The Immortal King

Chapter II

THE ROAD TO EDINADUS.

Sitting in a carriage alone, with only the King of Edinadus for company, Helena couldn't help but fixate on the words he had spoken to her only hours ago.

'You are mine.'

The moments after he said that were a blur in Helena's mind. The King had released her then wrapped his cloak around her. Bertie had offered to pack her clothing, but the King instantly dismissed her, telling Bertie he had no need for the princess' rags. Within minutes King Kalan's party were preparing to return to their homeland, and Helena was being led to the King's personal carriage. There was only time for rushed goodbyes and a brief hug with Bertie. She did not spare her father a second glance. She kept replaying the dinner situation over and over in her mind. How it had all happened so quickly, how she barely put up a fight, how she let her shock silence her. Why her shock was still silencing her now. Her thoughts quickly got away from her, questions trapping her in a trance like state.

Without realising just how much time had passed, Helena looked out her window and took note of the vibrant landscape. They had passed into Edinadus without her even realising. Suddenly aware of her horrid situation, Helena stared at her hands and fiddled with them. Her body became restless, unable to stay still for even just a moment. The man sitting in front of her was a mystery to her. He had met her once but appeared infatuated by her. He held her in his arms as though he had known her for years. Building up the tiniest amount of courage, Helena glanced up to look at the stoic King. Instantly she found a pair of glowing, golden eyes staring back.

Kalan couldn't help but stare at her. He had already been doing it for hours. Although there had been thousands of iterations of her, Kalan was shocked at how similar this one was to his first love - his Hadassah. Everything about them shared an uncanny resemblence. Her curly mane, her creamy honey skin and petite frame. Even their names were eerily similar. It was impossible not to stare. Even once she noticed him staring, he did not stop.

As night fell, Kalan moved beside Helena. She had fallen asleep; her head bobbing as the carriage bounced along the road. Gently taking her head, Kalan moved it onto his shoulder. Instinctively she nuzzled into his chest. His hand intwined into her hair; and for a moment her revelled in the familiarity.

*

It was morning by the time they arrived in Edinadus. Despite the blue morning light, Helena marvelled at the castle's splendour. Unlike the castle she grew up in, this one was had been expertly designed, with tall towers and rounded archways. Water from the lake appeared to run underneath the castle, making the only path to its entrance a straight long bridge over the river. Helena though about sticking her head out of the carriage to get a better look at her surrounding, but reconsidered when she noticed the King's gruff expression. He had called her a child or childish enough times that she knew he expected her to start acting more mature now. 

After the trip across the long bridge Helena was quickly moved inside the castle from a back entrance. It felt as if she was being smuggled inside; purposely kept out of sight from anybody but the party she had travelled with. Leading the party was Kalan, with his diplomatic party in tow surrounding Helena, making her even more invisible. They moved silently through the castle until they stopped abruptly in a hallway.

Helena was nervous for what would come next. Would he take her straight to his room? Would she be expected to sleep with him now or would he wait until marriage. All she had to wear was the flimsy evening dress she had left in and now one of the King's cloaks. Was he going to get her some new clothing. She didn't want to be nagging, but her hands were freezing, it was much colder up North than in her father's kingdom. Her rambling thoughts were instantly brought to a halt when the King pushed his way through his advisors and tore his cloak off of Helena's back.

'Take my queen to be to the dungeon, and make sure you put her in the most rancid cell there is.' The King's voice held an undeniable authority; it took a moment for Helena to understand what he had said. The calm persona she had been working so hard to maintain instantly disappeared as she started thrashing about in the guards arms.

'Let me go you brute! Don't touch me! Get away!' she screeched as the men surrounding her attempted to restrain her. Finally locking eyes with their mean King, Helena called out to him, 'Why are you doing this, I thought you wanted to marry me?' In the cold, Helena started to shake uncontrollably, her body convulsing as she began sobbing.  A simple hand movement from the King saw his men release Helena, their grip on her arm only to be replaced with the King's even harsher grip.

'Because my love, I will not have you escape from me again. I have waited for you long enough I will not have you escape me ever again.' Once released, Helena stumbled back into the arms of her captors and was lead straight to the dungeons.

*

For the next two days, Helena shivered in the corner of  her cell. Her fingers were a grotesque mix of blue and purple from the cold. Her usual honey skin had turned a ghastly sickly colour. She had been doing everything possible to keep herself warm, but knew that soon it wouldn't matter. It had been two days since she had eaten anything; and her body had already grown weakly and skeletal. Her body was quickly wasting away. All she could do to pass the time was fiddle with her fingers and pick at her lips. As she picked at her dry, cracked lips, the door swung open; Helena was surprised to see King Kalan. In his hands he held a blanket and a plate of food. Helena's first instinct was to snatch the supplies before he changed his mind, but quickly found that she was too weak to stand or even move for that matter. Begrudgingly, Kalan strode to her side and knelt beside her. Wrapping his arms around her, he encircled her in the blanket. She immediately leant into his warmth. Kalan hated that she did that so naturally, so instinctively.

'Please... please don't leave me,' her voice croaked. Kalan's heart sank.

'That isn't what you said last time.' Kalan sighed, his mind instantly recalling the death of his last love.

'Next time... next time don't come looking for me. Please just let me go Asran.' His lover begged as her lungs flooded with blood. Blood spluttered from her lips staining her porcelain skin and white hair.

'Is that what you really want my love?' Asran sobbed back.

'Yes. Please leave me be. Please never come looking for me again. I can't keep living like this. I can't keep losing you Asran. Please just leave me alone.' Her voice whined as she chocked her final breath. 

Snapping back to reality, Kalan noticed that Helena had passed out in his arms, her hand reaching for the stale bread he had brought her. Lifting her frail body in his arms he began walking her out of the dungeon; cursing under his breath. Cursing at his weakness when it came to her. Cursing at her for doing this to him. Cursing all the way to his bedroom, until he placed her onto his bed and tucked her under the fur covers.