The Wind in the Willows

Once upon a time, there was a woman named Rose. Rose was extremely beautiful and kind. She was known for her sparkly blue eyes and gorgeous smile. Many people called her Persephone, the goddess of spring because of her natural beauty and spring-like features. As beautiful as Rose was, she was never interested in boys, until she met a man named Caspian. 

Caspian was a merchant who was betrothed to another woman named Violet. Violet was the opposite of Rose. She was also known for her beauty but she had the heart of the devil. She had been betrothed to many men. However, they always broke their engagement. Violet had known heartbreak more than any other. Caspian also hated Violet and always snuck away to the country, where he drank with men and gambled. There he met Rose. They met in a funny way I might add, Caspian was drunk you see, so when he ran into Rose, his mouth started spilling out weird things, earning him a slap in the face. The minute they met, in Caspian’s eyes, Rose was an angel from the heavens. 

Since Caspian was a merchant, he had to sail around the world, trading and selling wine and silk, and could barely see Rose. Every third day of each month, Caspian ran off to the country with the finest gifts to give to Rose. He gave her white pearls, silk gowns, and jewelry of all shapes and sizes. Rose waited patiently all month, just to see Caspian. For her, a month felt like an eternity, but when he came, the wait didn’t matter. All that had mattered to her, was that Caspian was alive and in her arms. 

Now we mustn't forget Violet, Caspian’s soon-to-be wife. Violet was growing suspicious of her fiance, who ran off to the country every month on a certain day, with gifts fit for a woman. Violet grew increasingly jealous when Caspian came home after running off to the country, with a dreamy look on his face. He even called Violet, “Rose” accidentally many, many times. Violet wondered who this “Rose” was, but Caspian always said, “You're just as pretty as a Rose, that’s all.” As much as Violet loved flattery, to her, this wasn’t like a compliment, more like a lie. So, the next month, on the third day, Violet snuck after Caspian and followed him to Rose’s house. She was aghast when she saw her beloved Caspian, in the arms of another woman, kissing her as if she was the only person on the earth. 

Now, Violet had a secret, an evil secret. One that she had used for terrible reasons. She was a witch who had used her magic to curse maidens and haunt men. Violet had used her magic every time her beloved cheated on her, and Rose wouldn’t be the last. Violet barged into Rose’s house and tore Caspian and Rose apart.

“Violet?” Caspian gasped as he looked at Violet with wide eyes, “This isn’t what it looks like!” 

Violet cackled, “Isn’t what it looks like Caspian? I’m not dumb. I had husbands who cheated before,” Violet looked at Rose who was clutching to Caspian with her eyes full of fear. The sight made Violet’s face burn, how dare she cling to her lover?

Then, an idea sprung from Violet’s head. Violet smiled. She quickly stabbed Caspian in the chest. His eyes, once full of life, became dark in a second. Rose screamed. She looked up at Violet. 

“Why?” She choked, eyes full of tears. Violet smiled. 

“Look at me” Violet shouted. Rose looked up instantly, shocked by the commands in Violet’s voice. 

“I banish you to the Willow Woods, to live forever in isolation until you cannot live anymore. You will become a figure of sadness, drowned by grief until even the wind can defeat you. You will crumble into nothing!” Violet chanted the haunting curse, loud and clear. Violet smiled at Rose, her pupils growing bigger every minute. 

“Have fun my darling,” Violet whispered before Rose disappeared before her eyes to fulfill her fate. 

*****************

Rose woke up with a start. She quickly got off the grassy ground and dusted the leaves and little grass bits off her dress. She then looked around, amazed at the willow trees drooping around her. Rose wondered what she was doing here, she could see nobody in the distance. 

“My dear,” Rose heard a voice call. Rose's eyes lit up, and she knew that voice, the memory was so distant.

“My dear, it’s me,” the man walked towards her. Rose was captivated by his gorgeous eyes, his wavy blonde falling over his forehead. As he got closer, the memory of him slowly came back. It was him.

“Do you remember me dear?” the man stopped right in front of her and looked at Rose, straight into her eyes. Her knees wobbled. 

“Caspian,” her voice gasped, he was perfect and he was her’s. Before she knew it, her mouth was covered by his, his hands tangled in her hair, and her hands in his. The kiss soon turned vicious, his teeth were digging into her lip, his tongue in her mouth, and a sigh escaped Rose’s throat. Rose didn’t know how, but they ended up against the bark of a willow tree. Rose's head spun at the feeling of his muscular body against hers. 

“I missed you dear,” Caspian said pulling Rose away from him. 

“I missed you too,” Rose gasped, and threw herself at Caspian, only to find him a few feet away from her. 

“Caspian?” Rose asked, “Come back,” Caspian smiled. 

“Come to me Rose” Caspian said, holding his arms out for Rose to reach. Rose smiled and tried to grab his arm, but he faded away before she could grab his hand. 

“I’m here dear, right in front of you,” Rose looked up to see Caspian right in front of her. Rose chuckled at herself, she must have missed his hand. 

“You little,” Rose tried grabbing his hand again but he disappeared and then appeared a moment later, this time ten feet away from her. 

“Caspian stop running away!” Rose yelled, laughing, though she didn’t feel like laughing. It was getting annoying. 

“I’m not running away dear, I’m right here!” Caspian called out. Rose growled in frustration.

“Come back here!” Rose yelled as she ran after him. Caspian laughed and held his arms out again. Rose ran after him, but every time she tried to grab his arm, he disappeared and kept getting farther and farther away from her. Rose's heart pounded, her legs tired from running.

“Wait…Up!” Rose panted as she stopped to rest. 

“Hurry darling! I know you can run faster!” Rose heard a voice in the distance saying. 

“I’m coming!” Rose yelled as she started running again. What Rose didn’t know, was that she had been running for twenty years, trying to catch up to Caspian. Every year, her body grew weaker and sore. 

100 years later, Rose was still running calling Caspian’s name as if no time had passed. Rose had bones and muscles had turned old, but her outer appearance was still the same. 

Rose started crying, “Caspian!” She called. 

“Why do you run? Why do you break my heart? Why can’t you come to me?” Rose yelled, sobbing. She sobbed and sobbed until her mind had broken and her heart stopped pumping, and yet, she was still alive.

“Come on darling! You're so close!” Rose heard Caspian’s voice, closer than before. 

“Caspian?” Rose called, wiping her tears away and running until she was at the edge of a cliff. 

“I’m down here Rose!” Caspian called, his voice coming from the bottom of the cliff. 

“I’ll catch you! Just jump!” Caspian yelled. Rose closed her eyes and breathed slowly before opening her eyes and jumping off the cliff. She could see Caspian getting closer and closer as she fell. 

“Caspian!” Rose called before she crumbled into the wind and disappeared forever.

*************

Violet smiled as she saw Rose jump off the cliff and disappear into the wind forever. Rose’s fate was complete and Violet’s plan was almost done. Now all she had to do was- “Rose!”

Violet rolled her eyes as she turned to the man who had been watching Rose for the entire 100 years she was alive.

“Caspian, she’s dead,” Violet whispered as she sat down next to him on the grassy forest ground. He turned and glared at her, Violet shuddered. His eyes, his gorgeous eyes. 

“You killed her!” He growled, “It’s all your fault.” 

Violet chuckled, “It’s your fault darling, if you hadn’t cheated on me like many men before, she would still be alive, away from you and your selfish ways.”

“What do you mean?” Caspian said. Violet was surprised how his mood had changed from mad to concerned so quickly.

“You brought her to her doom. If you hadn’t met her, she would still be alive, happy, and free.” Violet whispered into his ear. 

“She wasn’t happy before she met me,” Caspian yelled, his fists balled up. 

“How do you know that dear?” Caspian went still. Violet then snuggled on his shoulder and breathed him in. 

“You were meant for me, not for her,” Violet whispered as she kissed him tenderly on the lips. Caspian pushed her away. 

“If she can’t have me, no one can,” Caspian snarled. Before Violet could stop him, he ran to the cliff Rose had jumped off, and jumped off too. 

“No!” Violet screamed as she ran towards the cliff responsible for two people's deaths. She fell to the ground and started slamming the ground, hard. 

“That’s what you get Violet,” Violet heard a whispering voice in the wind. 

“That’s what you get for cursing me,” Violet felt a prickle around her body as the wind blew. 

“Rose?” Violet stammered, “You're dead,” Violet heard a chuckle. 

“Oh sweetie, the wind never dies, but the wind does kill,” Violet felt the wind around her tightening her until she couldn’t breathe. 

“I am the Rose Wind, Fate of the Heartbroken, and Ruler of the Willow Woods. You will die by the hands of the dead.” 

“No!” Violet screamed as she gasped for air. 

“Oh sweetie, it would be much faster if you didn’t struggle,” Rose cackled. 

“No wonder nobody would marry you,” Violet’s eyes widened. Caspian. 

“You were mine,” Violet growled to the open air, still choking painfully.

“And now I’m her’s” Caspian whispered.

And with that, the Fates of the Willow’s Wind were forever tied together in death.