Cursed

Allister stod nervously with the priest in check as he waited for Batya to enter the hall, he wasn't nervous because of the crowd or anything that had to do with his nerves, he was just too happy to stay calm. He was indeed a lucky man, imagine wanting the support of the most powerful king among all kings and you got it presented to you on a silver platter with his daughter as desert, he truly was a lucky man. His mother, he knew didn't like Batya or her parents very much but he will have too much at stake if he should cancel the wedding and do what his mother wanted, he loves the princess that much to go against his mother for. He was still lost in his excitement when the bride appeared, for a moment he stood still and just watched the woman walking down the isle coming to him, the veil covering her head did him a great injustice but it also made him desperate to see what that piece of lacy cloth was hiding, he sighed deeply only then did he know he was holding his breath.

Meredith sat nervously in her seat, oh how beautiful her daughter looked, how wonderful she looked in that dress. She looked so happy as she walked down the long isle, many guests awed at her beauty and grace and others, their mouth just fell open in sheer amazement, looking at her now, she couldn't help it, but the zeal to protect her grew. The fear of someone hurting this innocent soul was very frigtening, her fingers were on her tighs, under the white and burgandy dress that she wore were daggers strapped to both her tighs, ready to take down anyone who acted funny, she won't leave anything at stake, you act different you recieve a dagger.

Marvel had sent news, nothing out of the ordinary seemed to be going on outside the city walls, so far everything looked normal, maybe she had retreated but also based on the little facts she she had gathered about the sorceress, she knew she was a cunning one, she hasn't left yet, she was just waiting for the perfect moment to strike. But as to why that witch was doing all this no one had the idea, they just didn't know why and nothing about a curse she had proclaimed was recorded in those books written about her, in fact no one knew what her curse was all about. The wizard had tried summoning souls of past witches and wizards who might had an idea about whatever curse she had uttered before her demise, but none knew about any curse. Leaving him no choice he had to summon an exact group of species he wanted to avoid, demons, fallen ones who burnt in the deepest chambers in hell.

The wedding proceeded smoothly and even when the rings were exchanged, fear and anxiety increased in the heart of the queen and king, even Caden was scared, he stood behind the princess in a protective manner, he was willing to strike anyone who acted out of order in order to protect her, Marvel had told him what he could do to help prevent the uncertain and scary fate of the princess. The wizard said as long as the ceremony was sucessful she will be safe.

The sudden gathering of strong winds wind threw the wizards off guards and it was too late when they went into formation, even defending with their mights the wind was too strong, the formation was ruined, the strange whirlwind grew bigger and bigger as it crushed the iron gates opened and threw the soldiers about, crushing them into walls. The wind outside the wedding hall grew bigger and bigger, the guests outside suffered the most as things were flying here and there, it was scary. Reagan looked at Meredith and together they drew thier swords, and stood before the newly married couple, anyone who witnessed their strange behaviour asked questions that went unanswered plus the commotion outside caused murmurs among the crowd of people. Women screamed and men grunted as the whirlwind gushed in shuttering the glasses of the windows, the wind slammed the huge doors opened and the heavy winds blew, for a while nothing could be seen, they were in a smokey dome those inside couldn't see what's happening inside and those outside were in equal situation, what could only be heard were screams and nothing but screame of fear and torture, then suddenly everything stoppped, everything went back to normal, even the shattered windows miraculously repaired and just like that the beautiful weather that had turned gray and stormy disappeared.

Everything cleared and returned to its noraml state, what was that, the guest questioned no one in particular, when Meredith opened her eyes her first concern was her daughter but the princess and her husband were okay, Reagan breathed a sigh of relief, everything was over, but they were mistaking, their bad days were far ahead and things will never be the same, not for the princess nor her husband. The feast went on as if nothing had happened it was okay like this but among the guests only had a dangerously satisfying look on her face, Akhasha and Allister noticed it, it was strange, too strange.

"Are you finally satisfied mother?" he asked taking the seat beside her.

"I am indeed, Batya looked very beautiful it is normal for me to look pleased with a daughter in-law like that. Come to think of it, I didn't realized that the Ice Kingdom now has the backing of the Black Kingdom, in fact your marriage to that princess ha formed an alliance between us...how amazing...cheers to that"...even as she clinged her glass to his, Allister knew it went far beyond what his mother was saying. Did this cunning woman have something up in her sleeve?

Batya was happy, she looked at the beautiful ring on her finger and she smiled, her mother looked at her with tears in her eyes, she drew her daughter in for a tight hug.

"Congratulations darling".....

"Thank you mother"...both woemn cried.

"Women...." someone said in a disaproving tone and mother and dughter broke apart...

"They never seize to amaze me, who cries on their wedding day, on a happy occssaion like this there should be joy and an endless celebration, the worst has passed we should enjoy it..."

"True brother our stubborn mule is now a wife and instead of celebrating their are tearing here..."

Batya looked at her handsome brothers as they made fun of her, they all looked dashing in their black suits, it suited them very well. She smiled happily and threw herself in her elsest brother's arms, ah she will miss them and their constant bickering and teasings.

"Aww the bride gets emotional"....teased the second brother. Reagan from behind slapped his son on his head.

"She is now a woman, keep your hands off her..." with that he offered his hand to his daughter, her first dance after her marriage with him.

"May I ahve this dance my fair lady?"

"Yes my handsome lord"...replied the princess and together they went to the dance floor. It was after they left that the tension among the royal family went to its peak, the atmosphere changed and suddenly the cheerful brothers sat near their mother for a more serious discussion.

"Is the mark still present mother?"

"No its not..." Meredith looked worried, after the mist had cleared, indeed the cursed mark on her nape had disappered but it has been replaced by something else, the three dots had turned into blisters, they were too tiny to be seen.

"What does that mean?"....Caled the eldest son asked...he looked so much like his father, his short raven hair and sharp grey eyes with his sturdy figure gave him that intimidating look, he was powerful with a bow and she knew these four brothers will ndo anything to protect thier little sister but even she knew that with their powers combined they are no match for that ancient sorceress, what made it scary was now Lilith was a spirit and a spirit to full manifest amond the living must possess a body, anyone of these guests could have been possessed by that witch and that made it serious.

"the curse mother..."

"Yes, it has been manifested, we were mistaken, she wasn't outside the city walls or lurking in the forest ready to attack...."

"What does that mean?"....Zeddicus, the youngest among the brothers asked.

"She meant, Lilith had already possessed somebody even before the wedding started, she had been here long enough to witness everything, that mist and storm was just a drama to fool us, the curse had already manifested when the priest pronounced them husband and wife"....Marvel replied joining them. The old man looked exhausted, he had been having a hard time gathering information.

"I summoned a demon"

"Marvel that was dangerous"....

"I had to do it" ...the man defended. "They have been warned to tell anyone who seeked for insight regarding that curse...it's more than a curse"

"What do you mean?" Meredith asked

"Your highness, all I could get from the interrogation was that Batya's curse wasn't just a curse, she is valuable to Lilith and the demon realm, Lilith's soul has been sealed completely in Batya's curse"

"Then..."

"Yes they are fragments of her soul, in the midst of the mist Lilith had appeared to manifest the curse, yes that I am."

"She wants her alive"....Caleb said

"Yes, the longer she lives the powerful the sorcesoress until she is strong enough to gather the fragment of her soul and become a living again"....

"Wait so what you are telling me is, that witch depends on my daughter to revive herself and her curse is what is holding her soul together?"

"She will kill anyone who makes an attempt on her life"...

"What the hell does she want, if she want someone to be a vessel fo hold her powers let it be me, Batya is just a child"...the queen cried.

"Mother...."

"However there is hope...thouhh seems impossible but there is hope"...

Marvel said softly lookign at the faces of the crowd, this discussion was to be held in secrete, he scheduled for the meeting as he needed to get things together.

***

The feast ended and everyone retired. Allister was exhausted; he had danced with almost all the maidens present, his mother told him once use any means possible to build ties even if it means stooping very low, dancing with daughters of merchants to him was stooping low but it had to be done if he needed to build trust among the merchant, he was negotiating on doing business with them. Due to the nature of the Ice Kingdom merchants found it hard trading with them, as thier trading routes were all dangeours roads. Sometimes he couldn't help but agree with his mother, what if they had the Black Kingdom in their hands with all its riches and sturdiness it will be marvelous, all their problems could end.

In the end he had to do the unthinkable, he had sacrificed his pride as an Ice Prince and mingled with daughters of harlots, what a shame, and in doing all that he had missed the chance to have a second dance with his bride, he will make it up to her, it was all worth it. When he entered the bridal chamber, his bride was already alseep. He undressed and joined her on the bed but before he could do anything, his tired body acted on its own and fell into slumber.

Batya opened her eyes and stared pitifully at her husband, drunk? who drinks on their wedding day? in fact who get drunk on their wedding night? she wasn't happy, she thought marrying Allister will make her happy, she loved him so much, but it was strange how unhappy she felt now. She had been happy and enjoyed the feast but whenever she wanted to dance with her husband he was found twirling a girl around the dance floor, even her friends mocked her, that despicable Alaine had laughed and commented on how enjoyable it must be to watch your new married husband jumping around with women other than his wife. She had dismissed her and claimed he was just enjoying himself, and during the whole feast she felt burnt all over, her body ached and she felt tired, in the middle of the feast she had sneaked out and retired to bed, in fact her husband hadn't noticed her gone until the feast was over, so much celebration for newly weds.

The mark had disappeared, those strange blisters hurt alot, it burned her up, 'cursed bride', the words kept ringing in her ears, she wasn't cursed. She tried to sleep but the image of that girl in the stream haunted her in fact she became her nightmare.

She had no idea what was happening but it scared her a lot.

Allister woke to the music of the birds and the sound of fresh air blowing, he stretched dramatically and reached out to the side of the bed, it was empty...he frowned and opened his eyes. He found his wife sitting on the balcony, looking outside enjoying the beauty of the garden below.

"What happened sweetheart"..he wrapped his arms round her and kissed her hair, she got up without returning his affections and truned around.

He yelled like a woman when he looked at his wife, he backed away, was this the same woman he had gotten married to last night? no it couldn't be, but she had the ring on.

"Allister, its me Batya"...Batya said but he backed away, reaching behind him he drew his sword, the girl stopped.

"No its not you, who the hell are you? wher is my wife?"

"Allister it is indeed me", Batya tried to draw near her husband but he avoided her like a plaque in fact he run from her, has become that undesirable? was she so unpleasant he couldn't stand her sight, thinking of this hurt her deeply, how does she make him believe it was indeed her and none else, she has just changed a bit, but her mother is a healer it won't be difficult for her to get rid of the things on her.

"Guards!"...he belowed and the soldiers bushed in, Batya quickly turned and covered her face with scarf. Eve jus entering the castle heard the commontion and went to take a look, what was hppening?

"Your highness, what is happening?" she asked Allister worry written on her face.

"Yes Eve, might you have any idea where Batya might be?"

"Batya?...but your highness is that not the princess?", the young woman replied without a doubt, even with her back turned to her she knew that was her friend and none else.

"This thing is my wife, have you seen her? have you seen her face?"... his words were harsh and it cut deep, even she didn't know what's happening to her, she just washed her face and the things started appearing, on her....it could just be a reaction his words were a bit harsh.

"Or did you lie to me, knowing this was what she actually looked like and that this was her true face, a demon? a troll? a monster? what is this thing did i get married to?", he was fuming with anger, in fact Eve was disappointed, all these names for a small change in Batya's look? where is that prince who claimed to have fallen in love with her heart and not her looks and that nothing could tear them apart even death? had he lied?

"The effrontery"...Reagan entered, a guard had reported to him about the treatment of the prince towards the daughter.

"To disrespect my daughter in such manner"....Meredith said angrily.

"Put that sowrd down, Allister, lower your sword"

"Your highness I woke to see this thing in here, and wearing Batya's ring...I only acted that way because I was scare she might have done something to her"...he explained and the queen went to her daughter's side, looking at her daughter's covered face she felt sad, she felt remorseful, Batya had indeed changed, the curse had made her look horrific, almost passing her as a troll of a demon even. The queen slowly...

"Mother...", Batya protested.

"Its okay baby, it's okay"...she removed the covering and those presents, were terrified, even the king closed his eyes for a moment, half her face was severely scalded deformign her...

"Does it hurt?"

"A lot mother, it burns"..she confessed and her mother nodded, covering her up again, she faced up the Ice Prince with pride.

"Yes, that is Batya, my daughter and your wife, but she's still as beautiful as ever, so what if she is scalded, it could have been an accident, she will heal, did you cause commotion because of this, disturbed the peace of this castle and called my daughter a thing because of this, a monster? a troll? an ogre? what other names can you give her? Yes this is the woman you married, and if indeed you loved her as you claimed, you could seeked fro answers as to why she is like this when she had gone to bed fine and woken up like this, instead of acting like a complete mannerless brat you could have seeked for help, npt drowing a sword and threatening her life. You don't deserve her. The marriage will be nullified"... those were not the words of a queen but a mother, a husband should support his wife in every way, he acted like an idiot, but had she wondered what she might going through, what it felt like going to bed with a beautiful face and wakun up totally deformed? how depressing that must be and yet all he cared about was her face. This man fell in love with her face and not her heart, he didn't deserve her, to think she had supported him to this far, she had been blinded.

"Before a decision like that is made, I gather we have the right to know what happened"...Akhasha appeared in her graceful form.

"Cursed Bride"....murmured Batya...her tone was flat.

"What was that?"...Allister asked, her sight did frightened him.

"I agree with my mother, the marriage has to be nullified, since my husband can't stand the sight of me I will not torture him further"...

"Batya..." Eve pleaded taking hold of her hand, even her tears hurt the scal on her face, it was only her face he saw and he is thins terrified what if he sees wha beneath the dress she wore, it was slowly spreading and she didn't know why, it was only fare she released him of his misery.

"I am cursed, a 'cursed bride'"...she announced bodly ..."I don't how it happened but all I could think of is this could a curse, a curse of someone who hated me. I don't know if this curse will deform me further and so until it is broken, I Batya of the Black Kingdom request for a divorce from my husband Allister of the Ice Kingdom"...

"I agree, cursed or cursed, accident or no accident, something like this cannot stay married to me, start the preparations immediately."

"No need, just take your ring and leave my kingdom, let be known that I Princess Batya I have dicorced my husband because he found me not worthy of being his bride"... with that sat, quickly left the room.

Akhasah didn't know weather to laugh or cry she is sure to spread this news, the princess had been cursed at birth, the curse is contagious had to save himself and get a divorce from the princess....this news will do great harm to the Black Kingdom, her perfect revenge.

***

"There a way to break the curse"...Marvel said the light of hope brightened in the hearts of he royal family.

"There is a river, water from its source contains essence that can cleanse the body of anf defection, it can cleanse the soul of any dark energy, there might not a way to break this curse as there is none, but that river can cleansed her of the evil energy behind this curse"

"Tell me and I will fetch from it, even if its from the pit of hell I don't mind going"...Caden said.

"Its the Eden River, there are four rivers in the Eden Garden but there is one river that will cleanse her..."

"Is this a joke, everyone knows the Eden Garden is just a myth"...

"Is it?"

"There are people who used to live outside the Eden Garden, though unable to enter it"...Marvel opened a huge unmarked black book.

"That was thousands of years ago..."

"Yes Your Majesty...."

"That is a fairytale Marvel, growing up we all believed it existed, I even seeked for it but never found it"....Reagan said.

"Because you never looked enough. Those people live till now..."

"Where?"...Batya asked quietly.

"Battie..."

"Mother I refuse to live like this, I can't suffer like she did, not me, I did nothing wrong, I will find this river even if it is impposible, I have to give it a try, you told me we have the right to forge out own destiny. So what if I am cursed, curses are meant to be broken, so yes let me give it a try."

"The Dark Forest"

"What, no, you are not going there"...the king said in a finale tone.

"The Lord of the Dark forest, they called him Omega, he is the last of those people found to be alive today....however there is a limit...in thirty days the curse needs to be broken or she will be cursed forever."

"And how do we get to this Omega?"

"I will wright you a letter, he will give you guidance"...

"I will leave immediately..." Batya said.

"No, let me go"...

"No she needs to do this herself, this has to be done secretely, the princess will be at risk if enemies of the kingdom gets to know its beloved princess is put there on her own, her life will be at risk, besides the river cannot be fetched, fetching it kills its essence and makes it ordinary, its essence can only be kept alive"...

"Caden will go with her..."

"Yes you highness"...

"Remember this journey is very dangerous, trust no one and just follow the directions of the Dark Lord. I will make sure he expects your arival"...

As scary as it sounded Batya was ready to take this chance, she will never allow a vengeful evil spirit ruin her life, she will break free from this curse.

***

"Can she do it?" Meredith asked her husband.

"Our daugther is a fiesty one, she is brave and smart, she will do it, besides she has the best knight as her escort, she will be safe"

"In thirty days?"

"It will be hard but remember Lilith needs her alive, now lets pray she doesn't her till that thirty days are over"...

Reagan drew his wife in his arms and as she laid there she wasn't a queen but a wife and a mother who was worried about her daughter's fate'

***

Akhasha looked into the mirror taking off her heavy accessories, she was very satisfied, her revenge had been complete, what a shame. Tomorrow will be a day she will enjoy the fruit of her labour, the Black Kingdom will be nothing but mockery. Looking into the mirror again, she wasn't just staring at herself but at another person...

"Very well, our deal is done, I will be going on"

"They have found a way to break the curse" Akhasha complained to the mirror figure worriedly.

"Do you believe in what they say? do you think she can escape from me"...the confidence in the voice was solid.

"I am counting on you then.....Lilith"