Chapter Four: Audience with the Queen
The Queen will see you now, Diana.
I scrambled to my feet as the unicorn called Cloudmane started to walk away. Following her, I let my mind wander, reviewing the events of the past few days. Finder and I had arrived in Autumngrove at twilight two days ago, and a messenger had immediately been sent to the Queen's Court, while I was given into Cloudmane's care. Finder had to go off on an "errand". I was not told where he was going, or even when he would be back, but Cloudmane was company enough. Outgoing and energetic, we had taken an instant liking to each other, and she had introduced me to some of the nicer unicorns, including her beloved Night Eyes. It was with them that I now walked, anxiously awaiting my meeting with the Queen.
We came to a circle of trees that reminded me of weeping willows, save that they had a bluish tint to them. Cloudmane and Night Eyes led the way through an arched opening in the wall of branches. In the center of the trees shimmered a pool of crystal clear water. A scattering of leaves, silver-blue and shaped like the blades of spears, floated on its surface.
I was greeted by a high-pitched chittering, and I felt something land on my head. Reaching a hand up, I discovered a furry body that immediately jumped onto my shoulder. I twisted my neck and saw that the Monquirrel had returned. He leapt to a treetop, chittered some more, and then was gone.
I received a nudge from Cloudmane, and stepped forward to greet the Queen, Arabella Skydancer. She held herself with an almost ancient dignity that I found intriguing. But, I reasoned, she is a queen, albeit one of the unicorns. I made a sort of curtsy, not quite sure what to do. In any case, I wouldn't have been able to say anything, seeing as though I was not touching her.
Come here, child.
Or so I thought. It appeared I didn't need to be touching this unicorn. Doing as she asked, I stepped forward and laid my hand upon her shoulder.
You've created quite a stir, Diana. It has been long since a human wandered into our midst.
I said nothing, a little confused. Did she want me to apologize?
She laughed. Come now, child. I am not displeased. Quite the contrary, in fact. Things have been dull around here.
I still said nothing, now more than just a little confused. I thought—I assumed—that I was going to be sent back home, but here she was, acting as if I was expected to stay.
But, onto more important things. Now she focused her eyes on me intently. Not every human who finds his or her way into Luster is allowed to stay.
I almost breathed a sigh of relief. I was going home!
However, that may not be the case now.
…As my hopes are dashed.
The gate you fell through is closed, and we have no way of opening it again.
I finally asked, Yes, Finder said that. What exactly do you mean, it is "closed"?
The Queen paused, as if the subject was painful. Seven gates link Luster to Earth. Stepping through any of them will carry you from one world to another. I have kept them open, in the hopes that we may one day be allowed to return to Earth. Many in my court speak against this, feeling that it is past time to sever our last connections with the planet. My heart speaks against this, however it may not be my decision in the end.
What do you mean? I asked, now incredibly curious.
The ancient magic that formed the gates seems to be fading. Thus, the fact that the gate you came through is unguarded. We have no way of tracking it, and it fluctuates randomly, jumping from place to place and closing from time to time.
So I have no way of getting back home? I asked, dejected.
Which brings up my second point. Finder is…well, you could say he is an "explorer," for lack of a better term. He travels Luster, keeping old connections alive and crossing the unfinished— She broke off in midsentence, as if she had said something she didn't mean to. Anyways, I have decided you may travel with him for a time, in hopes that you two can find a way for you to return home. At the very least, you can travel to one of the other gates, though they are all an incredible distance from here.
So I can return home.
Someday, yes.
I sat in silence for a moment, letting it sink in. Oh well, it's not like there was much for me at home, either, I said bitterly to myself. On the other hand, what could be better than exploring a new world with a unicorn? But no matter how hard I tried to convince myself, I was still homesick. After all, who would be the Narrator in our school play if not me?
Collecting myself, I thanked the Queen for her time.
A pleasure, my child. Cloudmane will take you back to your own shelter now.
I stood up, noticing as I did so that the sun had already set, and turned to leave the clearing when I caught a glimpse of white beyond the trees. It was gone as quickly as it came, however, and I walked out of the clearing thinking. Why would a unicorn bother to hide itself?
I spotted Cloudmane coming towards me, and decided against mentioning it to her. She greeted me, as always, with a smile. How did it go?
I'm staying, I told her. At least for the time being.
Are you upset?
A little. Can we go back to the shelter now? I'm tired, I said.
Of course, she replied. Sensing I didn't want to talk about it, she wisely kept quiet until we returned to where I was to sleep. Although we had called it a "shelter," it was really nothing more that a protected clearing. Buildings were not allowed in Autumngrove.
I bade her goodnight, and lay under the stars, thinking. Where could you be, dad? Mom? Are you home? Working late? Have you even realized I'm gone yet? Though that may seem a little harsh, it was true. My parents and I saw each other maybe every other day, at best? We would sometimes pass in the morning, but that was rare. Banishing my unpleasant thoughts with the ease of long practice, I rolled over and closed my eyes. Sleep did not come that night, however. Something else did.