A Blessing Within a Curse

The horses of the royal guard pounded intensely at the forest floor. The wind howled in the knights’ ears. Everybody was blinded by the blackness of the night, along with their own fear. Nobody dared look behind them, afraid that they would suddenly be face to face with the aggravated witch who was in hot pursuit of everyone. All they were focused on was getting the queen, king, and their unborn child back to the castle safely.

“Close the gates!” The king bellowed before he even reached the safety of the gates himself.

Everyone made it inside just as the gates creaked and slammed shut. Nobody bothered to get off their horses just yet, as they were all paralyzed with fear. The witch’s toothy snarl shown in the now visible moonlight, just outside the gate. She banged her pale hand against the iron gate doors in frustrated defeat. Raising a pointed finger at the royals and their guards, she gave them a vengeful smile.

“I’ve called upon all the gods of the earth. Let it be known that a curse has been brought upon your child. No girl shall ever be able to resist him. Hordes of women will flock to him from all over the kingdom and beyond. Only when he is accepted will the curse be broken. Let this be known…”

Suddenly, the witch waved her cape, which encompassed her whole being, and she was gone without a trace. Silence fell upon the castle. Nobody could believe what they heard nor did they understand it. If anything, this was no curse to the king and queen, but a blessing.

***

17 years have passed since the curse was placed on Prince Asher. He was born a healthy baby just moments after the curse was cast. Soon, he would be 18-years-old, the exact age required to inherit the kingdom. But, in order for him to take his rightful place as king, he would need to find a princess from a neighboring kingdom to marry. The witch’s curse held true, and as soon as the prince stepped outside the castle walls, girls went after him like starving wolves once they gazed upon his youthful face. To any other person, Asher looked like a typical 17-year-old, but to any teenage girl, he was the sun, the moon, and the stars all wrapped into one. In reality, Asher resented what others called a blessing in disguise, no matter how proud it made his parents.

It was about midafternoon when Asher finished a day of talking with more possible suitors. He must have met with over 50 young women just this morning, not including the many who had flocked to the castle gates screaming out the prince’s name. Asher was absolutely exhausted after the day, yet still found time to brood over his situation and stare out into the gorgeous royal garden from his bedroom window. It was not the garden Asher admired, but the person working in it.

Asher and the head gardener’s son, Luka, kept very tight lipped about their secret love affair. Ever since Luka’s father brought him to the castle, Asher was absolutely enchanted by him, but didn’t quite understand why. He woke up every morning just to look out his window and watch Luka do simple chores. Luka was anything but extraordinary, but in Asher’s mind, he was truly fascinating, to say the least.

Asher was only 14 when he first met the young gardener. He was awoken one night by bright twinkling lights coming from the garden down below. He decided to venture out and see what all the commotion was about. To his surprise, there were dozens of fairy lights strung along the many weeping willows that surrounded the garden. Not one inch of the garden was not illuminated by the striking lights. Asher found himself holding his breath as he observed the scenery before him, hoping time would stop with his breathing. All at once, Luka came climbing down a ladder leaning against one of the trees. He peered around from behind it with a bashful look upon his face. Asher should have known it was Luka’s work.

“So, you’re probably wondering what all of this is.”

Asher raised a brow hinting at his curiosity, but he remained silent and listened intently as Luka continued his speech.

“Sometimes I’ll see you late in the afternoons, staring out from your window. You always seem so sad when you watch the sun go down, so I thought this would help keep your nights just as bright as your days. I really hope you like it,” Luka finished, as a blush crept up on both of their cheeks.

To this day, that is still the kindest thing anyone has ever done for the young prince. It was in that moment that Asher knew Luka would be the person he was going to share his kingdom with. Small crushes that developed between the two boys blossomed into the clandestine relationship that they both knew today. Their relationship was something out of a teen romance movie, involving sneaking out after dark and having late night picnics under the fairy lights, but enough was enough. Asher decided that tonight would be the last time either love bird had to keep their secret. He had to reveal the dreaded question to Luka that was weighing him down before the couple’s nightly rendezvous could end.

“Hey, Luka, um…what would you say about announcing our relationship to my parents?”

Right as those words came out of Asher’s mouth, Luka’s mood went from blissful to absolutely terrified.

“Now don’t get too flustered yet,” Asher said calmly, taking Luka’s hands into his own. “I have everything mapped out. There’s going to be a small dinner with my family and royal staff tomorrow night where I will announce who I am choosing as my partner. There is a slight chance that when I say your name, my position as king could be revoked and you could lose your job here. But I am prepared to face these consequences if it means I’ll get to spend the rest of my life with you. The question is, are you?”

There was only silence for what seemed like an eternity until Luka gave a sure sigh.

“Would you save me a seat next to you then?”

Both boys let out a relieved laugh as they reassuringly pressed their foreheads against one another, bracing for the unknown that awaited them in just a few hours.

The night of the dinner finally arrived, and so far, things were peaceful. The time eventually came that Asher and Luka were dreading. The young prince stood up, cleared his throat, and began his announcement.

“So, here’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for, I guess,” Asher laughed nervously as everyone around him sat with eager smiles upon their face.

“Well, let’s hope you’re all still just as excited when I say that I have chosen Luka to rule the kingdom with me. I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather have by my side.”

With that, Asher took Luka by the hand, making him stand to be displayed for everybody to see. Just as the couple had expected, the room was dead silent. Glasses that were previously being raised fell to the ground. Asher’s parents could do nothing except sit with their eyes wide and mouths agape. The only thing Asher and Luka could think to do was leave the dining hall with dignity, hand in hand, and say nothing, leaving the entire castle stunned.