As promised, Alex worked with Baxter for the rest of the night, from helping him cook, to serving guests, to cleaning up after lunch and dinner.
Also as promised, in exchange for her help, Alex was given a room.
Despite her protest – she didn't want Baxter to lose any money by helping her – he gave her the nicest room, which included a view of the castle's highest towers that cast their shadows over the lake. Alex smiled as she saw several swans fly past the tower.
As she lay in bed, waiting for sleep that night, Alex thought on her decision to leave the orphanage. She knew she had to leave if she had any hope of finding her family, but still, she wondered if it was the right decision and if the others were ready to be without her.
"They'll be fine," she assured herself half heartedly. "They have to be."
And there was, of course, still the dream about swans that didn't seem to make much sense. She'd never thought much about swans. They were always just there, but now they seem to carry a bigger importance.
The problem was; she didn't know what that importance was.
XxX
The next day brought sunshine and a lot of noise.
Alex looked out the window to see people crowding the edge of the festival closest to the town as King Derek gave a speech about being happy to open the Festival Days for another great year.
As soon as he was done speaking, the crowd moved into the grounds and began making all kinds of merry racket. Knowing Baxter would be upstairs at any moment to practically shove her out the door, Alex quickly got dressed.
Baxter had been on his way up to meet her when she exited her room. Before she could close the door, he was already badgering her to leave.
"Come on, you don't want to miss it!"
He grabbed her hand and half dragged her down the stairs and out the door before she had time to respond. Together they entered the festival grounds, which were filled with people and booths full of different attractions.
Alex had never seen such an assortment of things in one place, which proved to her that she needed to get out more often, something Baxter had been telling her since her arrival the day before.
Since the day she was brought to the orphanage, she and Baxter had acted like brother and sister. Sometimes they bickered and once in a while they fought, but it never took long for them to forgive each other. And although they could never love each other as more than a good friend, there was always a hefty fine for anyone who messed with the two.
Before long, Baxter had to get back to the inn and attend to things there, but he bid her stay and enjoy the festivities.
For a while, Alex wandered around, not sure what to do with herself. Baxter had already shown her his favorite things to do, which, unsurprisingly for a man his size, all had something to do with the consumption of sweets.
But she wasn't hungry, just lost.
Before she could give up and go back to the inn, she came across a dunking chair, which was a good thing, considering Baxter would never allow her to stay inside during the first of the Festival Days. The man sitting on the chair looked afraid.
Something about him triggered a distant memory of Alex's. She stared at the man, taking in his appearance. He had brown hair, cut choppily down to his ears, and was a very round man with skinny legs. He had a button nose and small green eyes that seemed to scream out the fear in him. And there was something oddly familiar about him…
She looked to the younger man who was trying to dunk him.
He was, to say the least, very good looking. He was the classic 'tall dark and handsome' archetype for men his age. He was well built, an obvious athlete, who was, at the moment, missing the target on purpose. He too was very familiar, like a glimpse of a dream.
"I told you I'd go easy on you, Brom," he laughed when he had only one ball left to throw at the target.
Brom? Short for Bromley… Alex knew this. She had met this man before, but she wasn't sure where or when.
"Th-thanks, Matthew," Bromley stuttered as he watched Matthew menacingly toss the ball and catch it in his right hand repeatedly.
"But maybe the lady would like to try," Matthew said when he noticed Alex standing nearby. He tossed the ball to her. She caught it, glad she hadn't embarrassed herself by dropping it. She looked at him and for an odd moment, their eyes held. "Have we met before?" he asked, confused as she was.
"No, I don't think so."
"Déjà vu," I suppose, he muttered. Suddenly, his mind snapped back to the moment at hand. He stepped aside and politely motioned for Alex to throw the ball.
"Okay," Alex agreed, moving over to where Matthew had been standing.
Her aim was accurate, and with an instant, Bromley was falling into a tub of cold water. He quickly came up for air, spitting out water and sputtering air. "G-good shot."
Matthew laughed good-naturedly. "Take a break, Bromley. Dry off and relax. There's still six more days left."
Both Matthew and Alex chuckled as Bromley groaned.
"I'm afraid I didn't catch your name," Matthew said, smiling, as he turned his attention to Alex.
"Alexandra, Alex for short."
Matthew was taken aback by her name for a moment, but he was able to regain his composure before she noticed anything. "Is there a last name?"
"No. I don't have a family."
"I'm sorry. My name is Matthew, Prince Matthew, to be completely honest."
Stunned, Alex dropped a quick curtsey. "Pleased to meet you, your majesty."
"Please," he said, waving his hand a little. "It's just Matthew to friends… and gorgeous girls."
Alex blushed for a moment and turned away to hide it.
As she was gathering herself, Matthew found himself strangely interested in this girl, something that did not often occur.
"Would you like to walk with me?"
Alex nodded, the only response she trusted herself with. They walked wordlessly for a few minutes before Alex broke the silence.
"You said 'to be honest' when you told me you're a prince. Why?"
"Because it's harder to make friends when everyone thinks they're not worthy of being with you," he replied. Isn't calling me Matthew easier to deal with than 'your highness?'"
She nodded. "It is a lot less awkward."
He smiled. "Is this your first time coming to the Festival Days? I've never seen you here before and I come every year."
"Yes, it is my first time. My friend was pushing me out the door to get me to come. And I'm glad I came." The last was unintentionally spoken. She wondered if he would take it as she had meant it – that she had just met a handsome prince. Truly it was a little embarrassing. She blushed again.
He grinned. "I'm glad you came too."
"There's just so much. What do you do when you come?"
"Well, I enjoy the obstacle course, as does my friend, Prince Eli. And of course, there's the dunking chair, which you seemed to be familiar with."
"Just a lucky shot," she said modestly.
He chuckled. "Then there's the talent show."
"Talent show?"
"Yes. There's singing and dancing and just about everything else you can think of. Tell me, do you dance at all?"
"I don't dance."
"Darn."
"But I do sing… a little."
"You should sign up for the competition. It's great fun."
"I don't think I'm that good."
He laughed. "Remember when I said 'just about everything else you can think of?' I meant it. I've seen a lot of thinks that cannot be un-seen on that stage. I would be willing to bet your singing is better than Chef Frederick's omelet juggling."
Alex giggled. "Omelet juggling?"
"Yes. See? You won't lose to him, anyway."
Alex thought about it for a moment. What was there to lose by signing up? "Aright. Count me in. I'll sign up."
"Perfect." He suddenly looked from her to a young man who was waiting about thirty feet ahead. Behind him, Alex could see what was probably the obstacle course. Matthew turned back to her and pointed to the left. "I hope you will excuse me, but I myself have a competition to win. The sign up table is over there. The shows start tomorrow, and the final judging will be the last day of the Festival."
"Thank you. Good luck."
XxX
Alex made it to the sign up table without getting lost, something she was rather proud of herself for. There was a line, but a short one. Alex took her place at the end of it and waited for a short time for the woman at the table take down everyone's name.
When she reached the second spot in line, Alex recognized the woman to be royalty; by the way she spoke and dressed. In all likelihood, Alex would soon be face to face with Queen Odette herself, something she would not have dreamed of two days ago.
Then it was Alex's turn.
"Your name?" Odette asked before she looked up.
"Alex."
Odette's head snapped up quickly in surprise. She was shocked to see the girl standing before her was… No. She couldn't be. True, the girl had Derek's shade of brown hair. And looking at her was like looking in a mirror, had Odette been born brunette. But it couldn't be… Could it?
The feeling was mutual for Alex. She could remember that wavy blonde hair and the kind blue eyes. The structure of Odette's face was nigh identical to her own. This was the third time that day she had recognized people, but couldn't remember from where.
"Last name?" Odette choked out at last.
"No, ma'am." Alex was more than stunned. She closed her eyes for a short moment and opened them again. "Orphan," she added.
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"Please, don't be. It happened about twelve years ago. I'm not really sure how, but I'm sure of the time."
Odette smiled. Twelve years? That put Alex's loss of her parents at the same time of her daughter's kidnapping. But wouldn't this girl, if she was Odette's Alex, recognize her own mother? But… No. It wasn't Alex. Alex was long dead, and this girl was just a strange coincidence.
But there was so much evidence! The hair, the eyes, the face; all of it pointed to that possibility that Alex was, indeed, still alive after all these years. Could it even be possible?
Odette snapped back into reality, not wanting things to become awkward again.
"What is your talent?"
"I sing," Alex replied, smiling shyly.
"Oh. Have you ever competed before?"
"No, ma'am."
"Don't be nervous. I'm sure you'll do well."
"No fear."