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

Chapter 10

 

Back at the king's palace there were rumors that Dorian was back

and that he had indeed brought Milly with him. But there were other rumors that something was amiss with the princess.

King Harold was informed of Dorian’s return. But he was also

informed that his daughter Milly wasn't the way he knew her, that was all his son had had the courage to tell him. He figured that the king would see her himself in a matter of moments anyway. When King Harold asked John, his son, what he meant by that, John told him that he would see her for himself and then he excused himself saying that he was sick. Truth was he couldn’t stand to see her like that for a moment longer. She was his sister, no matter what, and now she was… he wasn't even sure what she was.

Everyone else involved in the matter was there as well as the

king's most trusted men: Gabriela, his wife, Lizzy, Mark, Scarrino, Bobby and ten guards. They were all waiting for Dorian to walk through the throne room doors with Milly. And they were all looking at those doors attentively as they had all heard about Milly, that there was something wrong with her.

 

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Finally, the doors opened and Dorian entered carrying someone

on his back. First thing everybody saw was that he was missing his left arm. Then Dorian put Milly down before the king and queen and everybody else and ungagged her. But left her arms and legs still tied with rope.

The king couldn’t believe that the thing before him was his

daughter. He examined her for what seemed like an eternity to make sure it was her. She was almost beyond recognition by now.- What happened to her? The king asked when he finally was convinced that the creature standing before him was his own flesh and blood.- She is an undead now, answered Dorian. This is how I found her, hiding in a cave. This is how I lost my arm, I was attacked by some of those creatures and that’s why I know. I kept my promise and brought her back…, said Dorian waiting for the king to let him free now that he had done his part of the deal.

- Undead? The king repeated like in a trance. Well, he finally went on, I wanted to punish her for what she tried to do but I guess the undead that turned her were faster than me. I can't see her like this! Will someone put her out of her misery, please?- Wait! Lizzy said all the time praying to God she won't be sorry later for what she was about to do.

- What is it, child? Asked King Harold who was sorry to see Milly like that. He was going to exile her, but not kill her. But now, he had no choice.

- There might be a cure for her, father! And then she looked at everyone’s faces as they couldn’t believe it. Truth is they couldn’t believe she was trying to save her after all Milly had done. Even king Harold was stunned and relieved.

- If there is anything you can do to turn her back, please do it! And then you can punish her as you see fit, but don’t let her die like this! A small tear rolled down her father's cheek.

 

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- I don’t know if it will work, but we could try… Lizzy said again. I might have the cure in my pocket. Everyone was waiting for her to go on as they were all breathless after her statement.- In your pocket? What is it? Please hurry and try it, I can’t stand another moment seeing her like this, and king Harold kneeled before Lizzy and Milly.

Lizzy took the small bottle of magic water from the fountain of

eternal youth, the one she was saving for when she and Mark would grow old and would need it. Then she slowly approached Milly who was shackled on the floor. She thought she saw a spark in her eyes, as if she understood. Then she poured the content of the bottle down Milly's throat. She started to moan and whine as it was obvious she was in pain. Half an hour later Milly stopped moving and collapsed to the ground as if dead.

- You killed her! King Harold yelled! You couldn’t forgive her, couldn’t you? I won't blame you but… but he couldn’t say anything else because the next moment Milly got up from the floor, cured. She was her own self again to everyone’s bewilderment.

- Thank you, Milly could barely utter. Thank you for allowing me to take my punishment as a human being and not that thing that I had become. And the worst part was that I was sometimes conscious but only briefly and then my mind would wander off again….- Milly! Was all the king could say.

- I forgive you for everything that you've done but if you ever try to kill me again, you’re done! And Lizzy searched Milly's face to see if she could be trusted not to do anything foolish again. And she saw the remorse on her face and knew that she had been right in giving her another chance.

- I promise I will be the sister you never had, thank you again, I wasn't expecting this and I don’t know what else to say….- That’s enough and I am sure you mean it, so if father has nothing against my decision, then you are free.

 

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- You have proven wise beyond your years, Lizzy, and let this be a lesson to everyone! And as for you, Milly, if you ever dare to lay a finger on her, you will know no mercy in your punishment! Now leave before we change our minds!!

With the kingdom saved from Kain and Lizzy safe, everything

went back to normal. And Lizzy and Mark finally had their wedding which was the most beautiful and most expected event in the kingdom.

The end!!

 

As a bonus to this short e-book, I will add

two stories for children, in rhymes, which I wrote when I was 17 years old and which I stumbled upon when going through my old notes. I think they are cute, so here they are:

 

The Princess

Once upon a time,

There was a famous castle,

And around it, a great rustle

Due to the swamp that surrounded it,

Which was full of crocodiles that usually had nothing to eat.

And in this castle, there lived a princess

Who was the castle's only heiress.

But the princess was a spoilt brat,

Even since she was a little girl she hated the cat: She used to call the cat to her

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Just to pull her by its fur,

And then the cat would scratch her skin

And the little princess would turn pale and green. This happened day after day for a whole week Until the princess got tired and sick

And caught the cat by its tail,

She even broke a little nail,

And threw her out of the window

Right into the mouth of one of the hungry crocs. So this was the end of the cat

And this is the story of a spoilt brat.

And this princess had a heart of stone,

Nothing could touch her to the bone,

Nothing could pierce her cold heart to make her cry, Not even if someone related to her would have died. So when her parents told her she should get married,

She answered she would, but just to the one who this task carried:

He had to make up a story so sad

That when told, her heart would melt.

Only to this man would she marry,

Whom afterwards would have to make her life merry.

Because she knew in her heart she was bad And wanted to do something about it before she got mad.

But day after day her sadness grew so deep That she feared she might really weep

Because she thought she would never find such a man

Who could make her life be merry again.

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But however this mood didn’t last long

Because one evening something was heard: it was a song!

A handsome brave knight

Ventured towards the castle that night

And entered singing through the gate

That you might have thought he was a clown And not a brave knight, at any rate.

When asked by the princess why was he singing with joy,

He answered rather coy:

- Because, dear princess, you'll soon be mine!- How come will I be thine?

- Because I know a story that will affect you so deep That I'm sure it will make you weep!

May I share it with you?

- Oh, please do!

- “Once, there lived a tiny bug

That was called, let's say, Og!

And it thought it was the most important creature on Earth,

It thought it had probably been marked at birth! It was so shallow and so proud

That it couldn’t see it was just a creature in a crowd, It thought it had no reason to be alarmed,

It thought no one could do it any harm.

Until one day by a little boy it was seen

Who took it in his palms with a grin!

Then after thinking of it just a bit,

He threw it on the road and stepped on it!”- So, you see, my little princess, that just as today we live,

Tomorrow we can be drifted away by a gust of wind?

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The knight looked the princess in the eye

And the marvel happened: she began to cry! And the reason why she began to cry

Is that she was young and thought she would never die!

Then, she threw herself on the rug

And realized she was just like the bug!

But what more can we say about the knight? In the end, he proved he was right!

So, the very next day

He took her away

And made her his wife

For the rest of her life!

And the second rhymed story for kids if you, whoever reads this, want to read and I haven't bored you yet:

The butterfly queen

A very long time ago,

There was a boy who from his home had to go As his family was very poor,

His father being only a boor.

So he left his home with a sour heart

And wished to take everything from the start. He was planning either to find a hidden treasure Thinking that this way, his family's future he would be able to ensure,

Or to rescue a damsel in distress

Who afterwards would have to do for his family none the less,

As she would reward him for his courageous act, And he knew this for a fact.

So, with these thoughts on his mind,

He left the ones he loved behind

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And took the first steps on a journey called “life”! After a pretty long time of wandering,

He realized he had to sit and do some pondering. So, while he was thinking of what he should do for his next step,

A doggy came close to him and jumped in his lap. Then the doggy began to lick his face

But he immediately wiped it off till there was no more trace.

Afterwards he took his bag and drew out some bread

With which the doggy he fed.

And after they had eaten,

Both the dog and the boy felt beaten

And fell asleep on the damp ground

Without making the faintest sound.

A few hours later, the sun was high in the sky And the boy woke up, looked back and said his last “Good bye”!

To the land that had been his home for so many years

That it made him drop some tears.

Finally, he took the doggy which from then on he called his,

He even gave the dog a little kiss,

And they both continued on their way

Going together very, very gay.

After almost a two days' walk,

The food was gone so the boy knew they had to stop.

But it grew dark and they were in a forest

And the boy felt the need for a rest.

However, he thought he saw a little spark

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Somewhere, not far, in that pitch-dark,

And he and the dog continued to walk

Until they finally got to their stop:

They were standing in front of a spooky hut, When the little boy finally dared to knock.

But, when the door opened, he had a shock! An ugly old man was standing in front of him And, at first, the boy thought it was a bad dream! But the man spoke and invited them in!

After having conquered his fear

The boy entered the house, keeping his best friend, the dog, very near.

Then, the boy looked around

And thought the old man wasn't sound!

Because in his home, there was a big book for witchcraft, a huge pot and a bowl

And a large beautiful butterfly, which who knows why, had to crawl.

And the pot was full of some sort of green water Which was boiling and making weird sounds, like a clatter.

Then the old man told the boy he was a wizard, And to prove it, he changed the boy's doggy into a lizard.

He then told the boy that from then on he had to be his slave,

Because, you see, the wizard was a knave.

Afterwards, the wizard locked him up in a cage Which made the boy cry with rage!

But, later in the night, the butterfly

Told the boy why it couldn’t fly!

It told the boy it was bewitched

And that to turn back into the girl she had once

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been, was all she wished!

After that, the butterfly said a magic spell

After which the boy was out of the cage and well. Because the butterfly had once heard the wizard say it

And now, at the right time, she had remembered it. Then the boy looked around and took

The most precious thing in the house: the magic book!

Then he looked in the book for the spell

That could turn everything back to normal and well And after this, to avenge his dog,

He changed the sleeping wizard into a frog. Now, that everything was back to what it had once been,

The girl confessed she was in fact the queen. So, the boy fulfilled his dream

As he had saved an important person,

Namely the queen!

Who in her turn rescued him from poverty By making him very, very wealthy.

Then, whenever they remembered the wizard, The butterfly, the frog or the lizard,

They would burst into a ripple of laughter

And they lived happily ever after!

The end!!

 

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