In the Castle
I sigh as a glimpse of moonlight peers through the trees. I have nowhere to go so Iāll have to camp in the forest.
I take my jacket out of my backpack, using it as a blanket then I lay down to use my backpack as a pillow.
As soon as I close my eyes I hear a rustle in the branches. I sit up and look around for the cause of the noise. There is nothing there.
Hesitantly I lay back down. I refuse to sleep because if I do then I might not hear something or someone dangerous coming towards me. I donāt trust that I will be safe if I look away. Even if I only do so for a moment.
Every so often I hear another rustle in the leaves or branches. Every time that happens I get up and look around to check if anything is nearby.
After what seems like an eternity the sun rises. I didnāt get any sleep. I reluctantly get up from my spot on the ground. I continue walking toward the castle.
Around noon I get to the castle. I bang on the large wooden doors. After a minute of silence I yell for someone inside to let me in.
Finally I hear footsteps and someone opens the door. He is a tall man wearing a black suit. Not like a modern suit but one worn a long time ago.
āHi, Iām Eloria. Iāve been traveling a while and I was wondering if someone here could help me?ā I say.
āWere you the one making that horrible ruckus?ā he asks.
āI- y-yes. No one was answering the door and-ā with that he slams the door in my face not bothering to hear what I was saying.
āRude,ā I mutter.
I walk over to a different entrance and knock on the door. This time someone immediately opens the door. Itās a different man in the same kind of suit.
āYour business here?ā the man asks.
āIāve been traveling a while and I was wondering if someone here could help me?ā I repeat.
The man starts to close the door but just as heās about to I hold the door out with my hand and stop him.
āPlease let me in! Iāve come so far to get here!āI beg.
He finally sighs and opens the door back up. Without another word he steps aside to let me in.
When I walk inside I look around. It looks like any castle. I mean I think it looks like any other castle, Iāve never seen a real castle.
Anyways, thereās a bunch of fancy and old things in this castle. It feels like walking into a living museum.
āI need to check your bag miss,ā the man states, snapping me out of my daze.
āYes, of course.ā I say handing him it.
He quickly checks through my bag. He pulls out my phone. He examines it thoroughly and then turns to me.
āWhat is this?ā he asks hesitantly.
I realize that I canāt tell him itās a phone because he wonāt know what that is and heāll kick me out of the castle. So I think for a moment and say.
āItās just a piece of artwork Iām working on. Iām not very good at sculptingā I manage.
He nods and puts my phone back in the bag. I sigh with relief. With that heās done with my bag search and gives me my bag back.
He also leads me up to a bedroom. He tells me the bedroomās mine for now until either the King kicks me out or until I leave.
Although, if everything goes well I wonāt ever have to leave.
I lay on the bed and take out my phone. Of course thereās no reception here or wifi but I have a couple games I can play to pass the time. It doesnāt seem like there’s much else to do here.
After a bit I put my phone away and take out my notebook. For a bit I doodle and write random things down.
Then a woman dressed in a black dress and white apron. Sheās carrying a purple dress with puffy sleeves. Yet again itās one that looks like itās from the 1800s.
By now Itās clear I somehow traveled back in time. Itās the only explanation!
The woman tells me to put on the dress and meet the king for dinner in 20 minutes. She also tells me purple is his favorite color and that’s why the dress is purple. Iām pretty sure the king asked her to say that himself.
Ironically purple is my favorite color too. Wait, thatās not ironic! A lot of people like the color purple.
I put on the dress and step out. The woman is waiting for me and walks me to the dinner table.
Iāve never been to a fancy dinner before, much less one with a king! I guess thereās a first time for everything.