The Queen

21. Making Amends

END OF THIS CHAPTER

The fog blanketed the deep forest, making each step forward a difficult task. This part of the woods looked terrifying—so much so that only a few were brave enough to set foot in it.

"We are here, my lady," the maid finally said, turning around, curious to see Lady Alice's reaction.

"For all the gods... finally." Alice looked around, a chill crawling down her spine at the sight of her surroundings.

The maid nodded toward the hut's front door, prompting Alice to walk forward. A deep breath, then a long swallow helped her muster a sliver of courage. More than once, the thought of turning around and fleeing that hideous place crossed her mind, but she knew it was now or never. She had come this far, after all.

She stood before the old wooden door, knowing she needed to knock. But whatever courage she had managed to gather slipped away like water through her fingers. Alice looked back, hoping for reassurance from the maid—only to find her just as petrified.

"You may enter." A voice from inside the hut startled them both.

Alice ignored every self-preserving instinct and pushed the door open. She removed the hood of her cloak, her brown eyes immediately locking with a pair of piercing blue ones—not just any blue, but the kind that cut straight through your soul with a single glance. A knot formed in her throat. In the darkness of the hut, those eyes were the only thing she could see clearly.

"Please, come closer and have a seat. I'm sure you didn't come all this way just to stand in the doorway."

Alice obeyed, not daring to go against the woman's wishes. She took a seat across from the witch at a small wooden table. The maid remained standing behind her.

"What could an elegant lady like you possibly need from me?" the woman asked.

"I... I... I'm losing the man I love. I need your help to stop that from happening."

"Mmm... I see. And how do you suppose I can help you in all this, my lady?" The woman's gaze never left Alice, as though reading her like a book.

"I don't know. That's why I came. I don't know what else to do."

"Before you seek my help, you must understand: I can aid you in controlling this man's mind—but his heart, no one can change. That is called destiny. Do you understand?"

"I... I do. Yes." Alice replied, her voice shaky.

"Good. I believe I have something that might work on a powerful man like the one in question. Let me see." The woman began rummaging through small crystal bottles. Some drew more of her attention—she even opened a few and sniffed their contents.

"These two will do. Now listen very carefully. You are to drink this one tonight—all of it. The other one, the king must drink tomorrow. Make sure you spend the night with him after he drinks it. That will be your only chance."

Alice's upper lip trembled in shock.

"I... I never said who the man in question was..."

"I know certain things most people don't. That's the reason you came to me in the first place, is it not, my lady?" the woman replied, confident.

A chilling sensation clouded Alice's thoughts. If anyone discovered this, she would be executed in the most terrible way. Practicing witchcraft was punished by public burning—she didn't even want to imagine what the sentence would be for using it on the king himself. Realizing her life now rested in the witch's hands was terrifying.