The Rose and the Thorn by Kate Macdonald

Author:Kate Macdonald [Macdonald, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-08-27T04:00:00+00:00

My mind churns over what Ariel said. Why couldn't she tell everything about the curse? Why must I “speak my heart”? What does that mean? Why should it matter? Aside from pumping fiercely against my chest, my heart is mute. My head, on the other hand, is loud and angry. Frustration rattles around inside.

“I'm so confused,” I say aloud. “Just... tell me what you want me to do. Help me break the curse.”

But the castle is silent, and my heart says nothing on the matter.

I tell Thorn about Ariel, but by the time he rushes back to the hall, she is gone, and does not come when he calls. I tell him she'll be back, but I wonder if her form is permanent. Maybe she isn't tangible all the time, like the sorceress' power.

I do not tell him what we spoke about, her final words bubbling in my mind; my fear is killing him. My fear of what, exactly? Contrary to what I told Ariel, what I tell myself, I have so many. I don't see how any of them could hurt him any more than they would hurt me.

I return to the hall each night after he has gone to bed. I do not see Ariel, although I catch a few more snippets of the castle's history. I see it turning grey and lifeless. I see the fairy queen dismissing her subjects. I see her creating the gateway in the meadow, closing it for good. The gardens lose their lustre, slowly begin to shrivel. The sun darkens.

I see the fairy queen weeping over the ruined crib, and then...

Then she is gone, but the gardens begin to bloom again.

What happened to her? Where did she go? Is she, like the shadows, still somewhere within the walls? She was certainly the woman Thorn was talking to, but was he merely addressing her portrait, or something else?

I don't know what I'd do if I lost you both.

Who was she to him? If setting her free brings magic back, ensures that Thorn won't be alone when I leave, that we can see each other again... then I will gladly do it, if I know how. But... I will not deny the stab of jealousy I feel, at her being here in my stead, of her being Thorn's confidante, companion... whatever I am, whatever she was. I want to ask Thorn more about her, but I'm afraid of his answer.

I am afraid of who she was, and what we are becoming. I am afraid of what will happen when the magic runs out, if the curse is completed, if whatever lurks in the shadows is released, if she is free. I think about what she said to the queen, her clear disdain for mortals. I do not want to think about what she will do, but it haunts my thoughts.

Maybe I shouldn't leave. Maybe it's irresponsible of me now, now I know what I know. But what do I know? So many mysteries, so few absolutes.

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