Feathers Of Fate

  Once Upon An Academy #6

  Laura Greenwood

  Contents

  Blurb

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Epilogue

  Author Note

  Also by Laura Greenwood

  About the Author

  © 2021 Laura Greenwood

  * * *

  All rights reserved. This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise – without prior written permission of the published, except as provided by United States of America copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher at “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” at the email address; lauragreenwood@authorlauragreenwood.co.uk.

  Visit Laura Greenwood’s website at:

  www.authorlauragreenwood.co.uk

  Cover by Vampari Designs

  Feathers Of Fate is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  If you find an error, you can report it via my website. Please note that my books are written in British English: https://www.authorlauragreenwood.co.uk/p/report-error.html

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  Blurb

  Helena has known the man she's going to marry for as long as she can remember, and can't wait to leave for the wedding.

  * * *

  There's only one problem. On the way to finally being with him, her prophecy is supposed to come true, trapping her in the life of a goose girl before she can become Wilhelm's wife.

  * * *

  Can she escape her fate?

  -

  Feathers Of Fate is an academy retelling of The Goose Girl and part of the Once Upon An Academy series, set at Grimm Academy

  One

  I flip the page of the book in front of me, trying to find the passage I need for my history class. I'm sure it's in this one, but I haven't been able to find it yet.

  I pick up my teacup and take a drink, trying to centre myself on my studies.

  "Rapunzel, I think I found the book you were looking for," Ella says, handing it over to the dark-haired girl opposite.

  Rapunzel gives a relieved sigh and takes it from her. "Thanks. I've been searching for it all week but nothing seems to be where I thought it was."

  "Weren't you complaining about the same, Helena?" Ella asks me.

  I nod. "I've been searching for a chapter on the Borderlands Trade Deal. I was sure it was in this book, but I haven't found anything yet."

  "Maybe the library's been cursed," Rapunzel jokes.

  "And all of the books have swapped contents?" Ella adds.

  I let out a small laugh, amused by the ridiculousness of my friends' suggestions. "Weirder things have happened at Grimm," I point out.

  "That's true," Ella agrees. "I did throw a shoe at my stepmother."

  "With good reason," Rapunzel reminds her. "If you hadn't, your prophecy may have come true."

  "I know. It's still a little bit ridiculous though," she admits. "But that's the nature of prophecies."

  An uneasy smile stretches over my face. It's easy for the two of them to make light of prophecies, they've both managed to avoid theirs already. But mine is still to come, which makes joking about these things a little more difficult.

  A servant comes over with a small tray in her hands.

  "Princess Helena," she says, dipping into a curtsy. "There's a letter just arrived for you." She holds out the tray.

  Sure enough, a small envelope with my name written in familiar handwriting sits on it.

  "Thank you." I reach out and take it, my heart racing as I take it. I don't need to open it to know it's from Wilhelm. My betrothed may not attend Grimm Academy, but at least he writes to me regularly.

  "Can I get anything else for you?" the servant asks.

  "No, thank you," I respond, eager to get to my letter.

  "Actually, we wouldn't mind some more tea," Rapunzel says, gesturing to the pot. "And some biscuits, if you don't mind."

  "Of course, my lady." The servant dips into a curtsy again and hurries off to do as she asks.

  "It's a long time until dinner," Rapunzel says.

  Ella lets out a small laugh. "I'm not complaining. The biscuits here are better than the ones our cooks make at home."

  I don't pay them any mind and tear open the letter. I know I won't be able to focus on anything until I've read it and started my reply.

  I scan the words, eager for news from Wilhelm's kingdom. Most of our courtship has been by the exchange of letters, though I've seen him at least once a year since we met when we were seven. But I feel like I've really got to know him in that time.

  Maybe I'm kidding myself, but I don't think so. Our letters have made it possible for us to form a relationship with one another despite the fact we live so far apart.

  I scan the letter, anxious for news, only to let out a small squeak when I come to the line I've been waiting to read.

  Father says they've finally finished negotiations. You'll be able to come within a month, I can't wait for you to get here.

  My hand flies to my mouth, trying to put the sound back in, but it's already caught the attention of my friends, who are both looking at me as if they expect me to combust. I should be glad Briar and Marigold are in class, or I'd have twice the amount of scrutiny on me.

  "Is everything all right?" Rapunzel asks.

  I manage a nod while I search for the words. "I'm getting married."

  Ella chuckles. "We know that. You've been betrothed to Wilhelm for as long as I've known you."

  A small gasp comes from Rapunzel. "Unless it's not Wilhelm she's going to marry."

  "It's Wilhelm," I assure them both. "He says our fathers have finished negotiations, so we should be able to get married within a month."

  "That's great news," Rapunzel says. "Why don't you seem happier?"

  I sigh and set the letter on the table in front of me. "I am happy. But I'm also scared."

  "Your prophecy?" Ella guesses correctly.

  I nod. "I want to marry Wilhelm, more than I've ever wanted anything. But I can't shake the dread that comes with the prophecy. It's always been hanging over me, but this is the moment where it's real. My prophecy is about to start, and I'm not sure what to do about it."

  Ella reaches out and takes my hand in hers, giving it a soft squeeze. "It's going to be all right. All four of us have been through ours and come out the other side."

  I give her a weak smile. "Maybe I'm the one who is going to lose out."

  "Not possible," she says quickly. "You have the advantage of knowing how we all managed to stop our prophecies, now you can put that to good use."

  "None of you were threatened with spending the rest of your lives as a goose girl," I point out.

  "No, but Gavin nearly ended up blind because of his and Rapunzel's prophecy, Marigold ended up enchanted by a scheming frog, and Briar nearly ended up in an eternal sleep. None of that is particularly good anyway."

  "Besides, you also have Wilhelm waiting for you when you arrive. He's never going to marry someone else when he could have you," Rapunzel points out.

  "That's part of the problem. Our customs say that I need to wear a veil from the moment I arrive in their kingdom, until the moment I'm married," I say.

  Ella frowns. "But Wilhelm already knows what you look like."

  "And surely your parents won't enforce that given your prophecy," Rapunzel adds.

  I shrug. "I've said both of those things to them, but they won't have any of it. According to them, this is the way it's been done for centuries, so this is the way I'm doing it. Mother thinks it'll be bad luck if I don't."

  "It'll be bad luck if you do and your prophecy comes true," Rapunzel mutters.

  Ella shoots her a dirty look, but I just laugh.

  "She's not wrong," I point out.

  "I know, but it's still not a nice thing to consider," Ella says.

  "Maybe not. But it is what it is. I can't risk damaging the treaty just because I don't want to wear a veil. Not after it's taken so long to put together."

  "Why has it taken so long?" Rapunzel asks. "You've been visiting one another's kingdoms for your entire life."

  "I've no idea, to be honest. I think it might be something to do with an ancestor. Neither of us have ever been able to get our parents to tell us the answer."

  "Ominous," Ella says.

  "A little. But it's not like there's anything I can do about it. I suppose I could refuse to marry Wilhelm, but I don't actually want to do that."

  "Naturally," Rapunzel agrees.

  "So that's what it is." I glance at the letter again. I'm sure there's more in it that needs my attention, but I can't focus on any of that right now.

  "That means you're leaving us soon," Ella says.

  I nod. "As much as I wish I could stay here and go to Wilh elm's kingdom, it isn't an option."

  "We're going to miss you," Rapunzel says.

  "Same. But I'll still be able to visit, and you'll always be welcome to come to us." It'll be easier for the two of them and Marigold than it will be for Briar. She's going to be a Queen in her own right and busy running a kingdom. But I know we'll all make it work. The bonds we've forged at Grimm Academy are strong enough for that.

  "What happens now?" Rapunzel asks. "How long have you got until you leave?"

  "I've no idea," I respond. "This isn't an official summons, it's just Wilhelm telling me that they've finished and it'll be soon." I let out a loud sigh. I wish they all thought to include me more in what's going on. At least Wilhelm feels that he should fill me in on what's gone on so I'm not completely in the dark.

  "Then that gives us time to say a proper goodbye," Ella says. "And to make sure we do everything we can to stop your prophecy from coming true."

  I smile at my friends, pleased to have them by my side, even if it's just for now.

  Two

  I drift off to sleep thinking of Wilhelm and how we'll soon be able to spend all our days together. It's been something we've been talking about for years, the fact it can become a reality is both exciting and terrifying at the same time.

  As my conscious thoughts slip away, a memory from the past slips into its place. I don't even try and stop it.

  No one is paying any attention to me and Wilhelm. The celebrations for the start of a new year are well underway. My parents are busy doing their part as the monarchs hosting the party, and Wilhelm's mother is spending all of her time with a duchess she's friends with.

  Which is fine by me. Anything that means I get to spend some actual time with Wilhelm.

  "Do you want to go outside?" he asks. "I swiped us this." He lifts up a bottle of wine.

  I raise an eyebrow. "You could have just asked one of the servants for it," I point out.

  "Where's the fun in that?" A lopsided grin takes over his face.

  I shake my head in bemusement. Something tells me I'm not going to have a dull moment in my entire life with him around. Our betrothal is all but sealed, all we have to do is wait for our fathers to finish creating a treaty between our kingdoms. Until then, I'll continue studying at Grimm Academy, and Wilhelm will continue visiting me there, or here in my kingdom for occasions like this one.

  Unbidden, my prophecy springs to mind, but I push it to the side. I only learned about it a couple of years ago, and I refuse to let it control my life. Especially not my courtship with Wilhelm. I've not connected with anyone like I have to him, and I'm not going to let any prophecy stand in the way of our happiness.

  I grab one of the blankets from a bench. "Come on." I slip my hand into his and pull him through the palace corridors.

  No one pays us any mind. They're all occupied with having a good time.

  The chill outside air is a welcome change from the oppressive heat of the banquet hall we've come from, and the quiet isn't unwelcome either. Most of the time I get to spend with Wilhelm is heavily chaperoned, unless we're at Grimm Academy, but even then, I get very little actual alone time with him.

  Which means I'm going to seize this opportunity and make the most of it.

  I lead him under a flower arch and lay the blanket on the ground.

  We sit down, close enough that we're almost touching, but not quite. I think we're both a bit nervous about what it may mean to be closer. We've been friends for years, and have known we were going to end up married for almost as long, but something has changed between us in the past year or so, and it's impossible to ignore. When I'm with him, I find myself thinking of romance as well as partnership.

  I like it, and I think he feels the same, but I'm not completely sure. Maybe he still sees me as nothing more than a playmate.

  Wilhelm pops the stopper off the bottle of wine and hands it to me. "Sorry, I should have thought about glasses."

  I smile reassuringly at him. "It doesn't bother me."

  Our fingers brush against one another as I take the bottle from him and take a drink.

  "That's not very princess-like," he teases.

  "Neither is sneaking out into the gardens alone with someone I'm not married to," I point out.

  "Ah, true. But what are they really going to do if they catch us?"

  I shrug. "No idea."

  "Then maybe we should make the hypothetical punishment worth it."

  I cock my head to the side and hand him the wine back. "What did you have in mind?"

  "A kiss. If you want." The earnestness in his eyes reveals how much he wants it.

  I do too. And not because of the wine. I haven't had enough to even slightly cloud my judgement.

  Slowly, I nod. "That sounds nice."

  Relief rushes over his face, as if he really hadn't been sure whether or not I was going to say yes.

  "Are you sure?"

  "Yes, I'm sure." I take the wine back from him and dig into the soil of one of the flowerbeds. I'm sure the gardeners will hate me for it, but it'll be worth it.

  Wilhelm reaches out, a little hesitant as he tucks a strand of hair behind my ear.

  "I'm nervous," I admit, hoping it helps him.

  He lets out a small laugh. "Me too. I've never done this before."

  "Why do you want to?"

  "Because it's all I've been thinking about for my entire visit."

  "I think that's a good reason." I shuffle closer to him. "And I've been thinking about it too."

  He leans in, and I let my eyes flutter closed, hoping I'm doing the right thing.

  His lips press against mine, the touch only a fleeting one, but it's everything I imagined whenever I thought about the fact that one day we'd kiss.

  It only makes me more certain that I want to spend forever with him.

  We break apart.

  A wide smile spreads over my face and my lips begin to tingle. I reach up to touch them.

  "Was that all right?" Wilhelm asks.

  I nod. "More than all right."

  "Same here." He grins widely. "Thank you for letting us try it."

  A wave of affection spreads through me and I reach out to touch his hand.

  The dream memory slips away before the rest of that evening plays out, but I don't mind. I'll get to spend so much time with Wilhelm that I don't need dreams to feel connected to him.

  I shuffle down into my blankets and let myself fall deeper into sleep, with no more thoughts of Wilhelm intruding.

  Three

  I resist the urge to pace up and down while I wait for the Headmistress to call me inside. This has to do with me leaving the academy and my prophecy starting. It can't be anything else, not after Wilhelm's news.

  Nervous excitement fills me and it's impossible to decide which emotion is stronger. As much as I want to arrive at Wilhelm's kingdom and become his wife, I'm also worried about what my prophecy will bring and the dangers I'm about to face.

  The door opens and she steps outside. "Why don't you come in, Helena?" She gestures for me to follow her. "Take a seat."

  I smooth down my skirt and take a seat, scooting as far back into the chair as I can. I sit as straight as I can, pulling on all of my years of training as a princess to do it. I doubt the headmistress is the kind of woman who can be fooled by a calm smile and a measured pose. For a start, she's taught a lot of us how to do it.

  "I'm sure you know why you're here," she says.

  I nod. "Prince Wilhelm sent me a letter."

  "I'm not surprised. Your parents informed me that the two of you keep contact with one another last time they wrote to me."

  "You don't read our letters?"

  "Of course not, we believe the privacy of our students is important. Especially when many of them are dealing with their prophecies."

  "Oh."

  "But you shouldn't worry yourself over that. We need to discuss the arrangements for you leaving the academy tomorrow."

 

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