Mystic Moons

Chapter 3: Kings, Queens, and Vegabonds: Part 2

"Oh my goodness!" I gasped as I stared in disbelief. " Is this for me? I've never seen this dress before!" Misty had made and bought me many dresses and put them in the wardrobe of my room. This one I had never laid eyes on before. "Yes my dear this is for you. It was a surprise. You see, tonight there is a ball at the palace. After the king has hired all of the new staff he always throws a ball for the people. It's a tradition that has gone on for centuries. It is the one day of the year that the palace doors are opened up to the people. And the one night that the people are able to celebrate the successfulness of the kingdom in the palace along with the royals. I was going to take you there so you can experience your very first royal ball. As a songstress you will experience many. Now it seems as if you will be going either way." She said with a smile. "Come my child. Let's get you ready to steal the heart of the palace."

After I was fully dressed I walked over to the large mirror to look at myself. I could hardly believe that I could look so beautiful. My hair was pinned up into a bun with only two strands hanging into pin curls. One at each side of my face. Misty walked behind me and put something around my neck. It was a beautiful diamond tiara necklace with a blue gem in the middle that matched my dress. "There, now you are ready." Said Misty as she looked at me in awe. " I am going to miss you my dear. I hope that you will never forget me." She said as she wiped tears from her eyes. "I could never forget you." I said as I cried along with her. I reached out and hugged her. "You are the mother I never had " I said as I squeezed her tightly" taking in her vanilla like scent. She squeezed me back and kissed me on the forehead.

She smiled as she looked at me and pulled a small bottle from her pocket. "This is for you." She said as she opened it and poured a few drops onto her finger. I could smell the fresh vanilla scent. She rubbed a little in my neck and a little on each one of my wrists. And then she handed me the bottle. "Put this in your hand bag. It's yours now." We walked back down the stairs to find Ceilest asleep in one of the chairs.

"Ehem!" Misty cleared her throat loudly. "She is ready." My aunt quickly woke up and stood to her feet. "Alright then we shall be going now." Said Ceilest as she grabbed my arm and pulled me to the door. "We will see ourselves out!" My aunt said in an ungrateful tone. "Goodbye my dear Elizabeth. I wish you many blessings!' Misty shouted after me as I was rushed to the door. "Goodbye Misty I will never forget you!" I shouted back as my aunt drug me out the door and down the walkway. I looked back to see Misty waving to me from her doorstep. I waved back frantically as We began our journey to the palace.

We finally arrived after what seemed to be many hours. When we got there the first thing I could see was a massive structure what's large windows and doors and three large towers connected to it. When we got closer I could see the long line that had formed inside the palace Gates. There were people from all over the kingdom lined up to come and work at the palace.

When we finally got up to the Palace Gates they were closed and there were two guards standing in front of them. "What is your business at the palace?" One of the guards asked quite loudly. "Is this not the day where the palace doors are opened to the kingdom for those who are looking for work at the palace?" My aunt screamed back at the guard. "Well yes Miss it is"but we are still requir-" the guard said as he was cut off by my aunt. "Well then step aside! We are here just as everyone else before us!" My aunt yelled. "Very well miss." The guard said as he stepped aside so he and his partner could open the gates.

The line moved quickly and before we knew it we were inside the palace. It was even more amazing than I could have imagined. The floor was covered in red velvet carpet and there were red velvet drapes lining every wall. Above my head I could see a massive skylight window. It was stained glass for the beautiful colors that lit up the whole room. And they were statues of lovely winged creatures with diamond eyes and jewels all over their bodies in every corner. There were two very large crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, one on each end of the room. And the many stone doorway arches leading to different parts of the palace were lined with jewels.

As my turn approached I saw a man dressed in a black suit standing behind the addition table. "Who's next?" He asked. "She is." my aunt said smiling graciously as she pushed me in front of her. "Alright then. What position are you here for?" he asked as he picked up a fresh sheet of paper and something to write with. "She's here for the songstress position." my aunt said continuing with her fake smile. Alright then. "Jenna!" He called behind him. "We have another for the songstress position." A short thin older woman appeared from the arched doorway behind him. "Hello mam. Come with me." she said to Ceilest as she turned to go back through the doorway. "I am not auditioning. She is." My aunt said as she motioned me forward. The woman looked down at me in disbelief. " Very well then." She laughed as she shook her head and walked back toward the doorway. I followed behind her closely as we entered a large wood dressed room with no carpet and no furniture. Ceilest trailed behind the both of us making sure not to miss any of the action. "Alright child. Sing." I stood in front of her and bravely took a deep breath. I sang a song that Misty taught me. It was called "Blue Raindrops." As I sang the woman stared at me in disbelief. She looked astonished that a child could sing in such a controlled manor. After I finished she just looked at me for a few moments before speaking. "That was very wonderful my dear but I am afraid that you are just too young. We are looking for a more experienced songst-" she was cut off by a deep strong voice. "Nonsense!" The voice said. "She is the one. She will be my new songstress." Said the voice. As Jenna turned around she bowed very quickly and humbly. "Your majesty." She proclaimed in a surprised voice as a man: the king, stepped through a doorway on the opposite side of the room. "I'm very sorry your majesty. I just assumed that-" cut off again in mid sentence the king chimed in. "Good work. You have found her. That will be all Jenna. Your search for the new songstress is over." The king said as he dismissed the auditioner.

"What is your name?" He asked as he stepped closer to me. "I am Elizabeth, your majesty." I said as I curtsied before him. "I see." he said, looking me up and down. "Are very beautiful and so young to have such talent. You now belong to me and you will live in my palace." he said, obviously very satisfied with his decision. "Excuse me, your majesty!" My aunt said quite inappropriately. She quickly bowed once she remembered who she was shouting at. "'But she is not for sale!" She is my niece and her parents have both deceased. We are all each other has in the world. I brought her here so she can earn wages to help her poor aunt survive in the world, not to be taken as someone else's newly found property, your majesty." She said still boldly, but much less ferociously.

"I see." the king chuckled, finding my aunt amusing. Well then we must work out an agreement. How much for the child?" He asked, appealing to my aunt's desperation. "75 bars of gold!" My aunt answered quickly. As she stood up straight displaying that she lacked no confidence. "Ha!" The king laughed mockingly. "You are crazy! But you are lucky that I happen to be crazy as well. Alright! 75 bars of gold it is! Guards!" Two guards quickly rushed to the king's aid. Frightened, I turned toward Ceilest to see that she was just as frightened as I was. "Guards! See to it that this woman um..um.." "Miss Ceilest Green." My aunt said in a hesitant voice. "Ah, yes! Miss Ceilest Green. Please escort her to the hall of wealth and see to it that she does not leave this palace without the 75 bars of gold owed to her. Make sure she has something to move them properly in. They will be too heavy for her to carry." He said as he walked closer to me. "And you my dear now belong to me. Have a maid escort her to her room." He said to the guards.

One of the guards escorted Ceilest through a doorway arch in the left corner of the room. And the other guard escorted me through the doorway arch that the king entered through. That was the very last time I saw Ceilest. She didn't even say goodbye. What would have been a sad and yet bitter sweet moment for most children parting with the only family they had ever known, became the happiest, most exciting moment that I had ever experienced. I didn't have to live with Ceilest ever again. The palace was my new home. And I had truly gone from the brink of homelessness to living every little girl's dream.

Little did I know that that dream would have such consequences.