Back In Time
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The next day, I was back on the road again. The sun had risen over the horizon and warmed my skin as I made my way to the edge of town where a large black horse waited for me. It snorted in greeting when it saw me coming with its head held high.
“Good morning,” I said, patting its nose. “Are you ready?”
It nodded at me and started walking towards the forest. As we entered, I let out a breath that I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. There were so many trees around us now; they blocked all the sunlight from reaching our path. I looked up into them and felt their coolness against my face. They reminded me of home, but not like the ones back there did. These weren’t just any old tree trunks here – these were magical.
I could feel magic radiating off them as we walked through the woods. It wasn’t anything too strong or powerful, though. Just enough to make me wonder what kind of magic this place really contained. Maybe if I found a few more books about the area, then maybe…maybe I would be able to figure something out.
We continued on until we came across an opening in the trees that led down into a small clearing. A castle stood before us, built right into the side of one of the mountains. Its walls glowed blue-white with magical energy flowing throughout.
This place was definitely different than any other kingdom I’d ever seen. I wondered how long ago they’d built it, and who had done it. But even still, I couldn’t help but think that it was beautiful.
As we approached the front entrance, I heard a voice call out to me.
“Hello!”
A young boy ran out from behind the wall and waved at me excitedly. He wore a bright red tunic with golden trimming along his sleeves and pants. His hair was a dark brown color and fell messily over his eyes. When he caught sight of me, he quickly wiped away some of the dirt that covered his face.
“You must be the new prince,” he said, smiling widely. “My name is Nox. Welcome to Castle Tristach.”
He bowed slightly at the waist and offered me his hand. I took it and shook it firmly.
“Thank you, Prince Nox,” I replied politely. “But please don’t call me ‘Prince.’ My friends do that sometimes, but I’m fine being called by my first name instead.”
Nox frowned at me for a moment, clearly confused, before he finally smiled.
“Okay, then I’ll start calling you Henry,” he decided.
I laughed softly at his response.
“That’s not quite what I meant, but thank you anyway,” I told him.
His smile grew wider. “Well, whatever you want, Your Highness.”
I chuckled lightly and glanced back at the horse. “So, uh…what should I do now?”
Nox shrugged. “Just go inside, I guess? You can take your time getting settled in. We have plenty of rooms available for guests, so you won’t need to worry about sleeping outside tonight.”
I nodded gratefully and followed after him. After passing through the gate, I noticed several people standing around talking to each other. Some of them were dressed in robes similar to mine, while others were wearing loose clothing that seemed more appropriate for the weather.
“Welcome to Castle Tristach!” someone called out to me as soon as we reached the main courtyard. She was tall and thin, with her blonde hair pulled back into a tight bun at the top of her head. Her clothes matched hers perfectly: a white robe with gold trimming along the edges.
She gave me a warm smile. “I am Queen Rianna. How may I serve you today?”
I blinked at her. “Uh…well, I’ve come to stay here for a little bit. Is there somewhere I can put my things?”
Rianna nodded. “Of course! Follow me.”
We headed deeper into the castle, past several doors until she stopped in front of one that read ‘Henry’s Room’. She opened the door and stepped aside to allow me to enter.
“This will be your room,” she explained. “There are several empty ones upstairs, but I thought you might prefer to keep yours here. If you’re looking for anything else, just ask anyone around. They’ll be happy to help you find it.”
I nodded at her and thanked her once again. Then, I turned to leave.
“Oh, wait!” Rianna exclaimed. “Before you go, I wanted to give you this.”
She handed me a small silver key.
“What’s this for?” I asked curiously.
The queen smiled. “Your room has its own set of keys. Each one opens a specific lock within the castle. The only way to get inside without those is to use the one that unlocks the front gates.”
I stared at the key in my hands. “How does that work?”
Rianna laughed lightly. “It’s actually pretty simple, really. All you have to do is press the button on the end of the key, and it will open whichever lock you wish.”
I looked up at her questioningly. “And if I don’t know which lock to choose?”
“Then you shouldn’t have any problems,” she assured me. “If you run into trouble, simply ask someone nearby. Most people here speak Common, so they should be able to tell you where to go or what to do.”
I nodded slowly, trying to wrap my mind around everything she’d told me. It made sense, though. There was no reason for all these locks otherwise.
With the key in hand, I left the castle grounds and walked toward the stables. As I did, I couldn’t help but wonder how long I would be staying here. Would I ever see the rest of my family again?
***
After spending most of the day exploring the castle, I returned to my room. I had been given a key to unlock the door, but I still felt uneasy about leaving it unlocked. So, I locked it when I went inside.
When I entered, I found the bed neatly made and a basket full of fresh fruit sitting next to it. A note sat on top of the basket, addressed to me.
Dear Henry,
I hope you enjoy your stay at Castle Tristach. Please let us know if there’s anything you need.
Queen Rianna
I smiled faintly as I picked up the letter. That was nice of her.
I grabbed an apple from the basket and started peeling it. When I finished, I tossed away the core and placed the remaining pieces of fruit onto a plate. Then, I took off my shoes and socks before lying down on the bed.
As I lay there, I began thinking about my parents. What were they doing right now? Were they safe? Had they already gone home?
My thoughts drifted to Nox, too. He had said something earlier about wanting to talk to me. Did he want to apologize? Or maybe he needed some advice. Either way, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to hear him out.
I sighed and rolled over, pulling the blanket up higher under my chin. Maybe I could even invite him to dinner tonight.
A few minutes later, I heard footsteps coming down the hallway outside my door. I glanced up to see who it was and immediately recognized Nox’s boots.
He knocked softly on the wood, then waited patiently for me to answer.
I got up and opened the door, smiling widely at him. “Hey.”
Nox grinned back. “Hello, yourself.”
We stood there awkwardly for a moment, neither of us sure what to say. Finally, I cleared my throat. “You wanted to talk to me?”
His eyes twinkled with amusement. “Yeah, I guess I did.” He paused, taking a deep breath. “So, uh…” His voice trailed off uncertainly. “Do you think we can make this work?”
I frowned slightly. “What do you mean?”
“Well, I’m sorry about what happened between us last night,” he admitted. “But I also understand why you reacted like you did. You’ve never met anyone quite like me before. And I didn’t exactly come across as the most…pleasant person.”
I shook my head. “No, you weren’t. But I promise I won’t hold it against you.”
“Really?” he asked, surprised.
I nodded. “Yes. I’m not going to judge you based on your appearance anymore.”
He seemed relieved by my response, and his shoulders relaxed somewhat. “Good,” he replied. “Because I feel bad enough already.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Why’s that?”
“I just realized I might have ruined our chance at getting along,” he explained. “Not only because of what I said but also because of my attitude.”
I blinked. “Wait, what do you mean?”
He hesitated briefly before speaking. “Look, I’m not used to being around other people. Especially women, since I haven’t dated anyone in years.”
I bit my lip nervously. “Is that why you acted so weird yesterday?”
He shrugged. “Maybe a little. But mostly, I was nervous. I wasn’t sure how you’d react to me.”
I snorted. “Relax, Nox. I’ll give you credit for one thing: you’re persistent.”
He chuckled. “Thanks. I appreciate that.”
I studied him curiously. “Are you serious?”
“Of course,” he answered quickly. “You’ve seen firsthand how much effort I put into winning your heart. And I don’t plan on giving up anytime soon.”
I laughed. “Okay, well, I’m glad you realize that. Because I really am interested in seeing where things go with us.”
His smile widened. “Me too. Which is why I wanted to ask you something.”
I tilted my head questioningly.
He cleared his throat. “Can I kiss you?”
I stared at him blankly for several seconds, trying to process what he’d just said. Then, I burst out laughing. “Oh, you are so funny!”
He frowned. “What’s so funny?”
I wiped tears from my eyes. “Nothing. It’s just…you’re asking me if you can kiss me?”
“Well, yeah,” he huffed. “That’s kind of the point, isn’t it?”
I shook my head. “It certainly doesn’t seem like it.”
He scowled. “Then what would you suggest?”
I folded my arms over my chest. “How about you take a step back and try again?”
“Fine,” he grumbled. “If that’s what you want.”
With that, he turned around and headed toward the stairs.
I watched him go, shaking my head. Was he kidding me?
I looked down at the floor, suddenly feeling embarrassed. How ridiculous! Why was I acting like such a baby?
Just then, I noticed a dark shadow pass by the window. I squinted, trying to get a better look at it. The shape moved slowly through the yard, heading straight for the barn.
My eyes went wide. “Nox,” I whispered. “There’s someone outside.”
He stopped mid-stride and spun around. “Whoa, whoa, wait a second. What do you mean?”
I pointed at the window. “Someone just passed by the house. They were moving fast, but I couldn’t tell exactly what they were carrying. Something big, though.”
Nox took a step closer to the window, pressing his face against the glass. “Where?”
“Over there.” I motioned toward the barn. “In the corner.”
A few minutes later, Nox returned to the front door. He held something behind his back, which made me suspicious.
“What’s that?” I asked warily.
He pulled the object away from his body and revealed a large rifle. “I thought I saw movement near the barn,” he explained. “And I figured I should be prepared.”
I rolled my eyes. “Great idea, Nox. Thanks for taking care of everything.”
He grinned. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll protect you.”
I scoffed. “Yeah, right. That’s all well and good, but you know you can’t shoot anything without hitting me, too.”
He sighed dramatically. “Come on, Alex. Don’t make this any harder than it has to be.”
I narrowed my eyes. “You’re not making it hard. You’re just being stubborn.”
He smirked, clearly enjoying himself. “Whatever. Just stay inside until I call you.”
I glared at him. “Like hell, I will.”
Before I could say another word, he grabbed me roughly and pushed me gently back onto the couch. “Stay here,” he ordered. “Or else.”
I crossed my arms angrily. “Or else what?”
He leaned forward, placing his hands firmly on either side of my head. His gaze bore into mine as he spoke softly. “I won’t hesitate to hurt you.”
I swallowed heavily. “So, what happens if I refuse to listen?”
“Good luck finding a way out,” he replied casually. “Because I’m pretty sure I locked every single door and window.”
I shivered. “Why are you doing this?”
He smiled. “It’s called foreplay.”
***
The next day, I woke up early to prepare breakfast. My stomach growled loudly when I spotted the bowl of bacon sitting on top of the stove.
I glanced over at Nox, who was still asleep. I decided to let him sleep for a little while longer before waking him. After all, he had been working very late last night, and I knew he hadn’t gotten much rest.
As I stirred the eggs, I heard a loud thud coming from upstairs. A moment later, Nox appeared in the kitchen doorway, rubbing his eyes.
“Morning,” he mumbled groggily.
I nodded politely. “Good morning.”
He yawned widely, stretching his arms above his head. “Did you hear that noise earlier?”
I shrugged. “No, why?”
He sat down across from me at the table. “I think I might have woken up one of the neighbors.”
I raised an eyebrow skeptically. “Really? And how did they respond to your snoring?”
He laughed. “They didn’t even notice. But I bet they’ll definitely wake up now.”
I chuckled along with him. “You really don’t give yourself enough credit sometimes, do you?”
His smile faded slightly. “Do I?”
I placed a hand on his arm. “Of course not. You’re amazing. It’s just…you’ve always been so focused on protecting others, but never once have you ever considered putting yourself first.”
He stared at me intently. “But I am putting myself first right now.”
I shook my head. “Not entirely. Because you’re letting me decide whether or not I want to be protected.”
He frowned. “Alex…”
“Please,” I interrupted. “Let’s stop arguing about this already. We both know we need each other, and I wouldn’t change a thing.”
He exhaled deeply. “Okay. Let’s eat.”
We spent most of the day catching up on our favorite TV shows. There wasn’t much to do since there weren’t many books left in the library. So, I suggested watching movies instead.
After dinner, Nox insisted on cleaning up. He was exhausted after staying awake all night long. As soon as he finished washing the dishes, he collapsed onto the sofa.
The End