The girl was sitting at the edge of The Weeping Cliff, which was considered the highest point throughout the Eight Villages of the Adderhead Kingdom. It overlooked everything from the river that melted into the Obsidian Ocean on the East to the Sunset Mountains that protected the villages from the rest of the world on the West. It was mid-summer, the breeze soft and warm, just the way she remembered it, and the birds sang quietly to each other in the trees behind her. The day was peaceful, as it always was on the down days.
Children were running around together as the older villagers gossiped about anything and everything they could think of. Each of the Villages were different, something that made trading goods all the more necessary, not to mention popular, and the only thing that connected them was the castle located in the middle of them all. It's tall stone walls and powerful structure wasn't as menacing as other castles in other regions, which only made the people love the royal family all the more.
When the sun hit the towers at midday the white marble sparkled and anyone who saw the spectacle would understand why the King lived there. Along with his famous reputation of war and the fact that he was considered the strongest King amongst the other eleven Kings that lived under the Dragon King's rule, was his fairness. When people went to him for help with their problems he made sure that everyone went away happy, and if not, that they understood why he made the decision no matter how unfair it seemed at the time.
No one could think about the King without quickly thinking of his wife. The Queen was a sight to behold, and even if you were lucky enough to glimpse her, you could never take in everything about her. While the King was tall and strong she was small and soft, her way of moving careful, as if she cared about even the smallest of gestures. Her knowing smile made people wonder what was on her mind, thoughts that she always kept to herself, and made her a mystery to everyone that wasn't close to her.
The smile was swimming in the girl's thoughts for a while before a hand stroked the back of her head softly. The touch didn't make the girl start with fright, but instead calmed her as she took a deep breath and turned. Her mother smiled knowingly down at her, her large, dark brown eyes seeming to shine with happiness as she took in her daughter. The gown that framed her mother's curves was as white and soft looking as clouds, and it seemed to move slowly around her body like them too.
Her black hair fell in ringlets around her shoulders, just the way she preferred it, and the jewels that covered her neck and ran along her arms shined in the bright sun. When she sat herself beside the girl, her legs joining her daughters over the Weeping Cliffs edge, she reached out and cupped her face in her hands proudly.
"My love," Her words whispered against her cheek before she kissed both of them gently and then touched their foreheads. "You've grown."
She was indeed older then the last time she had the dream encounter with her mother, which had been ten years ago. So long ago that she didn't think she would ever have it again. Her eyes took in the familiar face greedily, scanning every inch of as quickly as she could, the face that was slipping away with every passing year. She swallowed hard, trying to hold the raw emotions of need and heartbreak inside so she could enjoy the moment that she knew would end just as abruptly as it started.
"I miss you." She finally croaked out, her voice hoarse with sadness.
"We miss you too." Her mother replied, it didn't take her long to understand that "we" meant her father as well. "But we listen every time you speak to us."
"I hoped." Their eyes connected briefly before she gave her mother a watery smile, tears collecting at the edges of her eyes. Her mother's soft smile warmed her as she brushed a piece of hair behind her ear. "What are you doing here?"
"Ah, the question that I wished to avoid but knew would come up no matter what." Her mother sighed before taking her hands. The serious gesture was all too familiar and made her stomach sink with dread, she knew that what she was about to hear was far from good news. "I came to warn you that things are about to change for you very soon."
Even before she asked she knew that the question wouldn't be answered, but she tried anyways. "What do you mean?"
"When it happens you'll know." Was her mother's only reply before letting go of her hands and standing up. "But when it does you must promise me that you will say yes, it's very important."
"I promise," She jumped up quickly before her mother could put any more distance between them and reached out to grab her hand, only to let it fall between them. "Will I see you again?"
Her mother watched her for a long moment before she smiled sadly and wrapped her in a warm embrace. "I can't promise." She stroked her hair for what felt like a lifetime. Her mother was gone long before the first of her tears spilled down her cheek.
