The Queen's Curse

how the man who'd helped me made me feel. Many more questions came after and mother looked tense and distracted as she brushed out my curly black tresses. It takes a while as my

ng there against a tree. His body bare for everyone to see. But no one noticed but me. "DING! DING! DING!" I woke to the morning dressing bell. I was covered in sweat despite the cool autumn air. I stared at my reflection as I was dressing my hair, the gash above my brow from weeks before was barely existent now. "You should be done dressing by now Ada! We have so much to do before your party this evening!" My mother practically sings as she enters the room. "Yes mother, I'm just so giddy for tonight! I can't believe I'll be eighteen tomorrow!" As we headed to the seamstress to pick up my birthday gown, mother couldn't stop talking about all the details she still had to complete before guests arrived. Her face went blank and she looked melancholy as she turned to face me. "There's something I must tell you, My Beautiful Daughter." "What is it mama?" I asked timidly. I couldn't believe what she was saying. None of it made sense. When we arrived home later that morning, I felt the need to be alone. I didn't want anyone to follow so I snuck out to the field on the town boarder. As I was strolling along, kicking pine cones and sticks I felt a chill up my spine. I snapped my head to the side to see and it was him. He was standing there against a tree with his long hair dancing in the wind. He had on trousers which was oddly disappointing. He pushed off the tree and headed in my direction. "Looking for trouble,