Amelia Returns To The Castle - Chapter Forty Seven

Amelia's older sister, Sara, noticed Amelia was shutting herself up in her room. It had been months, and she knew something needed to be done. So she decided to come to cheer her up."OK, you need to pull yourself together. I know your heart is broken, and it seems like life can't get any worse, but it will get better. We all have been through this before. You're still young, and you will find a man to love you for who you are." Sara told Amelia.

"I know, but I can't go anywhere or do anything. No one even knows about me. I'm not allowed to leave here or even go to the market. I just wanted to be with James; I would have been so happy with that. He liked me for who I was, but now I must forget everything about him. He married Julia." Amelia told her bigger sister.

"I want to do your hair and make you a special dress," Sara told her. She began by letting her hair down so her loose curls could hang down by her face. Then she had Amelia put on a pretty blue dress. "Oh, you're so pretty with your hair down. You need to do it more often. You will have all the guys at court wanting to marry you." she told her little sis with confidence.  

"Thank you. I don't know how I would have survived this without you. You are the best sister any girl could ever have." Amelia replied as she gave her a big hug.

Now feeling better, Amelia wanted to get a bit of sunlight before heading to bed. She knew she couldn't stay out long before light skin would burn. She lay on the ground, staring into the pond, watching the fish swim. 

After sleeping the day away, Amelia jumped on her horse to ride around the field. This was one of her favorite things to do. "Come on, let's go," she told her horse, nudging him forward.

Months started to go by, and Amelia stopped crying herself to sleep every night. Life was pretty simple, and Amelia loved it. She would play with her older sisters, sometimes having pillow fights. It never failed; her sister could always manage to get her good.

Amelia broke out in laughter after she had been defeated by her sister. "Ok, you win this time!" Amelia called out. She couldn't take another blow.

The sun was still out and bright, so she sat by the fire to watch the flames dance.

She sat there almost in a trance and, for one brief moment, thought of James. "We used to sit by the fire and tell stories to each other," she thought to herself.

She stood up and shook it off. "I can't think like this. I have to get over it. He was now married to Julia. I'll probably never see him again. I'm sure he has forgotten about me with his new life." she thought.

There was a knock at the cottage door. It was the wizard, and he needed to talk to Kara. She knew it wasn't good to ever see the wizard. Her heart sank when she walked over to meet him, fearing the worst. "I have been summoned to bring Amelia back to the castle," he told Kara. "Why?" she asked, immediately alarmed. "I can't tell you. I have my orders," he explained."What if she doesn't want to go back to the castle? Kara said. "You don't have a choice when it comes to the queen. She did raise her, I'm sure it's nothing to be concerned about," He told her.

Her father turned to Amelia. " The wizard has come for you. The queen is requesting you to return to the castle," her dad told her. Amelia thought for one moment that James wanted her back. Her heart began to race.

However, her father's face told a different story. He broke down into tears. "I'm sorry I have failed you as a father. I'm supposed to protect you," he told Amelia as he sobbed. This brought tears to Amelia's eyes. You are the best father any girl could ever have," she told him.

Amelia sank down, realizing she didn't want to leave. She really enjoyed being around her family more than the castle. "I don't want to leave. I want to stay. Do I have no say in this?" she asked. "I'm afraid not, sweetheart. You have to go," he told her sadly.

This made Sara angry."You have no right to take her! She belongs with her family. You and the whole royal family have tortured her enough!" she shouted at the wizard.

"Do you want to defy her majesty? She will kill anyone that stands in her way. Do you want your family to die!" he shouted back at Sara. "Run! Amelia, get out of here!" she yelled at Amelia.

Amelia darted out the door and across the field.

The wizard darted around the corner fast after Amelia. He knew he couldn't return to the castle without her.

She was already on her horse and almost out of his sight. "Stop! I demand you to stop! If you don't, the queen will kill your entire family!" he shouted loud enough so Amelia could hear his threats.

Amelia stopped in fear of what they may do to her family. She unmounted her horse and walked over to the wizard. "Why is it you can't leave me alone!? I just want to live in peace!" she asked the wizard.

"I do not have to explain myself to you. I was told to bring you to the castle, and that's what I'm going to do. Go pack your things and meet me at the carriage," he told her.

She walked into the cottage to say goodbye to her family. First, she found her father. She hugged him tightly. "I'll be alright; this is my fate. I'm a big girl now," she told him. "I will not stop till I free you from them," he said as he hugged her tighter. "Take care of mother and my sisters. I will be ok. I grew up in the castle, and James is there, she replied. 

Then, her mother ran over to her. "I love you. Maybe one day we will be together again like before," she told Amelia and then hugged her. "We will look for the day of your return. If you need us, just send us a message," her mother told her. "I will, she replied as she hugged her one more time. 

As Amelia gathered some of her things, Kara and Mark feared the worst. "I bet it has something to do with that baby of Julia's. I fear our daughter's life is at stake once again," Kara told Mark. I hope not. Hopefully, it is out of kindness that the queen wants her back. She did raise her like her own," he said. 

Amelia climbed into the cart with the wizard and prepared to leave. Her whole family gathered outside to see her off. They didn't know if this would be the last time they would see their daughter.