The Four Stones

Chapter 6: The Festival

Chapter 6: The Festival

The day of the festival has arrived, and Wysteria and Jasmine were very excited.  Wysteria sat at her vanity while the maid brushed her long, white hair.  She was wearing a beautiful turquoise ball gown with gold trim, the sleeves reached her elbows, and the dress fell to her ankles.  She also wore some turquoise ballet slipper looking shoes.  Her hair was separated by layers and ties with a turquoise bow.  She replaced her glasses with contacts, so that her beautiful blue eyes were more noticeable.  This was the maid’s idea of course, but Wysteria admitted she liked it.

She met Jasmine downstairs in the dining hall.  Jasmine was wearing a similar dress to hers except that hers was red with gold trim, she wore red ballet slippers, and her hair was in a messy bun with a red ribbon.  She was talking to Jonathan, who looked very handsome in his royal blue, long-sleeved tunic with gold trim, white dress pants, a black belt around the waist of the tunic, and black dress shoes.

“Hey, Sterie! Are you ready for the festival?” Jasmine asked excitedly.

“Yep! I can’t wait!” Wysteria said happily.  “Is Richard coming too?”

“He’ll be waiting for us by the fountain when the greeting part of the festival is over. ” Jonathan replied with a grin that said ‘I know what you’re thinking’

“Alright, sounds good. ” Wysteria replied trying to hide her blush.  Jasmine giggled at Wysteria’s response.  Wysteria shot her a look that said ‘Oh, quiet, you!’ Then the king and queen entered the dining hall.

“I see all of you are ready for the festival. ” The king said smiling broadly.

“You all look wonderful. ” The queen said warmly.  

They all took their seats at the head of the table.  Wysteria and Jasmine were introduced to the nobles and their families.  They all seemed really friendly and cheerful despite their positions.  Next Wysteria, Jasmine, and Jonathan were escorted out to the front of the palace where lot’s of people from the village had gathered.  Wysteria and Jasmine smiled and introduced themselves and shook hands with many of them.  One of the little girls in the crowd put a crown of flowers on Wysteria’s head, earning a hug from Wysteria.  Jonathan seemed to know almost everyone, so he talked amongst the group saying hito friends.

When the crowd had thinned out, the three of them made their way to the fountain where Richard was waiting.  He was wearing an outfit similar to Jonathan’s except for it was emerald green with gold trim.

“Hey, guys.  Ready to go to the festival?” asked Richard.

“Yep.  Let’s go!” Jasmine cheered, grabbing Jonathan by the arm and heading toward the village.  Wysteria giggled as she watched Jonathan trying to catch up with Jasmine so he could lead her instead of her leading him.

“Shall we?” Richard asked, holding out his arm.  His ears twitched slightly.  Wysteria found it adorable

“Yea…” Wysteria nodded, blushing like crazy.  

Richard gently guided her through the crowded streets.  People stopped to bow or curtsey to her every now and then.  Wysteria didn’t know how to react to this much attention, so she just smiled and waved with her free hand.

Soon they caught up with Jasmine and Jonathan.  Jasmine was trying a ring toss game while Jonathan was leaning against a post trying to regain his breath.  

“Did she wear you out already, Jonathan?” Richard asked chuckling a bit.  

“Maybe a little. ” Jonathan admitted rubbing the back of his head and laughing a bit.  Wysteria giggled at her brother’s actions, and also how badly Jasmine was missing the necks of the bottles Jonathan noticed this too and took one the rings and tossed it.  It went directly over the neck of the bottle.

“Congratulations, Prince Jonathan.  Pick any prize you want. ” The man at the booth said.

“You choose for me, Jasmine. ” Jonathan said smiling.  She smiled excitedly back… Then she took a while gazing at all the prizes.  She was about to answer when Wysteria popped up beside her and whispered

“Get the unicorn!”

“Wow…. I was just about to say unicorn.  You read my mind, Sterie. ” Jasmine replied.  “ichoose the unicorn. ” The man at the booth handed it to Jasmine, who thanked him.

“Thank you, Jonathan.  That was so sweet of you to win this for me!” Jasmine said.

“Oh. . . uh. . . no problem, Jasmine. ” Jonathan replied.  He turned his head avoiding eye contact.  Wysteria could have sworn she saw pink on his cheeks.

The four of them walked a little ways down a few streets of the the village when Richard stopped.

“This is the game I’m good at. ” Richard said walking over to a booth with milk bottles set up.  He handed the stall manager some money.  The manager handed him three shot put sized balls.  Richard threw one at the bottles and knocked them all down with one throw.

While he was playing the game the other three watched from a few feet away.  After Richard had knocked all the bottles down three time he motion for them to come closer.

“Wysteria, pick which ever one you want. ” Richard said smiling at her brightly.  Wysteria returned the smile.

“Uuum…. I like the lion. ” Wysteria said pointing up at the stuffed lion that was hanging above her head.   The man at the booth nodded and handed it to her.  Wysteria turned to face Richard.  “Thank you, Richard.  You’re so sweet. ”

“Hey, it was nothing. ” Richard said scratching the back of his head awkwardly.

They spent the rest of the afternoon playing games, trying all the different foods at the food stalls, talking, and laughing.  To Wysteria it was the best day of her entire life.  Little did she know that things were about to change.