Secrets of the Trees

11 - The First Council

I was shoved by an unseen force onto the stone ground. A ring of fire surrounded me. My shrieks echoed in the high-ceilinged place I was in. He was back, a mere black shadow in the hot orange glows around me, closing in on me. My oxygen was running out, and he laughed a haughty laugh as I lie there in burning misery. The fire was almost touching my skin, but there was no doubt of feeling the pain before the flames licked my flesh.

"You're mine now."

I sat bolt upright in my bed, panting. It took a few seconds to realize that it was all just a nightmare, and that I was safe. But I still shivered, now feeling a draft in the room. Kael's makeshift bed lay crumpled on the floor. With a little rub of my bare shoulders, realizing I hadn't changed after yesterday, I went to the other room only to see the door left wide open. That explains the draft...

Not feeling the slightest bit curious this morning as to why the house was vacant, and the door ajar, I walked over to the bookshelves, examining them. My fingers traced along the binders, pulling one out occasionally. There were so many books, a good many of which were indeed about medicinology, as well as things that could not be explained by alchemy, or magic. Apparently, Kael was a little science nerd at heart. Ha ha ha...

As I told before, biology was my best subject, but when it came to reading outside of school, I much preferred fiction. There was a rusty colored, leather-bound book. I grasped it, and just as it was sliding out I felt a breath on my neck, "Looking for something?" Jumping back in suprise and dropping the book, I realized it was just Kael.

"You scared me! I swear, if you do that again I might just accidentally hit you."

He just gave me one of those 'be more careful' looks, and handed me the book without a word. Deliah barged in the house, the only sunshine of the morning so far, a beaming look on her face. 

"I have just spoken with Ren and Blythe. They are going back to their homes to get presentable before meeting the princess. Which means that I get to help you look presentable yourself!"

She held out a hand and in an instant a purple silk dress appeared. It was an eggplant shade, and very delicate. Kael mumbled something about going outside and he left us to use his house for preparation. Who could blame him? What guy would like to watch a girl get dressed up? Again Deliah magically summoned things we would need, including a fragrant lavendar scented soap so I'd smell extra good.

Among the other beauty products, was a sort of wax, to tame my naturally curly hair after washing it. It took all of an hour to finish getting ready. After my hair and clothes were presentable, and my little one pearl necklace was laying across my chest, there was something I felt missing when Deliah brought me a mirror. Though I knew I'd never really feel like a princess, I knew what it took to look like one. A tiara!

"You wouldn't happen to have a tiara with you?"

A smile tugged at her lips, but she shook her head no.

My sudden desire for one, triggered a thought, though unrealistic. Perhaps, a tiara could be magically summoned? No amount of wishing or hoping in my mind, would ever make a crystal encrusted crown appear. The difference between just making something appear, and what Deliah had done, was she already was familliar with the objects, and merely transported them from her own home to here. It isn't possible to just make something appear, or, so I thought.

Somehow, in some crazy and fantastic manner, a sort of tiara did appear, landing in the palm of my hand. But it looked like a necklace. I knew instantly it was one of those crown-like things that you place it around your head, and it rests on your forehead.