Soul Binding

Walking into the lonely greeting hall, she felt the hard, heavy, golden piece pressing down on her temples. Fiddling with the crown for the millionth time that morning, she stopped in the darkened hallway and turned as she saw her lonely soul in the gold framed mirror. Staring for what felt like a millennium, she cringed as she heard the swishing and clanking of the King’s Sword on the ballroom floor. Grabbing the bottom of her dress, she slipped her dainty feet out of her heeled shoes, and as silent as a church mouse, she tiptoed down the hallway and sat just outside the grand doors. 

“I can’t have a princess that overpowers the King and Queen. That would be madness,” yelled King Lorcan. Lorcan, pacing back and forth in front of his two sons, his one son, Varik, stood tall and mighty instead of his brother, Philip, who found the entire situation amusing. 

“She will not use her powers; you have my word, father,” answered Varik. “She will be the perfect future queen one day. The Kingdom is unaware of her… situation. She will keep her… abilities a secret. Just as she has all this time.” 

Lorcan stopped pacing, and placed his old sweaty hand over his face, and held it there. He sighed loudly. Before Lorcan opened his mouth, Philip jumped off the nearby table and slithered over to his father. 

“We both know what will happen when the Kingdom finds out, father. You could not have been such as… her rule over the palace. Let alone live in your castle. This will cause hysteria.” Philip stopped speaking aloud for a moment and thought, “Then again, a little hysteria is amusing to observe every once and a while.” Varik rolled his eyes towards his brother. Lorcan looked at Philip, for a brief moment, he considered his point. 

"You can't believe that garbage he is feeding you, father!" Yelled Varik. Beginning to panic, Varik looked at his father, praying he would come to his senses. His father looked over at his two sons and sighed. 

"One son who wants destruction and to control from fear, and one son who will want the opposite, but will cause all," he sighed. He took his crown off his head and dangled it in his hand. He quietly walked over to his throne and sat silently. 

"Renee will not cause these problems," added Varik. 

"She is a fine suiter, but she comes with a price," adds an old woman who was silently standing in the doorway by the throne. Startled, Lorcan stood to his feet and stumbled to put her crown on his head. She wore an old dress, a thin rose gold crown, and gold jewelry on her hands. The boys stood there in amazement. Varik looked at the woman and smiled broadly. Philip continued to stare with his eyes wide. Walking past Lorcan and past Philp, she chuckled.

"Close your mouth, dear, you're getting spit and shame on the throne, and don't bother putting that crown on your head; I was the one who put it on that thick head of yours," she laughed with her old voice. She wobbled over to Varik and wrapped her old arms around him. "I missed you, Gram," he whispered as she embraced the elderly woman. The old woman patted him on the head and turned to Philp and Lorcan, who was still silent. 

"What? You expect me to miss the wedding of a lifetime?" she laughed and looked around the ballroom and then back at Varik. She pursed her lips and looked at the king, and then back over to her grandson. "When you're king, you need to hire a better decorator. The place has gone dark and depressing since I left." She points at Varik with her index finger. "Needs a woman's touch if you ask me," Varik smirked and looked at his dumbfounded father, who was still staring at the women. Finally coming to his senses, the king motioned to his elderly mother. 

"What are you doing here, mum?" he asked curiously, wondering if there is a motive for her being here. The elderly woman looked at her son and laughed. "There something wrong with you, boy?" she asked sarcastically. "Do you need medical attention?" Varik laughed at his grandmother's remark. She walked over to her son, who was standing in the middle of the ballroom. "Clearly, you are not listening. Seeing that I just said that I was here for Varik and Renee's Wedding. Now that's something I could not miss," she adds. A rush of sadness rolled over Varik's face. His grandmother, noticing the awkward silence, looked at Philip and then at Lorcan, who avoided eye contact with her. Growing impatient, she looked at Varik, searching for an answer. 

"You boys forget something. This kingdom was mine once. Longer than any of you people will reign over it. Don't pretend to hide things from me. I have more friends in this castle than any of you could dream of having," she adds. "Now spit out the shit in your mouths and tell me what the problem is," she barked. Nobody said a word to the women. Varik walked over to his grandmother and grabbed her dainty, wrinkled hands. "Seeing as your king now can't seem to get his own shit together makes me think that I have to fix this problem...again," she said with a wandering eye. 

"Father is concerned that Renee is unable to control given her circumstances, and I believe otherwise," explained Varik. 

"She is not controllable!" Announced Philip. Gram pulled her skinny black wand from her sleeve with quick and agile thinking; she aggressively flicked it at Philp's mouth. Magically, a gag ball formed around his mouth. 

"Let that be a kind warning to you, boy," Gram calmly said to Philip, who now shamefully sat on the floor in the fetal position. You have done more chaos for this country in the last four weeks than she will ever do in her lifetime," she groaned. She looked over at her son. "You could have been great, but you live to bring out the fear in people instead of their love." she looked over at Varik. She slumped over to him and placed her cold hand onto his cheek. "You, my grandson, have my blessing for this wedding. Not that you needed it, but there ya have it," she smirked. 

"If only that were enough," she sighed as he laid his face into her hand. Gram thought for a moment. 

"Remember this, my boy, all old people know everything," she smirked and began walking away from him. She grabbed her coat which draped over the side of her son's dishonored throne, "it's late. I'm going to bed," she mentioned. Approaching the door in which Renee, still silently sitting near. Quickly, Renee ran into the nearest room and hid from Gram and Varik. Varik, following his grandmother out of the room, he caught up to her in the dark hallway. His grandmother smiled and grabbed his arm as she escorted the elderly woman up to her chambers. Trying to fight the silence, he finally bucked up the courage to ask. 

"What did you mean old people know everything?" 

Gram looked up at the tall young man. "Exactly what I said… weren't you listening?" she yelled. 

"I mean, I need clarification." 

Gram laughed and looked down the dim-lit hallway. 

"With time comes knowledge, and seeing that I have been around for many years, I know much more than you think I know. I knew that girl had powers which derived from her hands, just as I know you do as well" she smirked and continued walking by herself down the hallway. Varik stopped mid-motion and watched the elderly lady shuffle down the hall to her quarters. "You walking me? Or am I walking you?" she yelled back to him, still continuing to walk away from him. Varik caught up to his grandmother and stopped her carefully. 

"What are you talking about?" she wondered nervously. Gram smiled and looked at her panicking grandson. Sweat began to bead down his forehead, and his breathing elevated. 

"No need to panic, boy. Your secret is always safe with me," she adds. "You forget, although I was queen, I am still your Gram" she pats him on the cheek and continues down the hall, arm, and arm with her grandson. Varik looked around the darkened hallway, staring at all his predecessors on the wall. 

“How long have you known?” In a panic state, his thoughts began to race throughout his mind. Wondering if his brother and father have already known. 

“four or five years. You were a feisty little one. Just like your Grandfather; always looking for a new adventure to get your tiny hands on.” Varik smiled with embarrassment and then suddenly felt pure happiness for the closeness he shared with his grandmother. 

“You were always there for me, even when you were a queen. I guess it was silly for me to assume you did not know,” he admits. They became silent. He tried to push the words out of his mouth but lacked the confidence too. 

“Did you like being in charge?” he asked her, knowing he was asking a question that was out of turn. Approaching her chamber door, they stopped. She padded him on the shoulder and smiled. 

“Like everything, there are the good and the bad. I did enjoy seeing you and your brother grow, and although he’s a stupid adult, your father was a fun child.” the woman laughed and continued to look upward at her tall grandson. “You and Renee share something extraordinary. Something, not many people ever come in close proximity of” 

“What’s that?” he asked innocently. 

“Love and Friendship,” she adds. “Thought that was obvious.”

“Aren’t they one and the same?” 

The old woman looked up at her grandson and shook her head. “I loved your Grandfather. But, we grew to love each other by being friends first,” she explained. “Love grows like a flower; The friendship is the dirt and the soil. Think about it; without the soil, the seed would not grow. It would disappear within the elements of the earth and fail to become something beautiful. However, when protected by the dirt, the flower will bloom and transform into something magnificent. Just as love will with friendship. Friendship is the base of all love.” Varik thought for a moment and smiled. 

“Renee and I met when we were very young. We learned what our magical capabilities were together.” 

“Exactly. You two were friends, and your souls learned to become one over time. It was not forced to become something that it was not” Gram smiled happily and did not say much after. A short moment of silence passed. “You will know what to do when it’s right. Remember, all secrets come out eventually. They come out either like a fresh spring river or a title wave. It’s up to you to choose how your secrets come out.” she smiled. Varik thought for a moment and opened his Grams chamber door to assist her into the room. Easing his way into the room, she slapped his arm away. “No need to help me into my room; I’m old, not helpless” she perked up and pulled him down to kiss his cheek. She raised her right hand and softly snapped her finger. In an instant, she disappeared with the soft sound of her laughter in the distance. Varik stood there astonished as he processed what he saw. He looked down at his hands, snapped his finger, and watched as a tiny ball of fire poked through his index finger. Renee, still silently watching, looked at Varik from a distance. She stared at the slight warm glow coming from his finger, which then spread to his hand. 

"I know you're there," he said softly. Feeling embarrassed, she eavesdropped on him; she walked with her tail between her legs down the long dark hallway. 

"My apology," she said softly, hoping he would not be angry with her. He grabbed her hand and kissed it softly. 

"Don't worry, I do the same shit." Bringing her closer to him, he hugged her. His body was warm, which gave her instant comfort. Varik moved away from her, grabbed the bottom of her chin, and softly kissed her. He looked down at Renee, who was still quiet. 

"I will give up my powers if it means being by your side," she agreed. 

Varik looked down at his future queen and felt a rush of sadness over his soul. "I could never ask you to do that." Renee shook her head. 

"I don't care. I will get rid of them," she said quickly, not allowing Varik to put his word in. "Keep your powers hidden. It will be easier if I rid myself of mine," she suggested. Varik sighed and sat down on the padded bench in the hallway. He invited Renee to sit with him. She gracefully sat next to him, and he placed his hand onto her thigh. 

"You worked so hard to become the witch you are today. We can leave the Kingdom. My brother will rule, and we will live happily...alone." The thought of Philip running the Kingdom startled Renee. 

"That will be murder," she contested. 

"He wouldn't" 

"Yes, he would," she argued. 

Varik sat back on the bench and rested his head on the wall. Looking up at the wall, he stared at the paintings of his Grandmother as queen. Varik thought for a moment; he took off his crown and rested it on his knee; he brushed his fingers through his long brown hair. 

"Do you trust me?" he wondered, even though he already knew her answer. She nodded her head, yes, and he kissed her cheek. He grabbed her hand and looked down at her dainty engagement ring. "I know what we can do," he smirked. Holding her hand, he whipped Renee down the hallway. Lingering in the door frame, Gram, smiling, whispered to herself. 

"Our future king is brighter than I anticipated" she nodded her head with happiness and such at her chamber door. Rushing down the hallway, barely able to keep up, Renee mumbled: 

"Where are we going?" 

Without replying, Varik led her back into the ballroom, where he found his brother and father murmuring to each other. 

"It's late," his father barked at him. 

"Could say the same to you, father," he answered him back with the same tone his father initially gave him. Philip, remaining silent, slithered over to Renee. Varik, grabbing her hand, smiled. 

"We have made a decision that will strip away Renee's powers. The Kingdom relies on us to do the right thing; therefore, we will do as you wish," Varik said in a demanding voice. Lorcan looked over at Renee, who was still silent. 

"I am glad you have come to the right decision," he mentioned. Philip rolled his eyes. He looked at his brother and saw his possible reign come to an end. "Renee's powers will be stripped away from here tonight, tomorrow we will prepare for the wedding, and then you two will have your coronation," Lorcan mentioned. "I do have a question for you," Lorcan asked in a sinister voice. Varik looked over at his father and wondered what he had in store for him. "How do you plan on stripping her of these powers?" Varik smirked and looked over at Renee. Before he could answer, Renee stepped forward. 

"This is no blessing; therefore, it is redeemable as a curse. All curses, regardless of how big, can be fixed with the proper spell or potion." 

"Smart," replied Philip, who is still wallowing in losing his kingdom. 

Varik grabbed Renee's hand and kissed it. "I know my way around potions. It will make you weak, but it should do the job," he assured. Renee nodded in agreeance. That night, Varik concocted a potion for Renee. Taking in the brew, she cringed at the sickening taste. Her hands glowed and cracked like class. She screamed in pain and fell to the floor. Varik watched with hesitation. The wind blew throughout the room; it grew heavier and heavier as the potion swam throughout Renee's body. Finally, the quake stopped. Renee fell to her knees. Looking down at her hands, she noticed a gray tint to her hand. Varik picked her up, carried her like a child into their chamber. He placed her frail body into their bed and put a cold rag onto her sweaty forehead. He quietly closed the door and magically locked it with his finger. 

"So," she said with exhaustion. "What did you really do to me?" she asked as she looked down at her gray hands. "I took away your magic. Now, I will give you mine" he placed his hands onto her body. Confused, Renee attempted to push his hands away. 

"Please, we can do this; you are smarter. You deserve to have magic. I can use my wand," he continued. 

"...You don't know how to use a wand. You never learned. You only use the magic in your hands. It would never work," she continued. Varik placed his hands on Renee's body, one on her head and the other on her stomach. His hair rose in midair as if he were floating. A bright warm light soars out of Varik's body. Unlike Renee's disempowerment, Varik's power flowed out of his body and stood mid-motion, outside his body. The orb of light then split in two. One orb gently floated into Renee's head and lingered there. Her gray hands then turned back to their normal pigment. Finally, the opposite orb dove back into Varik's body. Varik moved his hands away from Renee and looked down at her. He brushed his hands against her sweaty forehead and softly kissed her. 

"Now we share the power; like our souls, are bound."