Worlds Collide: Chapter 17 Maze

We rode in a carriage for a few hours to give us time to read the books and study the maps. When the road became slower and tougher for the horses to travel, we changed and flew over the mountains and forests.
As we reached the edge of the kingdom, we were forced to land. The only way to enter Malifa was through a portal. The maps suggested that the portal was at the other end of a maze which had numerous points marked with a skull and cross bones on route to the portal.
“Stay close to me” Juan orders as we enter the maze of dark tangled trees.
As we enter the entrance closes behind us, the prickly holly bushes move on their own to seal up the gaps in the door and overhead, making me feel somewhat claustrophobic. We move silently and cautiously through the maze. As we near the first spot marked with a skull, I start to scan for threats. It is eerily quiet except for the sound of trees creaking.
Suddenly, from under the trees, 5 adorable black kittens emerge making me tense and then laugh. The laughter dies in my throat though as the cats grow larger, larger than a panther, with muscles that bulge out of tears in their black fur repulsively and fangs that curl up to look more like tusks. They are hideous and terrifying. I reach for my sword and without hesitation start slashing at the creatures. I jump and dodge and wave the snarling attacks of the beasts and fight back, slicing through their joints with precision. I’m vaguely aware that Juan is also fighting, but I have no time to spare to check on him, needing all of my focus to avoid the onslaught of fangs and claws. I feel the rain start to beat down on my head as the ground becomes slick and I slide under a cat narrowly missing being trampled. I sheath my sword and draw the water in around me, freezing the 2 cats in front of me in place. I move around them and freeze the one that I injured earlier. I find Juan fighting off 2 at once with a sword in each hand. I freeze their feet in place, giving him time to land the incapacitating blows to them.
We are both struggling for breath as we continue on in the maze.
“Ok so you didn’t need the swords” Juan admits.
“They were useful and fun to try out, but I’m deadly enough all on my own” I say smiling sweetly.
“Not bad fighting for a princess” He says.
“I’m choosing to take that as a thank you for saving your sorry ass” I say.
“Well you obviously missed the part where I stopped one of them from biting your head off.” He says defensively.
“Nope didn’t see that at all. But thank you, I suppose, I am rather attached to my head.” I say.
We approach the next section of maze which changes from trees to mirrors, like one of those houses of mirrors you get in theme parks. We follow its twists and turns vigilant for more beast attacks. Something in the mirror catches my eye. I stop to look at it. It is not me as I am now, but as a very small child. The more I look, the more I feel like the child, my hands feel heavy and bound like hers and my face is slick with tears. I only half hear Juan’s question.
“Do you see that too?” He asks.
I nod, worried that he is seeing my memory.
“It’s my father, but it can’t be” He continues, pain clear in his voice and I snap my head away from the mirror to look at him.
As I look, I see him looking at his reflection intently, tears threatening to spill. “Juan, look at me, it's not real” I say realising that the mirror is some kind of trick.
His hands ball into fists and he lets out an agonised cry. I force his face to turn to mine and I slowly see the recognition set in and the realisation of what has happened hits him.
“Don’t look in the mirrors, they show you things that are not real.” I explain.
“It was very real, that was my worst memory. I watched as my mother and father were burnt alive. Something I try very hard not to remember” He says, his hand shaking slightly.
“I’m so sorry Juan, I can’t imag-… wait your parents, were they killed by the dragon?” I ask gently as my mind fits the pieces of the puzzle together.
“Yes, they fought for the kingdom and I was too late to help.” He says coldly, regaining his composure and building his walls back up.
“I understand now why you don’t like me. I’m sorry about your parents. I would never hurt someone unprovoked, I hope he got what he deserved.” I say, gently rubbing his shoulder.
“He did, that is why I’m so loyal to the crown, King Ash did what I could not. I’m sorry you had to see that memory.” He says.
“I didn’t, I saw my own one. Your voice snapped me out of it. Apparently the sound of you expressing emotion was shocking enough to bring me back to reality.” I joke trying to avoid the topic of my memory and I'm grateful when Juan keeps walking and doesn’t push it.
“Ok, so we can’t look in the mirrors, but we need to see incase there are more of those cats. Just look at me and we will feel our way out. There hopefully won’t be too much further to go. Just look into my eyes and we will get through this.” He says
I look into his big brown eyes and start feeling for the opening in the mirrors to walk through. The eye contact is intense, somehow it feels more intimate than physical contact, like somehow he is staring into my soul. It works though, I get so lost in his eyes that I don’t look at any reflections or dwell on the image I saw.