Ashley Beach-Author and Storyteller

CH 21

A dull ringing filled Erianna’s ears as she lay on the hard wintery ground of the forest. Erianna opened her eyes to see the trees sticking out sideways from the frozen ground. She groaned as she pushed herself up to a sitting position. 

“What happened?” she said out loud. When no one answered, Erianna looked around and realized she was alone.

“Archimedes,” she growled as she stood up. Erianna brushed the snow from her gown and began to brush it from her face and neck when she brushed something that was extremely tender and painful to the touch. Erianna winced. She gently touched the spot on her neck again and felt a rough patch of scales. As soon as she felt it, she knew something wasn’t right. Kneeling in the snow, she crafted a crude looking glass out of ice and held it up to examine her neck.

“Silver scales? How strange.” She looked up to see if the sun had made any progress since Archimedes’ spell sent her to the middle of nowhere. The sun still rode high in the foggy sky. 

Erianna looked back at the small glass. “What on earth could have triggered you?”

Suddenly, the memory of what had transpired moments before Archimedes’ curse had blasted her here came flooding back into her mind. Gabriel. 

“Gabriel.” Erianna shouted as she looked around her, frantic to find him. 

She set off in one direction and stopped short. How was she ever going to find her way back to him? She had no idea where Archimedes had sent her and she had no idea how to get back to him. She closed her eyes and tried to focus on where Gabriel would have been so she could figure out her bearings and figure out the best way back. As she focused, her mind focused only on the emerald green eyes that had looked into hers so many times over the last several days. There was something so warm and so deep in his eyes. They drew her in and made her feel safe and protected. And loved.

Erianna shook her head. She could never be loved by him. No matter how kind and caring he seemed to be, no one could ever truly love her. Nobody ever saw her as anything more than a monster. Besides, if she didn’t find a way to break the curse by morning, her fate as a dragon would be sealed forever. Erianna sighed, “There’s no point in looking for him now.” 

The necklace beneath her chin glowed ever so slightly. Her hand went up to touch it. She looked up at the sky to see how much time she had left and spoke into the air like she had seen Archimedes do so many times. “If there is a Mage or some greater being or power out there, please, at least let me get to my sister in time to save her so I know she’ll be safe when I’m gone.” Erianna took a deep breath and headed into the woods.

As Erianna ran deeper into the woods, a sharp pain pierced her head causing her to stumble forward. What was happening to her? She looked up to the sky for about the hundredth time since she had started running. The sun was starting its descent but it was still too high for her to be transforming. Erianna shook the pain from her head and pushed further into the forest. As she continued, a deep, sharp ache began to settle in over her muscles. Within moments, Erianna found herself falling face first into the snow.

“No, no, no, no, no.” Erianna pushed herself up to a sitting position and looked at the scales that began to appear on her skin. “Augh,” she let out a frustrated growl as she looked at the sky. “Why is this happeneing to me?” she cried out into the stillnesss of winter.

Erianna tried to stand but her aching body refused to support her. “I don’t have time for this. I have to save my sister before it’s too late,” she exclaimed. Erianna got on all fours and began an agonizing crawl to the nearest tree so she could pull herself up.

She grabbed hold of the tree trunk and held on as she tried to move her legs underneath her. Erianna grunted as her feet slipped. She had never had this little control over her muscles. Even when the transformations had been exceptionally bad, she had always maintained some control over her body and its movements. As Erianna gripped the tree, she pulled herself up to an almost standing position, ignoring the intense throbbing and swelling of her muscles pushing against her.

Taking a few shaky breaths, Erianna prepared to pull herself up the rest of the way. “I am going to save my sister if it’s the last thing I do,” she grunted as she buried the pain deep inside her and forced herself to stand up all the way.

Breathless and shaking, Erianna smiled as she steadied herself against the tree. 

“All right,” she breathed out, “I can do this.” She tenderly stretched one foot out in front of her. When she didn’t fall, Erianna slowly inched her other foot forward. She took a few small steps and pulled herself further from the tree.

“I did it,” she said excitedly.

Erianna let go of the tree as the final test to see if she could stand on her own, but, as soon as she did, her legs buckled underneath her and propelled her face first into the snow. Erianna closed her eyes as the cold snow met her face. Exhausted from the painful struggle of the past few minutes, she slowly pushed herself up and wiped the snow from her face. Her muscles raged against her skin as she turned herself the rest of the way around so she could look at her legs. Her transformation a few nights ago had been a walk in the park compared to the pain she was experiencing now. Erianna tenderly pulled herself back a few inches to the tree and let her muscles relax as much as they could once her back made contact.

She looked around at the desolate whiteness of her mother’s realm. Never before had she been in a position of such utter hopelessness. She was completely alone with no way of defending herself. Everyone and everything she cared about was miles away from her and she had no idea if any of them were safe, or even alive. Erianna leaned her head back against the tree as defeat washed over her.

“Why did I have to find everyone just to lose them again?” Erianna choked out in a teary whisper.
Erianna gave into the soul-wrenching anguish that filled her as she pulled her aching knees up to her chest. Her head drooped over her arms as she whispered, “I don’t understand. “What did I ever do to deserve this?”

What had she done to deserve this? Why had this happened to her? Why was she the one always left to fight her battles on her own? If she had been cursed with this as a child, why couldn’t her mother have figured out a way to reverse it or break it? Or, why couldn’t her mother have loved her in spite of it?

The underlying pain she had always ignored and kept buried inside pulsated through her heart. Who was she kidding? No one could love her. Not Gabriel. Not Brinn. Not even her own mother. She was a monster. Nothing could ever change that. That last thought was painfully evident by her inability to move or go anywhere without falling or experiencing excrutiating pain. 

Erianna sat with her head bowed over her arms for what seemed like hours. Her body felt completely spent and worn out as her mind worked through every pain and every awful memory that had shaped her life. As she sat there, a cool, gentle breeze began to wrap itself around her. It pulled at the tiny wisps of hair that had worked themselves loose from her braid and swept over her like a calming sea breeze. She inhaled the cool, crisp air deeply and let the scents of pine and snow fill her with their refreshing scents. 

“Erianna.” A strong, gentle voice landed on Erianna’s ear.

Erianna tensed at hearing her name.   

“Erianna,” the voice spoke again. There was something strangely familiar about that voice, but she couldn’t figure out where she would have heard it before.

Erianna slowly lifted her heavy head and looked at the man who knelt before her. He appeared to be a normal man, aside from a white streak that ran through his brown hair in the front. His clothes were white like those who lived in the winter realm, but she had a feeling he wasn’t from there. Something in his eyes caught her attention as he stared down at her. As she stared into his eyes, a gentleness and peace reached out to her.

“Who are you?” she asked.

The man smiled, “You know who I am.”

Something tugged at Erianna’s heart as she looked at the man. She studied him for a moment before she said, “You are the Mage’s son, aren’t you? Archimedes always told me you existed, but I never believed it.”

The man looked at her without judgement or condemnation and replied, “And why is that?”

Erianna grew uncomfortable under his gaze and looked away. “Because, if you really existed, there wouldn’t be so much evil in the world.”

“What do you view as evil in this world?” the man asked as he sat down beside her.

Erianna looked at him, surprised by the question. She thought for a moment before responding, “I—Well, my mother might be considered evil by a lot of people. She turned a little girl out to be on her own. She kept another little girl locked up in a cold castle her whole life. I’m sure there are countless other things she has done.”

“Were you truly alone?”

“I was banished from my home as a small child and have been on my own for many years.”

“Yes, but you also spent some years in the home of a dear little man who cared for you and raised you for as long as he was able.”

“Yes. I did spend some wonderful years with Archimedes. They were some of the best years of my life,” she replied as a whimsical look entered her face. Her face fell as she continued, “And then my mother became so set on finding me and destroying me that I had to leave to protect myself and Archimedes.

“Things have been difficult for you, Erianna. I will not deny that. I was also hated by many. There was a time when my own family turned their backs on me. My closest friends ran away when I needed them most. But, through all of those hard times, I knew there was a greater purpose for my life. Much of the beauty of this world has been destroyed and taken from me and my father, but that fact pushes me to fight even harder for the beauty that remains. My purpose on this earth is to restore the beauty that has been lost.”

“Like my beauty,” Erianna whispered as a tear trailed down her cheek.

The man looked unwavering at Erianna as he responded, “Your beauty was never lost, Erianna.” The man stood and reached out his hand to Erianna. “Come with me. I need to show you something. 

Erianna looked at his outstretched hand and then looked up at the man. His compassionate eyes compelled her to trust him and put her hand in his. He gently took her hand and pulled her up. Erianna was surprised at the strength that flowed through her at his touch. 

He smiled as he said, “Come. Follow me.” 

CH 22

Erianna followed the man through the large white doors of a cathedral that had appeared seemingly out of nowhere. Her breath caught as she looked at the beauty that surrounded her. Stained glass windows filled with radiant colors ran the length of the cathedral on either side and the benches were a blinding white with gold etched into the sides. A golden throne sat on a platform on the other side of the cathedral with two angelic statues standing guard on either side. 

“What is this place?” she asked in breathless wonder.

“It used to be my father’s,” he replied as he removed his white cloak. 

“Your father’s? Why doesn’t he use it anymore?”

“The people of this land became angry with him many years ago and shut him out of their world. He stopped visiting when the people turned against him.” The man walked to the front of the cathedral and started building a fire in the fireplace that stood off to the side of the large throne. 

“What a shame. Does anyone else use it for anything?” Erianna reached out to touch the golden filigree on the side of one of the benches.

“Unfortunately no one remembers that it exists. It has been many years since anyone has stepped foot in here.”

“And yet you’re here.”

“Indeed. And so are you.” He smiled at her as he put a few more logs on the fire. 

She returned his smile and walked between two of the benches to look at one of the windows. The window she was closest to depicted a woman standing before an army with a spear in her hand. Another one showed a shepherd boy defeating a lion. Another showed a young queen kneeling before a king. 

“What are these pictures of?” she asked as she continued to walk towards the front, stopping to look at each pane of glass as she went.

The man stood and brushed the dirt from the wood from his hands. “Those are pictures of some of the greatest kings and queens of kingdoms past.”

Erianna came to stop under one window that was filled with white shards of glass. In the center stood a queen wearing a silver gown who held a scepter in one hand and a wreath in the other. A young girl wearing a blue beaded gown stood next to her with a small silver crown on her head. A white rose bloomed behind them as a white dove flew above them. Erianna reached out to touch the glass pendant that hung around the queen’s neck. As she did, the picture began to swim before her and was almost instantly a blank pane of glass.

Erianna stood dumbstruck as she stared at the clear glass before her. Her reflection stared back at her in the empty pane and her attention was drawn to the patch of silvery scales on her neck. She touched the scaly spot with her hand and imagined what she would look like if she didn’t have them.

“Imagining them away won’t make them go away.”

Erianna jumped at the man’s voice behind her. “Of course not. If it did, they would have disappeared a long time ago.”

“You don’t like them?” he asked as he watched her reflection in the clear pane.

Erianna barely lifted her eyes, trying not to meet his gaze as she continued to look at the patchy skin. “They’ve deepened their hold in my life over the years and I don’t care for the impression they leave on my skin.”

“And why is that?”

“They tell the world what kind of monster I am on the inside.”

“Who told you that you were a monster?”

Erianna’s back stiffened as she looked the man’s reflection in the eye, “My mother.”

“Dear Erianna. You are not a monster.”

“What would you know?” Erianna scoffed at her reflection and crossed her arms in front of her.

The Mage’s son stepped behind her and put his hands on her shoulders and looked at her in the pane of glass. “What do you see when you look at yourself?”

“I don’t like to look at myself,” Erianna said as she cast her eyes to the marbled ground beneath her.

The Mage’s son reached a hand around her and gently lifted her chin, forcing her to look at herself. “I didn’t ask if you enjoyed looking at yourself. I asked you to tell me what you see when you look at yourself. Just look into the pane and tell me what you see.”

Erianna raised her eyes to the pane and took in a deep breath as she looked at the reflection staring back at her. “I see a girl who has been hurt time and time again in her life, leaving her with deep scars that mar the beauty that might have been there.”

“Is that all you see?” he gently prodded.

Erianna continued to stare at her reflection as she replied, “I see someone who was so ugly and out of control and dangerous that her mother felt she had to banish her to keep her other daughter safe. I see someone who has been afraid to face the world because she’s afraid of what they would say or do if they ever knew what I truly am or what I’ve done. I see someone who never had a fair chance at love because of my curse, and never will because nothing can change it or make it go away before the sun rises tomorrow. I see a monster.” Erianna choked out the last word as a tear fell from her eye.

“You are not a monster, Erianna. You never were and never will be,” the Mage’s son said as he stared back at her reflection. 

“Do you know what I see?” he asked. “I see a strong, radiant woman who has fought many battles and survived. I see a diamond that fought to make it out of the dust of the earth and brilliantly reflects the light that shines around it. I see beauty that cannot be compared to anything in this world because what I see when I look at you is you. Erianna. Princess of the winter realm. Born to rule with grace and kindness and reflect the beauty of those around her.”

A silvery tear ran down Erianna’s cheek. “How can you see all of that in me?” she asked as she stared back at him in the window pane.

“Because, I know who you are, Erianna. I was there when the Great Mage was writing your story and I know that the Mage never makes mistakes. I know the magnificent woman who is trapped beneath a veil of fears and longs to be free. I know the confidence and strength with which you have carried yourself throughout the years. I know you have a great capacity to love and be loved and you would never harm anyone or anything you cared about. You are as beautiful and complex as a winter’s rose. Tight and closed off to the world, which is still beautiful, but, given the chance to blossom and open up, you will be even more beautiful and radiant than ever. You can have that chance at love, Erianna. You don’t have to keep yourself locked up and afraid of what you might do to others.”

Erianna blinked as a couple more tears fell down her cheeks. “I can have a chance at love? At a normal life?” she asked as she brushed the tears away.

“You can,” he replied with a compassionate smile.

Erianna turned to look at him, “Does that mean you are willing to break the curse?”

“I don’t need to break the curse for you, Erianna. The power to break it is already within you. You need only believe.”

Erianna’s eyebrows knitted together as she looked at him and replied, “But, I don’t know how. I’ve tried all I could all these years. Nothing has ever worked.”

The Mage’s son smiled as he stared back at her. “You will have the power when the time is right.” 

He reached out his hand and placed it on the unsightly patch on her neck. A strange tingling sensation bubbled beneath the surface of his touch and slowly dissipated. Erianna looked up at him and put her hand to the place where the patch of scales had been. The scales were gone.

Erianna gasped, “They’re gone.”

The Mage’s son laughed, “Yes, Erianna. They’re gone.”

“Thank you. I don’t know how I could ever repay you.”

“Just believe in the beautiful person you are and that will be payment enough.”

“Well, thank you again,” she replied as she bowed her head to him. She looked back up at him, a small glow in her eyes. “There is so much I don’t know about you. So much has been chalked up to legend and I don’t know what is true or what is not. Our realm has been so far removed from the Mage and his power and even from you. If given the chance, I would like to restore your presence to our realm and invite you back to bring healing and wisdom to a realm too long lost. Can you teach me about who you are and about the Great Mage?”

The Mage’s son looked at her with such compassion and love as he replied, “Of course, dear one. I would be honored to be invited back into your realm. Your willingness of heart to change and believe in the power of the Mage will restore your kingdom to a beauty far greater than you’ve ever seen. Now, you must go to go to your sister.”

Erianna’s glowing eyes faltered at his words. “Go? But what about the curse? I only have until sunrise to break the curse or I will remain a dragon forever.”

“Erianna. You have to trust the Mage’s timing. As I told you, you have the power within you to break the curse. If you believe in the Mage and his great power, you can trust and believe he will provide a way out by morning. And even if he doesn’t, he will still provide a way for you to bring beauty back to your realm, regardless of what form or shape you are in. I healed these scars that were on the outside, now you have to trust the Mage’s power and allow him to heal you on the inside as well.”

Erianna’s eyes stared off as she thought of facing her mother and the possibility of not returning to her human form by morning. The Mage’s son placed his hands on her shoulders and looked her in the eyes, “Erianna. Don’t let the fear of facing your mother or anything else prevent you from fulfilling your destiny and living out your story. She has no power over you that hasn’t already been defeated. You have to trust that it will all work out.”

She held his gaze for a long moment before she replied, “I’ve never really put my trust in anyone but myself. I don’t know if I can trust anyone else. Even you, and you’ve done so much for me in the short time I’ve known you.”

“I know it is hard to trust someone else, especially when you don’t feel you know them well, but truthfully, you know me far better than you realize. After tomorrow, we will have plenty of time to get to know one another. But right now, your sister needs you more than ever. Can you trust me enough to get you through this one last night?”

Erianna’s heart cracked a little bit as she stared back at the man before her. She felt all the years of pain and hurt and abandonment move ever so slightly within her like the awakening water slowly gurgling to life beneath the frozen surface of a lake or river that was thawing out in the warm glow of the sun. She smiled as she replied, “I will trust you.”