Mirana's imagination was going crazy on her. Through the wind and rain she
saw a being glide towards them. It seamed to have wrapped cloth around it's
frame and the wind snatch at it making it dance around the body. As the
creature came closer, Mirana saw that it was a woman.
But what a woman! Tall and thin with gentle red curls, she was dazzling. The dress, as it turned out, left her shoulders bare and reached the floor the ground. It's many folds allowed it to fly around it's owners body looking graceful and light. The light blue didn't clash with the red hair.
Even though it was cold, the woman didn't wear a cloak. Nor did she look cold. Mirana was sure that she was having hallucinations and rubbed her eyes vigorously. Don noticed it and made a questioning sound. Before Mirana could answer he saw the lady. But instead of looking bedazzled or disbelieving he gave a shout and jumped to his feet. Ignoring the wind, the ran to the lady and through himself at her feet. Mirana followed thinking her friend had lost his mind. The woman leaned down and stroked Don's cheek before pulling him to her feet. Together they made their way back to the trees and to Mirana who was watching suspiciously.
Out of the wind, Don bowed to the lady and said "Milady, beggin' yar pardon, but why are ya here? How can I serve ya?" Mirana was surprised. She had never heard Don speak so humbly to anyone, not even lady Ellen. This person must be important! The lady sank elegantly to her feet and replied in a soft, soothing voice "Don, it is very good to see you well! His majesty and I are pleased with you!" Don blushed but he seemed to be more than happy. "I have come to bring you home. You and Mirana!" The woman's eyes turned to the girl who jumped. The woman knew her name! The green eyes turned back to the boy and she smiled "I think it is time for you to introduce us so that I can explain!" Don nodded and whispered "Yes, milady." Than turning to Mirana he said importantly "This is her majesty, Queen Korala of the realm of Aquas!"
Mirana gasped. A queen! She had never heard of a land called Aquas, though. But that didn't mean very much, she only knew the countries boarding her own. Remembering, she curtsied. That didn't work very well because she was wearing breeches so she changed her mind and bowed. Blushing, she looked at her feet. Don explained to the queen "Milady, this is Mirana, but I belief yar highness knows more about her than I do!" Bowing he took a couple of steps back and sat down. Mirana, feeling embarrassed to be the only one standing, also sat down leaning against the same tree as before.
"Mirana, I owe you an apology." Korala said, "I should have come to you earlier. Your father stated in his will that you were to return to us before your 13th birthday, following the airer's time." Mirana interrupted "Pardon, the airer's time?" The queen nodded "Yes, but I'll get to that in a moment. It's a lot easier to start at the beginning, you can ask questions later!" She stretched her legs and continued "Like I was saying, I was supposed to get you earlier, but I was delayed. You have never heard of Aquas, I presume?" Before Mirana could answer Queen Korala continued "There's a world running parallel to this one. It's also called Earth, but it's set under the ocean!"
She stopped Mirana from speaking by holding up a hand with very slender fingers "It's not that we breath water! No, we breath air just like in this world, but it's got a higher level of salt in it which we need to live. None of our people can survive in this world for more than 15 years, still airer's time, unless they live close to the ocean were there is lots of salt in the air. Like you know, you would have died if you would have remained in the orphanage. That is the secret behind your sickness!" She turned her head to the ocean and was silent for while. Than she continued "That's really the only difference that's worth mentioning for the time being."
"But, my lady, why am I here and not in . . . Aquas?" Mirana asked curiously. Korala nodded "Your family. Your father was Sir Henris, Baron of Summer Reaches. Your mother was lady Spinxa, Baroness of Summer Reaches. And you are Mirana of Summer Reaches! You don't have any siblings and, I am sorry to say, both your parents have passed away." She sighed deeply and Mirana asked "Please, tell me everything!"
"Your parents adored each other. They had everything they needed except for children. Lady Spinxa couldn't receive, but than after five years of marriage they finally got lucky: you were on your way! Your mother wasn't very old, 35 years and your father was two years older. They knew to take care and your father didn't leave Spinxa's side during the nine months. But after you had been delivered, your mother got very sick. There was no hope and she died the day after your birth. Henris was grieve stricken. He couldn't think straight. Not knowing how to live with out his lost wife, he knew his end had also come. The same day he took you to House Ravens Call with a note saying your name and your age. And the following day he too was dead."
Mirana didn't know what to say. She had never met her parents so she didn't feel the loss, but still she felt lonely. Korala's story hadn't made it easier for her, just clearer. "So what will happen to me now?" Mirana asked shakily. "I'm taking you home!" Korala answered straight away. "But, I don't have anywhere to go, do I?" Mirana sounded sceptic. "Mirana, your father asked my husband and me to take care of you. We'll never replace them, but we'll treat you like our own child! Summer Reaches has gone to another family, but your still nobility! And noble girls, such as your self can live in the palace!" Korala was getting worked up. Taking a deep breath she said "Anyway, enough talk, let's get your gear and be on our way!"
Don jumped to his feet to give the queen a hand up. Mirana scrambled up and bowed "You majesty, if I may ask, what role does Don play in all this?" Don blushed and Korala smiled "He can answer that! Oh, and Mirana, don't bother with the 'your majesty'! It makes me feel old and your mother and I were close friends!" Mirana didn't feel well about being on such close terms with royalty, but she decided to go with the flow and turned to Don. "Well?" she said. "I was send to make sure ya didn't die before Queen Korala could get ya!" Don said avoiding to look at Mirana. "But you really are Don, right?" Mirana didn't know what to think any more.
Don bowed "Don of Water Vale, at yar service!" He straighten and winked "My ma is form Seeria. That's where I get my accent from!" Mirana was confused "Seeria?" "A country like Aquas. We'll have time to discuss more about it later. Now hurry up, I would like to be home before lunch!" Korala grabbed Mirana's hand and pulled her along.
In record time they packed up the camp site. Korala gave a hand, but was more in the way than helped. Shouldering packs they returned to the main beach and Mirana called over the wind "How do we get to Aquas?" "Easy, watch." Korala took Mirana by one hand and Don by the other than yelled "We head out into the waves. Only think of the ocean and Aquas. It's enough to repeat the name over and over. When I pull on your hand dive, always thinking of Aquas, that very important! Understand?" Mirana nodded and thought. Aquas, Aquas, Aquas, Aquas -
But what a woman! Tall and thin with gentle red curls, she was dazzling. The dress, as it turned out, left her shoulders bare and reached the floor the ground. It's many folds allowed it to fly around it's owners body looking graceful and light. The light blue didn't clash with the red hair.
Even though it was cold, the woman didn't wear a cloak. Nor did she look cold. Mirana was sure that she was having hallucinations and rubbed her eyes vigorously. Don noticed it and made a questioning sound. Before Mirana could answer he saw the lady. But instead of looking bedazzled or disbelieving he gave a shout and jumped to his feet. Ignoring the wind, the ran to the lady and through himself at her feet. Mirana followed thinking her friend had lost his mind. The woman leaned down and stroked Don's cheek before pulling him to her feet. Together they made their way back to the trees and to Mirana who was watching suspiciously.
Out of the wind, Don bowed to the lady and said "Milady, beggin' yar pardon, but why are ya here? How can I serve ya?" Mirana was surprised. She had never heard Don speak so humbly to anyone, not even lady Ellen. This person must be important! The lady sank elegantly to her feet and replied in a soft, soothing voice "Don, it is very good to see you well! His majesty and I are pleased with you!" Don blushed but he seemed to be more than happy. "I have come to bring you home. You and Mirana!" The woman's eyes turned to the girl who jumped. The woman knew her name! The green eyes turned back to the boy and she smiled "I think it is time for you to introduce us so that I can explain!" Don nodded and whispered "Yes, milady." Than turning to Mirana he said importantly "This is her majesty, Queen Korala of the realm of Aquas!"
Mirana gasped. A queen! She had never heard of a land called Aquas, though. But that didn't mean very much, she only knew the countries boarding her own. Remembering, she curtsied. That didn't work very well because she was wearing breeches so she changed her mind and bowed. Blushing, she looked at her feet. Don explained to the queen "Milady, this is Mirana, but I belief yar highness knows more about her than I do!" Bowing he took a couple of steps back and sat down. Mirana, feeling embarrassed to be the only one standing, also sat down leaning against the same tree as before.
"Mirana, I owe you an apology." Korala said, "I should have come to you earlier. Your father stated in his will that you were to return to us before your 13th birthday, following the airer's time." Mirana interrupted "Pardon, the airer's time?" The queen nodded "Yes, but I'll get to that in a moment. It's a lot easier to start at the beginning, you can ask questions later!" She stretched her legs and continued "Like I was saying, I was supposed to get you earlier, but I was delayed. You have never heard of Aquas, I presume?" Before Mirana could answer Queen Korala continued "There's a world running parallel to this one. It's also called Earth, but it's set under the ocean!"
She stopped Mirana from speaking by holding up a hand with very slender fingers "It's not that we breath water! No, we breath air just like in this world, but it's got a higher level of salt in it which we need to live. None of our people can survive in this world for more than 15 years, still airer's time, unless they live close to the ocean were there is lots of salt in the air. Like you know, you would have died if you would have remained in the orphanage. That is the secret behind your sickness!" She turned her head to the ocean and was silent for while. Than she continued "That's really the only difference that's worth mentioning for the time being."
"But, my lady, why am I here and not in . . . Aquas?" Mirana asked curiously. Korala nodded "Your family. Your father was Sir Henris, Baron of Summer Reaches. Your mother was lady Spinxa, Baroness of Summer Reaches. And you are Mirana of Summer Reaches! You don't have any siblings and, I am sorry to say, both your parents have passed away." She sighed deeply and Mirana asked "Please, tell me everything!"
"Your parents adored each other. They had everything they needed except for children. Lady Spinxa couldn't receive, but than after five years of marriage they finally got lucky: you were on your way! Your mother wasn't very old, 35 years and your father was two years older. They knew to take care and your father didn't leave Spinxa's side during the nine months. But after you had been delivered, your mother got very sick. There was no hope and she died the day after your birth. Henris was grieve stricken. He couldn't think straight. Not knowing how to live with out his lost wife, he knew his end had also come. The same day he took you to House Ravens Call with a note saying your name and your age. And the following day he too was dead."
Mirana didn't know what to say. She had never met her parents so she didn't feel the loss, but still she felt lonely. Korala's story hadn't made it easier for her, just clearer. "So what will happen to me now?" Mirana asked shakily. "I'm taking you home!" Korala answered straight away. "But, I don't have anywhere to go, do I?" Mirana sounded sceptic. "Mirana, your father asked my husband and me to take care of you. We'll never replace them, but we'll treat you like our own child! Summer Reaches has gone to another family, but your still nobility! And noble girls, such as your self can live in the palace!" Korala was getting worked up. Taking a deep breath she said "Anyway, enough talk, let's get your gear and be on our way!"
Don jumped to his feet to give the queen a hand up. Mirana scrambled up and bowed "You majesty, if I may ask, what role does Don play in all this?" Don blushed and Korala smiled "He can answer that! Oh, and Mirana, don't bother with the 'your majesty'! It makes me feel old and your mother and I were close friends!" Mirana didn't feel well about being on such close terms with royalty, but she decided to go with the flow and turned to Don. "Well?" she said. "I was send to make sure ya didn't die before Queen Korala could get ya!" Don said avoiding to look at Mirana. "But you really are Don, right?" Mirana didn't know what to think any more.
Don bowed "Don of Water Vale, at yar service!" He straighten and winked "My ma is form Seeria. That's where I get my accent from!" Mirana was confused "Seeria?" "A country like Aquas. We'll have time to discuss more about it later. Now hurry up, I would like to be home before lunch!" Korala grabbed Mirana's hand and pulled her along.
In record time they packed up the camp site. Korala gave a hand, but was more in the way than helped. Shouldering packs they returned to the main beach and Mirana called over the wind "How do we get to Aquas?" "Easy, watch." Korala took Mirana by one hand and Don by the other than yelled "We head out into the waves. Only think of the ocean and Aquas. It's enough to repeat the name over and over. When I pull on your hand dive, always thinking of Aquas, that very important! Understand?" Mirana nodded and thought. Aquas, Aquas, Aquas, Aquas -