A Queen's Touch & Some Glitter

Chapter 9 - نوواں باب

نوواں باب - Chapter 9
THE PRINCESS PREPARES & THE KING MAKES ARRANGEMENTS

THE PALE YELLOW THAT DROWNED THE HORIZON IN ITSELF MANIFESTED HER FEELINGS INTO A PHYSICAL REALM. Lyana could see the streaks of amber on the horizon, the bubbling orange ball of fire that threatened to set everything in it's path to it's lover ablaze, the warmth that burnt gently on the hearth of the large kitchens of heaven cradled them softly. The parakeets and pigeons that fluttered into their tiny homes at night, were filling the ample branches of the tree just outside her window. Serenading as she worked on the task at hand.

Their beaks pecked her window sill, guzzling the rice grains and gulping the water place there every few hours. The winter laziness had crawled itself deep under the feathers of these birds, their eyes barely opened as they nuzzled into the palm of her hand, seeking her warmth while she drunk up their faith. Creatures so tiny, so simple minded and yet firmer than her by a million leagues. Their feet planted so sturdy that the strong, chilly winds that rushed from Siberia did little to phase them - if only she could have that faith.

Pinching her lip under her teeth, she closed the curtain of her eyes. One of the senses removed, other immediately sharpened. The crackling sound of the fire place, the softest sounds of her breath, the cold touch of the bricks and piercing pain of the bird's beaks. She could feel the wind in her loosely tied hair, the warmth from the sun warming up her skin. The skin shawl that drowned her frame in itself belonged to her fiancé, passed to her last night when it got too cold to bear. Muskiness of his scent engulfed her, pushing her ears to a tender redness and her heart racing faster than ever under the pretense of extreme cold.

Softly she opened her eyes, staring back at the life in front of her. The window was a clear enough mirror, her cheeks were flushed - no one would pass it up as a simple powder blush, her ears were flaming, her eyes were full of tender dreams, a fact that scared her. Dreams had a habit of shattering, and that scared her. Taking a shaky breath, Lyana willed her tears to freeze in their home, they would have to hibernate - for now atleast. Her thin fingers dragged over the elaborate engagement ring. Last night, the flashy event had caused her to be unable to look at it for more than a stolen moment. Now though, Lyana lost her breath. The diamonds cast a rainbow on the wall next to the window, it hugged the skin of her ring finger in a near death grip. Even she would not wish to let go of it, atleast not in this life.

Breathing deeply she smiled tenderly at the birds, rubbing their tiny heads she felt like one of the many Disney princesses she had loved as a child. Perhaps, she was on the verge of writing her own, and the thought excited her beyond any other realization. Closing the window as the wind picked strength, she watched her small friends fly over to their homes in between the thick branches. The hour of dawn had passed, the clock was striking seven and she was sure her parents would be up by now. Best to get a few minutes with them alone before she had to face her entire clan.

The soles of her white slippers covered the distance between her bedroom window and her parent's bedroom door in the matter of seconds. Her - his shawl kept the warmth from escaping her bones. Some shimmer remained in the corner of her eyes despite the extra care she took but then again, her heart had been somewhere else last night, a place of sheer fondness that breaking the rules did not matter much.

Lyana's fists pounced against the door softly. She held her breath, counting down the seconds until the familiar cheery faces would fill her vision. From the large painted glass window at the end of the narrow corridor, dispersed lights entered and painted her white dress a million shades. The carpet too a kaleidoscope of it's own. For a winter morning, everything was too lively. Life had infiltrated every inch of their household, even the walls were singing tunes of delight.