Stories From Terra

Little Alstroemeria and the Box.

The prince accepted the small blue box with gold filigree from the young man. Then, he walked in the direction of the gardens, where little Alstroemeria grew her beautiful flowers. He was overcome by the sheer volume of flowers and their overpowering perfume when he arrived. Little Alstroemeria greeted him with a bouquet of beautiful flowers, none of which he could properly name. She curtsied and gave him the flowers, which smelled devine, even among the surroundings of a thousand other blooms. The prince held up the small blue box with golden filigree, "This box was made by a fae, if a person can open it before the following sunrise they will receive great luck and fortune." He pressed it into her hands.

She put it back in his, saying only, "I have all the luck I need, here in my small corner of paradise. You should open it."

The prince shook his head, "Already, many sunrises have passed with this box in my possession."

Still, Alstroemeria shook her head, "Give it to another, there are surely others with more need for it than me."

The prince was exceedingly surprised, "Only one can open it. I have already asked three others. They all failed. Would you at the very least try?"

Alstroemeria finally took the box, the prince had scarcely turned around when Alstroemeria called out, "I have it open."

The prince heard the gentle strains of music and turned around, surprised. "You opened it?"

Alstroemeria held up the small blue box with gold filigree, which was open. "It's not actually fae-made, is it?"

The prince bowed to Alstroemeria, "No, your ladyship. Though it does bring good fortune upon whoever can open it."

The young woman looked surprised, "I'm afraid you have mistaken me for someone else."

"Tell me, how did you open it?" Asked the prince

"I only pulled the latch, it wasn't locked at all!"

"Then you are the new lady of Alcea, by fate." They both looked up when the young thief strode into the clearing.

"The other three are chasing me, it seems they have found that it was I who took the box."

Alstroemeria closed the box softly, cutting off the beautiful sound, "The others were given the same chances as I?"

"I came in an hour after the prince left each time," said the young man, emerging from the bushes. Now, Alstroemeria was not as intelligent as her older sister, Crocus, or as beautiful as Lilium, or possessing an angel's voice, like Magnoliaceae. Little Alstroemeria, as the villagers had dubbed her, was a mix of her older sisters. She was pretty enough, with her bright blue eyes and hazel colored hair. Her voice was soft and sweet. She was also very good at puzzles, and so, when the young man referenced the prince, Alstroemeria instantly made the connection and turned to the man dressed as a minstrel; she curtsied her deepest curtsy. "Your highness!"

It would happen later, that the prince pardoned the young lad who had helped him. The people of the village were quite ready to believe whatever he said, after it was revealed that he was currently the most powerful man in the kingdom. And not too long after that Alstroemeria traveled with the prince to the castle, where she agreed to become the Lady of Alcia. She took only her aunt with her, leaving behind her indignant sisters. At first, she had intended to take them with her, but they had bitterly refused. She came to know the young thief and they became great friends. And while it was a great long time before Alstroemeria had four daughters, none of whom she named her heir, it did happen. And, three days before her timely death, she sent the prince- not the one she had met as a young girl, but his son- to find a girl in a village, right after she spilt her morning milk up one of her map's streams, where it pooled at the small village of Viniquintos. Right before the young prince left, the new high bishop whispered in the young man's ear, "All three of her ladyship's name's are flowers." And it was a good long time before the young prince arrived at Vinquintos, and when he did, he was shown to four sisters, all of whom's names were flowers.

The End.

A.N

Ok folkz, my next post will probably be part of Stratagem. But right after I do that, I'm going to start posting From the Sun to The Stars I'm so excited!! Thank you for reading this, even though you guys don't comment. Did you like the ending on this? I'm particularly proud of my ending on this one. Another thing, all of the pictures in this were done by me on Canva. So, all of the people were designed by someone who works with Canva. No folkz, I cannot draw. Except for simple things, and sometimes, people. But not like that. Comment and vote if you liked it!!

                                                                                                 Adamae, out!