Curse of Enchanted Haven

Chapter 9

-The Forest in Mystic Kingdom-

Merlin and Raven walked deep into the forest, following King Harold and two members of his Royal Guard. Raven had a lot of questions spinning around in her mind. Why is the King in the forest? What is he up to? Is he going to do something to Evanya? Is he part of the reason the curse happened?

"All your inner questions are making my head hurt, child."

Raven looked at Merlin and said, "I'm sorry. Wait, why are you reading my thoughts?"

"How do you think I'm always a step ahead of you when you ask a question? It's part of my gift. I can't turn it off, I'm afraid. Your questions are so loud that I can hear them without tapping into your mind."

"So," Raven questioned, "Are you going to answer any of my questions?"

Merlin smiled, and Raven rolled her eyes. He chuckled and said, "You will get your answers soon. We are arriving at our destination."

King Harold and the two Royal Guards stopped before a large majestic oak tree carved into a cabin.

"Sire, why are we here? We shouldn't be here."

King Harold turned to the guard who was speaking to him and said, "If you're scared of an imp, Maximillion, you may leave."

"I'm not scared, your grace. I don't trust him."

"You should listen to your guard, Your Majesty," Rumplestiltskin said after appearing in front of the three men wearing a long, raggedy brown hooded cloak from a cloud of black smoke. "He is right not to trust me."

King Harold looked around and said, "I would like to speak to you where what I ask of you falls on deaf ears."

Rumplestiltskin nodded and said, "Get your guard to stay outside, and you may enter my humble abode. The entire house is silenced to where no one hears our conversation."

After King Harold gave his orders, he and the Imp went inside Rumplestiltskin's home. Merlin motioned to Raven to follow them.

* * *

-Rumplestiltskin's House-

The Imp's house was small, with a kitchenette, dining room, and living room open into the large first floor of his home. The walls and floors of the home were the same color as the natural wood of an oak tree without a stain. The upper level consists of three bedrooms. One was his private sleeping quarters, and the other two were filled with artifacts, books, and many potion ingredients of all shapes, sizes, and smells. One room was dedicated to where he makes potions because it houses a massive black cauldron. Rumplestiltskin led the King into the living room, pointing to a chair.

"Please sit, Your Majesty."

The King sat in a black wooden, red-upholstered winged-back chair, and the Imp sat in a similar one across from him.

"What do I owe the pleasure of the king visiting me?"

"I want you to do something for me," Harold said, and Rumplestiltskin said, "Okay, what does his majesty request of me?"

The King wickedly smiled and said, "Princess Evanya has caught my eye, and I wish to have her as my queen."

"Your Majesty, you are already married. How will this be possible?"

"That is where you come in," King Harold said, leaning closer to the Imp and explaining his plan: "I give you my wife's life in exchange for me getting Princess Evanya."

"What about her relationship with your son? You know your son's intentions of marrying the princess. They have been in a courtship for some time, and King Albert and Queen Alanna will choose him over you since you have never done anything for Princess Evanya even to notice you."