Fantasy and Reality(ON HOLD)

A Date... With a Bonus?

Chapter 3: A Date... With a Bonus?

At dinner we were sitting at a huge oak table in the middle of the large, grand dining room. While Melinda (our servant and my friend) brought us piles of all different kinds of foreign-looking food. The dining room is full of all types of trees and bushes along with colorful plants that grow in fall (much like the rest of the castle.) There are constantly servants and maids picking up leaves, and the trees finally go bare at winter (even though no snow falls.) Then winter becomes the strongest and we are a little weaker than normal. I asked my parents where my sister was and they said they would tell me later. My parents said they had big news to tell me and they hoped I would be happy.

            “Honey, we are retiring from being king and queen and we want you to take our place…. There’s only one thing, you have to find someone whom you will marry at the coronation in three weeks.” My mother said. This really shocked me, all I could say is

            “What? Should I be excited, shocked, or angry, or- wait! I have to get married, why?”

            “Remember, it’s a tradition?”

            “Why can’t my sister be queen?”

            “Well, first your sister’s younger and the eldest of the children always becomes queen. Second, your sister is….” My mom suddenly stopped.

            “My sister is what?”

            “Sick with a deadly illness, the doctor will be coming tomorrow though.” She put her head in her hands and sighed as I got up and left the table, on my way out I said

            “I-I need time to myself, I’m sorry mom and dad.” I don’t think I can rule a kingdom of plants; much less rule a kingdom of people. When I got up to my room all I could think is…. Why? Why do I have to get married? Why do I have to be queen? Why is my sister sick? I flopped onto my bed, moaned and fell asleep. The next morning I woke up and put on my usual outfit, my maid braided my hair and I walked down stairs. I was surprised to see my sister down there eating breakfast.

            “Hey sis, I heard you are going to be queen. I always dreamed of being queen, aren’t you excited?” She said. Apparently she’s not sick anymore, I never get told anything.

            “Actually, I don’t think I’d be a good queen. I don’t think I’m ready for that responsibility yet. Sorry mom and dad but Melody should be queen, not me.”

            “Honey, we chose you because you are ready and will make a great queen. It was supposed to be your older sister’s turn but she turned us down and went into reality.” My mom said.

            “Really? I guess I’ll be queen, but if your kingdom becomes a disaster “I started to say until my dad interrupted me.

            “You’ll do fine, don’t worry.” After breakfast Mena and I went to our tutors (oh, Mena is my best friend, knight in training, and assists the king and queen.) We studied history, science, healing powers, our special ability (which involves a private tutor), and potions. My special ability is that I can turn invisible; I love it just the only problem is that our special abilities don’t work during battle. Then we went to our martial arts class, let me tell you it was awesome! In martial arts I drop kicked my opponent to the ground-in a skirt! Then archery, it was pretty fun; just everyone had to keep ducking from my arrows. Mena said I have always been the worst in the class (just in case Mena is reading this: Thank you for reminding me Mena!) My line up of favorite classes in order from fun to boring would be: 1. Martial Arts 2. Archery (even though I’m terrible) 3. History, healing, special ability and potions.  And they have a track, I run there every day when I can!  After our classes (which end around 12:00) we are free to do what we want-except for me! “Future Queen of Fall Nymphs” or whatever you want to call me has to go on dates with people she doesn’t know. And she gets to choose from a list of 10 guys (Oh and let me point out just from their names I could tell most-not all of them are jerks!) Sorry about that I’m just still a little “surprised” about this still. The rest of the week went “normal”, well as normal as it can get. Friday I had my first date, his name was Aaron, my maid recommended I wear something nice but not too fancy. We were doing something all day; he didn’t tell me what we were going to do though. Then I said.

            “Do I have to wear a skirt or dress?” Then the maid replied

            “Yes, how about this dress?” It was a halter type dress, gold, and a little above the knee length. The dress had a light nice feeling; surprisingly I liked it.

            “Sure I love this dress, can I wear a three-quarter length black sweater with black boots (I chose these so my scar won’t show) that come to my knee?”

            “Whatever you want your highness.” Then tied my hair into a side pony tail with a gold hair tie. Aaron showed up around 10 am, he surprised me when he said we were going for a walk through the forest. He was not really tall (but I was still only up to his neck!)with dark brown hair and big brown eyes; he was wearing a nice dark brown polo shirt, tan khaki pants, sneakers, and a blue sweatshirt. He had cute pointed ears too. Then I said,

“But we’re not allowed in the forest at ALL.”

“I got special permission from your parents to take you on a walk.” I didn’t want to admit that I’m afraid to go out into the forest ever since my experience in reality. But if Aaron can protect me then I’ll go, I was about to ask him this but then I heard him and my dad talking.

“Don’t worry I’ll protect your daughter sir; I promise and if I don’t do a good job you may do what you wish.”

“I trust you very much; you have always been very good in the past. Don’t forget she’s a little shaken from an accident in reality. Have her back by twilight”

“Yes sir, ready to go Mela?” I was wondering how my father knew him, why he’s acting so protective already, and why he’d give his life for me so I didn’t hear his question. I must’ve been more terrified to be going in the forest then I realized for him to say

“Mela? Hello? Are you ok, you look pale?”

“Huh, oh yea I’m fine let’s go.” As we walking out the castle gates I heard rustling in the bushes, Aaron didn’t seem to hear a thing so I was just probably being paranoid. We finally got to the hill that led into town (probably like 15 miles from the castle) and saw 20 nymphs dressed in black. If they are who I think they are then I’m in big trouble. Ok, so there is this secret society for nymphs who don’t want to fully be on the dark side. They are a group who go against the king, queen, princes and princesses of all groups of nymphs except the dark nymphs. They live on the border between the dark nymphs and the Land of the seasons. My mother and father just said they are nothing to worry about but I’ve heard stories. Aaron tensed up just as I saw them, he unsheathed his sword and I reached for my bow…… I left it at home, shoot, so even against my vow grabbed my dagger. Then, he pushed me behind him.