Loud church like bells echoed across the place,signaling that it was indeed,morning.Lilly moaned as she rubbed her sleepy eyes.She stretched her arms out with a yawn and let her eyes adjust to the room.
She searched the brightly lit room,desperate for anything to suggest she was still dreaming.Solid gold walls designed with fantasy flowers,bureaus with handles of diamond,beds of plush mattresses,and carpets embroidered with ruby stripes.
No,this could certainly not be defined as a dream.It was a nightmare.But sadly,it just so happened to be a nightmare she couldn't wake up from.Nope,she was stuck here,until she got the job done.
She slipped from the bed and swam to the drawer to dress.The closet was packed with dozens of formal gown that not even Aveyla could afford.Lilly fingered one that was an ombre blue silk gown,with a shear of lace sewed to the bottom.These dresses could outshine Aveyla's from a mile away!She quickly tore off her old rags,knowing she would be returning to them after her duty was done.
She chose a pair of while flats trimmed with emeralds and looked in The mirror.The dress tightened slightly at the waist and was flowing from there on.Her smooth hair floated just beneath her shoulders,in a graceful manner.Was this who she had always been?Had she always been beautiful and just never noticed it?Her expression deepened as she stared more throughly at her complexion.The light hit her skin at just the right angle to make her stare into her own eyes.There she didn't find a poor,starved,ragged child.She found a gorgeous,strong,confident,meant to be queen.
Her gaze spotted a small diamond tiara on a nearby shelf.She quickly scrambled for the magnificent work of art and placed it on her head.The cold metal touched her skin,sending chills of new found power surging through her veins."Someday"She promised herself,extending every letter to the max as she spoke."Someday you'll be powerful!And you'll be better than her!"She swiped her hand across the mirror just as the door flew open.Lilly gasped in shock and yanked off the tiara."Ms.Veila?"Asked a startled voice."Breakfast is ready."Lilly nodded and was lead down the wide halls.What did he think after what he just saw?Did he find her as crazy as she thought he did?Whatever he thought,she best be extra careful after this morning!No more private out loud talks.
He guided her to a large glass dining table which was richly filled with a wide variety of breakfast foods(all of which she had never had the pleasure of trying in her lifetime)."Ah,Lilly dear,please have a seat."Ellason greeted kindly.Lilly lowered herself onto the soft cushioned chair,sighing loudly before she could catch herself.The chair was made obviously out of precious minerals and covered in thick fabrics.Back where she lived,most homes had only torn raggedy blankets to eat their morsels of food on. Or what little they had at least.
A palace servant placed a long plate of assorted fruits and a muffin in front of her.She could almost feel her taste buds longing for the meal.She dug in ravenously as the queen started the chatter."I'm sure Lilly,that you have many questions for the honor you have been chosen for."Lilly was never quite sure what caused her to blurt out her opinion every known chance she got."None that you wanna hear."She spat,them through her hand over mouth in shock."Well,for your information I would like to hear your questions.Maybe like...your necklace."Lilly stared blankly at her fruit for a while.She had completely forgotten about that somehow!Every Ocagon was given a necklace after the confinement of them in their land.The necklace was white pendant with a small blue wave to resemble their kingdom.For decades the necklace had defined them.They were forbidden to take it off by law."Can't you just make an exception and have me take mine off?"She asked,shrugging to suggest that her request was no big deal.The queen shook her head firmly as she met Lilly's gaze."Now that would show a great lack of respect for our hopefully new found friends."She proclaimed,folding her hand in a royal manner on her lap.Lilly mournfully set down her silverware,and did the same."Well then what do you my queen suggest?"She asked,on a slightly mocking tone.What was up with her?Why was she trying so hard to match Ellason's attitude as queen?She definitely had an attitude of her own based on this conversation.Just sit quietly and let the queen talk,she told herself.Just listen.
Ellason's expression hardened."I would suggest that you tuck your necklace under your dress to be hidden."She said through gritted teeth.Lilly put her self talk aside and snickered at the queen.She could make her blow up.All she had to do was get under her skin,then she could drive her to where rage meets its final mark.
"Any more suggestions,your majesty?"
"I suggest you shut your ungrateful little mouth!"She yelled in anger,rising from her chair to gain on her.A young maid wimpered fearfully at the queen.Obviously she had never seen her majesty so enraged before.Even Lilly wasn't expecting her too be THAT ticked off.Ellason saw the room around her and retreated to her seat.
"You shouldn't play with fire that isn't yours you know."Lilly nodded understandingly,thinking better than to taunt her anymore.They ate their breakfast in a long awkward silence that seemed to last longer than her thoughts.
After their meal,Lilly was escorted to the meeting room(they have a whole room just for meat?).After being told in an embarrassing manner that the room was not to store meat,she took her seat.The chairs were less comfortable than she expected.Their hard wooden surface lined up her back painfully.Tiny splinters poked irritatingly at her dress.Could they not afford cushions this time?Or were they considered improper?
The meeting dragged on in boredom that she wished not to share with the readers.They went over courses and maps,also breathing."When you get to land,your going to feel like you can't breathe."She informed."But I promise if you take a breath,you'll feel better."
The servants fastened her hair into a tidy bun essembled with water-proof hair gel."She's so gorgeous!"Gushed a maid in a way that reminded her of Aveyla.Lilly examined herself in the mirror.Her dark hair was upright with sparkles coating it in a thin layer."I love it!Thank you so much!"She squealed.The maids smiled cheerfully at their complement.Which made both of their days complete.
Evening rose shortly,ever Ocagon was gathered around the shore of water.Where the sand divided land and water.Where she was going.Lilly stood front and center of the crowd,her nerves settling in an anxious rhythm as she searched for her family.Of course,if they weren't in the front row,they were pretty hard to spot."People camped out overnight to see this moment."Ellason sighed,almost reassuring herself.Lilly raised her eyebrows in shock.She knew that people thought of this as a big deal,but seriously?To sleep on the dirty floor because of it?But then again,what she normally slept on couldn't be much better.
The queen brought out a water caster to place the spell on Lilly,letting her breathe oxygen.The spell felt peculiar in her body,like someone was opening a secret passage way in her lungs.
" Farewell Lilly,bring us peace!"The crowd chanted.Lilly's knees felt like they were to collapse at any moment,could she breathe?Would she die?Would she disappoint others?
She had no time to continue with her anxious thoughts.She took her maybe last breath of H2O,and emerged into the world.
