A Royal's Curse

Chapter 2: Echoes of Autumn

The air in Thornwick was thick with the scent of autumn, a bittersweet fragrance of decaying leaves and ripening apples. The vibrant colors of summer had begun to fade, leaving the landscape painted in shades of amber, russet, and gold. Eleanor stood in the middle of the village square, surrounded by the people she had known her entire life, yet the familiar faces seemed distant, their expressions solemn.

The announcement of her impending departure had cast a shadow over the village. The usual warmth and bustle were absent, replaced by a heavy silence that mirrored the weight in Eleanor's heart. She could see it in their eyes—an unspoken understanding that she was leaving them behind, stepping into a world that none of them could truly comprehend.

As she made her way through the square, the whispers of the villagers followed her, a soft murmur of concern and fear. She paused by the old oak tree where she had spent countless afternoons with her sisters, their laughter echoing through the years. Now, that laughter felt like a distant memory and the oak, once a symbol of stability and strength, seemed to droop under the weight of the season.

Her younger sisters, Lily and Margaret, stood nearby, their faces a mixture of sadness and worry. Lily, the more sensitive of the two, had tears welling up in her wide brown eyes. She was only thirteen, still clinging to the innocence of childhood, and the thought of losing Eleanor was almost too much for her to bear.

"Do you really have to go, El?" Lily asked, her voice trembling as she took a step closer, clutching the edge of Eleanor's cloak.

Eleanor knelt down, wrapping her arms around Lily and holding her close. "I don't want to leave, but I must, Lily. It's the only way to save our village. The prince... he has the power to help us."

"But what about us? What about you?" Margaret, the elder of the two and just sixteen, asked, her tone more resolute though her eyes betrayed her fear. "What kind of life will you have there? With... with him?"

Eleanor pulled back slightly, looking into Margaret's eyes. She wished she could offer some reassurance, but the truth was, she had no idea what awaited her. All she knew were the rumors, the tales of a prince who lived in the shadows of his own dark castle, surrounded by whispers of curses and secrets.

"I don't know, Maggie," Eleanor admitted softly. "But whatever happens, I will be thinking of you both. You have to be strong, for yourselves and for the village. Promise me that."

Lily sniffled and nodded, trying to be brave. "We will. But I'll miss you so much."

"I'll miss you too," Eleanor whispered, brushing a tear from Lily's cheek. "More than you know."

Margaret took a deep breath, stepping forward to join the embrace. "Just... don't forget us, El. And if you can, find a way to write to us, to let us know you're okay."

"I promise," Eleanor said, her voice firm despite the tears that threatened to spill. "I'll find a way."

They stood there for a moment, the three of them huddled together beneath the old oak tree, as if trying to freeze this last moment in time. But time, relentless as always, pushed them forward, and soon Eleanor had to pull away, the weight of her impending journey heavy on her shoulders.

As she rose, she noticed a group of her friends approaching. Mary, her closest friend since childhood, led the way, her usually bright face shadowed with concern. Behind her, Jane and Thomas followed, their expressions equally troubled.

"Eleanor," Mary called out, her voice breaking the silence that had settled over the square. "I... I can't believe this is happening. That you're really leaving."

Eleanor managed a small smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Neither can I, Mary. But it seems I have no choice."

Mary reached out and took Eleanor's hands in hers, squeezing them tightly. "I wish there was something we could do, some way to stop this."

"We all do," Jane added, her voice soft. "But the prince's decree... it's not something we can fight."

Thomas, usually the quiet one of the group, spoke up, his tone more somber than she had ever heard. "Just promise us that you'll stay strong, Eleanor. Don't let them change you."

Eleanor nodded, her heart swelling with gratitude for the love and support of her friends. "I'll try, Thomas. I'll try to remember who I am, even in that dark castle."

Mary pulled her into a fierce hug, and Eleanor clung to her, drawing strength from the embrace. "You're the strongest person I know, Eleanor. If anyone can survive this, it's you."

"I'll miss you," Eleanor whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

"And we'll miss you," Mary replied, pulling back to look Eleanor in the eyes. "But we'll be here, waiting for you to come home."

Eleanor nodded, trying to hold back the tears that were now threatening to spill over. "Thank you, Mary. Thank you all."

She turned to face the rest of the village, the familiar faces that had been a part of her life for as long as she could remember. There were no words left to say, only the deep, aching sense of farewell that hung in the air.

With one last look at her sisters, her friends, and the village that had been her entire world, Eleanor took a deep breath and steeled herself for the journey ahead. The echoes of autumn whispered through the trees, carrying with them the remnants of her old life, the life she was leaving behind.

As she walked away from the village square, the weight of the royal decree heavy in her pocket, Eleanor knew that nothing would ever be the same again. Thornwick would go on, the seasons would change, and life would continue—but she would be different. She was stepping into the unknown, into a world of shadows and secrets, where a dark prince awaited her.

The path before her was shrouded in uncertainty, but there was no turning back. The echoes of autumn faded behind her as she left Thornwick, her heart heavy with loss and a foreboding sense of what was to come.