The Resurrected Memories

She lay there with sparkling blue eyes fixated on the dark velvet sky covered with stars looking like luminous pearls scattered here and there, their reflection dancing on the waves beneath. Unknowingly her hand went up to her own slender neck with her fingers curled around the pearl necklace that she was wearing. As The shiny round balls touched her skin she let out a small sob closing eyes she could feel the warmth of the tears flowing like a beautiful stream on her pale skin and creeping down her chin A cold gush of wind brought her back to reality she went over the palace stream to look at the reflection of her tear-streaked face she stood up wiping her tears with an embroidered soft white handkerchief, Straightening her dress she walked away from the royal stream to the palace.

Inside she tried to shut her eyes and sleep but in vain she covered her ears with pillows not wanting to remember him groaning and crying out in pain not wanting to remember his pleading eyes that closed in front of her- the time when she lost him forever -could she have saved him? As the endless thoughts drummed in her brain she slowly slipped into the land of dreams, her past flashing before her eyes but that's the problem through the past 2 months it had always been flashes as if it was all coming back to her in installments.it pained her to not know what had happened on that fateful night. Whose green eyes are flashing in her mind? Why does his voice sound so familiar? As an internal battle continued she found herself standing in the royal study of Rosalia, her kingdom as she saw her younger self arguing fiercely with her father the late king Arnold III. She was shocked she had never ever spoken to her father like that. It was treason to even think of shouting at the king and then she saw herself slam the door and leave the study. She then ran behind her younger self and as she reached the palace gardens among the multi-hued, aromatic flowers, there stood a lean but well-built chest that filled the black shirt that he was wearing perfectly. It was a contrast against his fair complexion as her eyes moved up she saw the perfect collarbone, the neck, and a perfectly chiseled jaw. His lips were turned up in a naughty smirk and there were those green eyes, the eyes she knew so well. They looked like an emerald had been put under the Sun as she gawked at his beauty what happened next shook her. She saw her younger self hugging him as he whispered in her ears "I love you, Irene”. He had called her Irene! And then she heard her younger self say "I love you too Ansel" and then she woke up sweating and gasping for air.

Within seconds a warm embrace engulfed her body as her caretaker Maddie consoled her” it was just a bad dream love”

Anastasie's POV:

As she offered me a glass of water I looked at the water and saw the determination in my eyes as I exclaimed, “Maddie I remember everything!” the glass in her hand trembled as she steadied herself and swore under her breath and said,” it is impossible.” My eyes shot up to her face as she refused to meet my gaze. I shot up from my bed and grabbed her wrinkled hand “you knew? “I said my voice trembling and my eyes brimming with tears as she looked down and caressed my cheek like she used to when I was a kid and said “yes I did. “I accused her of watching me get tortured at night but not helping me and what she said shook me to the core “I had taken a royal oath baby to not disclose this fact. “The problem was I remembered everything but the very end.

I remembered how Ansel and I met. I was there in the forest practicing with my blades … it was unladylike so I wasn't allowed to do that in the palace. As I moved stealthily around without making any noise I heard a rustle from the bushes and immediately my ears shot up. This has to be a prey… I adjusted the four daggers on my arms and legs and steadied my grip on the fifth one in my hand and then came a beautiful stag with its mighty antlers. I lunged, wasting no time in slicing first just about its hoof and then slicing neatly the neck. I knew which vein to aim for, I had seen the assassins in my kingdom at training and I know for the fact that none of the royal assassins could beat me. Then I noticed an arrow in its rear leg …Whoever shot him must be coming, I got to work quickly I needed it those antlers they would be perfect for the new dagger design brewing in my mind. I had to do it before the hunter arrived… as I finished the last details I heard a low but deep-set voice exclaim “wow so neat “my gaze shot up to see a pair of intense green eyes fixated at me. This was not the time to gawk at his beauty so I turned in a leap and instantly I was gone. He couldn't even register what had happened and I was on the trees above him. I was amused as his handsome face contorted into the expression of confused one and he exclaimed scratching his long black hair “did I just imagine that?” I couldn't help and a laugh escaped my lips. I jumped down in front of him. I was pulled to him automatically. I was questioning myself on why I had jumped down I couldn't understand as I stood there, I heard him introducing himself "Hey I'm Ansel" I smiled and wiped my bloodied hand on the leather that hung from my belt and offered him my hand saying "Hi I'm Irene" and in second my face was full of horror. I clapped my hand on my mouth and said "I am so sorry I am Anastasie. “He had an amused questioning look and said” I like Irene better” I blushed. Irene was the name I used for myself in my fantasies his voice interrupted me "may I call you Irene?”And without thinking I nodded. He grinned and then tested the name on his tongue "Irene... It means peace right?" I k nodded impressed at his knowledge and then he said "Those fellas are not like anything I have ever seen who designed them?" pointing to my daggers. I smiled as I said proudly said:” I made them.” He looked impressed and said” wow first you move like that and now daggers? You are one hell of a mystery.” I smiled and that's how we became friends. He asked me whether I would like to take a stroll of the forests with him, he offered me his arm and I took it as he turned his face to me and softly said “thank you for agreeing to this princess” I recoiled at the last word. He knew my identity? I freed my arm, a gesture which made him look around to see if I had sensed some danger. Finding none he turned to me and asked “what was that?”” how do you know that I am the princess?” It was now his turn to look shocked. His eyes widened as he said, “I called you princess as a nickname but now I certainly know.” I smacked my forehead and laughed all my tension eased. We walked hand in hand for hours and when it was time to say goodbye, with a lightning speed I sneaked him a little kiss and was gone. It was funny watching his emotions from afar he was shocked and then shyly grinned and exclaimed loudly “See you tomorrow Irene. “

We met daily and it turns out he is the abdicated Prince of Valeria, our biggest enemies. Soon our daily meetings turned into quick playful getaways where I taught him knives and he taught me archery. Though these were all tough sports but with the two of us, they didn't take long to turn into mischievous playful fights. I clearly remember the day he proposed to me it was my birthday and I was getting ready for the royal ball in my room when I felt footsteps behind me my dagger was out in milliseconds as I turned to see Ansel in a fit of laughter taking into account my daggered hand. I saw that my window was open. Darn this guy! Now he had turned serious and in the silent room is breathing was heavy. He gazed in my eyes with such love yet power that I leaned towards him, close enough to smell his cologne and then he said "I am in love with you Irene" I leaped on him to hug him as he reached into his pocket and took out a beautiful, intricate necklace with white shiny pearls set in Platinum. He moved my hair to one side to fasten it on my neck. As he leaned closer I could feel his warm breath on my neck and it gave me shivers as I replied, "I love you too Ansel see you after the ball. " After what seemed like hours spending time with the royalties all wishing me and giving me gifts I finally was able to escape the ball. When I met him he was eerily quiet, he asked me to follow him through the forest to an open clearing. I gasped at the beauty; the sky had never looked so beautiful it was as if Queen Dido was shining the brightest smile at us. We just lay there gazing at the stars and then I was shaken back to reality… Maddie was shaking me. My eyes opened still clutching the Pearl necklace around my neck I knew something had happened to Ansel. I knew he was gone at least from my kingdom... But how? I figured now why I loved this necklace so much and the stars. I asked Maddie “What happened to Ansel? I am the queen now, I command you to tell me.”She recoiled at the authority that my voice held and said” I am not sure Annie but you should visit the royal apothecary wing” I quietly stood up went there, to find that it had been locked by my father before his death. I tried my master key but oddly enough it didn't work so I took out my sleekest dagger and turned it inside the lock and Voila! It clicked open. I entered and a big vial of something caught my eye, the gold pitcher looked familiar. I went there and smelled it and then again I had those flashes of remembrance- I had told my father about Ansel At first he was overjoyed that finally, the two royal families would be able to forget their differences and be One.He had smiled as he patted my back but I knew that his pride would be shortlived I soon told him that Ansel had abdicated his throne and now the big smile was suddenly wiped off his face and the next moment he turned and said “You are not marrying him he’s a commoner and you have been raised to rule ” he was furious-told me to forget him” Do you realize Annie that he cannot take your responsibility He has even ditched his own Kingdom how do you expect him to look after you?”I closed my eyes at his words as I tried explaining to him the reason for his abdication but I could see it was falling on deaf ears. A couple of weeks later I decided to pursue this suite again, these past couple of weeks had been gruesome Father had not let me move out of even my rooms in hope that without meeting him I would forget the “puppy love ” that we had.On the fourteenth evening, my father visited me and I didn’t even acknowledge his presence and he was visibly taken aback when I didn’t bow to him this was the first time when his” sweet and perfect doll” had broken a rule.He asked all my maids to leave and tried to act calm and concerned but I knew that he was seething with anger.He stroked my hair as he smiled and asked me “How are you doing my baby ”when I didn’t reply and returned his concerned gaze with a cold gaze his smile faltered he began “Princess I hope you have understood that he cannot be your partner in ruling this great responsibility that you have on your shoulders I know you're strong enough and don’t need him” I snapped at this as I replied “Thank you, father, for making me realize how much I need him at least he cares about my happiness unlike you!I would be dead before I decide to follow life in your footsteps I REJECT THE THRONE” I spit out the last words as he turned furious and shouted “watch your tongue young lady your lover will be dead before you reach him.” he asked me to consider my decisions since my father just had a few days left-I remember running out as my father followed me when I almost collided with the royal magician Aurora. I looked back to apologize as I heard her say to my father “the hypnotizing potion is complete Your Majesty.” she had been holding this pitcher. Not really thinking that I heard it right... I had decided to run with Ansel. These memories brought u surge of energy and anguish and a curse left my lips"O! torturer of my beloved, you will repent your deeds and no excuse that thy shall offer will be strong enough to get you forgiveness! Your nights shall be haunted by Ansel's groans ...you shall die the same place as he did."Letting it all out had been calming though now I was more eager to kill Ansel's killer...My body craved the blood I wanted to see them suffer.

I had to take my things from my room when I felt a weird presence in my room. Ansel was supposed to meet me at our spot so I turned around to check if it was my imagination but no, there was a cloaked figure and before I could open my dagger he put his handkerchief to my face and I lost consciousness I remember the feeling of the royal lace on my face as he did so. I remember waking up an hour later as I rushed to our spot(It did consist of some guards dropping dead at my blade but I had a more important goal ). Ansel looked nervous, he jumped on seeing me “I thought you wouldn't show up” and that's all I could remember. But now I knew how to reach the final part of this mystery, I ran through the forest thinking of all the questions in my mind. Was that cloaked figure a dream? If not who was he? What did Aurora mean by the hypnotizing potion? What happened to Ansel? As these million questions troubled my mind I rushed through the forests swerving to avoid crashing into trees I reached the spot out of breath and I nearly tripped with emotion. The pond water stood still, little ripples here and there as I remembered the last bit. We had been stargazing together when I had started feeling dizzy. Ansel had asked me if I was feeling alright but I could not hear him… the only voice I could hear was a deep growl “You will do what I say “I recognized the voice, it was the king my father! and before I could comprehend anything I heard Ansel’s bloodcurdling scream as I felt something warm and sticky at my hand my eyes look down to where I had stabbed Ansel my jewel-encrusted dagger covered in blood and then it was over I fell to the ground and cried my heart out...He was dead I was his killer! My father made me do this. My heart let out an earth-shattering anguished cry as I fell down on the soft damp grass, I couldn't remove the sounds of his mortifying groans that constantly blasted in my ears. The curse was working! As I looked up to the sky, I could feel the green piercing gaze on me. He must hate me I had to prove my love to him as these thoughts mixed with his screams I felt something cold against my wrist and before I could stop it...the same jewel-encrusted dagger had sliced the pale white skin. I gazed at it with a blank look, my blue eyes devoid of any emotion, I felt the warm dark fluid dripping down my wrist as I started to feel dizzy and lay down on the grass ready to meet my love. As my eyes rolled back in my head I looked one final time to the stars we had loved so much ...to the stars who had seen everything but now All I could see now was that the present sky was no longer velvet it looked as if someone had shredded the velvet with a million thorns. I was alone but as I looked up I saw the green eyes and the stars- millions of them looking dim as if someone had wiped off their smile forever.