Chapter Three: Clean and Cook
1232 Words
It's funny how getting your memories back can affect what you do. I went crazy. I pulled my room apart looking for dust in every nook and cranny.
I washed my windows, my washroom, and did my laundry. Hell, I even made my meal. I freaked out a few of my servants by going clean crazy.
I had a horrible case of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) I needed to clean everything. I wore myself out cleaning the castle. When I finished, I took a bath and then sat on my throne. I needed to get my head together.
I leaned back on my throne, my eyes closed, slowly breathing. I heard someone enter. “Your majesty?” I open my eyes to a guard is standing in front of me.
“Yes, what is it?” I ask not wanting to be bothered.
“There is someone here to see you. He says his name is Eric. He also said you know him.” The guard tells me. I sit there for a moment thinking. I don't recall meeting an Eric in this life. Then it dawns on me. I used to know someone named Eric.
“Show him in,” I tell the guard. He bows and leaves the room for a moment. I sit up in my throne and wait with my hands folded in my lap.
A few moments later the guard comes back in escorting a very handsome man. He is tall with short brown hair, and although his face is shaved, I can see a beard beginning to grow.
He approaches me and bows. “Your majesty, it's been a long time.” He looks at me and smiles.
I nod at the guard and he leaves the room, letting me and Eric have the room to ourselves.
“Eric, is that you?” I ask looking at him.
“Yes, it's me. I know your name is Brena now, but it wasn't once.” He says looking at me.
“If you know, then what was my name?” I ask, testing him.
“You were once Cinderella; you lost your shoe once from what I know.” He says with a smile.
I laugh and hug him. When we had all grown up and been married all of us Princesses and Princes would get together for parties and celebrations. We all grew close to one another.
Eric hugs me back and then gets a serious look on his face. “Do you know why I have come?” He asks me.
I shake my head, “No, I figured you would be going after your Fish Princess.” I say with a smile.
He gives me a quick smile then gets serious again, “I am searching for her. I turned eighteen a week ago. I knew that you weren't her right away.”
I sit down on my throne and gestured for him to sit in the chair near me. “Did anything strange happen to you on your birthday?” I ask.
“You mean did my curse take effect?” He looks at me and I can see it in his eyes he knows.
This news though was new to me, I knew we Princesses had been cursed. The witches had said nothing about our Princes being cursed to.
“What do you mean by your curse? I thought it was just us Princesses.” I ask him feeling completely confused.
He shakes his head, “I think we all thought that. But it isn't the case. I was cursed as well. I remembered everything
at sixteen. But once my eighteenth birthday came, I learned fast that I was cursed.”
“Why what happened?” I ask curiously.
He lets out a sigh, “I won't go into details, but let's just say I can't get wet. If I get wet, I turn into a merman. Ironic isn't it. If I go into the ocean it becomes permanent.”
I think about his curse, and struggle not to laugh. Finally, I can't fight it anymore and break out giggling.
“Brena, it isn't funny.” He says trying not to smile.
“No, you're right it's not funny. It's hilarious. Those witches are messed up.” I say trying to control my laughter.
“Well if mine is so funny then what is your curse going to be?” He asks looking at me.
The thought of what's to come stops my laughter. I look away for a moment and sigh. “In two years when I turn eighteen, my touch becomes pain. Anyone who touches me, or who I touch will begin to burn. Even if it's just for a moment the burning will continue for a while.”
He shakes his head, “I think they designed these curses to torment us. Not just for fun. There has to be more to this than just what they claimed.”
I nod, “Yes, I think you may be right about that.”
We sit there quietly for a bit and then I ask, “So what are you going to do now?”
He scratches his chin in thought and then says, “I know I need to find her. But I have no idea where to start looking for her. No one is where they should be.”
I sit there thinking to myself for a moment and say, “Well how about we do this. You stay here until I am eighteen. You won't be able to break her curse before then anyway. Together we will make a map of all the realms. One by one we will go through the realms and find every princess.”
He sits there quietly for a few minutes. He looks at me a curious look in his eyes. “What about the other Princes?”
“We don't know what the others will be cursed with. This could be dangerous. I think our best bet is to gather the Princesses and then go searching all together for the rest of the Princes.” I pause for a moment and then continue.
“The reason I am suggesting this is because we may run into a Prince who has too dangerous of a curse to deal with. At least if we have all us girls, we can rectify that with true love's kiss.”
He thinks about what I have said for a long while before he finally speaks. “I agree. I have a feeling you're right. They may be far more dangerous than the Princesses are. “
He pauses and then continues, “I will stay here with you for two years. We can get the realms mapped out and then we can begin our search for the others.”
Eric and I end up talking well into the night. I make him dinner and then have a room readied for him. Even though he keeps telling me he lives in town and it isn't necessary.
I still give him a room. After making sure he is comfortable I go to bed. It's been a long, interesting day...
Two years later...
A week before my birthday Eric and I finally finish our detailed map of the eight realms. Now that the map is finished, we can begin our journey...
- Writer
