When Magic Speaks - NaNoWriMo 2020✔️

1

Every day had begun just as it had for years. Years where the land was left untouched, avoided like the plague. The isolation was suffocating but this was the way things were if what little peace was to be maintained. That was until she arrived. The sun had long tucked away under the valley, a cloud of darkness blanketing the village. Eternally it had and eternally it shall. It wasn't until she'd passed under the rusted arches that a brilliant warmth seemed to adorn the castle walls, kissing the tinted brick of the huts and cottages with an aura of warmth. Maybe this was all a dream. Still, he felt the disturbance, her nearby presence warranting him to awaken from his deep sleep.

He was sure he was still travelling through a vision as he brought himself to the barred window. Surely this was all a dream, surely he was imagining her there. But this warmth in his chest, this foreign feeling of contentment, felt too real to be left to the imagination. She slowly sauntered into the ghostly town, her bare feet, battered and dirty, scraped across the harsh gravel. Surely that would've startled her awake and yet she continued on. Her matted blazing locks brushed past her shoulders as she sauntered, her arms swaying like the gentle breeze with every step she took. Her path almost left a jingle in the air, like the twinkling of a fairy. Her presence was the most radically unexpected occurrence since the dawning of the kingdom of Monmouth. 

He knew she was from Hural. He also knew she hadn't intended to wander into Monmouth. She knew better. Had she been conscious she would've been careful not to wander even to the bridge. One might receive a slap on the wrist for even considering crossing the bridge. Despite there being no troll to occupy it, the repercussions still remained. No crossing the bridge. He watched her with a soft gaze as she slowly droned past his window like the undead, the scent of Hural practically rubbing off of her. 

He let out a soft sigh under his breath as he peeled away from the glass, wrapping his levitating cloak around his broad shoulders. He sauntered down the hall, his feet barely making a sound as she crossed the velvet carpet to the stairs. As he did, the sound of faint snoring and rustling could be heard from behind each door. The staff, loyal yet reckless, had drank the previous night away in the dining hall with darts and talk of jousts. They'd been up till the rise of the sun, rendered incapable by the ale and ginger. He'd been generous, offering them a day of relief from their duties to recoup but, trolls were mighty difficult to wake from their hangovers. Quite frankly he was impressed they could sleep so much. Part of him was jealous.

By the time he'd reached the main floor of the castle and swung the mighty doors back, she was already out of sight. It was as if without his strong gaze she'd picked up speed. Or he was either that slow or the castle was that large. He'd never witnessed such a speedy sleepwalker - it would've been quicker if he'd flown. His hooded eyes squinted as he searched through the dark for her. She was wearing a yellow nightgown so surely she'd stick out like a sore thumb. His own bare feet crunched the gravel beneath him as he peered around every corner, the scent of Hural finding him in the market. He picked up the pace when he picked up her scent (strawberries), her yellow gown finally coming into view. He slowed as he grew closer to her. It was as if she'd just finished rolling in a field of wild berries before wandering over here. Her scent was strong, its strength crushing against his skull. It was intoxicating. 

He hadn't really considered how this interaction may play out before he'd come after her. Part of him was hoping that her eyes would flash open, that she'd shriek at the sight of him, and run off. But seeing as she didn't wake to the stabbing against her soles, it was safe to say that she was an impressively heavy sleeper.

He cleared his throat to see if she would wake. Nothing. He exhaled, admittedly nervous. As he slowly walked around to face her, he caught sight of the speckled dots across her nose and the gap between her lips as she hovered there. He blinked gently, his eyes raising from her lips to her eyelids. He could feel the stiff beating of his heart against his chest. It felt so loud he swore she could hear it. But she didn't move, only swaying ever so slightly. He licked his dry lips before uttering, "you shouldn't be here, you know."