This story is by Alejandra Cue and was part of our 2025 Fall Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here.
More surprising than learning that the Peasant Hero Anor had befriended the Monster King, was the news of the Princess’ and the Hero’s engagement. It was the talk of the town, more so now that the Hero and his party were back home. The townsfolk joined in to celebrate the end of the decades-long war. All except Dantalianna.
“Are you sure, honey?” Mama coughed and her hands trembled. “It’s been a decade since you’ve seen Anor or Kris.”
“Everyone’s gonna be all over them. Besides—” Dantalianna bit her tongue as she touched her mother’s hand and channeled healing energy through her palms. “I’m tired.” Her cheeks softened as her mother’s fit stopped. “You guys have fun.”
Mama smiled and kissed her goodbye as she left.
Dantalianna huffed and looked out the window. I’m just not ready to see him. Her mind drifted towards memories of simpler days when Anor, Kris and she would go out and lose themselves in their imaginary adventures. Playing by the marshes, pretending they would become the heroes who finally slew the Monster King. The days when the appraisal of a lone wandering mage had sparked in her a dream of becoming a powerful enchantress.
But that’s what they were. Dreams.
Only Anor and Kris had made theirs a reality. Living the true adventure, saving the world, sharing small yet memorable moments. Dantalianna could even imagine their silly banter.
“… did you seriously bring that?” Kris’ criticizing tone would boom, his voice now an adult’s.
“I’m not an idiot,” Anor’s softness would still ring true through his mature tone. “I left the enchanted earring back home. This one’s for—”
“You left it at your parents’ home? Unguarded?” A third voice hissed.
“Relax. No one knows it’s there,” Anor replied.
“Goddess, you are an idiot…”
“Doesn’t matter. Now knock. She’s waiting,” Kris urged.
It all sounded so real.
Almost as if they were talking just outside her door…
KNOCK KNOCK
Dantalianna jumped. Her hands gathered sweat despite the chilly weather. It can’t be. She approached the front door and creaked it open. Behind it, two smiles she knew too well greeted her. Older and weathered, with new creases and scars, yet with the same cheer of honest friendship.
“Hey Anna—”
Dantalianna jumped between the two men before Anor finished, one arm around each. The difference in height strained her muscles, but she held on while fighting unshed tears. “Guys…”
“We missed you too.” Kris rubbed his hand against her back.
When she felt in control of herself, Dantalianna stepped back to get a proper look. Kris was his same lean and mischievous self, albeit with a wiser glint. And Anor… The road had not been kind to him. Yet, that rugged look and intense stare left no place to doubt he’d become a man with a heart-melting smile.
Dantalianna’s chest warmed and her temples hardened. She avoided Anor’s gaze. “What took you so long?”
Kris chuckled. “You know, we’ve been busy saving the world.”
Dantalianna snorted, relieving some of the pressure.
“Actually, Anor can tell you all about it,” Kris slapped Anor’s shoulder. “Me and Sid will get a head start on the festival. See you there!”
Dantalianna flinched as a third figure by her porch moved, but she didn’t catch anything other than a dark hood as Kris and this Sid person walked away.
Come back. I’m not—
“May I?” Anor gestured.
“Y-yes, of course. Come in,” Dantalianna rushed to the kitchen. “Tea?”
“Water is fine,” he nodded.
“You don’t like it anymore?”
“I do, but I don’t want to be a bother.”
“You’re not—” Why should I reassure him? Dantalianna’s anger flared. She turned to face Anor. “Why didn’t you write? I thought you were dead.”
“I’m sorry. I couldn’t. There was no way to send messages from the monsters’ lands.”
You should’ve tried! She bit her lip. “You’ve been in the continent for weeks. Kris wrote.”
“I’m sorry. It’s all been very chaotic. Sometimes it feels like I don’t even have time to think—”
Dantalianna crossed her arms. “Not even about your bride-to-be?”
Anor rubbed his nose. “Urgh, not you too.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I’m not engaged to the Princess.”
Dantalianna frowned. “Wasn’t that your reward for ending the war?”
“No… I… it’s complicated,” he sat down.
“Un-complicate it,” she remained standing.
Anor closed and opened his fists against the table, nails tracing abstract contours carved into the wooden surface. Hollow eyes started into an unknowable distance. His breath quickened and he trembled.
Dantalianna had never seen him like that.
“Anor…” With an aching heart, she placed her hand over his, channeling warmth and healing. “What happened?”
Some minutes passed until his breathing steadied. Once he was calm, he sighed. “How much have you heard about the treaty?”
Dantalianna pondered. “Only what the heralds shared. That some monsters are just a different kind of people, while others are feral. And the Monster King wants to make peace for the sake of his people. Thanks to you, he’s willing to let us into his lands.”
“And to do that, our King’s court agreed that both kingdoms must be united in the eyes of the Goddess.”
Dantalianna shuddered at everything that implied.
“But the Monster King won’t have just anyone. His bride must be a potentially powerful mage. He even entrusted me with an enchanted engagement earring that will only bind to a maiden with incredible magic potential.” Anor drew another breath. “Among all the noble maidens, the Princess is the most proficient mage…”
“And our King wasted no time in announcing your engagement so nobody would consider her as a candidate for the marriage.”
He nodded. “That’s it. I didn’t agree to it. I can’t.”
She frowned. “Why not? It’s the opportunity of a lifetime.”
Anor placed his arm on the table and raised his sleeve. The white mark of a butterfly spreading its wings tainted his wrist.
Dantalianna’s eyes widened. “A fairy… Dammit, Anor. You know better!” She slapped the table. “What did you promise?”
He turned his hand to grab hers. “That I would ask my first love to marry me.”
Her heart skipped. “Who… was your first love?”
Anor’s gaze finally met Dantalianna’s. “You.”
Her palms gathered sweat as erratic blood pumped through her limbs. She stood up and pulled away. “Since when?”
“Since we were kids. Back then it was an innocent love. But after that day under the tree, when we kissed, I knew the love I felt for you was the one families are built with.”
Me too. She hugged herself, anger flaring. “Why did you tell Kris it was only out of curiosity, then?”
“I was afraid of losing your friendship. Now I know better. Life is too short and I want to spend the rest of mine by your side, if you’ll have me.”
Dantalianna’s jaw tensed, fingers pressing against her pierced yet empty earlobe. “I’m not…”
Anor’s chair grated against the floorboards. He came close, too close. His hand almost touched her cheek. “You were engaged? Who…?”
Her cheeks hardened, fighting tears. “It doesn’t matter. He wanted to move to the city, but I couldn’t. Mama needs me here. So he left me behind. Just like—” She choked.
Just like you did.
Resentment and sorrow clashed, drowning all thoughts.
She was alone.
Again.
Until his honest embrace broke through. He held her close with strength, comfort, and a scent powerful enough to push the hottest anger away.
“Anna, I’m here,” Anor caressed her cheek. “And I’m not leaving ever again. Not without you.” His eyes shone with a look to dispel all doubts.
Tears betrayed her. “You promise?”
“I promise.” He rummaged in the leather pouch hanging from his waist until he extracted a silver earring. Its design was simple, a round stud with an ancient rune carved on its surface. “Will you marry me?”
Dantalianna opened her heart to Anor’s warmth once more. “Yes.”
She smiled as he leaned to fit the earring in its rightful place.
Dantalianna screamed as her world shattered. Lightning tore her from her body, away from home, into the horizon beyond the plains and its rivers, through ancient jungles, traversing the lifeless desert, across the impenetrable mountains and into the land of monsters. There, haphazardly built settlements surrounded by caves and fjords bustled with fearsome creatures. Some bulbous and slimy, others fierce and furry. And underneath the darkest cavern, an eldritch monstrosity of webs, scales, and claws towered over all. Its eight chimeric eyes pierced Dantalianna. “WHO ARE YOU?”
Her world split again and she was back home, head and earlobe throbbing. Through her blurry vision she distinguished three silhouettes kneeling around her. Kris’s voice boomed erratically, but Anor’s sobs muffled his words. Only the dark and hooded figure of Sid came to focus.
“W-what happened?” Dantalianna tried and failed to stand up.
“I’m sorry, lass.” Sid shook his head. “That earring… it marks you as the Monster King’s bride.”
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