Curse of Enchanted Haven

Chapter 12

-Forest Tent -

The morning sun shone through the tent's flaps, waking Raven from a deep sleep. Her eyes were dry from crying. Merlin walked in wearing his purple wizard robes and realized she was awake.

"Oh! Good morning; I hope I didn't wake you."

She sat up and rubbed her eyes. "No, you didn't. Is there a spell that you can teach me that helps with dry eyes?"

"Mm...let me see," Merlin sat on the bed and looked at her eyes, "Oh dear! You must be uncomfortable! Yes, I know a spell. Cover your eyes with your right hand and say idratare i miei occhi."

Raven followed his instructions and said, "Idratare i miei occhi."

Her magic immediately coursed through her up to her eyes, soothing the dryness away. She moved her hand away and opened her eyes.

Merlin smiled. "There are those beautiful hazel eyes like Ravena's." Raven smiled, and the old wizard continued, "Now, get ready. You will see how your uncle and Evanya mentally prepared themselves for the approaching wedding."

"I don't know if I want to see that."

"I know you don't, but there is something that you would find cute and enjoyable in what you will see today."

Raven looked at the old wizard with a questionable expression. He chuckled, took her hand, gently squeezed it, and stood.

"Get ready. I'll wait for you outside."

He left the tent, and Raven stood up. She wanted to learn how to change her clothes magically. She pictured a purple riding outfit with apricot-colored trousers and brown boots. She waved her hands, and purple clouds covered her, revealing her wearing the outfit she had pictured. She squealed and jumped up and down. After securing her hair back into a ponytail, she joined Merlin outside the tent.

"I felt your magic. You used it to change your clothes."

Raven smiled and struck a model's pose. "How did I do for my first time?"

Merlin chuckled, then smiled. "You did well. Now, it's time to go to Evanya's castle."

The wizard waved his hands, and they disappeared in a cloud of white smoke.

* * *

-Northawhal Castle-

Evanya was lying on her bed holding her pillow, and a lone tear grazed her cheek. Merlin and Raven arrived in the room at the same time the bedroom door opened up. King Albert walked in and sighed when he saw his daughter still lying on her bed.

"Oh, Evanya. Oh, sweetheart." He sat on the bed and sadly exhaled. "I cannot begin to understand how you're feeling. You don't have to talk. I want you to listen. I didn't make the decision for your engagement. I left because my decision still stood with Jonathan marrying you. When Harold threatened to go to war, your mother was scared, and she gave in. I was seconds away from choking Harold and opted out of the conversation. Jonathan still has my blessing to marry you. I will walk you down the aisle, but Harold will never have my blessing to be your husband. I lost the battle. I want you to know I had your best interests at heart but couldn't come through for you."

Evanya sat up and embraced her father. "Oh, Daddy!" she sobbed, "I know you tried everything, and I'm grateful. Do I have to marry him?"

"As much as I hate Harold at the moment, I'm afraid we have no choice but to go through with this wedding. We want to avoid a war."

The floodgate was released, and Evanya buried her face in her father's shoulder. What surprised Raven was that King Albert also had tears in his eyes. He couldn't stand that his daughter was heartbroken and forced into this situation with fear.