Finding Sunshine

chapter 11

It was 7 in the morning and Rain was standing out on the large wrap around balcony that was connected to her room in the Scarlett Castle.The cool morning breeze felt good on her face. The balcony was facing east and had a view of all of Scarlett. She has never seen such a big city before. It was triple in size compared to the dark woods.

These past two weeks have been so much to take in. Rain felt overwhelmed with anxiety and uncertainty but one thing she was sure of, she wouldn't let anyone else die. She was fully prepared to marry both brothers and save not only Scarlett but the dark woods with it.

Her stomach flurried with butterflies the moment she thought of marrying Chad and Zarak.

She sat on one of the couches, trying to breathe through her emotions. She closed her eyes and focused on her other senses. The breeze on her cheeks, the birds chirping and the sun warming up around her. She needed to calm her mind. Today was an important day. Today she was meeting with some Scarlett allies to feel their vibes and intentions. Rain took a deep breath and let it out slowly, focusing on the world around her. She took another breath, this time straightening her posture while placing her right hand to her stomach, and released her breath. She could smell the pine trees that were below the balcony and It reminded her of the dark woods. her town was small but peaceful in a forest of tall pine trees.

*Rain, they're here * she heard zaraks voice enter her mind. Already? she thought to her self. she didn't feel calm enough, ready enough.

Rain took one last controled breath before opening her eyes and standing.

Her stomach gurgled. Actually great timing, she thought to herself. She was finally getting her appetite back and they're meeting was to take place over breakfast.

She made her way to the garden where they'll be having breakfast. The same beautiful garden that Zarak had taken her in his memories. The roses were in full bloom and the gardenias smelt so lovely. she walked on a stone path that led to the middle of the garden, where there was an oval dark brown wicker table and matching chairs with royal blue cushions. walking up she could see Zarak sitting on one end of the table, with his back facing her and to the right of him two tall women sitting hand in hand. One woman was radiating a light glow from her body. She was stunning, with her red hair in two french braids that fell over her shoulders and disappeared past the table top, and she had beautiful glistening Carmel color skin that brought out her green eyes. The closer Rain got the safer she felt from her presence. She didn't know how she was to articulate the vibe she felt from this woman but she felt well balanced and zen like. Rain let out a sigh of relief.

The woman next to her had more of fair color skin with black silky straight hair she wore down and looked to be just as long as the womans hair next to her. She had beautiful light blue eyes, and dark lashes. She was thinner than the other woman, her features were more defined and She had a scar on the front of her neck, it looked like it was a pretty deep cut too, to leave a scar that big. Rain couldn't quite get a feel on her but that was pretty normal, she usually had to speak with someone to tell they're intentions and character.

I got this! she thought to herself.

As Rain walked up, the two women smiled and got up, doing this made Zarak get up to face her. She couldn't help but smile, seeing him always felt like a treat and it was becoming one of her favorite things. He had on a white button up shirt, with the first three buttons undone so it opened just enough to see his collar bone. His sleeves were neatly rolled up to right below his elbows, showing off his tribal tattoos. White looked so good on his dark skin, Hell anything looked good on him.

"You look beautiful this morning" Zarak said sincerely with a smile. That instantly made Rain blush and flash a full smile showing off her perfect white teeth.

"This is valda" he gestures towards the woman with the red hair, then to the woman she was holding hands with.

"and her fiance demi".

"Pleased to meet you, we've heard so much!" valda says with a smile.

" So good to meet you! really? I hope good things!" Rain replied jokingly.

"Of course" Valda chuckled

"let me get your chair" Zarak said as he pulled the chair to the left of where he was sitting, allowing room for rain to sit, Then they all followed suit and sat back down. Laying on the table in front of her was the breakfast menu. Rain still had to get used to things like this now being in the castle. Back at home she cooked her own meals and here, she wasnt even sure where the kitchen was.

"So many choices" Rain said as she picked up the menu. she could feel her empty stomach aching by the second.

"Right! After the two day journey I might just order one of everything!" Valda exclaimed as she too was looking at her menu.

"I could use a morning mimosa" Demi said with a playful smile.

Rain giggled "Count me in!".

Demi's Aura felt a little playful and innocent. Rain can tell she was a little guarded but maybe it was shyness.

"Great! why dont we get some fruit and cheese to start and mimosas all around?" Zarak said while looking around at them, then gestures to one of the staff standing near by.

"just an orange juice for me please." Valda said.

"Oh?" Zarak looked at Valda with a confused expression. "since when do you not drink?" he asked playfully. Valda smiled and let out a small laugh, then sighed and sat up more in her chair. "Id like to keep my head on straight, with these next few weeks I need to be able to train my worriors, and I have no will power, one drink turns into 20 and I just can't stop myself once I start."

"Then after the war well toast." Zarak said with a accepting smile.

Rain watched as Zarak and Valda reminisced of their drunk adventures growing up.

"Royals have different rules" Zarak explained to Rain. " We're allowed to drink wine with our dinner at the age of 9 and then can hit the pubs by 13."

"Wow, really?" Rain asked. Royals live by different rules and a completely different life, Rain thought to her self. It seemed strange that they're allowed to drink as children.

"Yes but we also had different expectations and experiences." Valda shared "We start our schooling as young as two years old, studying six days a week, no summer breaks and by thirteen we graduate. Our extra curriculars being combat training, gift growth and war strategys." Valda explained.

Zarak laughed "And then when we graduate the combat training intensifies, I remember the first full day of it, Zeek and I didn't even eat dinner, we just went straight to bed. We woke up the next day and could barely move."

Zelda let out a loud laugh. Rain noticed The glow around her was now brighter. When Rain looked at Zarak, he took was starting to glow. He looked so happy and relaxed. It was so nice to see Zarak enjoying himself. These past few weeks getting to know him, seeing him everyday, he's been tense but this is a different side to him. There's much more to him than Rain thought.