2. A Healer’s Dilemma

2

A HEALER’S DILEMMA

(ROWENA)

M y eyes widen as this fae turns into stone right in front of me.

One moment, he’s yelling at me to leave; the next, he’s a cold statue, his body frozen into stone from head to toe. Around me, the forest calls and sings the song of the fae, but I’m immune to its pressure. The Forest of Herbs has been my home for years since I was born. And since my mother departed, I’ve been on my own.

I slowly approach the stone fae, my heart beating wildly underneath my chest. As a witch who has grown up in the wilds, labeled an outcast and a black sheep by my people, I’ve seen things, and I’ve lived rough—nothing hardly surprises me anymore. But as I stop before the statue of this fae who, only seconds ago, had gazed at me with intense green eyes as dark as the forest around us, my mouth falls open with shock and wonder.

The statue before me appears caught between anguish and command, frozen as he was about to yell another command at me. I know he —whoever this fae is— didn’t want me to see him like this, but I’m too curious to grant his last command and walk away. Knowing me, I’ll think about it for days and regret not finding out.

The moonlight cascades on the stony form, causing glints of silvery lights to shimmer on the surface. Despite being frozen, he still paints a striking picture —mesmerizing eyes, great, long hair, angled cheekbones, and a regal disposition. Whoever this fae is, he must be noble.

I meet his frozen gaze, and behind the alluring mix of dark green and hazel, there’s a deep sadness in there that calls to me. I’ve known sadness —being raised in secret and having lived alone in the woods for the past six years— so this strange fae suddenly feels like a kindred spirit.

What kind of curse is this? What must he be going through that causes him to turn into stone?

I look around me, and aside the chirping of insects and the rustle of the wind, it’s eerily quiet. I’m usually not out in the forest at midnight, especially not when the Great Alliance festival is happening only outside the forest grounds. However, I was foraging for some magical herbs and wandered too far.

I should continue on my way, but something about this fae has me riveted on the spot. Slowly, I reach out to poke him, wincing when his skin feels like glass to the touch. This is interesting; I want to know how this will end, so I lower myself onto the forest floor and wait for when this statue will unthaw, and I can ask him all the questions rattling around in my head.

I don’t know when I fall asleep to the gentle embrace of the forest, but when my heart flutters open, the moon is almost set in the west, so I know it’s nearly morning —probably almost five a.m. I rush to my feet but pause again when I see the statue is still there. I don’t have a clock to follow the progression of time, but I know it’s been at least five hours, judging by the moon’s position in the sky.

Maybe this statue will never thaw. I pick up the basket of herbs I’d dropped hours ago and turn to leave when I hear an eerie cracking sound, like the splitting of glass. I whirl to face the stony fae, and the basket drops from my hand in shock to see life slowly return to him. I’ve never seen anything quite like this.

The stony glint disappears, and the handsome fae gasps for air, clutching his throat as if in pain. He breathes loudly and deeply for a moment before slowly steadying his breathing. Then he stretches his tired limbs, relieved to be able to move them again finally.

Before I can stop myself, I ask, “Are you alright?”

The fae whirls to face me, his arm shooting forward to send me a dangerous burst of light. I hold up my hand, deflecting the magical burst with my own spell.

“It’s you!” He gasps, frowning at me. “I saw you last night. You stayed? Did you see?—?”

“Yes.”

My answer annoys him, and he runs a frustrated hand down his face. “I told you to leave!”

“You can’t order me around,” I retort. “This is a public place. I can be here if I want, too.“

He looks taken aback by my response. “Aren’t you a witch? How can you be here?’

I shrug. “I’ve lived here all my life.”

“Here?” he echoes. “In this forest?”

“Yes. My hut is down this path.” I nod at the spiral path that leads toward the forest's edge.

“But you’re a witch.” He appears confused. “How can you bear it?”

She shrugs. “I’ve lived here all my life.”

He eyes her warily and then starts toward the path, but I can’t let him go. Not without knowing who he is. I didn’t sit on the forest floor all night for nothing. I spring in front of him, and he instantly recoils, putting distance between us like I embody a virus.

“Stay away from me.”

“Who are you?” I ask, my gaze running curiously over him. It’s wondrous how he brims with life and blood when he was a cold stone devoid of life moments ago. My fingers snake out to touch him.

“I’m Prince Riven,”

My hand freezes midair, my gaze snapping up to his. Our gazes meet, and for a second, the forest green of his eyes melts into a heart-stopping sapphire. Then his words resound in the air between us, and I take several steps back

“You’re the stone Prince?” I gasp. He purses his lips. “I am.”

Anyone who exists in our world must have heard of the legend of the Stone Prince. It’s been told far and wide, and I didn’t think it was true. Riven starts to leave again, and again, I block his path. He lets out a frustrated growl.

“You need my help.”

“What?”

“You need my help,” I repeat.

He folds his arms across his chest and eyes me with resignation. “Who are you again?”

“My name is Rowena.”

“Look.” He holds out his arm as if to pacify me. “It’s cute that you think you can help me. But I’m not asking you for help. Get away from me.”

“You’re a rude one,” I answer. “But if only you’ll listen to me. I can help. I know some magical spells and?—”

He laughs. Loudly and mockingly, transforming his stunning face into a hauntingly beautiful one.

“What’s funny?” I roll my eyes. “I’ve heard about the legend of the Stone Prince who turns into stone from midnight till dawn. That’s you. I know how uncomfortable that must be. I can help. There are some spells that?—”

The laughter wipes from his face, and his eyes flash with anger. “Some magical spells? You insult me! You think I haven’t searched far and wide for a solution? You think I just sit in the castle and give myself to a curse slowly eating its way through me day by day?!”

He’s yelling furiously at me, but all I can hear is the pain in his voice. It’s impossible to be mad at him when I can tell he’s only acting out of suffering.

“I do not need your help,” he says. “You don’t have the means to help me.”

“You’re wrong.” I stand solidly in his path, intent on proving myself. Whenever I would bring home wounded animals, my mom would grumble and complain about how it’s not my responsibility to heal everything around me that’s hurting. “Sometimes it’s okay to look away, Rowena. For your good.”

This is one of those times where looking away will do me an incredible world of good. But I didn’t listen to my mom then, and I won’t listen now. I have a deep conviction that I can help Prince Riven.

“My name is Rowena of the House of Nightshade,” I answer. “My mom was Sabrina Nightshade, the most powerful witch in the coven. She passed her powers to me.”

Riven stares at me blankly, and I realize he’s unfamiliar with the Nightshade family, which is strange. The Nightshade family is the most popular in the witch coven, known for their exceptional supernatural powers and skillful in herbalism and potions.

Before my mom was banished from the coven, she was next in line to be Queen. These powers were passed on to me, and I’ve known them from an early age. I don’t know what curse plates Prince Riven, but if he gives me a chance, I can heal him. I know it.

“Listen…” Prince Riven sighs. “Thank you for offering,” he says patronizingly. “I like your confidence, but you can’t help me. I’ve been to witches stronger than you, with greater experience than you’ll ever have, and none of them could help me. So please, lady, step away from my path.”

“Seems like you were plagued with pride and stubbornness, too,” I fire, causing him to narrow his eyes infinitesimally.

“How dare you!”

A flicker of fear ignites in my blood. A witch will do well to avoid an average fae, let alone a royal one. I have no business standing in front of Prince Riven, and if our paths hadn’t crossed like this, I probably would never cross paths with him for the rest of my lonely existence.

He stretches his hand, and a ring of fire appears, causing me to stagger back a few steps. He glares menacingly at me, and I have a feeling he won’t hesitate to incinerate me to ashes.

“Don’t dare me, Rowena.”

My name falls smoothly from his lips, and I step away from the path. He drops his arm and holds my stare for one more timeless moment before sprinting down the path and disappearing. I remain in the same spot, staring in the direction he disappeared, wondering why I feel so attached to his condition

I hear a rustle behind me and turn to see a squirrel swish past, reminding me that this is not my place and it’s time for me to go. I’ve never been out in the forest for this long. I pick up my basket and race home to my hut, where I’ve lived alone since the death of my mom .

I am a voracious reader, which is why a huge bookshelf takes up one-half of the small space. It contains hundreds of volumes on potions, ancient spells, herbs, necromancy, shape-shifting —and even spells about faes, dragons, vampires, and elves.

I drop the basket of elves and walk towards the shelf, skimming through the different volumes to find one that suits the situation. I’m confident that I can help, and even though I know I’ll never run into Riven again, I’m curious about the curse and hope that one day, if fate says so, I’ll be able to deliver him from the gruesome curse.