Golden

Chapter Thirteen: The Sleeping Queen

My eyes widened. She knew my name? But how? She can't read minds, can she? Her mouth spread into a grin at my confusion. She let out a bright laugh.

"I knew who you were the moment you stepped into this kingdom, my dear. I knew your problem, and why you had traveled here, and I even knew you would be coming to take my dear Erembour some day,"she told me. I took this moment to really examine the queen. She had long blonde hair and her eyes were blue. She was taller than me, and she seemed to be so young in appearance, that I assumed she was actually my mother's age or perhaps younger than that. She held her hand out to me, her arm moving in a graceful gesture. "Come, my dear. We have much to discuss." I blinked and looked back at my friends. "They may follow as well, we are simply strolling out into the garden. I would like to look at the roses while we discuss things." I slowly accepted her hand and allowed her to lead me to a glass door I hadn't noticed. When she opened it, we stepped out into a sunny garden. I gaped and looked up, seeing a blue sky. Clouds drifted carelessly. Around us were bushes of roses, and a ton of different flowers.

"But...I thought that this kingdom was a nighttime kingdom,"I muttered confused. She hummed and released my hand, making her way to a nearby rose bush. She reached out and picked one, turning and walking herself back to me, simultaneously picking the thorns and leaves from it.

"Yes, that is true. This is my garden...the Sun Garden. It's the only spot in the kingdom that receives any sunlight. That, however, is because of a little magic. My fairy godmother saw to that, in order to make me happy,"the Queen spoke. She broke the stem into a smaller size and leaned closer to me, tucking the rose in my hair just above my ear. She smiled, satisfied. "There. A little color to match those rosy cheeks of yours." She turned and motioned for me to follow. We made our way to a stone bench and took our seats. I noticed my friends all standing in a huddle a little ways away. Saros was silent, but Anwyl and Castor were arguing. I rolled my eyes. The Queen chuckled lightly as she watched them argue. Her eyes went to Erembour, who stood beside Saros silently, watching us as if he was guarding us. "They are a lively bunch, aren't they?"

"Yes...it's interesting keeping up with them,"I replied quietly. I felt something stir in my heart. What was that? Was I sad?  "Why did....your fairy godmother place sunshine over this small garden only? If to make you happy....why not just cast the spell over the entire kingdom?" The Queen gave me a look of surprise.

"You don't know?"she asked. I blinked. She gave a sad smile. "This kingdom....it is called Slumber and the Sleeping Kingdom for a reason. When I was a girl, perhaps your age, I was cursed by an evil fairy. She had been angered at the actions of my father, and I was to sleep for forever. Of course, my husband, the King, came and woke me." The Queen turned her gaze to the blue sky and the floating clouds. "But there was a side effect. If I were to ever leave this kingdom...I would die. If I were to be faced with real sunlight...I would die. This sunlight is artificial, but makes me feel as if it is real." She sighed low and long. "I am cursed still....do you have any idea how old I am, Isla?" I blinked.

"You look....as old as Mother....so I would say about forty?"I asked. The Queen gave a light laugh at that. She looked at me with her eyes filled in happiness and shook her head.

"I am two-hundred and eighteen, give or take a few years. I will remain this way...unchanging forever,"the queen told me softly. My eyes widened. She smiled. "Yes, it is surprising. But that is because of the wrongdoings of someone else. In fact...the Queen's of the other countries around me are all cursed with similar fates. Do you know why that is?" I blinked. "Because the Gods have all decided that until someone comes to save us, we will never move forward." I opened my mouth and then closed it, unsure of what to say. "If you want the honest truth....I believe that it's you." My eyes widened. Me? I stayed silent for a little bit before speaking again.