Finding Myself Again, Part 2

“Oh my baby!  How horrible to now know who you are!  Who would do such a thing?” The queen says as she puts a hand to her heart, “we will help you and you will get your memory back!”

“This is terrible!  I would not doubt it is the work of the Ochu!” The king roars while rising to his feet in protest.

“Now sire, I actually do doubt that,” Elliott interjects rising to his feet as well, “she was actually in an area very far from the main Ochu cities.  But I am at a loss for how she got there and lost her memory.”

“Well, tomorrow we will bring her to see Rambiar the Wizard, he will hopefully be able to help her,” your father says in a much softer and controlled voice.  This whole time you were still, just starting into your lap, not really aware they were all talking about you.  You are trying to recall all the memories you could.  There are just pieces and fragments of them that do not go together.  Lots of cars in a wide street made of pavement, tall buildings all of glass and steel reflecting the sun, people crowding the street and sidewalk.  But there is nothing like that around here!  Here it is just all trees, grass, the clear blue sky, and Elliott-all who bring out deep and aching memories that are not from your mind, more so from your body.  They are rooted inside of you; you do not seem to have any of those types of memories from your mind, though.  It is all so confusing!

“…Jade…honey?  Can you hear me?”  All of a sudden you hear your mother, the queen, saying your name.  You glance up and she is sitting right next to you, a very anxious look on her face.  Looking over at Elliott and the king, they too have very similar expressions on their faces all staring at you.

“Oh, sorry, I was…I was just thinking…that is all,” you stumble out.

“Okay dear, I am going to take you to your room and have a nice dinner brought up so you can relax and try to get a good night sleep tonight,” your mother tells you.

“Umm…okay…” you tell her.  Then, as she helps you to your feet you shoot a glace over at Elliott, another pleading one.  You feel a deep and painful hurt inside of you at the thought of being away from him.  He sees your look and just nods at you, and suddenly you experience a sense of strength.  You feel like you can carry on knowing, just knowing, that you will see him again soon.

Your mother leads you out the same door you first came though and heads towards the balcony.  She keeps going straight and leads you down the other hallway.  It is very beautiful with forest green carpet, pale ivory walls, ornamental doorframes, and once again, much decoration in the shape of mirrors, small tables, pictures, lamps, and other ancient-looking crafts.  You seem to go past dozens of doors, make numerous turns right and left, and make twists and turns.  Finally, feeling very lost and disorientated, thinking you will never be able to make your way around here without getting lost, she comes to a door and opens it.  Well, this must be your room you think as you walk in.  Inside your breath catches, it is the most beautiful room you have ever seen!  The carpet is a silvery color with the same color drapes.  A light blue bedspread covers your bed and the wallpaper is light blue as well.  Your bed is a four-post bed made of deep mahogany wood with very intricate and detailed pictures of leaves and vines.  The other furniture all matches the bed, the bedside stand, desk, bookshelves, and vanity.  Directly across from the door are windows running the whole side of the room.  To the left side is the bed, bedside stand, vanity, and to your direct left is a desk in the corner.  Plus, there is a door leading out to some other room by the desk.  The right side has the bookshelves, and fireplace.  Right in front of the fireplace is a couch and two deep and comfortable-looking chairs that have a moon and stars pattern in silver, yellow, and light blue. 

“Okay dear, I will go get your night clothes while you can take a look around and get familiar with your room again,” your mother tells you as she walks across the room and opens the other door.  She goes in as you start looking around in amazement and wonder.  A second later she emerges from the door, your closet, with a silky black robe and night dress, “here you go honey, you can change and get yourself comfortable while I go and order you some food for dinner.  I will be back a few minutes.”  She lays the clothes on the bed and goes out of the room closing the door. 

For a few minutes you are busy changing.  The clothes fit perfectly, like they are made for you.  They were actually, you think to yourself.  Then you go into your closet with your dirty clothes.  You have many, many clothes!  Rows on both sides of the room stretch throughout the whole closet filled with dresses, shirts, and pants of all colors and makes.  In one far corner there is a dresser, and the other corner a shoe rack filled with tons of shoes.  Also, straight back there is a box-hopefully for dirty clothes because you place yours there.  For awhile you just look through the entire closet, amazed at the all the beautiful clothes you have.  Later, you leave the closet, shut the door, and go about exploring a little more. 

First you go to your bookshelves.  You have a number of books with a variety of different titles and authors.  Then over to your couch as you test it out.  Very comfortable, you wonder if you used to curl up here to read some of your books.  Looking down you find a bookmark in between the two cushions.  You smile; it is made of plain silver metal with a green gem at the end of a short chain.  It seems the things you like now agree with what you liked then.  You place that on the little stand next to the couch.  Then you decide to try your desk.  The top is totally clean.  Inside the front desk drawer you have pens, pencils, paper, and other accessories all neatly lined up ready to be used. 

All of a sudden your mother comes back in with a silver tray with a plate, cup, and silverware on a napkin.  The food smells wonderful, and you suddenly remember that you have not eaten in a very long time!  Not since you stopped to rest when you and Elliott…  You stop thinking about that and concentrate on the food being placed in front of you on the desktop.  “Here you go, dear.  I will let you eat in a second, first I just want to make sure you know how to find me if you need me.  I know you are probably starving, but I would feel so much better about leaving you here.”

“Sure, that is a good idea.  I must say I would feel better knowing how to find people here,” you reply, actually very happy she suggested that first.  You were a bit nervous not knowing how to get around in this huge castle, especially not knowing if you will be seeing Elliott soon.  So you get up and follow her out the door.  She first goes left down the hall and turns at the first right.  At the very end of the hall she stops and points to the door on her left,

“This is my room.  If you ever need anything at anytime you can come here and get me, all you have to do is knock and come in.”  She then backtracks back to your door, marked with a mirror framed in gold on the side.  “That is how you get to my room.  Now if instead you go right outside your door you can get back to the main entrance,” she goes right and you follow again.  The second available time she turns left and then you realize you are back to the balcony you first came up onto!  She stops at the double doors where you first met her and your father.  The doors suddenly open up and there is Elliott with your father.  Elliott stares at you, looks you up and down.  Then he says,

“You look much more comfortable now, Princess.” 

“Thank you.  It is nice to be out of those clothes after being in them for who knows how many days,” you reply, trying desperately to sound at ease when you were far from that.

“Well, she is going to be eating and going to bed soon.  Say goodnight,” your mother interjects.

“Goodnight Princess,” Elliott says as he bows to you.

“Goodnight honey,” your father tells you, giving you another big hug.

“Goodnight.  And thank you again,” then you turn around and start back to your room quickly fearing you will loose your composure if you do not leave at once.  He was acting so formal with you!  He was never like that before!  You tell yourself to take it easy and that he was probably just like that because your parents were right there, at least you hope that is the reason.  Suddenly you are aware you are right in front of your door without even thinking about where you were going in the hallways!  That is odd, somehow you must know something about this house instinctively. 

“Well dear,” your mother says, surprising you by coming up right behind you, “it seems you know how to get around well enough.  I will leave you be now for the night.  After you are done eating just put your plate outside your door,” she then hugs you, “goodnight dear, after you wake up just come out the that main room in the entry and someone will be there to help you and let you know what is going on.”  She gives you a big hug again, and as she is you tell her,

“Thank you very much, goodnight.”

“Goodnight, I love you Jade.”  You do not know what to say to that so you just smile and say goodnight again then watch as she walks down the hall and turns to go to her room.

You go back inside and sit down at your desk to eat.  After you finish you put the tray outside, and pick out a book from the shelves before sitting down in front of the now blaring fire.  Just as you are about to start reading there is a soft knock at your door.  Wondering who it is, and hoping for a certain someone, you go over and open the door. 

Standing right there is Elliott.  You cannot stop the huge grin from spreading across your face.  “Elliott,” you say, “hi!  What are you doing here?  It must be late by now, are you not going home?”

“Well, I just wanted to stop by and see how you are doing if you weren't already sleeping.  I was wondering if you are remembering anything from in here or not,” he says with a partially hopefully and boyish grin on his face.

“Well, I found that I was able to get to my room without thinking about it,” you say, not wanting to let him down completely, “but actually other than that I really have not remembered anything.  But, I have not really gotten around to checking out everything here, so something might still trigger it.”

“Oh,” he said looking down a little and you just know he is trying very hard not to look disappointed. 

“Would you like to come in for a little?  Sit by the fire?  I know you are probably very tired as well from the long days,” you step back and watch him as he walks into the room.  He is so incredible gorgeous, everytime you see him that thought strikes your mind!  As he walks by you noticed he is at least a half foot taller than you, has strong legs, torso, and arms, but not in a bulky way.  His stride is long and graceful, like he has a purpose wherever he is going.  And, for the first time since you have seen him, he is not carrying with him his bow and arrows.  You sigh to yourself, shut the door, and follow behind him.  He has made his way over to the bookshelf and is looking at the titles.  Following his path you stop at the couch and sit down, watching him again.  Then, he slowly turns around and stares at you back. 

“What is it Jade?  Do you remember something?” he asks, moving toward the couch and sitting close by you.

“Well…not really.  I just…I have this familiar feeling about you and I do not know why!  Like I feel really comfortable with you, and not as much with anyone else!” you start feeling lost and upset again.

“It is okay, Jade, it is probably just because you have known me the longest now.  You just met your parents and do not remember them, but have already spent a day and a half with me.  That is all.  Do not worry, you will start feeling more comfortable here in no time.”

“Yeah…you are probably right,” you tell him wanting to let him know that he has helped, but seriously knowing that is not it.  “I am also kind of nervous about tonight, I think I will be kind of scared here, so far away from everyone in this castle!”

“Oh yes, about that, I talked with your father and he agreed to let me stay in the room right next to yours for a few nights, just until you start feeling more at home.  He could tell you were kind of nervous without me and they just want to do what is best for you, you know that right?”

“Oh yes!  I can tell they are wonderfully kind people, and I must say, that is a huge relief to know you will be so close.  But…I am sure you have other things to do than hang around here with a silly girl who is so needy,” you start looking down at your lap again, hoping he will say no to that, but knowing he probably does have better things to do.

“That is just not true!  I love spending time with you, Jade!  And you are not needy, you are just fearful of the unknown, which is almost everything now, and that is completely understandable!”  He leans closer and takes your hands in his making you turn to face him, getting a very serious and intense look on his face, “I will be here for you whenever you need me, remember that.”

“That is the most wonderful thing to hear!” you cry and almost leap into his arms.  He just holds you for awhile, but then somehow you end up lying on him on the couch.  It is wonderful, feeling his warmth and strength again, you realize you had missed that.  You get so comfortable you close your eyes, hearing and feeling his heartbeat in your ear and on your cheek.  With all of those calming sounds, and hearing the crackling of the fire you start to drift to sleep…

Slowly you wake up, at first not remembering anything except for a feeling of comfort.  As you slowly get your bearings back you realize your pillow is moving slowly up and down, and you hear a steady rhythm in your ear.  Then it all comes back: the cabin, not knowing yourself, riding, kissing, the castle, your parents, your room, the couch, the fire, and lying on top of him.  You both must have fallen asleep here! 

You had to see him sleeping again, so ever so slowly not to wake him up you lift your head and look at his face.  It is just as beautiful as you remember.  He seems so relaxed and at ease, like he does not have a care in the world.  Eyelashes rest upon his cheeks, and his lips are parted just slightly as he slowly and evenly breathes in and out.  You sigh in reaction and lay down again with your cheek to his warm chest closing your eyes, then smile and think to yourself, so much for him spending the night in the room next door!  Just lying here is so perfect, right here, right now. 

Just as you were about to drift off to sleep again you feel a hand upon the top your head, then slowly and carefully run down the back of your head to the middle your back and start again at the top of you head.  The motion is very relaxing and soothing, but at the same time his gesture and touch make a tingling sensation up and down your spine. 

A little while later he stops.  You kind of do not like that, you want him to continue, but since he does stop you take the opportunity to get up, you were sure that he is getting tired of having you lay on him!  You pretend to stir, then lift your head and look at him.

Wow!  Those eyes are always going to surprise you!  They are rich, brown, and almost velvety.  It almost seems they are like a warm blanket that can come out and encircle you to protect and keep you safe when you need it.  You smile, and he smiles back, “welcome back sleeping beauty,” he tells you still smiling down at you.

“Thanks,” you say back with an equally big smile on your face.  Then you all of a sudden realize you are still lying on him so you quickly roll off and rise to your feet.  He gives you a quizzical look, but then gets to his feet as well.  Looking at a clock you realize it is still the middle of the night and tell him, “well…I guess have a good rest of the night.”  You try to be indiscreet telling him to go to his room, to avoid more uncomfortable feelings between him and you.  You do not want this to end up like it was after you kissed him before.  You need him as a friend now the most.

“Will you at least come with me to my room?” he asks.  When get a partially horrified look on your face, and he laughs, “no, no!  Just so you know where it is incase you need something!”

“Oh!  Sorry!  I thought…I don't know.”

“I know, it is okay, I know this is kind of weird, and I do not want us to get weird again.  So, we will go to my room and then I will stay there while you come back here, that is all,” he says to you, and holds out his hand for you to take.  You smile, take his hand, and let him lead you out of your room.  You go out into the hallway, turn left, and then the very next door he opens and goes in.

This one is wonderful as well, so very unique!  All the walls are plain white, but the carpet, window and door boarders are black.  The bed, dresser, nightstand, and table are dark mahogany just like your furniture, but in a line pattern.  The couch, curtains, and bedspread are black and white stripped.  It is so different and original, but looks so interesting!

He walks in, lets go of your hand, and says, “well, you know where I am now so…?” 

“Good night Elliott, I will see you tomorrow morning.”  You want to stay so badly, to sleep with his chest as your pillow again, but just know that would not be the best thing to do right now.

“Yeah, it is probably best if you go, your parents would get scared again if they do not find you in your room tomorrow morning.”

“True, sweet dreams Elliott,” you get on your tiptoes and kiss his cheek.

He smiles, “goodnight Jade,” and kisses your hand.  You then shyly walk out of his room as he watches you.  As you walk back to your room, you just keep smiling, and cannot seem to stop!  He is just such a wonderful gentleman, such a good guy, plus, you admit to yourself, a great kisser! 

Well, you cannot sleep after that so you decide to explore a little more.  Your desk is the one place you have not looked through, so you go to finish looking at that.  First you look at the top front drawer, which you looked through before, and just has the normal desk products.  Then you move to the right side.  The top drawer contains files and folders full of family history and information, you will have to make sure to look through those later.  The right bottom drawer is empty, so you move to the left side.  That bottom one has nothing as well, but the other one contains a photo album and pictures in frames.  One picture is of you and your parents.  You take it out, smiling, and place it in a corner or your desk.  The next is of you and three other girls.  They must be some of your friends, hopefully you will still get along with them!  You place that out as well.

You glance down at the next one and just stare at it in shock!  It is a picture of you and Elliott, but it seems you are more involved than just friends!  You have your arm around Elliott's waist and he has his around yours while you are staring into each other's eyes…almost lovingly!  You just shake your head…could you two have been dating?  No!  You put that picture aside, not wanting to think about that right now, and turn to the photo albums.  The very first one you open has pictures of you and Elliott all over it.  You start talking to yourself, “oh no!  How can this be?”  It is obvious from the pictures that you were dating Elliott, there are pictures of you kissing, holding hands, and more.  Wow, you think, how horrible it must be for him now!  To know what he had with you, and then have to pretend it was not there since you do not remember.  However, you think, that can explain the deep and emotional feelings you have for him from the beginning that cannot be explained.  Those are not mental feelings and emotions, having nothing to do with not having a memory, just your deep, personal feelings for him from somewhere inside of you. 

Suddenly, you know what do to.  You put the album back into the drawer leaving the three pictures out on the desk, shut that drawer, and open the middle one.  Taking a piece of paper and a pen out of it you write a short note and leave it on the desk.  Then, you get up, walk out of your room, and go down the hall to Elliott's room.  At the door you stop for a second with your hand inches from the doorknob, not sure if this is the right thing to do now.  After thinking for a few seconds you very quietly open the door, walk in, and shut it as softly as you can.  Turning you see he is lying in bed on his back, seemingly asleep.  You notice he has removed his shirt and boots, which are at the foot of the bed.  You creep over to his bed, remove your robe, and slide in between the sheets with him.  He then opens his eyes and looks over at you.  “What are you doing?”

“I felt like doing this,” you reply, then say, “I know we were a couple before.”

He closes his eyes, almost in sadness or defeat, “I am sorry I did not tell you before, your father wants to let you find out for yourself.”

“I understand, but I still want this.”

“You are okay not remembering our relationship or other things from before?”  He asks, genuinely concerned.

“Yes, I remember the most important parts, my feelings deep inside me.  I may not remember exact things, but I know what I feel for you, and I know that it is true and authentic,” you whisper moving closer to him and running your hand across his rippled stomach so your arm is draped across his middle.

He immediately looks so relived and happy he cradles you in his arms and gives you a big hug.  You start laughing, but then stop as he lays you down on your back and hunkers over you, brining his head down.  It is a long and passionate kiss that leaves you tingling afterwards.  This time he ends it on top of you with his arms on either side of your face to brace himself off of you.  “It pains me to say this, but we should probably get some sleep, I am sure you are exhausted from the trip yesterday and today, and with everything going on.  Plus tomorrow is not going be much easier probably.”

“You're right,” you say unhappily.  He then rolls off of you but embraces you in his arms letting you put your head on his chest again as a warm and silky pillow.  You sigh, completely content and at ease-you know that whatever the rest of the day will bring in the morning, you can get through it with him by your side.

You are somewhere where you are very familiar with huge steel buildings rising all up around you reaching high into the sky with the sun reflecting off of the very topmost widows.  You are walking on concrete that comes right next to the buildings, and right on the other side of the concrete are cars, trucks, and buses racing alone without much of a glance at all the human bodies inches away from them.  It is a madhouse with all the yelling, beeping, and roaring noises from the humans and vehicles alike.  And yet, it is normal to you, it is nothing new, you see it everyday.  As you are walking you notice a little child, probably not more than three years old, all alone, without a parent or anyone watching him.  To your horror, you see him start trying to cross the street, “no!” you scream and race towards the little child to get him out of the way of the bus coming toward him.  You run and run and start screaming, “Stop!  Stop!” to the driver.  While you scream you hear your name,

“Jade!  Jade!  Wake up honey!”

         “What?”  You groggily say as you open your eyes.  You are not in the place with all the vehicles and buildings, you are in the black and white room with Elliott leaning over you, worry and fright in his eyes.  “What?  I…I do not know what is going on.”

         “I think you were having a dream, a bad one at that.  You were yelling 'No!' and then 'Stop!' and I did not know if I could wake you up!  It scared me.”

         “I am sorry, I was having this bad dream.  I was in this place with lots of huge buildings and concrete and vehicles.  And it was like…that is where I live, it seemed I was used to it there that was home to me.  Then this little child started walking across the street with all the vehicles, and I was scared for him, so I started running, yelling stop to the people driving the vehicles so they would not hit and hurt the little child.  That is when I woke up.  It was terrible!  But…at the same time…familiar to me, like it had happened before, or I have dreamed it before.  I do not know!  It almost feels like I am being driven apart into two different directions, and both I do not clearly remember!”

         The whole time Elliott had been quietly looking at you and listening.  After you are done he just says, “I think we should get up and get ready for the day, the sun is already up.  Your dream may be an indication of something…something I do not really know about and I do not have the ability to figure that out, but I think Rambiar the Wizard can.”

         “Isn't he the wizard my father was talking about last night?”

“That is the one.  I think your subconscious is telling you to dig into that.  I want to take you to him right away, if that's okay with you.”

         “Okay, yes, I want to do that!  Let me just change,” you start to get out of bed and walk to the door with your robe in your hand, then stop and turn around and say almost embarrassed, “do you think you could help me pick something out to wear?  I have no idea what is a regular thing I would wear.”

         “Sure,” he tells you almost laughing, “why don't you get over there and I will be right over after I get dressed.”

         “Great!” you say as you give him a huge grin and continue to the door.  Getting back to your room you see your note on the desk, apparently you will not be needing that so you discarded it and go on to your huge closet.  Inside, you are at a loss with the rows of clothes in all sorts of colors and material.  Everything from pants to socks to shoes to shirts to long dresses to short dresses is there.  You have no idea what is acceptable for a normal day in the life of a Princess!  You keep walking up and down the rows of clothes brushing your hand over the rich materials and looking at each piece.  Then you glance up and see Elliott leaning again the doorframe, his arms crossed.  For a second your breath catches in your throat as you run your eyes over his lean, hard body, and think, he wants you!  You just cannot seem to believe that, he is like a perfect fallen angel-totally flawless from his cheekbones, hair, eyes, nose, lips and body-with a mischievous side.  You could stare at him for the whole day and not find any imperfection. 

         “So, you want to know what to wear?” he says slyly giving you an impish grin, “well…I know what I would prefer, but I doubt your parents would approve.”

         “Elliott!  Wow, this is sure a different side of you!” You reply almost blushing.

         “Yeah, I'm sorry,” he says, his whole body language changing quickly, “I should stop this, you do not remember anything before, and I have to remember that.  We should start up slowly again, just stop me if you feel uncomfortable ever!”  He walks over to you and takes both of your hands in his staring deeply and caringly into your eyes, “I do not want you to feel upset ever, I care so much about you, I love you Jade.”

         At first you are stunned silent, then you quickly recover, “No, I like that side of you!  But, Elliott!  I had no idea you care so much!  I just wish I could remember you telling me that before, and all the feelings and thoughts I had of you before.  I am very sorry,” you say as you put your head down at the last statement.

         “Jade,” he says softly lifting your head up with his hand on your chin, “I never told you that before.”  You are so moved and fill with an incredible feeling of wonder and amazement.  You move into him, and wrap your arms around him, needing and wanting him to hold you right then.  He does just that, holds you as you need, almost like he could read your mind.  Staying in his arms for awhile you feel content and a sense of belonging.  For this brief time you feel whole again, and your loss of memory does not matter, it is not important.  What is important is your feelings for him and his feelings for you.

         Pulling away but still keeping your arms around him you look up into his face, “Elliott, I wish more than anything that I could say those wonderful words back to you, but I just do not think that I can right now, not yet.”

         “I know,” he tells you back, “I understand.”  Then he leans his head down and gives you a quick kiss, a wash of warmth and loving feelings all over again.

         “I cannot believe this,” you say looking up at him with a huge grin on your face, “I cannot believe you, with me!”

         “Well believe it!  Now,” he says grabbing one hand and dragging you through the closet, “to find you an outfit.”

         Five minutes later he had a pair of tan pants, a blue airy shirt in thin material, and black boots.  He hands them all to you, steps back to his position in the doorway and assumes his relaxed position. 

“Umm…yeah…what are you doing?” You say to him.

         “Waiting for you to change,” he says, like it is normal.

         “You are going to watch me change?  Isn't that kind of weird for you?”

         “No.”

         “Oh, well…it is kind of strange for me…I do not want to sound rude, but can you let me change in private maybe?”

         He stands up straight, “oh, I am sorry!  Just come out when you are done.” 

         As you changes you feel really bad, he had looked a little hurt and you really do not want to make him feel bad at all!  Things are just going to have to be a little confusing and tense for a bit.  It really is bad, but that is just how it is going to be.  Walking out you see him sitting on your couch staring off into space.  “Thanks again, I am really sorry about that.”

         “No, I am sorry, I told you to tell me if you were uncomfortable.”

         “Well, I really appreciate it.  Hopefully things will get back to normal soon.”

         “Things will never be as they were, but hopefully you will become more comfortable with everyone after you remember things before, your new experience will never be forgotten, but it will all be fine in the end,” Elliott tells you as he gets up and walks towards you.  He then smiles, looking at you, “You look beautiful by the way, just like the Princess you are.”

         “Thank you,” you say looking down and smiling.  All these wonderful things he says are so great!  You do not think you will ever get used to them.

“Well, ready for breakfast, my highness?” He offers his arm to you mockingly.  You take it and reply in the same tone,

         “Why thank you good sir,” then you laugh.  He laughs as well and leads you out of your room.

         Breakfast was a whole ordeal in its own.  You did fine, but felt kind of weird with the extremely long table.  The room in itself is a complete work of art.  Just like when you think of medieval times, this room has a grand chandelier hanging from the ceiling above the long gleaming table.  There has to be at least twenty chairs total sitting around the magnificent table.  The room is bright, in contrast to the dark furniture and carpet.  Walls are a cream color, with the curtains open on the windows along one side of the long side of the table.  It is very beautiful, and you think that you can get used to eating here in all this style. 

         For this breakfast it is just you and Elliott, you find that your parents usually eat their morning meals in their own bedrooms.  Since it is only you two you eat right across from each other so you can talk while eating.  You find yourself able to talk to him so easily!  It gets you thinking that maybe you two are meant for each other.  But no, you think to yourself, you should not be thinking about those sorts of things right now.  You should concentrate all of your energies to getting used to things around here and trying to get your memory back.  Then you can go to other matters, like matters of the heart-primarily your serious relationship with Elliott.

         After you both are done eating a very good breakfast, Elliott asks you, “Well…are you ready to go?”

         “No time like the present,” you reply getting up and meeting him at one end of the table.  “Do we just leave our plates here?”

         “Yeah,” he continues, “this way, we will leave the back of the house, it is closer to Rambiar's cottage.”  Once again you are lead throughout the house in patterns you cannot remember, until you pass out a set of double doors and find yourself blinking against the bright sunlight of the new day.  It is another day, you realize, and just two days ago you were watching Elliott being chased by barbaric men though some woods, enemy territory, and had no idea how you got there or who you or anyone else was.  It is very strange to think about. 

         Following Elliott down the stairs you catch up to him and impulsively grasp his hand with yours.  He looks down at you and smiles in response.  You smile back, feeling very good about this whole day.  The two of you walk back into the wooded area right behind the huge castle and follow a heavily worn trail.  It is a nice day for walking-through the tops of the trees you can see the blue sky and the sun showering the land with warmth and light. 

         Finally, a cottage in a small clearing appears in front of you right off of the path.  It is very simple in style and not very big at all, especially compared to the castle.  Elliott leads you to it and knocks on the door.  From the inside comes a harsh and rusty sounding voice, “Who is it!  What do you want?”

         “Hello sir, it is Elliott.  I am here with the Princess and we are in need of your service!”  A few seconds pass and then the door opens up and an old man walks out.  He looks to be about 70 in age, but it is hard to tell because the startling blue eyes seem so much younger.  His white hair is long, a little past his shoulders.  His face is wrinkled and sagging, but still he manages to look very dignified and in control.  An ankle length gray robe is his attire with a belt around his small frame.  He first studies Elliott with his sharp eyes, then turns to you.  You want to look away, but cannot manage to do so.  It seems he looks right through you into your heart and sole.  Finally he looks back to Elliott for a second, then back at you, but this time a huge smile is on his face, changing his entire appearance from that of a mean man to a loving grandfather. 

         “Princess Jade?  How I missed you!”  He comes forward and gives you a big hug.  Then he steps back and looks intently at you again for a second, “but wait.  Something just does not seem right about you…like something is almost missing.  What is wrong?”

         You just freeze, not knowing what to say.  Thankfully Elliott interrupts, “well Rambiar…that is what we came her for actually.  May we come in?”

         “Of course, of course!”  Then stepping aside he ushers both of you into his small cottage.  “I will do anything that I can for my Princess.”