"You had us worried to death. These forests are not meant for young girls
to go riding in. What happened that you could not keep up with the group?"
king Jareth commanded.
They were back at the palace, safe and sound. The forest had been easy to exit once they had known the way out. They had followed Jareth all the way back. All was silent on the way back to the castle, everyone seemed to be thinking. Now they stood in the king's royal chambers waiting for Jareth to give them punishment for leaving the group.
Rose and Ella looked at each other. They felt that Jareth wouldn't understand the truth of why they had gotten lost. Ella looked up.
"My saddle, the girth was loose and the saddle was beginning to slip. Rose stopped to make sure I was okay. When it was fixed, we tried to find you, but we got lost. We are dreadfully sorry, and we thank you all for coming in search of us," she responded, silently excusing her lie.
"Well girls, just don't ever go into that forest again. Tomorrow we'll do something other than ride. Maybe Ella and Rose could plan a picnic for tea, and we could ride our carriage down to the boathouse and eat by the loch. You may leave," Jareth ordered. "Oh girls, don't forget there is a large banquet and ball tonight. Meet me here at six thirty so we may enter together."
The girls curtsied their way out of the room, letting a sigh of relief as they passed through the door and out of trouble. Realizing that they had an hour before it was time for them to begin to get dressed, the girls decided to go exploring and to see who they could meet. They left down Jareth's hallway only to find that it was their own, and Anna and another maid were waiting.
As they passed by the door next to Ella's, Rose whispered, "We need to figure out who is in the room beside yours. I think those symbols might mean elf prince, but I'm not certain."
"Girls, I heard you have been romping in the woods. Not proper for sixteen year old girls, especially without a man to protect you and a chaperone to protect you from the man. You might have gotten kidnapped by the forest dwellers. Evil things they are, all dressed in black. But, you are back now. Get inside. We have baths drawn for both of you." Anna shooed Ella inside her room and closed the door.
"Did you see anything in the forest? Any people?" she asked the startled Ella.
"No, we did not. We just got lost and were trying to find our way out again."
Anna nodded. "Okay, just don't go back. It is an evil place not fit for princesses of this court. Well let's get you in the tub and then get ready for supper."
*******
Ella lay in the tub, letting the smell of lavender and jasmine wash over her. Her fingers were beginning to prune in the warm aromatic water which filled the tub. Sighing, she closed her eyes and thought about sleep.
"Princess, it is time to get ready. We must have you looking like a queen. Oh dear, this should be exciting, your first ball!" Anna whisked into the room with a large fluffy towel. "Come on, get out. We must get ready to go. Don't want to leave the king waiting."
Ella sighed and got out of the large tub. She dried off and put back on her underclothes wishing she were still in the warmth of the water. Sitting on her bed, she waited for Anna to decide what she would wear to this ball.
Anna came out carrying a beautiful dress of emerald green, to match Ella's eyes. It clung to Ella in the bodice and turned into a hooped skirt in the bottom. It was studded with emeralds around the cuffs of the dress and all over the bodice. A fine border of silver thread ran across the bottom of the dress adding some other colors to the gown.
Throwing Ella's riding habit onto her bed, Anna smiled at the Ella. "You look more beautiful with each gown. I wonder who the king will give you… Uh, forget I said that, please. I just forgot where I was." Anna sighed, "Are you ready to go?"
Ella nodded and began to follow Anna from the room, but a sudden thought stopped her. "Anna, my father told us to visit him tonight."
"He didn't realize where you would be staying when he said that. It wouldn't be right for you to go back to visit him now. You have a few minutes though, if you and Lady Rosamund would like to walk around. There is a lovely garden that's visible from the king's balcony. It's his private garden, and none are allowed there without permission."
"That would be wonderful, Anna. Do I need a special password of some sort to get in?"
"No, you'll be recognized as the princess. Word gets around fast here."
Anna opened the door, admitting Ella into the hallway. Stepping across the hall to Rosamund's door, Ella knocked expecting to be greeted by Rose's groans at having to once again where a dress. To her surprise, the door was opened to Rose's young handmaiden looking harried. Ella gaped at her with dismay.
"Whatever has happened?" She asked the maid.
"My lady refuses to leave her bath and put on a dress. She wants to where pants to the ball! Maybe you should just meet her in my lord's room, your highness." With a curtsy, the door of Rose's chamber was shut in Ella's face.
Sighing Ella sought her way to the garden. Anna was correct about word traveling fast. As Ella approached the gates, the men guarding them bowed and opened them. Ella curtsied in return and wandered into the maze of flowerbeds and paths.
The scent of flowers made Ella dizzy, but a particular scent was overwhelming. She followed the smell in a dream like state barely noticing the flowers hanging over their beds and the seldom trodden path. She floated about the garden searching for the fragrant smell's source. Suddenly, she stumbled into a clearing with a path up to a bench where someone sat playing a lap harp and singing, his sweet voice piercing the air like a lark.
"The trees grow evermore, but Larkin's song has gone.
It disappeared into the darkness, strangled by the Unduadin Lords.
His soul lost in cloud's of rosemary, the Undadin's bane
Rests in the King's garden, trapped by harsh metal and magic.
Hope for him and his people shall come the day of AnlanElla
When prince of one people shall meet the princess of another
In the garden of the Unduadin King where Larkin's soul lies,
And one that was lost shall be found under the elfin sign."
Ella sighed as the last notes of the harp faded into the distance. Trying not to disturb this god-like apparition, Ella stood statue still waiting for another song to find life in the bluebird sky. Much to her amazement one did not come.
'Princess Ella, how are you?" the vision said with a strangely familiar voice. It turned and looked at her with deep brown eyes, the color of well tilled earth from which all things come. "Don't you recognize me? Though I must admit this is a strange meeting place for two people such as ourselves. Prince Larkin's grave is not some place that many dare to venture. Rosemary surrounds it, keeping the evil from capturing his soul once and for all."
Suddenly he sprang to his feet fluidly. "Shouldn't you be preparing for a ball, my lady? Once again I was caught in a moment. These moments seems to surround you and bring me a peace I have never known." He laughed at Ella's stunned face and walked closer, his glow coming under control until he looked human.
"Sir Leslie! I had no idea it was you here. I was attracted by the smell of the rosemary. It seemed to overwhelm the senses."
"Yes, it smells better than any plant here, but it is not tended and did not originally grow here. Its perfume can intoxicate better than alcohol, and I hope knowing that you will forgive what I am about to do as I am out of my mind." Sir Leslie smiled and came closer to her.
Grabbing her by the wrist he pulled her to him. Ella suddenly felt as if she too were intoxicated. She looked up into Sir Leslie's eyes, noticing how tall he was for the first time compared to her own five foot six. Leaning down, he kissed her as softly as the butterfly kisses a flower, tasting the sweet nectar of her lips. He pulled back and let go, walking off onto another path and disappearing into the fading light.
"That was my first kiss," she mumbled at his retreating back. "I won't forget it or you Sir Leslie."
*********
Sir Leslie turned when he was far enough away from Princess Ella and looked to where she stood. The good thing about him was he had unhumanlike vision and could see when none others could see. He paused, noticing Ella sitting among the rosemary, and smiled as he heard the ancient tune of Larkin lift above the breeze in the sweet, melodious voice that had haunted him in dreams.
Somewhere behind him he heard the wind whisper, "Leoganas, this is the one. Little does he know what he let into his heart. Let her figure out the truth on her own. The friend must be explained to, tonight in the woods. Arigronam should probably explain. Come up with a reason to get her into the woods. Watch the princess carefully."
"Of course, Larkin," Sir Leslie answered, and the spirit that had filled the air was gone.
Ella laughed in delight as a butterfly alighted upon her nose, fanning its wings in the sun. Then she fell giggling into the rosemary as it tickled her cheek on take-off. How Leoganas wished that he was that butterfly so he could tickle her cheek as often as he wanted.
"I'll watch her more closely than you can imagine, Larkin."
They were back at the palace, safe and sound. The forest had been easy to exit once they had known the way out. They had followed Jareth all the way back. All was silent on the way back to the castle, everyone seemed to be thinking. Now they stood in the king's royal chambers waiting for Jareth to give them punishment for leaving the group.
Rose and Ella looked at each other. They felt that Jareth wouldn't understand the truth of why they had gotten lost. Ella looked up.
"My saddle, the girth was loose and the saddle was beginning to slip. Rose stopped to make sure I was okay. When it was fixed, we tried to find you, but we got lost. We are dreadfully sorry, and we thank you all for coming in search of us," she responded, silently excusing her lie.
"Well girls, just don't ever go into that forest again. Tomorrow we'll do something other than ride. Maybe Ella and Rose could plan a picnic for tea, and we could ride our carriage down to the boathouse and eat by the loch. You may leave," Jareth ordered. "Oh girls, don't forget there is a large banquet and ball tonight. Meet me here at six thirty so we may enter together."
The girls curtsied their way out of the room, letting a sigh of relief as they passed through the door and out of trouble. Realizing that they had an hour before it was time for them to begin to get dressed, the girls decided to go exploring and to see who they could meet. They left down Jareth's hallway only to find that it was their own, and Anna and another maid were waiting.
As they passed by the door next to Ella's, Rose whispered, "We need to figure out who is in the room beside yours. I think those symbols might mean elf prince, but I'm not certain."
"Girls, I heard you have been romping in the woods. Not proper for sixteen year old girls, especially without a man to protect you and a chaperone to protect you from the man. You might have gotten kidnapped by the forest dwellers. Evil things they are, all dressed in black. But, you are back now. Get inside. We have baths drawn for both of you." Anna shooed Ella inside her room and closed the door.
"Did you see anything in the forest? Any people?" she asked the startled Ella.
"No, we did not. We just got lost and were trying to find our way out again."
Anna nodded. "Okay, just don't go back. It is an evil place not fit for princesses of this court. Well let's get you in the tub and then get ready for supper."
*******
Ella lay in the tub, letting the smell of lavender and jasmine wash over her. Her fingers were beginning to prune in the warm aromatic water which filled the tub. Sighing, she closed her eyes and thought about sleep.
"Princess, it is time to get ready. We must have you looking like a queen. Oh dear, this should be exciting, your first ball!" Anna whisked into the room with a large fluffy towel. "Come on, get out. We must get ready to go. Don't want to leave the king waiting."
Ella sighed and got out of the large tub. She dried off and put back on her underclothes wishing she were still in the warmth of the water. Sitting on her bed, she waited for Anna to decide what she would wear to this ball.
Anna came out carrying a beautiful dress of emerald green, to match Ella's eyes. It clung to Ella in the bodice and turned into a hooped skirt in the bottom. It was studded with emeralds around the cuffs of the dress and all over the bodice. A fine border of silver thread ran across the bottom of the dress adding some other colors to the gown.
Throwing Ella's riding habit onto her bed, Anna smiled at the Ella. "You look more beautiful with each gown. I wonder who the king will give you… Uh, forget I said that, please. I just forgot where I was." Anna sighed, "Are you ready to go?"
Ella nodded and began to follow Anna from the room, but a sudden thought stopped her. "Anna, my father told us to visit him tonight."
"He didn't realize where you would be staying when he said that. It wouldn't be right for you to go back to visit him now. You have a few minutes though, if you and Lady Rosamund would like to walk around. There is a lovely garden that's visible from the king's balcony. It's his private garden, and none are allowed there without permission."
"That would be wonderful, Anna. Do I need a special password of some sort to get in?"
"No, you'll be recognized as the princess. Word gets around fast here."
Anna opened the door, admitting Ella into the hallway. Stepping across the hall to Rosamund's door, Ella knocked expecting to be greeted by Rose's groans at having to once again where a dress. To her surprise, the door was opened to Rose's young handmaiden looking harried. Ella gaped at her with dismay.
"Whatever has happened?" She asked the maid.
"My lady refuses to leave her bath and put on a dress. She wants to where pants to the ball! Maybe you should just meet her in my lord's room, your highness." With a curtsy, the door of Rose's chamber was shut in Ella's face.
Sighing Ella sought her way to the garden. Anna was correct about word traveling fast. As Ella approached the gates, the men guarding them bowed and opened them. Ella curtsied in return and wandered into the maze of flowerbeds and paths.
The scent of flowers made Ella dizzy, but a particular scent was overwhelming. She followed the smell in a dream like state barely noticing the flowers hanging over their beds and the seldom trodden path. She floated about the garden searching for the fragrant smell's source. Suddenly, she stumbled into a clearing with a path up to a bench where someone sat playing a lap harp and singing, his sweet voice piercing the air like a lark.
"The trees grow evermore, but Larkin's song has gone.
It disappeared into the darkness, strangled by the Unduadin Lords.
His soul lost in cloud's of rosemary, the Undadin's bane
Rests in the King's garden, trapped by harsh metal and magic.
Hope for him and his people shall come the day of AnlanElla
When prince of one people shall meet the princess of another
In the garden of the Unduadin King where Larkin's soul lies,
And one that was lost shall be found under the elfin sign."
Ella sighed as the last notes of the harp faded into the distance. Trying not to disturb this god-like apparition, Ella stood statue still waiting for another song to find life in the bluebird sky. Much to her amazement one did not come.
'Princess Ella, how are you?" the vision said with a strangely familiar voice. It turned and looked at her with deep brown eyes, the color of well tilled earth from which all things come. "Don't you recognize me? Though I must admit this is a strange meeting place for two people such as ourselves. Prince Larkin's grave is not some place that many dare to venture. Rosemary surrounds it, keeping the evil from capturing his soul once and for all."
Suddenly he sprang to his feet fluidly. "Shouldn't you be preparing for a ball, my lady? Once again I was caught in a moment. These moments seems to surround you and bring me a peace I have never known." He laughed at Ella's stunned face and walked closer, his glow coming under control until he looked human.
"Sir Leslie! I had no idea it was you here. I was attracted by the smell of the rosemary. It seemed to overwhelm the senses."
"Yes, it smells better than any plant here, but it is not tended and did not originally grow here. Its perfume can intoxicate better than alcohol, and I hope knowing that you will forgive what I am about to do as I am out of my mind." Sir Leslie smiled and came closer to her.
Grabbing her by the wrist he pulled her to him. Ella suddenly felt as if she too were intoxicated. She looked up into Sir Leslie's eyes, noticing how tall he was for the first time compared to her own five foot six. Leaning down, he kissed her as softly as the butterfly kisses a flower, tasting the sweet nectar of her lips. He pulled back and let go, walking off onto another path and disappearing into the fading light.
"That was my first kiss," she mumbled at his retreating back. "I won't forget it or you Sir Leslie."
*********
Sir Leslie turned when he was far enough away from Princess Ella and looked to where she stood. The good thing about him was he had unhumanlike vision and could see when none others could see. He paused, noticing Ella sitting among the rosemary, and smiled as he heard the ancient tune of Larkin lift above the breeze in the sweet, melodious voice that had haunted him in dreams.
Somewhere behind him he heard the wind whisper, "Leoganas, this is the one. Little does he know what he let into his heart. Let her figure out the truth on her own. The friend must be explained to, tonight in the woods. Arigronam should probably explain. Come up with a reason to get her into the woods. Watch the princess carefully."
"Of course, Larkin," Sir Leslie answered, and the spirit that had filled the air was gone.
Ella laughed in delight as a butterfly alighted upon her nose, fanning its wings in the sun. Then she fell giggling into the rosemary as it tickled her cheek on take-off. How Leoganas wished that he was that butterfly so he could tickle her cheek as often as he wanted.
"I'll watch her more closely than you can imagine, Larkin."