A Lost Memory (3 page)

Chapter Four

             
Alley and Evan walked up to her bedroom to where the mirror was.

             
“We need to get back now. Leave a note for my mother and father to meet us there quickly. I still need to have a talk with her about her keeping secrets from me.”

             
“Alley, don’t be so hard on her. She was trying to protect you. She didn’t know if your memory would ever come back. If she told you that you live in a faraway land, you’re the Queen of that land and that the farm house isn’t real just an alternate universe, don’t you think that would be a little hard to believe? She did the best she could, and I don’t blame her for the way she handled things. Don’t be angry at her. You need your family in your life.”

             
Alley gently touched Evan’s face. “That’s why I love you so much. You’re always my voice of reason.”           They stepped through the portal into Majestic Falls. Alley was finally home.

             
As they crossed over to the other side, Alley was greeted by pixies, fairies, elves, and animals of all kinds. The entire kingdom was excited to see her back.

             
As they stepped through the portal they were surrounded by servants waiting to take them back to the castle.

Alley
climbed into the horse drawn carriage being pulled by two horses white as snow. She stared at the home she had missed for all those weeks seeing the damage that had happened while she was gone. As she rode through the town she witnessed burned down houses, buildings in rubble and debris everywhere. She knew Esmeralda must be the reason for all of the damage.

             
“Oh, everything is a mess. Esmeralda will pay for everything she’s done. She will pay for the heartache she has caused the people of Majestic Falls.”

             
Evan put his arm around Alley and pulled her in close to him.

             
Alley’s eyes filled with tears as they rode through her beloved kingdom. “We must gather the army. We will get our revenge on her, but we must be smart about it.”

             
The castle came into view as they rounded a corner.  Upon their approach the drawbridge lowered and Alley was finally home.

             
She rushed to her room to take a quick look. Everything was as she’d left it. She ran her fingers across her white Oak dresser trimmed with pink flowers. It had a square mirror that reflected her room. There was a maroon sectional couch in one corner with a coffee table directly in front of it.  Adjoining the sleeping area was a cozy place to have her morning tea. Everything was unchanged and perfect. She was so relieved to be back.

             
After Alley got settled Evan asked the chef to prepare dinner for them. “Alley, honey, I’m so glad you’re back and safe with me. I won’t let anything else happen to you.”

             
Alley’s lips curved and her heart swelled with love. “Thanks Evan. We have to figure out what we’re going to do. The minute Esmeralda learns that I’m back she is going to be ready to fight. We must be one step ahead of her.”

             
“I’ll get Henry to come here at once and we’ll lay out a plan for his army of men.”

             
As they continued to talk, the chef tapped on the door. He pushed the silver cart into the room and laid out their plates and glasses on the table.

             
Alley approached the table and poured a glass of red wine to go with their dinner. She removed the silver plate cover to see what was for dinner. She was starving.

             
Alley’s stomach growled as she sat down to her plate of grilled chicken breast with a baked potato loaded with sour cream, chives, bits of bacon and cheddar cheese melted on top. To the side was a bowl with Caesar salad and a small plate of wheat rolls with butter and honey on a smaller plate.

             
As they ate Alley remained lost in thought.  After they’d eaten, Alley spoke, “Evan we can’t let her take over Majestic Falls. I think I have a plan.”

             
“Alley, you can’t battle her one on one. She is too powerful and dangerous.”

             
“She’s too powerful and dangerous here.”

             
“What are you talking about?”

             
“Hear me out before you say anything, because I know this is a dangerous plan, but I think it will work. Our powers are only good here in Majestic Falls. Esmeralda and I could go back and forth hurling spells at each other, or we could outsmart her. We need to get her to cross over to the other side.

             
Evan stood up immediately, tossed his napkin down on the table and ran his hands through his hair. “Alley that is crazy. Then what, the two of you have a fist fight? This is ridiculous.”

             
“No, of course not. We aren’t going to have a fist fight.” Alley couldn’t help but laugh at the thought. “We are going to outsmart her. What I want to do is trick her into following me to the other side. Her magic will be useless there.””

             
“Yes Alley, but so will yours.” Evan interrupted.

             
“I know Evan, but pixie dust won’t be.”

             
Evan’s eyebrows raised a little. “What are you saying?”

             
“I could carry a potion with me through the portal, get her to follow, throw it on her and we could destroy her forever.”

             
“Alley this is very dangerous. How do we know that the potion will travel the portal and work on the other side?”

             
“We don’t know for sure. That’s why we need to do a test run first.”

             
Evan’s expression showed his unhappiness about the plan, but he did agree that they needed to do something. “Okay. Let’s get a couple of our best men here to discuss the plan.”

* * *

             
A few hours later Alley’s butler came to her room. “Miss Alley, Mr. Thomas is here to see you.”

             
“Thank you. Please tell Evan to meet us in the library. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

             
Alley quickly ran a brush through her hair. She tossed the brush down on the dresser and then went to lay out her plan.

             
As she walked in she saw Evan and Thomas both waiting for her. “Thank you for meeting us, Thomas.”
              “It’s my honor, my Queen. The minute I heard that you and King Evan wanted to see me I came as fast as I could.”

             
“Can I get you a drink? Tea, Water?”

             
“No thank you, Your Highness. What can I do for you?” Thomas asked his voice conveying excitement.

             
“Esmeralda has a done a number on Majestic Falls in my absence and this cannot go unpunished.”

             
“I agree, Your Majesty. How can I help?”

             
Alley glanced over at Evan and then back to Thomas. “King Evan and I have devised a plan. Esmeralda’s magic is useless in the human world. We need her to cross over so that we can attack her on the other side.”

             
Thomas rubbed his palms on his pants nervously. His hand went to his head and scratched lightly thinking everything over before speaking. “Queen Alley? How do you plan to defeat her on the other side? If her powers are no good then yours will be no good as well. Right?”

             
Alley rose and fixed Thomas a cup of hot chamomile tea to settle his nerves. She handed it to him and then returned to her seat. “That is correct Thomas, but we have an idea that we need to test.”

             
“What is it?”

             
“We want to test this theory of course, but the plan is to get Esmeralda to follow me into the portal and cross over to the other world. I will have a glass potion bottle in my pocket and when we get to the other side I’ll throw it on her and we will be done with her. Now we all know that Esmeralda is too smart to simply stand there and let me throw a bottle on her, so the plan is to tell her that I have something for her from Evan. We know she never got over Evan so we will use that against her. She still loves him and that’s how we get her. We need to see if the bottle and the magic will make it through the portal, and then see if the magic works in the human world.  Then we will figure out the plan to get her to follow me.”

             
“It’s very dangerous dealing with Esmeralda, my Queen, but if this works it will be excellent news to the people of Majestic Falls. When do you want to test it?”

             
“Tomorrow afternoon. I need to make a couple of potions first. Come back around noon tomorrow and King Evan and I will be ready.”

             
After Thomas left, Alley walked to Evan and snuggled into his arms. She had missed him while she was gone. Nothing made her happier than being back in his arms.

             
“Let’s go to bed Alley.”

             
“Now that sounds like a plan.” Alley laughed as she walked hand in hand with the man of her dreams.

             
They walked into their bedroom and Alley turned to Evan. “I think I’d like to soak in a nice hot bubble bath before bed. Would you be interested in joining me?” She asked him slyly.

             
“You don’t have to ask me twice.” Evan followed her into the bathroom and began drawing the bath for them.

             
Alley walked back into the other room and poured them both a glass of wine to enjoy while soaking in the bath. When she entered the bathroom the scent of lavender and the soft light of flickering candles made her smile. Rose petals floated along the top of the water.

             
She handed Evan the glasses and undressed. She sat down in the hot steamy water, and Evan stepped in behind her.

             
Evan wrapped his arms around Alley. He moved her hair and then kissed her gently on the neck. “I missed you, Alley, and I love you more than anything in the world. “

             
“I missed you too Evan. I’m sorry I frightened you. We will get her though. You can count on that. We will get her. She‘ll pay for the hurt she’s caused.”

             
After the water turned cold, they climbed out, got in bed and snuggled in close as they both drifted off to sleep.

             
The next morning Alley got up excited to begin her day. “I’m going to ask my mother if she would like to help with the potions. I think it will do her some good to know she is helping and that I have no hard feelings about her wanting me to stay in the other world. She was just looking out for what she thought was best.”

             
“That’s a good idea, Honey. I need to bring your father up to date with the plan and how he can help. He is the best man in our army.”

             
                            Chapter Five

              Alley and Catherine spent hours making different potions and filling glass bottles. They made one set for the test run and one set for the actual showdown.

             
“Alley you must be careful.”

             
“I will, Mother. She won’t catch me off guard this time.”

             
“How do you plan to get her to follow you into the portal though?”

             
“Don’t worry I have it all planned out. This will work.” Alley tried her best to reassure her mother.

             
The black pot simmered on the back of the stove as they took turns stirring it with a wooden spoon. One potion would freeze Esmeralda so she couldn’t attack and the other was a vanishing potion that would destroy her.

             
Alley filled the bottles, sealed them with a wooden cork and placed them in her brown suede bag.

             
It was time for her to meet back up with Evan, Thomas and her father to do the test run.

             
Alley went up to her room and turned the candle holder that opened the hidden door. Stepping through, she followed the winding stairs to the basement where she would meet up with Evan and her father to go through the portal that was hidden there.

             
“Alley, is everything ready?”

             
“Yes. We made a couple of different potions. I’m ready to cross through.”

             
The three of them walked through the portal and ended up in the bedroom of the farm house.

             
Alley looked around but nobody was there. Having the urge to double check everything, she walked over, opened the closet door but found it empty. She turned to her father and Evan. “Okay we’re good. The bag made it and the potions made it. Let’s go outside and throw these so Esmeralda doesn’t see the broken vials when I get her to cross through.”

             
The three of them walked down the staircase and out the door to the porch.

             
Alley pulled the first one out of her bag and tossed it at a large boulder in the yard.  The rock exploded and disappeared, black smoke rising from the dark spot on the ground.  Alley smiled and nodded.

             
“Okay let’s get back to the castle and I’ll share the plan with you on how I am going to get her to follow me.”

             
The three of them walked back upstairs and stepped through the standing mirror. They followed the winding stairs back up to Alley’s room.

             
“Thanks for testing this with us, Dad. We’ll get with you soon about the plan.”

             
Alley turned to Evan. “Are you hungry? I thought we might get some dinner before we work through this plan.”

             
“Sounds good to me. “ Evan said. “I’ll tell the chef.”

             
Evan went to tell the chef while Alley went onto her room to wait for him there. She wasn’t feeling very well. She didn’t know if it was the accident or something else. She decided to send for the doctor. She felt sick to her stomach and her head throbbed.

             
Evan walked back up to the room where Alley was standing with her hand on her head. “Is everything alright?” Concern filled his voice.

             
“I’m okay. I don’t feel well so I’ve sent for the doctor as a precaution. I’m sure everything is fine. Is our food about ready?”

             
“Yes. The chef said he would bring it in a few minutes.”

             
As expected, the chef tapped on the door within minutes with their dinner. He pushed the silver cart over to the table for them.

             
Alley checked out the delicious smelling food. She didn’t know why but she was starving. She saw the double chocolate cake sitting there and debated on whether she wanted to start with dessert first, but decided against it She took the lid off of her plate to see what they were having. Sitting on a plate was grilled tilapia with a lemon wedge on it. Steamed vegetables and garlic bread sat beside the fish. She sat down and ate her entire dinner.

             
“Are you sure you are feeling alright? You look a little pale.

             
“I’m sure I’ll be fine. The doctor should be here any minute. I’ll let you know what he says after he examines me.”

             
Alley went into the bathroom to splash her face with water before the doctor arrived.

             
The knock on the door triggered her nerves.
What if something is wrong?

             
“Your Majesty, I hear you aren’t feeling well. What’s going on?”

             
Alley waved him to the sitting area. “Come in doctor. I’m not feeling well. My stomach feels queasy and my head hurts.”

             
The doctor opened his bag and checked her over thoroughly then smiled and said. “You’re pregnant, Queen Alley.”

             
“What?” Alley was in shock.

             
“Yes Your Highness, you are having a baby.”

             
Alley thanked the doctor and saw him out. She gazed in the mirror, amazed. Her hand went to her stomach instantly. She was going to be a mother.

             
Evan opened the door and saw her standing there. “Is everything okay? What did the doctor say?” He was scared to death that he was going to lose her.

             
“I’m fine. The reason that I’ve been feeling so bad is that I’m carrying the heir to the throne.”

             
“What?” Evan stood there motionless for a minute, then. Then his eyebrows shot up.              Alley jumped up and down. “I’m pregnant. No more wine for me with our late night baths.” She laughed.

             
“I’m going to be a father?” Evan couldn’t believe it. He was completely amazed but scared too. “Alley you can’t risk your life and our child’s life battling Esmeralda. The plan must change.”

             
“We have to stop her or our child will always be at risk.”

             
“I know Alley, but I need to be the one to fight the battle. It’s too risky. I’ll cross through the portal, get her to follow me and I will be the one to destroy her. I don’t want you anywhere around her when the time comes.

             
Alley was worried for Evan, but she agreed. They had a child to think about now and that child had to come first above all else.

             
It was getting late so Alley decided to get changed for bed. She got out her long white nightgown and slipped it over her head. Evan followed right behind her. She snuggled up on his chest and fell fast asleep.

             
The next day Alley and Evan set their plan into action.

             
“Alley you need to have a good breakfast before we head out. The chef has everything set up in the dining room.”

             
Alley walked into the dining room and the smell of scrambled eggs and bacon made her stomach growl. She hadn’t realized she was as hungry as she was. She sat down to eat and the servant poured her a tall glass of freshly squeezed orange juice.

             
When they were finished eating Alley and Evan left to set their trap in motion. They climbed up on the horse drawn carriage and began their trip.

             
They traveled to the edge of Majestic Falls where some of Esmeralda’s men always hung out. They brought the horses to a stop.

             
“Evan, are you sure you can get all the powers?”
              “Yes, Alley, all I have to do is jump through the portal at the edge of the waterfall right at nightfall. When I get on the other side I’ll grab the bag of magic that the warlock has waiting for me and then jump back through the portal. No problem. It will only take me a few minutes.”

             
“That sounds great. You will then be the most powerful warlock in the land as well as the King. This will be perfect. Let’s get back to the castle and finish our plans.”

             
Evan got the horses going and as he looked back it was as he suspected. Two men had jumped on horses and raced off. He knew they were going straight to Esmeralda. The plan was working perfectly.