Once Upon A Tale (Published Amazon)

Chapter Two

...Ashlyn Lucas...

Sicily, Italy - 1616

Erice was among the most beautiful villages with its majestic landscapes, churches and palaces. Ashlyn walked the cobble stone paths then began climbing the rocks until she reached her favourite spot. She often disappeared for hours with a notebook and pencil and would sit on the rock ledge that gave her the picturesque views of the Venus Castle, which was built using materials from the temple of Venice. She looked down at the blue water below and waited for inspiration to come. Ashlyn loved nothing more than to create stories in her head and put them to paper.

Ashlyn was almost sixteen years old and wondered if her fiancé would permit her to come here and continue writing. Her mother had told her that once she were wed, there would be certain things she would no longer be able to do, and disappearing to write nonsense on the cliffs was one of these things. Her mother did not understand her. She devoted everything to her father giving up her own life and dreams in the processes. Ashlyn did not want to become her mother. However, her neighbour, Esmeralda had told her she could do anything she wished and did not need to get permission from her husband. Esmeralda was the local alchemist in the village. Most people were afraid of Esmeralda and the word 'witch' was used in hushed whispers. It did not however stop them from going to her with their ailments to be cured.

Tobias Marcello was two years older than she was and the most sought after male in the village. By chance, Tobias and Ashlyn's fathers had arranged this marriage when Ashlyn was only a baby, and everyone in town knew they were to be married next spring. Tobias was handsome and a gentleman. He was sweet and caring the way a future husband should be and he respected her. Sometimes she even thought that he might even love her. However, her mother had told her that love comes later, it was more important to have trust and respect. But Ashlyn was a sixteen year old girl who wanted romance and she often wrote about it in her writings. She was almost certain she loved Tobias. How could she not with his handsome looks.

Ashlyn had been sitting writing for a few hours when she heard the bells toll in the town. As she stood to leave, she heard a giggle below her. The ledge she sat on was the top of one of many caves in the mountain. Ashlyn stopped still. The female giggle came again. Ashlyn lay flat on the rock and peered through a small hole near the edge. Sabina with her long flowing golden hair was obvious from a mile away. She was not alone. She heard the tell-tale signs of kissing and a male voice whispering to her. Ashlyn caught the words she longed to hear, I love you. Sabina answered back with her own I love you too. Ashlyn smiled. How nice it must be to find someone who loves you as much as you love them. She only hoped she and Tobias would someday have this sort of love.

"But how can we ever be together when you are to be married?" Ashlyn heard her say next. Ashlyn held her breath. Who was Sabina with? She thought. She tried to shift to get a better view of the man Sabina was talking with. Then she heard a voice she knew well.

"I have no idea my love. I do not want to marry Ashlyn. I do not love her, she is plane compared to your beauty." Tears welled in Ashlyn's eyes and she placed her head on her hands and wept quietly. She had no idea how long she had been on the rock, she assumed she had cried herself to sleep for when she opened her eyes again, it was dark and she could hear her name being called. She grabbed her things and headed down the rock to the calling voices. When she appeared the first person she saw was her father, and right next to him was Tobias. She stopped still as they raced up to her. Her father took her in his arms, relief on his face.

"Let's get you home before you catch your death. You're ice cold." He told her. The thought that if she did catch her death would make this easier for everyone ran in her mind.