13 Fated Love

The next day, I woke up to the warmth of the sunlight through the curtains. Bella wasn't awake yet, so I walked over to her and layed down so that she'd see me there when she woke up. I layed there and thought about my past experiences with the prince. I was only a few years older, now in my mid twenties. The prince was approaching his twenties. Maybe that's why we got along so well when we were little. I remembered his favorite story. The story he asked me to tell most. It was a story with daring adventures, sure, but it also consisted of romance and drama. I should just tell you the story of how my parents loved me. How they fell in love.

There once was a young maiden. She felt like she was always was missing something. She turned to love and tried to find that special person. That one person who could make her feel loved and give her everything without anything. She searched and searched. High, low, far, and wide. She lived very little time without someone to love or crush on, as some may say. She was then in a difficult relationship where she loved a man deeply, but he slowly broke her heart, peice by peice, just by being loyal and a good friend, but he couldn't like her back. She knew that, yet she kept trying to convince herself that she could somehow change his mind. Then, one day, she met a knight. A knight so strong, he conquered every enemy he came across. She thought he was cute at first, but never really tried to give in to the feeling. He hadn't fallen for any maiden he had ever come across until he came to meet her. Something sparked in him and he felt feelings he had never felt before. He was confused and felt wild all at the same time. He was also very nervous around her and liked to talk to her when he got the courage. He finally confessed to her and she felt his love for her in her heart too. She let him in and soon enough, she fell for him. He made her feel like she was in the clouds more than she ever was. Usually she could balance work and love interests all the same, but with him, he was all she could think about. Night and day, she dreamt of him and fantasized small scenarios in her mind of what they would talk about or do. Eventually, they grew closer and wanted to play a game. A game that both enjoyed, but at a risk. If they played that game, the knight was at risk of never seeing her again. They played the game anyways hoping no one would find out, but someone spotted them one night and reported it to the king. The knight was not permitted to partner another until a certain age. The knight was furious of this after he had found his one true love. The knight wished he had made better decisions and so did the maiden. They both longed for each other, praying for another chance and doing everything they could to see each other again. They wanted to feel each other's embrace again. They wanted each other's kisses, sweet. Through their separation the maiden grew desperately depressed. She had tried so much to contact the knight without being prosecuted by the king and queen. She sobbed every night and thought of him every second of every minute of every hour of every day. She missed him dearly. She didn't know what to do and for the first time in her life, she didn't want another person to be her partner. She didn't want to move on. And if she couldn't have the knight, she wanted no one else to take his place. She loved him too greatly. She wished for his presence. She begged the gods for their forgiveness and hated herself for a terrible mistake. She loved him with all her heart. He, too, wished to see her but was locked away deprived of any way to communicate. The gods looked down to her and saw how she wept day and night and how she was kind to those around her. They decided to hold trials to prove she was worthy. First, she was told to face the winged hydra in the east. She quickly gained a sword and embarked on her quest. As she approached the hydra, it was sleeping. She snuck up to it trying not to awake its slumber. Then, she put her sword up. She looked away as she was about to slay the beast, but she couldn't do it. It wasn't in her heart to hurt the beast. Even if it had caused great harm to others. She walked away, feeling defeated. The gods saw this and gave mercy to the child. They saw how her heart was bigger than herself. They passed her on that quest. They sent her on another quest to see the three twin goblins at the beginning of the cave of wonders. They each had a riddle for her to solve or a task for her to complete to see if she was worthy. Once she got there, they all had jumped around and were excited to tell the riddles. They hadn't seen another mortal in a few millennia. They were so excited, they kept jumping around and causing a ruckus. The nymphs were getting tired of them and she tried to calm them down.

She then yelled, "Story time!" and they all gathered.

She told them of her journey and explained to them why she loved him. She explained how he would do these small little things that pleased her and they all saw how she was truely in love. They all wiped their tears away and let her pass. The gods saw this and even though it wasn't what they expected, they passed her and gave her, her final task. They asked her to go through the cave of wonders without showing a single emotion or taking anything for her beloved. She agreed to the terms and put on a blank face as she walked through. In the cave of wonders, they show visions of what makes you happiest, to what makes you want to burst in rage. First, they showed her the knight. The vision felt so real and she almost thought he was there with her, but she couldn't show emotion. She had to act cold and heartless. Once she ignored him, the vision walked up to her and questioned her love for him. She kept her face plain as she walked passed. Suddenly, the vision turned into a raged version of her love. He cursed at her and told her that she shouldn't have to worry about doing these stupid tasks anymore because he didn't love her, but she knew better. She knew he'd never say something like that in that rage because he was smarter than that. She tried to ignor him and keep walking as the vision dissapeared. She fought back her tears and kept walking. Soon enough, she came by a sick child. The child was crying, and she desperately wanted to help him. She walked away with no emotion on her face. Then, she heard voices. Voices that sounded like her own doubtful thoughts. The ones that always made her cry herself to sleep at night.

"You're not good enough," one voice bickered.

"He never loved you and never will. It was all a lie," another voice giggled.

"He hasn't thought of you once in your absence," a third voice snickered.

"He doubts your love for him, show him some affection," the first voiced mocked and giggled.

"He never even lifted a finger to fight for you," the second voice laughed again.

"You'll never be good enough for him, and he will never learn to love anyone," the third voice laughed again.

All three voices laughed in unison. Mocking her and taunting her with past thoughts. She kept walking, trying to stay strong and fight back her tears. As she came upon a small light, another vision appeared. This one was of her grandmother. Her grandmother was never the kindest of heart. Her grandmother was not someone the maiden loved, but someone she hated. She was glad to ignor her. Her grandmother looked sad and plead for forgiveness. That despicable act made

the maiden sick. She felt outraged and almost burst into anger, but she stopped herself. Something made her stop herself. She didn't know what, but in that moment, she couldn't show emotion even if she tried. Something compelled her to stop herself so that she could get through and see her loved one again. She finally walked out into the light and burst into tears. She had made it through and it seemed she was back where she had started. The magic of the cave made it seem like a tunnel, but it all lead back to the entrance of the cave. She wept and wept not only because of those visions but because she never knew she could surpass them. The gods looked down to her and presented her with a gift. The gift of true love and the ability to recognize it when it comes. Then the nymphs were so greatful since she had calmed down the goblins when they were disturbing them, so they granted her a gift as well. They gave her the ability to help nurture animals and ask for their help when needed. They explained to the animals that she would never cause them harm and that they shouldn't be afraid of her. Afterword, the gods led her to the place where her beloved was held. She spoke with the king and queen. They were skeptical at first. Then, the hydra had come. The winged hydra had explained that she was kind of heart. After that, the three goblins approached them and explained that she was a wonderful storyteller while the nymphs explained how she would be great at calming down children with her stories. Finally, a bat from the cave of wonders explained how she was brave, courageous, and strong willed. The king and queen gave in and saw how she had more to her than those of her mistakes. They allowed her to speak with her beloved again. She spoke with him and they were as happy as happy can be. They hugged each other at their first sight. They squeezed one another with the strength to never let go. Both shed tears of happiness.

"I fought for you. I tried to explain to them that you were more than that, but they didn't believe me," the knight explained.

"I fought for you too, my love," she replied, "and I won."

They then lived together again in the castle and they gave birth to a child soon after marriage. I am that child. My grandfather told stories to me and my parents did the same. They blessed me with my gift of storytelling. This was the story of my parents and their daring adventures to find each other again. Their deep love for one another is spoken throughout the bravery, courage, and willingness to have each other again. We were all a happy family. I love them dearly.

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