Once Upon A [Fallen] Time

by Samreen Ahsan

  “Did any king in the past know about these books?” I asked.

  “No, Your Grace,” he replied. “You’re the first one. They knew about the books in the library but no one in the past—not even your father—has been able to find out what they are about. They are empty papyrus sheets for them.”

  “Has King Stefan ever asked you about it?”

  His jaw dropped at my question. He took a moment to answer. “Yes, he asked me but I only provide him with the information which is useful to him.”

  “And you can read those books? Like Myra did?”

  “Yes, Your Grace.” He was not a liar—I knew that for sure.

  “And how is…” I didn’t know how to word my question. “How is Myra able to see the book? Does it involve some kind of sorcery?”

  He stared at the mirror and didn’t answer me instantly. For a moment I thought my words had turned him into stone.

  “There are some secrets, Your Grace, that I’m afraid I cannot reveal and I apologize to you. You just need to be patient as the future unfolds.” I looked at him in confusion as he continued, “But you must remember that no curse affects Lady Farrow.” He glanced at me. “I’m afraid I have to admit that your father is right—she is the one.”

  Time seemed to come to a halt. Everything felt frozen around me. That was the prettiest—and the ugliest truth that had ever been revealed to me. Prettiest because if she was the one then she could break my spell, and ugliest because if she was the one then her life was in grave danger. I knew what my sick-minded father was capable of. He was already certain that she was indeed the one. Should I revise my future and run away from Hue Castle again—but not alone this time? I would take her with me. There was nothing this castle could offer her. It would only doom her and bring darkness into her life. This castle was an epitome of the purgatory—where we were all destined to rot forever. There was no path to Heaven after passing through this Hell.

  I watched Haakon as he stood up from the pew and left me alone in the chapel. I stared at the cursed mirror again. I had nothing to inquire from him because the more I learned about these cursed walls, the more suffocating it was for me to live in them. She shouldn’t have entered my life. I shouldn’t have pulled her from this cursed mirror. I should have curbed the temptation, but goddammit, I didn’t regret a single moment. Every moment spent with her was heavenly, and even foreseeing so much danger coming towards her, I was still the greedy bastard who wouldn’t let her leave my side. I’d face all the storms with her, although I had a feeling that we’d both drown in this storm. But I was still selfish enough not to send her back to where she had come from.

  “If you remember me,

  then I don’t care if everyone else forgets.”

  ― Haruki Murakami

  CHAPTER 17

  MYRA

  JUNE 13th 1415

  There are certain experiences in life that—unless you experience them personally—you cannot measure the depth of it, no matter how much you read about them in books or hear from others. One of those experiences is falling in love.

  I had read so much about love in hopelessly romantic novels, but never in my dreams could I have imagined this strong feeling. I had no idea what it would feel like to submit your soul to someone. Your entire existence suddenly gets another meaning—live for someone, die for someone. I fell in love with Edward before I’d even met him, but I had only realized the depth of my love after meeting him. He was a torn man, trapped between his torturous past and wrecked present, but even despite the chaotic journey of his life, he had a heart of gold. I promised to cherish every moment with him because I didn’t know what the future would bring for me, for us. I didn’t know if we were destined to live together in the near future or if our fates were already sold to King Stefan.

  Edward had warned me in every way he could, and I knew he was more worried about me than I was myself. I was not really afraid of the future because Edward’s love had made me a very strong woman. As long as Edward and his love were with me, I’d stay beside him as a strong fortress and we’d face all the storms together.

  He had not confessed his love and I knew he wouldn’t because he was afraid of losing me, but there was more than love I saw in his eyes. There was madness, ownership—every crazy element obsession and passion could bring. He had conquered my heart and now he ruled my soul, and that was the only place I wanted to be—to be close to him. I never realized the magic of his kiss and power of touching and being touched were so strong—an unbreakable bond of a lifetime. People used to write books about how one soul splits into two bodies—somehow the Greek mythology was finally making sense to me. It felt as if Edward and I shared the same soul, and Zeus, the Greek God, had split us into two bodies. Despite the difference of time and centuries, our bodies and souls still united; they dodged their fates and transcended time to meet each other because we were made for each other. Our souls had been bound together since forever, and even if we didn’t get a chance to live happily in this world, I was certain we were soul mates in Heaven.

  Edward had passed through Hell in his life due to his father’s treacherous decisions but now, that I was in his life, I promised he would not walk on those paths ever again. His love had empowered me, strengthened me to face any decision King Stefan would take against us. I would not let him undermine Edward this time.

  I was still wrapped in the sheets the way Edward had left me, still hungry for him. I could still feel his lips all over my body; still feel his tantalizing fingers teasing me. I could still hear his magical voice in my ears. He was everything a woman could dream of, and I was that lucky woman. If living with Edward meant I could never go back to my time and stayed in this medieval era forever, I was willing to accept it—because Edward was my home. I couldn’t imagine going back to the twenty-first century without him in my life. Fate had sold my soul and my existence to Edward. He was the ruler of my heart and soul, and I had surrendered my life to him.

  The emotions that had washed over his face when it had started raining on the grounds were priceless. I could imagine how it would feel to experience rain on your body for the very first time. He was happy, but there was also sadness and grief. He had missed Veronica immensely in that moment. He had wished for her presence in that moment, to experience life together with her, but fate had already ruined that for him. I knew he had tried to hold back his tears, because even after opening up to me so much, he was still not ready to break in front of me. He was a physically and emotionally strong man, and he’d never cry in front of me or to anyone, but in order to accept Veronica’s death and in order for him to talk about Veronica and his grief, he needed to shed tears. The agony inside his heart was rotting him, day by day, like an infected wound. Because of this misery, he was not ready to face Emma. He still blamed himself for Veronica’s death and therefore accepted Emma’s hatred wholeheartedly. He didn’t deserve it, and I promised to make Emma love Edward again once she returned to the castle. I’d make her reconsider Edward as her father and guardian all over again. I’d make her the same child who used to rush over to Edward’s arm for a hug. The same child who was sweet reason for Edward to laugh.

  I left the bed and walked to the dressing room to change into another dress before Edward came back to call me for dinner. I was already starving; I’d need to start eating more for breakfast again. We had been so tangled up in each other the whole afternoon that we hadn’t even realized how the lunch hours had passed a long time ago. At dinner, I would talk to King Stefan about Emma, without giving away that I knew she was Veronica’s daughter. As far as he was concerned, I didn’t know about Veronica, Edward hadn’t said anything to me, and Edward and I were not friends. He had to think that Edward was treating me as his captive.

  I collected all the sodden clothes from the floor and took them back to the dressing room. Edward’s clothes still smelled of him and rain. His body had his own unique fragrance that I could recognize even with closed eyes. His touch had the
power to turn my bones into liquid, making everything mushy inside me. His kisses said everything he couldn’t say—they were more eloquent than his voice and more capable of sending me his deeply hidden heart’s message.

  My heart still danced on the victory that I had been able to make him surrender to me in just a couple of days. I didn’t know how and why it had rained on the grounds when it hadn’t rained ever since Jasmine had cast a spell here two hundred years ago. I didn’t know if this was due to my presence as Edward had said. I didn’t know why and how the flowers in my hair hadn’t withered. I was as curious as Edward and King Stefan about my role in all this, but I dreaded that King Stefan was planning to test the water on me. The bastard thought I was here for him. But unlike Edward, he was a cruel man who had no heart. Unlike Edward, he would find other measures to end his curse.

  Edward was not trying to end his curses or gain more years to live. He was embracing life the way it was unfolding, but I could sense King Stefan thought about life differently. I didn’t know how, but I’d have to make him realize that I was not here for him but for his precious son. Right now, he didn’t consider that Edward even existed and that he could have his own world of fantasy. He thought he had tamed Edward in such a way that there was no compassion left in Edward’s soul, no heart beating inside Edward’s chest. King Stefan thought he had successfully moulded his son into a wall of stone who’d rule England the same way as him, but secretly wishing himself to end his curse. He wasn’t even contemplating that he had a son with his own desires, who was as cursed as he was. The self-centred bastard was only considering his desires.

  I pushed all the negative thoughts aside and focused on the magical moments that Edward and I had shared. With his sensuous kisses and sweet touch, he had given me all the secrets and desires his heart had been holding for so long. My heart was still dancing in the celebration of our love. We had not actually made love, but I was still content with whatever he was offering me. It was still more than I had expected from Edward in those two days. We’d come a long way from the night he had left me alone in the dark tower, to the moment he carried me into his arms and kissing me tenderly on every inch of my body.

  I couldn’t believe it had only been this morning when he had kissed me harshly and warned me of his beast. I couldn’t believe it had only been this morning when he had called me a pagan and forbade me to enter the chapel. Incredible how one shower of rain had changed so many things between us. This rain had flooded our lives with a stronger love and an unbreakable bond.

  I chose another dress from the fine dress collection that had been given to me generously by King Stefan. It was a peacock-blue silk dress, adorned with dark blue gems and lace-ruffled sleeves. I was still curious if King Stefan had selected these dresses himself or if they had a royal fashion adviser here. The fitted silk made me look slimmer than I was. All the dresses were so beautiful, with rich deep colours and expensive fabrics. I was sure these dresses would cost more than a thousand pound each in the twenty-first century, and here, I got to wear these gowns on a daily basis.

  I walked back into the room and uncloaked the mirror to look at myself. I had decided to cover it up when Edward stayed in the room. Right now, I wanted to get ready for Edward, to look good for him. There was a strange glow on my skin that I hadn’t noticed earlier. Was this the glow of happiness, contentment, fulfilment?

  I noticed my hairpins and flowers from yesterday still placed on the sideboard. I picked up two flowers and pinned them in my hair, gathering two strands from each side and pinning from behind. I had no makeup to wear, but the happiness on my face was enough to make me look radiant. I was looking forward to the night—waiting for Edward to open up to me even more. I knew he wanted to share a lot. He had questions about Steve. I never knew he’d ever notice the ring on my finger. I wondered where he kept my engagement ring. I hope he knew how costly it was, purchased from Cartier. But did it really matter to the future king of England?

  The bell at the door startled me once again. I turned around from the mirror. “Yes?” I knew Edward would never knock or ring a bell. He’d just come in. There was no privacy between us—not after today.

  A woman, perhaps a castle’s servant, pushed the door to open.

  “Lady Farrow, His Highness has requested your presence.” Her gaze was cast down in respect. Interestingly, I never saw the same servant more than once, so I was sure I wouldn’t meet her again. How many workers lived at Hue Castle?

  “Please tell him I’ll join him at the table soon,” I replied, fixing my hair.

  “His Highness is not at the table. You’ll have to follow me.” There was no point in arguing with a servant. They were just following orders. I wondered why Edward had sent a servant to call me. He said he’d come back. Maybe he was busy talking to King Stefan and didn’t have time to return to the chamber?

  I cloaked the mirror again and followed the woman quietly. Upon reaching the ground level, instead of turning right to the dining area, she turned left. I stayed silent, curious to know where she was taking me. There were still hidden and undiscovered places in this castle.

  I recalled my first visit to the castle when Tyler had noticed a closed door under the stairs. It had no keyhole and it had seemed then that it had been locked from inside. The woman walked to that same door and knocked on it gently.

  “Please, follow me, Lady Farrow,” she said as the door opened from inside. My heart raced in my chest like I’d just run a marathon. Something was off. This wouldn’t be a place Edward would call me. If he wanted me to be somewhere else, he should have taken me himself. Somehow, I was having a negative feeling about it. Was it Edward who had called me or King Stefan? Had I heard it wrong?

  There was a guard standing at the other side of the door. I walked through the door, finding a long narrow passage, made of limestone and no windows. It looked like I was going into a dungeon. It was so quiet I could hear my heart drumming inside my chest. The walls were adorned with light sconces on both sides after every ten steps. They provided enough light, but there was still an unexplainable darkness, which I couldn’t describe. This was a darkness that could settle into your soul. I followed the woman without a clue, where in the castle she was taking me. It was cold and dingy. I was sure no GPS tracker would work here. Steve would have loved this undiscovered place. The path led us upwards, as if we were climbing a hill. Perhaps the destination was on the second level?

  I was feeling claustrophobic due to the closed walls surrounding me, nauseated due to an empty stomach, and breathless due to walking on a steep path. We kept on walking and walking, ascending higher and higher, until the path ended at a wide corridor. It felt like a déjà vu, but I was sure I had not visited this side of the castle before. I took in the surroundings—the deep maroon carpet and the maroon wainscoted walls—while following the servant quietly.

  “Lady Farrow is here, Your Highness,” she announced loudly when she stopped at a door. Her voice echoed in the barren corridor. She stepped aside. “You may go in.” My heart hammered in my chest, and I couldn’t decide whether I should go inside or not. When I looked at the ebony door, it dawned on me that I was standing outside King Stefan’s chamber, which I had seen in Edward’s book. Before I could make any decision, the door opened wide, with King Stefan standing at the entrance.

  I had no strength to fake a smile at this moment, and perhaps he was intelligent enough to read the astounded expression on my face.

  “Lady Farrow,” he greeted me, his voice dripping with his fake gentleman manner. “Why are you standing at the doorway? Come in.” He held my hand and pulled me gently inside the room. “That will be all,” he said, looking at the woman behind me, and shut the door.

  He dropped my hand and walked to the armchair. I was too stunned, shit scared, and speechless to react in any way. Edward was not here. The bastard had tricked both of us. He might have sent Edward somewhere else, and I had no idea why he had called me to his room alone.

&nb
sp; I drank in my surroundings. This was the same room I had seen in Edward’s book and I was as shocked as Edward had been when he had entered the king’s chamber for the first time. He was right. A strange darkness had settled in this room, the chamber was an epitome of a massive tomb. Maybe it was the dark walls, the black armchairs, and the ebony bed with its black drapes that made the room appear like a grave. Or perhaps it was the lack of natural light.

  Unlike the other chambers in this castle, where they had high and wide windows, this chamber only had a small window. From where I stood, by the door, on my left side, there was a huge fireplace, which heated the entire chamber. In front of the fireplace were a pair of arms chairs, upholstered in black velvet. In the centre was a large canopy bed, surrounded by black velvet drapes. The wood around the chamber used was ebony. Whoever had designed this room had a thing for black. One could use this room for moaning or grieving for eternity. The other side of the bed had an ebony sideboard and some doors leading to somewhere. The ceiling was low compared to the other chambers inside the castle. It seemed like this chamber was built separately. Perhaps, it was Andrew’s chamber and he had designed it. As if it was a part of the tower once, where they kept their prisoners. It wasn’t part of the earlier palace but constructed later on, when this place turned into a castle, which also included the tower. It wasn’t airy like other chambers.

  “Lady Farrow,” King Stefan broke through my thoughts. “Why are you standing by the door?” He gestured at the armchair next to him. “Please, have a seat.”

  I walked slowly, trying to figure out the possibilities of running away in case of any emergency. My head throbbed with each step I took towards the danger zone. His perverted gaze followed me like a hawk, making me feel hunted. I sat opposite him but didn’t dare looking back at him.

  “You look beautiful, Lady Farrow.” I glanced at him and realized he was drunk. There were sherry and water tumblers as well as two crystal goblets on the table between us.