Author's Note: Moonjava, I've broken the paragraphs I already had for this chapter to hopefully make things easier for you. And in case anyone's thinking, 'Okay, this is dragging a bit, when will this deal with Labyrinth?' , just hold on. There's a method to my madness; in fact these next two chapters will lead right into it and are crucial to the story. Thanks!
Chapter 3-No Brains!/Arrgh!
"Mother! I'm home!" Thirteen year old Adina called out, walking into her chambers and knowing her mother would be in them. For some reason, she had been spending all of her free time in Adina's rooms. Hearing a noise, Adina stepped into her bedroom. "Mother?" "Yes, dear?" the Queen murmured sleepily, rising from a large chair. "I was just taking a nap, waiting for you." "Poor you," Adina said quietly, leaning down to kiss her on the cheek and trying to ignore the way Mother flinched when she did so.
"Oh here, we got subject reports today." Adina handed her mother the folder, and began changing out of her school clothes. "Hmmmm.........oh dear," the Queen exclaimed, finishing her read-through. "Is something wrong?" Adina appeared, holding a sleeveless black dress in front of her. "It says your best subject is "Using Faerie Magic", and you're at the top of your class." "Great!" Adina remarked brightly, now clad in black. That's my favorite subject!"
"Adina Xanthe!" the Queen gasped, clutching the armrests of the chair. "Don't say that!" "Why?" Adina's smile quickly faded. "Well,"the Queen replied, color coming back into her face, "Nice young Faerie women usually take that as a courtesy course. Your teacher says you are the best at it because you take it seriously." "So?" Adina walked over to her mother's side. "What's wrong with being serious?"
"Faerie women are never serious, neither are the men," the Queen replied stiffly, sitting straight up. "Adina, you are becoming a lovely young woman-Faerie, and as such, should have Dress-Making, Wreath-Making, and Faerie Singing and Dancing for your best subjects." "Those are nice classes," Adina agreed, knowing better than to say she loathed Wreath-Making and the material they performed in Faerie Singing. "I enjoy Dress-Making and Dancing a lot." "About Dress-Making. Why are you always making black dresses? Don't you like flower colored dresses?" The Queen ran her hands up and down her pastel green gown, then gestured to Adina's empire waisted black dress.
"Ummm.........no." "Adina Xanthe, you're impossible!" the Queen finally snapped. "Your Majesty? Your presence is required with a delicate subject," a page came into the room, bowing and scraping the whole time. "Yes," the Queen stood, and turned to leave. "Your Highness," the page nodded at Adina. Then he and the Queen left.
Adina watched her mother leave, then flopped onto her bed. "She'll never get it," Adina sighed, pulling out a book she had borrowed from the school library, Five Great Dialogues of the Faes. "She'd say, "Young Faerie women also don't read books of this kind. Why can't she realize I'm not like other young Faerie women?" With another sigh, she opened the book to the place where- what was that?
In place of her bookmark was an ivory colored piece of paper. Adina sat up and read it- 'Dear Miss Adina-Your Highness- though we have never met, I have heard much about you, and your abilities. I confess I am curious, and would like to discuss the incidents with you. If it wouldn't be too much of a burden, would you please meet me in the Flower Lab this evening after dinner? Sincerely, Professor Bevin Boyce.'