The Whispering Flowers

The Unwanted Toad

I wake one morning to the sound of an ear-piercing scream. Jumping to my feet, I pull the dark blue silk bedding away from me unwillingly. I slip my cashmere robe on and rush out the door into the dark corridors, passing numerous servants while chasing the repeating screams. The sun has just started to rise and light begun to ripple through the windows as I run through the castle hallways. So distracted by the sounds, I run straight into my older sister Dahlia. Her dark silky hair, unbrushed and messy, hid her tired face, and her flowy nightgown trips the both of us. My sister stands up embarrassed, catches her breath, and asks me, "Where is that awful noise coming from?!" Still shaken up from our collision, I respond slowly, "I wouldn't know! I'm trying to find it myself." We both pause for a minute to calculate where the screams may be coming from.

I pull my sister's slender arm with me towards the large balcony facing the extensive garden on the castle grounds. Throwing the glass door open, I run onto the landing. There, running through our small hedge maze is my youngest sister, Primrose, chasing my brother Alexander who is just a year younger, with a large orange toad. "STOP! STOP IT!" Alexander cries while being pushed into a corner. "It just wants a friend!" says Primrose devilishly. "I DON'T WANT TO BE FRIENDS!" screams Alexander. "Will you two be quiet?" I shout down to both of them. Primrose frowns at me and tosses the toad aside. "I'm just having fun," she exclaims while crossing her arms, "Anyways...... when's breakfast?" I laugh lightly and quickly respond, "It's not even 7 yet." Primrose groans a little and starts to walk inside with Alexander trailing cautiously behind.

I look at Dahlia and roll my eyes. She walks off back to her chambers sluggishly while I walk down the stairs to meet Primrose and Alexander at the door. I greet them in disgust at how dirty their nightgowns had become during their chase. The rain from the previous night caused them to trail in an enormous amount of mud. Primrose's blond hair covered her face, it was just long enough that it hid her embarrassment. Before I could scold them, four maids scurry in, two getting on their knees to clean the floors and two take the mischievous children to the washroom. I turn around swiftly to find my father, King Arnold Cuthbert, shocked at the enormous mess they had caused just stepping inside. He takes a deep breath and turns back towards his chambers to tired and in shock to say anything.

I return to my bedroom to find all my clothes in a stack ready to wear. The maids help me get dressed in the obnoxious outfit that was chosen for me today. The dress is a sickly green, with long, itchy sleeves and a large behind. My least favorite part is the hideous corset, large cords lace me up to the point I could hardly breathe. The thought of getting dressed up so fancy just for breakfast confused me to the point I blurt out, "Why do I have to wear all this rubbish?" The maid who is tightening my corset was shocked by what I had said but proceeds to answer my question. "Well your majesty, today a prince from the kingdom of Primpit has come to ask for your sister's hand in marriage," she says simply. I respond indifferently, "Dahlia! But she has only just turned 19!" The maid snaps back, "She needs to wed now or she might never." I scoff back with a slight tone of anger and the maid lets go of the laces on my corset. "Oh, I am deeply sorry, your majesty, it was not my place."

The maid finishes arranging my gown and hair and I quickly slip on my simple flats. I rush out of the room towards the dining hall and fix my long, curly, hazelnut hair just to my liking. I enter the hall decorated lavishly and take my seat between two of my sisters, Magnolia and Rosemary.

Note:

Thank you so much for reading chapter one! I know it is short but we plan to have lots. We will try to post every other day for now but things might get harder when school starts up again. We would love to hear what you guys have to say and be ready for chapter two!

- S and S