A Trip into the Past
Fanelia was a green country. The forests were like strings of emeralds hanging in the sky. I had loved lying on the grass and starring at the sky. My brother would also come and climb into my lap demanding I tell him a story. Today I can't. My father is sick, getting weaker each day. Mother always cries at night. She tries to hide it, but I know. I have to keep my brother happy, not let him see this pain. I make my way in front of the priests hovering over my father's bedside.
"Leave us," he said softly.
He is about to say something but coughs rake his body. I feed him some water.
"My son, you will be king soon,"' he replied.
"Father, I'm not ready," I protested.
"It doesn't matter. Sooner or later you have to accept your destiny. You will be a good king," he explained.
"But," I stammered.
"Take care of your mother and brother, they are going to need your strength," he patted my head gently.
"Brother, can you read me a story?" my little brother asked at the doorway.
"Of course, let's go to your room," I suggested.
"What's wrong with father," he asked.
"Father's not feeling well, let's leave him to rest," I said hastily leading him away.
Pain overflowed me. I let out a moan as I attempted to open my eyes. At first everything looked groggy and eventually my sight cleared. I turned my eyes slightly to see a small worktable, two chairs and a small fireplace. Where am I? Last time, I was at Dornkirk's palace? I lifted my hands in front of my face. They looked real. I look down and I saw my chest bounded with bandages.
"You finally decided to wake up."
That voice was female. A set of green eyes popped into my view. She felt my forehead and then went on to check my pulse. I felt a tingling feeling through my left arm. I jerked away.
"Where exactly is this?" I asked.
"Just outside the capital of Zaibach. We are at my cottage near the forest," she replied turning her back to fetch the basin of water lying on the worktable.
A mix of emotions evaded my body. I was angry with this woman for saving my life. Resentful and sad that I never got to say goodbye to my brother and afraid. I was afraid of what I had become and never realizing the truth. The sins I had committed. I struggled to lift myself up but she heard me and rushed over pushing me down.
"Don't move you idiot, do you want to hurt yourself even more?" she snapped.
"How did you save me? I was already dead!" I snarled.
She shouted something I didn't catch and stabbed her two fingers near my collarbone.
"I guess we have to do it the hard way," she complained dipping a cloth into the basin.
I couldn't move. All I could do was look at the ceiling. I could hear the wringing of the cloth and the girl's movements as she began to clean me with the wet cloth. She started with my stomach and then my chest carefully avoiding my wound. She seemed to lift my arms with ease compared to the heaviness and stiffness I felt in my muscles. She wiped my face next. I could smell a mint scent. It seemed to sharpen my sense yet relax me. She looked right into my eyes as she could hear my thoughts.
"Sleep," she spoke gently as she continued to wipe every inch of my face. Gradually, I felt my body relax closing my eyes and immediately dozed off.
The next morning I woke up to the noise of clunking sounds. I suddenly realized where I was. This mystery girl paralysed me and put some kind of spell on me. I brushed some hair away from my face halting to study my hands. The metal one was rusty and my other was coarse with cuts.
"Stupid cooking pan!" grumbled the witch girl as she walked in. She didn't seem to notice my presence as she was focused on the clutter on her desk table. It gave me a minute to study her. She was tall compared to most women I had met. She had light brown hair that glistened when the sun shined in through the windows. She had it braided with a dark blue ribbon weaved through tied in a bow at the end. She wore a plain cream blouse and a dark green skirt with an apron tied around her waist.
"You're awake," she said as I snapped out of my observation.
Last night I didn't get a chance to have a look at her. She wasn't like the princesses and queens I had met before, but there was something in her green eyes. They were the colour of green apples and when she smiled just then her dimples reminded me of the round shape of juicy pears in Fanelia.
"It's a beautiful day," she commented as she opened the window.
"I'm really in Zaibach," I asked uncertain that what I saw outside was part of the technological Zaibach I had once lived in.
"It sure is, but we are miles from the nearest village," she answered as she came over to help me into a sitting position.
"Good, the wound is closing," she observed closely inspecting my chest wound. When she ran her fingers across it I felt the tingle again.
"How do you know?" I blurted out.
She lifted her eyes up and glanced into mine for what it seemed to be eternity.
"I just had a feeling," she answered confidently.
I didn't ask any more questions as she began to bandage my chest. When she finished, she began to clear the worktable and threw everything elsewhere.
"Are you hungry? I would make eggs but the frying pan is dented so I guess we have to stick to bread," she sighed out loud.
"I kind of heard," I pointed out recalling the scene when she stormed in.
She blushed slightly but seemed quite amused. She came back with a bowl of red paste and a loaf of bread. She broke the bread in half and sank it into the paste. She held it up in my face.
"Tomatoes are good for your system. Go ahead, it's good," she nudged the food into my mouth.
My mouth erupted with taste. Normally tomatoes had a sour-sweet taste, but there was a secret ingredient added in. I quickly consumed everything.
"Aren't you going to eat anything?" I asked guiltily noticing she hadn't touched anything.
"I've already eaten," she replied organizing her piles of messes on the ground.
"What was in the paste?" I questioned.
"Basil. You liked it," she grinned.
"It was delicious," I said truthfully.
"Good, because that's all you're going to eat for the next three weeks," she revealed smugly.
"When do I get to eat real food?" I teased not being able to stop grinning.
"You'll get some real food if you behave yourself," she answered back slyly.
Our eyes contacted for a brief moment. There was something about her that was attractive to me. I knew she could feel the sparks between us for she never took her eyes off. Was she putting a spell on me like she did before? I didn't know who she was or anything about her.
"I think I am going to take a nap," I said abruptly breaking off our eye contact.
"Okay," she said disappointed and turned back to her work.
I felt a stab in my heart for brushing her off so quickly, but I had to keep my guard up.
The dragon that ripped off my arm. I hated him yet I'm thankful to him. He saved me from a fate I knew I couldn't handle. I was too young to become king. Inexperienced not to mention cursed because of my draconian blood; I couldn't begin to explain the pain that went through my body as the beast shredded my right arm. I thought I could still make it back to Fanelia but what would everyone think? What kind of man was I? I didn't have the courage to show my face so I just lay there on the ground soaked in my blood. I was saved by Dornkirk and given a new arm. I thought that what I was doing was for the best. At the moment of my dear friends Eryia and Naria's death I realized that I was wrong. Believing that I had changed into this new person made me wiser and stronger but it didn't. I was still the same inside. The words of my brother still haunt me.
I always believed that you died in battle but I was wrong. Why did you burn Fanelia? Why are you laughing?
I sprung from the bed sweating heavily. It was a dream; only a dream but those words disturbed me. I heard a door open and feet padding out.
"What happened? Did you have a nightmare?" the woman asked bending over me.
As much as I wanted her comfort and presence I wasn't about to let her weave another spell on me.
"How exactly did you save me?" I demanded gripping onto her wrist.
"I pulled the sword tip out of your chest and gave you some herbs," she answered quietly twisting from my grip.
"You mean you used magic to save me. Are you a sorceress? Are you working for Zaibach?" I bombarded her with questions as I advanced on her. She walked back until she hit the edge of the table. I had her trapped. I leaned forward placing my hands on either side of her.
"Answer my question," I growled.
I saw the fear in her eyes. Her knuckles turned white from clutching the edge of the counter. She was shaking slightly but made no move to speak.
"Answer me!" I shouted at her grabbing onto her shoulders.
She threw her hand out and before I could react she slapped me across the cheek. I touched my cheek as I starred at her in amazement. She was strong, very strong.
"You have no right forcing questions on me," she accused turning her back to me.
She took a deep breath and turned around again. "I'm not a sorceress but I do use special herbs to heal, that's how I saved you. I don't work for Zaibach but I thought you did since I found you in Dornkirk's palace," she explained.
"Not anymore. I was trying to kill Dornkirk before he could do anymore serious damage to Gaia," I replied regretting my actions towards her.
"We both should get some rest," she proposed heading to her room.
"I'm sorry I grabbed you and scared you like that," I apologized.
She stopped where she was.
"I know you are confused, but you have to trust me. Can you do that?" she asked turning her head.
"Yes," I choked out.
"Good," she nodded. "My name is Shayla," she said holding out her hand.
"Folken," I answered clasping her hand.
Her hand was slender and she had a warm touch.
"Goodnight Folken," she said and walked back into her room closing the door softly.
"Goodnight Shayla," I whispered into the night.