Raynestorm

Adam

Adam

"Would you look at that," I start, "the queen of impromptu speeches is actually practicing what she is going to say to her own mother." I make myself sound shocked in an attempt to make her laugh.

Rayne tries to give me a nasty look but the jerk of the stopping train surprises her and she nearly falls over for the second time that day. She regains her balance and we all get off the train in front of the castle. I can see Rayne shaking like a terrified puppy.

"What, you didn't get to finish your speech?" I make another attempt at a joke. This one doesn't work either.

"I wasn't going to actually use it," she whispers in a shaky voice, "you know me." She turns and gives me a small, scared smile.

"C'mon babe," Emma wraps her arm around Rayne and guides her inside. Matthew quickly falls in line on the other side of Rayne and the three of them walk in through the massive gates with Mike, Liam, Melanie, Ely, and me trailing behind. We follow her across the courtyard and down a long hallway leading to a set of beautiful double doors inlaid with gems and faerie carvings. We reach the doors and Emma and Matthew each push open one of the doors. Rayne enters first and the rest of us spread out on each side.

The beauty of the room we have entered matches that of the doors leading to it. In the centre of the floor is a simple round table surrounded by the members of the council and three empty chairs. There are balconies around three edges of the room and two sets of stairs leading up to them on the fourth side. Most beautiful, however, are the windows. Each is completely unique and portrays a scene from Velaire's past, and the light shining though casts every colour of light onto everything in the room.

Then I see Rayne. My beautiful queen Rayne, being in the room has transformed her, instead of wearing her simple school clothing she now wears a long green gown that is perfectly cut to her body and has flowing sleeves and gold trimming. Around her head is a golden circlet and her long red hair, which had formerly been pulled into a pony tail, had been let down; the way the light bounced off it made it look like fire.

"The hall recognizes its queen," her mother states, breaking me from my trance. Rayne bows her head and gives a curtsy to the council, "but she must still convince the people of the hall." Rayne stands up strait.

"I can do that," she whispers loudly, and it sounds like she's trying to convince herself, "Mother," she smiles softly, "Today I woke up as the mildly naïve princess know to the realms as 'the rebel princess', and I thought I knew who I was. But I have certainly changed a few times since then. I realize this now.

"When I walked into this hall yesterday, talking about the lowest of priorities with my quote un-quote 'sidekicks', nothing happened - I simply took my seat among the others. But today, after my toe had barely crossed the threshold, I began to transform. I watched as my high-top-ink-covered trainers became simple green velvet slippers. I watched as my skinny jeans transformed into a full length emerald coloured skirt and my crop top, tank top, and leather jacket change into a perfectly fitted bodice of the very same gown. I felt my hair fall from its usual ponytail and my head be encircled by what I can only imagine is the golden circlet of the princess heir. And though you've told me many times that this happens, I never imagined it would happen to me... especially after a day like this.

"I learned that my life has been manipulated to fit that of the crown prince Adam. I stormed out of the castle, completely neglecting my responsibilities and I ran off to tell the only other person who was probably not supposed to know. Together we decided to assume our thrones early, and together. So we did, but when we began and Adam discussed with his father our decision, I learned yet another fact that would change my perspective: you went through something similar. I do not know what your journey was, nor do I care to learn, but I do know now that what has happened is not a mistake. And I know that I am very capable of assuming my role as queen now - even if that was not the case this morning."