Snow was gently falling onto the wings of the angel statues. Like white powder, the snow covered the garden and made it a white paradise. The wind accompanied the snow; leading it in and out of the palace grounds. Everyone was inside, whether it was a humble cottage or a richly furnished palace. Everyone was inside; protected by their walls and sheltered from the cold.
She stretched her arms out to reach the sky and basked in the snowfall. Her raven hair flew about her as she aimlessly wandered about in the palace garden. She knew Cara would be looking for her, and she knew how much Cara hated the coldness. But, it was such a lovely day, and the newly fallen snow had made the world around her seem magical. As she walked further on, she came upon a part of the palace grounds that she had never been to before. They green-eyed girl walked softly and felt an odd and eerie sensation as she looked about her surroundings.
"Princess Aileen!" cried the running plump woman. Aileen turned to face a red faced Cara.
She smiled sweetly, "You've found me Cara."
"Alright now, no more fun and games, your step-mother will be arriving soon."
"Oh yeah. Cara…"
"Yes, miss?"
"Um…Do you think she will like me?"
"Well…although you are quite troublesome," Cara smiled, "you are very pleasant. I don't know why she wouldn't like you."
"I hope she does…I've never had a mother before."
"Child, do not worry. She will love you. Come on, now. You need to get dressed properly."
"…wait."
"What is it, miss?"
"um…what is this place?" Cara looked around her, and shivered.
"Tis the cemetery…"
"What's a cemetery?" asked Aileen with innocent curiosity.
"The cemetery is a place where the dead dwell, miss. Let's leave now." Cara started to walk away.
"Does my mother live here then? If she is where is she? " She stood in her tracks and walked to the girl.
"Your mother's spirit is here, to protect you and your father. You cannot see her because spirits are like the wind, they are invisible. Your mother…was a wonderful lady… Now we really have to go princess." Aileen held Cara's hand as she walked away from the cemetery, looking back occasionally to see if she could maybe she her mother.
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They looked at her in awe. She was a beautiful woman. Her golden locks cascaded down her shoulders and her mesmerizing violet eyes were set on the man next to her. She was dressed in rich fabrics of red and gold. Jewels and precious metals adorned her neck and wrists. By her side, a girl of eight dressed in the same fashion stood with a sweet smile on her face. The girl looked just like her mother, except her eyes were not violet, but blue. Viola looked into her husband's face and smiled.
"Are you comfortable here, my queen?" he asked.
"Yes, dear husband I am quite comfortable."
"My daughter will be joining us soon. She is three years younger than your Melanie is. I am sure they will get along fine."
"Why of course they will," she replied. Her dream had come true. She had suffered many hardships to get to where she was now. When she had her daughter, she was sure that her dream would die and fade away, but fate indeed had a different path for her. Ten years had passed since she had first met Tristan, her prince. During those years, her heart still belonged to him, though his heart belonged to another. After her mother's death, she left to another village to live her life alone with her daughter. The king's search for his new queen ended when he saw Viola. She was the girl, he had rescued so many years ago. She had an aura of kindness, and her daughter was sweet. Tristan saw that Viola was a good mother to her daughter, the kind of mother he wanted his dear Aileen to have as well. She looked and fit the part of being the new queen and Aileen's new mother.
The king led his queen to the man standing in the corner, "Viola, this is my brother Elidor."
"How do you do, sir?" Viola asked. Elidor looked straight into her eyes, and Viola felt like her soul was being examined.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you, my brother is a mute." Viola nodded her head and turned her face away, unable to stand the scrutinizing look.
"Ah! There is my Aileen." The small girl walked shyly by her father's side and hid behind him. She peeked behind from him to look at her stepmother and stepsister. She tugged at her father's sleeves, and pulled him down to her.
She cupped her hands around his ears and whispered, "Is she my new mother?"
"Yes, child. Viola this is my daughter Aileen. Say hello to your new mother, Aileen." Tristan pushed his daughter to face Viola.
"…hello…" she whispered. Viola was struck by the child's exquisite beauty and demeanor. She could not take her eyes off the child.
"Hello Aileen," she said.
"…"
Viola gestured her daughter to come to her, "Her name is Melanie, she's only three years older than you. I'm sure you two will be good friends. "
The two girls looked shyly at each other. There was quite a difference between the two. Melanie's golden and warm appearance was contrasting to Aileen's pale and haunting features. Aileen looked up at Viola and studied her face. Viola gave her a warm smile.
Aileen spoke up, "Will you be my mother?"
"Why of course," said Viola. Aileen softly smiled at her, and Viola felt happiness in her heart. She embraced the girl and hugged her as if she were really her daughter. Tristan smiled, pleased that they were getting along.
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They had become a happy family in a matter of days and weeks. Months had passed and Viola treated Aileen as her daughter and grew to love her as if she really were hers. There were even several occasions on which Viola did indeed forget that Aileen was truly not her daughter. Blossoms of pink and yellow flowers adorned the bushes in the garden. The garden's colorful flowers created an earthly rainbow. Aileen loved to please Viola by picking flowers for her. She skipped through the garden searching for the most beautiful flowers for Viola. A lovely fragrance wafted through the air, and caught Aileen's attention. She was delighted to find the white small flowers that gave such a pleasant smell. She had never noticed the white flowers before. It was as if they had appeared out of thin air. She picked a bunch of them and ran to the palace to Viola.
She ran to Melanie's room to find Viola combing Melanie's hair. Aileen was slightly envious of Melanie. She wished that Viola were her real mother and that she could look more like her, like Melanie. She walked pass the room and went into Viola's chamber. Her stepmother had a special mirror in her room. It was a beautiful mirror; the frame was exquisitely formed and made of dark red wood. She looked into the mirror and stroked her black hair in disgust. The paleness of her skin and her bright pink lips made her look inhuman. She sighed wishing she had golden hair and bright pink cheeks, like Melanie. She heard Viola come in and smiled.
"Mother!" Aileen hid the flowers behind her.
"What is it my dear?" Viola asked.
"I've brought flowers for you," she said coyly. She pulled the flowers from her back and displayed them to Viola.
"How lov-…" Viola stood still. The smell of the flowers repulsed her and brought back horrible memories. Her eyes glazed over and the warm look in her eyes was replaced by a menacing glare. Aileen stood in puzzlement.
"Aren't they lovely?" she asked, perplexed by Viola's reaction.
"GET AWAY FROM ME!!!" screamed Viola as she shoved the girl back away from her. Aileen fell back from fear. Viola took the flowers from the girl's hands, threw them on the floor and stomped on them. The flowers were crushed and flattened.
"I-I didn't…I," stuttered the frightened girl.
"Go away," said Viola flatly.
"But…but I di-didn't mean to anger you. I thought you would like them," pleaded Aileen.
"…"
"I'm s-sorry. I thought you'd"
"Did I not tell you to go away?" interrupted Viola. Aileen looked at her with sorrow and confusion. She nodded her head slowly and walked out quietly.
She turned back, "I'm sorry." As Aileen left Viola's room, tears poured from her eyes. The smell of jasmine was still on her clothes.
NOTE: Just in case you forgot about the importance of the smell of jasmine refer back to earlier chapters. REVIEW please!