Breaking Free

... continued from previous two posts

But then he changed his mind. Why would he head back to the castle, back to that prison, when that was the last place he wanted to be? He knew he did not belong there. So he switched direction and headed towards the far hills, into lands unknown and unexplored. 

As he drew closer to the hills, he observed one lonely tower built into the side of the rock. Curiosity took hold of him and he decided to head towards this tower. He dug his heels into the side of his horse and rode faster until, finally, he was at the base of the tower. He looked up and...

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While she was still staring out the window, she noticed a black speck growing larger and larger as it headed towards her. What could it be and why was it coming to her lonely tower? She looked closer and as it continued moving, she began to make out the shape of a man upon a horse.

She thought she had lost all hope long ago but as her breathing quickened and her heart skipped a beat, she wondered if there was still room in her heart for hope. Maybe it wasn't such a terrible thing. If she had never hoped, she wouldn't have been hurt as she was, but the feeling before the fall was indescribable. So as he reached the base of the tower, hope filled her once more and she looked down and....

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....he saw her looking down at him. And in that moment, he knew that he was there to free her. So he headed towards the door and hacked away at the thick wood until he finally made a space big enough to get through. 

... she saw him looking up at her and knew she must show him the love she knew she had in her somewhere. So she removed a brick in the wall, reached in, and took out the keys and begin unlocking doors all the way down the tower.

It was slow work, but he kept breaking down the doors as he went up each new set of stairs until they reached the same staircase. He stopped at the bottom and she waited at the top and then slowly, they began moving towards each other. After what could have been a lifetime, they reached the same step. He took her into his arms and carried her to the base of the castle and placed her gently upon his horse. He led the horse away from the tower and back towards his home. 

As they went, they talked and laughed together and each began to find in the other just what they needed. She found love and care and he found love and acceptance. All the past hurts and disappointments were only steps to lead them both here. It would take time for everything to heal completely but for now, they had each other.