Chapter 3
1787 Words
Miranda and Claire were almost home, they were at a steady pace just enjoying the autumn air, vibrant yellow and orange everywhere, Miranda found it quite soothing hearing the crunch if the leaves. Their horses stopped near the foot of a mountain and Miranda got off, her blue dress trailing after her as she approached the side of the mountain.
"I am so glad we're home." Claire sighed." I will take one long bath."
" I thought you said you liked adventures?" Miranda smiled.
" Well yes but I also get home sick you know. Now get on with it, open it"
Miranda rolled her eyes laughing. She touched the side of the mountain and it rippled before revealing the huge metal gates that rumbled as they opened. She got back on her horse and they entered, the gates closed and the side of the mountain rippled back to normal like nothing happened, inside was a whole civilization of the gifted, vast green farms and meadows, the sky as blue as ever, beautiful houses and at overlooking it all was the castle where Miranda lived and as she sped to her castle a couple of kids flew after her.
" Look it's Princess Miranda." A small kid alerted her friends as they ran after her.
" Princess, princess!!" They called after her and She giggled as she stopped her horse to a halt, Claire on the other hand whined as she stopped next to her.
" Don't worry, it'll only take a minute." She reassured her.
" Hello Children."
They all stared up at her in awe.
" You are so pretty." One of the kids said smiling and she couldn't help but blush.
" Please tell us stories of the outside pleeeease" They begged.
" Uhh I cannot do that right now but I promise you I will visit and tell you everything."
" Yayyy." They cheered and ran towards the meadow waving at her. Yes, Miranda really did miss her home. When she got to the castle, her family had already been notified that she had arrived and were all standing at the door.
"Welcome back." Her mother smiled. Miranda and Claire bowed.
"Thank you your Highness."
Miranda had always admired her mother, she was a tall and graceful woman, beautiful blonde hair with the mature green eyes Miranda had inherited. She was also very smart and good at decisions making her the perfect queen, everybody loved her. Her older brother, James smiled at her and she gave him a big hug which made him cough warning her that the queen was still there.
"Oh sorry."
But the queen just smiled and entered the castle, guards surrounding her as she entered. As soon as their mother was out of sight, James embraced her again.
" You had me worried."
" Come on James, it was just my routine visit."
"Hello Claire."
" Your Highness." She bowed. They shared eye contact for a second and Claire laughed.
" What? I can't be formal with you."
" Come on Claire, We grew up together, you've known me for years."
" Fine suit yourself James."
He turned back to Miranda
" How's the..?"
" It's fine." She lightly touched her chest so she could feel it.
"Good."
Miranda grabbed Claire's hand as they entered the castle.
"Well it's been perfect here, I have nothing to report to you." James voice echoed as they walked in the hallway.
"As I would expect." She replied.
" The only thing I'd like you to know is that I'm getting married."
She looked at him with joy and surprise, hugging him again, a bit tighter this time.
"Congratulations."Claire smiled.
" I am so happy for you, who's the lucky girl? Miranda asked.
" You'll meet her after you get rest, now go up to your room."
They shared a smile before he left them. Miranda was silent as they continued to walk to her room, she was happy for James, she really was but there was a weight on her heart knowing that she'd never get married, it was part of her sacrifice as the protector of the Owl's eye. No love life. She was going to be lonely till her last breath, she had always loved the stories of how princes would fall in love with princesses and go far away together to live happily ever after but she accepted her fate like taking sour Medicine, she didn't like it but she had to for her people.
" Who do you think the girl is?" Claire asked breaking the silence.
" I have no idea."
" I bet she's pretty, James always did fall for the pretty ones."
" I bet she's beautiful and they'll make a lovely couple." Miranda said with a fake smile.
In Miranda's room the two relaxed, Miranda was on her window seat just looking at the sunset. Claire was in the balcony, wondering where she'd be if her parents were still alive. I mages of what happened that fateful day flashed in her mind and she breathed heavily as her eyes welled up with tears. The screams, her mum screaming for her to run the queen saving her. She sighed closing her eyes.
" Are you alright?" Miranda asked behind her.
"Yes, yes I'm fine." she said wiping her tears, Miranda gave her a hug from behind.
"It's Okay." She whispered. This is why Claire loved her so much, she was her sister, friend and someone who'd always be there for her.
"Enough with the sentimental moment, you and I have some talking to do." She pulled her to the table where they'd set up tea and they sat down. Miranda really didn't want to talk about what happened last night, she had broken the oath as the protector of the Owl's eye, the clear precious gem on her chest felt heavier. Claire stared at her waiting for her to start.
" Ehem... explain."
"Explain what?"
" Why?...Why couldn't you kill him?"
" Look I know your vision said he's going to come after the Owl's eyes and take it but we...we are going to protect it, he won't find us here, nobody has in years."
Claire sighed, she knew that wasn't how her visions worked, whatever she saw would eventually come true unless they kill him, and honestly she felt no guilty conscience at all when it came to killing the normals, it was normals who killed her parents and took everything from her. An awkward silence followed and Miranda avoided eye contact. Claire poured herself a cup of tea.
"Look Miranda, you told me not to tell anyone about my vision but as a gifted I have a part to play in the protection of the Owl's eye. I cannot let this little crush of yours get in the way of you protecting it."
Miranda's face turned red and Claire bit her tongue to stop herself from laughing.
" I do not have a crush on him, don't be ridiculous."
" Deny it all you want, you my friend, are in love."
The was a knock at the door and Miranda jumped to go get it relieved that it broke the awkward conversation. She opened the door and a maid bowed.
" The Queen requests for your presence. Your seamstress will be here in two minutes to help you dress."
" Thank you."
She closed the door and turned to Claire.
" Seamstress will be here in two minutes."
" Good grief, can't they give us a few extra hours."
" We can continue our relaxing afterwards."
They heard another knock at the door this one was a familiar and before Miranda could even open the door, the seamstress, Susan came in with her apprentices and Claire inwardly cried for help. The long haired, middle aged brunette with the energy levels of a kid who just ate a bag of sugar was the best seamstress in the land her gift was practically made for her line of work, she was telekenetic and used it when making her clothes she was precise and fast so much so that she can use multiple needles at once and make something grand in less than 10 minutes.
" Princess, how are you?" Susan smiled giving her a kiss on the cheek.
" I am well thank-"
" This is what you're wearing oh no no no it won't do."
" I was relaxing-"
" Relaxing in such in ugly thing, my goodness I see my job is never done. And you Claire, I expected better from you as well."
Honestly Claire couldn't care less, she continued drinking her tea. The apprentices set up Susan's equipment and she began working on Miranda, pieces of cloth and cloth flied everywhere, Miranda always got paranoid that a stray needle would poke her in the eye or something but within fifteen minutes, She was in a beautiful yellow dress, she might have been crazy but Susan never disappointed and now it was Claire's turn.
" Oh Claire it's your turn now." Susan called out. Miranda stepped off the dressing podium and Susan began working on Claire. One of the apprentices, she looked like a teenager stared at Miranda making her a bit uncomfortable but she realized she was staring at the Owl's eye. She tucked it into her dress and the girl's face turned red with embarrassment.
"I'm sorry."she apologized.
" It's alright." Miranda smiled kindly." I also stare at it sometimes."
The girl giggled.
" It's beautiful."
" It is, isn't it? And that's why I have to protect it, we wouldn't have our gifts without it."
"That's why I admire you, you sacrifice a lot for your kingdom."
Miranda didn't feel so patriotic, she's putting everyone at risk for some man she doesn't even know and for what reason, she had no idea. Was she just tired of killing? No,she shouldn't forget that if the eye got into a normals hands they would cease to exist.
"Are you okay Princess?" The girl asked looking concerned.
" I am fine just tired, long journey back.
"Want me to get you a glass of water, you're sweating a bit."
" Yes sure."
The girl went and got her a glass which she nervously drank.
" Thank you."
Claire was finally done and she looked marvelous in her beautiful green dress.
"You look beautiful Claire."
" You do too. Thank you Susan."
They finished up getting ready and it was time to go.
" I will always have your back." Claire smiled reassuring her and Miranda looked at her with grateful eyes and she held her hand as they walked towards the ballroom.
- Writer
