Chapter 9

Once I was finished being pampered with the addition of a simple golden chain that held a flower formed out of amber, sapphires, and a ruby, I was transported by the maids into a large room that I assumed was the office of Prince Gareth, the King of Dreams.

The room had a tall ceiling that seemed to be held up by tree branches and roots that connected to the furniture, tall bookshelves, a window seat, and even the large oak desk was connected by the roots as if it were formed out of the ground. The roots and branches had carvings that held the same medieval theme I have been noticing throughout this magical realm, only the cravings were small as if tiny fairy hands had etched them on the light colored wood.

I turned towards the desk and found a small table set with clean white dishes and gleaming silverware on a white table cloth. I also noticed jeweled gauntlets next to a metal pitcher and a small floral tea set in the center of the table that gave the smell of rose with chamomile blossoms. There was also a bowl of fruit with a silver knife resting on the edge, and next to it was a crystal vessel of what looked like it contained red wine.

I didn't want to seem rude, so I stood by one of the chairs waiting for my "host" to join me for the meal. I began to ponder if the table manners with similar to British manners since every royal I have met so far has British traits.

Gareth didn't appear out of nowhere in a burst of glitter, but used the door as if he were a normal human being. He had his back turned to me most of the time as he opened and closed the door, but when he did see me he just stared. I felt a little puzzled as he took me in with his glowing eyes, and I began to wonder if I had put the dress on backwards or the necklace I was wearing was inappropriate for my station of class. Well, he did call me a commoner once, I guess in his world that was what I am. What about Sarah? What bothered me was he just stood there staring at me without so much as blinking, and throwing caution to the wind I decided to break the awkwardness even if it did appear rude. I stood up straighter and lifting my skirts I curtsied to him and nodded my head to him in greeting looking at him straight in the eye.

"Good Morning, again, you're majesty."

He blinked rapidly as if coming out of a daze and then bowed at the waist to me, then pulled over one of the chairs for me, silently inviting me to sit. I compiled with a nod of my head to thank him for his kindness, but wondered why he didn't speak?

Gareth seated himself across from me at the table and created a crystal with his gloved hands and blew on it. It floated off his fingertips like a bubble and floated over the table to then land in front of me on my plate to poof, transforming into a small chafing lid. I lifted the lid expecting to find nothing underneath, but instead finding that my plate had my favorite breakfast dish! German potato pancakes, polish sausage links, croissants with raspberry jam, and a slice of spinach frittata. My mouth watered just looking at it, my stomach lowly growled to remind me that I hadn't eaten for almost a day, and I normally don't eat a big breakfast except on the weekends.

When I glanced over at Gareth, he had created another chafing lid only it was over his plate, when he lifted it up it revealed only a single green apple. Frowning, he covered the plate with the lid again, tapped it with his fingers, and then lifted it up to reveal a new meal. His dish contained apple turnovers, scalloped potatoes, salted kippers, slices of a yellow cheese, and a couple of poached eggs with hollandaise sauce on top of an English muffin.

I shook my head and giggled realizing that I shouldn't be surprised by all the strange magical elements in this world, but I feared that it would never fail to amuse me.

The king must have heard my laughter because he looked up with knitted brows,

"Is nothing to your satisfaction, Lady Alexandria?"

Well, at least he finally spoke; I smiled at him as I answered him,

"It's Alex, there is no fanfare or formalities when having a comfortable private meal between partners, your majesty. I do want to make my peace with you since we are going to work together to help Sarah and Jareth. But could we at least have a simple comfortable time getting to know each other and answer a few questions before we get on with the heavy workloads? I don't enjoy getting headaches while eating breakfast."

Prince Gareth's face gave me a warm, if not knowing grin, and began preparing two cups of tea,

"Nor do I, Alex, I must confess that is the reason why I often refuse to eat my first meal of the day among people because I wish to enjoy the quiet morning away from my burdens of duty. This way I can start my day fresh and new without stress to get me weary. Milk or sugar?"

I frowned, "Oh, both please, but, then why invite me to breakfast, you majesty?"

"It's Gareth, since we are on a first name basis. And to answer your question: I do appreciate the company once in a while, such as my brother and sister because I can relax around them and not have to worry about the rest of the morning that progresses into hard topics and nonsense politics."

I accepted the cup of tea he handed me,

"Thank you, Gareth, are you saying that you are comfortable around me? You could have always sent me breakfast to my room; I don't want to get in the way of your routine."

"I think both of our "daily routines" as you call them, are going to change regardless since we are to plan together, despite our busy schedules."

I nodded realizing he had a point when it came to the future work we would have to accomplish.

"I understand, I usually like to eat my breakfast alone to have private time as well. I mostly like to eat outside in the garden in the early morning, this way I can read, draw, study, or just have alone time to myself. So I guess this will become a new routine for us to get used to, am I right?"

Gareth smirked while stirring two lumps of sugar in his tea,

"I believe, dear lady, we shall both have to endure it."

I had to chuckle over his sarcasm, it was better than biting each other's head off.

For the rest of the meal, I was surprised that we had a quiet, calm, yet interesting chat. Then I asked him the grueling question as to how I originally got to his kingdom.

As it turns out, according to Gareth, that I was accidentally transported to the Woods Kingdom (aka Kingdom of Dreams), because I unintentionally tripped over a bowl of sleeping sand that was near the bed that I had fallen asleep on in the Goblin Kingdom. Apparently, the bedroom was Gareth's private chambers that only he has access to whenever he visits his brother. He was shocked when he learned that I could open the door, saying that the door opens to no one but him and Jareth. Gareth also told me that when the sleeping sands are scattered near his bed they become a transported vessel that carries you in your dreams to the place you were needed the most. That part had both of us baffled as to why the Gareth's sand would send me not just to his bedroom, but to the queen's chambers next door.

He told me that traditionally in every kingdom in the underground, each monarch had their own private rooms; he just had the rooms sealed since he hasn't taken a queen yet. But he could not fathom the reasons why all the chamber doors would open for me. Nor, why my clothes had disappeared...

(Please rate and review to let us know how you like this idea, and thoughts would be most appreciated)

"Please leave a contribution in the little box"