Ashes to Ashes

by M. J. Padgett

  “Ely told me a local witch broke your curse. How did she manage to get past Ella?”

  “Yes, it was. I didn’t know the witch, but she felt very familiar to me, as if I may have known her previously—perhaps long, long ago? As for getting by your aunt, I have no thoughts on the matter. I suppose she could have been out for the day.”

  “Maybe. Every time I think I understand something, five more crazy things pop up. Have you seen the witch since she freed you?”

  “No, not since she broke the curse. She said she had other work to do, but that I would soon remember who I was. And I did, very painfully, I might add.”

  “Ely told me it would hurt, but I wish the memories would just come already. It’s frustrating to have a child and not remember him,” I admitted.

  “Prince Eliot, is he truly... do you love him, Saskia? Truly love him, or... well, I guess you can’t say for sure...” he trailed.

  “I love him, truly and deeply. I’ve had dreams, maybe partial memories, and I know I loved him then, too.”

  His crystal eyes locked on mine, nary a flutter of doubt in them. “I often wondered if you chose him just to spite me, but I see now that’s not true. Not that it’s necessary any longer, but if it were, I want you to know I give you my blessing to marry the man you truly love.”

  I’d have done what I wanted regardless, but I was surprised to find how much his words impacted me. I became a little emotional and had to fight to hold back tears. Then I remembered one small detail—technically, I was married to another man.

  “What about Prince Ulrich? You said you made me marry him after Ely disappeared, right? To protect me?”

  “I did, but what difference does that make now?” he began, then it dawned on him. “Oh! I keep forgetting you don’t remember... he died in the fire, Saskia.”

  “The fire?”

  “Yes, the Great Fire in Goldene Stadt. My, you are right. This would be much easier if you had memories. Your husband, second husband I suppose, died during the Great Fire the same night you, Cecily, and Hans disappeared. I was told he refused to leave the castle until he found you, but when the castle and village were extinguished, the only body inside was his. The three of you were gone without a trace.”

  I suddenly felt horrible for not considering Prince Ulrich may have been a decent human being, if not the man I loved. I was so consumed with convincing Ely I loved him in this life, I never considered the feelings I may have had for Ulrich in my first life. He died trying to save Hans, Cecily and me, which meant he cared significantly for us, perhaps loved me. Maybe I grew to love him, too? Thinking of him brought more questions to mind.

  “Ely said I was to be the queen once I married?”

  “Yes, technically, but standard procedure in Goldene Stadt is a dual-reign for several years until the inherited becomes fully comfortable in his or her position. You and I ruled together, but you had not yet earned the title of Queen.”

  “And the fire, how did it start?”

  “That I cannot answer. I’m afraid I have no memory, but I was on a hunting trip at the time it began. I only know it was the night I lost everything. Now your mother and aunt are locked in a cage, you and your siblings remember nothing, and I’ve lost all control of Goldene Stadt. Ella only bothered to rebuild the castle, leaving the village in ruin. It’s in a sad state, somewhat rebuilt, but our subjects work from sunrise to sunset to please their queen with little time for anything else, including rebuilding our kingdom.”

  “So, it’s just there, half-burned to the ground?”

  “Indeed,” he said, then instantly changed from a father to a king. “We must do as the Saliens say, Saskia. Follow their commands to the letter, am I clear? I meant... I’m sorry—”

  “It’s okay. It’s a work in progress, but this has been nice. I promise, whatever they say to do, we will do.”

  “Good. That is a great relief to me. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll rejoin the others in the dining hall.”

  With that, he stood and half-bowed to me. He left with a smile, a much better parting than we’d had earlier in the day. I noticed it was growing dim outside and was surprised I’d spent so much time talking. I assumed Jeanine would be preparing dinner for us soon, but my stomach growled, so I decided to head back to Elizabeth’s room for a snack.

  I crossed the courtyard and went down the long corridor toward Elizabeth’s room, but just as I turned the corner, I ran into a rock wall. Not a rock wall, but Felix who was about a solid as one.

  “Princess, my apologies,” he said as he ensured I stayed on my feet when I stumbled. “I didn’t see you there. It’s one of the dangers of living in a castle with so many people. We pop up everywhere.”

  Felix had been kind and helpful, far beyond anything I’d expected from a man who’d never met my sister or me before, not in this life. He selflessly put himself between me and a troll, and it made no difference to him that I wasn’t the princess of his land, or that I was a princess at all. I was merely someone who needed help, and Felix gave it without question. Then there was that one thing—the thing that made him so much better than most of the men I’d met in my life—he was honest.

  I didn’t realize I was reaching for him until I practically tackled him in a hug. At first, he stood there like a flagpole, but he slowly eased his arms around me and squeezed.

  “I’m such a freak. I’m so sorry,” I said, giggling when I released him.

  “Not at all. I quite enjoy a good surprise hug, and yours are wonderful.”

  “Okay, you don’t have to keep kissing my butt. I like you, Felix.”

  He smirked, then said, “Well, I’m glad you like me, but I’m not trying to kiss anything. I’m very fond of you and your family, Princess.”

  “One member of my family, in particular, right?” I asked and was met with a slight blush in his cheeks. “It’s fine. She’s happy, and I respect you for telling her the truth about your past. If it means anything to you, I really like the idea of you and my sister dating, you know, like doing things and spending time together as a couple?”

  He laughed then, quite loudly. “I do know what dating means, Princess. I’m glad you feel that way because it does mean a great deal to me to have your approval. I’ve never... I can’t describe this feeling. It’s more than I’ve ever known, yet I cannot formulate words to express it properly.”

  “I think I have a good idea what you mean. I never did get the chance to thank you for coming to my rescue today.”

  He appeared surprised, then said, “It was my honor, Princess. I’d die a thousand deaths to protect those in my charge and a thousand more to protect the sister of the woman I lo—”

  My eyes went wide, thinking it was a bit soon for them to fall in love, then remembered I was head-over-heels for a narcissistic pain-in-the-rump I met less than a week before. “It’s okay, Felix. You feel how you feel, and as long as you’re a good man, I have no issues.”

  His nervous smile spread a little wider, and he took a contemplative appearance. “You remind me a lot of my sister.”

  “I didn’t know you had a sister! Is she here, in Schwarzwald?”

  His contemplative face morphed into one of sadness and grief in an instant. “No, unfortunately, she died when we were young. Well, young compared to fifteen centuries old, I suppose. She was on the eve of her sixteenth birthday, but she was taken by fever during the night. She was a lot like you—fearless and strong, fiercely protective of her family, and she loved like no one I’ve ever met.”

  “I’m so sorry, Felix. That must have been horrible for your family,” I said, thinking losing my sister would devastate me beyond measure.

  “There was a huge hole in my life when Scarlett died, and I believed if I never cared for anyone the way I cared for my sister, then I couldn’t be hurt again. I was a fool and lived many centuries believing that being a soldier was more important than anything else. I see now I was wrong. I think Cecily was sent to fill that hole.”

&n
bsp; I considered his words and noted that we weren’t all that different. We both felt pieces missing, and we both felt the need to take on daunting tasks to keep from feeling the pain of what we lost. I understood Felix.

  “I’m glad my sister can do that for you. You probably do the same for her in many ways. I’m sure Scarlett would be happy you’re moving on.”

  “Oh, I know she would be. She’d pitch a tantrum if she knew how many years I wasted being foolish.” He chuckled again, then said, “She used to wear this cape, a hood I guess, but it was as bright a red as her name, and I swear you could see her coming from a mile away. When she was good and angry, she’d say a lot of things she didn’t mean, then spin around and storm off. That cape was like a swarm of anger billowing around her as she went. She loved it though, and whenever I see a girl in red, it makes me think of her. It’s funny how simple things like color can take you back in time.”

  His eyes drifted toward the end of the hall, then he cleared his throat along with the memories of his sister. “I should probably get back to work. Henry won’t heal himself, and Gerald is itching to finish our business with Ella.”

  “Oh, yes. Absolutely. Don’t let me stop you. Also... sorry about that super-weird hug. I’m not sure what—”

  I was cut off by another super-weird hug, but much stronger than the first. “There,” Felix said, “Now we’re both super-weird, whatever that means.”

  “On that note, I’m going to get something to eat. Good luck, Felix.” I waved as he headed down the hall.

  If I kept running into people, I’d never make it back to girl’s night. However, my time roaming the castle had taught me a few things, or I should say it gave me more to think about. The situation in Goldene Stadt concerned me, but there wasn’t much I could do to ease the pain the villagers endured until Ella was gone. Thinking about the fire and what my father had explained to me made the urgency of the situation sink in, along with the weight of my responsibility. People were counting on me, more than just Cecily this time.

  I was two seconds from having a panic attack when I realized I’d gone down the wrong hallway and began to backtrack. But perhaps it wasn’t the wrong hallway, but the one my heart knew I needed to go down? I heard giggling at the end of the hall and recognized the door. It was the hall Hans’ room was on, not far from the room I was staying in.

  When I peered through the crack in the door, I saw Ely tickling him, then getting tackled before tossing him on the bed.

  “Okay, little man, it’s time to get some dinner, then wash up and get ready for bed.”

  “But Papa,” Hans whined, “I’m not... tired... at all!”

  “Your yawning begs to differ, but I promise we’ll do something fun tomorrow if you go wash your hands and eat your dinner. Oma Benson made your favorite.”

  “Spaghetti?”

  “No, your other favorite,” Ely responded.

  “Turkey?”

  “How many favorite dishes do you have, son?”

  “I like everything Oma makes,” he admitted, but if everything Jeanine made was as good as her cakes and brownies, then I didn’t blame him.

  “Me too. She’s the best cook ever, isn’t she? Did she tell you that she and Opa Benson are coming to live here?”

  Hans gasped, then said, “Forever?”

  Ely nodded and smiled, then ruffled Hans’ hair. “Forever.”

  Hans was excited but was soon downcast again. “Papa?”

  “Hmm?” Ely asked, his attention settled on gathering Hans’ bedclothes and cleaning up the room.

  “Is Mama going to leave or stay? I’m afraid if I go to sleep, she’ll leave without me again.”

  There was nothing in the world that could inflict as much pain on me as hearing those words come from my son’s mouth. It cracked my heart and took the air from my lungs, and I could no longer spy on my sweet son and his father. I wanted to be a part of the picture before me. I pushed the door open, and of course, it creaked loudly giving away my position. Ely whirled around to see who was coming into his son’s room, then relaxed when he saw it was me.

  “Is girl’s night a bust?” he asked, wondering why I wasn’t with the ladies having a grand time.

  “It’s fine, but...” I looked to Hans who was patiently waiting for me to explain my presence in his room. “I think I’d rather spend the night with my boys, what do you think Hans?”

  “We were just going to eat dinner, but you can come, then we can read and tell jokes before bed. Jack told me a really good one, want to hear?”

  “Sure, go for it,” I replied, then sat on the edge of his bed.

  “Why did the chicken cross the road?”

  Well, this sounds familiar. “I don’t know. Why did the chicken cross the road?”

  “He didn’t! He was too chicken!” Hans lit up with joy, and I had to admit, it was a lot funnier coming from a child than a grown man. I laughed along with Ely who had taken the seat beside me. It felt so right, so incredibly comfortable and normal. Poor Hans had a mother for four years, no parents for fifteen centuries, then Ely for five years. No wonder he was confused and concerned. I didn’t know how to fix it, but I did know one thing for sure—I was never leaving him again.

  “Hans, would you like for Mama to stay in your room tonight? I know you’re a big kid, but I’d very much like to have a slumber party with you, so what do you say?”

  “And Papa?” Hans asked.

  “Sure, why not?”

  “Um... isn’t that weird?” he asked.

  “It’s very weird, but if you want us to stay here tonight, we will,” Ely said, catching on.

  Hans contemplated our offer, then said, “Sure, I’d like that. Can Mama stay every night?”

  Ely started to speak, but I wanted to tell Hans how I felt myself.

  “I can’t stay in your room every night. You’re a big kid, but I can promise you this, I am never ever leaving you again, okay?”

  Hans took my words at face value, but Ely wasn’t so easily convinced. “Are you sure? What if Cecily wants to go back to Philadelphia?”

  “I’m pretty sure she found a reason to stay here, but even if she hadn’t... well, I think she’s old enough to stand on her own two feet. I’m staying here in Schwarzwald with my son and this doofus who promised to marry me.”

  “Ugh,” Hans said. “I’m gonna go eat dinner before this gets yucky.” With that, he left us alone in the room.

  “I know we said we would, but I guess part of me still feels like you’ll disappear, just like Hans does. Is this really what you want? Really, truly, even with all the drama that’s coming along, you want to stay?”

  “I do, Ely. Even if I weren’t one of the Seven Sworn... oh no... no, no, no.”

  “What? Sierra, what is it?” Ely gripped my elbow, probably sick of me having revelations that caused drama, but this one stood to change the way we approached not only Ella but whatever it was that was running the show—the evilest evil to ever live.

  “Jack is having dreams, Ely. He thinks he’s Prince Julian, and if he is... he’s the eldest. I can’t believe I didn’t think of that before. I’m not even sure why I was to be queen if Julian was older, but if it’s true... h-how can I... how can we force Jack to...” I lost words, unable to figure out just what to say.

  Ely sighed, knowing what that meant for my best friend. His life would be over, everything he’d worked so hard for would come crashing down around him. Staying in Germany was not what he wanted, he’d said as much during girl’s night.

  “Let’s not put the cart before the horse. Maybe we should gather more information before we bless Jack with the knowledge of his destiny?”

  I threw my hands in the air, a bit tired of being the harbinger of doom and gloom. “I guess so. I suppose we must finish this thing with Ella and find a cure for Henry before we tackle the larger picture, anyway. What harm can come from waiting a few days?”

  “I’m sure we’ll figure something out,” Ely said, then took m
y hand and dragged me toward the feast. I felt a little uneasy about leaving things up in the air, but what else was there to do? A few days wouldn’t change the truth.

  It turns out... a lot can happen in a few days.

  Chapter Sixteen

  “Your Highness, your father would like a word with you.” Gelda, my dear lady-in-waiting spoke softly from the entryway. My wide smile was not lost on her, and she added, “My, you look like the cat who swallowed the canary.”

  “Today. I’ll tell him today, Gelda. I feel it’s time, and I’m quite sure he feels the same about me,” I admitted, seeking her approval. The woman was a second mother to me, and I loved her as dearly as my own.

  She entered my room and stood beside me in front of the mirror, quite beautiful at her age, but never married. She took my brush and glided it through my hair gently. Her kind eyes and whimsical face always soothed me, and on the day I was to tell Eliot I loved him it was much needed.

  “Your father wishes to see you, Saskia. We should go,” she murmured.

  I turned on my bench and took her hand, but she averted her eyes. “What is it that bothers you?”

  “It’s nothing, dear. We mustn’t keep your father waiting. Come along, we’ll discuss Prince Eliot after you meet with the king.”

  She stepped aside so I could rise, then fell in behind me as we made the long walk to the throne room where Father took all his meetings, even those with his children. Once I reached the room, I was surprised to see Julian and Mother with him.

  “Father?” I asked, then stopped in front of him while Gelda went to her position at the rear of the room, along with my mother’s lady.

  “Saskia, I have news for you. Please, come closer darling.”

  I took a step closer, but rather than feel comforted in my family’s presence, I felt afraid. I shuddered, not certain what the feeling was that had settled in the pit of my stomach. Julian was happy, so I tried to focus on his smiling face rather than my father’s stern one.