Chapter one

I open my eyes, only to be blinded by a bright white light. I immediately close my eyes again and try to open them slowly, finding that it is just the sun streaming in through the huge window in front of me.

Im laying in a huge, fluffy four-poster bed, light pink and white pillows surround me, blankets drape everywhere, and curtains hang around the tall posters. The bed is in the middle of a very big, round room. A plush carpet covers most of the dark hardwood floor, grand chairs line the walls (or I say wall?), and the wallpaper is of some greek battle scene. Right across the room from where I lay is a ginormous window overlooking a meadow that looked like it came straight from a fairytale. 

The tall tan grasses spread for miles, occasional trees popping up here and there, and wildflowers gently spotting the earth. The sun streaks through the grassy land, illuminating it with a golden glow. 

I prop myself up on my elbows as I bring my thoughts back to myself. Where am I? What is this place? I can't remember…

It was like cold wet hands ran down my back as I realized that I can't seem to remember who I am. My name? It is lost in the many rooms of my brain. my brain is a penthouse, with all the doors of memories locked and I can't find the keys. I try and think hard, trying to find at least my name. It is at the tip of my tongue but still closed behind that door. 

Where have I come from? Have I lived in this room my whole life? I look down at my body. I am wearing a silk nightgown, and as I move the bedding and look at my legs and hands, I discover that I have pale skin. My legs, arms, and torso seem to be slender, but not underfed. I seem to be older than thirteen because I can tell that my body is more mature. 

I look around the room and find a long mirror on the dresser. I move my legs out from the warm covers and stand up. Walking towards the mirror, I can only guess my hair is long by the way it falls down my back. I stand in front of the mirror and study myself.

I have a delicate face like someone took an awl to carve out my features. My cheeks are full and smooth, curving around my bones perfectly. My eyes are wide and downturned, with deep brown irises. My nose is small and upturned a little at the bottom. My mouth is small and pouting, with deep lips. 

I bring my hand up to my hair. I stare. I have never seen hair like mine. Well, I don't know if I have. I don't remember. My hair is bright red. Not orange-red as you see often. A deep red, shining and wavy. It falls all the way down to my hips, with no knots in sight.

I shuffle at the door bringing my attention back to the room. I look over to the door, just in time to see it open and a person steps inside. It's a man, short and plumb. He wears a fur robe and fur slippers. Like he just got out of bed. He turns around, and I am struck by his face.

He has light blond hair (balding ofc), and a darker beard. His eyes are big and watching. But what is most unsettling is that he has one single long scar across his face. From the side of his jaw, all the way up to his temple. I wonder what he could have gotten into to get that.

When he sees me watching him, he smiles.

“Hello. My name is Arthur –last name–??. You may call me king Arthur.” he says, still with a smile.

I look down at myself. I am just in the silk nightgown, which falls to the tops of my thighs. I immediately feel naked. Without saying anything, I walk over to the dresser and pull out a robe that is hanging on the first hanger. I pull it on, while still staring at this strange man. King.

He clears his throat. “Yes, um… my apologies. I should have knocked. Never mind that.” he looks down and I see that he is mildly embarrassed. “I was coming to welcome you to our castle. You must be a little foggy.”

I nod my head. “Where am I? A castle you say?” I'm surprised by my voice. Light and raspy. “How did I get here? I can't even remember my name.”

He walks to me, and he gets very close. Too close. I can feel his breath on me. “You must remember this. Your name is Amber Clair. You are here, and this castle is your home. Your life is here. You do not go outside the castle grounds. I am your king, and you must obey me at all times.” he catches his breath. “As for your memory, your brain fell sick last month. We had to take you to a hospital where they put you in a coma for surgery and the conscious was that you would lose all your memory. You have lived here your whole life amber. I am ever so glad you have finally woken up. And I'm sorry about your memory. You would have died.”

I take in this information, not daring to breathe. I have lived here my whole life. Nothing is familiar. This…king, he's talking to me like he barely knows me. Who is he? 

I clear my throat. “So, I'm better now? my memory, will it come back?” I ask, holding my breath.

He sighs. “Unfortunately, no. but just think! Now you can walk through the castle for the first time again! Take in its beauty.” he gets a faraway look and I stand there, watching him. He shakes his head as if to clear a bad thought. “Sorry. Um, Lidia will be coming in to get you dressed. When you are ready you may explore. I will see you later. Farewell.”

And with that, he closes the door and I can hear his footsteps leading away.

I cross the room and sit on a white chain next to my dresser. 

Another knock on my door startles me. I get up off my chair to see who it is. When I open my door, a woman stands there. She has glowing light brown skin, dark oval eyes, and short black hair. She's wearing a long white dress that goes all the way down to her feet. She gives me a warm smile.

“Hi, amber. My name is Lidia. I'm here to get you dressed and clean up a bit.” she peers inside. “May I come in?”

“Oh, yeah. Sure.” I step aside and open the door all the way. She enters, walking straight to the dresser, which she opens wide revealing all the pretty fabrics. She beacons me to come over and stares at me.

I m confused. “What is it?” I ask her.

“Well,” she says, trying to suppress a smile. “Usually the princess will decide what she wants to wear.”

“Oh. okay then.” I scan the dresses and pick a small lacey red one. She giggles.

“Um, that one for nighttime. One of these.” she points to the big gowns. It takes me a moment to realize what she just said, but when I do my face heats up. This one is for nighttime. Does that mean it's for…?

“Oh,” I laugh at myself a little. I point to a dark green one with long wide sleeves. She nods. “Um, you know, I could get myself dressed perfectly fine. I don't think I need anyone to help me. No offense or anything.”

She shakes her head. “Not with these dresses. These need at least two people to get it on right. You'll get used to them though.” she looks at me. “You can leave in your nightgown. Just put this corset on over and then we can do the dress.”

After several minutes of pure torcher trying to get the corset tight enough, and slipping and tying the dress on, I sit at a vanity while she brushes my hair. She takes out a small gold crown and places it on my head. When she leads me to the big mirror, I can't believe my eyes.

My dress looks like it came from a medieval princess's closet. Maybe it did. The long bell sleeves fall to the floor, the corset complements my features, and the dress hugs my waist with a long belt that falls down the front of my dress. The neckline is low and hanging, but I don't mind. My freshly brushed hair and the dark green dress go very nicely together. I truly look like a princess.

I turn to Lidia. “Is this how you people dress all the time?” I ask in disbelief. 

“Well, yes.” she looks puzzled as if I asked her an obvious question. Then she shakes her head. “I keep forgetting you lost your memory. I used to know you so well.” she gets a faraway look in her eyes. “The king wants you to wander around for a while, and get used to the space. Whenever you are ready, you may go and look around. I'm afraid it will take all day, but you'll enjoy it.”

She excuses herself from my bedroom and leaves me alone with my wandering head. The sun is still high in the sky outside my window, and it illuminates my room in a white glow. I sit down at the vanity again, looking at myself. I notice a little draw next to my hand and open it. Inside is an assortment of items. 

There is a little container of a pink powdery substance, and a brush on the side of it. Then a hairbrush, then… a knife.

I gasp a little, not sure how I know what a knife is, or a hairbrush, if I lost my memory, but I put that thought aside. I pull out the knife, its gold, and bronze, with a leather handle. It fits in my hand perfectly, and I see a piece of paper where the knife rested in my drawer. I open it.

Amber, 

When you read this, I hope you are well and safe. I write to you because I need to warn you. As I presume, you probably just woke up, have no idea where you are, and are scared and confused. A funny-looking king told you that you have lived here your whole life, and sent a housekeeper to look after you and dress you up.

Was I right? 

Back to my warning. Amber, it would be best if you were extremely careful. The king is not who he says he is, and you are not who he says you are. You can't trust anyone, okay? Keep this knife, just in case you need it. Don't tell anybody about this note, or the knife. Hide it, and never talk about it.

Be careful,