Mystic Moons

Chapter two: A way Out

The pain I felt that next morning was bad but I could already feel it subsiding. I sat up slowly and noticed that there was a note folded neatly at my feet. I picked it up and opened it slowly. I was afraid that it might be from the king. It read, " Fear is but a hindrance to a destiny called out to you. Many moons will strengthen you. Just call my name. I'm here for you." It almost sounded like the words to a poem, but then I recalled that they were words to the song Thomas sang to me. Directly under the lyrics it said " no matter how much trouble you find yourself in. Or how afraid you might feel. You are never alone, Thomas. P.S. This evening at 5 Oclock meet me behind the big tree in the garden. Exit through the dining room doors. Make a right and then another right once you pass the hill with the king's statue on it. You will see the garden directly behind the stable." I folded the note back up. I got up and decided I needed to put it somewhere safe. I didn't know why, but somehow these words would help me keep my sanity. And maybe somehow Thomas would help me get through the years to come. I pulled myself to the side of the bed. Getting up slowly I scanned my surroundings. The sun was shining brightly through my window. It had to be almost noon.

Suddenly there was a loud knock at my door, and as it burst opened I quickly put the note from Thomas behind my back. I didn't want anyone to tell the king what Thomas had done for me. Losing my only friend was just as scary a thought as being alone with the king. "My dear Miss Elizabeth! How are you feeling." It was the maid from last night who cleaned me up. I could barely see her that night. With a swollen eye and so much pain in my head. I only recognized her by her voice. She was quite pretty. She was a short thin woman, with short auburn hair and beautiful green eyes. "I'm feeling better." I said as I closely studied her. As she started to approach me she let out a small gasp. She paused and then turned around to close the door before she slowly walked closer to me. " Dear Elizabeth." She said as she stared at me; a look of disbelief in her eyes. " How can this be?" She reached out her hand and lightly brushed it across my face. I don't understand." She thought out loud. " Just last night your face was black and blue and you were barely lucid enough to answer me. But now... It's as if you never had a mark on that beautiful little face at all." She examined me from head to toe, turning my head slowly from side to side and lifting each arm as she pulled up my sleeves to check for the bruises from my crash into the kings beside table. "Nothing!" She said, astonished.

This is nothing short of a miracle my dear child! I must say that somehow you have completely healed." She put both hands over her mouth as she allowed tears to fall from her face. "Well thank goodness you're alright." She reached down and hugged me; Squeezing me tightly as I held the note with both hands behind my back. "Owe," I said as I felt the pain from being squeezed. I still had a bit of healing to do. " Oh, does it hurt?" She asked as she sat down on the bed beside me. I'm sorry. I just assumed that because your bruises were gone that the pai-, Im Fera, by the way; your maid. And if you ever need anything-"

Ferra was cut off when the door swung open suddenly. We both turned our heads to see Thomas with an astonished look on his face. Ferra quickly stood up and fluffed up my blanket. "I was just checking to see if she needed anything cleaned." She said in an audacious tone. I'll be going now," she nodded to Thomas as she exited the room.

Thomas gave her a disapproving look, and then closed the door behind her. " If King Clyde were to catch her here sitting on your bed conversing with you. He would have thought it betrayal and she would have been tried for treason. And so might I have."

" But why Thomas? Am I so terrible that it should be a crime to speak with me?" I said as I felt the sadness dress my face. " No dear Elizabeth. You are not terrible at all. You are a threat to the king's ever dwindling reputation. And I was sworn to secrecy about what happened last night. As head butler, it is my duty to make sure that no one else in the palace finds out about what happened. And that those who know do not ask questions about it. Especially not to you."

"I see." I said as I tried to fight off the melancholy feeling that seemed to be my normalcy.

"I am the only one permitted to speak to you on such terms. I convinced the king that it would be better for you to speak to me than to no one. Being that I am the only one other than the two of you that witnessed the full story. And because he needed some kind of guarantee that you would not speak of it to anyone as well. I told him not to worry and that everything is under control."

"What concerns me more though is how you are feeling. Much better I hope." Thomas said as he lightly patted my shoulder. Well, yes Thomas. But aren't you surprised? My face is fully healed. Fara was in such shock that she almost squeezed the life out of me. Why haven't you reacted the same?"

Thomas widened his eyes and twisted his lips as if he was at a loss of words. "Umm, Well you see," He said as he struggled to find the right words to say. He paused for a long moment before saying "I have a secret to tell you." "A secret?" I asked as I watched him purse his lips and put his hand over his chin. He looked suddenly stressed. Up until that moment I thought nothing could trouble him.

"Yes my dear. A secret. But you must swear never to repeat what I am about to tell you." He said in a serious voice. " I swear Thomas. I won't tell anyone ever. I promise." "Very well then. You..." He paused for such a long time that for a moment I thought he'd changed his mind about telling me. "You have a guardian angel." he said quickly as he shook his head and raised his hands to drop them in his lap. "A guardian angel?" I asked in disbelief. "Did you see her or something?" I asked. I was trying to wrap my head around the idea of having a guardian angel. "No my child." he laughed in that cheerful tone that I was relieved to hear. " Thee is not a she. I am he." He smiled and pointed to himself. "You don't look like a guardian angel" I said with a doubtful tone.

Thomas laughed again and said, "Ok, maybe I'm not a real guardian angel. But I did check on you last night. I was worried you wouldn't be able to sleep after what happened, so I brought in some more lavender oil. And when I looked at you, your face was completely healed. It was absolutely remarkable to see such a change in your condition.

"Oh. I guess you are kind of like my guardian angel." I said in an accepting tone. "I am more than just your guardian my dear. I am your friend. And not only that. I am your partner in crime." He said with a big grin on his face. We both laughed and I reached out to hug him remembering that the note he had written me was still behind my back. I gave him a light squeeze and then opened the note. " The note you left for me are the words from the song you sang to me last night. It's beautiful and very inspiring." I said. Thomas looked at me with sly eyes and said, "Hold on to that note my dear. Words like those are bound to get you through just about anything."

Yet again there was a knock at my door. "Come in." Thomas said as he stood up straight and tall.. I quickly put the note under my pillow. It was a maid with a tray in her hands. "I have madam Elizabeth's breakfast. It was ordered by the king. He wants to assure that you are filled with the best foods to prepare you for the day ahead of you." She said looking at me approvingly.

Thomas walked over to the tray and lifted the silver cover off of the platter. "Bacon, ham and Sausage links? Biscuits, toast and hotcakes? This is going a little overboard don't you think? One child cannot eat all of this." Thomas asked the maid. I could tell he was a little annoyed by the king's wastefulness. " And where is the fruit? A balance of good and healthy can not be overlooked."

"This is what the king ordered sir." The maid said, looking a bit confused at the concern Thomas showed for my diet. "Very well then." Thomas replied. "I'll speak to the King about that a bit later. In the meantime Madam Elizabeth" you eat and I will be back to escort you to your lesson. Today you will learn "The Angel Did Cry"." He gave me a wink and walked out of the door whistling. I had a feeling it was going to be an interesting day.

The maid set the food down on the bed next to me. "Eat up Miss Elizabeth. I'll be back to get your tray later " As she left and closed the door my mouth started to water. But first I had to make sure I hid the note that Thomas had given me. I grabbed it from under my pillow and folded it back up neatly. I scanned my room thoroughly and the only place I could find to put it was in my wardrobe. I opened the huge doors and looked for the perfect spot. Strangely enough there was a block of wood the size of an iron cut right out of the mahogany and resting next to the whole it came from. "I don't remember that being there." I said out loud to myself. "I must be going crazy." Lucky for me it was the perfect place to hide something. It was either luck or fate. I placed the note inside of the hole and put the mahogany back in perfectly like a piece to a puzzle. It would be safe there in my perfect hiding spot. " And that's that. Now back to this food." I said as I rushed over to my tray.

I ate everything on the tray except for the toast. I was so full and still sore. I was ready for a nap. It would definitely help me recuperate after the night I had with the king. And sure enough another knock at my door. I was starting to think that I would never be left alone to my own thoughts in this place. " Come in." I said as I wiped my mouth clean with the cloth left on my tray. "Ahh. All finished I see." Said Thomas who had obviously just finished eating himself. He had a few crumbs left on his chin. "I am Thomas. And I'm finished with my napkin as well if you'd like to borrow it." I said as I laughed out loud. He quickly went over to the mirror and sighed. "Oh my. I hope many people haven't seen me like this." He brushed the crumbs off his chin and then turned toward me with a big smile. "It is time for your lesson my dear." So we left my room and made our way to the music hall.

I was a bit nervous about my lesson. "Are there more people in the palace like you, would you say? Or are there more people here that are like the king?" I asked. "Don't you worry my dear Elizabeth. There is only one other man in this palace as vile as the king. And that is his younger brother Mortimus."

"Together King Clyde and Mortimus killed their very own father in order to inherit the kingdom before their time. It was never proven, but they were the last to be seen with King Clyde the ll before he died. They threw a private feast. Just the three of them. The two brothers said it was in honor of the king being such a fair and humble ruler and for raising two sons that will live up to his name and reputation. But before the feast was over he died right there in the banquet room with the food still freshly untouched on the table. They had only toasted and drank wine to start off the celebration. The Doctor was unable to rule his death a murder, becauae the wine glasses they toasted with were removed and discarded by a maid. She was later fired and thrown in prison for tampering with the scene of a crime by King Clyde the Third himself. Although she claimed he had told her to remove it. He was now the king and it was his word against hers. She is still in prison to this day.

King Clyde and his brother Mortimus have full access to the riches of the kingdom. They have spared no expense when it comes to their wants and needs. And one is just as wicked and hot headed as the other." The only good thing is that Mortimus and his wife Cyphrica are often away from the kingdom. The two brothers do not get along, which is to our advantage. The palace is a lot more peaceful when Mortimus is away."

" How terrible! I said, while walking quickly to keep up with Thomas and his long legs. I hope I never have to see him." Thomas looked at me and said, "I wish I could grant you that wish my dear, but I'm afraid he and his wife have just returned from Ginland. You will see him tonight at dinner."

We stopped in front of a large set of doors and from the outside I could hear the sounds of a beautiful orchestra playing. As Thomas opened the doors the sounds of the instruments took over me as they filled the corridor. There was every kind of instrument I could think of. There were brass instruments, woodwinds, strings, even percussion instruments. The display was just as beautiful as the sound. " They sound so wonderful!" I said, full of excitement. "They are playing for you." Said Thomas as he grinned at me and walked to the front of the large wood dressed room. "This is Madam Elizabeth, your new songstress. You will teach her the lyrics and then accompany her after she has learned them. I have faith that you will make much progress." He said. "You aren't staying?" I asked. "I have much to do but I will see you later. Don't forget what you have planned at 5 Oclock "He said as he winked at me and exited the room." I spent the next five hours learning, The Angel Did Cry, for the king. It really was a beautiful song. And I enjoyed learning it. I hoped with all of my heart that the king would be pleased and allow me a peaceful night alone in my room. As soon as my lesson was over at 5 oclock I raced out of the room. I was so eager to see what Thomas had in store for me. I rushed to the dining room and flew out the large glass doors beside the dining room table. I ran past the hill with the statue of the king on it and right past the stable with the horses in it. I could see the garden hiding in plain sight. Who would put a garden so far away from the action. It should be somewhere out in the open where people can enjoy it. I slowed down as I reached the garden and there in the middle was the giant tree that I was supposed to meet Thomas. As I got closer I didn't see anyone in sight. I walked up to the tree circling it as large as it was and saw nothing. Thomas was nowhere in sight. Then all of a sudden I heard something. "Psst. Psstt.! I looked around but couldn't find anyone. Suddenly the bark on the tree started to part. It opened as if someone had carved a door right into it. "Come inside." Someone whispered. I looked into the large opening in the tree and saw nothing but darkness. I stepped inside anyway. The bark door closed behind me.

"Hello?" I said as I looked around at the total darkness. All of a sudden. I saw a beautiful blue light. It was the tree. All around me were beautiful blue moon shaped carvings. They were in different shapes and sizes. And they were glowing a beautiful deep ocean blue. It almost seemed as if it were shapes of the different phases of the moon. From top to bottom the inside of the tree was covered with them. And in what seemed to be the center was a giant carving of a full moon that was separated into four sections by a triangle with an Infinity sign inside of it. There were parallel lines connecting it, one to the top of the triangle and one to the bottom. Around the outside of the massive moon carving were smaller moon carvings. Again of the different phases. But they seemed to be organized as if they were laid out in some kind of chart. And they all seemed to fit together, maybe not like a puzzle; more like a riddle.

As I slowly turned I was startled when I saw a person was standing directly behind me. "Thomas?", I whispered. Hello dear Elizabeth. I'm glad you made it. Do you like it?" He asked, holding his arm out towards the moon tree masterpiece. "It's amazing." I said in awe. "Something this beautiful should be out in the open for the whole kingdom to see."

"Thank you, " he said. I call it the kingdom's best kept secret." He said with a satisfied look. "This is the perfect place to meet in secret. I see why you brought us here. Did you do all of this yourself?" I asked still staring at the blue moons everywhere

"Yes. It took me two years to finish it. And now I come here everyday to meditate and heal. It's a great place to clear my mind; a place where I know I am safe. That's why I chose this place. No one knows it exists." Thomas said as he raised his arms and dropped them back at his side.

" I want to tell you something that will help you get through the pain this new life is going to cause you." He said getting right to the point of our secret meeting. "When I was a young boy my father taught me something. He said whenever you are in pain or even having a rough day, you should think of the moon. He said that whenever my mother was having a rough day she would think of the moon and that it helped take her pain away. He said she did it often. Sometimes she would just sit by the window at night and call to the moon. Even just thinking about it would help her. At first I thought it was foolish. Who would ever think that asking the moon for help was a good idea." Thomas laughed. "But then one day I decided to try it. I fell down the stairs as I was racing to the dining room one day. I was late. My father was supposed to be teaching me the order of each meal. I was in so much pain that day, I thought I had nothing to lose if I called on the moon. So that evening in my room I just sat on my bed and thought of the moon. I was no older than you. All I could think to do was say moon over and over again. I felt so silly doing it. But when I had finished, somehow my pain was gone. I later learned the song I sang to you. My father said that my mother would sing it when she was having a particularly rough day in the palace. And when she had finished the whole song. It was as if she had just woken up to the start of a brand new day.

You don't have to sing the song if you don't want to." He smiled. But you should definitely give it a try. The next time you are suffering at the hands of the king, think of the moon. If it helped my mother and I, I know it will help you too"

I stood there for a moment trying to process all that Thomas had just told me. " I don't understand how thoughts of the moon will heal my pain, but if you say it works then I will give it a try." I said as I was trying to work through my confusion. " Think of it as a way out. Almost like an escape from the pain that life can bring. Just like this place. And I want you to come here as often as you need to Elizabeth. Whenever you find yourself in trouble just come to the tree. No one will find you here." Said Thomas as he patted my shoulder. "Alright. I will." I agreed.

"We had better get you back to the palace so you can freshen up before you sing for the dinner guests tonight." "Mortimus and his wife " I replied. Just saying his name sent chills through my body. "Alright then. You first." Thomas said as he stuck his head out of the tree trunk door. "I'll follow after you to make sure no one saw us." As Thomas moved aside I slowly walked out of the tree; looking around to make sure I wasn't seen. As soon as I saw that it was clear to go, I ran as fast as I could all the way back to the dining room entrance. I stopped for a moment to peek inside the glass doors. There was a maid setting the dining room table. She was standing at the perfect angle with her back facing me. I knew there would be no chance she would see me sneak through the doors. I quietly opened one of the doors and crept past her being sure not to make even the slightest sound. As soon as I turned the corner to the dining room stairs I ran up the stairs as quietly as a mouse skipping steps as I went.

I was about to turn the last corner before I reached my room, I let out a large exhale. " I made it." I thought to myself. As I turned the corner I was taken back as I saw the king closing my door and turning towards me. My heart raced. Was it too late to turn around? Before I could think anymore I quickly turned back around the corner and opened the first door I saw dashed in and closed the door behind me. It was the maid's chambers. And it was empty thank goodness. I stood facing the door as I tried to catch my breath. Was I too late? Has he seen me? All I could do was worry. I opened the door a crack just in time to see the back of the king's robe as he made a right turn around the corner in the corridor. I let out a loud sigh of relief and poked my head out the door. He didn't see me. I was safe. Just then I heard voices coming in my direction. It was two maids on their daily cleaning routine. I quickly put my head back in the door leaving it slightly opened. "Well I think Mortimus is handsome." Said a tall thin maid as she swirled her duster in the air in a seductive manner flipping her long dark ponytail around. "He should stay at the palace more often." "Handsome or not, the man is still a devil. I don't know who's worse, him or his brother." Said the other maid, obviously appalled at what her coworker had said. She was stuby with short blond hair and a wide nose. "Either way." The other maid chimed in. "I feel sorry for the poor songstress. She's so young." "I agree. The youngest one yet." Said the blond haired maid. "I just pray she doesn't end up like the last two songstresses" Said the dark haired maid as they reached the end of the corridor and went down the stairs.

A strong fear came over me. One that I couldn't control. I felt my stomach start to turn as I clenched my teeth. What could those maids have been talking about? What happened to the last two songstresses? Was the king's rage so uncontrollable that his beatings would be the end of me? I had to get back to my room. I was feeling so woozy I didn't think I could stand much longer. I poked my head out the door once more to make sure the coast was clear. No one. I raced back to my room and slammed the door behind me. I leaned my back up against the door and slid down as my fears started to over take me. What was next I could only imagine.