Chapter 8

Queen Ceres was pacing, or rather floating outside the room of her daughter. She recently felt that the Time was Right, so she finally showed herself to Jenna- who apparently didn't think that the time was exactly right. No one thought that she was right. In their eyes, they all agreed that she WAS wrong.

Jenna DIDN'T think that it was the RIGHT time to marry. She DIDN'T think that Beetle (The name of the boy whom Queen Ceres saw her with.) would WANT to marry her. She DIDN'T think that she needed someone to stay beside her in times of trouble and need. That was some of the 'didn'ts' Jenna said; there were lots more.

Septimus, the Extra-Ordinary Wizard's apprentice, on the other hand, was just furious with the fact that Queen Ceres didn't break the news to Jenna carefully. He knew that Jenna would probably hate him for this. He had also felt that the Time was Right; but instead of taking the direct approach, he decided to let Queen Ceres to do the talking. While he just decided to play match-maker.

And then there was Alther. Now he didn't actually do much. He just talked to her about looking out for Jenna and Beetle in the Queen's Room. The only thing that he feels bad about is that Septimus blames HIM for her telling Jenna that she HAD to marry. Septimus thought the Alther told Ceres to tell Jenna that she should marry.

Finally, there was that poor boy. Beetle was stuck in the middle of all of this. She felt sorry for him. He was a natural sweet-heart and Jenna would be lucky to have him as a husband. She knew that Jenna felt this connection with Beetle. It was obvious that she loved him. But the others didn't agree with her.

"They're CHILDREN!" Alther Mella in her face a while ago, when she told him and Septimus what had happened.

"I wasn't really expecting that..." the Apprentice mumbled to himself. He then gave Queen Ceres a strange look, a look of awkwardness, "Queen Ceres, I think that you have misunderstood Alther."

"I never told her that the Time was Right. I just warned her that Jenna would be bringing a POSSIBLE suitor," he scoffed, "I didn't screw up!"

"Please," Queen Ceres begged, "Accept my apology. I need you to understand that I do feel like the Time is Right."

"How did Jenna react to this?" Alther retorted, "Did she find the idea enlightening? Must I remind you that she is YOUNG? She's barely an adult."

"Jenna... is still digesting the idea." she snapped back, "She's almost 14. She's old enough to know what she wants."

"You've been in hiding for too long, Ceres." Alther explained, "With children there's something called 'courtship'. Wherein before the actual ceremony of matrimony, they get to know each other and feel if they are right for each other."

Queen Ceres just scoffed and floated away. Nothing she could say could make them agree with her. She had hoped that they would come to their senses soon enough...

Though until now, they didn't. They still disagreed with her and whatever she'd do or say. She had had some ideas that she was wrong, but no she just knew that the time was right. And no one, not even Alther, could tell her otherwise...

Except maybe Jenna herself.

If Jenna actually didn't FEEL the connection with Beetle, then she'd be an embarrassment. What if what she saw was just simple puppy-love? What would happen to her? Would she be an embarrassment to other Queens everyone?

There was only one way she would know.

She walked up to the door, and floated inside. She saw her Jenna wiping Beetle's forehead and singing a song to him. He was still out. Jenna was too preoccupied with Beetle that she didn't even notice her own mother floating towards them.

"Jenna?" her mother asked meekly, "How is he?"

Jenna looked up and stared at her mother. Raising an eyebrow she walked over to her and looked directly at her ghostly mother.

"He still can't get over the fact that you were a jerk." Jenna answered back rudely. She walked back to Beetle and stared at him.

Her mother side and thought that if this was what having a hormonal teenage daughter was like, then she was glad that she was dead. Because by the look on Jenna's face, she'd kill her right this moment.