A/N Hi there my readers! I'm so glad you liked The Gateway Through The Mists, and thank you to my reviewers: MuggleBuddy, SmileyFacePerson and Syl Rose! (And any others that come after.) That story was the most reviewed, out of all of mine, so I thought I would definitely do a sequel! I had a lot of ideas, (thanks MuggleBuddy for your suggestions, you'll see more later) I thought I should do another story about Kayla, Tynan and Finley, but I wasn't sure. I thought about using their children, but again I didn't know... anyway this is the story I came up with, I hope you like! There are some old familiar faces and some completely new ones!
I sat at my mirror while my maid, Clara did my hair. She twisted my length of black hair into a complicated knot with a practised weave of her hands. Then she fastened it with clips set with jades, the same colour as my eye's, and my sister's, and my mother's.
"Thank you Clara!" I smiled as I looked at the finished product in my full length mirror. My pale skin had a little blusher added to my cheeks and my hair set off the jewels well, as they set off my eyes. My forest green dress was tightly corseted, as it needed to be to emphasise my small breasts. It had gold trimming in the shape of vines with little golden leaves. The skirt was made of 3 layers of silk and it swished as I turned a little. The square cut neck went up into long sleeves, pointed at the cuff-end, which were much further past my hands, as was the fashion of the time.
"The guests will be arriving soon, Princess," Tonight was my 18th birthday and a great ball was being held in my honour, arranged by my parents, the King and Queen of Galidren.
"I shall be down in a minute,"
"Yes Princess," Clara said, exiting my room with a small curtsey.
Although the ball was in honour of my birthday, it was also an excuse for my parents to invite every eligible man with a hint of royal blood. I was 18 and had never been in love, not even close. So of course they were a little worried that I would not get married, and therefore not produce an heir to the throne. Not that any of this was said, but I knew it all the same.
I gave one last look in the mirror before descending the great staircase, to where my family were waiting, to see me and to greet the arriving guests.
"Shaylee, darling, you look lovely," My mother Queen Riona, beamed at me, she was wearing a dress similar in style to mine, although it was dark blue, and was a little more plain, as had been arranged, because it was my birthday.
My father, King Callum, stepped forward, "Goodness daughter, how you have grown."
"Yes little sister, you have indeed, was my last visit so long ago?" My older sister, Kayla, stood next to my mother, with her husband, Prince Tynan of Berinum.
She was wearing a dark violet dress, without a corset, and which was much looser. I had a feeling she was much more comfortable than me. Her brown hair was tied back with two small braids, and the rest was loose. She stepped to hug me and kissed my cheek.
"No sister, it has been only a few months, but even that is too long. How is my nephew Ryann?"
"Well, he is almost walking now, and is looking forward, along with the rest of the country, and you I hope, to his first birthday."
"We had to leave him behind in the care of his lovely nurse, and doting Grandfather, who sends his regards and apologies that he could not come," Prince Tynan came and bent to kiss my cheek, his blonde hair was still shoulder length and fell in gentle waves, his blue eyes were sparkling with mirth as they always were. He wore a velvet tunic, the same colour of Kayla's dress. I remembered then that it was the colour of Berinum. His black trousers were tucked into long boots that looked excellent for dancing in, as were mine and Kayla's simple slippers, hidden by our dresses. His sword, Kladener, hung at his side, its sapphire encrusted hilt glistening.
A trumpet rang out, announcing the first guests to arrive,
"The Lord and Lady of Felinte, Brendan and Rosina, and their son, Dillon."
"Welcome," I smiled, as they passed through the hall, the lord and lady, and their son who was around my age, surprise surprise.
More guests arrived, from all over Galidren, and the neighbouring countries. Their were two princes, but most were sons or daughters of Lords and Ladies, or Lords themselves. We all moved into the banqueting hall, where there was to be a great feast. My family sat at the head table where there was an excellent view of the other four long tables, all layed out with silver plates and golden cutlery I sat at the centre, my parents on one side, and Kayla and Tynan on the other.
"Does anyone take your fancy? I know you won't be short of dances tonight!" Kayla whispered, laughing.
"Don't laugh, your lucky you found Ty!"
"More like he's lucky he found me," She said, nudging Ty.
"Yeah right!" He scoffed, but they were both laughing and looking at each other in that way, that just showed everyone that they were in love. The way they had looked at each other ever since they met, four years ago, even when they hadn't realised they were in love.
I thought back to that time, when I was 14 and had unsuspectingly stepped into the realm of Hadanim, the fairy world, which had at that time been ruled by a Goblin Queen. I had almost been killed, numerous times, but Kayla had fought her way through, along with Ty and Finley, a fairy. They had saved me, and the whole world, and Kayla, according to a prophecy had crowned Finley King of Hadanim. That was when they had realised they were in love, and when we got back, although they waited till she was eighteen till they married, everyone knew that they would, and that it would last forever. That was when Kayla stopped being heir of Galidren and I became the future Queen.
"Shaylee? Are you ok sweetheart? You look quite sad?" Mother asked as the first course was served.
"No mother, I'm fine, I'm just thinking of the past." Out of the corner of my eye I saw Ty and Kayla glance at each other.
The rest of the feast went well, with the whole hall joining in a chorus of Happy Birthday, which was on the whole rather embarrassing Then everyone retired into the Great Hall, where a band of musicians were ready to play a few soft numbers, while everyone mingled.
"Happy Birthday Princess, I hope I can have the first dance?" Reagan, a lord's son asked. He was quite short, which didn't matter as I was small, and he had black hair, though not as dark as mine. Although many girls talked of him as dashing I never thought of him as that, as he had been a childhood friend of mine,
"Of course," He bowed and walked away smiling. Soon enough the small card I had to fill in my dance entries had indeed been filled, much to the envy of Princess's Gabrielle and Libertine, Tynan's step sisters.
"I have almost filled my dance card too. It is good you threw this ball, whether or not you find a husband, at least we will," Libertine laughed,
"Yes quite,"
"After all, every man here would love to be king, I am sure that is the reason they have asked you for so many dances, and it is your birthday after all." Gabrielle added
"I agree, although I don't remember as many young men at your 18th birthday, in fact, you are almost 19 now, and still no husbands between you? Amazing really," I snapped, and flounced off, trying to stop tears pricking at my eyes. I hated to be mean, or horrible in anyway, even if people did deserve it. And what they had said, it was most likely true.
Dance after dance, I whirled around the room with one man or another. Soon they all blended into one, and I forgot who I was even dancing with. I had insisted on only fast songs, and was glad now as it meant I could whirl around, and forget my worries, if only for a few minutes at a time. As I was catching my breath, ready for the next, and final song, Tynan came over,
"Princess may I have this dance?" He asked, bowing politely, a grin on his face. I glanced at my next partner, Brett, who I had already danced with.
"I'm sorry Brett, but as I have already danced with you..." I trailed off as Tynan sweeped me off across the floor. We twirled and span. When the song was over I was out of breath, I curtsied and he bowed.
"Thank you for the dance," He kissed my cheek, while whispering, "Meet me and Kayla in the mirror room tomorrow morning, before we leave," Then he strode off, through the crowds.
I woke up the next morning from the early morning sun pouring into my room. I had purposely left the drapes open so it would wake me up, although now as I forced myself out of cosy four poster bed I wasn't sure. I pulled on a grey tunic, and trousers and quietly slipped from my room, leaving my nightgown on the bed. As I ran silently through the halls of the palace my black hair flew behind me, loose and slightly wavy. I paused before the door of the room where 4 years ago I had been drawn towards a strange mirror.
I stepped in and saw Kayla and Tynan, dressed ready to travel in a plain dress and a plain tunic and trousers, and matching grey cloaks. The silver edged mirror, which I had last seen when we stepped out of it, back from King Finley's coronation, was gone. We had tried to find it, to visit our friend there, but couldn't find it, it had disapeared, that was almost 4 years ago.
"Ah Shaylee, there you are," Kayla said, hugging me tightly, "I shall miss you, visit soon, before Ryann's birthday, please!" she pleaded, smiling sweetly at me.
"I shall try, I am glad you enjoyed yourself here,"
"I would have enjoyed it more if you had had fun!"
"I did," I said although I knew my sister knew me the most out of everyone.
"Look, I know you are sad at the minute, but don't worry, everything that is meant to happen will, all we have to do is make the most out of the waiting."
"When did you get so wise?" I asked playfully,
"Last week as it happens," Ty laughed, as Kayla hit us both,
"Why do you to have such a similar sense of humour?" She scowled, shaking her head.
Ty stepped forward and hugged me to, "She is right though, don't worry about things we cannot change, worry only about those that we can, ok?"
I nodded, feeling tears welling up again, but I pushed them down again. They both kissed my cheek, then left me standing there. As I watched the door close behind them I realised I hadn't cried since the time when we realised the mirror was gone.
A/N So what do you think? From Shaylee's point of view? Good? Yes or no? Tell me in your reviews! Then I shall write more and we shall get into the juicy plot! This was mainly an introduction really, anyway press that button to get more chapters!