be cautious around them.

One day, their grandfather, who lived in the neighboring village, grew very ill. The boys both knew that it was only right that they made the journey to check on him.

One of the younger boys in their village had told Alexander that the easiest way to get to the next village was not to follow the main road, but to follow a smaller one that ran through the forest. Alexander decided to take the advice, wanting to reach his grandfather as soon as possible.

Lukas was skeptical, but as usual, he didn't tell his thoughts to his younger brother, who was now in the middle of packing. Besides, he trusted his brother and was willing to do anything to reach his grandfather before he could grow even more ill.

As soon as they could, they started for the forest. They traveled along the path for what seemed like a little over an hour, but something didn't feel quite right.

The sun had begun to sink beneath the trees and dark clouds covered the sky, but for some strange reason, Lukas was warmer than ever and could even feel himself sweating.

"How long should this journey be taking?" He wondered to himself. He was beginning to doubt his brother. Alexander suddenly stopped in his tracks and took out his pocket watch, checking the time.

"It shouldn't have taken this long."

Lukas could see that Alexander was growing more and more irritated as he looked at the watch. "We should have been there by now," he muttered.

Lukas looked up at his brother who, just like himself, had a worried expression.

Suddenly, they heard a rumble and looked up at the sky. It was nearly completely covered with dark clouds. Dusk was steadily approaching.

"We should continue walking! There should be a village not far from here," said Alexander as he continued walking with determined steps.

Lukas still looked worried and couldn't relieve himself of his feeling of doubt, but it was better to stay with his brother than to walk on by himself in another direction.

The rain began to fall rather quickly and soon they both were soaked to the bone.

The panic in Lukas' mind made him dizzy. He could still see his little brother with his red coat on in front of him, but everything else had begun to blur. He was afraid that he would slip on one of the wet stones on the path and fall, leaving him to scramble to stand again while Alexander marched on ahead, leaving him alone in the middle of the forest.

Thousands of bad thoughts ran through his head at the same time.

Suddenly, Alexander had stopped. Lukas bumped into him before he could ask him what had happened and why he was no longer moving. It seemed he didn't need to ask, though, because Alexander was pointing out to the dark distance.

"Over there! Can you see the light?"

"Light?"

Lukas spoke slowly and tried his best to concentrate on where his brother was pointing. Indeed there was a light. He also noticed that the light was moving by itself.

"Come, let's go to it! If there's a house, maybe we are on the right way!" Alexander said, hurrying away before his brother could reply.

Lukas pulled himself together as well as he could and hurried after.

"Excuse me!" Alexander shouted while running towards the figure holding the lantern. He was running as if he was afraid the person would turn away and disappear at any moment.

The man holding the lantern was a bit old with patches of grey hair, but still looked rather healthy and fit. He wore a long black coat that was completely drenched from the rain. His face showed a look of great surprise.

"Could you please tell me how to get to the nearest village?"

"I think we got a bit lost," Lukas added as he continued to gather his strength. His head was throbbing after the running. Was he going to catch a fever? He hoped not. It would only get worse with the rain pouring down on him.

"I am sorry, but you must have gone the wrong way. It's not far from here to the main road, but from there it will be quite a walk for you. I don't think it would be wise to let you boys continue in weather like this."

The old man began to think and it was clear that he was hesitant in his actions. Alexander looked up at Lukas, growing worried at his expression.

"Are you alright, brother? You look a bit ill."

"I just feel a bit dizzy, but it isn't that bad. Really."

Alexander put a hand up to his brothers forehead. "You are burning up! Why didn't you tell me about your fever?"

He had a fever? Now that Alexander mentioned it, he did feel warm and he did indeed have a headache.

"I think you two should come with me and stay the night. It's getting dark and you don't look too good. Now come along."

The man turned around and began walking, leaving Alexander and Lukas with no other option than to follow him.

With a sudden turn, they arrived at a forest clearing where a large iron gate stood proudly and guarded its road. A bit further up was a large castle.

"I am only a humble servant, you see. My master might seem cold and hard, but believe me when I say he has a heart of gold. I am sure he would let you two stay the night."

Lukas could barely believe his eyes. The castle was incredibly large. It looked as if it had been beautiful once upon a time, but now you could barely see the walls over the ivy now. He did his best to keep up, but all he wanted to do now was sit down. He would have sat on the ground if it meant his head would stop throbbing.

They walked into a grand hall with white marble pillars and red satin curtains hanging down to the floor. There were maids in the hallway already removing their wet coats for them and offering warm milk. The older man, who now appeared to be the butler, told the women in an easy but direct tone:

"They need to meet the master first. He would be furious if we let someone inside without his knowledge."

The maids nodded understandingly, bowed, and walked away.

The man led Alexander and Lukas up one of the elaborate staircases and turned right. He walked to the end of the corridor, suddenly stopping at the very last door to knock three times.

"Come in," said the determined voice of a man.

Alexander looked up at Lukas while the man opened the door. The brothers swallowed hard before following the butler in.

The room seemed to be a large study. On every single wall there was a bookshelf filled with more books than either of the boys had ever seen. There were plush chairs and large candelabras hanging from the ceiling. At the end of the large room, there was a desk that was covered in papers, scrolls, and books of all sorts. And finally, behind the desk was a moonlit window that reached from the ground to the ceiling.

Beside the window was a shadow.

As Lukas moved closer, he could see a man standing there. He looked young. Maybe a few years older that Lukas himself. Lukas thought he looked like a person who had been forced to become an adult too quickly.

The butler made signal for the boys to stop at the end of a carpet, while he himself walked closer to the working desk and bowed.

"Master Matthias, I am sorry for intruding on you while you're working, but I found these two boys in the forest and I had no other choice than to offer them a place under your roof for tonight."

The man pulled the curtains shut before turning to look at the man. "Do you enjoy treating me like a fool?" He shouted. "You have no say in who is allowed to enter my castle."

He took two steps away from the window to look at Lukas and Alexander. His face seemed cold and absent. He turned to the butler again.

"Show them the way out of here."

"But Sir! There is a storm outside and—"

"I DO NOT CARE!" He shouted as he hit his hand on the table so hard that his cup fell down and shattered. "I am very cross with you right now, Charles. We will discuss this when you have shown the boys the door."

Lukas hadn't noticed how long he had been holding onto Alexander's shoulders to keep himself from falling, but suddenly everything blurred and his legs quivered.

Alexander noticed there was something wrong and just as he turned to face his brother, he began to fall. Alexander was quick in catching him before he could hit the ground.

Matthias had noticed this and quickly looked away from his butler to see what was going on.

Both of the boys where sitting down, though Lukas was leaning against Alexander for support. Matthias simply frowned.

"What kind of act are you trying to pull?"

"Act? Can´t you see that he has fainted due to his fever?" Alexander blurted out, becoming irritated with Matthias.

"Master Matthias—"

"No, Charles. Let me see for myself if this is fake or not."

Alexander swallowed as the young master approached him and sat down on the other side of Lukas. "Show me his face," he said calmly.

Alexander did as he was told, but couldn't help but think it was strange that the man had calmed down so quickly.

Lukas was still unconscious, but his eyebrows were knit tightly together and he was frowning. His forehead was damp with sweat and his breath was quickening. Matthias hesitated a moment before sliding a hand from his forehead down to his cheek, cupping it.

Even though this person was ill and it seemed he was also just a boy from the village, there was something about him that struck Matthias and he couldn't look away. He thought for a moment, then blinked a few times before standing and stepping back.

Alexander was worried for his brother. He hadn't been this ill in years, especially not in such a strange place.

"Very well. Due to his condition, I'll let you two stay the night here. Charles, please make a room available for them."

Both the butler and Alexander smiled at Matthias' change of heart.

"Right away, master Matthias."