On the Other Side of Nowhere

By Elodie James

Beyond the world we know, in the furthermost and remotest place in existence, live the shadows of what could have been.
One day you may be lucky enough to catch the most fleeting of glimpses, but first you must succeed in reaching, the land on the other side of nowhere.A story of a romance that was never going to be straightforward.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Apr 17, 2017
• ISBN: 9780244301293

Book preview

On the Other Side of Nowhere

On the Other Side of Nowhere

Copyright © <2017> by

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or scholarly journal.

First Printing: <2017>

ISBN <978-0-244-30129-3 >

Chapter one:  The Seeker.

It was a crisp morning in late autumn. A thin layer of early mist had all but burnt off, leaving a cold, bright day behind it.

A solitary fisherman sat motionless on the shrouded riverbank, enjoying the calm tranquillity. He nestled comfortably, amongst the freshly fallen leaves, which lay like a counterpane of yellow, brown and crimson, woven magically together, and cast over the landscape by enchanted hands.

He had been there since the first light of dawn had broken open the darkness of the frosty night, and the warmth of the sun on his broad back, was now a welcome companion.

He enjoyed his craft, and was adept and practised at it. The evidence lay at his side in the form of several, sizeable, silvery fish, which by the middle of the afternoon would be a part of the Royal banquet, taking place at the nearby palace.

From where he was sitting, he could see the ancient towers of Logaires with all their wondrous awe and beauty, light jumping off the burnished roofs. They rose up majestically above the tall fir trees that tried unsuccessfully to compete with them. He loved sitting under their shadows, whose permanency had endured for so many years, and would continue to do so long after his own demise.

Sebastian, for that was the fisherman's name, surveyed his substantial catch, and allowed himself a rare moment of self-satisfaction as he gazed admiringly at them.

His pleasant thoughts were suddenly rudely interrupted, when he was seized from behind, hands covering his eyes. So unexpected was this intrusive disturbance, that he nearly toppled from his precarious perch on the slippery bank, which would have taken both himself, and his unknown assailant, into the cold, murky waters below.

He quickly regained his composure, however, recognizing that this was not an attack of any malicious nature. He settled  back into his former position and waited, trying to gain the upper hand over his opponent, a mind game of none verbal communication.

The fingers which held him captive were slender and soft. They carried with them a heady scent, not unlike the rose gardens at the palace. Hands that were warm and gentle, despite the coldness of the air encompassing them. Very different from his own, made rugged through constant hard work.  He had recognized very soon after the initial shock, that these were the hands of the Princess Elysia!

The silence was finally broken by the aforesaid Princess, who quickly grew tired of the wordless deadlock.

Sebastian! Why are you being so contemptible?  Did I not startle you just a little? Just for once, you could have allowed me to have my moment of triumph. It is my birthday after all! Elysia complained bitterly.

He considered this, remembering with immense pleasure the times they had played this same game when they were much younger. Things were so very different then. She had been permitted to play with the other children, and they had taken great delight in playing hide and seek amongst the nooks and crannies of the grey stone courtyards, and lengthy corridors of the ancient building. He had been a superb seeker, and had always crept up stealthily, like some ferocious wild cat on the princess, and startled her. She would scream raucously, and then they would go running wildly again through the palace, before  collapsing in an untidy heap on the immaculately kept lawns outside, laughing and shouting hysterically together. It was a game they never tired of…...

Well!...... Was I not the best seeker ever on this occasion? Elysia asked expectantly.

Instantly the vivid picture disappeared, and he was back on the bank of the river, a captive but with no desire to free himself.

He had to admit inwardly, that he had been taken completely unawares, but doubted she would have been quite so exultant, had she taken a dip in the swollen waters of the river, as she had so nearly done a few moments earlier. Not that he was going to give in to her demands so easily, though.

Your Highness, Sebastian began thoughtfully, I believe it may have escaped your royal attention, that I was not exactly hiding from you and, therefore, was not expecting to be accosted in such a manner.

I was searching for you, she replied, But was unable find you anywhere, and therefore, a case could be made that you were indeed hiding.

Looking for me? questioned Sebastian warily. Why were you looking for me your Highness?

Chapter two:   Fit for a Queen.

Elysia withdrew her hands slowly from Sebastian's eyes. He turned to face her, blinking in the glaring sunshine which shone like a halo from behind her, giving her, he thought, the ethereal appearance of an angel.

Sebastian, she scolded him, How many times must I tell you that my name is, always was, and always will be, Elysia! You know how much I have always hated you referring to me as 'Your Royal Highness,' and yet you still persist in doing so at every turn.

Then she continued, in a much more conciliatory tone, Now where is my birthday present?

She finished the last sentence with a somewhat impudent grin, which was intended to remove from the situation, her earlier aggravation at his refusal to call her by anything other than her royal title.

It was a smile he knew only too well, and adored. He longed to use her name as she requested, but he knew his place well enough. The Hide and Seek days, and all the other children's games were long gone. So too was any right he had to call her anything other than by her proper title. They had spent a glorious childhood together, but now he was a fisherman, and she was a Princess. They were worlds apart, and this he respected dutifully.

As they had grown older, Elysia had continued to spend much time in the company of Sebastian, much to the chagrin and consternation of her father the King. Indeed, it was also to the concern of his own father, recently departed, who had reminded him on more than one occasion that he was a lowly commoner, and must remember his status. He need not have worried, for Sebastian was well aware of this fact, and he always treated the princess with nothing but the highest regard, and the honour befitting her exalted position. As indeed he did now, despite her best efforts to change his habits!

This morning the years had rolled back, and she was like an excited child once more, teasing him as she had done so mercilessly in another life.

Elysia quizzed him once more.You haven't forgotten my birthday have you, Sebastian…..?

Another much more mischievous smile, this time, showed the enjoyment she was getting out of this, and she was going to use this momentary advantage to the maximum extent possible, to flirt with him, and torment his poor soul.

Sebastian strode manfully across to his fishing creel and purposefully opened the wicker lid. When he returned, he was carrying a single rose. It had quite the bluest petals she had ever seen, and she caught her breath in amazement and disbelief. She knew that second to his fishing, he had a love of cultivating roses, but she had never seen the equal of this one. How on earth had he managed to get such a bloom at this time of year, when the palace gardens were barren?

Oh Sebastian! she exclaimed, Veritably it’s the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my entire life.

She closed her hands gently around his, as he reached out to pass her the stem. Raising them to take in the intoxicating scent of the flower, pulling him closer as she did so. She found the perfume to be as exquisite as the flower itself, a perfect match.

Really Sebastian, I mean it, this is quite astonishing! I could not have yearned for a better gift. It is fit for a queen, let alone a princess, and I will cherish it always.

Before he knew what was happening she had reached up and kissed him affectionately on the lips. Sebastian recoiled as if touched by a red hot coal. Instantly he knew that this should not have happened. However much he may have desired it, this was improper.

Elysia looked hurt by his seemingly unfavourable reaction.

Why whatever's wrong Sebastian? she murmured.

Her smile evaporated, replaced by a look of anguished distress.

He was uncertain what to do or say. This had been so totally unexpected, but what was to come was to shake him to the core, throwing his