Once Upon A [Fallen] Time

by Samreen Ahsan

  When my mother lived in this castle, did she ever feel the warmth of the sun on her skin? All the private chambers faced east, which should throw morning light through our windows every day, but today was the first time it actually happened. As if the heavy cloud of fog had been lifted off from the castle to mark a new beginning.

  My gaze dropped back to her. She was awake, staring at me. She had the power to see right through me. I had no place to hide and what I did last night—I certainly deserved this contempt in her eyes. She straightened up, leaning against the pillow, and pulled the blanket up to her chest.

  Every person in this world has a book of life. Your fate and destiny were written there before you were born, I recalled Haakon’s wise words. In your case, someone has torn your pages and changed your destiny. Was she the one to change my future, my destiny?

  We kept looking at each other for endless moments. I wanted her to break the ice first but it seemed like she didn’t plan to talk at all. Her penetrating gaze was enough to warn how much she despised me at this moment.

  I cleared my throat—trying to raise the courage to talk to her. But what should I say? This was beyond forgiving and I had no power to fix last night’s incident.

  I took a step towards her. Fear showed on her beautiful face—I could see it in her eyes: dread and abhorrence. I knew I deserved it, since I was such a bastard last night. I wasn’t supposed to act like that. I was already ruined by her touch—afraid of not resisting the temptation of her sublime beauty. I knew if I didn’t refrain myself, the beast inside me would end up harming her. I wanted to keep her safe…forever.

  She clutched the blanket tightly, fearing I might harm her. I halted my steps at once.

  “Please…don’t be scared. I won’t harm you,” I said, hoping she’d believe my sincerity. She was breathing hard, looking around, obviously trying to absorb her surroundings. I was sure everything was new to her. She didn’t expect to spend a night like that. She was utterly perturbed by my attitude last night. I looked at her with sincerity once again, hoping my eyes would convey the message my mouth couldn’t.

  She closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. After opening her eyes again, she pulled off the blanket and got out of the bed. Her gaze wandered everywhere in the chamber. Hadn’t she seen it already if she had known so much about me? Didn’t she know how I lived? Panic shot through me. Was she planning to leave right now? No. She couldn’t. Didn’t she know she could get caught by King Stefan?

  “Where are you going?” I asked.

  “I’ve got to use the lavatory,” she replied.

  “It’s this way.” I gestured to my right side. It was behind the closed doors of the dressing chamber, behind the bath chamber.

  “I know the way. I’ve used it already,” she said simply and disappeared through the door. I looked at the closed door behind her in shock. Used it already? When? How?

  “Shit!” she cursed under her breath when she returned. “This is fucking Medieval Era.”

  “Pardon me?”

  “What year are we in?” she asked, her gaze moving around my chamber. I didn’t know what she meant with her question. I just stared at her, as curious as her. “I mean what year is it?”

  “You mean to ask, is it the year of fourteen-fifteen?”

  She blinked a few times, her face the picture of disbelief. “Oh fuck!” Did she curse under her breath? It sounded like it. “It is the bloody fifteenth century.”

  What was her point, I had no idea. The way her eyes gawked around the chamber, it was as if she had never seen a place like this. I knew she was angry with me because I had locked her up last night and if I didn’t apologize soon, I knew she’d give me a rough time.

  “I’m sorry,” I said, trying to divert our conversation. Her gaze was too powerful for me to look into her eyes. I just couldn’t face her beauty. It was too pure and disturbingly distracting. The lilacs in her hair were still intact—untouched and undestroyed. How did she manage to look so beautiful in the morning when she had had such a rough night?

  “I’m hungry.” She folded her arms in front of her chest but didn’t hesitate to look at me. I drew my eyebrows together to fathom the way she had just spoken to me, as if she was my master here. No one in this castle had spoken to me like that before, passing me orders, commanding me shamelessly. But she had the audacity and strength of the entire womankind. “If you don’t remember, Your Highness, you starved me last night,” she barked. It seemed like she hadn’t learned the lesson last night.

  I stood up from the bed. “If you had learned to shut up last night, this wouldn’t have happened,” I shot back.

  I was only a breath away from her. The temptation to kiss her was driving me crazy. How could I hold back the beast in me? He’d woken up as soon as she’d opened her eyes.

  She retreated, leaning against the wall, protecting herself by closing her arms around her chest more tightly. She should know by now that I wouldn’t harm her, but I had also not done anything heroic to win her trust. I was still a villain in this story.

  I pulled away, creating some distance between us. “I’ll bring something for you to eat.”

  “You’re leaving me here alone?” She looked at me with wide eyes.

  “You want to come down with me and face King Stefan?” I asked.

  “Shit!” She cursed again. “I forgot about him.” She took a deep breath and walked towards the window and looked out, her gaze suddenly lost.

  I liked hearing her voice even though she argued every time we talked. She might not know it, but her voice was creating a life inside me—a life that had died with Veronica. Her voice was a slow addiction. This chamber had been a grave after Emma and Veronica, and she knew everything about it. She knew I hadn’t visited V’s grave. She knew I had neglected Emma. Why wasn’t she asking me questions like she did last night? Maybe she was truly hungry. She didn’t have enough strength to argue.

  Then I realised I didn’t even know her name.

  “Your name?” I demanded. She ignored my question and kept her stare locked outside. Her silence was testing my patience. What the hell did she think she was doing? She thought she’d just ignore me like that? I always got what I demanded. If she showed this attitude to King Stefan, she had no bloody idea what he’d do to her. I had to train her before I would let her face him.

  I walked towards her and turned her around by pulling her bare arm. Her touch jolted me but, still, I took the courage to look her in the eye. “I asked you. What-is-your-name?”

  “I’m not Jasmine, if that’s what you’re wondering.” She pulled her arm out of my grip.

  “I know that. You told me last night.”

  “So, if you’re wondering whether I’m a witch then you don’t know me.” Her anger was palpable. I took a deep breath—trying to calm down my frustration. This woman was too much to handle. “I’m not going to curse you—if that’s what you’re thinking.”

  Shit! Was she able to read my mind?

  “So, you’re not a witch?” I asked. How had she managed to travel through the mirror then?

  She stepped back and gestured towards her body. “Do I look like a witch from any angle?” she snapped. “I’m a normal human being like you—I’m just accidentally stuck in this time.”

  “Accidentally?” I barked. “You provoked me to pull you towards me.”

  “I provoked you?” she shouted. “Weren’t you desperate to talk to me? Didn’t you call me all those times by the lake, asking me to come out?”

  Shit! How the hell did she know about that?

  “Now if you’re wondering how I know everything… you’ve known the entire time that someone has been reading you like a book.” I still looked at her, speechless, as she continued blabbing. “Guess what! I was the one who read your whole life. And now I’m stuck because of your stupid desire to meet me, so you may as well accept it and live with it.”

  I’d been right. She did have the audacity of the entire womank
ind. I had not seen such a wild woman in my entire life. I cleared my throat.

  “So, if you are not a witch then how the hell did you pass through Satan’s mirror?”

  “Satan’s mirror?” she asked. “What made you think it’s a Satan’s mirror?” She snorted. “I can’t believe you just said that.” She rolled her eyes.

  I blinked, unsure how to answer. “I’ve heard stories about it.”

  “Rubbish stories!”

  “You know all about it, don’t you?” I was curious to find out more. “Who is Jasmine to you?”

  She turned around and looked outside the window again. “I don’t know. All I know is that she ruled here, that this castle belongs to her, and that your family is treacherous.”

  I took a deep breath. Her remark should have made me angry, but how could I punish her for telling the truth? “You said it in front of me, but don’t ever say it in front of my father. He doesn’t like hearing truths.”

  “I know,” she responded, her back still facing me. “I’m hungry. Please get me some food.”

  “Your name?” I asked again. I had to know what name belonged to such a pretty face.

  But, once again, she didn’t respond. Why the hell was she not telling me her name?

  “I asked your name, lady. I don’t like asking again and again.”

  “And I don’t like being questioned again and again,” she snapped. “If I’m not telling you my name then you should know by now that I’m not willing to tell you my name. So, stop annoying me.” Really! She dared to talk to a future king like that? To reject my questions to my face? I couldn’t believe this woman.

  She truly had the audacity of entire womankind.

  I balled my fists to keep my temper at bay and left the chamber. It was time for me to attend the morning mass.

  Once I entered the chapel, the first thing I noticed was the damn mirror. If this was truly a Satan’s mirror then how was it capable of sending her to me? She’d said she wasn’t a witch. Was she an angel in disguise?

  Come to think of it... Satan’s mirror inside the chapel—the place where we all worship. What an odd combination! Jasmine couldn’t have found a better place for the mirror than this holy place?

  I sat on the pew next to my father who was already listening intently to the priest’s words. I didn’t heed to his words. I just kept staring at the mirror. If she had come from this mirror into my world, could she also return?

  No!

  I didn’t want her to leave. I wouldn’t let her enter the chapel again. I would forbid the chapel to her. It was too dangerous. I couldn’t take any risk.

  With all the wild thoughts running through my mind, I didn’t even realize the mass was over and that everyone had already left until King Stefan tapped on my shoulder to gain my attention.

  “Edward?”

  I looked up to where he stood in front of me.

  “Are you feeling alright?”

  I didn’t respond. I just stared at him with a blank face. What would he do to her? What should I tell him about her? If I told him she came from this mirror, he surely wouldn’t believe me. And if he believed me, he’d be convinced she was truly a witch, and I knew what they did to the witches here—burning them alive in the name of witchcraft, or hanging them naked to the pillory in the middle of the market for people to stone them.

  He sat next to me and faced the mirror.

  “I heard you have a prisoner?” he asked. My head snapped up. How the hell had he found out about her? “Was she the business you attended to last night?”

  “How do you know?”

  “I was told there is a beautiful woman locked in the tower.” He chuckled—lust simmering in his eyes. “I didn’t put her there, so it had to be you." He paused then added, “Besides, you should know who the king here is.”

  I stood up. “She is my prisoner.”

  He stood up too, drawing his eyebrows together. I had never spoken to him like that to defend anyone except when I defended Emma, but I wouldn’t let him break me this time, and I wouldn’t let him win this time, either.

  But, much to my surprise, he placed his hand on my shoulder. “I know. I’m proud of you, son.” I couldn’t believe my ears. “But where is she now? She’s not in the tower.”

  Had he actually gone there to check on her? I was relieved that I had already brought her to my chamber.

  “She is in my chamber now,” I said, not caring what he thought of me.

  He raised his eyebrows. “A prisoner in your chamber?”

  “Yes,” I looked him in the eye. “She is my captive so it is up to me where and how I keep her.”

  He watched me for a moment, trying to read my soul. He knew I was not lying.

  “She must be very special then," he finally said. Why don’t you bring her to breakfast and introduce her to everyone?” His smile was a devilish grin—oh, how I hated it.

  “She doesn’t need to meet anyone,” I snapped.

  “Don’t forget, Edward, you’re betrothed.” He fixed his dark brown velvet robe. “Bring that woman with you.” And with that, he walked out.

  I stood there frozen, staring at his back, as he left the chapel. What was I supposed to do now? How could I introduce her to Elizabeth if she was attending breakfast? What would I say?

  Meet this woman who has been coming into my dreams forever?

  Meet this woman who isn’t willing to tell me her name?

  Meet this woman who knows everything about my past life?

  Meet this woman who introduces me to my evil desires?

  Meet this woman whom I met in Satan’s mirror and whom I pulled to my world without thinking about the consequences because I was a greedy bastard?

  I raked my fingers through my hair, contemplating my next move. If King Stefan demanded to meet her then I had no other option than to convince her to come to breakfast with me—and I knew how stubborn she was.

  I entered my chamber without knocking. She was still staring out of the window, just like V used to do. I wondered what these women thought about in solitude. I cleared my throat, but she didn’t move at all. It was beautiful to watch her this way. The image of her standing by the window was etching itself in my mind. I could sketch her through my memory now. She was remarkably elegant.

  I walked closer to her and I knew she acknowledged my presence. I could sense her body shifting mildly and reacting on my presence. I liked that feeling. I was able to move her, without touching her. But she didn’t know she had the same effect on me. Without touching, she was able to strip me bare.

  I cleared my throat once more, and I was sure she could hear me now. A few strands of her dark brown curls fell flawlessly over her shoulders. Her dress was very pretty. Perhaps King Stefan would buy it if I told him that I had found her outside the castle and that she belonged to a noble family. To me, she looked no less than a princess. Her slim back faced me—her lace-clad dress, perhaps imported from Venice, revealing her marble skin underneath the fabric. My hands itched to touch her back. I was certain that she was not wearing any corset underneath it, in fact, nothing underneath the damned lace. If her skin shone under sheer fabric, how would it look bare?

  I balled my fists—the resistance of touching her back was driving me crazy. I wanted to rip off everything from her skin, and that made me as perverted as King Stefan.

  Pearls lined her lace-clad back from the nape all the way to her low back, knotted in lilac loops, making an elegant trail. The rest of the dress skirted with matching lilac satin. Perhaps, she was nobility. A peasant wouldn’t be able to afford such fine Venetian silk.

  I was sure she had needed assistance putting on this dress. Did she have servants and slaves working under her too? What if she needed to change this dress? Who would unhook the pearl loops? Would she ask me to arrange a chambermaid for her? Or would I have the privilege to undress her?

  Stop it, Edward! You’re going way too far with this dress.

  Damn it! I had never noticed a woman
’s dress so closely in my entire life, and no other woman had made me a wreck as she did. I took a deep breath and pushed all the crazy thoughts out of my mind to speak what I’d come here for.

  “King Stefan would like to meet you… at the table.”

  She craned her neck to the left, acknowledging me. “I’m not going anywhere,” she replied instantly. Why was she making it difficult every time I talked to her?

  “Please, don’t make it so hard. If King Stefan demands to meet you, he will meet you.”

  She turned around and I could see the contempt in her eyes. “Did you tell him I was here?”

  “No, he already knew.” I looked up at the ceiling. Every time she watched me like this, I felt uncomfortable. “There is another family. Elizabeth—”

  “Elizabeth? You were betrothed to her last night, weren’t you?”

  I met her gaze. There was desperation, regret, anger, frustration—all mixed up together, forming a pool of tears on the brim.

  She turned back around to face the window again. I remembered her yelling at me last night, about me choosing my life partner myself. I was still a coward who couldn’t say anything to my father.

  The way she had looked at me, I felt tied to her by an unspoken promise. I didn’t know what that feeling was. She was the woman whom I had craved forever. Seeing her, meeting her, touching her was the only thing I had longed for all my life. And now when she was only a breath away from me, I was telling her about my betrothed, whom I hadn’t even noticed properly. The woman of my dreams, the woman I had fancied all my life was standing close to me, and I didn’t even have the nerve to tell her how much I longed for her touch. Instead, I had hurt her feelings by telling her about my commitments to the other woman.

  I gave her a minute to get her bearings. “Please join me for breakfast.”

  She turned around again to face me.

  “You don’t have a mirror here?” What did a mirror have to do with breakfast? I pulled my eyebrows in confusion, and looked at her—clearly not understanding what she meant. “Look at me, I’m a mess. I need to fix myself before I go and face the king of England. I need a looking glass.” She was concealing her sorrow by wearing a mask of a strong woman. There were no tears, no regret, and no grief in those beautiful grey eyes now.