Enchanted

Chapter 5 - Imprisoned

CHAPTER 5 - IMPRISONED

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Avery was still in shock of the things of the previous day. She still couldn't believe that someone in her village wanted her dead. Avery kept running through her mind all of the things that she could've done to hurt someone and make them have a grudge against her but she couldn't think of any.

As soon as the two young ladies arrived at the castle, the gates were locked and Avery was immediately taken to her bedroom with Olivia The entire castle went into emergency mode, tracking the perpetrator as well as doing checks on every single on of the castle staff.

Avery was still in shock and Olivia did everything she could to bring the princess out of her phase. Eventually, Avery came back to reality but refused to recall the tragic events of the previous day. Now her parents wanted a word with her and Avery knew she had to go to them. She got up and got dressed into her rose coloured gown and put on some jewellery made out of pearls. This time Avery wore her tiara, the one with pearls, as despite everything going on and her surroundings, Avery didn't feel like a princess. After one final look in the mirror, Avery headed down the grand staircase to the throne room, with a four man escort, where her parents were waiting for her. There were guards everywhere on her journey to the room, and this scared Avery even more. Her parents' head servant, Luc, opened the doors for Avery and escorted her in, ordered the guards to stand outside the door. She was directed to stand right in front of her parents. Avery looked up and saw Olivia and Henrietta standing on either side of the King and Queen. The queen said something to Olivia and she walked towards her best friend for support. Avery smiled at Olivia and then she looked back at her parents. They were wearing there crowns gracefully on their heads. This meant that they had a public appearance with the villagers. King Anton sighed.

"Avery, a lot has happened and a lot of it is not good," The King started before looking at his wife and letting out another sigh. Avery could tell that what was coming was not going to please her.

"So we have good news and bad news," Queen Arielle said as she continued her husband's sentence.

This calmed Avery down slightly knowing that the good news meant that the killer had been found.

"The good news is that the young man that saved your life, wasn't dead and survived the arrow, but he is however very ill so we are monitoring his progress and keeping you informed because as soon as he recovers you have to thank him for his good deed and repay him in anyway you like," the King said with a smile.

Avery nodded to this news but it was not what she wanted to hear, causing her heart to race at what the bad news might be.

"The bad news, dear, is that we found the murderer and he's safely in dungeon. But the guards who have been torturing him so that he'd talk have discovered that there are more people, Avery. More people are coming and they want you dead. They are part of some sort of cult that believes you are a witch and that you have no right to the throne, so they are attempting to murder you," Queen Arielle said. Avery felt a knot in her stomach and she felt like she was going to throw up. The queen saw the frustration in her daughter and got up without even thinking. She paced quickly towards her daughter and took her in her arms and stroked her hair as Avery just cried. She couldn't help it. Someone in her village believed she was a witch and they wanted her dead. The King came over to his daughter and comforted her. When Avery finally stopped crying, she looked up to her parents in blood-shot eyes,

"So, what happens now?" Avery sobbed. The king and queen looked at each other with guilt.

"Sweetheart, you're our only heir to the throne and we must protect you so we are taking no chances or risks," Queen Arielle said while hugging and rocking her daughter like she was a little girl.

"The castle guards are always monitoring the walls and gates. No-one can get in or out without permission from me or Luc first. Villagers are not allowed in unless it is an emergency and even then they are stripped of their belongings that are kept with the guards. Olivia and Henrietta are not allowed out of the castle without at least two or more guards and a trust-worthy companion who me or your mother will approve of. And you, my little girl, you are our daughter but right now, you are the princess and we must keep you safe. You are not permitted to leave the castle grounds unless we say so. You must be in your room when the sun-sets and not leave until the sun has completely risen. Henrietta will come and get you. If you need anything while you are in your room, you must tell either Henrietta or Olivia and they will get it for you. No-one is allowed in the hall-ways by your room, ever, without permission and even then they will be checked for any harmful weapons" The King said as he paced the throne. As he mentioned people's names he looked at them and waited for their approval with a nod before continuing with rest of the rules and regulations.

Avery was panicking. The one day she was allowed out of the castle without any parents or a monstrous amount of guards, she almost gets killed and then she isn't allowed out ever again! Avery moved away from her mother and her mother knew why.

"Dear, we are doing this for your protection. You cannot leave because if anything ever happened to you, we would never forgive ourselves!" Queen Arielle said calmly as her daughter moved away from her embrace.

"So basically, you two are keeping me here like prisoner?" Avery said with anger. She felt more tears coming to her eyes.

Her father looked frustrated and responded, "It's for your own safety. As soon as we find this cult and stop them completely, you'll get your freedom back, but, like I said before, as well as our daughter, you are a princess and the only heir to the throne of Carcasssone, so please understand our situation and why we are doing this."

Avery backed away even more, though her parents were walking towards her.

"Understand? Understand what? How I'm a supposed witch and you're keeping me here as a prisoner instead of doing your witch trials. You know, mother and father, I'd rather go through all that and die then be stuck here like a prisoner," Avery said so angrily that she stormed off to her room. She pushed the throne room doors wide open, surprising the guards, who looked confused and as Avery marched up to her room, she was followed by the guards that brought her down.

"Stop! Don't any of you dare follow me!" Avery cried, turning her head at them, glaring at each one, that were still standing at the bottom of the stairs. They nodded, slowly and stood guard at the bottom of the stairs instead. The cried of Olivia and the Queen could be heard, but Avery shook her head, picking up her skirts and running up the remainder of the stairs. Arriving at her room, Avery locked the door and pushed a cabinet infron of it, before running a hand through her hair and screaming out loud, in anger, and crying.

Avery couldn't think straight. Somebody wanted her dead and she was imprisoned in the castle which was just like being in the dungeon. How can this be happening to her? Avery was crying so much her head started to hurt. She crawled over to her bed but then noticed the Enchanted box, shining unusually bright under her bed. She pulled it out and looked at it, frowning. Why was it shining, so blindingly bright? Was it giving her a message, and if so, what was it saying?

Avery's eyes then opened wide. Was everything that happened a few days ago when she became a mermaid real? And if it was, it meant that everything that had happened that night when she first went to Enchanted, was real, meaning also, that the Queen was expecting Avery to find the Queen's sister in her own world.

At first Avery didn't believe it, but now that she did, she wasn't allowed out of the castle, meaning her quest had ended before it had even started.

She would have to tell the Queen of Enchanted her dilemma, and she would have to tell her soon, so that the Queen could assign someone else to do the search.

Avery sighed and slowly opened the Enchanted box, and a bright white light shone out of it, blinding and engulfing her until she found herself getting smaller...