Some of you may remember that I posted the first chapter of this last year, I think, but this is the new and improved version! I'm almost done with chapter two so it should be up soon.
I thank you for your help in advance!
Chapter One
Crowns and Frowns
“The Crystal shall hold his Soul forever. A due punishment, my child!”
Excruciating pain filled her body as Ellima heard these words. She called out, screaming as the walls closed around her. She saw the cruel face of the dark sorcerer, forever laughing, as she was pushed into the darkness--
“Miss Ellima, Miss Ellima, wake up!” whispered a soft voice.
“Oh.” Ellima groaned, wiping her sweaty forehead.
She slowly opened her eyes and saw the familiar face of an old lady, adjusting her thick spectacles. It was her maid, Josephine, who had cared for her since birth.
“Here you go, love.” said Josephine, handing Ellima a cloth. ”Did ya’ave another one of those dreams, your majesty? Heard you calling out, I did.”
“Was I? Oh… I’m sorry.”
“Think nothing of it, my dear. Would ya’ like me to fetch some fresh orange juice? Or perhaps I should call your mother?”
“No, I’m fine. But thank you anyway, I do appreciate it.”
“O‘ course, miss. But I‘ll get ya‘ that juice anyway.” called Josephine with a smile. “And remember, its your sister’s crowning today, love…”
Ellima returned the smile and watched as Josephince scuttled off, her shoes clacking on the marble floor.
She crawled out of her bed and raked her hands through her hair. She hated those dreams. Each night she would hear the same scream, same words, again and again. She had often pondered over the dream’s meaning, even consulted a book of dream interpretation from the library. But the book told her nothing about dark sorcery or souls. It only contained meanings for the most prissy kind of dreams, such as weddings and walking in the garden. But then again, dark magic wasn’t the sort of thing that princesses should be dreaming of.
‘Sugar plums and pretty flowers’ as her mother would say, ‘are the only things that should cross a young lady’s mind.’ Her mother was always going on about etiquette and the ‘proper’ thing to do in any situation. Ivy, her sister, always scored top marks on etiquette. And every other subject that she was tested in. Ellima however, didn’t know her curtseys from her embroidered curtains. And she wasn’t too bothered about the difference either, which aggravated her professors. She and her sister would be taken to the prestigious university of Queen Aimia twice a week to take lessons from royal advisors, professors of etiquette and dancers. In other words, Ellima fell asleep on her desk every Monday and Thursday. Ivy loved their trips as she found more chances to show off and discredit her sister. Ellima, however, would rather have had her toenails pulled off than sit through a lesson with Ivy.
Now Ivy had finished her advanced princess course, she was to be presented with an elegant crown and given a full royal title. Ellima was classed as an underachiever because she simply would not learn embroidery or dancing. She had more important things on her mind. Why did she have such horrid dreams, such nightmares? Why was her country in such a terrible state? Her world was definitely not a safe place. Poverty and sickness ruled in many places but her parents did nothing. How could she let people die or the servants be treated so horribly? She couldn‘t fix all that by herself or look after every sick child, could she? However, there was someone she looked after…
Ellima found her dressing gown, slipped it on and slowly crept out of her room. Remembering that Josephine had gone to fetch her a drink, she tiptoed back into her room and placed a small shell from her dressing table drawer onto her bed, a message that she had left her quarters, but would be back soon. Her and Josephine had their own silent system for these matters, so that Ellima could sneak out of the palace occasionally, without her mother knowing.
The halls were, thankfully, empty, so she ran across the floor. Ellima vaulted down the main staircase, dashed past the servants quarters and burst out of the main doors. Checking there was no one about, she slunk around the outside walls towards the main gardens. Ellima walked past the main entrance and ducked underneath the branches of the willow tree. She carried on, past the exotic plants, vegetable patches and well stocked ponds until she reached the very end of the royal gardens. This was her favourite place. The very edge of the palace grounds, where nobody ever came.
A very tall wall had been built the entire way round the palace gardens for privacy but the back gardens had been neglected for a long time. Thick vines of ivy had grown all over the walls and the tops of un-pruned tree’s peeked out over the wall. She quickly took out a small iron key and tapped along the bottom of the wall under the ivy until she found the hollow spot. Feeling for the doorknob, she slotted the key into the keyhole. With a creak, the door swung open, revealing the garden within. Ellima smiled as she saw the familiar trees and the enormous aviary. She closed the door firmly behind her and ran joyfully over to the aviary.
“Ario! Ario!”
A tiny robin hopped over to her and chirped through the cage.
“I expect you’d like to come out eh, Ario?”
The robin chirped noisily back in agreement.
Ellima smiled and opened the latch.
Ario flew out at once and landed on Ellima’s shoulder. She took a handful of seed from her pocket and placed it on a branch.
“Don’t go too far. Someone might see you!”
Ario took no notice and pecked happily at the seeds, jumping around excitedly.
“Go on then, but don’t leave the garden!”
Ario seemed to understand, as he flew higher up the tree and all around the garden. Ellima sighed. She hated to lock him up in that horrible cage, but it was the only way to keep him safe. Left out in the garden, he could be found by the guards or eaten by creatures from the enchanted forests. At least in the cage he was out of harm’s way.
“Ario! Come here for a minute.”
He chirped and flew back down onto her shoulder, almost looking puzzled.
“I’ve got a treat for you.” whispered Ellima, taking out a pouch from her pocket.
“I know you’ve been getting bored of seeds so… Here.”
She held out a handful of honey-coated moonbeams. They were shaped like icicles and shone faintly in her hand. Ario ate them quickly and then nuzzled into Ellima’s hand. She stroked his little head, smiling to herself. Ellima knew he would love them. Most animals did, but for some reason, they were poisonous to fairies. Ironically enough, fairies were the only creatures able to collect moon beams, so whatever they caught, they sold on to humans.
“Still hungry?”
Ario looked into her eyes knowingly.
“No?”
Ario had gone quiet. He flew off her shoulder and began cheeping softly.
“What is it?”
Suddenly, there was a loud piercing caw. A huge black raven soared past Ellima and rammed into Ario. It turned sharply and flew at Ellima. She ducked and grabbed a thick branch off the ground. The raven circled the tree and then flew at her. With one swing, Ellima knocked the raven out of the air. It landed with a thump on the floor.
“Ario… Ario!?”
She bent down and scooped him up. He lay completely still. Ellima bit her lip and put her ear to his chest. A faint heartbeat murmured. She held him to her chest and dashed quickly over to where the raven had landed. It was certainly dead. She hadn’t meant to kill it, but it had attacked her after all. Ellima went to pick it up but as soon as her skin touched its feathers, a hissing noise came from it. The raven was burning. Thin wisps of smoke came from its beak and suddenly it completely disintegrated. All that was left was one small black feather. Ellima gasped and quickly pocketed the feather.
What on earth was going on?, she thought to herself, dashing out of the garden. She didn’t think it was a good idea to stick around, not if ravens were going to burn from her touch.
Ellima ran past the back of the palace with Ario clutched to her chest, edged around the front entrance and sidled back into her room. It was messy as usual, books strewn over the floor, cupboards bulging with paper, boxes and more books in an attempt to keep it tidy. She saw the glass of orange juice sitting on a silver tray on her bed and noticed the small white cloth underneath the glass. That was the signal that Josephine had been called away and could not prevent her mother or sister from barging in on her.
That was the last thing she needed.
Ellima quietly closed the door and turned the key in the lock. Ario chirped wearily from her chest. He was still alive! Ellima smiled and took him over to her dressing table.Her dressing table was littered with quills, parchment and an array of magical objects, ranging from self playing sheet music to a floating paperweight. She sighed and pushed the items to one side, so Ario had a empty place to lie down. He lay silently for a few seconds. Suddenly, Ario chirped and flapped his tiny wings.
“What’s wrong?”
He didn’t reply. Ellima sighed and turned to rummage in the drawer below her. Where was silly thing? She carried on searching through the junk.
“Aha!”
Ellima grinned at the purple vial and the shining liquid inside. Dragonflyjuice. The strongest tonic in nature. Ellima always kept some handy, just in case.
She turned back to Ario, relief slowly washing over her. Ario chirped loudly.
“Ellima!” called Ivy, knocking at the door “What’s that noise?”
“Oh, go away.” she held Ario gently. “Go away, I’m busy!”
“You’re up to something. Let me in! Was that a bird call I heard?”
Ellima ignored her and took Ario over to the window. “Come on.” she whispered. “You’ll be fine… Stay still. Hold on. Just swallow this.”
Ivy banged on the door again.
“Tell me, or I’ll get mother!”
“Please, just leave me alone. I’m busy.”
“Hurry up then! I need you to see something. Daddy got me something wonderful.”
“Ivy. I don’t care, go bother one of your maids.” she shouted, cradling the bird in her arms.
“You’re ignoring me! Queen’s don’t get ignored and I’m going to be queen soon. Now open up!” Ivy wailed and whined, banging on the door. “You think you’re so great just because you can play a little piano! Well, princes have queued up just or a small glimpse of me! But they don‘t want to see a plain girl like you.”
Ellima shook her head and tried to stop herself from running outside and screaming at Ivy. Why was she being like this? Arguing and screaming for something so trivial…
“Yes, yes, you’re the prettiest girl in the world, we all know that. Now can you leave me alone, please?”
“No! Why are you being so secretive. I’m calling mother now, on the glass crown! I know you‘re doing something naughty in there.”
“Wait! I’m just getting dressed. Don’t call mother!”
“You’re lying! And to your own sister. I’m calling Mother!”
Ellima gasped and felt the little glass locket hanging around her neck vibrate.
Her mother would be here in seconds, thanks to the enchantment cast on the necklaces.There was small bang outside and purple smoke billowed under the door into Ellima’s room.
“Ellima? What’s going on in there?” called a voice. It was her mother, Leilanai.
“Nothing. I’m just feeling a little tired. “ she lied, holding the little bird close to her chest. How was she going to hide Ario?
“Don’t lie to me, Madam. You’ve got something in there!”
Ellima rolled her eyes and carefully replaced the silver lid back onto the vial. Ario immediately perked up and tweeted loudly.
“You have three seconds to open this door. Don’t make me use a charm!”
She pulled her small window open and let Ario hop onto the sill. She shooed him outside and waved as he flew back into the air. Thank goodness he had survived.
“Three, two, one!” BOOM! The door leapt off its hinges and fell onto the floor with a crash. Her mother, Leilanai stood in the doorway with Ivy. The queen held her wand gracefully, frowning slightly as she placed it back into her pocket. Ellima felt it was extremely unfair that she was allowed to use magic and Ellima wasn’t even allowed to make a wand.
“What's the emergency, Ivy. Could you have been mistaken? I made the glass crown for emergencies only, not to tell tales on one another.”
“NO, MOTHER! I mean- no mother, I heard something, something strange.” Ivy stomped her tiny feet. “I heard something in here.”
Ellima bit her lip again.
“I think you’re hearing things, must be the stress of your coronation.”
Leilanai nodded calmly, sticking her nose into the air.
“Hmm… I suppose we must prepare for the coronation. Ivy, go and have breakfast. Ellima, get your gown on. Time is of the essence.”
Leilanai said her farewells and left, taking Ivy with her.
Ellima felt sick. Sick with her annoying sister. Ever since Ellima was born, it was all ‘Ivy it so great, look at her, who cares about Ellima!’ Ivy had ruined everything. At Ellima’s first birthday party, Ivy had ‘accidentally’ tipped over her handcrafted birthday cake and trampled all over, it until it was reduced to a blue, squishy lump. She had poisoned Ellima’s best friend against her and tampered with her school project so it fell to pieces when she had presented it to her Professor of Alternative Magic. Ellima had always hated her perfect sister but she had no idea of how to stop her being so conceited. As she stared into her mirror, she had a sudden thought. What would give Ivy a scare? What would get her into a mound of trouble?
“She loves getting attention and showing off…” thought Ellima “So maybe if I can embarrass her on stage…. There must be some way I can make her slip up.”
(Continues with part two)
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