Veleminis

Agreement

Laughter filled the spacious room and I shrank back into my seat forgetting about appropriate posture. Both my parents where hysterical. Apparently my suggestion was just to hilarious for either of them to get coherent words out.

"I am so glad I amuse you. But I am not joking. I thought I would leave tonight at the latest." Their expression sobered up in the blink of an eye. I guess the joke has lost its novelty because their faces turned sour and mother had a glint of disgust in her eye.

"Now why would you ever wish to go to the human world? They are feral and have no moral standards and they are killing their world!" My father says with a serious face. "It's no place for a princess!"

"Your father is absolutely right. We can't just send you off to the human world!" Mother isn't particularly fond of the humans after they killed her mother who was accused of being a witch. She was thrown in the river and if she swam she was definitely a witch, if she sank and died she was not. The swimmers were burned at the stake later. You died either way.

"Mother the humans have changed much since you saw them last. Now they have excellent technology and-"

"It is a terrible idea. You will not leave this castle and that is final." Mother states but I am steaming. They won't even listen to the full length of my idea!

"Tana, you may be excused." Father says.

"But I haven't even eaten yet!"

"We will send a meal to your quarters."

I storm out in a huff. Father was the one I thought would understand my idea and encourage it. He had been saying that I needed to experience the world to be a good ruler. All my faith in him died. I wish I was more rebellious. I might've just left last night and left a note but no.

When I made it back to my chambers the girls were sat around the small table just a few meters from the foot of my bed. They are sipping tea and giggling about something. When they see me they stand and curtsey.

"My apologies your highness, we had not thought you would return for a while yet" Morella said.

" Do not worry, but I think I would like to take a quick nap." I say knowing that this was particularly uncharacteristic of me. The girls gave me a calculating look before packing away their tea.

"Would you like us to help you out of your gown for your nap?" Kinsey asked carefully. She and the other girls all know there is something wrong but it would not be proper to ask me.

"No it is fine, Wake me for lunch please" Keeping my voice even and steady. Hopefully they didn't catch the quiver on the last word. I am on the verge of tears and the lump in my throat is too painful.

Aliah and Morella both head towards the curtains and pull them closed leaving the room dark with the only light coming from the hall. Kinsey just stands there assessing me, trying to discover what has happened. The girls that had been closing the curtains came back towards me and curtseyed while Kinsey curtseyed from the corner.

"Have a nice sleep Tana." Aliah says softly. They all make there way out throwing concerned looks over their shoulders. It feels good to know that they care. I hadn't lied when I said I was tired. All the arguments have made me weary and upset.

Taking my shoes off on the side of the bed I hurl them to the corner and let my arms hang by my side in defeat. I just still can't believe that my parents didn't care enough to listen to me. Neither of them were able to understand the pressure that had been placed upon me.

I lay back on top the bed sheets and let myself drift to a dreamless darkness.





***





"Princess, wake up!" Morella yell-whispers. She gently grips my shoulders and shakes me awake. Groggily I sit upright and a frown finds its way to my face.

"What?" I grumble, angry to have been woken in such a way.

"The king has sent you a letter and said you must read it the moment you receive it."

"Did he say what it was about?" I ask quite stunned. Had he reconsidered or was he too mad to punish me in person?

"No your highness, he said it was urgent though." Aliah piped in from the corner.

Kinsey comes forward and passes me the letter. Hastily I open the seal and unfold the paper.

Dearest Tana,

I am sorry for how I have allowed things to turn out and trust me when I say I would do it differently if  I could but it is past so all I can do is make up for it in the present. I am sure you have seen your mother and I arguing and I can assure you nothing is wrong other then our disagreement over the terms of your marriage. I think we should be pushing the nobles to give you more time but your mother is thinking far more politically think I and this has caused some discord.

I thought I had failed you until I realized how brilliant your idea was. It is perfect! So I have decided to let you go. The only issue is that your mother does not agree at all and will not allow you to go. Unfortunately you will not be able to say goodbye to her for she must not know you are going. I have planned your journey and your accompaniment accordingly.

Kinsey and Aliah will follow you to the human world along with your Aunt Diana. At four o'clock this afternoon you will go on an 'outing' with your aunt. A carriage will take you to the portal and from there you venture into the human world.

I have one single condition, which may upset you, but it is necessary for your safety.

Casper Kluver will accompany you into the human world as your bodyguard.

I wish you a great adventure,

Remember the deadline, you must make a choice before times up.



With love,

Your father.



"I love you dearest father I truly do!" I jump up from the bed, letter in hand and dance around the room with joy. Father said yes!

Casper Kluver will accompany you into the human world as your bodyguard.

The joy is short-lived as I remember father's condition.

Casper! Out of all the men in the entire of Veleminis, father chooses Casper!

I do hope he just lurks in the shadows and stays away from me. He is such an awful boy! Arrogance and vanity will forever be his best friends.

My excitement bubbles again and I run to where I had previously thrown my shoes. Aliah, Kinsey and Morella look at me with curious eyes. I can't even form words to describe the situation.

"Aliah, Kinsey we are going on a road trip. I'm sorry Morella, father only said that Aliah and Kinsey are going. He must have another job for you." I tell the girls once I can speak again. It is very strange that Morella won't be accompanying me as she has been with me since birth. Father wouldn't just forget about her. What is he planning?

Aliah and Kinsey look excited while Morella looked like she expected my announcement. Maybe father had already discussed it with her?

"Where are we going?" Aliah asks with enthusiam. She has a gorgeous smile on her face and it reaches her eyes. Kinsey is knotting her fingers together next to Aliah and it seems like she is just as excited as I am.

"We are going to live with the humans." As I made the announcement I saw Aliahs face with uncertainty and Kinsey's smile grow.

"Is it really going to be safe princess? The humans have killed thousands of us over the years!" Aliah asks worriedly. Kinsey just shakes her and puts a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"It really has changed quite a bit since the last books on humans where written. It will be fine, you'll see!" Kinsey comforts Aliah with a gentle smile. Aliah's body seems to relax majorly.

"Start packing ladies!"







***







Aunt Diana was already sat in the carriage when we arrived and she looked much like I remembered. She was probably around thirty years old and the youngest of father's sisters. All the memories I have of her are particularly warm and I don't think I have ever cried in her presence, even as a babe.

When she sees us approaching, she smiles warmly and beckons us to get into the carriage. She still had long brunette hair that reached her waist. She had delicate braids throughout different sections of her hair that kept the locks away from her bright blue eyes. She did not look her age. If anyone were to guess her age they would probably assume she was just a few years older then I.

As I stepped in front of the carriage I noticed there was not enough space for all four of us. I looked back towards my ladies and realized they were no longer behind me.

"Your ladies will be taking another carriage dear. This carriage is just for you and I." Diana says. Her voice is like honey and silk. "Oh my dear girl, you have grown so big since I saw you last. It must've been five years? How are you sweet?"

"I have been quite well Diana, and I know I have grown but you don't look different at all. Its like you haven't aged a day!"

"Dear don't forget, us fairies age much slower once we hit twenty-five." How silly of me to have forgotten. I guess because I have changed so drastically over these past few years I expected everyone else to as well.

"How have you been Diana? I heard you were engaged?"

"Oh that didn't last long, the man was just too self absorbed. I couldn't handle his vanity! He just stood looking there looking at himself all the time. It was awful!" She had a look of distaste on her face and I could tell this was a touchy subject. Within seconds she thought of another topic that obviously made her feel more comfortable than the last. "My dear how has your magic training been going? I heard you had attained nearly all the elements just after I left court!"

"Well so far I have summoned fire, water and air but I think that will be all for me. I am not quite able to control those three yet but I have been working on it!" To be quite honest my magic skills where sub-par at best. No matter how hard I work at them I can't get full control.

Being of royal blood has its perks as we get more than one element where as the non-royals are only born to bend one element. While it is a blessing to have many elements, it is also far harder to control any one of them.

"Tana, most royal fae can only get two elements. They will make it seem far easier then it actually is. I fear that you will find you can control more elements than just those three. You are special dear."

I didn't even realize it but we have arrived to the portal. The carriage stops and the footman comes around to open our door. I have actually never been here before and I have to say it is definitely not a disappointment.

The portal glows lovely shade of pink and orange. It is the colors' of a sunrise. It is a limestone kind of material with weeds tangled around the roman arch and down the columns. The venue of the portal is quite dull in fact. The portal sits in the middle of hundreds of acres of tall grass. Leaving one hundred percent of the focus on the arch.

Turning around I find Aliah and Kinsey staring in awe at the portal. Only then do I notice that there were not only two carriages here but three. The door of the third opens and out walks a smug looking Casper. In my excitement I had temporarily forgotten he would be coming.