The yellow-gold light of the sun shone brightly in the gardens, and melodic laughter floated on the breeze. Amidst the bright pinks and yellows of the flowers, frolicked a young girl, dressed in the softest shade of blue ever imagined. Her hair was pulled up into a tight bun, and not a strand dared to fall out of place. She stilled suddenly, and looked about wildly before dropping to her hands and knees, crawling beneath a stone bench.
"Serenity?" A childish male voice called out, "Ready or not, here I come." A young boy with soft brown hair began looking around for his friend. "You know I'm... I am... going to find you." He corrected, his teacher would have a fit if he used improper words such as a contraction. "And you cannot out run me in that dress and those silly shoes!" He was headed straight for her.
She squeezed her lips tightly closed, and scuffled back away from view, the bench being built from blue stone, and having only one opening. For a moment, she thought she had been caught, but he walked on past her. Releasing a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, she crawled out from under the bench and ran as fast as she could towards "Base", the fountain in the center of the gardens. She skidded to a stop and collapsed in exhaustion on the edge of the fountain. After she caught her breath, she stood and called out, "Rineld, I won! You could not find me." She knew she was gloating, and that was very unladylike, but she didn't care, she never won. She began to brush the dirt off her dress as he ran back to where she was.
"You won because I allowed you too!" He said, his head held high, and she appeared about to argue with him, but bit her lip instead, a lady never argues with a gentleman. She may only be 5, but that didn't matter, she was a lady. "Come on, we should return, it is time for lessons anyway."
They entered the palace from the back door, at the kitchen. Immediately, they were spotted by a scullery maid. "Mistress Serenity, your mother awaits you in her chambers. Best be quick about it. You too, Rineld, though heaven's knows what she wants with you."
The young girl looked down at herself, and then back up at the maid, "Do you think I should change first, Arla?" Her beautiful blue dress was wrinkled and her soft shoes were scuffed. She was afraid that her mother might be angry with her if she didn't.
"No, Mistress, you should go quickly. Do not worry about your dress, I'm sure she will forgive it this once." As they left, Arla wondered about that little girl, thinking it was sad that she was only five, and yet acted like she was a lady of age and grace.
Hurriedly, they approached her mother's rooms. Upon entering, Rineld held back towards the door as Serenity approached the bed where her mother lay. "Momma? Is something wrong? Why are you…"She stopped as she saw it was not her mother, but was instead the palace prophetess. She was an old woman, with grey hair, wrinkled hands, and eyes the color of coal. Those eyes seemed to pierce through to the very soul of the very frightened child before her. Serenity had only seen the Seer once before, in passing, and had never spoken to her.
It was said that to speak to the Seer without her speaking first to invite bad luck. It was also said that to have her speak to you at all was almost always a curse. She seldom spoke, and only did when she had a Vision. She was a very frightening woman, who gave off the very air of power and superiority. Serenity shivered in spite of herself, and curtsied to the woman before her, even though she felt her wobbly knees might give out.
"Serenity, child, be not afraid of what I tell you now. Rineld, come here. You are both so young, but you must leave the palace. You must not return until you are both adults. In your chambers, your bags are packed. A coach will convey you to where you must stay. Worry not for your families, or each other. You will know when to return here. Now, go!" The Seer told them, and they turned to leave, "Serenity, wait. Take this with you. You will need it in your future." She handed her the queens' rose circlet. "Do not question any of this, and never speak of it again, your lives depend on it."
They did as instructed, and were leaving the palace within the hour. The coach took them away, and they never saw the smoke rising from where the palace had been. The rode for hours with no break, and the suddenly, in the dark of night, they stopped, and Rineld was told to come out. Serenity cried aloud when it was apparent she was not to go with him, and continued weeping as the coach moved away, leaving Rineld behind, and taking her towards her future.