Arabella turned at that. “You mustn’t. Lona believes the magic to be tied to this chamber. If you move me, I might well be trapped in my sleeping body and no longer able to speak to anyone.”
“We will keep you here for now, though it makes me nervous.”
“Have you learned anything from Prince Nicol?”
“Not much, but enough. Lady Rhoswen was blackmailing him with something he refused to speak of but which he says would destroy him. He was so anxious to be rid of her threats and demands that when she offered to keep her silence in exchange for one little favor, he agreed. The favor, of course, was dripping poison into your mouth.”
Arabella watched as anger burned in his eyes and his jaw clenched. Clearly he was having difficulty speaking of it, but she wanted to know more. “But how did he get here so quickly?”
“Rhoswen received word of my coming from the patrol Martin and I encountered at your border. Prince Nicol was in Timber Vale, though in the south. Word of a prince who had come searching for you unnerved her, so she sent for him before I even arrived at her castle.”
“Well, you may rest easy concerning Prince Nicol. I doubt Lona will let him out of his cage anytime soon.”
Edmond shook his head, and an ironic smile curled his mouth as he spoke. “I believe she is beginning to like having the rat to talk to. At first she fumed and threatened him. Then she began to merely lecture, and when I left her just now, he was regaling her with all the gossip he could recall.”
“She has been very lonely,” Arabella said. Her heart ached for her friend who had endured so much loneliness on her behalf.
“One would have to be desperately lonely to waste time talking to that creature!” Edmond shook his head ruefully. “I must go now. I do not want to stay too long and risk endangering you again.”
With that he was gone, and he did not return for several days. Life became shapeless and void, and Arabella could hardly bring herself even to look out of her window. Not even Lona had time for her now, save for very brief visits during which she communicated little.
Arabella began to despair of Edmond’s returning, until one evening she heard him climbing the stairs. Already she recognized the sound of his step.
He approached the bed and stood over her, silent for a long time. Then the legs of the stool scraped against the floor and he grasped her hand, running his thumb over her fingers as soft as a whisper.
Edmond sighed. “I wish to talk to you, Arabella, but it may be some time before I can relax enough to sleep.”
To Arabella it did indeed feel like a long time. But she waited in her dream world, and at last he appeared before her. The expression on his face gave no hint of his thoughts, so she remained still, trying to calm herself, until he spoke at last.
“Are your eyes this beautiful in real life? Every time I see them, I am surprised.”
She’d hoped for something . . . different. But she answered him, if a little coolly, “Most likely. They are one of my fairy gifts. Eyes like sapphires, I think it was.”
“Why do you frown? Do you dislike compliments?”
She paused, trying to put into words the doubt that had plagued her since she was very young. “How would you like to be complimented and valued your whole life for beauties and virtues that are not naturally yours?”
“I did not intend to insult you.”
“I know. You could not know how your words would affect me. When I was a girl, I was vain and silly. I know that now, though I didn’t then. Everyone lavished praise on me, and I always wanted more. But I have had time to realize that I want people to see who I am without the gifts.”
“What gifts did they give you?”
Arabella lifted her shoulders and sighed before giving him a full account of all that was false about her. “Besides my eyes, a voice like music, perfect beauty, curls of gold, grace of movement, and . . . ” Arabella paused, embarrassed, then continued, “. . . sweet breath.”
Edmond chuckled. “That last one is a treasure beyond price.”
Seeing the humor in it, Arabella laughed a little. “Yes, indeed. Isemay gave it to me. She was always kissing the soldiers about the palace, so I suppose she thought it very important. She could not have known when she gave it to me, of course, that I would someday need to be awakened from a hundred-year sleep by a kiss.”
“Was your mother beautiful?” Edmond asked, his voice thoughtful.
Surprised, but pleased to speak of her mother, Arabella said, “I thought so, and I know my father did as well. But her beauty was different from mine. It radiated from within. She was kind and gentle. Though she was often frail, she always showed affection to those she loved.”
Edmond nodded. “The fairies did you a great disservice. You would have been much admired without their gifts, just as your mother was. But now you will never believe it.”
“Don’t feel sorry for me, please.” She turned away, unable to bear his gaze which seemed to see everything. “If you find my eyes beautiful, so much the better considering what I need from you.”
“Arabella, please don’t hide from me.”
Hesitantly she turned back. “Yes?”
“I would not fall in love with golden curls or sapphire eyes, no matter how enchanting they might be. It is your courage I most admire.”
“But you told me I needed to find my courage.”
“Yes, find it . . . because I know you have it. You have borne the weight of this curse, endured every moment of this captivity, without becoming bitter or vengeful. You have a good heart and a strong mind. I am in awe, for these are qualities no fairy magic could bestow.”
Arabella felt light and warmth fill her heart at his admiration, but she saw that his expression was now grim. “You haven’t come to see me for two days,” she said softly. “What troubles you?”
He bowed his head briefly then met her eyes. “I have been struggling with whether or not to tell you something. I do not want to distress you, and above all I don’t want you to think ill of me, but you need to know about my father. He is determined to tie our kingdom to yours through marriage to gain the wealth of your natural resources, especially your timber. Our own land is nearly barren of everything but what we can mine from the mountains.”
Arabella nodded. “I would not object to opening trade with your nation. Such an arrangement would benefit both kingdoms.”
“Yes, if trade were his intention, it would. But he means to possess Timber Vale.”
“I would never let that happen.”
Edmond’s hands curled into fists at his sides and his jaw clenched. “If you knew him as I do, you would prepare to defend your throne. He has wanted this land far longer than even I realized. Lady Rhoswen claims he proposed marriage to her, and she refused. At that time there was still a quarter of a century to wait before your curse could be broken or I am quite sure he would have made you his aim. As it was, he had time enough to raise sons. He trained my brother, his heir, to be subservient to him in all things. I was trained to fight and survive. I was always meant to find you and to bring you back to wed my brother.”
A cold knot formed in Arabella’s chest. “And you were a willing party to this, even knowing that if you were successful, it would be because you loved me?”
Edmond threw his hands up in a gesture of frustration. “I never agreed with the idea, but I didn’t believe any of this was possible. I have lived in bitterness toward my father, who cared more for a legend than for me. I thought only of escape and freedom . . . but I found a crumbling castle surrounded by enchanted thorns and sheltering a princess who has been asleep for over a hundred years. It is too incredible to be real, but here it is. And now true love no longer seems impossible either.”
Warmth rose within Arabella’s bosom like the morning sun. “My kingdom has a long history of intrigue and political strife. It is a daunting prospect. But I hope I would not face it alone. Would you defy your father for my sake?”
“Without question. The t
hought of how near you came to death just days ago, and under my watch, has tormented me. Not a minute goes by that I do not think of you, your safety, and your future. But I will bring chaos into your life even as I restore you to it.”
“My life has been nothing but chaos and intrigue since I was born, though I did not know it. Regardless of what your father may do, the rest of my life will not be a peaceful one. My people do not know me. Those who did know me have long since died. I am afraid that if Rhoswen does not step down, civil war will ravage my kingdom.”
Edmond paced before the window, his steps slow and methodical. “We could go away and leave Timber Vale to Lady Rhoswen and my father to his machinations. Your people would be at peace.”
Arabella allowed herself a brief moment to consider this. It was so very tempting! But the weight of duty would drag her down into regret if she did not obey it. “You are free to do as you wish, of course. But I must stay. Though Rhoswen has done much good here, all of her efforts have revolved around magic, and that resource is nearly exhausted. Her intentions were good, I do believe, but her actions were unwise. Already I see the veneer of prosperity wearing thin.”
“And you believe that you could do better?”
Arabella very nearly felt insulted by this question, but there was no mockery in his voice. He sincerely wanted to know if she believed in herself. “I will do better. The people have become as dependent on magic as Rhoswen has, and they have lost their pride and spirit. Under Rhoswen’s continued rule, they would flounder and suffer when hard times come. I mean to see them thrive under the merit of their own labors.”
Edmond nodded. “Such wisdom is unnatural in one with such a youthful face.”
“Perhaps so. I scarcely know if I am young or old. I was born one hundred twenty-three years ago, but I have lived only sixteen of those years. I have lost so much through this curse, yet I have gained one very important thing: perspective. And that changes everything.”
“I see that you are resolved on this course, and I cannot find it within me to keep such a noble queen from her people. I will do everything in my power to set you on your throne.”
Arabella laughed. “Even fall in love?”
With an answering smile, Edmond said, “Even that.”
Chapter 9
LONA WAS PLEASED THAT Edmond now spent so much time visiting Arabella, since for days he hadn’t at all. But it also frustrated her. He guarded the spindle like a selfish boy with a new treasure, and Lona missed visiting her princess. He needed to move things along, and if he didn’t do what he needed to do soon, she was going to have to take matters in hand.
“Why doesn’t he get it over with?” Lona asked, chopping a carrot.
Martin didn’t look up from sharpening his knives. “Get what over with?”
“I wasn’t talking to you.”
With a glance at the rat prince leaning glumly against the rusted bars of his cage, Martin raised an eyebrow. “Of course you weren’t. How foolish of me.”
“Well?” Lona asked, prompting Nicol to answer. “Why hasn’t he kissed her yet?”
“Don’t ask me!” Nicol squeaked. “I didn’t hesitate to kiss her. I never hesitated to kiss any passably pretty girl.”
“You’ll find it a harder task now,” Martin said, laughing.
“Oh, stop it,” Lona said. “You’re always mean to him.”
“Me?” Martin pointed at his chest. “I didn’t turn him into a rat.”
After another savage chop, Lona pointed her knife in the direction of Arabella’s tower. “It isn’t that hard. He just needs to pucker up and squish his lips on hers.” Lona saw Martin’s wince of disgust and grinned at him. “Want me to show you?”
“That’s quite all right. I’m well versed in the mechanics, as is Edmond. The issue is the repercussions of a kiss—what it means if she wakes up and what it means if she doesn’t. He’s afraid to find out.”
“Pig bristles. He’d better find some gumption soon. We’re out of time.” Lona slammed her knife down on the table. “He needs a kick in the seat. You two get along till I get back.”
In Arabella’s chamber she found Edmond, very much awake, sitting on Arabella’s bed. He held her hand loosely in his, but his face was lined with strain and the longing in his eyes was plain to see.
“You fool of a man, kiss her already.”
Edmond opened his mouth to answer . . . But before he had a chance, an unearthly screech ripped through the air, sending shivers of dread down Lona’s spine and deafening her ears.
“The dragon!” Edmond cried, dropping Arabella’s hand and rushing to the small window. Lona ran after him but couldn’t see past his broad shoulders until he lunged backward. The dragon flew past, its wing nearly brushing the tower walls.
“Nicol said it would return,” Edmond growled, leaning through the window to see where it had gone. “Do you think Rhoswen sent it?”
Lona gripped her hands together. “I don’t know. Her control over the dragon is not complete, as Nicol found out when it attacked his men though he was here at her bidding. Rhoswen commands it, but it can act on its own as well.”
“Maybe it is just scouting and will go away again.” Edmond sounded mildly hopeful.
There was a howl like rushing wind and the roof overhead erupted into flame. Ash and burning debris rained down on them.
“No such luck,” Edmond growled as he rushed to Arabella’s side.
“Get her out of here!” Lona screamed, but Edmond was already hauling her up and over his shoulders.
With a panicked look at the flames around them, Lona followed Edmond in a mad dash for the stairs. They’d made it halfway down when a jolt shook the whole tower. Lona lost her footing and slid down several steps. Edmond only managed to stay upright by pressing his shoulder against the wall until the swaying stopped. He hoped he hadn’t accidentally struck Arabella’s head against the stones.
Edmond shouted to Lona as she scrambled up. “The dragon’s ramming the tower! Hurry before he does it again or we’ll be crushed in the rubble.”
They ran, but even without another jolt from the dragon, the walls crumbled around them and the stone steps became treacherous. Lona lit the way with her wand; without that light they would never have made it out before the second blow brought the tower crashing down behind them.
“Martin!” Edmond yelled. Then he coughed as dust filled his lungs.
“Here, sir!” Martin called from the passage ahead. When they met up with him, Lona saw that he was carrying the birdcage. Prince Nicol was curled up in a ball, trembling, on its floor.
“You brought Nicol,” Lona gasped, amazed since she well knew how Martin disliked him.
Martin shook his head, his expression a strange mixture of alarm and wry humor. “The whole place is burning and the dragon is knocking it to pieces. I couldn’t very well leave him to die—though if we don’t get out of here, none of us stands a chance.”
“To the tunnel!” Lona declared, running ahead of them.
As they ran through the great hall, one wall had already collapsed and the crumbling tapestries burned around them. In the royal chambers beyond, they halted at the pile of rubble they’d so carefully heaped over the passage door. Martin shouted in frustration, “We’ll never clear it in time!”
Lona didn’t bother to answer. He would soon know what she could do. With a flick of her wand, she lifted the pieces of the barrier into the air as if they were as light as milkweed and flung them to the far end of the room. She jerked the door open and lit the way with her wand, ignoring Martin’s grumbling behind her that she should have used magic to build it in the first place.
But once they were safely inside the tunnel, Lona dropped back beside him to say, “You know I do not waste magic when a task can be accomplished with a little effort. But now I must save our lives, and that is another matter entirely.”
The tunnel dipped down and grew colder and narrower. The rock became slick with water and the air grew h
eavy. “Where does this come out?” Edmond asked.
“Over the Sage River,” Lona said, then added tersely, “I am certain Rhoswen will be waiting at the other end.”
“We’ll be coming out blind,” Edmond said, his brow darkening with an uneasy frown.
“Can’t Arabella see what is going on out there?” Martin asked.
Lona shook her head. “She may not be able to now that we have taken her out of the tower.”
“We can still try to ask her,” Edmond said. “Will you take her, Martin?”
Martin set the cage down and sat beside it; then Edmond transferred Arabella to his arms. Grasping the spindle, which hung from the string around his neck, he sat down next to Martin with his back against the rock wall, closed his eyes, and tried to go to sleep. After several minutes his shoulders slumped in defeat. “I couldn’t possibly sleep now.”
“Let me.” Lona knelt before them, impatiently grabbed hold of the spindle, and took Arabella’s hand from Edmond. She closed her eyes and searched for that misty, sleepy state which allowed her to be pulled into the dream world. Yet as hard as she tried, somehow she could only see the darkness behind her own eyelids. “It isn’t working.”
“We’ll have to think of something else,” Martin said.
Lona agreed, but her attention was on Edmond’s frozen face as he looked down at Arabella, clearly realizing that he would never speak to her again unless he could wake her up.
Edmond stared at Arabella. Her face lay against Martin’s shoulder, illuminated only by blue fairy-light. Dark shadows carved out the hollows and curves of her face, but the pink flush of life was still there. The thought of never speaking to her again made him feel cold and desperate.
Surely only love could inspire such a ferocity of dread as he now experienced!
Lona spoke, almost in his ear. “Let us hope Rhoswen has not brought an army. I will go out first and buy you some time. Martin will guard the entrance to the cave. You must awaken her now, Edmond. She cannot be left defenseless.”
Five Magic Spindles: A Collection of Sleeping Beauty Stories Page 30