The forest floor was covered in mottled shadows as the afternoon sun seeped through the tree canopy that surrounded Eirian Vale. Isolde and Alaric sprinted ahead, squealing as they swerved between mossy stones and tall trees. Ana followed them, walking more slowly as the events of the last few days weighed on her thoughts. Lila's entrance and Dorian's sudden appearance had upended her meticulously planned world.
"Come on, Mama!" When he arrived at the edge of a clearing, Alaric called, his face beaming with anticipation.
With a little smile, Ana accelerated her speed to keep up with the twins. They frequently went to the clearing, a peaceful area with a little pond, wildflowers, and a stone bench that had been there for generations and was carved with elaborate designs. But things felt different today.
"What is this?" Crouching beside the bench and raking the dirt and leaves that had accumulated on its surface, Isolde posed the question. A number of carved figurines with worn but recognizable outlines appeared beneath the dirt.
With wide, inquisitive eyes, Alaric said, "It looks like a story."
Ana was kneeling next to them, running her fingertips over the old engravings. A woman, a guy, and a second figure standing between them presented a story. Even though time had passed, the looks on their faces—sadness, betrayal, and fear—were eerily real.
They were shocked to hear a voice say, "It's a legend."
Ana snapped around to find the town baker, Mrs. Tilling, waiting at the edge of the clearing. Her face was pleasant yet apprehensive as she carried a basket of plants.
Mrs. Tilling added, "I didn't mean to frighten you," as she moved in closer. She kept looking at the bench. That's Elira, Corwin, and Maren's story. A legend that predates the community itself.
"Whatever became of them?" Isolde's blue eyes widened as she asked.
After a moment of hesitation, Mrs. Tilling sat down on the bench with her hands folded in her lap. She said softly, "Elira and Corwin were deeply in love." However, because of his position of authority, Corwin was targeted by others who wanted to exert control over him. One such individual was Maren, a crafty woman who wanted to capture Corwin's affection and power for herself. She created a rift between Elira and Corwin by fabricating stories and manipulating circumstances.
As the narrative progressed, Ana felt uneasy since she couldn't help but see the similarities to her own life.
"Whatever became of Elira?" Alaric inquired, eagerly bending forward.
"She ran away," Mrs. Tilling replied, her face solemn. She was devastated when she left the town because she thought Corwin had picked Maren over her. However, she was unaware that she was carrying Corwin's kid.
Ana's fingers clenched into fists as her breath caught.
"What about Corwin?" Isolde inquired.
Mrs. Tilling went on to say, "He discovered his error too late." Elira had left by the time he realized Maren was lying. In an effort to put things right, Corwin looked for her. However, Maren refused to let him leave. By linking his spirit to the town, she cursed him, preventing him from ever leaving and condemning him to a life of wandering in pursuit of Elira.
"That's really sad," Isolde said, holding Ana's hand tightly.
With her eyes turning to Ana, Mrs. Tilling remarked, "It's more than a story." According to others, the curse is still present. Because people who allow deception and treachery to ruin their relationship are destined to make the same mistakes Elira and Corwin did.
As Mrs. Tilling's words took hold, Ana's heart raced. The parallels between her life and the folklore were too strong to ignore.
---
Later that night, Ana sat by the fire and gazed into the flames as the twins slept upstairs. She struggled to suppress memories, but the narrative of Elira and Corwin kept coming back to her.
Her reverie was interrupted by a knock at the door, and she got up, her heart pounding. Even before she answered the door, she knew who it would be.
Dorian stood on the doorway with a determined yet vulnerable look on his face.
His voice was low as he said, "We need to talk."
Ana paused and gripped the door more tightly. "Dorian, it's late. The twins are sleeping.
Before she could object, he remarked, "This can't wait," and went inside.
With a groan, she shut the door and turned to him, crossing her arms. "What is it?"
His eyes were fierce as he replied, "I heard about the story." "Corwin and Elira."
Ana gasped. "How about it?"
"Isn't it a bit... familiar?" He inquired.
She squinted. "You mean the part where the man is too blind to see the truth and betrays the lady he loves? Yes, it does feel a lot like home.
Her remarks made Dorian wince, but he didn't back down. "Ana, I made errors. I allowed falsehoods to separate us. However, I refuse to allow history to repeat itself.
"You believe it's that easy?" With a quivering voice, she snapped. "You think you can just show up and use some nice words to make everything right?"
"No," he said in a quiet voice. "I don't. However, I cannot watch while we continue to break apart. Not when a chance to put things right still exists.
Ana looked aside, her feelings uncontrollably raging. "Dorian, you don't get it. You have no idea what it was like to abandon everything. To construct a life out of nothing. to defend two kids by yourself.
He moved closer and whispered, "I want to understand." "I'm curious about everything. But until you allow me in, I can't do that.
She pushed back tears, and her shoulders trembled. She said, "I can't go through this again."
His voice was firm as he continued, "You won't have to." "I won't be leaving, Ana. I will show you that I am here for the right reasons, no matter how long it takes.
Ana's eyes were burning with grief and rage as she turned to confront him. "Dorian, what if it's already too late? What happens if I decide not to allow you back in?
His jaw tensed as he gazed at her. "I'll then work for the rest of my life to make up for what I lost." Because now all that matters to me is you and the twins.
A huge smash came from above before And could react, and then Alaric's terrified scream could be heard.
"Mom!"
Ana's heart pounding, she ran up the stairs with Dorian at her heels. Alaric and Isolde were huddled together by the window, their faces pallid, as she arrived at the twins' chamber.
She gathered them in her arms and questioned, "What happened?"
Alaric trembled as he said, "There was a shadow." "Beyond the window. It was observing us.
Dorian walked to the window and looked down at the dark yard. He remarked, with a somber air, "No one is there."
Ana muttered, "We're safe," and her arms became tighter around the twins. I swear.
However, a shiver went down her spine even as she spoke the words. Now, the fable of Elira and Corwin seemed more than a tale; it was a cautionary tale. Additionally, Ana couldn't get rid of the notion that their history was haunting them in ways she didn't fully comprehend.
Dorian's eyes locked with Ana's as he shut the drapes and faced the room again.
"We'll work this out," he muttered.
Ana gave a nod, but her uncertainty persisted. Because no matter how hard you tried, you couldn't flee certain shadows.