Stefan allowed himself another moment of rest before raising his weary body into a standing position. He had to get moving, to become stuck here would mean taking up permanent residence in this cursed place.
He uneasily glanced around, taking in the gnarled trees and time-worn stone, suspicious stains of a rusted brown color littered the ground here and there. He tried not to dwell on how many deaths that amount of dried blood would entail.
Stefan noticed the main entrance only a few feet away. Realizing that there was little chance that the evil inhabitants did not already sense his presence, he opted to head for the obvious route. Might as well get all the blood shed out of the way.
He had expected a trap, or some sort of offensive maneuver to launch itself once he got close to the doors. There was nothing, just the same eerie stillness. The nothing was almost worse than an outright attack. Nudging the door open with his boot, he paused for a moment, listening for any sounds other than the creaking of long abandoned hinges. Still the quiet air reigned, and Stefan considered it safe enough to continue into the entrance hall.
Despite its obviously neglected state, the interior was rather impressive. Marble pillars rose to flank the main walkway, statues of hooded figures were carved into the stone, acting as sconces for splintering torches. Stefan grabbed one from the nearest sculpture, intending to use a fire to offset the light of the setting sun, but a figure at the base of the grand staircase had him stopping short.
He brandished his sword in a threatening maneuver, preparing to shout out a warning, but hesitated when he noticed the figure hadn't moved in retaliation. Stefan took a closer look and realized it was merely another statue.
"Great, now I'm drawing phantoms out of thin air," he sighed, lowering his sword, "I seem to find bits of polished rock to be life threatening."
"In this place, you must consider everything to be a threat." the statue replied, its voice ageless and lacking of any real emotion. In fact it sounded rather bored. Stefan's heart leapt to his throat and he berated himself once again as he brought his weapon back up, this was obviously a magical castle, it shouldn't be such a surprise that there were magic creatures inhabiting its halls.
"Who are you?!" he demanded. "...or rather what are you?"
"I'm simply a guardian. I keep the unworthy away from the heart of this place." The statue never moved. It's mouth never formed words, and it's eyes remained inanimate, it's voice seemed to resonate within Stefan's mind.
"What is so important about 'the heart of this place' that it requires a keeper?"
"Your future." was the simple reply.
The prince blanched at this knowledge. His future couldn't possibly be contained within the walls of this Gods-forsaken castle. He wasn't even sure what he was doing here. Furthermore, he had a castle of his own; a land with titles, and loyal subjects. He did not need whatever the place had to offer.
And yet, here he was despite all warnings or obstacle. Simply because Stefan felt like it was meant to be.
"Very well than, if this is my 'future' or whatever, wouldn't I be considered worthy enough to pass?"
"No, I require a sacrifice to release the binds that prevent you from continuing forward. Only then will you be considered worthy."
"A sacrifice?" Stefan's stomach clenched at the thought. "Are you asking for a limb, or do you require something else." An amused sound hummed from the statue. Well at least the prince was making friends.
"No, you will be asked to give something worth much more." That certainly didn't sound promising.
"I'm afraid I have nothing to offer. Everything I own of value is back in my kingdom."
"I ask for no earthly gain."
"Then what is it I am supposed to relinquish?" he huffed in exasperation. If they continued in these puzzling circles, he was going to end up abandoning this mission. It took the statue a moment to answer, it seemed to be considering him.
"What would you be willing to give up? For a chance to have everything your heart never even considered it desired." The question caused him to pause.
"My heart desires nothing." But even as he finished speaking, he realized this wasn't true. It certainly wasn't logic that had led him on this fools quest. It wasn't logic that made him drive his friend and a company of his best men to unexplored and dangerous territory. It wasn't his wits that allowed him to abandon his companions to drive into the arms of whatever lurked here.
It was his heart that led him. Because underneath all the pain and curses, the danger and the black magic; there was something there. Something unlike anything Stefan had ever known, and the depths of his soul yearned for that something. Whatever it was he belonged to it now.
"Anything," He whispered, his heart pounding wildly and blood rushing through his veins. He was terrified of this thing that he already held so dear and yet, he didn't even know what it was. Stefan feared the unknown but he knew he couldn't continue without it either. " I would give anything." A thrum in his mind told him the figure was pleased with his response.
"Very well. I require that you give me a victory."
"A what?! That could be anything, are you asking for a memory of one of my past victories?" He could have easily chosen from many, his life had not been lacking in battles and skirmishes. A simple payment in exchange for passage through the castle.
"No, in the future there will come a battle, the most important of your life. You will forfeit that victory to me." Stefan paused at this curious demand.
"What would I lose?"
"Does it matter? It will take place years from now. You will be an old man in the twilight of your life." He still wasn't convinced; there would be other consequences yet to be discovered, he was sure of it. But the statue was an obstacle between him and whatever this castle contained. He was determined to see this through to the end.
"Very well, I sacrifice this victory to you in exchange for passage." The statue released a pleased sound in his mind and Stefan felt a shift, whether it came from within himself or from the magic surrounding him, he couldn't say. A few torches at the top of the staircase lit themselves, illuminating the way further into the castle.
"Go then," the statue allowed as its presence in his head began to fade, "A warning before you continue, however. Do not trust the things you deem insignificant, for they are the most cunning, and therefore the most dangerous."
Stefan glanced at the statue to voice his confusion, but it was already gone, vanishing into thin air. But more startling was the way his surroundings had changed. Before it had merely seemed like an abandoned castle; now he couldn't believe it hadn't already fallen around him. The staircase ahead suddenly looked worse for wear, huge chunks missing and crumbling rock threatened to take the rest, in fact most of the entrance hall seemed to have collapsed in the time it took for him to converse with the guardian.
"Well, it seems forward is the only option at this point." he grumbled to himself, making his way up to the next landing. There was no turning back now, unless he wanted to risk a part of the ceiling collapsing on him. 'Well at least I wouldn't have to fulfill the statues requirement.' His mind was still uneasy at the sacrifice he was asked to make, but there was no other choice. This place demanded pain, even if it didn't shed blood to get it.
Hubert cursed his friend again, removing his boots and resting against a tree. He and the other men had moved forward at a snail's pace, following wherever these demon infested weeds were leading them. It moved slowly enough to put his ailing grandmother to shame. It wasn't tiring work, all they had to do was continue walking, yet they were all of them exhausted. One of the men suggested the magic of the castle was making them tired.
"Well I wouldn't put it past this place." Hubert had replied. "Let's go ahead and set up camp, might as well sleep if we're not going to make much headway. No fires though, there's no telling what could be out in those woods." The men agreed and divided up watch shifts between them before setting up sleeping rolls. Most of the men abandoned an evening meal in favor of rest.
Hubert yawned and leaned his head back, fighting to stay awake. Why was he so tired anyway? He'd walked farther distances and still had energy to spare. Rubbing at his eyes, he looked around to see how the others we're faring. Everyone was asleep, including the guards chosen for the first watch shift. They were simply drooped against the nearest tree, heads rolled back and soft snores emitting from most.
Well that was certainly unnatural.
He wanted to jump up and alert his men, warn them all away from falling prey to whatever trap this was; but he had stumbled into the same trap as they.
He could feel the spell now that he recognized it as magical. The forced sleep was creeping inside his brain, overtaking all his senses no matter how hard he fought.
Before he succumbed, he cursed Stefan one last time. It seemed all of their lives were now resting firmly in the hopes that he was able to release whatever spell enchanted this place.
Gods help them all.