Beautiful Dreamer

Chapter 20

Travel took about a day with the soldiers guiding us there. We had no problems with them at all. In their minds we were just travelers who needed their help for safe passage to the castle. Once we made it there, they paid their good byes and we thanked them for their time. They had absolutely no suspicions about us the entire time we were traveling with them. It was perfect and I was finally at the castle. After all this time, it was going to happen. I would be getting my memories back. Zachariah searched along the walls looking for the hidden entrance to the secret underground tunnels beneath the castle. He found it and ushered me forward. My heart was racing. The adrenaline was pumping through my veins and I was eager to make it through the maze of tunnels. Zachariah told me that the one we were going through would lead a couple hallways away from the king’s chamber but it was the closest one that exited near it.

Once we exited into the hallway it was time to be stealthy. We had our cloaks on still and we hid in the shadows where we could. The castle was quiet as most people were sleeping, which meant the king was most likely in his chambers asleep as well. My skin crawled as thought of being in the same room as him creeped me out. We turned a corner and we could see two guards standing outside his door just as we anticipated. The plan was to distract one and knock the other out. I nodded to Zachariah signaling I was ready. He levitated something down the hall making a huge crashing sound. One of the guards ran off to check what had happened and Zachariah took the chance to silence the second guard. I ran into the king’s chambers closing the door behind me while Zachariah would keep a look out.

I entered the room noticing that it was decorated lavishly with purple drapery and linens everywhere. It was actually really beautiful and if I had more time, I probably would have been able to appreciate it more. I looked around and I did not see the king sleeping in bed like I had originally planned but instead sitting in a chair legs crossed and arms folded waiting expectantly.

“Analise, you have finally returned to me,” he said with a smile.

I was thrown off not really knowing what to do. I thought he would be asleep or that I would at least be able to get the jump on him. He was not surprised to see me at all.

“My king, I hope I have not kept you waiting very long.”

I was keeping my guard up trying to figure out what he had planned. He got up from his chair and started approaching me. 

“Even a second is too long to be separated from my lovely wife, but now that you have returned all is well.”

“...wife? What are you talking about?”

“Zachariah must have failed to mention that you are married when he decided to kidnap you. Guards bring him in.”

Two men had Zachariah by the arms one with a knife to his throat. I looked at him terrified.

“Do not hurt him or I will kill you all!” I threatened.

“My dear, why would you kill us to save this traitorous snake?” The king asked.

“Because you are the snake. Why would I believe anything you have to say?”

“If you do not believe me ask him yourself.” Cardwell said slyly.

I looked at Zachariah and he would not meet my eyes.

“Zachariah tell me it is not true. Tell me I am not married to him.” My voice breaking a little as I said those words. He looked up at me pain in his eyes.

“He is your husband. It doesn’t not change anything though! I still love you! You have to believe me; I really did rescue from him. He is evil and he wanted your memories taken away. I saved you from him.”

Cardwell approached him and punched him square in jaw.

“I open up my home to you and give you a job here. How do you repay me? You abscond with my wife and twist her mind so you can run off and play house with her. You are done slandering my good name. Guards take him away and lock him up. See to it that he is heavily guarded so he does not escape and kill him if he tries.”

The guard began walking off and Zachariah tried to fight them off.

“Analise you cannot let them do this. You have to fight! We are meant to be together! Analise please!”

I heard him screaming my name as the guard dragged him down the hall. I was frozen in place my world once again shattered. Was anything ever going to make sense? I started to cry and Cardwell placed his arm around me.

“There, there my dear. Everything is going to be ok. You are home now and you will never leave my side ever again.”

His words felt more like a threat then a reassurance. I looked up at his brown eyes and his chiseled face. His whole demeanor was hard and cold. He lifted my chin as he leaned down to kiss me his lips pressing down against mine hungrily. I tried to push back and he pulled me in tighter not letting me go. Tears began flooding my face. 

“Give it time my queen and soon you will not want to fight me at all.”

I felt trapped and did not know what to do. He let go of me and I collapsed to the ground not knowing how to even move my body anymore. Cardwell went to the door and two servants came in.

“Take my wife and get her cleaned up. She reeks and get her into some more appropriate clothes. I will not have my wife parading around like some prostitute. Although she may as well be after she’s been whoring herself out to that traitor.”

The king’s eyes were cold as he looked at me. My heart sank at his hurtful words. Two guard escorted me out and into a room adjacent. The servants followed me in as they prepared a bath for me and picked out clothes for me to wear for the night. They got me into bed and let me know if I needed anything to call for them. I laid in the empty bed not fully comprehending it all. It was all too much for me right now and I cried myself to sleep.