Signs in the Stars

Five

The young woman strode up towards the castle with the air of someone on a mission. Light fabric swirled around her legs and arms elegantly, but it was clear from the simple shoes on her feet that she wasn't royalty. "Halt," she stopped in her tracks as a couple of guards blocked her way with their swords, "what business do you have?"

"Business within the castle," her orange eyes furrowed in annoyance as she pulled out a letter from the leather satchel resting on her hip. The guard took the paper from her and nodded when he recognized the seal and the familiar signature.

"Very well," the armored man agreed and returned the letter to her, "follow me." She quickly stuffed the letter in her satchel and followed the man who turned around and walked towards the castle.

Emer's orange eyes darted around as she eagerly took in her surroundings. Inside the tall wall that surrounded the castle were large expanses of bright green grass. Dirt pathways crisscrossed the areas and in the empty spaces benches, magnificently carved white statues, and carefully trimmed shrubs lined the area.

They approached the grand castle and two more guards were at their post in front of the door. As they saw the approaching guard and his companion, they opened the doors and allowed them to enter. The outside hardly gave any indication of how elaborate and pristine the inside of the castle was. The white walls were polished to the point of shining and adorning them were amazing portraits and other elegant memorabilia. Underfoot, the plush carpet was spotless, and the air had a clean, fresh scent to it as if it were the purest air in the area.

The young woman kept her eyes open as she took everything in, keeping the path that she took carefully noted in her brain. In the case of an emergency, she had to know how to get out. Granted, the large, crystal clear windows letting in warm sunlight would serve as another exit, should the need to run out of them arise.

The two stopped in front of a large set of double doors with a couple more guards stationed in front of them, "is his majesty inside?" the guard who was leading the young woman questioned.

One of the guards nodded but she could see him looking down at her, no doubt judging her. She crossed her arms across her chest and merely stared defiantly back. "Who is she?"

"She is the healer his majesty sent for," was the response given by the guard.

There was another nod and the guard spun around and knocked on the door before opening the door, "your highness," he announced when the doors were open wide enough to reveal the young woman to the king, "the healer you sent for." The first guard Emer was following strode confidently into the room and she quickly followed with shorter, brisk steps of her own.

When they were close to the throne, the guard bowed and Emer curtsied right after. She looked up to see the King with his head resting on his hand and a calm look on his face as he gazed down at her. Orange met blue and recognition sparked, "Rowan!" she couldn't help the gasp that escaped her lips.

One of the attendants sneered down at the girl, "what nonsense are you spouting little girl? There is no Rowan here."

The girl was curt in her response but an angry fire was still visible in her eyes, "my apologies sir."

The King gazed down at her from his relaxed position on the throne, his chin was resting lightly on the top of his hand as he asked, "you are the healer?"

"That I am, your majesty," she gave a curtsy with her head bowed, but that was only to hide the furious blinking to keep the tears out. It was foolish of her to think that her childhood friend was still alive, let alone be the King. This was all just a coincidence and she had revealed too much of herself with that one word.