The Legend Of The Cursed King

Chapter 6

As days went by, Maeve's caring nature perplexed Alareyn. To Alareyn, it seemed inconceivable that someone like her would show interest in his well-being. In his eyes, he possessed nothing of value to offer, unable to contribute anything meaningful to her world. The echoes of his past, shackled by a malevolent curse, clung to him like a relentless shadow, tainting any semblance of hope he dared to entertain.

Alareyn, shrouded in his own doubts, couldn't fathom that Maeve could truly understand the weight of his plight. Did she even know who he was or what he had been through? And what could possibly draw her to these unforgiving mountains on this fateful day? Questions swirled in his mind, yet he remained hesitant to delve into the intricacies of their respective pasts.

He longed to confide in her, to unravel the enigma that his existence had become. But fear held him captive, the dread of her departure gnawing at his conscience. Alareyn couldn't bear the thought of being left to fend for himself, stranded in the treacherous embrace of the mountains, where survival teetered on the precipice of impossibility.

For a fleeting moment, he considered divulging the mystery of the curse that had plagued him for so long. Perhaps she could hold the key to its undoing, to a redemption that had eluded him for what felt like an eternity. Yet, even in that yearning for release, he couldn't bring himself to burden Maeve with the weight of his curse.

Their encounters had been shrouded in uncertainty, their destinies woven together by an unseen hand. But for Alareyn, the prospect of losing Maeve, the one flicker of light in his bleak existence, was too terrifying to fathom. He couldn't risk her fleeing from his cursed existence, leaving him to face the perilous wilderness alone.

Though the odds of survival were already stacked against him, he knew that without her, hope would dissipate entirely. Maeve had become his sole anchor in the tempestuous sea of his life, offering a lifeline he had never anticipated. And even as he struggled to make sense of her kindness, he knew that his survival hinged on her presence.

As the mountain winds howled around them, Alareyn remained silent, wrestling with his internal turmoil. The secret that held him captive trembled on the edge of his lips, yearning for release yet burdened by fear. But in Maeve's eyes, he saw a glimmer of understanding, a gentle empathy that beckoned him to trust in her.

“I don’t think you should waste all your energy on looking after me. I’m going to die soon.” Alareyn announced after one day.

Maeve's gasp reverberated through the cavern, her eyes widening in response to Alareyn's wounded words. The concern etched on her face mirrored the gentle empathy that had become her defining trait. Alareyn's heart sank, regret gnawing at him for allowing his insecurities to overshadow the kindness she had shown him.

In those moments of vulnerability, he couldn't help but marvel at Maeve's unwavering compassion. Despite her own injuries, she had tended to his needs with a selflessness that seemed almost otherworldly. Alareyn couldn't fathom why she cared so deeply, why she saw worth in him where he saw only brokenness.

As they settled into the back of the cave, Alareyn observed Maeve's resilience firsthand. She would venture out, day after day, seeking fresh jei with an unyielding hope that it would cure him. And even when the remedy didn't yield immediate results, she never faltered in her determination. Her optimism, a beacon of light amidst the shadows of the cave, both comforted and bewildered him.

Maeve's smile, so infectious and radiant, never ceased to amaze Alareyn. It illuminated the darkest corners of the cavern, weaving a thread of hope that entwined their fates. Though his injury remained stagnant, her boundless hope became a lifeline that anchored him to the present, urging him to push through the pain and uncertainty.

Through Maeve's care and unwavering support, Alareyn found himself transforming in ways he never thought possible. He began to see himself through her eyes, no longer bound by the curse that had once held him captive.

“Why would you say that?” She asked, sounding upset.

“I-I it’s the truth. We both know it. You should….” He could tell that she was angry but there was no other way. She shouldn’t waste food, water, and first aid on him. She might need it later on.

“What? Let you die?” She asked. He was proud of how far they had come, in the beginning she would agree with whatever he said. It made sense, considering what she told him a while back.

They’d been in the cave for a few days when Alareyn realized he didn’t know what she was doing in the mountains the night the curse had somehow been removed. He asked her, “What were you doing in the mountains that night?”

She looked taken aback by that question but answered regardless, “Remember I told you I was a magic-less witch. Turns out people don’t react very kindly to that. I was a child of two purebloods and yet I don’t have any magic. The clan wasn’t very….kind and so I left for a month, hoping it would….change things. It didn’t and they kicked me out. I had nowhere else to go, and the closest town is weeks away by car. I would have died on my way there and if I didn’t, there was no proof that they would accept me into their clan. So I came to the mountains.”

He knew that she had sugar coated their treatment, the scars on her legs hadn’t gone unnoticed by him. He hoped that one day he’d be able to avenge her but it seemed very unlikely, considering the never healing stab wound.

His silence was her answer. He didn’t understand why she cared as far as he was concerned. He couldn't contribute to anything.

Alareyn didn’t know if Maeve knew who he was and what HE was doing in the mountains that day, he still hadn’t figured out how the curse had been removed, but he didn’t want to ask her. He didn’t want to risk her leaving, because there was no way in hell that Alareyn would survive on his own. The chances of his survival were close to none but without her there was no chance at all.

“No.” She said, after a while.

“What?”

“You can’t die. I won’t let you.” She got up, and made her way towards her bag. She pulled out a calendar and said, “I was kicked four days before the full moon, and we’ve been here for five weeks and three days, meaning tonight is the annual burial.” She explained.

“What does that have to do with anything?” Alareyn asked, confused.

“Everyone will be busy with the burial, meaning I can sneak into Alice’s house and steal the books she has. They might tell us how to heal your wounds. No one was allowed to read those books so there has to be something in them that can help us.”

“That sounds like a bad idea.” Alareyn replied.

“Do you have a better one?”

“That’s not the point! I will not let you do this!”

“And how exactly will you stop me? You can barely sit up.”

“Maeve, please try and understand. You shouldn’t waste your energy and resources on me.”

“I’m going and you can’t stop me.” Maeve stated, before turning and leaving him alone.