Legacy of The Enchanted

the Prince

(Roan's P.O.V.)

I sat by the entrance of the cave, my eyes tracing the familiar cracks in the stone walls, the patterns that had become my only companions over the last nineteen years. The book in my lap was one I knew by heart, every word, every sentence etched into my memory. I had read it so many times that the words had lost their meaning, becoming nothing more than a series of letters and sounds. But still, I read it, desperate to keep my mind occupied, to stave off the crushing loneliness that threatened to consume me.

I sighed and closed the book, setting it aside with the other two that had been my only source of comfort in this endless prison. Outside, life went on—birds chirped, the wind rustled the leaves, and the sun moved across the sky. I could see it all, but I was invisible to the world, a ghost trapped behind an enchantment that kept me locked away from everything and everyone.

Nineteen years. I thought of Taryn, my sister, who had been just a little girl when I was taken. She probably didn't even remember me now. The thought was like a knife to the heart, a pain that never dulled.

Movement outside the cave caught my attention, and I straightened, peering out through the invisible barrier that kept me hidden. My heart raced as I saw three figures approaching, moving quickly through the forest. They were close—closer than anyone had been in years. The woman leading them was striking, her face set in determination despite the exhaustion that clung to her features. She moved with purpose, her every step decisive, even as the weight of whatever burden she carried seemed to bear down on her.

Behind her were two others—a man with an air of quiet strength, his eyes scanning the forest as if expecting an attack at any moment, and another woman, her fiery eyes catching the light as she moved with fierce energy, a small flame flickering in her hand.

I watched, my breath catching in my throat, as they stumbled into the hidden entrance of my cave. The first woman—there was something about her that drew me in, something more than just her beauty. Her expression was tense, her body taut with the weight of everything she had been through.

They entered the cave, unaware of my presence, and I felt a strange mix of emotions—hope, fear, and a desperate longing for connection. The woman who had led them here finally sank to the ground, her hands shaking as she buried her face in them. Her body began to tremble, and then she started to cry—deep, wracking sobs that echoed off the stone walls. It was a sound so raw, so heartbreakingly human, that it cut through me like a blade.

The man—Archer, I heard the other woman call him—knelt beside her, his hand hovering as if he wanted to comfort her but wasn't sure how. The other woman, Taryn! my sister, moved closer too, her face full of concern.

But Alex—her name was Alex—shook her head, her voice breaking as she whispered, "Please, just... give me a moment. Wait outside."

Taryn hesitated, glancing at Archer, who gave a silent nod. Reluctantly, they both left the cave, casting worried glances back at Alex as they did. I watched them go, my heart pounding in my chest. They were gone now, leaving Alex alone in the cave with me.

The moment they were out of sight, Alex's sobs grew louder, her body shaking uncontrollably as she crumpled to the ground. The depth of her sorrow was palpable, filling the cave like a tangible force. I watched, transfixed, as her tears fell to the cold stone floor, each drop shimmering in the dim light.

And then, suddenly, the ground beneath her lit up with a bright blue light. I blinked, startled, as the light grew brighter, filling the cave with an otherworldly glow. My heart raced as I felt the enchantment that had held me prisoner for so long begin to dissolve, the walls around me shimmering, cracking as if they were being torn apart by some unseen force. The air around me vibrated with energy, and I could feel the chains of the spell breaking, releasing me from my eternal prison.

When the light finally faded, I realized I was free. I gasped, stumbling forward, my legs weak and unsteady after years of disuse. The sudden freedom was overwhelming, and I could barely process what was happening.

Alex was still on the ground, her sobs quieting as the light dimmed. But before I could say or do anything, she looked up and saw me. Her eyes widened in shock, and before I could react, she screamed—a piercing, terrified sound that echoed through the cave and tore at my heart.

Almost instantly, Taryn and Archer burst back into the cave. Taryn's eyes locked onto me, and without hesitation, she launched herself at me, tackling me to the ground. She was surprisingly strong, and before I knew it, I was on my back, a dagger pressed to my throat. I didn't struggle, too stunned by everything that had happened.

"Who are you?" she demanded, her voice trembling with anger and fear.

I looked into her eyes—those eyes, so familiar, so full of fire. "Taryn..." I whispered.

(Taryn's P.O.V.)

I froze, my breath catching in my throat as I stared at him. How did he know my name? There was something in the way he said it, something that tugged at a memory buried deep within me.

"It's me... your brother," he said, his voice thick with emotion.

His words hit me like a physical blow, and I could feel my heart stutter in my chest. Memories I had long since buried began to surface—memories of a boy with a kind smile, who would bring me flowers and tickle me until I was breathless with laughter. "Roan..." I breathed, the name feeling both foreign and familiar on my tongue.

I could see the truth in his eyes, and my grip on the dagger loosened. My hands were trembling, and I couldn't quite believe what I was seeing, what I was hearing. Slowly, I lowered the blade and helped him to his feet, my mind reeling as I tried to process it all. My brother—my brother, whom I had thought lost forever—was standing right in front of me.

Once Roan was steady, his attention shifted to Alex. I followed his gaze and saw her still sitting on the ground, her face pale and tear-streaked. The shock of the last few moments was written all over her face. "Are you okay?" Roan asked her, his voice soft, filled with something like awe. "Thank you... You saved me."

Alex looked up at him, her breath hitching as she tried to process what had just happened. "Saved you? How?" she whispered, her voice raw and shaky.

"I've been trapped here for years," Roan explained, and I could hear the weight of those years in his voice. "This cave was enchanted... I could see out, but no one could see in. The enchantment could only be broken by pure human sorrow. And... your sorrow did it. You broke the spell."

I stared at him, trying to comprehend the magnitude of what he was saying. Alex's sorrow had freed him? The idea was almost too much to grasp. I glanced at Alex, seeing the shock and disbelief mirrored in her expression. "I... I didn't know," she murmured, her voice barely audible.

Archer and I quickly started a fire, the warmth and light helping to ground us all after the intensity of what had just happened. We sat around it, the flames casting flickering shadows on the cave walls as we filled Roan in on everything that had happened since he had been taken from us.

As we spoke, I could see the anger building in Roan, a deep, simmering rage that matched the fire in his eyes. We told him about the war, the slavery, the torture—about how Alex's aunt had murdered her parents and unborn sister to ignite the conflict, and how Alex had been betrothed as a pawn, a way to get her out of the way. Roan listened in silence, his expression growing darker with each passing moment.

Archer spoke of a camp of Fae creatures, still free, hidden in the heart of the field next to the old ruins of Alderlith, the Fae kingdom. It was our next destination—a place of hope, a place where the resistance still lived.

As we sat there, I realized that this wasn't just our fight anymore. Roan had been gone for so long, trapped in that horrible prison, but now he was back. And I could see it in his eyes—the determination, the resolve. This fight was his now, too. We would face whatever came next together, side by side.

We were a family once again, and nothing would tear us apart this time.