The Kingdoms of Silver and Gold

Chapter One: The Laws be Damned

The suns rise on a new day, greeting me with silver light and a smile I wish I could return. On this glorious Remembrance Day morning, I am a jumble of nerves and anxiety. It has been a full year since I've seen his face, and I fear that I no longer do the image justice in my memories.

Before I can bring his handsome face to mind, my handmaiden, Dahlia, bustles into the room, carrying blue and silver bundles in her arms.

"Good morning, Princess!" she sings out. I do not know where she gets her bright and shining energy every morning, but today I am thankful for it. I need her positivity more than ever before.

"It is a good morning, Dahlia," I reply, catching her eye in the silver-plated mirror that takes up the entire wall across from my bed.

Taking a brush from the vanity, I begin to try and untangle the mess of curls that cascade from the top of my head and down to my mid-back. Normally I love my wild and untamable hair, but he has never seen my hair this way, and I am afraid he would not like it. Or perhaps he would find it silly and laugh. Not suitable for a princess. Or a lover.

"Do not distress yourself," Dahlia chirps from across the room. "I shall help you with your hair once you are dressed."

I huff, but silently agree. I will never be able to tame this mess on my own. Thank goodness for Dahlia's patience and kindness.

She helps me into my Remembrance Day dress. The gown itself is the color of the blue midnight sky, with intricate silver lace running all along the hems of the gown.  The neckline is low enough to make a lustful man stare, but high enough to maintain the pedigree of a royal princess. It is the lowest cut I have ever worn to Remembrance Day, and my breasts look luscious to my own eyes. I think he will like the way they look. There is a silver belt that cinches my waist to accentuate the curves of my body. In it's middle lay a large circular sapphire to match the silver encrusted sapphire earrings that dangle lazily from my already tired ears.

The silver tiara fit for a princess of the Kingdom of Silver waits silently on a blue pillow on the vanity. It is also encrusted with small sapphires. My appearance is always over the top and far too royal for a day when the entirety of both kingdoms are able to intermingle with each other, but it is a cross I bear willingly, for either I wear this ridiculous display of wealth or I do not attend at all.

My father, King Devereux of Silver, may have helped create peace between our kingdoms once more, but he still does not fully trust the People of Gold. He would rather everyone know exactly who I am so that they stay a respectful distance away from me instead of allowing a commoner to get too close and either make a fool of me or worse, hurt me. I understand where his fears come from, but I still wish I could mingle and actually get to know my people and the Kingdom of Gold's people. One day, when my father passes, I will be queen, and I wish to do right by my people, and what better way to ensure I do right than talking to them and truly understanding their life, pleasantries, and hardships?

Still, I am eighteen and of marrying age, so today is the most crucial day. I know my father will want me to marry soon, and it is law that states a member of the Kingdom of Silver cannot marry a member of the Kingdom of Gold. But I am so head over heels, desperately in love that I will do anything I can to break that law forever. I knew from the first moment that I saw Prince Kinsley of Gold that we were destined to be. When he smiled at me, and eventually touched my hand with his, I knew we were in love, and that changing the traditions of our two kingdoms would be the most difficult challenge we would ever face. But we would face it together.

There is no going back. There is only the love of my life, Prince Kinsley.

Dahlia takes me shoulders and gently moves me toward a chair. I sit and she begins the long process of brushing out my curls and fixing up my hair. Closing my eyes, I succumb to her pleasant strokes and allow my mind to wander to last year's Remembrance Day.

The first snow of the year had fallen the night before, and everything was covered in the most beautiful blanket of snow. Children in blues and silver ran with children in gold and red, laughing and screaming from the joy snow brings to all who behold it. Every fire felt warmer than the one before, and each roasted different meats or vegetables, giving the air the most delicious smells. Saliva built up in my mouth anew with every food my eyes beheld, and it took all my might to stroll quickly by and not succumb to their tantalizing smells. I would never have made it to our secret place on time.

Just to the north of the clearing where the Remembrance Day events take place, there is a giant white tree that stands amongst the normal black trees. Whereas all the other trees lost their leaves many months before, this particular tree retains gold and silver leaves all year long. This tree is the guardian of the Orbs of Balance, and has been our secret spot for two years, as only those with royal blood can go near the tree. Anyone else who gets too close hits a barrier where their mind is wiped blank for a moment, and the memory of wanting anything to do with the Orbs of Balance is forgotten, sending them back the way they came.

That snowy day I was on time, but he was early. Leaning against the tree he stood out from the black and white landscape like a fire burning brightly atop a large body of water. His princely robes were ruby red with yellow lining running up his arms, down his chest and pants to his golden boots. A red sword sheath hung from his red belt, holding his ruby-encrusted golden sword, which he wore for show. There has been peace for so many years that it is no longer thought of as a weapon, but a symbol. It is Remembrance Day, after all.

The first we had met and fallen for each other, as young sixteen year olds are aught to do. We exchanged letters once or twice a week for the entire year, getting to know everything about the other, and our feelings only grew as the frequency of our letters progressed. At first my father found it odd we were writing so much, but I convinced him that it was only because we were fast friends and had many ideas for our respective kingdoms and the peace we wanted to last for generations, and so sharing and communicating was best for everyone. He bought the lie, and no one, except for trusty Dahlia, knew there was anything more than friendship blossoming between us.

I still remember the way it was awkward between us at first, the ease of writing creating a strange barrier between us. But slowly it eased away... and our time together ended with our first kiss. A smile still blooms whenever I think of that morning, a pleasurable tingling and burning sensation running all along my body. I have not felt that sensation since, but I am crazy with anticipation for what will happen later today. More kissing, and perhaps, even more than that. My heart beats too quickly just thinking about it.

"You are finished, Princess."

I open my eyes to slightly waived dark hair, the fronts swooped back into a tight ponytail that meshes with the rest of my hair, left down. Dahlia and I discussed my hair yesterday and agreed something simple was best, especially if things escalated with Prince Kinsley. No reason to give anyone anything to worry about or suspect before we are ready to reveal it ourselves.

Dahlia adds the tiara, the final touch, to my head and makes sure it is in place before showing me how to easily take it off and set it again, so that if need be I can put it back on myself. When she is through I stand and, very unladylike, I hug her. She is tense at first, but after a moment she hugs me back. This kind of affection is not becoming of a princess, and could get a simple handmaiden in a lot of trouble, but no one else is here, and I trust Dahlia with my life.

Silently we end the hug and I walk towards the door. Dahlia opens it for me, and with a slight bow says, "Enjoy the day, Princess Kiara."

"You too," I say, shooting her a quick wink before making my exit.

I have to remind myself not to run, I am so giddy and anxious still. My imagination wants to run wild with thoughts of Prince Kinsley, but I convince it to stay at a low simmer. No point putting too many high expectations up that could fall apart for so many reasons: One of us is detained by the festivities; A guard catches one of us and won't let us out of there sight; Or, worst of all, he may no longer wish to see me as I wish to see him.

Still, I cannot help myself, so as I race through the palace to the carriage that will take my parents and I to the Remembrance Day Festival, I give in to a little one... 

The snow falls around us as we sit beneath our favorite tree, leaning against each other laughing and holding hands. We both know this is wrong, but our love is worth dying for.

Oh yes. Soon. Very, very soon, I will be in the arms of my love, once more underneath the silver and gold leaves of our favorite tree, and all will be right in the world. The laws be damned.