Chapter 2: The Garden
"So you don't hate me for hurting your friend?" Advan asked Rosealia. "Of course not, but she's not just my friend, she's my sister." Rosealia replied. "So you are a princess also." "It's not the same. She is the princess of our kind and I'm just her sister." She said sadly. "Here we are," I cut in, "Someone will come and get you for dinner. We have our real guests to attend to as well. You may let Rosealia talk for a while, if you like, but she must get ready for dinner soon." I left them.
Rosealia told me later that he asked many questions, especially about our customs and me. I was surprised that he asked about me. As she told me about everything that they talked about, we got ready. Dinner for us is a gathering, with all that are present dressed elaborately.
I helped Rosealia into her pink gown. It looked wonderful with her long blonde hair and gray eyes. She looked like a pink rose. On her head I placed a crown of silver thread and pink roses. She looked wonderful. I told her that she had to go meet father so they could enter together.
My best friend, Maywind, came in and helped me into my dress. It was white with silver stitching, long flowing sleeves, and our star across the bodice. She placed a simple tiara upon my head. It had a single blue stone resting in the top curve. I looked in the mirror quickly to make sure that everything was in its place then I left.
Being the princess meant that I had to enter alone. I walked to the balcony entrance. When I heard them begin to sing, the doors swung open and I walked in. I sat beside my father at the head of the table. I nearly forgot to sweep my long brown hair to the side and almost sat on it.
I looked up and saw that father had placed Advan next to Rosealia at my right hand. I refused to look him in the eyes. He was dressed in Elven robes; which made him look even more regal than when he was in his own blue tunic with its gold stitching. I looked down the table at our other guests. Lord Formlie of the dwarves was sitting at my father's left hand. Next to him was Lady Lorimal of the meadow elves. Next to Advan was another dwarf whose name I could not remember.
The conversation was not light. Our guests wished to know more about this on coming war. Advan did a lot more talking than he expected. They asked questions so close together that he had trouble answering them all. When the dinner was over, father asked our guests to come take council with him.
"Father, I think Advan is in need of rest. May I take him away from you?" I asked in a formal manner. "Yes, I think that is a great idea." He answered. Then I did something even I didn't understand. I took his hand in mine instead of slipping my arm into his. We looked each other in the eyes then and he gasped. I walked him quickly out of the dining hall. Outside he stopped nearly making me fall. "Your eyes.…" He said, unable to say anything else. "Yes, I know, remarkable colors aren't they?" I said looking at him again. "But, they're amethyst." He added. "No, they are not completely amethyst. The edges are sapphire, as are the pupils." I replied to his remark. "They're beautiful. I've never seen anything like them." He said in a misty voice. "None of our people had either until me. The last person to have anything that could be considered remarkable in the way of eyes was Lenowa of the river elves. She was my great, great, great grandmother. Her eyes were amber with purple edges and pupils. She was the last chosen princess. I replaced her." I informed him.
"I'm not really tired. You know that, though, don't you?" He asked, abruptly changing the subject. "I know; you were just tired of talking about the war. So, would you like to see our gardens?" I asked. "Where isn't a garden in this place?" He said jokingly. "We love nature, yes, but our gardens are precious to us and those we invite into them are the honored few to see them." I replied. We came around a wall and looked in at a beautiful scene.
The garden was larger than the eye could see. Trees and flowers bloomed in their greatest brilliance. Birds and animals wondered everywhere. Advan stopped and gazed at the sight before him. "Follow me; I want to show you something." I said as I led him down the path. As we drew closer to our destination, we could here running water. All of a sudden, the trees dropped back and there before us poured forth a huge waterfall. "And I thought you couldn't stun me anymore." Advan said, staring around him in amazement. "I will never stop surprising anyone." I said as I walked towards the edge of the pool that lay at the base of the waterfall. The light from the moon reflected off the water and haloed me in silvery light. He stood there, staring for a moment. "Do you think your people will move?" He asked as he stepped closer. "They will not want to, but father will make them. Do you really think the war will really come this far?" I said as I turned to him with all my worries plain on my face. "Yes I do. I must return to my people in three days." He said sadly.
Then I said something that would bring about a war that had never, in the history of our kind, been heard of. "I will come with you. If any of our archers wish to protect their homes, they will follow as well." I said as I looked into his eyes defiantly. "You can not come, it is not safe. I could not risk you to a war; your people would be devastated if they lost you." He said hastily. "I am coming whether you like it or not. You can not stop me from following you and besides, I could show you the quickest way out of the woods." I told him. "Just because that is true, does not mean that it is wise." He said. "We will see in the morning." I said. I led him back to his room and then head towards mine to retire.