My 8 E-books written over the years by Alina Udrea - HTML preview

Chapter 10

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After Mark saved her life, Lizzy saw him in a different light. Maybe he

wasn’t the nincompoop she had believed him to be. The dead creature on the bank of the river was proof enough that he had what it took to become a knight in the king's army. And yes, he was more than welcome to join her. It looked like sometimes magic was just not enough to get out of trouble. Sometimes raw force was more efficient and necessary. So yes, he was a keeper. But she wasn't going to admit anything to him. She was too proud. Now they were on the road again. Riding side by side in the scorching heat. But the Forest of the Lost Souls was only three days' ride away. Then they would have to find the thing they were looking for: the fountain of eternal youth. If it really existed that is and it wasn't just a made up story, a myth designed to attract unsuspecting travelers and wannabe heroes to their deaths.

- Uh, do you have a map or something? I mean we've been riding for days and we still haven't reached the spooky Forest of the Lost Souls. Is it possible that we lost our way? Mark asked exhausted from all the riding and the unbearable heat of summer.

- No, I don’t need a map. My mom told me all about it before she left. I am positive it is this way. Stop whining and follow me, will you? Answered Lizzy annoyed that he doubted her. So what if she was young? She had learnt from the best, Gabriela, her mother. Which made her wonder if her mother was really dead or if she had found it, the magic water that turned back time and gave one's youth back. What if…? But she was interrupted by Mark again.

- Ok, so be it. It's not like I had anything better to do anyway.- See? Glad that you see it my way. And besides, if, no, sorry, wrong choice of words, I mean when we succeed and return to king Harold with his precious water guess who will be anointed knight? Need a hint?- Ok, ok. I just hope he makes me a knight.

- It will be his pleasure, I am sure! Lizzy said thinking that she hadn't named her price when she agreed to go on this quest. This would be her price, she'd ask king Harold to name Mark a knight.

- Hmm, Mark uttered a lot more cheerful, wishing for something doesn’t make it true, but you are right, better have a positive thinking than a negative one.

- Just two or three more days and we should get to the forest. Once there, we will have to be extra careful. It is not called the Forest of the Lost Souls

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in vain, you know. It is said to be haunted by the ghosts of everyone who has ever perished there while searching for the same thing: the magic water of the Fountain of Youth.

- This doesn’t sound promising. Do you think there were many before us?- How should I know? Said Lizzy thinking of her mother and her presumed failure and death which made her so irritable.

- Maybe we will find out what happened to your mother, said Mark as if reading her mind.

- Yes, that’s my personal quest.

- I'll do whatever I can to help you find out what happened to your mom. And get the water while we are there. So everybody should be happy.- I am thirsty and I am tired, Lizzy said yawning.

- Ok, then we camp. And go again in the morning.- I see a light in the distance, said Lizzy trying to make out what it was. Let's press on and see what it is.

- Ok, I see it too, there, among the trees. Looks like a hut.- A hut? In the middle of nowhere and so close to the Forest of the Lost Souls? Maybe it is a trap. Let’s tie the horses here and go on foot and check it out.

- Agreed, said Mark wondering who could be living in the small hut.- Come and be as silent as the night, she said shushing him.- I can hardly see anything on this moonless night, Mark started complaining.- Here, better? And Lizzy snapped her thumb and index and a small ball of light appeared above their heads.

- Nice trick, Lizzy!

- It's not a trick, it's magic!

- Cool either way, he said glad that now he could see where he was going. They approached the small hut stealthily as not to attract unwanted attention from whoever was inhabiting it. The hut looked cozy and welcoming especially as they were tired and they imagined there had to be a bed inside. When they got close enough, they peeked through the small window trying to see if there was anyone inside. There was a large candle burning on a cupboard and a few smaller candles on the table in the middle of the room. There was just an old wooden chair under the table so there was an only inhabitant. A pot was boiling on an oven in the corner of the room so someone was home. But the inside of the house was so welcoming and a smell of food was coming from that pot that they decided to wait and

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see who the owner of the hut was.

- What do you think Lizzy? Knock or wait and see in case there is a dangerous person inhabiting this place? Maybe an ugly old witch?- I don't know… Lizzy said frowning. I can sense magic coming from the inside. Maybe you are right and we should wait a few more minutes and see …. But she couldn’t finish her sentence as the door of the hut opened wide and a very young and beautiful maiden was standing in the doorway. She couldn’t have been older than Lizzy and just as beautiful. She looked at Mark and then she looked at Lizzy. Then she couldn’t take her eyes off her. It was as if she was hypnotized.

- Mom, is this you? Can it be? And Lizzy’s eyes filled with tears. She couldn’t believe it. Were her eyes and senses playing tricks on her? Could it be? Was this young maiden her mother? She sure looked a lot like her but she was young…

- Lizzy!! And the young maiden hugged Lizzy, tears of joy rolling down her cheeks. What are you doing here? Don't tell me you are looking for the magic water of youth.

- Mom, you are alive! I can't believe it! And you are…young!- Yes, I found the water….

- I will just shut up now, Mark said in bewilderment while trying to process what was going on.

- Who is this, Lizzy?

- A friend. But that’s not the point here. I thought you were dead. Why didn’t you come back? You found the water so why didn’t you come back to king Harold with it? Why didn’t you come back to me?- Forgive me, darling. I was selfish, now I know. I wanted this to be my last quest. I was getting too old to do the king's bidding. I was tired of always being on the road. Then I really found the Fountain of Youth. And you can see what happened. I used it on me and decided to never return to Karaland. Been living here ever since. How could I have returned and told you that I was your mother when I am not older than you? I was ashamed that I had been so vain and used the water to be young again instead of letting time put his toll on me. But you know I have always been beautiful but was getting old and started hating the wrinkles of old age. And king Harold… what would he have said when he saw me? I could have brought him some water but I decided not to. Maybe the kingdom deserves another king.

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- Oh, mom, I am not judging you, I love you no matter what! Don’t you know that? Lizzy said kissing Gabriela's cheeks. Although it is kind of funny that you are so young now.

- Oh, but where are my manners? Said Gabriela wiping the tears from her face. Come in and join me for dinner. And tomorrow morning I will join you in your quest. You will need my knowledge and help. Both Lizzy and Mark were happy at this. Fresh real food, not hares cooked in the outside without any condiments. And a bed to sleep in instead of the hard ground.

- Uh, Gabriela said as if on purpose to spoil their hopes, I only have one bed and an armchair in the other room, my bedroom. I will let you two use it and I will put the armchair here in the kitchen and sleep in it.- One bed? Both Mark and Lizzy asked at the same time. While in Lizzy's voice one could hear tension, in Mark's voice there was hope.- Uh, she is my mom so I take the bed. You can sleep on the floor. It's just for a night anyway, we leave at first light.

- Could we share the bed? I won't bite, I promise, Mark said still hoping to get a good night's sleep on a bed and who knows, maybe something extra…- Was that a joke? Lizzy answered sharply. Would you rather sleep outside?- No, the floor is good, I am sure it will be just as comfortable as the bed.- Ok, then get some sleep. Tomorrow, with mom's help, we should reach the Forest.

They helped Gabriela move the armchair in the kitchen and then after dinner and after a hot bath they went to their room. Lizzy sat on the bed while Mark took a blanket and put it on the floor next to Lizzy’s bed. But neither could fall asleep.

- Are you sleeping, Lizzy?

- Nope. Maybe if you keep quiet I…

- I am glad your mother is ok. She is more than ok in fact. She is great.- Yeah, she is. And she will help us get to the fountain safely as she knows the way. This is more than I hoped for.

- Yeah, we are lucky, and Mark got up from the floor and sat on the bed next to Lizzy.

- What are you doing? Get down!

Instead of a reply he leaned and kissed her. Yeah, she could set him on fire or turn him to ice or who knows what else she was capable of but he was willing to take that chance. He felt something for her which he had

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never felt for anyone. It was new to him. It was as if his whole world was spinning around her. She had become the center of his world. She was sweet and innocent, yet smart and powerful. She was funny and kind. Somehow she was all that mattered. Not becoming a knight in the king's

army, not titles, not wealth, nothing. Just her. But what did she feel for him? Would she torture him for kissing her or…

She fought him at first but then she kissed him back. She let him kiss

her until everything around them seemed to be spinning. Or was she dizzy? Her heart was beating so fast that she thought for a split second that it was going to explode in her chest. She touched his strong chest to feel his heart. It was beating just as fast as hers. Two hearts beating on the same rhythm like dancing on the same song. Then he slowly took off her clothes one by one until she was completely naked. She felt embarrassed and dizzy and good at the same time. The way he touched her, the way he kissed every bit of her body. It was intoxicating. It was almost unbearable in the sweetest way possible. Then, when it was almost over, she felt hot and cold at the same time. It was almost like a dream. Then she moaned softly unclenching her fist towards the ceiling when a fireball escaped her hand and blew up the roof lighting it like a blazing torch in the night.- Oh, wow, sorry, she said. I…

- Shush, no need to say sorry. It was incredible. I love you. But I think we should get dressed fast as your mom will surely barge in to see what happened.

- Yeah, right, Lizzy said fumbling for her clothes. I had better put out the fire. And she sent an ice wind towards the still burning roof. The spell did the work and stopped the fire from spreading but the roof was gone. Then they heard a knock on the door.

- Everything all right in there? They both heard Gabriela's panicked voice.- Yeah mom, Lizzy said trying to calm herself, just a minor accident. Your roof might need mending in the morning.

- Oh, good, it was old anyway, and she chuckled and returned to her armchair while Mark and Lizzy spent the night in a sweet embrace with the stars above their heads as the roof was…poof….

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