Finally Free!

Aureolin's Fields

Once I woke up, I found Radley with trays of food set on the table.

I abruptly get up as I notice the time.

"We missed the meeting with my family," I say seriously and shake my head, "they are going to lose trust in me too." Radley's eyes show no emotion and he is distant until Cosmos wakes up with a shock. He rubs his hands over his eyes as he makes his way to the small, makeshift, table. I follow while glancing at Radley from time-to-time.

After an hour, I say, "Is no one going to address this whole situation?" Cosmos smirks at me while Radley rubs his temples.

"Anthurium," Cosmos says casually, "you were never supposed to find out so why should I say anything now?" "Maybe because it involves me," I say matter-of-factly. Radley sighs, "Sorry Cosmos, I messed up." Cosmos shakes his head, "It doesn't matter anymore, but I better head home after this season and your marriage otherwise we will have something to be concerned about."

I look between the two of them as they were talking, "Cosmos, come on." He gives me a look, "Today is a day of relaxing and instead I have to explain the worst days of my life. Fine. I was thirteen at the time Radley was given to us. It was obvious from the start that Orpheus had given him to us for reasons other than kindness. Only I realised that at the time, anyways, I figured out that Orpheus wanted to kill my parents and me while giving Radley the throne as the only heir left behind, since he knew our law on adoption. When Orpheus gave my parents a trip along with me, I refused to go and even made myself sick so as to avoid going. On that trip, my parents lost their lives and I pretended to play along with Orpheus by marrying his daughter. I knew Radley was not involved and that he had been drilled with fear for as long as he had been there for. Orpheus aim is to take over every kingdom one-by-one by planting his children into them however he can. Hence, I did not have children with Hydrangea. That is one reason anyways. If Orpheus ever tries to take advantage of your kingdom, he has the upperhand because he has drilled fear in both of you."

Fear fills me as he continues to speak.

"But...you...you...you made sure that one of us would get married to Radley," I said seriously. Cosmos nods, "Well, let's just say that I have to act controlled for the time being and little Aella is not as innocent as she looks. She may be nine but she can take over a kingdom and kill one in an instant because of the fear she has of her father."

I put my face in my hands as my trust drains for everyone around me. It just seems that there are less people to be trusted in this world than the prostitution den.

"What about Kris?" I ask with worry and Radley tenses at the name. "How about we just wait and see what the results say?" Cosmos says firmly, "if Orpheus asks me anything, I can atleast say I am not involved."

He then gets up and walks out of the room leaving Radley and me sitting there.

"What is your real name?" I ask him and he smiles as tears fall from his eyes. "Cymbeline," he says with a sad smile. "I am so sorry that I got so caught up in myself that I never realised how many lives around the world he has impacted in such a way," I say with sadness in my eyes. He nods, "You couldn't have known. You were under his spell too." I look at him with confusion, "I never met him before Sable." He tilts his head with confusion, "You don't remember me? I...when you were four...I tried to help you escape from him, but you were still scarred from his actions, but I still got you free. Sadly, that country was not the safest place and I didn't know, so you got taken by a man once you left the gates." "So?" I look at him with fear in my eyes and ask, "he has a hold on me?" "I hope not," Radley says kindly.

After some time, we decide to head to the fields with Kris.

Once we travel on horseback through the jungle and to the nearby river, the fields are green and quiet in the beautiful meadow. We lay a blanket on the ground and stare out at the green grass that never ends as well as the beautiful river teeming with life.

I look at Kris and notice his smile of oblivion, "You ready to go back home at the end of the year?" Kris sighed, "I wish I did not have to. I mean, I miss my parents and my sister, but I just feel like I belong here. There are some amazing people around here." I nod, "That is true." Radley is barely talking which causes Kris to look at him with concern.

"Radley?" Kris calls out and Radley jumps, "you okay?" "Yeah man," Radley pretends, but his eyes hide the truth and Kris knows it just as he did with me, "have you found a girl to keep you company yet?" Kris shakes his head, "I wish, but there isn't anyone yet." I sigh, "So sad, you would think he could find anyone with his looks."

They burst out laughing.

"No," Kris says seriously, "I promised His Majesty that I would not get married until my duty was over with you because then I would have other priorities so that includes dating." "Ugh," I say with disappointment, "no sisters-in-law anytime soon or babies." Everyone laughs again at my words.

As the sun starts to set, we make our way back on horseback. The guards at our rear and in front of us. As we get closer to the estate, my heart pounds a little less and then we make it to the stables where I place my horse as do the others.

Once I finish setting the items on the horse aside and pack them away, the boys leave the stables while the guards wait for me. I pat Ruby and stare at her for some time, but as I am about to leave I notice a white note waiting for me.

It says, "I am nearer than you think, but not too near that you would know. I watch your every move and I will know the day when it is time to pounce because I have a secret weapon. There is a word when pronounced will bring to mind a hidden memory that will bring back my control." - O & K.

My heart sank as I thought about all the events of the day and how it linked to that moment. It just all started to seem too overwhelming and I just broke down crying as I made my way back to my room.

Radley was nowhere to be seen as I collapsed into oblivion and slept away my problems into another day.