Chapter 5: Memories are a Pain

I look down to hide my eyes. Why does that hurt to hear? Stupid Rose, get it into your head. No guy, not now, nor ever, will ever fall in love with a girl like you. He was just being nice so I wouldn't get hurt and embarrass myself.

As I continue to mentally criticize my self-esteem, we near closer to the castle. Sarah, being a very inquisitive person, presses on with her 'Kingling-Inquisition'. "Who is this Dawn Brightly? And if you are her 'beloved', why are you flirting Rose?"

His smile softens in remembrance, "Dawn is the love of my life. We met many years ago at my home." He reaches up and brushes a few strands of his hair away from his face. "I was a real jerk to her when we first met. I even called her a few nasty words. Then, our parents told us we were to wed. I almost blacked out. Me and her? We both thought it was a joke. But, after i apologized we started to find out we had a lot in common." He swings open the castle doors. "Then, the day before our engagement ball, she disappeared into thin air. We scoured all over the Underground to find a trace of , we found nothing and I have not talked with her since…" His voice fades into nothingness.

"Seen her since."

"Pardon?"

"Seen her since. That's what you meant to say instead of 'talked'."

"No...I said what I meant. I have seen her, just we never have a true dialogue conversation. It's always been one-sided monologues."

For the past few moments, I had done nothing but listen to Seabirus reminisce about his Dawn. It hurt my heart to hear him talk about a girl joyfully. I stop short and watch as they continue through the hallways of the Goblin Castle. My hands shake as I lean my ice cold skin against sun-warmed brick. "Guys?" I call out faintly, "I-I don't feel so good…" They turn and Seabirus comes to my side as I slide down the wall onto my side.

"Rose? Rose, are you okay?" he says softly as he lifts my head lightly onto his shoulder. I lean against him as he sits next to me, my eyes closing rapidly.

"My...head...it..it hurts." I reply as a small gasp of pain escapes my lips. Sarah goes to the nearest goblin and orders him to get some wash clothes and water.

As the goblin runs off, Seabirus pets my hair away from my face lightly. Pressing his lips to my hairline he whispers, "You'll be okay. I'm here...I won't leave you." I tried to respond, but the world became blacker and blacker, till I suddenly fell limp in his arms.

Wow...did I really just pass out? I spin around taking in my surroundings. I'm in a very warm bedroom colored in soft warm with some creams. The bed, full of comfy pillows, draped over with sparkling gossamer ivory curtains that are pulled back over the delicate spiral posts. As I continue to turn, I realized all the furniture has that same delicate spiral engraving, except for a full length mirror that is just in a plain wooden holder.

"It's my mirror!" I rush over to it and touch it softly, "Is this a dream?"

My reflection smiles softly at me,"No, you're not dreaming."

"AH!" I exclaim as I jump away from the doppelgänger. "Who are you? What do you want? I don't have anything of any real value."

I, well she, frowns, "Wow, this is going to be harder than I thought. I just wanted to help...make things easier on me...well, you…" she sniffles and looks as if she will cry.

My voice softens, "It's okay...how about you come out of the mirror and we'll talk?"

"But that's the thing, there can't be two of me."

"Huh?"

"You're me."

"No," I say slowly, as I stand, "You're me."

We both sigh, look at each other and laugh softly. She sits and I mirror her actions, "So may I tell you what happened?"

"Please, my head is spinning."

"Well...has Seabirus told you anything about us?"

"How would he know?" I snort softly, "He's only know me for an hour at most."

She laughs gently, "Well, believe it or not, we've known him for a good couple years. May I continue?"

"Oh...of course."

"Where to begin…I am you, you are me. I am your original life that Terrill stole." She holds up a hand, "Please, this is too much to explain like this. I have a better idea. Come over here." I scoot closer to the mirror copying her stance, hold up my hands on the mirror's surface. "I'm going to end all this confusion for you by putting me, your first memories, back into your head. Things might be foggy for a while, but don't push. I will try to be sorted out as soon as I can." I nod, afraid of how the sensation might feel.

"Will it hurt? You coming back inside me? And will I ever be able to talk to you again?"

She smiles softly, beginning to disappear into shimmering sparkles, "Just think about me and fall asleep, then I'll be there." I nod as I lean my head against the mirror's pane. The sparkles start to float out of the mirror and wrap around my head in a halo form. Settling down onto my hair and forehead, I start to feel a sharp pain. I start screaming . Through my tears I see the room melt away into a dark void of nothing, only the mirror remains. Suddenly, flashes of scenes are seen and heard. I screw my eyes shut, willing, praying for it to stop. The pain continues to grow and grow, as if my head's splitting open. Blackness and numbness swiftly consume me once more.