Cursed to Hide

Willow

Six Years Ago:

My golden curls were my first memory. When I brushed my hair away I was surprised that I wasn't a small infant like most people when they start their memories, but a twelve year-old girl?

I sat up looking at my surroundings. It was strange, the walls were made of a green, floral paper background; it felt solid to my surprise, thinking that it would be more flimsy. I followed the walls' curling, vine pattern leading to the ceiling but to my surprise there was none, just a black void.

The only thing that was different about my situation was a red curtain that blocked me from the other side.

But the other side of what?

I tried pulling it open but the fabric was too heavy making me tumble to the floor.

I found my hands noticing they were a gold tinted color. Looking down at my clothing, I notice the same exterior but in darker shades with flowing tassels that lead to my waist and down waving in straight unusual lines, with a golden ribbon tracing down the middle before splitting off like a curtain.

The clothing resembling gold? My skin glittering with its substance. I stood up quickly wanting to run from what held me bound. Noticing a mirror blended into the wallpaper at the far end of the room. I walked slowly towards it.

What I saw brought me to tears.

The figure before was perfect without reason and completely made out of pure gold from her curly locks to her small coined toes. Tears formed at the perfect monster before me trickling down my cheeks.

Which to my horror turned to gold as well.

My breath tensed and broke out in gulps of air. I couldn't breathe. What is this place!?, Where was I? I tried to call or shout or anything but my voice wouldn't give. I was trapped.

The red curtain opened with a startle sending me to the floor once more. The room bloomed in more golden colors.

****

Present Time:

"Tu es belle."

Her eyes grew wider the longer they looked at me. They traced from mine to the tips of my hair. She must be pleasantly pleased to find a handsome man such as myself in the woods to catch her.

I thought Red Shoes was the most fair, but she is the literal embodiment of treasure itself.

Even though the only light was the moonlit sky, she gleamed like the blazing sun.

One thing is for sure...I'm calling first dibs. She shook off her trance of my presence pushing herself off me. Her curls brushed against my neck which gave me shivers.

"Where am I! Why am I not dead? I should have died on my way down?" She looked up at where she had supposedly fallen from before continuing. She then suddenly pointed at me in disgust.

"Who is this terrifyingly hideous...thing and why did it save me or...did I just fall on him, oh that's so awkward and weird."

I found myself shocked as to why she would say such a thing. I am the most dashingly handsome prince of all Fairytale Island. She should be lucky to even be looking at me right now.

"Saved...fell on." I shrugged, "Pretty much the same thing, Mademoiselle." I spoke in my French accent hoping it would charm her. I stood up brushing myself off as best as I could.

She looked at me confused like I...Oh, wait.

I looked down at myself seeing my green shrunken manner. I always seem to forget that detail. In my defense though I've mostly been alone for the past few months so I've kind of gotten used to being normal, I guess.

I examined myself as best as I could not wanting to gather her judgments about my appearance any longer. I should have put some mousse in my hair before I left. I look like a complete wreck, wet mud all over my white pants and the elbows of my shirt...why universe.

*Beginning of Inner Rant*

Do you know how expensive this fabric is. This golden threading was originally from the maiden who spun straw into freaking gold. This is one out of a million source material, I was only able to get this because I was having a *Looks side to side* secret affair with her.

And then the cool color fabrics with the addition of the neutral accents. From the Emperor's old collection...before the whole incident with the clothing designers. That was probably the only plus of being turned into a dwarf a year ago so I wouldn't have to follow the trend of the Emperor's "New Clothes".

*End of Inner Rant*

"I'm sorry, are you talking to me?" She pointed to herself and looked upward towards the...sky?

I looked around seeing if there was any other person she was questioning.

Who else would I be talking to? There's no one else here. Maybe I shouldn't rely all my hope on this one...she seems mental.

But she is glorious above any, and all.

I just need her to fall for my charms like Merlin did with Red Shoes. And then I can prove to that stuck up Merlin and everyone on the island that I'm not a loser who kissed a fish.

I grabbed hold of her hand hoping I could get use her attention towards me.

"How could I be talking to anyone else when the most beautiful woman in the world is before me." I kissed the back of her hand at the end of my complement sealing the deal.

She raised her eyebrow at me like I was crazy, but she didn't move her hand from grasp.

"Did you hear everything I said, then?" I nodded a smile coming to my lips. When deep in my soul I felt a knife to my heart. But I couldn't let that bother me now. I have one mission now and that's to make her fall in love with me.

She smiled back sadly like she regretted what she had said towards me. She looked up for some reason, her sad smile falling like she sensed something.

Her breathing tensed, she ripped her hand from my grasp. Trying to get up but only to fall back, I soon followed. As roots began rising out of the ground with trees plummeting slowly but surely. The ground shook in unknown waves, sometimes heavy and others soft. We both laid on the ground as flat as we could make ourselves. I looked back at the girl. Her eyes looking around frantically with her fingers sinking deeper and deeper into the moist earth.

Fearing that the Willow tree would crush her. I grabbed both her hands pulling her into my chest; with us still trying to be as flat as possible. She spun around her back facing my chest. Telling me that she didn't want me this close to her, but seeing her options she slowly gave up her inner fight. I wrapped my cloak as best as I could on both of us. Not wanting to be visible if it was what I thought it was.

The willow near us weaved with the wind and earth, each force debating on the tree's direction. I heard as the vibrations of the tree shook with the ground. Its twigs and branches poking us at its fall. The trunk assumingly missing us with her and me not giving out a cry of pain.

With the tree fallen my worries subsided. We laid there for what seemed like hours. I felt her breathing sooth down softly as the thumping gradually stopped.

The picture for this is just to show you jack's eyes in this shot at the end credits. I guess it could be love, but I'm pretty sure Merlin had something to do with this. I'm thinking Merlin wanted to get back at Jack for laughing at Hans when he failed to impress a mermaid with his cooking (but to be fair hans did cook a 🐠). But that's just my observation. What to you guys think?