THE FARAWAY LANDS OF OZ - Book One

Part Seven, Chapter Thirty-Eight: Sapphira

GLINDA

I had really wanted to take a nap. Even thirty minutes would have been totally enough! But no, things never seemed to stop happening around here. I was slowly getting sick of it. And I very much wondered how my fellow Lords and Ladies were not annoyed by now. This was what? The fifth? If not even more-th meeting. They did not look like they were annoyed anyway. I for sure felt that way!
Today's topic was Sapphira. I had not hesitated even the slightest bit, told her to take a seat – she headed directly for the purple one – and then sent out fire messages to anyone I knew was here and would be able to offer a promising idea on this new dilemma.
The council room was very crowded now to say the least. Me and my family, each Lord and Lady with their advisor – except for Katina of course – and finally Sapphira. She began telling everyone present, almost exactly what she had told me. We had given her a cup of tea and a warm blanket for her gather her strength. I caught myself looking over to her yearning for a cup and a blanket myself.
She told us what she had told me earlier: how the purple mist had trapped her among her friends and each of the three respective counties. Yet the details she offered about how she got trapped were the things that distracted me from my longing and woke me up again.
She told us what she had told me earlier: how she was trapped behind the purple mist among her friends and each of the three respective counties. Yet the details she offered about how she got trapped were the things that distracted me from my longing and woke me up again.
"My name is Sapphira. I'm from a place called Purple Cairn. I was trapped there, sixty years ago." As she recounted her story, all the faces in the room were focused on her. It was a mix of curiosity and being careful who we have standing before us.
"It is one of the three counties in Oz that I doubt anyone of you knows. There is also the Orange Peak and the Crimson Plains. Those sixty years ago, King Basil and I were here in Oz, trying to fight something called the Seven Deadly Sins."
Before I could even say anything, it was Theodora who cut into her words. A glance towards mother told me that at the very least, Sapphira was not lying.
"How come father never mentions you in his journals? We have dealt with the Sins; we know the truth!" I could always trust my youngest sister to act before thinking. She was always the one to ask the right questions though. Sapphira only chuckled.
"I was going there, don't worry: the truth was too big to be revealed. A secret kept from view for anyone. Powerful magic. Powerful magic indeed. It is not that...well...let's just say, you're missing a few pieces of your memories that you need to get back in order to know what I'm talking about."
She looked at me and I nodded. I believed her. But I still had questions of my own. Yet she continued talking and I decided to wait.
"And responsible for any of this is yet another being called the Morningstar. You will not believe me when I say that this is nothing from this world. Nobody can match his power. He managed to control the Seven Deadly Sins. He managed to let an entire realm forget about the existence of three of their counties. And he erased them from written word-"
"The Whispmother here mentioned a woman taking out two Sovereign and a very dear friend. How can we trust that you are not one and the same?" Once again, Theodora cut in.
She gave out a big sigh, "I know I am not to be trusted. But how can I prove to you that I mean no harm? The Morningstar and his family - son and second wife - are responsible for all my sorrow. And by the sound of it, yours too"
And suddenly, Sapphira started to cry. I could tell that she was trying desperately to hold back those tears, but it was good that she let them free. Theodora and I were the first to approach her and tried to comfort her as best we could.
"And... I have a favor to ask of you," She muttered through her sobs. I nodded. "As I already told you, I cannot possibly express my gratitude. I want to invite you. To celebrate Oz and that all is going right again. We have earned ourselves a break. And after that, we shall try to find and defeat the Morningstar for good. What do you say?"
I looked at my sisters. They seemed hesitant, and I knew why. We all needed a fresh start, and it may lie with her. Mother was still confirming that Sapphira was telling the truth.
"We shall come with you," I said, ".and we will try to enjoy a feast. Even if it's only for a little while."
The faces around me lacked the joy that should have come with the invitation to a celebration like this. There was only worry and sadness as far as I could tell. Sapphira turned to me.
"Besides, it's the end of the year." She pointed at a calendar hanging on the opposite wall. "Christmas is coming up and we might as well use the opportunity to distract ourselves from everything any of us had been going through. Whatever that may be."
As much as I did not want to admit it, Sapphira was right. We indeed deserved some time off.
"So, we should just spend it with you?" Theodora asked, "I'm sorry, Sapphira, but we do not know much of you. Not to mention to have to go to an entirely strange place with a stranger."
She nodded. "I know, but I wager you that you will find me different from how I may currently appear to you. Basil would have been able to tell you if he still had his memories. Talking of him: Where have you left the old man?"
I exchanged a quick glance with my family. Everybody else present tensed up when she brought up father. I had to swallow. "He died earlier this year. Killed by the Dark Witch."
Sapphira's expression dropped to the ground. Instinctively, mother and I met eyes. Her outward feelings were truthful to the pain she now felt within her.
"I'm sorry," She muttered, "for your loss. Should I take you somewhere else, somewhere more relaxed, to have some peace of mind? I can lead you around the Crimson Plains. The Orange Peak? Back in the day it was a very highly visited place."
I shook my head. We needed to stay here for now, in case something else happened. You never knew nowadays. I mean I was supposed to be teaching, then looking for a way to find Ev and now sleeping so there's that.
"No, that is alright. We will take you up on your invitation, that's enough for now. We will await your message."
Sapphira grinned. The familiar ear-to-ear smile immediately replaced the sincerity on her face. "That is good. I'm sure you will like what you will find. I have quite the things in mind." And with that, she gave us another faint smile, "Now, if you don't mind, I'll begin planning the feast..."
She then looked at mother. "He lives on in your daughters. Cherish them and you cherish him. I have lost a lot of people to the Morningstar too. Your love for each other is admirable."
Mother was a very sentimental person, and I could already see her eyes glisten from this stranger's – although kind – words.
"Well, it seems that our meeting has come to a conclusion. We'll see all of each other at the Christmas feast again." With that, I closed the meeting. It was finally time to catch up on my sleep. How I could not wait to cuddle myself into my blanket and bury my head into the softness of my pillow.