Wish (Reworked)

A Meeting with Amaya

               Queen Amaya marched up the spiraling staircase with Asha in tow. She'd given Valentino one sharp look that sent the goat scampering down the halls leading to Asha's chambers. Perhaps it was just as well, Asha thought, clutching her satchel tight. Star would be plenty enough for the Queen for one day.

Once the two were safely tucked away in the Queen's private chambers, she sighed and pressed her fingers against her forward, squeezing the skin between her eyes.

"You go running off in the middle of the night. Then this blinding light shoots across Rosas and nobody has an inkling of an idea what it could be or where it came from! What if it had struck you in the forest? No one would know! You could've been hurt or killed, and I would've never known! What were you thinking Asha?"

"I wasn't really," Asha admitted. "I'm sorry, I never meant to frighten you. I just needed time to think about....well everything."

Queen Amaya's shoulders slumped, and a strange look crossed her face. She walked to Asha and placed her hands gently on the girl's shoulders.

"I've been thinking as well. Asha, you're so bright, and you've come such a long way with your studies. But I worry about how much pressure you put on yourself. You study so hard! And I don't want you to burn out before you've even begun to shine so...I think we should put our lessons to the side for a while."

Asha twisted her shoulders out of Queen Amaya's grip.

"What?! I can't stop now, not when I've finally come so close to understanding the charts! To understanding what my father meant about the stars and the wishes!"

"It wouldn't be forever," the Queen assured her, calmly. "Only for the time being. Just to give you a bit more freedom. Time to focus on other things, like the other apprentices do."

"But Rosas wishes!"

"Rosas wishes are my responsibility remember? It is my task as queen to protect the wishes, and grant them when it's time. It's not your burden."

"Helping people get their wishes isn't a burden! Helping Saba's wish finally come true is all I want, while I still have time to make it happen!"

She didn't mention her fears surrounding her own wish. If she couldn't help Saba get the one thing he wanted most, how did she ever have hope of bringing her mother back to her when it was time?

"That's a noble goal," Queen Amaya said with a nod. "But there's still time for Sabino, and perhaps we must leave it to the stars to determine what will be and what won't for now. Much as we may like, Asha, we cannot chart our lives like we do the sky."

Says who, Asha thought, casting her eyes on the ground solemnly.

The Queen continued, "I promised your father I would make you a fine star charter. But I also promised him I'd take care of you. Even the best need their rest, Asha."

Asha knew it was no use fighting her further. Once the Queen made a decision, there was no changing her mind. Still, her head was swimming.

"What about Helena and Esteban's wishes? At least let me try to figure out what I did wrong to make them change like that."

"You did nothing wrong." The Queen cleared her throat and a short silence ensued between them.

"I met with Helena and Esteban when they first came to Rosas. We spoke about their past, and where they came from. Some wishes that are made look a little...different then others. Those who are born in Rosas are very lucky, to be able to wish for the things they want instead of what they need."