ARTHUR & MILAIf Mila was depressed with the wave of nostalgia that had erupted within her, Arthur was dumbfounded.The enclosing was barely ten feet wide, which was completely cut out from outer world. There were tall walls around in a circular pattern and in the middle of it was a four-storied tower. The tower in itself was no more than five feet in diameter and its entrance was barricaded by iron wrought gates.“What?” Arthur couldn’t comprehend words. “You lived here?”Mila didn’t reply but just walked to the tower and opened it.“Wow, it looks even smaller now,” Mila chuckled dryly. Her eyes were wet with tears now. “I still remember when these walls were put up!”“What?” Arthur was so shocked that he couldn’t form sentences now. He looked around, it was worse than a hovel. His horses lived in better condition, and Mila lived here… He had so many questions but he didn’t know where to start.Mila entered the tower and Arthur followed quietly. A damp, rotten stench met their nostri
ARTHUR & MILA“This was my mother’s hut,” Mila informed as Arthur looked at the dilapidated hut with some confusion. “When we moved into this kingdom, my mother and I lived here…”And the confusion cleared up.Arthur smiled with her as they both stepped in the most bizarre hut. The small hut was in the worst state possible, but the small garden, which Arthur was sure no one was tending to, was blossoming.“You know I used to sleep during the day and play around during the night,” Mila smiled as she walked around. She could see her mother sitting by the door, watching over her when she used frolic around in the dark.“Really?” Arthur asked with deep amusement. He could not imagine a five-year-old Mila. “Yes, my mother kept me hidden always. And if any accident used to happen, we would change kingdoms. A butcher had seen me in the last kingdom, and my mother had to kill him. Once that was done, we had packed up and moved,” Mila informed casually.“Kill him?” Arthur was surprised.“Yes,
ARTHUR & MILAAs the day progressed, Mila and Arthur roamed around the deserted city.“How often do someone return to an abandoned city?” Mila asked Arthur as they sat near the entrance to the citadel. Arthur had amused himself a while ago and had ventured inside the soldier’s compound. He was stunned. There was nothing there.“They either took everything with them, or they never had anything,” Arthur spoke.“They didn’t have a lot… not a lot of soldiers, not a lot of weapons and not a lot of training. I remember a few generals complaining that Hanna placed too much faith in one person. One of them often asked Hanna to have fight worthy candidates in the troop so that in case her ‘secret weapon’ fails to deploy, they have back up,” Mila sighed.“Well, they paid heavily,” Arthur nodded.“I know, given the number of times I had run away from this place and how many enemies Hanna had made over the years due to her arrogance, she should have raised an army of demons,” Mila smiled.“Demons
ARTHUR “Are you kidding me?” Arthur was stunned. It was as if she had slapped him. “What do I need to do to earn your trust?” “Have I earned your trust?” Mila asked in an off-handed fashion. “Of course, I trust you with my life,” Arthur spoke wide-eyed. “Why do you trust me?” Mila asked simply as she walked from one chamber to another, selecting which one she should be sleeping in for the night. “Apart from the obvious,” Arthur started but she interrupted him, “What is obvious?” Mila asked. “That I…” Arthur started but stopped abruptly. “That I…?” Mila insisted. “I like you,” Arthur spoke. He wanted to say I love you, but he didn’t know if it would be the right thing to say just yet. “You like me?” Mila asked with raised eyebrows. “I do, yes,” Arthur nodded hastily. “Well, for someone who has been hated and imprisoned all her life, you have no idea how nice and warm it feels to hear someone say that he likes me…” Mila smiled joyously. “Especially when the feeling of liking
MILA Yes, she dared it and she said it. Thing she had been dying to say ever since she had first sense his presence. “I love you, Arthur Collins,” Mila repeated as she stared in his golden eyes. His eyes… his beautiful eyes first contracted, then as the words sank in, they widened. She could see the pupil of his eyes dilate with desire, she had seen this happen every time a man was enchanted by her, but it was the first time she saw it in a man who was not enchanted. He licked his lips nervously. What was he thinking? Mila wondered. Arthur rubbed his face urgently, and then without as much as a word, he grabbed her neck with one hand, cupped her chin with another and pressed his lips firmly on hers. It was as if he was saying he loved her too by her lips, well not in words, but through passion. Unsure of how to react, Mila sat rooted on the bed. Part of her was confused as to what to do, but another part, the more animalistic part which was dominated by Grace, wanted to pull him
MILA Arthur woke up the next morning as the effect of Mila’s charm faded. Mila didn’t wake him up as she feared what he might remember, what he may have forgotten. “Good morning,” Mila smiled at Arthur as he stared at her confused, bleary eyes. “What are we doing here?” Arthur asked as he looked around. “Umm…” Mila was worried now. Did he forget everything? “When did I fall asleep?” Arthur spoke as his eyes came into focus properly. “What do you remember from last night?” Mila asked tentatively. Arthur thought deeply as he sat up. He walked up to a window and touched it, he felt the barrier cast by Mila. “So it wasn’t a dream,” Arthur mumbled. Mila shook her head. “And neither was you charming the whole room against dark power,” Arthur enquired. Mila shook her head again. “Did you say,” Arthur hesitated a bit. Mila nodded. “Did I say it too?” Arthur enquired. Mila nodded again. “And then I fell asleep?” Arthur was confused. Mila nodded again, feeling super relieved an
MILA & ARTHUR Arthur looked at Mila incredulously. He just could not believe that someone like her, so powerful, so magical can be so naïve. This girl in front of him could literally do anything, she could bring food out of nowhere, produce shields that nothing could penetrate them, she could erase memories, plant false memories and erupt warts all over someone’s body, but she could not runaway from her captor. While Arthur contemplated how stupid Mila was, Mila realized she, in fact, was the dumbest person ever. It was not like she had killed someone. On Hanna’s orders, she had killed hundreds of men and women. On Hanna’s orders, Mila have attacked entire villages, making them run away from their homes. Once Mila had called on all the insects from the forest and had let them enter a small community – she was not proud of it, and she still isn’t, but Hanna wanted something from that community and they were not ready to give whatever it was up. So, upon Hanna’s insistence, Mila had l
MILA “Rotten, chewed up dead bodies?” Mila asked horrified. “Yes,” Arthur nodded. “Cannibals,” Mila whispered. “Or some kind of demon,” Arthur added. “I have not sensed any demon in the vicinity, Arthur. I would have sensed dark power if it were here,” Mila explained. “I don’t care whether it is demon or not, I think it would be best if we leave this place right this instant,” Arthur insisted. “Where is your sense of fun, Arthur,” Mila grinned. “Or that of your valor,” she teased. “My sense of fun doesn’t mix with my valor, okay!” Arthur remarked, utterly confused. “Why don’t we go and check out these bodies. Maybe we can rid this place of a monster while we are here,” Mila laughed. “Are you insane,” Arthur spoke, feeling out of breath. “You are a prince, isn’t it your responsibility to take care of people and defend the Keep,” Mila accused him. “Yes, it is. But this is not my Keep! These are not my people, oh, hello! There are no people here,” Arthur shouted. “If there a