"So, what is the hall of pictures?" I asked. I wanted to fill the awkward silence that had fallen after my thin lie.
Christian's smile spread across his face showing many of his white teeth. "You're going to love it. It's a special treat for the highest society. It was a gift from the high lord of the fairies over a hundred years ago when our peace treaty was first established."
I was amazed that I would have the honor of seeing such an important part of the kingdom's history. When peace was established between Finarca, the sky kingdom of the fairies, and Lantine it began what is called the kingdom's Golden Age. Finarca is only at peace with three of the seven nations, making those three the most powerful. Before the first peace treaty was established with the northern kingdom of Mekt, the fairies rarely had any dealings in the seven kingdoms. In school I learned about how the Mektous first came into contact with the Finarcans. I was always fascinated by this section in the history books. The Mektous call the story of how one of their own made it to Finarca the Legend of the Great Flight. In Mekt, all the people are also part animal, so when an Aves took to the sky and flew all the way to Finarca it was a monumental achievement. Such direct contact with the fairies gave the Mektous unequalled power with the fairy made items they were able to acquire from the sky. Even over the two hundred years that have passed since the Great Flight, Mekt still maintains the strongest bond with the fairies. It was another seventy five years before Adellia signed a peace treaty with the Finarcans, making Lantine the third and final kingdom to have contact with the sky. Ever since the treaty was signed, Lantine has flourished. While fairy made items are not as ubiquitous in this kingdom as they are in Mekt, in large cities such as Pharyss they can be found everywhere. Already I had seen many forms of fairy made entertainment and decorations that had been made for the celebration, and the hall of pictures was the very first fairy gift in the kingdom. The anticipation for seeing such a monumental piece of Lantine's history made me impatient to get to the castle. I told Christian as much and he just laughed.
"You have to be prepared," He said. "The hall can be quite overwhelming at first. I know when my mother and father showed me it for the first time I was a bit terrified but at the same time awed by the fairies power."
Christian's words confused me. How could a hall of pictures be terrifying? I imagined it to be like other fairy paintings I have seen that could move about or change in their frames. That wasn't very frightening. The pictures must do something more than just move.
"I have see fairy pictures before, they aren't very scary." Perhaps I could get him to explain himself before we arrived at the castle so I could get a better idea of what to expect. I did not want to look like a coward in front of the prince.
Christian shook his head. "I can guarantee these pictures are like nothing you have seen before. My father tells me in Mekt they are everywhere. He's seen them when he holds court with Pandia, the Mektous queen. I can't imagine having pictures like that everywhere. I hope one day that I am able to see them all for myself. How strange it must be."
"What's so different about the pictures in the hall?" I asked. My anticipation was turning to anxiety with the way he talked about them. Maybe they were dangerous, but the prince wouldn't have me walk into somewhere that was dangerous.
Christian just smiled secretively. "It's still a surprise, remember?"
I had to know what I was getting myself into. Maybe I should tell him that I was feeling ill and had to return to the hotel, but I didn't want to miss spending the day with him. I also wasn't particularly fond of the idea of returning to Victoria and Giselle so soon. "You said I had to be prepared, how can I prepare for something I don't understand?"
My breath caught when Christian tenderly took my hand in his. "Don't worry; I'll be there so nothing bad will happen. The pictures are wonderful, trust me."
The feeling of my hand in his dispelled all my fears. Of course he wouldn't take me somewhere dangerous. The pictures were probably just a bit overwhelming at first. If Christian said I would like the hall then I trusted his judgment. Another thought occurred to me once the trepidation had subsided. "Has your sister taken Victoria and Giselle to see the hall of pictures?"
Christian leaned away from me, releasing my hand, and reclined against the side of the carriage. "No, Joslynn hasn't visited the hall since our return. That is why she wants me to inspect them, dust away the cobwebs and such. Besides, I'm not sure if those two would enjoy it very much."
Since he was no longer holding my hand, the former anxiety was slowly rising up in my mind again. I took a deep breath. I would not be afraid; Christian said there was nothing to fear so I would not be afraid. I repeated the words in my head, trying to dispel the fear before the prince noticed. I did not want him taking me back because I was afraid of something foolish. "What sort of magic is used for the pictures then?" I tried to craftily get him to reveal what he knew.
Christian just wagged his finger at me. "Good try, but I want it to be a complete surprise. I will tell you that it is a higher form of fairy magic though. It's very old and very powerful."
While I was trying to come up with another question that might make Christian divulge anything, the carriage stopped. Christian sat up and reached for the door. "We're here." He said excitedly. "You're going to love it."
He helped me out of the carriage and onto the white stone carriage path that circled the grassy courtyard inside the outer wall. Before us stood the castle in all its beauty with blooming rose bushes lining the path to the front entrance. Here and there, strong men in armor were patrolling the yard and wall. Christian informed me that castle security is heightened during a celebration. He led me up the few steps that lead to the large wooden doors. Inside the entry hall, servants were rushing to and fro carrying out their different tasks. It seemed that everyone in the castle was very busy getting ready for the coming week.
"It seems that Joslynn is still running the servants ragged with her wedding preparations. I can't imagine what there is left to do. It's been like this for weeks." Christian said.
I followed him up the beautiful branching staircase that led to the next floor. While we walked he explained some of the details of what his sister was planning. Turning down another hallway he informed me that we needed to make one stop before going to the hall of pictures. We stopped in a room that seemed to be used mainly for storage. There were odds and ends lying around pieces of disused furniture. Christian went to a wardrobe and pulled out two thick capes lines with fur. He put one over his arm and handed the other one to me. Next we went to a sword rack with an assortment of weapons. He picked up a sturdy sword and winked at me. "Just in case," He said.
I put the cape over my arm as he had done his. We walked back out into the hall. "Are we going to be fighting monsters?" I could not imagine what he would need a sword for if we were only going to look at pictures.
He laughed and swung the sword a few times. "It's possible that there may be – ahem - unexpected occurrences once we enter the hall of pictures. There's nothing to worry about though. We'll be perfectly safe."
I hurried after him as he casually walked away down the hall. "Then you don't need a sword. Maybe it's too dangerous for us."
He only laughed at my fears. "Nonsense, I am an expert fencer and won't let any beast near you. However, you don't have to come if you don't want to. I'm sure Joslynn could find something for you to do. Your sisters have been invaluable in her preparations and I'm sure she would appreciate your help."
The thought of having to explain to the princess why I did not have any of the decorating skills of my two stepsisters scared me more than going into the mysterious hall of pictures. There were too many questions she could ask, none of which I had answers for. I didn't want to get in trouble with the royal family or my stepsisters before the celebration even began. I stopped trying to convince Christian that the hall of pictures was too dangerous and just followed him carrying my cape.
"Oh, Ian, there you are!" Princess Joslynn was hastening down the hall toward us. She was carrying many colorful samples of fabric in her arms. She was not as put together as I had last seen her. Her hair was down and she looked more frazzled. "Thaddeus told me you had returned. Oh, and you brought Miss Ebony with you how nice. I need to know what you did with the rest of the fabric samples from the tailor that came in yesterday. I can only find four of them."
"I put them in the green lounge where I thought you had the sewing things set up." Christian said.
His sister sighed dramatically. "No, that was where the sewing for the outdoor decorations is being done. The servants are sewing the indoors decorations in the main ballroom antechamber because most of the decorations will go in the ballroom. I'll have to send someone to go and fetch them and bring them to the antechamber. I still haven't decided which one I want to use yet for the bouquet sheaths. Elle and Tori helped me narrow it down to six and I want to lay them all out to compare them. You must be on your way to the hall of pictures now, would you be a dear and stop in and tell Harlan that I want to finalize the guest list for the first ball? I can't believe that it all begins in only three days. There is so much to do!"
It sounded as if Joslynn had employed everyone in the castle in her party preparations. I wondered at how she managed to keep track of all the different details that must need attending too. She also had to plan the weekly balls in part. It was amazing she could handle all that at once. Giselle and Victoria must have had their hands full while they were here.
"Slow down, Joslynn," Christian said. "What room do you have Harlan in?"
She rearranged the fabric in her arms. "He should be in the room across the hall from where you are going. If he's not there, I have no idea where he is."
"You really should take a break. All this planning is wearing you down. Let Marigold take over some of the planning. Go take a nap or spend time with your future husband."
Joslynn sighed. "I sent Reginald into town to finalize plans with the orchestra for the first ball. I can't take a break now. The ball is in three days, Christian. I'll rest once the celebration begins. Thank the spirits that I do not have to plan everything for this celebration, only the first ball and the wedding. It's all going to be marvelous though. I can't wait to see it all with Reginald. Now hurry, hurry, go give Harlan my message and check on the hall of pictures and make sure nothing dangerous has gotten in. We don't want a repeat of what happened with father and the ambassador from Tarahan. It was lovely to see you again, Ebony, I apologize but I really must dash."
I smiled and wished her luck with the preparations. Joslynn hurried on down the hall with the fabric trailing behind her.
"What happened with the king and the ambassador?" I asked as we began walking again. I found that I was gripping the cape I held tighter than I was before we talked to the princess.
"Nothing you need to worry about. I promise you, the solemn word of a prince, that I won't let anything harm you. Besides what happened was a weird coincidence. It only happened once and was quickly under control. I am certain it won't happen again."
"I'm beginning to think that the hall of pictures is not worth the risk." I mumbled
"Trust me; it's more than worth it. If you're scared you don't have to go. I'm not making you; I just want to show you how wonderful it is." Christian sounded so confident that we would be fine and it was truly as wonderful as he said. It was hard for me to refuse him, even with the seemingly dangerous something that may or may not be in the hall.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
I feel like the story is getting boring. Oh well.
So the introduction of Mekt, eh? Mekt was the first fantasy land I ever came up with ages and ages ago in my first actual story that had some merit to it. There are a lot of other little things in this story from nearly every other story I have written ever, which I find very exciting.