Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

A long time ago, before you and I were ever born over the towering mountains and gentle slopes, the Castle of Cleveland stood with its bustling city. Cleveland was thriving. It was one of the trade capitals since it had a harbor, its city lined with cobbled roads and the sounds of men, women and children filled the air. The stores lined the streets selling your groceries and other items. When you walked at night, the streets with candle were light a beautiful bright place. The citizens lived comfortably. However, all was far from well within the Royal family's stone halls. 

Up the winding cobbled roads is where the palace is laid. King Ed and Queen Donna and their sons Jason and Travis. The citizens adored them; the surrounding festivities were the pride and joy of their country. Unknown to them, all was wrong. 

King Ed had been struck with a mysterious illness. A sickness so severe that not even doctors could identify it. The eldest son, Jason, was put under the stress of taking care of both his father and the country. He forgot how to sleep and if he got any; it was only a few hours.

Chaos reigned within the Palace, and the sounds of frantic running and panicked voices were all you could hear in the halls these days. It could send one mad.

This led to the kingdoms investigating any solutions of any type. Every book was searched, and every person was investigated who may have any type of knowledge. 

There were whispers of a magical being who lived in the dark forest and who could heal. The palace took their chance. The Dark Forest is one of ancient legends and mysteries, rumored to be haunted by creatures of the night, plagued by a darkness that never lifts. In the dense foliage of the forest, shadows stretch on forever, and the constant rustling of leaves which makes the hairs on your neck spike up, feeling like you're being watched. Even the birds avoid the forest, leaving only the buzzing of insects and occasionally the owl hooting to break the oppressive silence. It is a place of dread, a place where no sane person would visit.

The king's advisor approached King Ed’s second son. Travis 

“No, no way that forest. I have been warned all my life to n- “.The advisor interrupted him before he could finish his sentence 

“We understand, your highness but you will have many men there protecting you,” Travis shook his head 

“You think that makes me feel any better going into a cursed forest?” He rubbed his hand on his face 

“Sir, for your family, it’s our only hope. "

It was his duty 

He knew it was 

For his family, he reminded himself 

“Alright,” he said, sighing, looking out the window. He knew the stories from his childhood.

Once upon a time there lived a man without shoes. He would walk upon the grounds, his feet hurting with every step. He searched for shoes someone could give him. But the kingdom was selfish and cruel, and no one gave him any shoes. When he slept, he saw images of shoes in the forest, beautifully crafted shoes made only for him. He ignored the warnings and went into the woods. The twisted trees and noises of strange creatures filled the air as he kept searching for these shoes, and searching and searching. No one ever saw the shoeless man again. Some say you can hear him searching for shoes…

He laughed at his own thoughts. It was a fairytale. It couldn’t be real…Right? 

He didn’t sleep that night. He saw Jason pacing around in his office as he walked through the castle to get some kind of tiredness, but it never came to him. He didn’t knock on Jason’s door how he wanted to, but it was foolish to ask his brother, who carried the weight of the world, to give him some sense of peace of his own. So he wondered along, his thoughts so busy he felt he couldn’t breathe 

Will I be cursed 

Will I ever see my family again 

What’s in that forest that makes it dark 

How do we leave 

Why are we following these rumors 

What will be in there waiting

He walked straight into a wall, bringing him out of his thoughts for a second as he rubbed his forehead with his hand and sighed, pushing his hair back as he looked at the window at the full moon

Full moons a sign of clarity 

He saw no clarity in the moon. He did, however, feel that tug of his heart. Ever since he was a kid, he always felt like something led him. He didn’t know what it was his heart would pull him places. He places his hand on his heart. He’d always felt differently towards those dark woods he’d used to stare at it throughout the window, feeling a strange sense that there was something in there for him. He’d never tell, but he would wonder if he could ever go into those woods and now.

Now he was given that permission to search to find what was tugging him all these years. He felt a strange sense of excitement and nervousness. He remembered the stories the shoe man had dreamed about the forest that never came true.

But it never felt like a dream to him. He could almost touch it, he swears. He shook his head, and he now felt the overwhelming sense of tiredness finally. 

He dreamed of her again. Who was she? He did not know. But if he saw her, he would know. He’d know it from her eyes, those bright.

Blue eyes that could see into his soul. He’d see women with blue eyes, but they didn’t have that shade of passion that those eyes he dreamed about. 

His maids awoke him. He sat in the bath for a while longer than he usually would, anyway. He could hear them in the room getting his uniform and armor for his trip as he closed his eyes. He was really about to adventure into the darkest place where all was unknown. 

He put on his arm, pulling the arms on his gambeson. It was a tight fit, but whatever it would keep him safe as it was buttoned up; he was given a chest plate over it and some trousers and his scabbard, which he placed his sword into. He felt a little less on edge now, somewhat protected. 

He walked out of his room to see people talking and chatting 

“There's going to the dark forest,”

“Apparently something magical,”

“He’s going to die,”

Die

Oh, gosh, he has to hold the stone of the hallway cold against his hand.

Travis is not one to be terrified to be unprepared. He feels he’s free-falling off a cliff.  

No safety No Help 

Is he really about to lie down in his life for his family? He questioned his one thought. Process before he could finish, he was ushered outside where a group of men on his best friend Patrick.

At least he had someone 

“Pat I don’t normally get nervous but this…this is freaking me out” Travis whispered his head constantly looking to the sides to see if anyone was listening he didn’t want to give off to the others that he had feared he needed to be a leader. Being terrified is not a leadership tendency.

“It’s a forest” Patrick said blankly 

Of course Pat would just state facts 

“I know that, but you know the stories and you know no one goes in there unless they want to disappear,” Travis responds, fiddling with his hands. He has all this pent up anxiety needed to come out somewhere.

“Look, you're not going in alone, so if something happens, at least one of us will get out. "

He made a point and nodded his head. As they walked down the streets to go into the woods, one stall was full of crystals. He picked up the bracket which had a tag on it that said “Protection” and had a T charm on it. He paid the woman, putting on the bracket he needed any type of protection before going in, even if it was a stupid bracket. 

He stood at the edge of the forest, his men behind him holding lit candle holders. The cutoff from the path and the dirt ground. He stepped on the dirt. He kept moving into the woods, everyone following behind. 

The world became trees; he was truly and utterly in the woods. In the very dim sunlight that was there, he could see the outline of the trees above completely enclosing all of them in the dim candlelight. 

Where would he even start? How would this magical person or thing or-

The snap of a twig swung his head around and the man apologized. Travis recentered his breathing, or at least he tried to.

He wanted to get out, and he felt so overwhelmed.

Every insect noise, every footstep, was like a nail on the chalkboard all too much he felt he could pass out. 

At the same time, that tug off his heart was strangely leading him. He trusted it for no reason other than it was the only thing that had any sense of direction in the thick, dark woodland scene. 

All was going somewhat well. The wind blew out all the candles. 

Complete Darkness 

His heart beat in his ears, everything was heightened; he felt his childhood flash before him, leaving him behind.

He knew somehow he was going to die. His heart had led him to death. 

How ironic. 

He swears he heard some growling. Oh god he was going to be eaten by wolves. He closed his eyes, accepting his fate, but as the wolves tried to approach, some type of protection of some kind stopped them. He looked around, seeing a yellow orb? A hooded person stood, ushering the wolves away.

“Back off now,” the woman shouted at the wolves, who all whined and moved back 

His men and himself left speechless 

The woman turned around 

“We don’t get visitors here anymore so

this is a surprise. "

He knew those eyes as he stares 

He has seen those eyes thousands of times 

“You- “he says speechless 

The woman met his eyes 

“You” she repeated 

“Who?” Patrick said, breaking the tension 

Chapter Text

All her life she’s never felt…normal. 

The definition of normal is “conforming to a type, standard, or regular pattern: characterized by that which is considered usual, typical, or routine.”.

One thing she always did was never conform. 

It was obvious that she was different; she didn’t know how she was, but she was. I mean, she had two eyes, two hands, and one heart like everyone else. What made her so different? She pondered while looking at the mirror. School was her nightmare. She hated school; any excuse she could muster up, she’d use. 

Whenever she was out of school, it felt like a 3rd person situation. She was never present at school. It was all really a blur to her. This is because every class she’d get some kind of bullying of some kind. Did she ever respond or react? No, but they kept going. 

One of the subjects learned was history, and part of the history was talking about the magic of the land. In class, the teacher showed them the witch's book. “Now this book looks like gibberish, right?” The teacher said, looking at the pages. Taylor’s eyebrows furrowed; was it a joke because it was in perfect writing for her? The rest of the class read out the gibberish, laughing and joking. Taylor was just stuck with how she could read this. She didn’t say a word. She slipped into the reading corner when she got home and asked the one person she trusted the most, her grandmother Majorie.

 “Granny, something happened in school.” 

She rubbed her arm, looking down at her shoes.

“You can tell me anything, sweetheart,” the old lady crouched down to her. 

“Well—well, basically my teacher showed us this book, and it’s like this witch book, and everyone said it didn’t look like anything, but I could read it fine. Does this mean I’m going to hell?” Taylor says, almost bursting out into tears, the guilt settling in. 

Majorie held her shoulders. “Sweetie, no, you won’t go to hell.” Her grandmother hugged her as Taylor started crying. It was a relief. “Look, our family is magical. I’m magical, your mom’s magical, it’s alright.” Majorie pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “I think it’s time you start learning about your abilities.” 

And that's when her learning started. After she finished school, she would return home and be taught witchcraft. She would learn how to brew potions, make fire in thin air, and learn symbols and about the gods with it. In all of it, it was connected by nature, making a full cycle of life and death, understanding both. With the full spectrum of knowledge, she became skilled in all that she was taught and began to use the tools of witchcraft and magic to become skillful, cunning, and even a little wise. She’d read endless books of text about previous witches and spells, and she became fascinated with the old practices as well. 

One witch, especially Cassandra, read as much as she could find. Cassandra was the most powerful witch. She devoted her life to the study and understanding of the arcane, often delving deeply into magical energies and the natural magics that flowed through the earth. Her knowledge of potions and brews was wide-ranging, and her powers over the elements and the life energies of plants were profound. Cassandra was also a deeply spiritual witch, with a strong belief in the connection between life and death and the cycle that all things must follow. Until she was killed. Burnt at the stake in front of the whole village, Taylor put her book down, and it left a bad taste in her mouth. 

She looked out the window to see her village, her country, Cleveland, the one she’d always known. Cassandra’s village turned on her so easily; who says her village couldn’t either? If anyone found out what they would say, what would they do? She tries to brush it off, trying to live her life, but she can't feel the guilt just overconsuming. 

She was 21 when she ran into the woods. She couldn’t trust anyone, couldn't find any solidarity in herself; her life, all she knew, was danger and more danger. As she stepped onto the dirty floor, the dark woods she’d always been warned about seemed lighter. She saw the light from the trees and a path she felt…safe almost. In some way she’d always felt she belonged here, living alone in the woods. Fire and an aura of magic surrounded her. This wasn’t a dark wood; it was an enchanted one. Enhanced to keep all who did not possess magic away, this is where she was meant to be. 

Protector of the dark woods. 

The woods led her to a cabin that looked almost like it was from a folklore tale. It looked cozy and small from the outside but was bigger from the inside. Every shelf had materials for potions and food. It was warm; it was everything she ever wanted. And so she spent her days crafting, making, and practicing what she liked. Her cabin came with musical instruments as well, which she played and made some songs, which to herself weren’t very good, but the creatures around would always stop just to hear her hum.

 A free life. That’s what she had. 

When she dreamt, though, that face would always appear like she could touch him, but it was false, but those eyes. Where could she begin? The greenish and blue tint mixed together like the sea. Like something she could swim in. She could remember a holiday by the sea where it was such a perfect day you could see all the colors of the blue and green mixed together. Those were his eyes that perfect day. She’d wake up, though. But she wouldn’t and couldn’t forget that in some way he knew her better than anyone else ever would. She wore her opal ring that day, the one her grandmother gave her. She was sweeping her floor when she noticed that the wolves were out. 

She checked the time. 

That’s odd; it’s too early. 

They only come out this early if there are people.

 She froze and then grabbed her cloak. People FINALLY, people. 

She used her powers to create an orb of warm glow; she didn’t want to wake any other creatures that may disturb the visitors even more. She walked with pace, catching up to the wolves, seeing a group of knights, it seemed. 

I stood in front of them. “Back off now.” I ushered the wolves away back to their caves, then I focused my attention on the men. 

“We don’t get visitors here anymore, so this is a surprise.” I tried to make light of the situation. 

Even if they almost got killed. 

Then my eyes met with one of them, and it was like the whole world stopped.

 I don’t remember breathing. I know those eyes. I see them in my dreams every night. 

“You,” the man said. 

“You~” I repeated because I forgot how to speak, and honestly, anything you said to me, I couldn’t really process. 

“Who?”

 I turned my attention to the other knight. “Sorry, hello, I’m Taylor. I’m the protector of these woods. It’s a pleasure to have guests here after so long.” 

I met the man’s eyes again because I had to check again. No, it was definitely those sea eyes. I could live there and now there here in front of me.

 “I am Prince Travis of Cleveland; it’s a pleasure to meet you.” 

I could feel my hope die in that moment. He’s a prince.

Of course he’s a prince.

“Your highness,” I say, bowing my head. Travis just chuckles and shakes his head. 

“It’s alright; you can just call me Travis. This is Patrick, and these are my men” he introduces them, but his voice…

Oh, his voice. I really try to listen to what he’s saying, but his voice. It's so soothing. 

“How can I help you, Your High—sorry, sorry, sorry, Travis?” I muddle my words up. The only people I usually speak to are my cats.
So human interaction am I failing?

Probably.

He chuckled.

 “We’ve heard some stories of a powerful witch that lives in these woods; are you her?”

 I looked at him confused. How are there rumors I don’t come outside my house? Why do people I don’t know, know about me? 

“Rumors…there are rumors?” I say a bit surprised.

 “Yes, so are you her?” He counters.

“Do you see anyone else?” I say a bit blunt because who else do you think is coming, and I’m the crazy lady with the light source, so right now you're going to have to trust me.

 “No…we’re at your service, ma'am.”

 He bowed his head, keeping eye contact the entire time His eyes… the blue parts were like the depths of a clear lake, deep and mysterious, holding the secrets of a hidden world that she desperately wanted to explore. Green parts were like a lush forest, brimming with life and vitality, with a depth of emotion that was unparalleled. The woods, a place she always knew she always felt comfort; it was there in his eyes, all of it. Both shades mixed together, each capturing a different aspect of the natural world, yet both holding a kind of power that was difficult to ignore.

The look was more than a look; it was a connection. 

“Well then follow me,” I breathed out, showing them to my cabin.

 Every step was louder; she almost forgot where she was going. 

So many questions and so few answers.

 Does he see my eyes in his dreams? 

“Are you alright?” Travis asked; it was like he was trying to torture me. 

“Yes, thank you.” I looked at him quickly then back to the floor. If I stared any longer, it would be strange.

 I led him and his men inside, holding the door open for them into my cabin.

I hoped it was good enough for them.

Then I remembered they live in a palace.

This place probably seems like some sort of peasant house to them. 

I awkwardly stood behind them as they looked around. “Does anyone want some tea?”

 A few soldiers say yes, so I focus my attention on that. I don’t have enough chairs at my table, so they sit on the couch and the floor. 

My back is to them as I grab the water from the fireplace, then place the tea leaves in the teapot as the water turns slowly brown. I poured the tea out, handing it to those who wanted to.

 One of them is Travis. When I handed him the teacup, our fingers barely touched, but they touched just the fingertips. Immediately though fire throughout my whole body, I could feel my soul glowing flashes of light, all encompassed in one touch. With one single hand touch, I felt like I could pass away. I had to take a few steps back to grab onto the counter for some support. I feel almost dizzy. 

I remember my place. I’m here to help.

“What are you searching for?”I ask the room.

“A cure…my father is sick.” Travis says, then looks, then is just out of it. Like he’s left his body. His eyes now are not as full of life.

 “I see…what kind of symptoms is he presenting?” I pick up my notebook and pencil. 

“Well, it just started out as a normal cough, then it turned into his legs couldn’t move, then he became warm and” Travis paused. 

“And?” I question, “And unresponsive at points.” Travis looked like something had sucked his soul out of his body like he was living in third person.

 “You’ve asked doctors and nothing.” He nodded his head.

 “I think I can make a healing potion to help him, but it takes a while to make since it’s complicated.”

I already started to prepare in my head.

“But would it work?” He leaned forward. 

“Yes,” I responded. 

“Take as much time; we have no one else giving any type of answers.” He shook his head, holding the bridge of his nose. The men started to get up.

“Where do you think you're going?” I looked at them confused.

“Back to the castle.” One of them responded.

 “I can't take you back because part of the healing process is that you need a close relative or friend to be around. It’s important you stay.” 

“But there’s no room for all of us.” Another one said.

 I sighed. They've really never been in communication with someone with magic.

 I touched the walls; the room started stretching higher and wider.

 “Is that enough? Because upstairs has a massive room.”

 The soldiers can’t even move. 

“What?” And a soldier passes out and chaos erupts as they all talk over one another. 

This is going to be interesting.

Chapter Text

The witches cabin looked like it was out of some folklore tale. Moss grew on top of the sloped roof. The roof had an opening so that one could sit or lay on it. Taylor would sometimes sit and watch as the trees rustled in the breeze, her unruly curly blowing in the wind leaving it more like a bird's nest once she headed inside. The other side of the roof housed a chimney where the smoke from her fireplace would escape from. She would sit by the fire most of the time writing or reading whatever she decided was important that day. The dancing flames and warmth gave her comfort on nights she felt scared like the darkness of the woods could swallow her whole and the world would never even realise. The house being magical itself things would move to where they needed to be walls could be moved to make space, but the house reflected her state. If she were anxious the house would crawl into itself becoming darker and smaller while when she was carefree it was bright and large. Taylor had moments of anxiety, and she could feel the walls closing in. 

The cabin in the end was only trying to protect her. 

She had a long table because she would perform experiments. Before mixing potions, some materials needed to be tested before use. The large table where she could lay out equipment and books were immensely helpful to her adventures. 

The stairs were winding up wooden and very creaky like they would snap in every moment so Taylor would go down them very slowly originally but after a while she realised, they could hold the weight she put on it. 

She had a small but not tiny kitchen. A sink with a tap. Countertops with cupboards that had cups culinarily and plates and bowls. She had a comfortable sofa with a small table which had some candles on it. It was cozy. It made her feel whole on nights where her voices were too loud. She would hold her knees to her chest with a blanket over the sofa and she would fall asleep. 

Upstairs is where her crafting took place in a cut out her cauldron with glass bottles with everything you could think of. Some were full and others were empty or half empty. It was a chaos system. Everything might have a label, but it did not matter there was not a system, it was not in letter order or most important materials it was just chaos. But Taylor would swear she could find stuff better like this. There was a little pit for where she would put fire underneath that she would light with her magic. 

Then she had a large bookshelf that covered her magic set up. She would pull a book and the shelf would move. Even though no one came into the dark forest the cabin reflected her anxiety of being caught so made sure it was hidden which helped her anxieties significantly.

She had a canopy bed. The draped fabric around her bed was dark green and so were her covers. She sometimes could not get out of bed for hours because it was so comfortable she felt cocooned by the draped fabric, a little space for peace and tranquility. 

Taylor also had a few musical instruments in the house. She learned how to play when she was younger but hadn’t really picked them up since until now when she wasn’t doing witchcraft she was making music and it always felt she could never stop writing she’d do a different songs every day she felt her brain rushing to find that click or bridge that would tie the song together. Taylor was a very stubborn person when it came to songwriting. If she started a song, she would finish it no matter if it took her 8 months. Which happened once. 

Now though she was dealing with the factor of a soldier has just collapsed. She went to get the cloth wet. As she wetted the cloth she could hear the commotion of the soldiers putting the passed out soldier on the couch the cold water poured soaking the cloth and she squeezed the excess water away and she went over to the crowd of people crowding around him all talking but Travis stood a bit away looking at the situation then looked at her. She held eye contact longer than she should then moved towards the soldier breaking through the crowd and put the wet cloth on the soldier’s head and kneeled next to him. 

“Can someone get a glass of water for him? Please” I look around and I see Travis move towards my kitchen taking a second to find the glasses opening the plates drawer first and then the glasses drawer taking out a glass and filling it up and then kneeled next to her and passed the water with their fingers touching briefly. Electricity floods through her body she almost feels like she could faint as well, but she grabs onto her skirt which brings her back down to earth. 

“Thank you” she finally croaked out of her throat 

“You're welcome” he responded nodding his head 

“I’m sorr- “

He is not- “

They say at the same time and then chuckle looking at each other 

“You go first” he says 

“I’m sorry I should’ve probably warned you all” I say looking at the soldier's pale face as he laid unconscious 

“No, you introduced yourself as a witch he should’ve expected magic” Travis responded like he was saying a fact which he was. 

Her grip on the glass hardened as she looked at the now conscious soldier. Travis stood back up asking him questions, but Taylor was zoned out at this point everything was muffled as she stared at the wall. 

The objects start floating around her as she over-thinks about this whole situation.

Would she be able to cure the king?

She questioned her own magic 

More objects levitate 

Someone waved their hand in front of her and all the objects crashed on the floor 

“Oh my…I’m sorry” she stood up handing Travis the glass as she looked around all the broken objects, she was a mess. 

Travis Pov

I have never seen such magic in my life. She was just staring and suddenly everything was floating. It was magnificent. My mouth hung slightly open as she got a broom. I shook my head returning to my soldier Peter. 

“Will you be alright” I questioned 

“She’s- she’s” Peter said in a breathless state 

“Yes, we are all aware” Patrick chimed in

Once Peter was all right, I watched as she cleaned up sighing as she picked up broken objects it was like she had done this countless times. 

“Can I help” I asked 

She shook her head 

“How…if you're alright with me asking did you end up in these woods?” I questioned

“I used to live in the kingdom but then I was scared I was going to be killed if anyone saw me practicing” she explains 

“You lived in the village?” I asked 

“Yeah, did you think I was born in the woods” she chuckles laughing at the idea of it all that she was a child of the woods 

“Well, I apologise for assuming” I helped her clean up even if she said she did not need to I had to 

The cabin was beautiful, so much more comfortable than any room in the castle it felt like you could sleep on the dining table and wake up refreshed. There was this freedom about it all. It is why she is here to be away from it all. I wish I could stay…what am I thinking I have gone completely insane. 

“I have a question” I say picking up the broken crockery 

“Do tell” she says using the broom to brush away any small fragments into a pile 

“Is there a shoeless man in these woods” I have a tinge of anxiety in my voice i just needed to hear it was not true

She looked at me then laughed. I realised I was stupid asking those types of questions, but the anxiety was like an itch I needed to scratch away. 

“No there isn’t, and I know who made it up” she says chuckling 

“Who” l questioned 

“My grandmother” she responded 

“Really?” I said in an unbelievable tone

“Yes, she was the one who made it all up so people wouldn’t go into the woods while she was practicing…she was so smart” she recalls

“Your family were witches to” I look at the opal ring on her finger 

“Yes” she finds where my gaze is on the ring 

“My grandmother gave it to me before she died” she rubs the opal stone 

“I’m sorry for your loss” I say sympathetic 

“It was a long time ago” she fiddled with the ring 

“She clearly meant a lot to you” I say in an understandable tone of course she must have meant a lot to her 

“Yes she did” she met my eyes I couldn’t breathe once again I wanted to know everything I felt I could give my life if I could just stare into those eyes all day long the kingdom my duty always felt empty but those blue eyes filled me with endless wonder on who was this beautiful woman standing in front of me. Would it ever work the witch and the prince no it wouldn’t it couldn’t I’d have to leave them spend the rest of my life dreaming again and again of these moments when she spoke to me when I heard her voice seen her craft that would all be a dream I would relive over and over again. 

“Travis look at this” Patrick’s voice breaks the moment 

“I’m coming” I stare at her a bit more before finally moving away towards him as Patrick shows me some kind of magical object like were not already in a magical cabin.

Of course there’s magic

She showed us upstairs there was a lot of space. I finally took off all the armour and padding put on me. I was grateful to be out of it. Finally, it is like an inferno in there. 

Everyone chose their respective mattress that was laid for them. 

Everyone went to sleep but me 

I stared at the ceiling

Waiting for some kind of revelation 

I swear I saw someone move towards the bookshelf

I could not work out the figure

Before I had any more chances, she pulled a book, and it opened to a cauldron and glass jars of every material I had ever seen. It was Taylor and she started the blue flames at the bottom of the cauldron with the flick of her wrist illuminating her. 

Enchanting 

It should not be I should know better. I have been taught that witches are the devil's child and that he should not be this way, absolutely amazed by her. He could not help it. He just watched as she poured in ingredients absolutely fascinated by her. He could be here for years, and he wouldn’t find himself bored as she whispered to herself stuff he couldn’t hear but it didn’t matter he was hooked ready to understand whatever she was saying even if it was a different language he’d learn he’d learn it all for her. 

He slowly started getting up he wanted a closer look 

“Your magical” he said quietly once he was close enough, he saw then the fear in her eyes like he would do something to her 

“Don’t be scared I’m interested in what you’re doing” he looked at her wrist wear a bracelet with the letter T stood out just like the one he had 

“Seems we have similar taste” he said showing his bracelet 

“Oh” she said looking at her bracelet then chuckling 

“The woman who sold it said- “she starts 

“It would protect” he finished 

She nodded 

“I think it does” she shrugs turning to get one of the glass jars 

“I think so to” he responds

Chapter Text

She flipped through the pages of her spell book. She hadn’t done a healing potion in a while. She stopped on the page as I read the ingredients, now remembering what she needed, and turned to her shelf. Travis looked at the book; it wouldn’t make sense to him. She could see how his brows furrowed, trying to read the illegible text on the page, deciding to give up and just watch instead.

Taylor searched for the ingredients as she read them on the page 

Two Persian frog eyes 

Water from the river of truth 

A chicken leg 

Boiled mouse ears 

Wild basil and Rosemary 

She read it, nodding her head and then started searching all the jars for them. With his gaze on her, it felt as if all the jars were now unorganised. At this moment, she regretted not putting them in alphabetical order because she looked like a crazy person picking up every jar to see if it was an ingredient, and then, when it was, mumbling to herself.

“no….no….no” 

It took her much longer than normal, but she found the ingredients she needed.

“So Taylor is an uncommon name”, he says, watching her unscrew the jars and pour them into the Cauldron.

“Yes, I guess you could say that”, she was focused on making sure she was measuring the ingredients as he watched her diligently.

“I could say the same about Travis,” she retorted 

“My parents named me after a famous General”,  he said with a hint of pride in his voice. 

General Harold Travis Kelce died diligently on the battlefield fighting for the kingdom he was now the prince of; his parents gave him the middle name since they thought it would help show him a path of life; all it did was put more pressure on him. 

“My parents named me that cause it’s a name which could be used by anyone; they didn’t want me to be judged”

Her parents, when signing her up for anything, knew it was harder for girls to get a spot,,s so naming their child something that could be considered that she was a boy would help her in life. But then it gave this immense pressure to live up to those expectations that she could do the same as boys around her. 

“I never liked my name”, they said at the same time, both then pausing and looking at each other.

They could see it in their eyes..

The tortured souls intertwined, bound by pressure and expectations they could never live up to.

Was a prince and a witch so different to one another? 

She then tore her gaze away, shaking her head, and Travis coughed, readjusting himself.

“How long has your father been sick now?” she pours in the water from the river of truth as she asks the question. 

For many months, we’ve contacted every doctor we can, but no one can figure out what he has. It's our last option,” he said in a sombre voice. This illness that his father had was affecting the whole family’s lives. 

“I see”, the weight of pressure fell on her it made her feel sick. 

The house started to curve around her, the walls caving in slightly. Travis immediately noticed she was completely spaced out, and he started shaking her.

“Hey, hey, can you hear me?” he begged as the walls came in closer. 

She came back, and the walls readjusted themselves; he still had his hands on her shoulders.

“Are you alright?” he looked down his hazel eyes, worried, looking at her, trying to figure out the issue that she was having.

“I’m okay,” she looked back at him with her blue eyes deep as the sea and bright and the sun shining in her eyes like sapphires.

He didn’t move 

Why wasn’t he moving?

She could feel herself getting flustered. Why wasn’t he moving?

Her dreams flashed before her. She’d seen those eyes thousands of times before looking at her, not saying anything, but she felt as though she was home. 

“Do you…see me to?” she asked hesitantly. 

“In my dreams”, he responded, finally taking his hands off her shoulder.

She froze. He did see her. 

“I do as well, your eyes I’ve-“ she didn’t get to finish her sentence before he interrupted

“Seen so many times”, he interrupts 

She pulls out the jar, the chicken leg dropping into the potion. It made a small splash sound before she dusted off her hands and grabbed her herbs and mouse ears. What exactly was she supposed to say about the fact they had seen each other in dreams she couldn’t even explain it herself it wasn’t something she was familiar with even if she was a witch it had never been written about before it wasn’t so thing she had missed when reading through she would carefully ready every page of every book written by the witches and what could she find absolutely nothing it was unexplained so what she did was write her book about it.

She would write in her journal when she would have the dream of those eyes that haunted her so much, writing as much as she could remember, doing sketches if the dream wasn’t as blurry. It was an obsession trying to figure out who these eyes belonged to. She would go through her memory time and time again, but nothing would come from it. 

She wondered if he ever stayed up all night like she would. 

Travis POV

He groaned every time he woke up from one of those dreams. It's like every time he had it, he felt as though he could touch it, but then he would wake up disappointed. He would sometimes close his eyes when the room was too loud, as people argued about things like “The carriage needs to be more gold!”. Issues that would only affect him, he would find himself closing his eyes, seeing those blue eyes and for some reason brought him comfort that in a way he had someone with him, even if he didn’t know who they were.

But now she was her,e talking, looking at him and telling him that she also saw his eyes in the dreams.

It was fate or something. How was this possible? Two people from such opposite worlds dreaming of each other? 

What was he thinking?

He watched as she slowly poured in the last ingredient. The potion was this iridescent indigo colour that shone like shooting stars that he could wish on. Dream big, he was always allowed to dream big. Hee was the prince; he had all the money and power to dream big, yet when it came to what he dreamed, it was only her there in his dream.

His dream

She was his dream 

Whether she accepted it or not, she was his dream; he’d never been so certain in his life about anything. 

He watched as she used her magic to stir the spoon. His tiredness finally overcome. Was it the ladle rotation going round and round like he was being slowly hypnotised, or the potion smell or aura that brought him to sleep? He doesn’t know; he just remembered waking up back in his bed. 

When he woke up, though, she was nowhere to be seen. He thought he could’ve dreamed it all. l dreamed that she might have been real for a minute, but then he heard something from the roof?

Is she? No….she can’t be 

He found a ladder up to a rooftop opening, and there she was sitting on the roof drinking tea. She looked like she’d woken up a bit before him, her hair was messy from the bed, her curls were tied into a bun that was barely hanging on her eyes, adjusting to the light as she blew on her tea, her a midnight blue night dress which had stars embroidered on it. She was a vision in this light, in any light, for that matter. 

He just stared at her because what was he supposed to say? He forgot every manner lesson he had all his life thrown out the window by one Miss Taylor. 

“Morning”, she responded, her voice lower than usual. 

“Morning,” my voice is the same. 

“Can I join you?” I questioned, but in my heart, I could only think

Please say yes Please say yes Please say yes Please say yes Please say yes Please say yes Please say yes Please say yes Please say yes Please say yes Please say yes Please say yes Please say yes Please say yes Please say yes Please say yesPlease say yes Please say yes Please say yes Please say yes Please say yes Please say yes Please say yes Please say yes.

“Of course, sit”, she patted the spot next to her. I tried to hide my excitement sitting next to her, but I had some kind of smile on my face. 

“This cabin gets more wonderful as I stay in it. You have a roof you can sit on?” she chuckled, her laugh free and inhibited. Was it her laugh that made me feel so connected with her, or was it just? 

Her 

“It’s finished the potion”, she said, taking a small sip. 

“Oh”, I said dumbly 

Oh, indeed, was this the end of it all? I was going to have to go back with my men, leave her here, leave all the memories here. I didn’t want to go, I hadn’t had a rough time. I was always told to put duty first but for the first time in my life I was being selfish because i know her I don’t know how to explain it like I’ve known her before in another life I don’t know how I knew but I felt at peace when she was here talking to me or even looking in my direction. I wanted to pick my heart for once; my heart was saying stay. 

“Don’t worry, you need me to travel with you, I’ll administer the potion to your father and then…you never have to see me again”, she says the last part quietly.

I looked at her 

“Why body you think I- that we wouldn’t want to see you again?” 

“Witches and princes aren’t supposed to be in the same world. I wouldn’t fit in the castle, I like it here,” she says, making a point.

Witches and princes, no, they were never supposed to cross paths. Most who do are cursed, but she wasn’t a curse; she was a blessing. 

A blessing that he wanted to appreciate so badly, and yet he couldn’t help to hide and feel shame over it. He just wanted to screw it all. It was crazy, but his family always thought so anyway. 

“So I will go wake up my men will start travelling at once”, but I couldn’t. I had to be this serious version of myself who was emotionless. Everyone was expecting me to go, so I had to leave. 

I go down the step ladder, and I start waking up everyone who starts gearing up. I don’t put on as much armour as before, I trust her to lead us. 

She stood by the door, a green cape around her orange dress with white embroidery on it and boots. She had a satchel over her shoulder. With everyone out of the cabin, she started leading us back to the village, and I was overcome by the feeling of dread.

I was never going to be the same person they once knew. 

Chapter Text

TAYLOR POV 

She realised very quickly what she had gotten herself into as she walked out of the cabin back into the woods.

She was about to go back to her hometown 

With the Prince of said hometown 

Then supposedly heal said Prince's father 

She was way out of her depth, and there was no magical cabin to keep her safe this time. It was her and her alone.

Well not alone Travis and like 5 other people who she never really catched the names of the other guys. She couldn’t really care to be honest. Her anxiety was at a new peak she never knew it could be at.

She wanted to throw up. 

It was all so overwhelming, all of it, and the fact that she was walking so strenuously in the woods was a testament to her determination. She hadn’t walked so much in years, and her cabin stairs were enough to take her breathless, but going through treacherous territory like these woods was working her legs.

What was also treacherous was Travis.

She had to remind herself not to look at him every 5 seconds. God, it was hard. He, in all his armour, looked like he could walk through fire and only come out with a scratch. 

The sticks on the floor cracked beneath her boots as she trod on them. Each one she felt was louder than the next, like she was a warning for what was to come, that something would happen; she always waited for the other shoe to drop. 

She slowly put her hood up. She could see…sunlight…a rare sight for her. Her hometown looked different but the same somehow, she couldn’t explain it like Sony g you could reach out but not touch the nostalgia washed over her like a wave. They came towards the exit, nd she stepped into the daylight. The hatter of everyone around the market was in full bustle; she heard children crying, adults laughing. It was a sensory experience she hadn’t had in years.

Everything was so bright and glaring she could swear colours weren’t this bright the last time she was here, but it was a long time ago. She stood frozen, trying to take all in.

Travis stood next to her and turned to her 

“Welcome back to the Kingdom of Cleveland”

She chuckled 

“Thank you”, she smiled politely at him as she looked back. She saw the castle ahead of her. The fate of her existence lay in front of her view. 

They started walking up the streets that’s when people got quiet and started whispering to each other this is what she has feared her whole life everyone looking down on her whispering gossip about her she could have honestly broken down if Travis wasn’t walking beside her giving death stares to those to dare to whisper and she couldn’t have been more grateful for his presence and trust she had this impulse to grab his hand so she clasped her hand together so that wouldn’t happen. 

They kept walking up the cobbled streets to the castles, his boots making a clicking sound, nd they hit the stone on the floor as she passed familiar buildings, including her own one which she lived in, and she stopped to look at it. 

Her entire childhood was spent there. Nowt’s just a bitter-sweet memory, she shook her head and continued, she reminded herself of the duty that she had taken on.

Not the time for daydreaming, Taylor. 

Suddenly, she was faced with the walls of the palace. Out of respect, she took her hood off the guards immediately let Travis pass. They called out his arrival in the entrance way.

She was met with immediate chaos.

There was running and shouting and crying, and it was all a mess. Her eyes couldn’t find a spot to look at it; it seemed that every place was a disaster, and then she saw another tall gentleman dressed somewhat like Travis running towards us at full speed.

Travis (whose maids had somehow, in the 50 seconds we had been here had already removed his armour) and he was in just a white t-shirt and brown trousers addressed him.

“Jason, this is Taylor, she’s the witch in the woods, she’s made a poti-“ before he could finish, Jason butted in. 

“She can make whatever she wants, father is dying imminent” he was running again now, Travis running after him. 

.

So I did the only thing I thought I should do in this situation, and also ran.

I ran through hallways I’d never done this much exercise in my life; it was exhausting.

Plus, trying not to bump into the staff around was like a labyrinth,  but Travis would sometimes turn his head back to see how far away I was. He could see I was probably struggling, since as I stopped and put my hands on my knees to breathe, he ran to me.

“You can’t stop, I need you right now, Taylor” he then promptly grabbed my wrist and started running.

.

My face went completely red. 

.

Oh god, I almost fainted. 

.

Focus Taylor Focus. 

We finally reached the room, and so many people were crowded around him that it was hard to actually see the king. 

.

“ANYONE WHO ISN'T MY FAMILY LEAVES THE ROOM IMMEDIATELY”, Travis yelled, which honestly startled me a. All the maids scurried out. It was Travis and Jason, and an elderly lady, whom I assumed was Travis’s mother. 

I looked at the man who lay in bed, the King of Cleveland, Ed say pale as a sheet of white linen, his eyes half open and red, he seemed as though he had crawled into a shell. I took off my cape but held onto my messenger bag as I kneeled beneath him. 

His eyes turned curiously to me.

“Your majesty, I come here from the woods to give you something that I hope will heal your sickness” I looked at Travis, who had now rolled up his sleeves, unveiling his forearms. I took all my strength not to stare at them.

I pulled out my potion and poured the liquid into his mouth. It's fast fast-acting one. 

It took a few seconds, but I could see the colour returning to his face. A spark came back to his eye, the same one that was in his son, I could see wwhereTravis got his determination from. 

The elderly lady started sobbing and thanking the heavens, and both Travis and Jason started crying, and this is when I thought it was best that I leave.

I walked out of the room slowly, trying to make myself unknown, and I waited outside to be called in if anything were to happen. 

It worked. 

It actually worked. 

I breathed a sigh of relief, and finally felt for the first time in 2 days I could really breathe again. She closed her eyes, holding the empty potion bottle like it were a life force. 

In this moment, though she felt…free

She was out of the woods. 

What was happening with the woods? She had been so preoccupied that she had forgotten that she had to go back. 

She waited to go back in to get her cape. Travis came out, his face red from crying. She didn’t say anything, but what she didn’t expect was him hugging her. 

He held her tight, his head on her shoulder. It took a few seconds before she hugged back. 

“What can we ever do to repay you?” he asked, his voice muffled.

“I don’t need anything”  That was a lie. 

.

“My father wants to speak with you”, he said, stepping back. 

“Oh, is he?” I immediately thought of the worst

“He’s perfect”, he just smiled and then ushered me into the room. The king nodded his son and wife away. She touched my shoulder as she passed if somehow my touch would bring her some sense of clarity. 

The door shut, and he sat up in bed, much more alive than 10 minutes ago. 

“The first thing I will say is thank you”, he said, gratefully.ul 

.

“It was no issue,” I say nonchalantly. 

“The second thing I need to ask is what have you done to my son? My whole body froze. I felt a chill up my spine, and my mouth became immediately dry; my throat felt sore.

“I-I don’t- I don’t know what you mean” After stumbling a few times, I got the words right. 

“Is your father Scott Swift?” He asked

That wave of nostalgia washed over my shore again. 

.

My father…

“Yes…he i, do you…know him?” I asked this time 

“Yes, I am familiar with the man; he would play cards with me and other gentlemen". He reminisced.

I was about to ask questions like 

Why is the King playing cards with the villagers, but as I had that thought, this story continued. 

“He talked about his daughter a lot,ot said how much he missed her, said a piece of him was gone because you weren’t there…why ever did you run away?” He inquired; he seemed to have that curiosity that Travis had.

“Cassandra”, I said plainly.

He raised his eyebrow.

“She was a past witch who was burned when the town found out she was a witch. I didn't want it to happen to me” I looked down at the floor like I was ashamed of my actions.

“What if I made you the king's personal witch? No one will harm you, you can visit your woods and your parent, and trust me, the people in this village will celebrate the fact that you cured the king,” He stated 

I felt as though I might cry. 

“Are you offering that seriously?” I tried not to choke on my words 

“Absolutely,” He nodded. 

I chuckled, tears coming into my eyes as I took his hand.

“Thank you, your majesty”, I said, as grateful as I could be 

“Now back to my question about my son…”

I was once again frozen. 

“He seems different when I asked him how he found you, and the time he spent, he went into such detail, I saw him light up like I’ve never seen him before. I do think he likes you quite much.” As he finished, he laughed a little 

I felt my face flush.

I couldn’t be true 

“I don’t think so, sir, he is so-“

“You like him too,” he didn’t ask if I did, he knew he decreed it.

“Yes, your majesty, I know it’s sudden…” I was about to go on a ramble when he interrupted.

“Such nonsense, Jason, when he met his wwifee said he instantly knew” I smiled at the comment.

“What will you do about it then?” I ask, wanting to know if there was anything to come our way.

“Nothing, free to do whatever. I’ll tell guards to make you a station for your craft once you go out te,  tell everybody that I am well and your new position”, he started, already planning things 

.

“I will live…here?” I asked trepidately

“Of course”, he then ushered me out.

TRAVIS POV

She had been in there for a while. I couldn’t help but bite my nails in response. Jason stood next to me, laughing at my predicament.

It was pretty obvious that he could see she meant something to me.

“Did it happen instantly, like it happened to me?” I knew exactly what he was talking about 

“Yes”, I responded, finally admitting out loud my feelings.

“Father would never allow it, however, so it’s utterly useless-“ Jason stops me with his finger. 

“He also wants you to be happy”, he makes a point.

 I was happy with her. 

If he’d rather seem miserable my whole life, that’s his decision. I would never listen to him again. 

She came out of the room, finally, and I stood up.

“He will be fine, he has named me…the official royal witch. I will be staying here,” I felt my heart leap out of my chest. My mother hugged her and started thanking her.

“You are a miracle worker, I am Donna” My mother smiled. Taylor immediately introduced herself. I couldn’t help but stand proud. She would stay forever. I couldn’t help but look at her.

They could both tell, so they left me and her to see my father. 

“You’re staying”, I breathed out.

“Yes, I am”, she said, taking a step forward.

I wanted to skip down the halls. 

“Um…your father mentioned something, I just have something to ask,” she said more quietly than normal.

“What is it?” I was worried about what he could of he said. 

“He said, " Umm…you liked me? I mean he said he thought but like it’s impossible I mean ME no way I’m insane you know I talk to walls what no I don’t what am I saying I’m so sorry I ramble when I feel like the world is crashing down on me which it’s not I’m just really dramatic all the time I mean you should know that because if you do like me then you should know I’m like why are you looking at me like that” 

I was just smiling as she rambled, go, it was more than cute, it was everything. She was nervous about me, and I  just looked at her like I had wanted to for the past two days with just admiration.

I chuckled before speaking. 

“Are you done, or is there more?” I questioned. 

She shook her head. 

“Good, my father, I knew I couldn’t get past him, so yes, I do like you, no,o I don’t mind that you're crazy, and I’d like to get to know you better…Please,” Was it begging? I don’t know why I said please like I needed her to hear how desperate I really was. 

She takes my hand. 

She’s holding my hand.

Just breathe just breathe just breathe just breathe Just breathe just breathe just breathe just breathe Just breathe just breathe, just breathe, just breath, just breathe just breathe just breathe just breathe

“Thank you, I’d like to know you too”

I breathed out a sigh of relief dropping back onto her shoulder again. I just needed that physical presence of hers to remind me that this was real. I stood back up after a second.

“Taylor Allison Swift, nice to meet you” She held out her hand to shake, instead took it and kissed it.

“Travis Michel Kelce, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance”