Once Upon a Rainbow, Volume One

by Mickie B. Ashling

  Not without my princess’s help.

  She often visited me in the tower. She was the only one the thorns would part for, allowing her to enter the room.

  Every time, she’d kneel by my bed.

  Eventually, she worked up the courage to touch my sleeping face.

  She fled shortly after doing this for the first time. She returned, though, to touch me again.

  Eventually, she was brave enough to lean over me. Her mouth lingered over my own.

  Even as I dreamed, I felt her breath, tickling my lips with its nearness.

  She was afraid of kissing me. She was afraid of failing me as Oriana had failed her.

  It was safer to let me sleep in this bower only she could enter. It was safer for her to cherish the illusion that someday I would be hers, rather than risk shattering that hope.

  She made me wait, while I slept.

  There was one dream in particular I had, over and over. It kept the blood coursing through my veins, made my chest rise and fall as I lay upon my virgin bed of thorns.

  One night, my princess witch would come to me. She’d bring her face close to my own without hesitation.

  Our lips would meet and touch as we tasted each other’s darkness.

  Her hands would caress my shoulders, moving over my breasts, parting my gown.

  I would reach out to pull her down beside me as the thorns pricked us both.

  In spite of the pain, she wouldn’t be afraid. Neither of us would be, as we embraced each other.

  It was only a dream, though I wished it would come true.

  Only my princess could make it happen. Only for her would I open my eyes.

  “You’re such a romantic.” My princess stood, shining in the shadows of my sleeping mind. “One would think you’d be dreaming of a prince to kiss you awake.”

  In the twilight state of my mind, I’d learned to make my form appear as whatever I wished.

  I wrapped the shadows around me, covering me with a swirling gown of mist.

  I willed my desire into my eyes, brightening them with hope.

  “If you’ve seen my thoughts, you know that’s the last thing on my mind.” I met her dark gaze with the blazing light of my own.

  Her mouth parted in surprise at my challenge, but she was not the sort of woman to back down.

  Darkness glimmered in her eyes, the same sultry darkness that had enchanted me as an infant.

  “You think to conquer me, bind me with your power?” Her lips, redder than ever, twisted into a smile or a sneer. “Little princess, you don’t know whom you’re dealing with.”

  Her darkness washed over me, hitting me like a tidal wave.

  I wasn't afraid of it. There was a part of me that had always been delighted by her darkness. The trick was not to fight it, but to embrace it, ride with it.

  I felt the warm rush of her sultry power and laughed.

  My laughter rang through our shared dream, sending beams of light to illuminate the hidden bits of knowledge that lingered within this place.

  “Probably not,” I agreed. “You’re still a mystery, but I’m not afraid to learn about you.”

  I began to walk forward, across the dream, as I’d twice walked toward her in the waking world.

  She took a step back.

  I could feel her trembling, here and in the waking world as well.

  I realized she was leaning over my bed in the tower room, her lips quivering as she lingered over me.

  Why had I ever thought I needed to wait for her to kiss me?

  For all her power, she was shy and vulnerable. She clung to her memories of another woman because she was afraid of opening her heart to anyone else.

  If I wanted her, I had to go to her. If I wanted her to see me, I had to make myself visible.

  If I wanted her to love me, I had to love her in a way she couldn’t deny.

  “No,” she whispered, but she didn’t back away. “You’ll only betray me, just as she did.”

  “No, I won’t.” I continued to advance. “I’m not content to hide behind a man and love you from afar. I’m not satisfied with only dreams of you. I want to make them come true.”

  “Some things can never be,” she whispered. Her darkness no longer threatened to swallow me. Her eyes filled with a moist vulnerability. “You’re better off sleeping and dreaming. Sometimes, I wish I’d never woken up myself.”

  “Give me something worth waking up to.” I took another step. Two more and she’d be in my arms. “I’ll do everything in my power to make you happy when you’re awake.”

  I moved toward her.

  She was almost real in her trembling warmth.

  Perhaps she’d vanish from this dream. Perhaps she’d back away from the bed.

  She didn’t leave my side. I could feel her, lingering over my sleeping form in the real world.

  Here, she breathed in and closed her eyes.

  I took the final step and embraced her.

  She seemed so slight, so fragile once I was holding her.

  Gently, I raised my hands to her face and tilted it slightly back.

  She didn’t resist. The breath rushed from her body into my mouth when I kissed her.

  I pulled her down on top of me, my lips locked with hers as she kissed me awake.

  Her tears slid down her face, moistening our lips. Finally, she dared to taste me.

  I encouraged her, refusing to let her go.

  The briars pricked us both, just as I’d thought. The pain was sharp and welcome.

  I could hear voices outside, a thousand voices murmuring. The princess is awake. The princess has changed. The princess is not what she was.

  I ignored them. I locked my arms around my beloved’s slender waist, rejoicing in having caught her at last.

  “I never asked your name,” I whispered as our lips parted.

  “I’ve never asked for yours, either,” she murmured back. “Knowing another witch’s true name can be dangerous.”

  “Danger can be deliciously rewarding.” I ran my fingers along one of her raven tresses. There was no hiding her beauty any longer, at least not from me. I would always see it whenever she smiled. “Won’t you tell me your name?”

  “I’d as soon forget my former names,” she said with a slight shake of her head. “They’re no longer real.”

  “How about one of your nicknames?” I ran my finger along her lips. “I think I can guess at least one of them from your snow-white skin.”

  “I’m sure you can,” she said, her eyes sparkling. “I’ve decided not to use it anymore.”

  “In that case, what should I call you?” I studied her lovely face. “I can’t keep thinking of you as the wicked witch, the princess witch, or even my princess.”

  “I rather like those last two titles,” she said, smiling. Her lips lingered close to my ear. “However, my true name is whatever you wish to call me. I decided that when you woke up.”

  Heat warmed my cheeks, running down my neck, as she nibbled on my ear.

  “No fair,” I murmured. “I can’t think of a single name that’s worthy of you.”

  “Don’t worry,” she whispered, moving away from my ear to my neck. “You have until happily ever after to decide.” Her smile faded at her own words. “Which won’t last once everyone in the castle wakes up.”

  “Don’t worry.” I grinned at her. “My mother promised if I fell under the curse, she’d let me marry whoever freed me. If they’re of sufficient rank, responsible for freeing me from my curse, and loved by me.” I winked. “A princess is of the same rank as myself, is she not?”

  “You know that isn’t going to satisfy your parents.” She frowned at her own words. “It’s been centuries since a woman has married another woman. Even if you could get your subjects to accept the witch who cursed you as your consort, I can’t sire children upon you.”

  “Happily, a princess does have the option of naming an heir, rather than siring one,” I said. “Customs changed once my family starte
d ruling the land.” My smile died. “I have a feeling Oriana may have started changing things after you vanished.” I dared a glance at her after mentioning her former lover. “I’m counting on her being our ally when I present you to my parents and the court.”

  Her own smile vanished, leaving her face was grave and serious. “Will she be?”

  “She’s the one who explained the curse to me. Oriana brought me back to the castle so I could meet you.” I raised a hand to brush back a dark lock of hair, which was falling into her face. “She truly believes I can make you happy.”

  “She’s finally let me go then.” There was a measure of sorrow in her voice, mingled with her relief.

  “You’ve seen her with me, haven’t you?”

  She nodded slightly, confirming my suspicion.

  “Even if Oriana didn’t truly love you, she gave you what she could. By putting you to sleep, she shared her power with you. Perhaps she thought, in a hundred years, the two of you could be together.”

  “Perhaps.” My princess looked down at my chest. “How much of her cruelty was just weakness? If only Oriana had been as strong as you, perhaps things would have turned out differently.”

  “What if they had?” I asked with a touch of mischief, stroking her hair. I let my fingers wander down her shoulder. “Do you truly wish you’d never met me?”

  “Of course not,” she said with a laugh. It was a hushed, breathless sound. It made my loins tight in places I was only just discovering.

  Once again, I pulled her down to claim her lips.

  Once again, the thorns pricked us.

  “Ow!” I gasped. “I should call you Briar.”

  “What?” she murmured, pulling away. Her dark eyes were dazed and slightly innocent in their passion. “Why?”

  “You’re beautiful but thorny.” I felt my lips twitch. “It seems I’m always being pricked with sharp objects because of you.”

  “That’s not always an unpleasant thing.” Her hands unfastened my gown.

  “No, it’s not.”

  The silk slid from my body.

  At which point, we stopped talking and forgot everyone else.

  Chapter Nine: Coming Out

  THE WORLD LEFT us alone for a while. Perhaps Oriana distracted everyone in the castle from our tower tryst. Sooner or later, we had to emerge from our room.

  We chose later. We dressed for the occasion when we did.

  My princess wore her purple gown with the red ribbons.

  I brushed her hair, leaving it loose and hanging. The only adornment I gave her head was a silver coronet. It matched the golden circlet I placed upon my own. I wanted there to be no doubt in the court’s mind that my beloved was my equal.

  I dressed myself in my best gown, which was a rich shade of verdure. I hoped to banish Briar’s painful associations with the color. Green didn’t have to be symbolic of jealousy. It could also be the hue of living, growing things, of new beginnings.

  This was such a beginning, although of what I wasn’t sure. It depended on how my plan would work out.

  If it worked out.

  My princess and I made our way downstairs to the marble hall.

  We met a few servants, who bowed, averting their eyes. Nobody said anything, but a few of the maids stole admiring glances at us out of the corners of their eyes.

  I got the impression Briar and I made a pretty pair.

  Everyone had gathered in the marble hall.

  Not only my parents, Oriana, and the entire court, but the six dwarves were there as well. Their beards had been brushed to perfection.

  I wondered who had done that for them. Opal was loaded down with enough velvet and finery to rival the gaudiest nobleman. The gold on Onyx’s belt and buttons gleamed.

  A shiver ran through my princess at the sight of Opal, Onyx, Sardonyx, Agate, Jasper, and Garnet. She couldn’t look directly at Oriana.

  I pressed her hand gently with my own.

  “Hold your head high,” I murmured. “You have as much right to be here as I do.”

  Hand in hand, we marched through the hall.

  The court made way for us, whispering and staring.

  I lifted my chin with regal pride, letting my attention shift through the room, gauging everybody’s reaction.

  I got quite a few admiring glances. I noted Lord Gareth Hargreaves studying Briar with careful neutrality. He was the member of the court I needed most to support me, after Marian Vinegarten.

  I searched for her.

  Marian stood with her cousin, Harold, very close to my parents’ throne. She frowned at the sight of the woman by my side but didn’t seem too appalled.

  Lord Harold, on the other hand, wore a horrified grimace, as if I’d stripped myself naked in front of the entire court.

  My parents didn’t look repulsed, but they didn’t look happy. At all.

  They both rose to their feet from their thrones.

  My mother clasped her hands over her face. It was more of an exasperated gesture than anything else. She was probably at her wits’ end with me.

  My father’s scowl was terrifying. Any moment, he’d summon the guards and order them to seize Briar.

  I had to act before he did.

  “Your Majesties.” I spoke before my father could open his mouth. “This is my beloved, Briar, who once lived in this very castle. She is the one who awakened me from my cursed sleep, with her kiss.” My mother was opening her mouth. “Yes, she is a princess of equal rank to myself. Indeed, one could argue she outranks me. Her family ruled this realm long before we ever did.”

  I paused to let my words sink in.

  Everyone started talking at once.

  Marian stared at my beloved with wide eyes.

  Harold shrank back as if he feared Briar might turn him into a frog.

  Lord Gerald gave Briar a thoughtful look before turning his pensive gaze to me.

  His expression made me hopeful. He wasn’t about to reject me as the heir to the throne because I’d chosen another woman as my consort.

  I hadn’t realized I wanted to be queen until this moment. I’d always known I would be, someday. It had been a duty that I couldn’t avoid. The sight of my subjects made my heart rise to my throat.

  I wanted to take care of them. If necessary, I’d hand my responsibilities over to another, but I didn’t want to let them go any more than I wanted to let Briar go.

  What I’d be able to keep depended on how well I carried out my plan.

  A lot of people were shocked, but few were disgusted.

  One of the few was Lord Harold.

  Marian was not. Distressed as she appeared, there was still loyalty in her eyes.

  It touched me deeply.

  My parents weren’t disgusted. They were outraged.

  “This is not what I meant when I gave you my blessing.” My mother shook her fist at me. “You know it wasn’t.”

  “This is the very witch who cursed you when you were a babe,” my father thundered. He shook his fist at Briar. “We refuse to accept her as our daughter-in-law.”

  “Nonetheless, what your daughter says is true,” Oriana said. Never had her voice been more commanding. It silenced all chatter in the room.

  Every eye fell upon her.

  I realized she, too, had dressed carefully for this occasion. She was wearing a purple cloak lined with ermine. I recognized it as something she’d worn when she had been queen.

  “I know this because I lived in this very castle with her when she was its princess.”

  “What are you saying?” my mother demanded. Terrified, she looked at the witch, whom she’d thought was her ally. “Why do you stand there dressed in the royal purple as if you were a queen?”

  “Because a hundred years ago, I was a queen. The queen of this very castle.” Oriana raised her head to regard my parents before turning her gaze toward all of her spellbound listeners.

  No, it was no spell. It was simply a presence she’d chosen to hide until now. It rose from h
er slight form with the force of a crashing wave as she nodded at my princess.

  “This is my stepdaughter, the rightful heir to the throne. Many of you believed I did away with her.” She looked straight at my mother when she said this.

  My mother flinched as if these words were a blow.

  I remembered only too well what she had said about the former queen.

  “The marriage was a disaster. Not to mention the king already had a daughter. The new queen treated her stepdaughter very badly. I’m sure she saw the girl as a threat. The princess disappeared, but we can guess what happened with a stepmother like that. Awful things happen when you marry someone beneath you.”

  The lady in the purple cloak didn’t seem like she was beneath anybody. There was an innate regality about Oriana as she lifted her chin.

  Most didn’t dare meet her gaze.

  “You can see I did not kill my royal stepdaughter.” Oriana’s entire manner softened when she looked upon my mother. “What I did was put her to sleep for a hundred years. I didn’t want anyone to guess my secret. Long before I ever met her father, I loved her.” She turned her soft gaze to Briar. “I married her father, but I couldn’t let her go.” Her eyes dropped to the floor to regard the hem of her skirt. “Selfishly, I put her to sleep rather than let her find someone else who truly loved her above power and position.”

  Oriana raised her head, thinning her mouth. The former queen swept her gaze across the room. It was no longer soft.

  “A hundred years later, she has finally found that someone. Don’t separate these two lovers.” Sadness filled her blue eyes as her gaze returned to my mother. “Don’t value power and position over happiness.”

  Oddly, my mother’s eyes softened when they met those of the former queen. Her own attention flickered to her favorite servant.

  There was a quiet adoration in his dark brown eyes, which one might mistake for simple loyalty.

  Oriana studied my mother’s favorite, only to quickly look away. She knew about his feelings for my mother. She knew my mother cared for him.

  Perhaps there had been some difficulty, some scandal she’d helped hush up. Perhaps she’d been my mother’s friend when no one else had been.