A Fairy Tale

By Holly Zitting

Aurora returns to Paradan ashamed and heartbroken.
Cassius wants to pretend the Dragon’s scale quest never happened, and Areit disappears. Unaware if Areit survived, she is thrown into one celebration after another. Feeling un-worthy of Cassius, she starts to shut off her heart.
Tommit, gathers dangerous mercenaries, dedicated to returning hin to his throne.
Greya and Lote plot to replace Aurora as bride-to-be. A masquerade ball, brings about deceit, confessions and stolen kisses. As they prepare for the up-coming royal wedding, Paradan is invaded, bringing death and destruction. Will Aurora succumb to Tommit’s plot? Or will her life, finally become a fairy tale?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Holly Zitting
• Release date: Sep 12, 2014
• ISBN: 9781502367853

Holly Zitting

Holly Zitting was born and raised in beautiful Red Rocks of Southern Utah. She’s been happily married to her prince charming, Grant, for seventeen years and they have six beautiful children together—Isabella, Jaxson, Sophia, Roman, Ava and Marina. Holly is also the author of The Amulet Prophecy series and The Paradan tales. She is a best selling author on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Holly was also a nominee for the Whitney award for The Wishing Well. She’s a passionate foster mother. Holly is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints. She enjoys writing in her spare time and spending time with her family. Holly currently resides in Oregon with her family.

Book preview

Prologue

I made my way toward the wishing tree.

My heart beat was strong and steady. I had been dreaming of this moment. The ribbon that perfectly matched my gown was entwined in my grasp. The fabric felt smooth and soft against my sure fingers. It was waiting to be tied on one of the many branches of the mystical weeping willow, as a symbol of my promise to love him. Forever.

I was ready.

My gaze met many others, each of their eyes glistening, their peaceful faces filled with pure joy. The tree was surrounded by those who only months ago, had been figments of an over active imagination. I had accepted this was my new reality.

My life was a fairy tale.

Chapter 1

Areit

Every inch of him scalded, as if someone had offered him up as an eternal burning sacrifice.

A racking cough caused his body to shudder and shake. Without his permission, his left hand searched out, the new fluid now flowed from his lips. There was no surprise when he pulled back and saw the crimson tint of blood. He was in mortal peril and he knew it. But, right now, Areit's impending death meant nothing to him. He was being flooded with memories from the very first moment he had laid eyes on Aurora.

It all began as a simple task—find Princess Aura's son.

He never imagined just how complicated it would become, for his mind, his body and most of all, his heart. Fighting the pain that now attacked his broken body; he pulled himself up, until he was on his wobbly knees. Areit knew he should have fought her choice to go. In a moment something had changed in her gaze, he knew there would be no deterring her.

Aurora, had found the strength, he always knew she held within. Overwhelmed with agonizing, sharp, stabbing pain, he dragged himself deeper into the fog that had cloaked the rest of the hillside.

A stench of sulphur hung in the air, he was now beginning to realize that it wasn't normal fog. This was heated air unlike anything he had ever witnessed.

Terror reached him; he knew they were close to the dragon's lair. What if his weakness was the final cause for his love's death?

He was long past caring, about Cassius' claim on Aurora. As far as he was concerned, the moment he sent her on this deadly quest; he forfeited his right, to call her his. The further he went into the haze the more raw his hands became. It was taking an immense amount of energy to pull his ailing form forward. Areit knew he had no other option then to join her, even in death. His progress was slow and exhausting.

Would he even make it in time to help her?

Despair overwhelmed him, so many had already been lost. His thoughts rested on Illip, how would he explain his loss to his young wife? If he never returned, who would help her raise their still, unborn child? She would need help. He wanted a family. He wanted to live.

He wanted Aurora.

Areit knew he would have to pull out more strength than he thought his broken body was capable of. Forcing himself, to push through the pain he dragged himself closer to the dwindling mist. He could hear something approaching, and he struggled to increase his speed. His vision was blurred, through his tears.

Wresting with his will, he needed to get to Aurora. Breaking through the haze he saw her. She was alive, beautiful, and currently in Cassius' arms. His heart felt shredded, raw and bleeding. The pain of seeing her in his arms was overwhelming. Looking at her, the pain overcame him.

Chapter 2

Our eyes locked.

The pain of his stare burned my soul. A sob escaped his lips and he immediately fought back, biting down on his lower trembling lip. Cassius continued to cry tears of joy and my body shook from his glee.

At that moment my heart erupted, splitting into two separate pieces. The largest half belonged to Cassius, my fiancé, my heart, my life; while the other half was reserved for Areit, my protector, my friend, my?

I couldn't answer that right now.

Frankly, even thinking about it while in Cassius' arms was . . . so wrong.

Cassius pulled back and saw the tears falling from my eyes. You're safe, and you're alive. I can't believe it. This is real? Right? Please, tell me I'm not dreaming. My heart ached, seeing the agony he was experiencing. I nodded not trusting my voice. A groan was heard from behind us. We both turned, to see Areit's body splayed flat in the muddy earth. Rushing from the entrance of the cave, we both knelt down to check on him.

Areit? Cassius asked surprised.

Yes. Areit? Can you hear me? There was no response and I leaned closer to him, trying to make sure his heart still beat. His breath was rough and staggered. I noticed fresh blood on the inner recesses of his lips.

We have to get him back. Please! My plea was pained and my voice was rough with emotion.

What happened? Where is everyone else? Cassius looked up confused and surveyed the hillside for the rest of our expedition. There was no one. How did he not realize they were gone? He was looking at the only survivors of the blasted dragon scale quest.

They're all dead. I could hear my voice, and it sounded flat and lacking any emotion. If a stranger were to listen in, they would think I didn't care, that I was heartless. A soulless monster. Maybe I was, after all, so much carnage had followed my arrival in Paradan.

Dead? Disbelief weighed heavily in the creases of his face. All of them? Cassius asked, his voice falling to a whisper. I nodded; dropping my head, grief overtook me. He paused a moment and fought back the devastating grief which threatened to consume him.

I could see the inner battle raging.

It was one of the reasons he was so easy to love, his tender-heart. I knew the pain which flooded him now must have been beastly. Ok. Let's go. Darant, come here.

I watched as he took great care to load Areit on Darant's back. Taking his place behind him, he reached for my hand and lifted me easily behind him. My head rested on his back.

He was trembling.

Hold on, in a moment we were in the air. The trip home was over far quicker than I anticipated. But, it would have been less painful if we walked home. Then I would have had more time to prepare myself for the welcome home. I wanted to shrink away into the shadows, and hide where they would never see me again. Then I would never have to explain how everything went so wrong. I would be able to hide from the cries of pain, hide from the anguish I knew awaited us.

I fell asleep several times, on the way back, my body and soul exhausted. Our trip home was spent mostly in silence. It felt awkward being alone with Cassius and Areit. I was growing more worried about Areit as the minutes passed by. His breathing was shallow and he was taking on pallor of color.

Cassius' muscles were tightened so tight, I worried they might break.

How had things gotten this out of control?

My chest was on fire. Fear and pain consumed me. I felt like I had been split in half, each half at war with each other.

One half, wanted to comfort Cassius, love him. I wanted him to know that I loved him. But, I was still angry with him.

How could he just let me leave?

I couldn't discount the fact that he had come for me. He had to make the journey to find me. This meant he went against the rule of law to come for me. But, he was a little too late. So many had been lost, and part of my heart and mind had changed forever. Why didn't he fight for me, before all of the death and destruction?

A ragged breath escaped Areit.

My thoughts turned to the other half of me, the half that loved him, the half who wanted to weep at the thought of losing him. I couldn't believe he had fought his way to the entrance of the cave. At deaths' gate, he wrestled with death to try and save me, yet again. The look of pain in his eyes when he saw me in Cassius arms was soul crushing. I wanted to comfort him. Love him. Save him, the way he had saved me.

How could I save one without destroying the other?

And how could I walk away from one without destroying myself?

I wasn't sure there was an answer we could all live with. We arrived home in the darkness of night. For this, I was eternally grateful. Right now, I wasn't prepared to answer the questions I knew awaited. Almost immediately, Areit was whisked off by several of the Fara guards. I didn't even get a chance to say good-bye. Cassius walked me to my room and kissed me gently.

Get some rest my love. We will talk more in the morning. I nodded not trusting my voice. His lips brushed my forehead and he was gone.

Once again, I was left to deal with the pain and grief of the dragon's scale quest, all alone.

Chapter 3

My body was healing, yet my heart and mind remained deeply wounded.

I don't know what I had expected, on my arrival back in Paradan. Jeers? Cheers? I had failed. Men had died and yet, my heart still continued to beat. Areit had been taken back to Fara only hours after we landed back in Paradan. He wasn't even in the kingdom anymore.

I thought I would be able to talk to him, say--good-bye.

Now that he was gone, it felt like a huge chunk of my heart was missing.

In such a short time, he had become a huge part of my world. Evver and Ember were ecstatic when I returned home. No one seemed to notice I had changed along the way. Cassius continued to apologize—for what? Sending me on a deadly quest? Almost dying? Allowing brave men to suffer and die? Or was it for not loving me enough to fight for me?

I wasn't sure.

As for the kingdom? Well, they seemed uneasily silent on my return. It appeared there had been two separate theory's of how the quest would end. One, I wouldn't return. Just like the many others who had gone before me. For most, this was the only way they saw my journey ending. After all, no one had survived before, what made me lucky enough to avoid the monstrous fate?

Or two? I would return . . . victorious. There was no middle ground. I felt incredibly alone, and there wasn't anyone I dared confide in. The only one, who could possibly understand, my mixed-up feelings, was missing. Without even a single word from me, the plans for my wedding to Cassius resumed at supersonic speed. It had only been three days since I returned and already I was thinking of packing up and running away in the night.

Where to?

Back to goblins, perhaps they would permanently put me out of the turmoil my heart was fighting.

*

Areit remained in bed, his injuries were severe. Calan was concerned for his life. Right now, he had several of the best healers in the kingdom watching over him. When he sat next to his friend, he had to admit he was a little surprised, only Aurora and Areit had survived.

Calan wasn't surprised by Areit bravery, but by Aurora's failure.

Cassius had relayed the entire story, only a chosen few, knew she actually had the opportunity to fulfill the quest. He was troubled by her…….reluctance? It was the kind, safe word to use for his troubled feelings.

It was troubling, not only as the king of Fara, but also as Cassius' uncle.

Right now, he knew his feelings on the subject, should be kept to himself. Cassius was euphoric, to have Aurora home. Nothing else mattered to him. Areit on the other hand was sleeping most of the day and night. It was a restless sleep and the things he said while sleeping, truly concerned the young king.

When his captain had volunteered to go on the dangerous quest, he was certain he had feelings for the soon-to-be queen. Now there was no question in his mind.

Areit loved Aurora.

Now he questioned if Aurora returned his feelings?

The damages to Areit's crippled body were troubling to the king. Calan wasn't sure if his friend would survive. Watching him endure this excruciating trauma now, he couldn't help flashback to when they had been children.

Calan had been playing in the stables, something his mother frowned on. In the foreseeable future he was going to be the king, and so every hour, of every day, was filled with lessons for the future. How to act as the king, how to speak as the king, his every action dictated. So his way of rebelling, a little, was to sneak off to the stables.

It irritated his mother, especially when he returned dirty from head to toe.

His father Calas, seemed to enjoy his rebellious streak. He normally laughed, while his mother scolded him. Today Calan, had endured more than his share of lessons, so when his tutor turned her back, he