Page 190 of Castings & Curses

Nodding, Eryx took her hands in his and sank to one knee. “Bellatrix, my darling, would you…” The sentence was unfinished as Eryx began to cough. “Sorry, my dear, would you…” again Eryx stopped abruptly and was unable to continue.

“What’s wrong?” asked Bellatrix, “Are you alright, my love?”

Eryx rose to his feet. “I must be unwell, for as much as I try to say the words you long to hear, my tongue will not allow the words to be spoken.”

“How peculiar,” mused Bellatrix. “My answer lies within my heart. I say…”

Before the happy forest dweller could produce the word ‘yes,’ a fit of coughs racked her body. “Eryx I….” Her lips barred her from producing the phrase of romance.

She clasped her hands to her chest. An utterance that she had been able to say so easily a week ago was now lost to the wind. “Dear heart, it seems I too am unable to say the sentiments of affection.”

“It appears acts of wickedness have been bestowed upon us, my darling.” responded Eryx.

“I know how I feel about you,” whispered Bellatrix.

“And I about you,” responded the armorer, “Then we are in agreement?”

Bellatrix nodded, “I only wish we could speak it for the world to hear. Our desire for one another is now held prisoner in our souls with our tongues as the guard.” Her eyes sparkled with hope as an idea came to her. Grabbing her lover’s arm, she cried. “We must go tell Iris. She has a knack for this sort of conundrum. I know she will be able to help us.”

* * *

“You are cursed!”

Bellatrix and her beau’s eyes widened as Iris’ revelation rang throughout the cabin.

The old woman got up from the table and walked over to the cupboard. She pulled out a faded leather-bound book. Flipping through the pages, her finger ran over the various words on the sheet. “Ah here it is. The Curse of Lovers. When two people in love want to express their affection, they are unable to do so. Words of romance are forgotten, and couples are unable to confess their deepest desires or agree to any form of matrimonial commitment. Their love remains bottled inside, unable to escape into the world.”

“Someone has hexed us and we do not even know who it is?” asked Bellatrix.

Iris held out her palm to place her hand in the palm of the befuddled Bellatrix. Upon doing so, the elderly woman let out a gasp. “It is you who bears the misfortune, my dear. A dull, dark tinge upon the fingernails shows desperation of emotion. The heart cries in silence. Tears speak for words unspoken.” She looked at Eryx’s nails. “You have been spared, but Bellatrix has projected her jinx upon you.”

Jinx?Thought Bellatrix.Why does that name sound so familiar?“Why did someone place black magic upon me?” she asked.

Pondering her question, Iris shook her head. “That answer I do not know. But I have a feeling it has something to do with your past, my dear, that your memory refuses to acknowledge.”

“How can we regain her memory?” asked Eryx. “If my beloved can remember, then we can break this spell and marry.”

“Tisk, tisk,” replied Iris as she continued to flip through the pages. “It appears this hex will not be so easy to break. There are levels to love curses, and it appears this one is the most powerful. A bewitchment made in the act of envy and jealousy. A charm of possession. A conjuring of anger and not wanting another to experience true love.” She clasped her wrinkled hand to her chest, and the creases in her forehead deepened. “This curse was created during an October full moon near All Hallow’s Eve. You must find a way to break this incantation or it may last forever!”

“How can we break this hex?” asked Bellatrix, tears forming in her eyes.

“You must go deep into the woods until the trees become ghosts. There you will find the Good Witches of the Woods. They shall have the answer you seek. I only know general knowledge of curses, but they will have the secret to vindication.”

The Good Witches of the Woods was another name that produced an echo of familiarity to the sweet guest that Iris wanted so badly to help.

“You must go now, for every minute wasted makes the power grow stronger, and it could mean a life without true love.”

* * *

Walking deep into the forest,the two lovers pondered what the other one was thinking. Farther than they had ever gone before, Bellatrix thought of their secret grotto where the beautiful waterfall and quiet pond flooded feelings of a settled life. They were miles away from their gathering place. She tightened her grip on Eryx's hand. Ever since they had received the devastating news of the evil spell, they had fallen into an awkward silence. A curse was the most dangerous fate to befall any innocent couple.

While her mouth made no sounds, her brain was chattering. Who would curse her? What had she done to someone to cause that person to take away the ability for her to give and receive love? She groaned inwardly. If only she could remember.

“You do not have to take this journey with me, Eryx,” she bowed her head. “It is I who is cursed, not you. If you do not wish to be with me, I understand. Why would anyone want to spend eternity with someone who has no memory of her past?”

Her beloved armorer stopped and looked at her as if she had uttered a foreign phrase.

“What on Earth are you talking about, my dear?”

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