Elena's P.O.V.
The deeper the monk guided me in the woods, the more I recognized my surroundings and the path to the tree portal.
At least I'm not getting stuck here, I thought with the feeling of relief washing over me. Well, unless the portal decided to stop working, that is.
"I think I should walk from here," I halted and looked at the old man who was about to reveal his protesting words. "The. . . portal thingy, or whatever it is, doesn't really work when there are others near it."
That's at least my theory of why it disappeared a month ago.
His face turned into a puzzled look, but nonetheless, he nodded.
"Ah, I see," his eyes were locked on the path, narrowing as if he was swimming in his mind with waves of questions.
"Thank you for your help, Frans," I snapped his attention back to me. "I'm pretty sure I would've died in that village without anyone guiding me out of it." I half-truly and half-jokingly stated, which he commented on with a brief chuckle. "And also, I was wondering. . . "
"What is on your mind, child?" Francis spoke when seconds of silence passed by, and he patiently waited for me to reformulate my question.
"Well, you see. . . I was wondering if you could, you know, maybe, perhaps teach me a thing or two about. . . playing the piano?" I almost winced at the shrill volume my voice ended at.
For all I know, with just one little lesson with him guiding me, I could be the next Mozart.
The monk smiled warmly. "Of course! It would be my pleasure to teach you, Elena." I had to restrain myself from hugging him when he said that. "But for now, go home and rest, you need that," he pointed at my tired face. "Goodbye, dear, I do hope your next visit to the theater will happen soon in the coming days."
After exchanging our goodbyes, we went our separate ways; he walked back to the village whereas I searched for my phone. There are exactly two reasons why I can't go home without it: one, Hazel would kill me if I don't call her, and two, Hazel would murder me if I don't contact her.
And as you can see, none of those options look any tempting.
A sudden feeling of déjà vu hit me like a punch, interrupting my search and train of thoughts.
I swear, God has an obsession to ruin my life.
It wasn't before a soft and familiar thing brushed against my leg that I actually reacted. "Ah!" I jumped in the air when the ball of fur continued to swirl around my feet, resulting in me stumbling backward and falling on something hard and shaped.
As we all know, walking backward without knowing what lies behind you is the dumbest thing you could ever do. Take it from me.
However, stumbling backward is just as smart as letting Patrick Star do a brain surgery on you - hell, you could just as well throw your brain in the bin.
I gasped in pain when I met the fall's end; the skin on my hands covered in drops of blood. My butt, on the other hand, felt like it had been kicked a thousand times by a hiking shoe.
The sound of rocks colliding and tumbling at each other continued to fill my ears, and only died after a couple of long, painful seconds. It was only when the entire chaos was over that I could actually register what in the Holy Sam Hill had happened.
"Oh, you've got to be kidding me," I mumbled under my breath, happy there wasn't any pan lying around here or else I would have smacked myself until all my teeth had fallen out.
I fell into a pile of rocks.
Yes, you heard me: a pile of rocks.
When I looked back at the ball of fur that put me in this situation, it softly grunted as if it was telling me this was all my fault.
"You," my finger glared at the white rabbit that just stared back at me with a blank look, its nose moving quickly in all directions. "I gave you food, and this is how you repay me?"
It looked at me for a couple of seconds. Then, it hopped away with its small paws like nothing had happened.
"Hey, hold on, I'm not done with-" Just as I tried to get up from the ground, the gravity pulled me down. Confusion thrived when I couldn't move my foot, and it wasn't before I felt the heavy weight on it that I understood what really happened.
"Oh, for Claus' sake!"
My foot was caught between three heavy rocks that were piled on top of each other like a house card, and as a result, it left no room for me to pull my foot out of the small hole that caged my limb. In other words, I was chained.
All of this just because of a damn rabbit.
And people ask me why I find it so hard to stay optimistic.
I dived into several failed attempts to break my foot free, but no matter how many times I tried to push the rock on the top off, no matter how many times I tried to lift it; the stone was just too stubborn to move.
If the universe can hear me now, I want it to know that I want a refund on life. This was not what I wanted.
I changed tactics when my arms had lost the strength to continue, but using my free foot had no effect either. The entire scenario was beginning to get on my nerves now, especially the rock that only stirred with a light touch at the change of strategy.
I wished I was born with three feet. . .
"Come on, stupid rock, work with me here!" Tiredness filled the holes of frustration, which was clear when I began to curse in Spanish and Norwegian.
Is this really how my life is going to be: getting scared by rabbits and ending up in the dumbest situations you only see in movies?
I am basically Mr. Bean number two.
"You need some help there?" An unknown voice that came from nowhere spoke, agitating me for a split second.
What does a girl have to do to get a break?
Turning my head to the source of the warm voice, I found myself glaring at a tall boy with a puzzled look on his face. It was only when he swiped his brown, wavy hair locks out of his face that I could see how his brown-marble orbs were dripping with bewilderment.
Well, I don't really blame him.
"Have you ever heard of knocking?" Was the first thing I said when I found my voice.
The older boy - perhaps a year or two older than me - frowned. "Knocking?" He turned his head around to gesture our surroundings. "How am I supposed to knock in the woods?"
I ignored him for a second to do another, useless attempt to push the rock off. "I will gladly illustrate how to knock on a tree when I'm done knocking your teeth out," I answered loud enough for him to hear me, but low enough to warn him about the dangerous tone laced in my words.
The boy raised an eyebrow, an amused smile twinkling in his warm eyes. "Now, that's not really a polite thing to do - or even say." He leaned against an oak tree, elegantly crossing his buff arms in front of his chest.
I let out air that was stuck between a sigh and a groan. "Just go before I do something you won't like."
He took a tauntingly step forward. "Like what?" His voice was in a challenging, yet, hilarity tone as he looked down at me.
My mind was empty for threats to throw, and therefore, the only thing I could do was to narrow my eyes in a small glare. "I haven't gotten that far with my plan."
The nameless boy filled my ears with his mild laugh that echoed around us, his white, straight teeth exposed. "How did you even end up in a pile of rocks?" He approached me with a safe distance, bending down to my eye level with a steady smile.
"Ask the rabbit," was my response before I narrowed my eyes at the path where the animal had bounced away.
"A rabbit?"
"Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you that it wasn't a dragon, but yes, a rabbit."
He gave me a puzzled look, frowning for a couple of seconds before his face expression was broken by a small, living chuckle. "And your arm?"
"I broke it."
"How? Did the rabbit do that too?"
Whereas he laughed at his own joke, I just sighed loudly with a groan edging at my annoyed huff of air, not caring if I was being impolite. "You ask too many questions for your own good, rabbit-boy. If I were you, I would have run away to another planet before I get free and go after you."
"I'm Ethan," he introduced himself, ignoring my rough comment.
"And I should care, because?"
He suddenly got up from the ground, straightening his navy blue, loose shirt with a brown belt hugging his waist. I hadn't even noticed the sword in his sheath until now, but then again, it was well hidden by the red cloak falling down his shoulders.
Who does he think he is? Superman?
He gave me a big smile that stretched across his tanned features. "I'm Prince Ethan Bauquemare." His voice was filled with proudness that mirrored the pose of his straightened back and protruding chest.
When I gave him a blank look with my eyes blinking like a bored sloth, he continued. "The fourth?" I shook my head. "You know, the Ethan Bauquemare," he tried again. "Prince of Areadan?"
"Is that supposed to mean something to me?" My statement was received with a mixed look of confusion and surprise.
"You're not from here, are you?"
I snorted, "Well, obviously."
Ethan shook his head, a frown painted on his face. "Are you sure? I mean, I'm a quite of a famous person around here - perhaps one of the most well-known people in the world, too." He spoke like he was trying to make me remember something I had no memory of.
To mess with him, I gasped. "Oh, my God!" I exclaimed, causing his smile to return. "Now I know you! You're the idiot who has been annoying me!"
With that said, I dropped the fake shock and, despite the tiredness both my body and head were filled with, continued to push the heavy material off my foot.
Seriously, what's it made of? Rocks?
You know what, just. . . just forget it.
I could see the prince rolling his eyes at me. "Are you sure you didn't sleep under these rocks for the past decade?"
"Watch out, boy. My foot may be trapped, but my arm can throw rocks hard enough to fix your stupid face."
When I didn't hear His Majesty for a couple of quiet seconds, I looked up to see him contemplating with his attention locked on the ground.
Before I could throw another rude remark at him, he shook his head, consequently snapping himself out his train of thoughts. And as if he had finally realized what he was doing here in the first place, his orbs settled on my foot that was still trapped between the rocks.
"Oh, how rude of me - let me help you with that," he gestured to my chained limb.
Just as he was about to touch the huge stone, I stagnated his actions. "I don't need your help," I said with a steady voice, not wanting this annoying stranger's help anymore.
Ethan raised an eyebrow at me. "Are you sure?"
No.
"Yes."
He gave me a long look, almost like he was mentally debating with me. Whatever his brain was dwelling on, he finally nodded and got up from the ground. "Well, then." He clapped his hands to brush the dust off him, giving me a half-covered smile that showed parts of his amused expression. "Since you obviously don't need my help, I guess there is nothing for me to do here," he gave me one last nod. "Goodbye, my Lady, it was a pleasure to talk to you."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," I waved my hand for him to leave.
A twinkling gleam in his eyes was the last thing I saw before he left, and when he was finally out of sight, I continued on my life goal to free my foot.
Pfft, I don't need his help, I told myself with the little faith that was still left. I can get this rock off without any help. No problem. If I just continue to push it for a couple of minutes more, or hours, I will be up and be walking out of here. Who needs help when you can-
"Ethan, wait!" Dammit, I'm just too tired to deal with this right now, okay?
A head of messy, light brown hair popped out behind an oak tree, revealing a boyish grin on the prince's face.
Wait a minute, was he standing there all the time? That little-
"Yes, Love?" He spoke in an innocent tone, smiling slyly and amused.
Wait till I get out of here, Ethan, just you wait.
"I kinda, sorta, maybe, conceivably, perhaps, might. . ." This went on for a good couple of minutes, and the list was so long that the older boy stopped hiding behind the tree and leaned against it instead.
Ethan waited patiently for me to finish my book of synonyms, which I did. Eventually.
"-Need your help after all. So, could you?" I mumbled the last part quietly, not wanting to say it louder than necessary.
"Sorry, I couldn't hear you. Speak up a bit, would you?" He cupped his ear with his hand, dangerously teasing me.
"Can you help me?" I sighed.
However, Ethan was enjoying this way too much. "I can't hear you," he sang with a smile that made me grit my teeth.
"Can you just help me?!"
"Of course, I can!" He chirped happily, giving me a sly smile.
Damn, this guy is even more annoying than Hazel - and that says a lot.
I let out a quiet sigh of relief, happy to know that I wouldn't die in a pile of rocks or be forced to do The Walking Dead-style and cut my foot off.
Something tells me that I have spent too much time on Netflix lately.
"On three, okay?" Ethan looked for confirmation, making himself ready to lift the heavy rock. "One. . ."
"Two."
"Three!"
The brown-eyed boy managed to lift the rock, giving me enough room to slip my foot out of the small hole. As soon as I was free, the prince dropped it to the ground, creating a brief echo across the forest.
Before I could get up from the shaped rocks that jagged my butt, Ethan unnecessarily came to my side and helped me up, steadying me back to my feet.
"There you go," he let go of my upper arms when I caught my balance back. "Next time, be a bit careful around rabbits, they are some vindictive creatures." He pointed his finger at me, giving me a stern look with his other hand on his hip.
"Yes, mother," I sarcastically replied while brushing the dust off my dress. Although there wasn't much dirt on my clothing, I still continued to sweep the soft material to stretch the time. But in the end, I had to bite the bullet. "And by the way, thank you for. . . you know."
Ethan smiled, which created a dimple on his left cheek. However, that warm gleam did not leave long due to my continuation.
"But the next time you meet a girl, try not to annoy her to death." And with that said, I walked past him and continued on my way home.
"Wait, where are you going?" He frowned at my actions, freezing for a split second before he began to follow me. "I don't even know your name," he blocked my way, succeeding in stopping me.
Rolling my eyes, I walked around him to avoid his road-blocking maneuvers. "That, Your Highness, is not my problem. Evening." I replied, ducking under a low branch and left it to hit his face.
Although it made him halt for a second, it did not stop him from catching up to me. "Wait!" He stood in front of me with his hands up, blocking my way again. "You don't believe me being a prince, do you?"
"No," I answered bluntly and resumed my walk home again, which resulted in Ethan to walk too, but only backward as he did not remove himself in front of me.
Oh, he will regret that pretty soon.
"But I am the Prince of Areadan," he tried to convince me, thinking that repeating his words would help me believe him.
"And I'm Victoria, Queen of chocolate and rainbow, yay!" I said in a shrill voice, giggling like an idiot and clapping my hands.
"I'm serious," His Majesty gave me a humorless look with a hint of frustration.
"So am I."
"I am the Prince of Areadan; Prince Ethan Bauquemare! Just ask anyone and they will say the same thing!" His red, short cloak flew from side to side whenever he took a step backward.
I wonder if it can be used as a strangling weapon. . .
"Whatever makes you sleep at night."
I mean, come on! This guy - an annoying idiot who's also a stranger, if I must remind you - can't be a prince. He's too. . . I don't know, irritating to be galant? And not to mention, there is no way in the world that a prince would stumble across an Elena Campbell in the woods, helping me out in my need.
That only happens in books or Disney movies - not in real life.
"But it is true!" I brushed off his attempts to convince me with lazy comments.
This went on for a good couple of minutes, and for every second that passed, the urge of hitting him in his stupid face became stronger and stronger. But somehow, I managed to hold myself back when I caught the direction of the path we were going.
The portal, it was clinging like a bell on a wedding day, and not too shortly after, an idea was thriving. My mind was puzzling a plan together with the pieces of ideas that lay messily around.
Fortunately for me, we were nearing the hill where the tree was located, and in addition, I had the advantage to see where the both of us were walking.
I told you that you would regret this, I silently told His Majesty with a sly smile that I hid before he noticed.
"Come on! How can you not have heard of me?" Ethan continued his pointless rant, making me roll my eyes for the thousandth time this day.
We were nearing another hill, similar to the one I fell down a month ago, however, this one was much less steep and shorter.
You're lucky, Ethan, I thought, altering my attention between him and a tree root that was sticking up from the ground.
"Listen, I am the prince and I demand you to stop right now and give me your name." He ordered, stomping his foot as if it would scare me, but instead, it just made me shake my head in laughter. "I'm serious!"
While laughing at the toddler, I patted his shoulder, standing on my toes to get a better view of what was happening behind him. "Sure you are."
A bit closer. . .
"Can you just please tell me your-" And suddenly, he unknowingly fell into my trap.
Bingo, I smirked when his foot finally got caught in the tree root. Unknown and unprepared of my plan, he lost his balance and fell down the hillside with a 'thud', but thanks to the green grass, he had a much softer landing than what I experienced.
Why am I always treated so differently from the others, God? Like, I would have appreciated a soft landing too, you know?
Not a second later, I dashed out into a run, not letting any of the precious time go to waste. "Thank you for helping me, I hope you survive the fall - bye!" I shouted with my feet carrying me like the wind.
Soccer practices have really paid off, let me tell you that.
"Hey, wait! Stop!" I could hear Ethan's distant cries through the thick forest. But despite his pleas, I didn't stop running, especially not now as I had finally reached the hill that would lead me to my way home.
My lips curled themselves up into a smile at the sight of my phone, which I picked up. As quick and careful as I could act, I made my way down the hillside without wasting another second.
The adrenaline pumped like a machine through my body, causing my heart to run as fast as a leopard.
After finally reaching the safe ground, I breathed out relieved that I didn't stumble over my own feet and break my other arm.
"Stop! Let me at least know your name, whoever you are!" Ethan's shout was closer this time.
As a lightning bolt, I dashed through the carved hole in the big oak tree, blinded and swallowed by the light while the cold air hugged my body.
The last thing I heard was the cries of His Majesty, but they were silenced when I found myself back in my own time and forest.
I slumped down, letting myself breathe in the moment of safety. "Phew, that was a close one."