A Thief in our Midst
xxx
"Get up slowly...slowly…" Alauna urged, hovering her hands as close as possible to a still weak Lydia. "Take in breaths to ease the weight." Putting so much effort into just propping herself up on the infirmary bed reminded her of when she first tried levitating the couch in her old house. Yeah. Miranda wasn't too happy with the giant hole in the living room. On the bright side it started her project to redecorate. That aside, Lydia's insides were on fire. Everything was hurting. Sitting up was a chore. When her legs sung off the side she swore her whole body was going to fly off. Thank goodness Gwen was right there to lend support. Lydia's bare feet had jolts shoot into them and practically cripple her from the coldness of the floor. And it was seriously bright in the infirmary. Even though Alauna had shades over the windows. Just another side effect from her medication.
Merr and Alauna assure everyone that Lydia will be back up on her feet like normal in no time. She just has to pace herself and make sure she doesn't over exert herself. Which will be hard considering there is a ball tonight and Lydia has to make an appearance. She doesn't have to dance. She does, however, have to meet with the other visiting dignitaries and diplomats. She's starting to feel sick all over again.
"Alright. One, two, three!" Gwen and Alauna hoisted Lydia, supporting her front to back as her legs remembered that they can walk. Her knees quaked for a few short seconds, her muscles spasming like crazy. Then, as she took in one breath at a time, her body gradually mustered the strength to stand on its own. Lydia edged herself from Alauna and Gwen, wanting some space to try to be independent. After Adelea, Serena, and Eezeyal got her that flower to make her a special tea, Lydia recovered in two days. Well, recovered in the sense that she was able to get up, eat, drink, and function normally. However, her strength wasn't entirely back. She'd get winded from walking further than her room, she fainted while taking a bath - thank goodness for Marcy, and she was tripping over any and all surfaces. So for those two days she's had a revolving door of attendants and family members constantly checking on her, and worrying over her. Today she wants to do things on her own. Walk, eat, go to the bathroom - just be left alone for a while. Again, not an option. Not with a ball on the horizon.
"How are you feeling today?" Alauna asked softly.
"The room isn't spinning." Lydia mumbled, letting her body catch up with itself. "And I actually feel like I can walk without those strings attached." If she had her wand she'd play on the joke with a few strings. Gwen and Alauna laughed all the same. "Witty reparte, skip in my step," She did a little toe tap, "And I feel lighter than air. Thanks to those antioxidants you've been giving me and Adelea's tea, I'm feeling on top of the world."
"Just make sure you don't stay there all day." Alauna warned playfully. "You're still in recovery. Rest and drink lots of fluids, you hear me?"
"Yes, Ma'am. But you know I have a terrible health management program." She draped an arm around her two best friends, winking impishly. "And being trapped at the ball without any real supervision might not be the best idea." Gwen and Alauna shared skeptical, if not already catching Lydia's drift, smirks. "And seeing as I don't have a date to this ball thing," She spun and took each other their hands in hers, "Would you two go with me?"
"Why don't you just ask Cedric?" Gwen teased with a coo.
"Aren't you two dating?" Alauna crooned.
Lydia exploded cherry red. She growled at her so called best friends. "On second thought, you two can stay home!" She stormed out of the infirmary.
Alauna and Gwen's giggling followed her out. "Aw, it's okay, Lydia!" Alauna teased.
"We're firm Lydia-Cedric fans!" Gwen laughed out loud. "Ooh! Lyderic! No...Cedyia!" She beamed.
"Love it!" Pillows from the next room over were thrown in their faces. Lydia called that a good day and marched for her room. Her fit only made them laugh harder. "She's so easy to tease."
"No wonder Adelea does it!"
xxx
Normally this is where Lydia would conspire with James to pull a friendly prank of the traitorous friends, but she has some work to do. Yes, Alauna said she needs some rest, but she has to get caught up on the work she missed while being sick. Her instructors have been piling her work in her second wing. Thanks to Ubos and Eezeyal it was all organized from can be finished in two minutes to will be finished in a couple hours to a day. She doesn't know what she'd do without them. Maybe do it all herself. That's a scary thought. If she didn't kick her medication, that's exactly where she would have been.
While she's workin, she can send in her earring to get it discharged. Adelea sent in the one that she had. The Earrings of Thornberry, like a hand full of magical objects, becomes overwhelmed with pent up energy that gets sucked into it. So every so often, Lydia has to send it in to get it discharged and moderately cleaned. It is a piercing, after all.
She entered her room to find Ubos and Eezeyal sharing a fruit salad buffet around a rousing game of chess. By the looks of it, Ubos was winning. Again. "Hi, boys. Miss me?"
"Never!" They both chimed, not diverting attention from their game for a second.
"What did Alauna say?" Ubos asked, moving his left Bishop to align with Eezeyal stagnant king.
"That is I should rest, not do anything exerting, and drink lots of fluids." In other words, the typical physician recommended dosages for a healthy body and mind. Alauna really is the best at what she does. Lydia always comes out feeling good as new. "And maybe take it easy at the ball tonight that I'm seriously reconsidering going to."
"You know Roland ain't gonna let ya sit this one out." Eezeyal warned her.
"Because I care what Roland wants." Lydia curtly scoffed. That broke Ubos and Eezeyal's focus. They raised brows at her. She was moseying along nonchalantly toward her work desk, pulling out a quill and spare paper for the work waiting for her. Neither knew if they should vocally remark on her calling Roland by his name. Or the fact she sounded so cold saying she didn't care what he wanted. It was so out of the blue. As was her about to take her earring off. "Oh yeah! Ezee, it's that time again." She pointed at the earring with a woeful tone.
"Already?! But you just sent it in!" He whined. Ubos arched another perplexed brow.
"I know, bud." She went to him, kneeling so she can scratch his head. "But with all this magic that's been going out of whack, the earring's been making my earring." Eezeyal groaned heatedly at the poor pun. "Sorry. If it's any consolation, I don't wanna take it off either."
"Ahem? Am I missing something?" Ubos interjected.
"I have to send my earrings in every so often to get them discharged, and Eezeyal and I don't exactly enjoy the crude sign language that follows."
"That's right!" Ubos always forgets that Lydia relies on those earrings to communicate with Eezeyal and other animals. She's just so casual about it, he's surprised she doesn't have a tail and whiskers by now. "If you like, I can discharge it for you."
"You can do that?!" Lydia gasped, feeling an answer to a week long prayer. It usually takes a week for her to send the earrings in and get them back.
"Of course. I can do anything." Ubos boosted.
"Except the two-step and hokie pokie." Eezeyal teasingly pranced on his feet. Lydia flicked him in the head for Ubos.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome." She grinned. She pinched at the ear, working the pin from the back. She looked lovingly at Eezeyal, getting his reluctant nod of approval. The second the earring split from her ear, a muffled ring deafened that one ear. It hurt sort of. Eezeyal's next words were incoherent owl screeches, but Lydia was sure he was waiting to talk to her again. "Don't worry, Pops. We'll be chatting again soon." Ubos opened his pages to a chapter with a hollowed hole. She set it inside and the jewele instantly lit up. Swirlings and spiraling thick lines drew themselves on the page, lighting up a brilliant aquamarine and dimming in pulses.
"Try not to worry, you two." Ubos closed himself. "In an hour or two this earring will be discharged and you'll be going on about you day."
"Thanks for the help, Ubos. That earring let's you know when it has to be cleansed." She tapped on the empty part of her lobe. The light, icy hot feeling was maddening to her. She feels off balance.
"Not a problem. It'll be back to you good as new." And he will take good care of it in the meantime.
Three knocks at her door knotted her insides. Her brow furrowed in annoyance. Who's at her door this early in the morning?! "Lydia? Can I come in?"
It's Miranda. Of course it's Miranda. "Come to check if I'm feeling better or putting drugs in my skin?" Lydia rolled her eyes with the snide whisper. Ubos and Eezeyal's jaws dropped, their eyes blinking with utter shock. She shooed the pair out her window. Unless Ubos wants to be seen, or Eezeyal wants to play mime for a couple hours. The pair grudgingly left the room, casting long, fretful stares at the distancing window. They aren't going to pretend that wasn't weird, right?
"Lydia? Are you there? Can I please come in?" Miranda insisted again with her stupid fairy knocks.
Lydia growled under her breath, her skull throbbing. Can I tell you how irritating you sound right now?! Her snarky remark not only didn't have the same response, it also didn't stop in her head. "Even if I say no, you'll just insist!" She snapped her fingers, popping in turquoise smoke from point A to Point work desk. Sure, she promised Roland no magic. But what daddy dearest doesn't know won't hurt anything. Thank you window draft for taking away the smoke. Miranda walked on in, strolling to Lydia's second wing. She was sprawled on her small couch, three books she has to do reports on all lined up. Miranda scanned the study area quizzically, baffled by the mountain of work Lydia drowned herself in. History, Music, Art, English, Politics, Economics, Math - is a year long enough to catch up. "Don't worry, you can go tell Rolly," She sarcastically batted her eyes at the idiotic pet name, "That I'm studying like a human. No magic here. No medicinal enhancers either!"
Miranda had jerked back, put off by the bite in that unnecessary tone. "That's not why I'm here." She stressed, hurt Lydia would assume that's why she'd come by.
"Then what? Dad send you to probe me for more drugs or magic paraphernalia?" She snapped again. Her quill was starting to tear into the paper. "Miles, Baileywick, Cedric, and Adelea gave my room the clean bill! And the guards took everything except my headband! Or are you here to take that?" Miranda was honest to heavens floored. She's barely in the room for a minute and Lydia's attacking her so viciously. "Did you need something? I'm busy!" She snarled again, growing impatient with Miranda just standing there.
Miranda gruffly inhaled through her nose, finding the patience for this new attitude she's taking on. "I'm going to let that slide seeing as you clearly are still not feeling well." Lydia continued to write - or rather barely began writing - the book report on The Odyssey. Not her favorite, but a thrilling tale. "Your father has a surprise he wants to show you and your sisters."
"Whatever it is, tell him he can keep it. I'm not interested." She easily dismissed.
"Lydia, wherever this attitude is coming from it needs to stop." She finally lost tolerance for this disrespect. She stood over Lydia, her hands on her hips. "You have no one to blame but yourself for this."
"Really, Mom? Only me?" Lydia set aside her work, standing up to her mom. The one in height difference didn't deter her in the least. "Because last time I checked I never asked for any of this!" She gestured to herself and the castle, her glare blaming Miranda for everything.
Miranda stayed quiet and staring straight as Lydia marched past her. Her loudly clopping footsteps rushing down the stairs stomped on her back, and the slam of the door scared her out of her skin. Miranda sighed heavily with dismay, her blood boiling to the brim. She doesn't know what just happened, or why Lydia acted that way with her. It really hurt, though. Worse than anything she'd felt.
xxx
Roland was laughing heartily with Sofia and Amber hanging on each of his hands. The surprise Roland was being very enigmatic about had them bursting with excitement. What oh what could their Dad have planned? Was an old friend over? Are they getting new gowns? Did he finally get that yard sized trampoline they've been asking for? They're little heads were spinning with all sorts of theories on what the surprise could be. But he made it clear they couldn't have it until Lydia met up with them. Amber was about to draw on the power to manipulate the castle with a flick of her wrist. She would cause the floors to move like a rotary belt and bring Lydia right to them. Must have worked. Because as they were rounding a corner, Lydia bumped into Roland.
"Ooh, Lydia, good timing!" Amber said, positively drooling. Now the surprise was theirs.
"Sorry I took so long. I was working." She said with a soft expression to her sisters. It hardened when she looked to a giddy Roland. She folded her arms. "So what's this surprise Mom was going on about?" Despite her words, she didn't sound the least bit aggravated. But if this proved to be a waste of time she wouldn't hide it.
"Dad's about to show us!" Amber bounced over and grabbed Lydia by the hand. Sofia grabbed the other. "COME ON!" Lydia's protests were ignored. She doesn't like being taken to places she isn't given notice about. That's how pranks are pulled.
"Don't be so stubborn, Lydia!" Roland took her protests and just helped the girls shove her along. "You'll love it when you see it." She sincerely doubts that. And she hates being outnumbered. Then again, what's a little surprise during a week of being trapped in her room. This will be her first real adventure in days.
Roland led his daughters to a corridor on the far side of the castle's north wing. He was practically skipping in his step thinking of how the girls will react when they see where he's taking them. Sofia, Lydia, and Amber were tingling with anticipation. They don't come this far into the north wing that often. Usually when they do something amazing is waiting for them. Like last time, James and Lydia found Gnarly, Teeny, and three of their troll friends chasing a pixie. Amber and Sofia happened on Clover, Eezeyal, and the other animal friends in a weird relay race. As Roland escorted them to a gorgeous solid gold gate, the three girls' ran rampant with questions on what was on the other side. With a smile on his face, and all three of his daughters on the verge of dying from suspense, Roland parted the intricate gate lock, and the doors opened to a wonderous room filled from the ceiling to the floor with the most beautiful jewels in the whole kingdom. Sofia and Lydia were in just such awe of this room that they bumped into one another every other step. It's like they've crossed into another world of the castle. They didn't even know this was here.
"Whoa…" Lydia's whole notion of this being a waste of her time fell right off with her sneer. This room was breathtaking. "Now this was worth putting the quill down!" She cupped her hands. Roland lingered at the door to revel in his daughters' amazement. Those three were so adorable when they're surprised.
"Where are we?!" Sofia dreamily marveled.
"The castle jewel room, Sofia!" Amber was like a blushing bride amid the splendor. "It's my favorite place in the whole kingdom!" She'd probably dropped to one knee and marry the room.
"Somehow a room full of sparkling things being your favorite room isn't surprising, Amber." Lydia giggled. She walked up the aquamarine carpeted stairs to a center stand with jeweled eggs guarded by four pillars. She was caught off guard by the pine smell of the decorative wrap arounds running up the pillars. Castle architects and interior decorators spare no expense. "Wow. Just...wow." Lydia opened one of the eggs, astonished by the brooches inside. Her brooch was better, but these were just divine.
"There are so many beautiful jewels in here!" Sofia basked.
"And every single one would look great on ME!" Amber so confidently stated. Sofia and Lydia found it was better to not react when Amber makes the conversation about her.
"I'm glad you feel that way." Roland entered. "Because as a special treat," All three girls turned to him, eyes sparkling, "You can each pick out a jewel to wear to tonight's ball! SURPRISE!"
"THANK YOU SO MUCH!" Sofia squealed.
"Yes, Daddy! Thank you!" Amber was already climbing on the walls.
"Thanks, Dad!" Lydia blushed. She had to watch out. Sofia left scorch marks rushing to one of the shelves. Roland watched pleased with himself. He did good with this.
Amber was all over the tiaras and necklaces, torn to ribbons on the numerous decisions there were. A crown for her head, a necklace for her neck, a jeweled belt that would go nicely with the new gown she has. She didn't know how she can choose just one. She'd wear them all if she was allowed to. The necklaces especially. Lydia was searching the jeweled eggs again. The brooches were dampening her mood, making her miss her brooch. Her mood flipped when she saw the headdresses. Yes, they would require her to take off her headband. But she'd risk it to wear the lovely ivory band that can be woven into her hair. Sofia was lost on what to choose. She loved the emeralds. But the rubies shined so brightly. The crystals were just dazzling. And the bracelets were just so cute. So much to choose, so much to choose. She was going to get dizzy darting from one jewel to the next.
"How will I ever choose?!" Amber was swooning.
"Should I pick these rubies?" Sofia quizzed herself. "Or these crystals?!" She wished she could wear more. She loves the tiara and earring set inside one of the seven bell jars.
"I think you'd look cute in the bracelets, Sofia." Lydia proposed. "You've always have the features for bracelets." Sofia took that under gleeful advisement.
"What are you going to pick, Lydia?" Amber asked excitedly.
"I'm not sure." She was back on the brooches again. She subconsciously touched her ear and headband. Roland noted her strange pats, remembering that he confiscated her brooch. Lydia felt his gaze on her, then realized she was touching where her brooch is. The disgruntled wrinkle that came to her in her brow irked him. She wasn't pleased at all that he took it. And he was just noticing she isn't wearing her earring. "I might not even sure I can pick one."
"What?! Why wouldn't you want to wear something from here?!" Amber broke her eardrums exclaiming. She spun around the room, "All of these are the finest jewels in the kingdom. You'll be the bell of the ball in one of these." She did a little tease with a finger to her smile, and a low curtsy to the imaginary gentlemen that will be at the ball. She threw in a eye flutter for effect.
"Yeah...I'm not into being the center of attention. And I accessorize enough." Not now, currently, seeing as her earring is being cleaned and Daddy Dearest took her brooch. I want my brooch back! She frothed mentally. "Not only that, I don't exactly want to go to the ball. I don't have the stomach for people right now." That wasn't a lie. Lydia's head felt like it was spinning.
"I understand that your strength hasn't returned." Roland approached her, placing a hand to her shoulder. "But as future Queen," Lydia's insides became a blaze. She somehow mustered the will to not show it on her face, "It is important for you to make appearances at balls and other social gatherings." Lydia turned her head, pretending to admire the jewels, touching where her missing brooch should be. Her nail digging into it gnawed at Roland. He gently brought her attention back to him. "And showing you can put aside an illness for your people projects a great determination and respect."
"I guess so." She bobbed her shoulders. I don't care about respect. I just don't want to be around strangers.
"AHH!" Sofia yelped. A golden brown paw swiped at her, chasing her several feet from a bell jar. A beak, baby beast leapt from the jar, stalking toward Sofia, warning her to watch herself.
Shrill screeches from the ceiling had Lydia rooted in place. Winged beasts she didn't even notice lurked in the rafters. "We have griffins! Why was I not told this?!" She beamed in a complete 180 to Roland.
"You like griffins?" He arched a bewildered brow at her.
"I love them. We had them at Hexley." Oh, if she had her earring she'd love to talk with them. Roland knows he shouldn't be surprised by her love for strange creatures. But this one takes the cake. And it eased his discomfort.
"What's a griffin?" Sofia asked, moving frightened behind Lydia. "I've never seen one before." She was still amazed by them.
"Yeah, Dad!" Lydia was prancing like a kid seeing a new toy. "How come we haven't seen these guys until now?" She was glistening, and drooling.
"That's because we keep them here in the jewel room, guarding the castle's treasures." Roland elucidated. Lydia found that made good sense. Intruders will think five times before taking on these winged behemoths. "They make perfect guards because griffins love anything shiny."
"They're not the only ones!" Amber returned to fawning over the jewels.
"They looks so...different from other animals I've seen." Sofia mustered up the courage to get closer to the babysitting by Roland.
"Griffins are half eagle, half lion." Roland continued educating his youngest daughter. "Notice how they have feathers AND fur." He was getting a kick out of this. He loves the way Sofia lights up when she's being surprised.
"This one's so cute!" Lydia gushed over the baby, scratching him behind the ear. "Eezeyal is going to be so jealous."
"Why is this one so small?" Sofia giggled, scratching him under the chin.
"He's just a baby." Lydia took over this time. "Griffins have a long life span, so this little guy here has some growing to do."
"How big do griffins get?"
"Pretty big. The largest one I saw at Hexley was the height of one of our carriages." Sofia could only picture the baby griffin bigger than a carriage. She wondered if she could ride one. "And no, you cannot ride one." Lydia stopped her in her tracks with knuckles to the head. She caught her.
"Ooh…" The baby griffin ogled Sofia's Amulet, "Pretty jewel." He cooed.
"Oh, thank you!" Sofia smiled.
"Did you just thank the griffin?" Roland asked.
"Uh...no!" Sofia waved her hands frantically. Lydia stifled her gasp by biting her finger. She and the others heard noises, but she often forgets - and so does Sofia - that she can hear animals clear as day. Looks like griffins aren't an exception. "I was thanking you for telling me about them!" She grinned innocently. Rland bought it in bulk. Lydia gave her a secret thumbs up. Nice save.
"THE SEARCH IS OVER!" Amber boomed, clipping a gold necklace around her neck. "I have found the perfect necklace!"
"It's beautiful!" Sofia gazed.
"Matches your eyes, too." Lydia added.
"What about you two?! What are you getting?" Amber pressed.
"Umm…" Sofia scanned her last section of options. "How about this bracelet?"
"I like that one!" Lydia chimed in. Sofia slipped it on. It was just as Lydia said, Sofia has the features for bracelets.
"Good choice! Lydia?" Amber gestured to the room.
"Alright, fine. I'll pick something." She gave in. She wouldn't want to upset her kid sisters. But what can she wear? What does she want to wear? "Oh!" She found what would be perfect. She rushed to a bell jar, with three sets of earrings and hair combs inside, minding the baby griffin so she wouldn't step on him. "May I borrow one of these?" She curtsies to the griffin. He bobbing his little head, those fat cheeks killing Lydia. "Thank you." She carefully removed the jar, handing it to Roland. He and the girls thought for sure she'd pick the earrings. She surprised them by taking a navy opal and cerulean topaz hair comb. The teeth that insert into the hair were a sort of green. The comb itself was a fan of butterfly wings. The reflection of light amid the alternating sequence gave the impression they were flapping. She removed her headband in order to brush her hair towards the side. She twisted it up, wove in braids from either side, and held her hair in place with the comb. Smaller crystal dangling down. She'll have her earrings by the time the ball starts. She returned her headband to wear it belongs, and modeled for her family. "What do you guys think?"
"It's perfect!" Amber squealed. Sofia applauded her.
"You look stunning." Roland marveled. Lydia blushed, brushing her fingers to her comb. Maybe going to the ball won't be such a bad thing. She HAS been cooped up in her room for the past few days. Maybe it's time for her to mingle.
"Your Highness!" Mile beckoned, entering the jewel room. "The Royal Guard is ready for your inspection."
"Yes, Constable Miles, of course…" Roland trailed off from his unconvincing, confident retort. "Come along, girls."
Lydia saw right through him, smirking with her arms folded. "You forgot all about it, didn't you?" Roland cringed at the arrow nailing him on target. He chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his head. Miles snorted behind his hands. She got his number on the spot. She had to laugh at that one. "That's okay, Dad. I forgot I'm needed elsewhere too." She wiglled her fingers in a wave, "I'll see you to-whoa…" Heaviness pressed on her skull, thrusting her forward. Then a swirling lightness caused her knees to buckle.
"Princess!" Miles steadied her. "Are you feeling alright?"
"Yeah, yeah." She choked, holding her head. She eased herself from his grasped, assuring him and the others that she was fine. And not her usual fine where she's actually not fine. She just lost her balance. "Alauna just warned me I should take it easy. My body isn't up to snuff just yet."
"I should think not. You were in terrible shape." Miles reminded her. Looking her over, he can see clear as day that she was still flushed. That's just from walking around. "Maybe you should rest more before the ball."
"Not a bad idea, Constable. I think I will." She took careful steps, getting back into her usual stride on her way out. Miles, Roland, and the two girls followed her out. "I'll see you three at the ball." She diverted down another corridor.
"See you soon, Lydia!" Roland assured, meandering off with Miles and the girls.
"Maybe Ubos is done with my earring." She pondered to herself.
Unbeknownst to the departing party, the mischievous little griffin cub snuck past the still opened gate. He laughed heartily, taking off into the castle. "Oh, almost forgot!" Roland rushed back a few seconds later, ensuring to seal the treasure room. Unfortunately for him, the baby griffin was out...and there were so many shiny things for him to play with.
xxx
Ubos found a quiet spot in the castle gardens to work on Lydia's earring. He placed it to the flat side of a boulder, angled to the midday sun. The pure solar rays will make the process easier, and expedient. Eezeyal was going a little stir crazy not being able to talk with Lydia. Good thing he wasn't too frazzled to not lend Ubos a talon. Whatnaught even lent a paw. Grounding up some nuts, berries, and food coloring into a paste, Whatnaught and Eezeyal drew gaelic symbols around the earring signifying release, recycle, rejuvenation, and reimburse. These will insure that the natural forces contained within the earring will be absorbed into nature's bosom, all the while freeing up the earring and returning it to its former glory. More auspicious sounding than it actually is. It's literally just a glorified drainage that also polishes the earring up.
"By nature's grace you bless thee with a voice," His chant caused the symbols to glow, "Release now what you keep, may it be returned. May the wearer by your ear, and they shall rejoice." He opened his eyes and a quick flash levitated the earring. "Defaeco." Curved aura streams poured from the earrings, a secondary shade filling in the already glowing symbols. Like a mug filling with water. The process was slower than Ubos anticipated. A little grueling as well. She wasn't kidding. This little trinket holds a lot of energy. It absorbs excess magic energy like a sponge in order to maintain its powers. The complete opposite of the Brooch, and Sofia's Amulet. "I should like to perform this procedure on Princess Sofia's Amulet. I do not believe she has to worry about discharge, but it doesn't hurt to check."
"How much do you know about that Amulet of Avalor, Ubos?" Eezeyal inquired.
"Only as much as my old friend Alacazar was able to tell me before he passed on." Ubos lowered his head mournfully. "May he rest in peace." Eezeyal offered a small prayer to the passed on friend as well. "And all he told me was it would protect the princess who is chosen to wear it."
"Chosen? Didn't Roland say he gave it to Sofia as a welcome gift?"
"That may have been the story he told." A nice little tale for his newest daughter. "But the truth of the Amulet is, it can only be worn by those who are chosen to wear it." Ubos glanced from the draining earring, marveling at Princess Sofia's window. "That Amulet has bounced from princess to princess for years. About 40 if I'm remembering correctly. It picked a real pure peach this time."
"How many princesses we talkin'?"
"However many have arrived to lend Sofia their wisdom." Ubos countered cryptically. In other words, he has no real clue.
Eezeyal had to do a quick count. "There was Cinderella, Jasmine, Belle, and Ariel." He gawked at the number. "That amulet's gone through four princesses to make it to her?"
"Possibly more." Ubos teased. Now Eezeyal really wants to learn more about that little necklace. "If I recall correctly, Alacazar told me the name of the first princess who had it. She was from Avalor, hence the name."
"What was it?!" Eezeyal was bouncing in place, about to wet himself with excitement. "Who was this princess?! What happened to her?!"
"I can only assume she's passed on. Poor thing." Ubos truly hopes that isn't the case. The way Alacazar spoke of the Original Princess, she was a true gem. "As for her name…" That was a fuzzy blank that was on the tip of his tongue. "I think it was...Alauna? No. Eleanor? No that's not it either. Gosh darnit." He cursed himself. "Whoever she was, she'd be proud her amulet ended up with Sofia."
"You and I can agree on that." Eezeyal winked. "No one better deserves it more than that sweet girl."
"Amen." Ubos nodded firmly with a smile, returning his attention to the nearly emptied earring. Just in time. He was done. The last of the earring's pent up energy drained into the symbols. Rippling ring of pulses dispersed down the boulder and quaked the ground ever so slightly. The plants looked like they got a healthier hue to them by Eezeyal's standpoint. The earring gently lowered itself to the boulder, bathing in the sunlight. "There we go. It should be ready for-"
CRASH! A bushel of acorns scattered and rolled across the grass. Whatnaught, doubled over with his little paws on his back, cursed in his little squirrel chitter. He was lying on the branch extending from under his cavity nest, the small sack he was using to haul the acorns was torn at the bottom. By the looks of it, he hurt himself before the bag tore. He has a bad habit of carrying more than what his little squirrel body could handle. He must have pulled something.
"Need a hand there, Whatnaught?" Eezeyal called. The squirrel bobbed his head, giving a thumbs up. "Alright, buddy, hold on." He flew up to help the poor guy with his back. He lied him down on his stomach, patting his talons up and down for any serious injuries. Thank goodness Whatnaught is tougher than he looks. He did only pull a muscle.
Ubos gathered up his acorns, guiding them single file into his nest. He was humming Sorcerer's Apprentice mUsical score. He found it appropriate when doing anything that constitutes a chore. The crafty squirrel had shelves on shelves on shelves of acorns he was stowing away for the winter. Prepared little thing he was. "Alright. Acorns stored!" He announced. "Shall I tend to our patient?"
"Please do." Eezeyal stepped aside. Ubos massaged a healing spell into the ailing squirrel's back. Green hands flowing from his spine, the fingers spreading to each of the pressure points. Tiny pops were heard running up and down in the muscle. Eezeyal cringed here and there. Whatnaught yelped, tensing up, and then would moans in bliss and relax. As painful as it was, it felt amazing. The icy hot thumpings tenderizing his already stiff muscles. He was feeling like a new squirrel.
"Think I can get one of these next?" Eezeyal impishly pleaded with a brow bounce.
"I'll have to charge you." Ubos chuckled.
Lydia's glistening earring was all alone, basking in the glorious sun as it regained its power. A shadow came over the opal. A paw swiped it, leaving claw marks in the stone. A rather large body took to the sky. Wings beating the air dropped tufts of fur and a couple feathers. A childishly playful laugh distracted Ubos and Eezeyal from Whatnaught. They spotted the shadow just as it disappeared into the trees. They reared their heads out, trying to spot whatever it was that they think they saw. Nothing was there. Maybe the sun was getting to them. If only it were the sun.
While Ubos and Eezeyal brushed it off as a trick in their minds', the baby griffin that escaped the treasure room took off into the distance. Lydia's earring was nestled in his paw, making him laugh giddily. "Super shiny! Super shiny!" He cheered, laughing as he went looking for more.
As Ubos was returning to Whatnaught, Eezeyal noticed something amiss with the boulder with Lydia's earring on it. The earring wasn't there. "Hey, Ubos, where'd ya put the earring?" He leaned side to side, scouting for a shimmer.
"Right on the boulder." Ubos assured him, focusing on Whatnaught.
Eezeyal arched a brow. He isn't lying. It WAS on the boulder. It's not now. He flew down to it, humming perturbed. "It ain't here, Partner."
"Maybe it fell off." Ubos gave Whatnaught one final press on the back and smoothed down his fur. Whatnaught balanced to Ubos to stand up. He twisted and cracked his back, purring at how amazing he felt. He thanked Ubos with a farewell salute, returning to his nest and all those acorns. "You are most welcome my friend."
Meanwhile, Eezeyal was scouring around the boulder and in the nearby bushes. He'd even lift the boulder if he could. Either way, there was no sign, hide, hair, or sparkling pin end of that earring. It was gone. The earring...IS GONE! Eezeyal was becoming increasingly scared. They lost Lydia's earring! "Uh, Ubos?" He wheezed.
"Yes?" Ubos floated down to him.
Eezeyal pointed at the boulder with a very green expression. "The earring isn't here."
Ubos's parchment heart was skipping a dozen beats. He ran around the boulder, levitating it and Eezeyal off the ground. He rolled up sections of grass, uprooted the bushes, flipped a few cobblestone tiles in the walkway. Nothing, zilch, zip. "No." Ubos's dry throat choked on the large lump shuffling down it. "No it is not."
"This is not good?"
"No it is not."
Eezeyal groaned sickly, clamping his wings to his dread filled eyes. "Lydia is gonna flip." He rasped.
"Yes…" Ubos slumped, losing his golden glow. "Yes she is."
xxx
Now, this can't be considered a lie. More of a...diverted off course from previous intentions. Never mind. Lydia veered off course for her room like she told everyone and went to the kitchen for a pick me up. Chef Andre knows how to brew the best herbal honey mint tea this side of Enchancia. Not only is it one of Lydia's favorite teas, it is also on Alauna list of what to drink when you're sick beverages. Lydia will also work in a spike of cucumber juice. Sounds nasty, yes. But it does just the healing trick to cure Lydia of her lightheadedness and shortness of breath. She sipped this cure all tea on her way back to her room. The sweet honey massaged her sore muscles, and the minty aroma worked the pressure from her skull. Alauna and Chef Andre are miracle workers.
"Man! I know I had it!" Lydia was passing by the playroom when she heard James snarling to himself. She stretched herself in mid stride, peeking through the slit in the doors. Pillow cushions and a stuffed cat were seen flying. That very fragile sounding crash sent chills down her spine. "Where is it?! Where?!" The parting doors were met by stuffed animals and blocks being flung with surprising strength. Lydia was able to duck behind them and avoid being hit. A Kazoo went flying past her head too. She didn't think the playroom had kazoos. She dared to enter again. It was safer this time. James was flipping the chairs and couches instead of throwing toys at high velocities. "Come on! How can it be gone?!"
"James?" He didn't hear her as he was diving into the toy chest. Lydia froze one her first step inside. Hundreds of toy soldiers were spread in uniform lines, spanning from one end of the carpet to the next. She minded her next step, climbing over the one couch James hasn't gotten the chance to flip. Though, with how frantic he is, she's sure he can send her to the moon. "James! Little brother!" She clapped. James dove into the chest and popped out with a monkey on his head. "What are you doing?" She tilted her head at him.
"The Helmet to my suit of armor is missing!" He snapped a hand toward the bronze headless suit on the other side of the toy army. James must be playing Soldiers vs Giants again. It's unsettling without its head. Lydia wondered if James really needed the head. "I went to go set it up as a giant for my army invasion. Next thing I knew the helmet was gone."
"That's odd." Lydia tapped her chin. "Now that I think about it, I just passed Gwen in the hallway and she said her favorite whisk was missing." Yes, Gwen has a favorite whisk. Unknown to everyone except Lydia and Alauna, she doesn't use it for pastries. "She set it down for a second and then it was gone."
"That's what happened to me! Are you missing anything?"
"Nothing that wasn't confiscated by dad." She sardonically replied. James had to laugh at that one. The face she made was funny. Lydia giggled herself when James tried to mimic it. Her smile faded to confusion by a book and owl desperately trying to get her attention out the window. The pair urged her frantically to meet her at the library, then they took off. I wonder what happened. "I need to go see a man about a piece of jewelry. I'll keep an eye out for your helmet."
"Thanks, Lydia. See you tonight!" He called as she sauntered off.
"Oh yeah...tonight…" She still wasn't looking forward to the ball.
xxx
A fresh Autumn breeze gathered up through the curtains in Roland and Miranda's room. A couple of handmaids were finishing straightening up before they took their leave. Granted, no one was expected to be in the room during the ball, but they liked to ensure their King and Queen had a neat room to return to. Besides, it's what they're paid to do. The sunlight entering the room glazed over The Fantasia Brooch sitting on Roland's desk. The embroidery and turquoise finish made the artifact glisten. The mahogany wood just made the colors pop. It was like a jeweled candy. So rich and tantalizing. Too good to resist.
"HA-HA-HA," Came that child's laugh from earlier. A large brown blur whisked past the window, it's large wings creating a gust that blew the curtains aloft. The griffin was in a frenzy, unable to contain himself. In his paw was a shiny earring, wrapped in his tail a whisk, and crowning that head of his was bronze helmet. So many shiny things he's collected. So many more he hasn't. "More! I need more!" He drooled at the beak. This castle is enormous. He can imagine the boat loads of shiny things just lying around, begging him to take them. His wide spanned wings threw him into a loop. "WOO-HOO! WHOA!" The helmet was heavier than her realized. It dragged him down in the dive. He growled irritatedly, throwing himself up right and stopping the fall. As heavy as the helmet was, the baby griffin wasn't about to give it up. He loved how shiny his face looked in it. "I wonder if dad will let me keep it!" He hoped. "Huh?" From the corner of his eye was a blinding shimmering. "What's that?!" He beamed. What, oh what, could be making that magnificent shine?!
The open window from one of the bedroom towers. The shimmer was coming from there. The baby griffin doesn't know who's room it is, but they have something he wants. He laughed heartily . diving to a perch on the window sill. He scanned the luxurious suite indifferently. The King Sized bed for two with the canopy did tempt him to try and see how high he could jump. He honestly wondered if it was as soft as it looked. Three different dressers with jewelry boxes stacked on top. CLOSED jewelry box. There were bell jars with different crowns inside of them. None of them making that shine he saw earlier. A couple of desks with loads of papers and quills on them. He's pretty sure that's a closet over there. Two dresses lying around. NOT WHAT HE'S LOOKING FOR! Yeah, the room was nice, but the griffin was gradually getting irritated that he couldn't find what was causing that shine he saw earlier. Maybe it was a trick of the light on the white window sill. He huffed angrily, turning for the window.
The shimmer from earlier stopped him right at the window sill, practically a leash yanking him back around. "OOH! FOUND IT!" He pushed off the sill in a graceful leap to the desk with all papers on it, sending them scattering all on the floor. "Ooh! Really pretty jewel!" He squealed at the turquoise brooch. It was the prettiest thing he's seen. Well, not prettier than Sofia's jewel, but definitely a close second. "HA-HA! YEAH!" He scooped it up in one swoop. Fur and feathers sprinkled on claw marks the golden yellow paw left behind. More of his childish laughter followed with his departure and the disappearance of yet another piece of property.
Just as the baby griffin vanished, Roland entered the room feeling absolutely exhausted. He released a heavy groan, shifting his stiff shoulders. Inspecting the guards was nothing short of easy. That isn't what's exhausted him. Being King seems to age him a year each day. That would make him...ooh. He'd better not do the math. He'll feel even more ancient than he already does. And it was barely past noon. If he got a good look at Baileywick's to do list for him; there's a whole 'nother day and a half of work for him to do. Most of today would be spent preparing for tonight's ball. The next day would just be answering questions and responding to letters he's let pile up in his-
"WHAT IN THE WORLD?!" He cried, stepping on one of them any papers scattered across his room. "What happened here?!" He said again with a spread of his arms, sounding more irritated. This mess, it looked like someone came in and just did a clean sweep of his desk. "For crying out loud!" He wasn't in the mood for this today. It was stressful enough as it is. As he picked up the papers, he ran over in his mind what could have happened. The window is open. It's a good breeze. But he would swear he anchored the papers down before he left. Perhaps someone did messy him room. Possibly a practical joke. Though he isn't finding it very funny.
He gave the collected pages a firm pat on the desk, shifting them into neat piles. He placed heavier objects on them to ensure they didn't blow away again. He itched the side of his head irritably. He'd really like a real answer to why he came back to a mess. The maids wouldn't have left it, and they wouldn't have done it. Unfortunately, that's a mystery for a much later time. He needs to decide which attire would be suitable for tonight's ball. He and James can't be out done by Miranda and the girls. It would be undignified, and unsporting, to let the womenfolk upstage them without a decent challenge. The idea was making him laugh.
"Huh? What are these?" Roland was about to adjourn to his closet when some fur, feathers, and claw marks caught his attention. Now he knows these weren't here before. These are fresh. But where did they come from? And who in the castle could possibly be able to do this? "Hmm…" Roland studied the marks, running fingers along the shallow grooves. No human could have made these. He knows that much. They're big in a sense. But a little on the small side as well. Very uniform. Sort of like...like a bird's. If Roland remembers correctly, Sofia has two birds. A robin and blue bird. But he hasn't seen them all morning. Cedric has Wormwood, but he never leaves Cedric's workshop without him. Maybe...an owl? "Eezeyal, possibly? But why would he…" Roland trailed off, studying his desk intently to see what would possess Eezeyal to do such a thing. If it was even him. For all he knows Serena could be the culprit.
Roland wasn't seeing anything of value on his desk, or anything remotely interesting to a bird. He paused when his train of thought lead him to discover he was SEEING something on the desk. "Lydia's brooch!" He gasped. He left it on the desk. Of that he is certain. He swore to Lydia that he'd take care of it with his life. So far, that noose was tightening at his neck. He checked around the room before he gave in to panic. By the bed? No. Under the bed? Not there either. In his closet? That's a no. No, no - nowhere in the room at all. "Where could it be? I know it was in here." He'd never walk around with it. That'd be rubbing it in Lydia's face. He's kept it in his room. Never took it out, or moved it really. He was dwelling on whether or not he'd return it to Lydia. So where could it have gone?
"There you are, Rolly!" Miranda gleefully greeted him. She's been looking all over for him. "Did the girls like the jewel room?" She was excited to hear how the girls liked it.
"Just as you knew they would." He put on his brightest smile. Sofia, Amber, and Lydia's reactions were actually better than he would have hoped. But the more pressing issue robbed him and Miranda of their glee. "Miranda, Lydia's brooch - did you move it?"
"No. It's been right-" She was taken aback to find it wasn't where she last saw it. She checked around the desk, and gave a superficial look around. "Where is it?" She stressed urgently.
"That's what I'd like to know. I've searched everywhere but can't find it." There's only one alternative he hasn't - but silently - considered. The feathers he saw resembled Eezeyal's. And previous experiences showed that he can make claw marks like what he sees when he's in a rush, or upset. "I found these feathers and claw marks here. Likely from Eezeyal. Lydia must have taken it while I was busy with the Royal Guard inspection."
"Rolly, Lydia would never do something like that. Or Eezeyal!" Roland wouldn't be too sure about Eezeyal. He'll remind Miranda that Eezeyal has played spy for Lydia in the past. He's pilfered letters from his room regarding her and reported back. He doesn't know how he'd be able to comprehend what is written, or how Lydia knows what he's saying, but those two can be a dangerous pair. "She doesn't steal." Miranda pressed to him.
"She wouldn't consider it stealing since the object is hers." Miranda clamped a hand to her chest and mouth. She can't believe what she's hearing. Roland understood her dismay, but he has to consider all the signs. Not just the ones in the room. But what he saw earlier. "In the jewel room she was eyeing the brooches, constantly wanting hers back. You and I don't exactly know what Lydia is capable of these days." Considering she resorted to drugs to help control her powers, has had episodes while on them, and is now having manic outbursts, Roland can't rule anything out.
"Roland the Second, you are not insinuating that my daughter - OUR daughter - would go against what your orders?!" Miranda roared. She won't hear of this. Yes, Lydia was rude this morning, but that is not enough to make her doubt Lydia. "Remember, you've grounded her from magic before and she didn't so much as bubble James' cider when he begged her." And yes, he begged and bribed her to make something explode. "Lydia is not a criminal. You should stop treating her like one."
"Are you saying I shouldn't have punished her?"
"No. What Lydia did was inexcusable!" She will never deny that. In fact, she would have done worse than ground Lydia back in the day. "But do not start making her into a criminal from a mistake! As parents we're supposed to let our kids learn from their mistakes. Not dangle them over their heads!" Roland twisted partly away. He knows that. But...he can't explain it...he can't trust Lydia. Not right now. Miranda placed a hand to his shoulder and another to his cheek, having him face her soft expression. "Just ask her about it. I'm sure she doesn't have it and she'd never ask Eezeyal to steal for her." Roland released a defeated breath and nodded. He'll ask. But there's that part of him that won't be surprised if he's right. Why? Why am I feeling this way about her? Why is he so wholehog on chastising her?
xxx
Lydia met up with Ubos and Eezeyal in the library, seating herself to the couch they were sinking in misery on. She was worried for them. They looked sick to their stomachs. She started to check their temperatures the moment she sat down. They assured her that all was well with them. Her earring on the other hand...that was a different matter. And telling her what happened was like yanking all 32 teeth, and 32 feathers, from them.
"My earring just disappeared?" She arched a brow.
"Not disappeared." Ubos sheepishly remarked. "We think someone might have taken it. There were marks where I left it." Eezeyal was screeching adamantly, flapping his wings in order to tell his side of the story. Lydia appreciated the effort, but was really sad she couldn't hear his drawl. Though she knew in her heart that he didn't mean to let this happen. "Lydia, we turned away for a second and…" Ubos's voice cracked to rasps, "I am so sorry." Eezeyal screeched his own apology.
Lydia exhaled with a shoulder drop. She put on a warm smile, petting the pair on their low hanging heads. "Don't apologize. It's not your fault. Things like this are bound to happen." That was not the reaction they expected in the least. It nearly knocked them on their hinds. They gawked up at her utterly shocked. They were shocked again when she lost herself in thought. "Come to think of it, James' knight helmet went missing."
"It did?" Ubos questioned.
"Yeah. He told me he was playing with his suit of armor, came back and found the helmet missing."
"That's strange. I wonder if his helmet went missing like your earring did."By the sounds of it, it was a little while after Lydia's earring went missing.
"Maybe." Lydia tapped her chin. This is a strange series of events. Gwen's whisk, James's helmet, and now Lydia's earring. There's no way a thief would be here. Right? Not during a ball. "You were near the gardens, right?"
"Pretty close."
"Okay. Let's head down and see if maybe a bird or something took it." Eezeyal grunted bashfully. Birds do like shiny things. "It has to be somewhere. My earring is magic, but even it can't just up and walk away." Eezeyal was struck by an idea and was already off to the garden. That avian weakness might be the key to talking with his girl again.
"We'll meet you there!" Ubos hurried after Eezeyal. Lydia got to her feet and was sprinting at top speeds.
xxx
"WE HAVE TO HURRY! IT HAS TO BE THERE!" Eezeyal bellowed. Ubos was huffing and puffing trying to catch up. That owl flies fast than an eagle. "I don't like it! I don't like not being able to talk to her!" He sniffled.
"Being able to communicate with Lydia means a lot to you doesn't it!" Ubos called to him, amazed he finally caught up.
"It's not just communicating with her!" Eezeyal shook his head fervently. "Those earrings sealed our fates together! I was able to be saved by her because of them!" He's forever grateful to her and that earring. He won't lose it. Not ever.
xxx
Lydia was racing past Sofia's room as she and Amber came out. "LYDIA!" The two shrieked. Lydia dug in her heels on a skidding stop. Amber and Sofia ran up to her with desperation brimming on their faces. "We need your help!"
"Amber, Sofia - what's wrong?" As if enough wasn't happening today.
"Please tell us you've seen her amulet!" Amber begged.
"Your…" Lydia's eyes dropped to Sofia's naked neck, her stomach erupting with a reflux. "Your amulet is missing too?!" Her voice cracked.
"Too?! Did you lose something?" Sofia cupped her hands together.
"Gwen's whisk, James's knight helmet, and my earring." She touched her ear. A lot of things are missing today. "I set my earring down to clean it and then it was gone." Lydia snuck in an alternative finger swirl for Sofia. A signal for them both of a same outcome but with a different circumstance. Sofia caught on quick. Ubos was cleaning the earring, so he must have lost it somehow. "Sofia, how did your amulet go missing? You don't take it off." That statement dropped Sofia's head in shame. She did that little cringe where her head sinks into her shoulders, and her eyes drop to the lower left. She does that all the time when she doesn't something wrong. Sometimes she's bend her fingers, fold her hands behind her back, or rubs her arm. But the eye darting and shoulder thing are constant. "Sofia? What did you do?" She rumbled perturbed.
"It's my fault." Amber stepped forward. She showed her necklace and Sofia's bracelet. "I wanted to swap jewels with her for fun. I'm sorry, Sofia."
"It's not your fault." Sofia reassured her. And she wasn't mad at her in the least.
"She's right. You didn't know this would happen." Lydia rested a comforting hand on her back. "All that matters is that we find it before it's lost forever."
"AAAHHH…!" Came a distant scream.
"Now what?!" Lydia hollered, rolling her eyes with shrugged hands.
"That sounded like Violet!" Amber stated. "She sounds like she's in trouble! Let's go!" Amber took off running.
"Lydia…!" Sofia whispered urgently, tugging Lydia to stay a bit longer. She waited for Amber to get ahead and out of earshot. She touched her bare neck, flinching each time she didn't feel her Amulet. "I can't talk to Clover, Mia, or Robin. I don't think I can even turn into a mermaid anymore. I feel...strange."
"That make sense. The Amulet gave you the powers. So if you aren't wearing it - like I'm not wearing my earring - your powers are gone." She elucidated. "That strange feeling you have is when magic is suddenly expelled from your person."
That's not the only reason for this strange feeling. She kept touching her neck. "If Dad sees it missing, he'll be mad. I promised to never take it off."
"Dad won't be mad." Lydia promised. "But we aren't leaving you amulet-less another second longer." She swore, bringing Sofia's famous smile back. The pair raced after Amber, hoping Violet was okay.
James and Amber met up in the corridor, crossing in the banquet hall. By the time Lydia and Sofia arrived, Violet was out of her mind in panic. She was running holes in the banquet running around. She nearly trampled Lydia and the trio. "Whoa, there, sweetie! Take it down a notch!" Lydia caught her by the shoulders, forcing her to sit down. She was holding her chest, hyperventilating.
"Violet, what happened?!" Sofia asked.
"What's all this screaming about?!" Amber asked next.
"I heard it from the other side of the castle!" James wiggled a finger in his ear. The woman could break glass.
Lydia got Violet some water so she'd be calm enough to explain. She caught her breath for a second and began. "The queen asked me to set the table for the ball. So I put the golden goblet here, here, and here." She gestured, tracing over every second she was in that room. "But now they're gone, gone, and GONE!" She cried.
"The dishes have been pilfered too?!" Lydia's face sank. "What's going on around here?!"
Sofia's gasp drew everyone's heads to her. "Those scratches…" She gaped at the claw marks torn into the table cloth, "Like the ones on my dresser after I lost my amulet."
"Huh…" Lydia folded her arms, brow furrowing. "Gwen said she saw claw marks where she left her whisk. And again when my earring went missing."
"I didn't see claw marks," James inserted himself, "But there was a lot of fur and feathers where my helmet went missing."
"What in the world is going on around here?!" Amber screeched.
"What's all the commotion?" Constable Miles announced his entrance.
"Sofia's Amulet, Lydia's earring, James's stupid helmet, and the golden goblets are missing." Amber summed up.
"And Gwen's whisk." Sofia threw in. Can't leave anything out. James wasn't thrilled to have his helmet called stupid. It's a genuine relic...that he's using as a toy.
"Hmmm…" Miles inspected the marks. All of these items missing without a trace - he came to one conclusion. "It appears we have a thief in the castle!" His announcement caused an uproar of gasps.
"A thief?!" Sofia squeaked.
"Cool!" James pumped a fist. Amber and Lydia slapped him on the back of his head. "What?!"
"Constable Miles, are you sure?" Lydia double checked. It's best to not jump to a conclusion that could spoil tonight's ball. Or cause people in the castle to panic. "Someone in the castle could be pulling a bad prank."
"We have to consider all possibilities, Princess Lydia, but cannot rule out the possibility of a thief." He exclaimed sternly. "You may not be aware, but Balls, festivals, and other parties draw in the worst of the ne'er do wells."
Lydia nodded in understanding. She doesn't want to think someone would really break into her home. What if they hurt someone? "A thief…?" She mumbled under her breath. All of these things missing...they hold no REAL value. Maybe on an open market. But Lydia's earring, and Sofia's Amulet. With everyone being busy, taking their eyes off these powerful relics for a second invites a thief with a good eye to swipe them. A thief who would take any and all opportunities to have the power they hold in her or HIS possession. And why not take the generic objects to fool someone. There's only one thief that comes to Lydia's mind. "There's no way." Not even HE was this bold. Or stupid. "Guys, I'll start looking around in the garden. Maybe whoever took your amulet has my earring and the goblets there."
"Okay. We'll be sure to keep an eye out for your earring." Miles assured her.
"Thanks. See you guys soon." Lydia took off running, her brow knitting sharply. "Cedric, I swear, this will be the day I bury you if you're behind this!"
xxx
"THESE ARE AMAZING!" The baby Griffin howled ecstatically. He was diving into corkscrews, and pulling off amazing loops. He juggled the helmet, whisk, and goblets, loving the light show they gave off. The goblets he got from that table just begged him to take them. That lady leaving them out for him was super nice to do so. And that pretty jewel Sofia was wearing. She left it for him on her dresser! "So pretty!" He swooned. These castle folks are so nice to leave things out for him. Makes it a lot easier than when he had to look for that brooch. The earring was nice too. Oh and let's not forget the tiara he found a while later. It looked nice on top of the helmet. That being said...he was coming to realize that his paws were getting kind full. And he was being weighed down. "I need to find a place to put these."
"WATCH OUT!"
"Huh? AHH!" The baby griffin and three ducks screamed.
The triangle of ducks rammed into the griffin, knocking him and all his stuff into a fall. "SORRY!" One of the ducks called.
The baby griffin panicked. Not because of the fall. But because all of his stuff was getting away. "NO! COME BACK!" He got the goblets, the tiara, and the Amulet. Everything fell into bushes and trees. He tried to dive for them before hand, but he didn't have any room in his arms to go get them. Plus he saw someone in the gardens. "Oh well, I'll come get them later." He shrugged. Right now he needed to find a place to hide his treasures before someone tries to steal them. The irony was thick.
xxx
A lilac seed that was neglected to be planted was plucked tenderly from the soil and dropped into a tiny bottle full of other lilac seeds. "Yes. That should be enough." Cedric stated to Wormwood. He shook the bottle, satisfied that even the royal gardeners tend to get a little lazy with their work. "With these that relaxation fixation potion I'm tinkering with should be boosted to a higher potency." SHOULD meaning he hasn't really tested it yet. The maids and other servants aren't exactly lining up to be his guinea pigs, and Lydia is taking extra steps to avoid him after last time. "Alright, Wormy. Let us finish up gathering what we need for our evil potions and get back before any nosy workers but into our business." Wormwood squawked in annoyed agreement. Workers tend to be too engrossed in another's business. Especially Cedric's. They can't wait to tattle when they think he's going to mess up.
Cedric and Wormwood perused the gardens regularly when parties are on the horizon. As amazing as it sounds, the gardens are taken care of a week prior, leaving it practically vacant because everyone focuses on the main areas parties will be held. The short explanation - Wormwood and Cedric have the garden all to themselves for a few hours. So that Sorcerer fully intends to take advantage of the isolation while he can. And get Wormwood some food. The raven is cranky when he doesn't get his Thorny Blackberries.
TACK! Cedric was so engrossed looking for the perfect twin stemmed acorn that he almost jumped when he felt his foot step on something. By the sound, it was fragile. He winced an eye closed, slowly and with dread lifting his foot. Imagine his relief that what was under his foot wasn't damaged. Barely had a scuff. "What's this?" He picked it up, polishing it on his sleeve. "Wait, this is one of the Earrings of Thornberry. Lydia's earring!" And without a Lydia ear attached. "What on earth is it doing out here?" Wormwood shrugged. He was lost on that too. Sofia and Lydia are annoying when it comes to never taking off their precious jewels. SCRREEE! An ear piercing screeched interrupted their pondering. "Was that the owl?"
The second Wormwood and Cedric looked up, Wormwood was dive bombed into the dirt by Eezeyal. "DOH! HAVE YOU LOST YOUR-"
Eezeyal smashed his foot to Wormwood's beak, shutting him up real quick. He locked his dagger glare onto Cedric and the earring in his slimy fingers. "PREPARE TO HAVE YER EYES GOUGED, THIEF!" Eezeyal launched like a crossbow arrow.
"WHOA!" Cedric ducked, catchign a breeze, and the faint feel of a bald spot, ghosting his head. Eezeyal rapidly came back around, talons and beak ready to tear Cedric apart. "WOW! WATCH IT! TOO CLOSE!" Cedric was performing a new dance to dodge the crazy owl. He was relentless! "Will you stop it! Get away! SOMEONE HELP!"
Lydia and Ubos pushed through the bushes, astonished by Eezeyal yanking on Cedric white tufts of hair. "EEZEYAL! CEDRIC!" As appalled as they were, Ubos and Lydia spotted the source of Eezeyal rampage.
"PRINCESS LYDIA! KINDLY EXPLAIN WHY YOUR FEATHERED FRIEND IS ATTACKING ME!" He demanded.
"He thinks you stole my earring!" She ran in, grabbing hold of Eezeyal. "Eezeyal, stop it right now!" She smacked him off, wrapping him tightly to her chest. Cedric massaged heatedly at his scalp, praying he isn't missing any patches. Eezeyal was screeching like a madman. Lydia can only imagine the curse words. By Ubos's flushed cheeks, it was very colorful. "Ezee, if he stole it, do you really think he wouldn't be blackmailing me with it right now?" Eezeyal stopped flailing, feeling very foolish.
"Stole? Blackmail?! What is going on this morning?" Cedric frothed at the mouth. He picked up his raven from the dirt, dusting him off. "And is that scream I heard earlier related?"
"It is." Lydia answered winded. She held out her hand to him. "And if you hand me my earring, I'll tell you everything." Cedric sneered incredulously, but handed it back all the same. Lydia felt a warmth flood her palm. She wasted no time clipping it back on. "That's much better." She felt whole again. She cradled Eezeyal like a baby, smirking at him. "Now, do you feel up to telling me what you called Cedric?"
"I don't think it'd be proper for a lady to hear." He winked. He and Lydia squealed, hugging one another tightly. They can talk again.
Cedric opened his mouth to disrupt this sickening sweet moment, then was sidetracked by the comb in her hair. "What's this about?" He put fingers under it.
"Oh, I'm wearing it to the ball tonight. Why?" Her cheeks turned red, her fingers gingerly touching it. "Does it look dumb?" She shranke.
Cedric flinched back, feeling his mouth go dry. "Not at all. You look lovely in it." He turned pink, rubbing the back of his neck. Lydia's eyes sparkled. Ubos, Wormwood, and Eezeyal's snickering made him clam up. "I mean...it doesn't look bad...but not that good either!" He snootily shooed, turning away stubbornly with a childish scowl. Lydia grunted irked, shooting glares at the three very immature sidekicks. "Now about the stealing!" He blurted.
"Right." Lydia almost forgot what brought them out there. She gave him the summarized version. A handful of people within the castle have had something taken and no one, for the life of them, can explain where they've gone or who might've taken them. She left out Sofia's Amulet missing for good reason. She doesn't need him vying for it while she's grounded from magic. There's too great a risk he'll get it before she does. She moved on and said that Miles thinks there's a thief in the castle. The last place her earring was seen was in the gardens. She was hoping whoever took it might have left it out here. "And that's what brought us out here."
"Well I haven't seen anyone suspicious. But I'll keep an eye out." He promised.
"Thanks, Cedric." She excused herself, Ubos, and Eezeyal.
Cedric watched her walkway, his throating tightening up. She was talking up a storm with Ubos and Eezeyal, laughing like a cherub by what the owl said. She had such grace to him. The way the gardens engrossed her, how the vibrant colors complemented her person, and how the stone path seemed to glow beneath her had Cedric rosey cheeked. He was being tugged by invisible strings, drawn against his will to move forward. His drying lips parted.
"Princess!"
"Yes?" She turned to him with a baffled expression.
"I...that is...are you...going to to ball tonight?" He twirled a hand, mostly to coax himself to spit out his inquiry.
"Not by choice, but yeah. Why?" She approached him again. Wormwood and the other two moved away, wanting a full view of this spectacle.
"Well, you see - that is…" He moved in closer, unable to stop fidgeting with his fingers. "There is a desert that I am hoping to indulge in. But I don't ever go to these gatherings to get it. Not my thing."
"Mine either." She mumbled.
"Yes, yes, but, um...would...you…" His mouth went dry as a cactus. His tongue tied itself into hundreds of knots. "I don't like entering a room of judgey nobles and royals...on my own." He added timidly. Lydia titled her head, her brow rising. "Would it be improper of me to ask if you would let me accompany you to the ball? JUST FOR THE DESERT!" He frantically threw out, waving his hands.
Lydia felt a blush rush to her cheeks, and started to smirk brazenly. "Are you asking to be my desert date?" She teased.
"Not a date!" He choked.
"No! Never a date!" She giggled, mocking his panic. He was cute when he's nervous.
"But...um...maybe when I get my desert...and you get yours…" He gestured behind him, "We both make a hasty exit? You hate these sort of parties, I know. And I do know a place by the harbor where the luminescent flying fish are in full spring."
Lydia blushed madly, her heart flying into a frenzy of beats. Wormwood, Ubos, and Eezeyal stifled the gasps that have been begging to escape since Cedric's first inquiry. They lookedb akc and forth, dying of suspense in Lydia's answer. She smiled gleefully and said, "I'd like that." The trio couldn't contain themselves. They rocketed into the air and cheered, SHE SAID YES!
"You would?! I mean...yes. Good!" Cedric cleared his throat from that embarrassing squeal. He stood up with some decorum. "I'll drop in after the ball has started."
"Okay. See you then!" Lydia jogged off, still red as a cherry.
"See you." He whispered. Then he sighed dreamily, feeling really good all of a sudden. Wormwood returned his his shoulder, purring tauntingly. "Oh hush, you!"
xxx
"Well, we found my earring out here." Lydia tapped the earring, recovering from her hot face. "Maybe some of the other missing items are out here too."
"A good idea." Ubos concurred. "Good call not telling Cedric about the amulet."
"Yeah. Now we just have to find it before he learns it's even missing."
"Can we just back up a sec?!" Eezeyal blurted, clamping onto the back of Lydia's head. He's been waiting hours since the earring went missing to tease her again. "Ceddy boy just asked to be your escort for the evening! I think there's a fairytale ending for you two."
"Eezeyal, shut up!" She flicked him in the head. "It's not a date and he isn't my escort! He just asked if we can get desert together!" And thus her face was red again.
"Oh my!" Eezeyal continued. "And you're absolutely tickled that he did!"
"No I am not, you idiot!"
Ubos laughed heartily, beyond words happy he can indulge in their witty banter. He missed this. It will be heart wrenching when he can't enjoy these moments anymore. As he was floating along, he was taking in the smells of the plants growing in the gardens. They seemed to be at their ripest during the fall seasons. He was coming to a bloomage of tulips, anxious to see what little bugs were living inside. He likes insects. When he came to one, his face dropped with utter disbelief at the Fantasia Brooch just lying there atop a handful of them. Like a little bed was made just for it. "LYDIA! LOOK! Your brooch!" He levitated it to her.
"WHAT?!" She gasped. That can't be right. It's supposed to be in Roland's room. It was no joke. She gingerly took it into her hands. It was her brooch. Her brooch was in the garden! "What's this doing out here?!" She cried.
"Do you think the thief took it and dropped it too?" Eezeyal pondered.
"If he did, he and Dad are in hot water when I find them!" She crushed it in her grasp. She won't stand for anyone taking her brooch, Sofia's Amulet, or anyone's stuff in this castle. But she especially won't stand for such a lack of security or care in watching her things.
"There you are!" Speak of the devil. Roland came strutting over to her, a frown wrinkling his brow. He seemed irritated. He must know about the thief. Ubos dove into the bushes, Eezeyal went to Lydia's shoulder. "You're a hard person to track down."
"Dad, I'm glad you're here. I have to tell you something."
"I'm sure you do." Roland folded his arms with a gruff breath. He can already guess what she wanted to say. Afterall, he saw the gilded jewel of her guilt clutched in her hand. "Lydia...I'm so disappointed." He shook his head. Ubos and Eezeyal knit their brows troubled. Something was about to happen.
"About what? This?" She showed him the brooch. Roland groaned aggravated under his breath, curling in his lips to prevent from yelling at her. Lydia's mouth fell, understanding what was going through his head. "Dad, it's not what you think."
"I believe it's exactly what I think!" He boomed, stopping blossoming lies. He ripped the brooch from her fingers. "Your mother vouched for you. Said you'd never resort to this. But the evidence is clear right here!"
"No, Dad! I'm telling you, I found the brooch outside!" She showed him the bush Ubos found it in.
"Because you had Eezeyal retrieve it for you! Like you did letters in my possession!" He countered contemptuously.
"That was different and I would never do such a thing! I swear!" She touched hands to her heart. He knows her. She doesn't steal. EVER! By his accusation he doesn't know about the thief. And why is he even calling her a thief? Has his trust in her really evaporated so much that he thinks she turned thief? "Someone else stole it! There's a thief in the castle! And he-"
"Lydia, for one second, stop lying!" Roland snarled, silencing her in abject hurt. He really does think she's a thief. He...he doesn't trust her anymore. At all. Her lips quivered, her eyes glossing with sadness. He...he was never going to trust me again. Roland pinched the bridge of his nose, finding he was left with no other choice. If Lydia insisted on lying straight to his face, then he's faced with a difficult decision. Perhaps when it's said and done she'll have taken some wisdom from this. "Lydia, I thought you had learned your lesson, but it appears you need a harsher lesson."
"Dad…!" She attempted to plead to him. He raised a hand, stopping her.
"You are forbidden from attending the ball tonight! And..." He threw in before she could even think of uttering a protest. He erected himself proud and tall, folding his hands behind his back, "I will not be naming you Crowned Princess on your birthday!"
To be continued