I waited, what felt like an eternity until the sun finally disappeared past the horizon. And then waited some more until the crescent moon was high in the sky casting the world into a gloomy haze below it. The rain had stopped, which I was thankful for. But I knew that the trek to the stones would be long and cold and muddy underfoot. I had spent the rest of the afternoon preparing myself for my journey. Gathering together some small measure of food, and warm clothes. I knew the distance was not far, but I also knew that the landscape would be somewhat different since I left my own time. For most of the journey that I had first taken to castle black all those weeks ago, I only remembered the general direction we took, the finer details like memorising landmarks and knowing which path we took were nothing but a blur. It was going to take time to find the stones. I was thankful that Alexander had chosen tonight to not come back to the room at all. I was careful to hide

Alexander   She was gone. She was really gone. I didn’t believe it when Arthur appeared in my study panting, and with a wild look in his eyes. The first sign something was not right was the unconscious guard sprawled out across the back entrance to the kitchens. But when Lucille discovered that Rosalie was not in her bedchamber, or even out on the terrace, she went directly to Arthur to confirm what she had suspected in her own heart, that Rosalie had run away in the night. A thorough search of the castle and grounds confirmed that she was in fact gone. And what’s worse is that no one had any idea of where she may have disappeared too. Even Lucille, who had been her constant companion for the last fortnight, had no idea that she planned to run away. She hadn’t even managed to get any of her back story out of her. No one knew where Rosalie had come from, or even who her people were

“She knew what Alex?” Lucille questioned; her brow furrowed in confusion. “You’re making no sense Alex.” “This bracelet, it was made for my mother by my father. It came as a set. A crown, bracelet, ring and necklace… My father instructed the smith to make the set out of gold that was housed here in the castle vaults. It is said that the gold was imbued with magic. Powerful magic. The ring became the signet of the Queen. A rose on a bed of thorns. The necklace is said to offer the wearer protection, the crown guidance and the bracelet…..” I held up the small item in my hand, “the bracelet is the key to the castle. It is a dead key, unlocking every door. “My father made it so that if the castle ever came under siege, my mother would have a way of escaping. It was his way of keeping his Queen protected. Only it never helped when the time came for it. Not even her necklace was enough to protect her.” I looked down at Lucille, my vision clouding with the memories of the c

“Are you ready to listen to it?” he asked me, a question in his voice. Was I? I wasn’t sure I wanted to sit here and listen to his excuses for why he committed the atrocities that he did. But I was cold and needed something to take my mind off the numbness in my feet and hands. “I have nothing but time William. And I have no hope that sleep will visit me any time soon, so why not” I reply in resignation, sitting back on a small stump of wood and getting ready for whatever William was about to tell me. “Did you know that it was me that was meant to me King?” He asked me. I guffaw in disbelief. “Really? And how do you come to that conclusion?” My eyes narrowed at him. Was this man actually deranged enough to believe that he was the rightful king? “I am the first-born son. By right the kingdom should have fallen on me.” I was speechless for a moment. Out of all of the rumours and stories I had heard of William Black, never once ha

 Alexander We returned to the castle with Rosalie’s bracelet safely tucked away in my pocket. The whole time my thoughts churned with how Rosalie came into possession of the trinket. The vaults that held his family jewels and money had been locked since I had taken back control of the castle. No one had access to them bar me. I had the only key, which remained hidden in my office. The only other key that could have got into the vault was the bracelet, which was hidden away with the rest of the set. I knew that I was right. It had been me that placed them in the chamber. Doubts clouded my mind like smoke. Perhaps she had managed to find my key and break in? But then wouldn’t I have noticed her scent in my study? No, I was certain that she had not been in there. In fact, I couldn’t even remember a time that Rosalie had set foot into that part of the castle. My thoughts returned to when Rosalie first came to the castle. I h