Page 88 of Bewitched

“I know it was,” she answered. “But to be honest, Henriette, at times I admit that a part of me liked the way it felt. However, I have changed. I don’t want to be that same person anymore. I don’t want to hurt people. I don’t want to see them suffer. And I don’t want to have to live in fear of the darkness controlling me, and possibly hurting those I love.”

“But what about Sir Rhys? And the baby?” asked Henriette. “Don’t you love them?”

“I do this because I love them, Henriette. I could not live with myself if I sent you to your death because of my own wants and greed. I also don’t want my family to have to live with someone who has such darkness in her heart, that she let another die when she could have stopped it from happening. I want happiness with Rhys and Lily-Rae more than anything in the world, I swear I do. But I also want to make the right choices from now on. I want you to live, Henriette.”

“If you want Sir Rhys so badly, then let the handmaid die,” said the guard.

“Nay. I just can’t do that,” she answered softly.

“What about Blackseed?” asked the King. “What will he think about your decision?”

“He will understand my decision and support it,” said Medea, knowing this was true. “Rhys is a good man. He would not want me to let innocent people die if I had the power to stop it. I will never let that happen again.”

“Power,” mumbled the King. “My, how your idea of power has changed.”

“Let me in!” Shouting was heard from the gate.

Medea looked up to see Rhys fighting off three men at once, trying to get into the courtyard atop his horse. Darium and Zann were with him. And in a cart being pulled by a horse was her sister, Rapunzel, Rhys’ mother, and her darling baby. Driving the cart were Talia and Elric.

“Lily-Rae,” cried Medea, clasping a hand over her mouth when she saw how big the little girl had become overnight. Tears filled her eyes once again. The thought hit her hard that she would never be there to see Lily-Rae turn into a young lady. The King said her daughter could live with them, but she didn’t want the girl to grow up around such an evil man. Nay. She would tell Rhys to raise their daughter, because Rhys and his family were good people. That is where Lily-Rae belonged.

“Stop, Medea! Don’t marry him,” yelled Rhys, still fighting off guards at the gate.

“Let them pass,” called out Osric, surprising Medea that he should say this. King Osric stood up straighter and actually handed his crutch to his guard.

When the newcomers all approached, Rhys held out his sword, making his way forward. “Let her go,” commanded Rhys.

“Nay, Rhys, don’t,” she told him, still crying. “King Osric is going to kill Henriette. I had to promise to marry him to spare her life.”

“What? Nay.” Rhys looked over to the handmaid, who was still being held by a guard. “Medea, I love you and want to spend my life with you. I thought you loved me too.”

“I do!” she cried, her entire body shaking. “I love you and little Lily-Rae more than life itself.”

“Medea, please. Don’t marry him,” Rhys begged her once again.

“I cannot let Henriette die because of me, Rhys. Please try to understand. I don’t make this decision lightly. Take care of our baby for me. Tell Lily-Rae every day that I love her.”

“We’re going to get married and raise her together.” Rhys had a tear in his eye now, too.

“It’s better this way, Rhys,” she told him. “The darkness inside me is dangerous and I don’t want it to ever affect my child. I don’t want to continuously worry that someday I might hurt her or even you.”

“You won’t, Medea. You are a good person. I’ve seen the light within you.”

“Protect her, always, Rhys. And always remember that I love you,” Medea said in a soft voice.

“Nay, Medea. I won’t let you go.” Rhys was not making this easy for her. She wished now that he and the others had stayed at the cottage.

“Mama,” shouted Lily-Rae from the cart, making Medea so sad that she felt a sharp stabbing pain in her heart. She held much love for Rhys and Lily-Rae. She also felt love for Rapunzel and her family back in England. The light inside her was growing and her heart was not so closed off anymore. She was sure of it now. She could feel it.

Medea felt love for Rhys’ family too, and even Henriette, whom she would do anything to save. Love wasn’t something she was used to. She wasn’t sure she had ever really felt it until she met Rhys. But now that she experienced the feeling, she realized that it was stronger than any darkness and always would be. The immense feelings bubbling up inside her became so strong now that it was overwhelming. Her head spun and her knees buckled beneath her, as her body trembled so badly that she felt as if she were about to faint.

She heard shouting from outside the gates, and realized it was the other kingdoms coming to attack. Medea also thought she heard a noise in the sky. When she looked up, she felt confused. It was the dragon. Marco’s dragon. But how could this be? The dragon was in the pit. She saw it with her own eyes. It couldn’t be up in the sky too.

“Medea, are you all right?” Rapunzel materialized at her side just as she was about to fall, holding out her arms to steady her.

“W-what’s going on?” asked Medea.

What she saw next shocked her more than anything. The dragon flew over the castle, breathing fire down at the soldiers from the other kingdoms that had started to attack. They turned and rode away from Kasculbough, not looking back. Then the dragon dipped down, and flew right toward them.