"We came to report, your Highness," Theron said.
The King turned to the young man, who couldn’t have been much older than Snow White. "Prince Roald, we will continue later. I must hear of my daughter's safety."
"I'm her betrothed. This concerns me as well," the man said.
"Later." The King's words left no room for argument.
Reluctantly, the young prince bowed and left the room.
"Now, what happened? I wasn't expecting you back until tomorrow evening." The King began closing books lying on the table in front of him.
"Rothe intercepted us, your Majesty. If it wasn't for Anessa, we'd all be dead."
The King's hand stilled mid-reach for a paper. "Where's my daughter? Is Vardon with her?"
"Has no one told you?" Theron asked.
"I've been locked in meetings all day. I needed to keep busy so I didn't worry.” The King slammed his hand down on the table. “I knew I shouldn't have let her leave."
"The Princess is safe at my cottage. The dwarves make effective bodyguards." Anessa said.
Theron nodded. "Rothe killed a few guards, but Anessa protected as many as she could."
"And Vardon? Where was he during all of this?" The King asked.
"Vardon was the first to be struck. He lives in sleep for now," Anessa answered. She cringed as a particularly painful squeeze went through her chest.
The King nodded. "I was foolish to hope any could stand against Rothe."
"I won't underestimate him again, your Majesty." Anessa said.
"No, you won't. You'll return my daughter and leave us be."
Theron took a step forward. "Sire, without Anessa all would be lost."
"We didn't have any trouble before she came. She's a witch. We're cursed by her mere presence."
Anessa stared in shock. Did he really believe she was the cause? "I've done nothing but try to help your family since I got here."
Theron stepped forward. "Your daughter would be dead or worse if Anessa hadn't fought Rothe. Truly, Sire, he wouldn't be attacking now if he wasn't afraid she'd succeed in undoing his evil."
The King stood and walked to his window that overlooked the village outside the castle walls. "Would you risk your life for her success, Captain?"
"Yes."
"Very well. You'll be responsible for her, Captain. If she fails, you'll lose your life, also."
"NO!" Anessa shouted and turned to the King. A different kind of pain held her heart now. Theron was a good man. "Please don't do this."
Theron looked into her eyes. "Anessa. I have trusted you with my life once, I trust you to hold it again."
"All very touching," The King interrupted. "However, I would like to know how you were able to get back so quickly when I was assured your cottage was at least half a day’s ride away."
"I transported the Captain and myself back here."
"And you couldn't have transported my daughter there?"
"I didn't think you'd trust me to go by myself with her."
"You're right, I wouldn't have. But now that I know you can, I expect you and Theron to make daily reports on her safety."
"Sire, don't you think I am better equipped to hunt Rothe, than to be a nursemaid?" Theron asked.
"I expect you to keep an eye on the witch. I have others who can hunt."
Theron nodded his head in acknowledgement. "Understood, Sire."
"I don't have the strength to both check on the Princess and work on freeing the Queen."
"Do you have any other ideas?" the King asked.
Anessa thought for a moment. "Actually, I think I do. Follow me, gentlemen.”
She walked out of the room, ignoring their confused stares. She stopped only after reaching the Mirror. It showed what any mirror should, a reversed image of a very confused King and Theron standing on either side of her.
“Watch this.” She turned to the Mirror and said. “Mirror Mirror on the wall. A question asked to the fairest of all.”
Their reflection swirled in the glass, and when it cleared, the Queen’s image replaced it.
"What would you three wish of me?" The Queen asked in a flat emotionless voice.
"Show us the youngest daughter of all, the one named for frozen rain fall."
The image swirled again and there sleeping in the same room where Anessa had left her, was Snow White. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying, but she was intact, a box of Anessa’s favorite chocolates by her hand and candy wrappers littered the bedspread like fallen leaves.
"Satisfied, King?"
"Yes. Can I speak with my wife?"
"The Mirror only responds to rhymes after being called fairest. I'm not entirely sure why, but I think it must be because the first question Rothe asked. If you ask any other way, she won’t answer."
"Very well. Leave me."
Chapter 20
Four days passed. Anessa tried to avoid Theron, but he was everywhere. She’d resorted to taking dinner privately in her rooms just to get a break. Anessa turned to go to her room one evening, but stopped when Theron grabbed her hand. He forced her to turn and look up at him.
"I want to show you something," his gaze pleaded.
"It's been a long day. Aren't you tired?"
"It won't take long."
"Fine."
He grinned and without letting go of her hand led the way out of the castle and off of the grounds.
"Should we go so far away?"
"It's not that far." He turned toward the forest and took an overgrown trail through the trees.
The smell of pine welcomed her as they walked, and she remembered the feeling of Theron’s arms around her that night.
"I like to come here when the world turns upside down. I know it's not much, but ... " he stepped to the side.
There in front of them was a small lake surrounded by the rich evergreen trees.
"It's lovely." She stepped to the water’s edge and closed her eyes. The earth’s gentle lullaby harmonized with her magic, calling her to dance, and she swayed without thinking.
"We need to talk, and we won't be interrupted here," Theron said. He sat on a fallen tree and picked up a handful of pebbles by his feet.
"You didn't need to put yourself at risk. I appreciate that you stood up for me to the King. He can't kill me without risking a war. It’s clear you feel obligated, but really there’s no need."
"For all my brother’s faults, he’d risk war to get his wife back." Theron began throwing the pebbles into the lake one by one.
“Your brother?” She sat down next to him. “Doesn’t that make you a prince?”
“No, my title was taken from me. I was a bit rebellious in my youth. However, family has always been important to him and Knight Captain is the only title I’d accept. As to feeling obligated, I assure you that is not the name of what I feel.”
“Then resentment. You left that night and tried to leave without me the next morning. You didn’t even want my help when Rothe was coming.”
“Resentment? I was trying to be a gentleman, keep you out of harm's way.” Theron tossed the last stone into the water.
The water began to bubble, and a large green dragon head popped out of the lake. One eye was covered in a white scar. Anessa jumped up and flicked out her wand.
“Did you need something?” Vanduo hissed at them.
Anessa spoke before Theron could. “We apologize, ancient one. We did not realize this is where you slumbered.”
“It’s recent. Poseidon and I had a disagreement. He’s so touchy about his trident. I decided it would be easier to get my eye back if I was nearby.”
“Your eye?” Theron asked.
The dragon gave what could only be considered a smile, but it wasn’t pleasant. Thousands of needle-thin teeth glinted in the moonlight. “Of course, although I am enjoying the perks of that sorcerer’s spell.”
A thought occurred to Anessa. “Can you still see with it?”
“It’s a piece of me.”
&nbs
p; “Can you tell us what the mirror sees?”
“If you came to ask about your love life, you would do better to look at the man next to you. Honestly, for a woman of eight-hundred years you should have more sense.” Vanduo began sinking back into the water. “Before you ask, yes, I’ll guard this side of the castle. Now don’t come back unless you have my eyestone.”
Vanduo disappeared into the lake.
Anessa was so embarrassed that she couldn’t look at Theron.
“Eight-hundred years?” He asked.
“Eight-twenty-five to be exact.”
“You must have seen a lot.”
“Not really. I spent all but the last few years training and learning. I’ve only been living outside of the Black Mountain for two years. I did read a lot though.”
“So Rothe is your first love?”
“Was.” She kicked a small rock. It rolled into the water.
“Good.” Theron smiled
A small wave on the lake rolled their direction and broke on the shore next to them. They jumped back to avoid getting splashed.
“We’re leaving,” Theron called across the water.
He held out his arm to escort her.
“That’s it? No more questions?”
“What do you think she meant by us asking her to guard the castle?”
A hard squeeze tightened around Anessa’s chest. Just when she thought she couldn’t take it anymore, the band of magic connecting her to Vardon broke.
“Vardon’s dead.”
Chapter 21
None of the spells Anessa tried worked on the mirror. She walked away from the table that still held Vardon’s book of notes and over to the window. Her breath fogged on the glass. Time was running out. The Fall Equinox was only a week away.
The Queen still spoke only in a monotone rhyme, but now every evening the King ordered everyone away while he spoke with her. It was during these periods that Anessa and Theron stole time for themselves.
Granted, he was there while she worked, but he mostly sat in a chair that looked far too comfortable and read, just like he was doing now. A glint on the glass showed him sitting there. One of his hands brushed his sandy hair out of his eyes.
One week to figure out what she was feeling for him.
She hadn’t recognized it in the forest for what it was at first. However, moment by moment Anessa began to feel hope.
The first time she recognized the feeling of hope came during a candlelit picnic in the highest castle tower. She smiled as she lost herself to the memory.
Reading, that’s what the night called for. Anessa kicked off her shoes. Once curled up into the down comforter on her bed, she pulled out her favorite romance novel, but her mind wouldn’t focus on the words. Theron acted funny today, distracted. He kept looking out the window, and he practically ran when the King dismissed them after dinner.
A knock, clear and sure of itself, sounded on the door to her chambers.
“So much for reading,” Anessa muttered. Book still in hand, she opened the door.
Theron smiled like a boy with a present he couldn’t wait to open. “Hurry, we’re going to miss it.”
They ran, and Anessa let out a laugh at the confused faces of the knights they passed. At the far side of the hall Theron opened a door and gestured up the spiral staircase. Divots were worn into the middle of the stone steps where people had walked for decades. At the top of the tower the door was already open.
Theron had spread blankets and pillows across the hard stone so they could lie and look up at the stars. There listening to the deep timbre of Theron’s voice she’d forgotten all her worries. Somewhere during the stories of the heroes in the stars she believed and left the book behind.
The sound of a book page turning brought her back to the present. She watched his image on the window as he shifted in the chair he’d tucked her into so many days ago.
The covens had prophesied that Anessa would have two loves, one to learn from and one to keep. Well, she’d learned plenty from Rothe, both in magic and in her heart, more than the thousands of stories she’d read. Vanduo had done more than imply Theron would be her second.
But Theron was courageous, funny, always moving forward with what he knew was right. She didn’t deserve him. He looked up at her, and she blushed when she realized he knew she was staring at his reflection in the glass.
She muttered a spell, and watched for his reaction. Her golden hair shortened, turned red. When she turned around to look at him, her eyes were green. The blue dress from the water coven also changed. Instead of trailing behind her, it shortened until it was at her knees. The sleeves turned to lace around her arms, while the neckline followed her collarbone.
He swallowed. Hard.
His mouth opened to say something when he suddenly looked toward the mirror.
The glass had turned red. The Queen was gesturing frantically.
"What is it? Tell me now before you turn into a cow," Theron said.
"Snow White, the fairest in the land, she lies now upon the sand."
Theron stood up and met Anessa halfway across the room. He wrapped his arms around her, and without another word, Anessa transported them to the cottage. There they found the dwarves rushing an unconscious Snow White into the house.
"What happened?" Anessa asked.
The dwarf named Blue responded. "We were pretending to sword fight on the beach with a couple of sticks. I hit her near the ribs. She complained of not being able to breathe before she collapsed."
“Look here, the silk is strangling her.” One of the other dwarves pointed to the blue corset Snow wore.
Indeed one of the silk corsets Anessa used for stylish armor was now hard as steel and squeezing Snow. Her white skin was starting to turn gray. Blue pulled out a knife and tried to cut it off. The blade snapped when she tried to get it under the laces.
Anessa pulled out her wand and pointed it at the laces. “Lacio.”
They fell away like over-cooked noodles. Blue pried the corset apart, and Snow’s chest rose as she took a deep breath. Her eyes opened, and she slowly blinked several times.
“She’ll live. Time to go, Anessa.” Theron put a hand around her waist.
Snow’s eyes snapped to Anessa. “You again! Haven’t you done enough?” she screeched and began to stand up.
“Tell Birch I said ‘Hi’,” Anessa said to Blue. She lifted her wand and with three swirls, she and Theron returned to the castle.
Chapter 22
For every day that passed, the workroom seemed to get a little smaller.
"I’m running out of time, Theron," Anessa said. "I’ll need to return to the black mountain by the end of the month. That’s in two days."
He looked up from his comfy chair and set his book down. "It’s okay. I’ll come see you."
She paused. She hadn’t expected that. "You would do that?"
"I’d do more than that if you’d let me." His boots barely made a sound as he walked toward her.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"I’ll tell you when you are ready." He brushed a strand of hair out of her face. "I love when you wear your natural form."
"Do the others not please you?" Anessa tapped her ring. Her hair turned a bright red, while her eyes changed to green. She’d tried others over the last few days, but this one seemed to get the biggest reaction from him.
"You are beautiful in them all, but you wear the glamours like a mask, always hiding something. I prefer when you are true to yourself."
Anessa looked away as her hair changed back to its natural honey color.
“Let’s take a break.” Theron suggested. “I always do my best thinking after eating, and it’s almost lunch time.”
Anessa smiled, an idea forming. “A picnic perhaps?”
“In the meadow?”
“I’ll get the food. You grab a blanket.”
Anessa went to her room and pulled out the bag of apples she’d grabbed from the cottage so many days
ago. She pulled on a stem, and it popped off with a snap. “Perfect.”
Theron met her at the kitchens, a blue blanket in hand, the same one he’d used when they went to the tower. She picked up a basket with a loaf of bread. After adding some cheese, meat, and her apples, she looped her arm through Theron’s. They walked through the courtyard and slipped through the door that Snow had shown them.
In the meadow she quickly forgot the fall weather back at the castle. Warmth from the bright shining sun quickly seeped into her skin. They found a nice spot next to the stream Snow had shown them. The water was clean enough to drink. Theron spread the blanket out and pulled out two cups he’d rolled up into it. He was so casual in his movements, clearly used to doing things for himself. However, the precision and grace of his movements hinted at his proper upbringing.
“Tell me, Theron, what did you do to lose your title?”
He took the basket from her and set it in the center of the blanket. Anessa sat down and smoothed her red dress.
He sat down next to her and plucked at the grass at the edge of the blanket.
“I believe people shouldn’t be forced to feel things or do things. My parents decided that it would be advantageous if I married a princess of the sea. They assured me that after a few years I’d feel affection which could turn to love. I refused, as did she, and we were both stripped of our titles and cast out of our kingdoms.”
“That’s terrible.” Anessa picked up one of her apples. Its skin glinted like a polished ruby. She bit into it. A small bite, just enough for the tart skin and sweet fruit to flood her taste buds. Crisp, cool, juice filled her mouth as she chewed.
“I don’t have the grand delusions I once did about love being an instantaneous, all consuming, blind feeling.” He let go of the grass he’d plucked and leaned towards her. “Now I know it’s earned and grows, moment by moment.”
Her breath caught. Theron leaned toward Anessa and brushed an eyelash off her cheek.
"I want to kiss you, Anessa."
None of the characters from her books were so straightforward. Before she could over analyze it, she decided to go with what she felt.
Anessa smiled. "I think I'd like that."
Snow White's Witch (Tales of Eventyr Book 2) Page 7