Chapter 2
1714 Words
Chapter 2.
Liora.
“Lioraaaaa….Lioraaaaa”
I am having the same dream I have been having for a week now. I am in a lush garden with white roses with a beautiful white tree in the middle of the garden .The tree has pure white leaves and one fruit hanging from it .I don't know this fruit, and as an earth lander I am curious so I walk towards the tree slowly, wandering what type of tree this is.
A soft voice from inside the tree keeps calling out to me and I approach it gently. A woman wearing a blue garment I do not recognise plucks the fruit for me and kneels to me and says,
“EAT AND BE ONE WITH MIRA”
Suddenly a loud male voice shouts “No!!”, and thunder strikes loudly and…
“Lilyyy..Liora darling…wake up my darling girl”
I stirr on my oma and wake up.
Your oma is a tree every earth lander is given at birth . You have a special bond and this tree grows with you. It has the ability to become a bed and it use its leaves as a cover for you, or a chair, or anything you need.
It feeds you it's fruits and walks around with you for safety.
Oma means guardian in my language.
“Good morning Reeva”
I yawn as she sets me down on my feet
“Good morning beautiful. Today you become a woman. I'm so excited. How do you feel? We need to get you ready for the evening ceremony !”, Reeva rants on excitedly.
“It's just another day Reeva!”, I laugh softly and shake my head as I walk slowly towards the bathing pool in the corner of my large room.
I take off my clothes and turn to check my arms in the reflection of my pool .
“Do not worry.The mark comes in after the ceremony has been done so relax”
I smiled at her and get in to have a quick bath.
I get out after a while and I get shy seeing what Reeva has places on my bed for me to wear later today.
The leaf vest with just twines holding the back and a short skirt made of leaves are symbols of womanhood and I always got shy thinking of them and this day.
I would miss the long gowns that only showed our hands and had space for our heads, but I was also looking forward to receiving my mark as well if I got lucky.
All members of the Royal household got marks , but only a few commoners were lucky every year and I hoped i would be one of them.
I put on my gown and packed my long brown hair in a bun, which was another Earth Land tradition.
Our hairs will be let down today and decorated by family heir looms and flowers from our omas .
I stepped out of my room and followed the lovely aroma of baked bread and meat sauce. My favorite.
Our house was fairly bigger than others as we lived within the royal premises, which was a privilege that came with being the daughter of the Queen's Handmaiden.
I greeted the cook ,Nia who was basically a second mum to me and she gave me a very tight hug , squeezing me into her large bosom.
“Oh my Lilyy…You're officially of age! Today is going to be great! The Royal Head Chef has asked me to handle all things flour so I have to go but I made your favorite!”, she added quickly as she covered my face in kisses and ran out leaving me and Reeva laughing.
“So how do you feel? I won't have to follow you everywhere after tonight and you can mar..”
“DON'T say the yuckie word Oma . I'm only interested in getting a mark and going to Gonoria..hopefully “, I mumbled out from my half full mouth .
“Oh please. I'm sure Rowan has been counting down the days to when he can officially court you my darling “, Reeva added with a mischievous smile.
“Reeevaaa….we've talked about this over and over again. Rowan only sees me as his younger sister's friend .I'm sure of it “,
I added as I reached out for more bread.
“I'm always right with this things Lily. That boy is so taken by you I wonder how he does anything else. He finds every opportunity to be around you . I know what I'm saying. We omas know this things “
I rolled my eyes in response and smiled.
“All I am saying is keep an open mind . Going to Gonoria with a proposal would not be a bad idea at all”
Luckily the marriage talk ended and we were on our way to the palace to see Nali, my best friend, who also happened to be the Queen's first daughter.
Reeva and I greeted some palace staff as we approached the royal grounds .From afar I could see that the entrance to the royal garden was guarded and my guess was that Nali was hiding from her Oma there so I turned towards it with a smile as I jugged towards the entrance.
“Lilyyyy…Thank God , My Oma wants to bore me to death with all this fittings and talks on hair accessories…Let's Run!” Nali said dramatically as I got into the royal garden where I knew she would be.
“Naliiii…you better get in here and make your choice before I tell your mother “ , Meeva ,Nali's Oma yelled from Nali's bedroom window which was facing the royal garden.
“I'll be back soon “ Nali added and ran pass her female guards towards the side entrance of the palace which took the guards ‘off guard’ and had them running after her in a way that made me laugh.
Nali and I got along well because we were the exact opposite but also the same in a lot of ways. Where Nali was jumpy and dramatic, I was calmer and more composed.
Where I was shy and reserved, Nali was confident and out going. I smiled as i walked further into the garden thinking of the fact that I knew Nali secretly enjoyed the things she said she disliked. I had mentioned it to my oma severally who said she probably didn't want to make it weird in our friendship if she openly enjoyed the privileges of being a royal ,but I would not love her any less if she embraced openly the joys of royalty. Nali was too down-to-earth to be anything else but kind and sweet. She would never let it get into her head.
The duty that came with being a princess was not one I envied at all but I had no worries because even if I was to accept a proposal , I knew no royal would ask me to marry him and..
“I half expected you to be in there figuring out clothing for your special night too”, A male voice I would know anywhere said loudly with humor from a garden entrance to my right, interrupting my thoughts.
I turned to see Rowan walking towards me and Reeva who had been silent all this while but was seated on a wooden bench to the side. I turned to her slightly and the sight of her wiggling her brows at me made me roll my eyes with a smile before turning to the approaching Prince.
Rowan had grown taller in the past years and filled out pretty nicely. His dark brown hair was cut to perfection and his golden brown eyes warmed as he reached us in a way that made me feel safe as always.
“Good day Reeva…Liora..”, Rowan said as he got to where we were and bowed to greet .
Reeva got up quickly and bowed back.
“My Lord, we should be the ones bowing Please”, she added nervously and smiled.
It was in moments like this that I wondered why I didn't react the way others did when they were around Rowan and other members of the Royal family. To me , he was dear old Rowan, my friend ..in a way .He was Rowan that I made earth castles with and played in mud puddles with as a child ,that is till he came of age four years ago and spent most of his time in Gonoria, where he had a year left to finish.
“Miss Reeva, if you don't mind , I would like to take a private walk later today with …”
“Your highness! I've been looking everywhere for you Sire!” A loud male voice yelled as the person ran towards us .
“Of course you have “, Rowan mumbled and sighed as he turned to face the man.
.you've been asked to make an appearance on behalf of your mother to the orphanage. Sorry for the late notice. I just got word now “ , Midan, Rowan's buff and bald ,but also good looking best friend said as he jogged towards us and stopped a few paces away as he related the message to the Prince before turning towards us to say hello.
Rowan sighed and nodded towards him before turning to me and taking a step forward.
“See you later tonight.I for one am looking forward to the ceremony “ He added as he touched my arm softly ,his hand lingering before putting his hands behind his back.
He looked at me intently clearly not wanting to leave and my belly fluttered .
“Umm sure. See you later. And you too Midan”
Midan waved as they jogged off towards the palace
I turned to Reeva who was wiggling her eyebrows at me and making kissy faces this time around.
“You know for a guardian ,you're very nosey and annoying ”
I said as I walked away from Reeva who was laughing and walking gently behind me ..
- Writer
