SOLVED. Ya fantasy novel about woman trapped in keep by its guardian?? [s]

[Abigail]

Hey y'all -

I'm trying to remember the name of a book (possibly YA) I read about 10 or so years ago. It's definitely in the fantasy genre, and I believe it has a sequel or may be the first in a trilogy. What I remember about the book is this:

A woman (princess?) somehow comes upon this "keep" and gets trapped in there by the guardian. I remember there's a long hallway with many doors, and I think that all but one are locked. Or maybe they open as she spends more time there?? I think one of the first doors has a garden or some sort of nature area with some sort of small lake or pool. The woman is somehow bound to stay with the guardian of the keep (who has dark hair?) and who is himself trapped there? She cannot leave/ he is forcing her to stay. At first the guardian is cold and aloof. At one point I think he gives her a drugged drink and then rapes her by initiating sex with her disguised by his own magic as a man she knew and loved/was close to in her kingdom before she got trapped (I distinctly remember the scene because the man she thinks it is has blond hair and blue ? eyes, but then in describing the sex she notices his blond hair and black -wait a minute black?? eyes (or dark eyes). And then the guardian loses his disguise and she realizes it's him.


**POTENTIAL SPOILERS**


I also remember that at one point the guardian is struck down by some ailment which renders him paralyzed and she has to take care of him. They become closer and I guess she comes to care about him. He finally lets her leave the keep but I think this comes at some cost to him (either because of the terms of whatever the enchantment on the keep is or because he loves her or both). I also think that I remember something about him telling her that time moves differently inside the keep than outside, and that many many years have actually passed for the outside world (hundreds of years?) and that all those she knew are dead. But she leaves anyway and I'm kind of fuzzy here but I think somehow she reunites with her former love interest and I'm not sure if she goes back to the keep and the guardian or not.

URGH please help! I've recently begun retreading some of the ya novels I ready when I was younger and I remember really liking this book. I feel the writer was a woman, and I'm almost certain it's YA fantasy.

Thanks!

[Kagama-the Literaturevixen]

It sounds a lot like Guardian's Key

Hope this is your book :)

[Abigail]

Oh my goodness you're a doll! Yep this sounds like it!

THANKS! :-D