The Unknown

Chapter 11: Surprised Guest

The inside part of the celebration, the ball, was finally over and everyone retreated outside to the courtyard where a massive fire was blazing; people were dancing to the music and food was on a very large table. Instantly, the people clapped when they saw Dahlia and then returned to celebrate as she walked down the steps. She saw Eva, her husband, William, and Lucia and immediately went to speak to them.

Two hours into the celebration outside, Dahlia had spoken to many people and eventually got persuaded to wear a flower crown and didn't care that the flowers covered up her tiara. She finally managed to speak to the children from the orphanages, but not many of the children came due to their ages and bedtime had already passed. She saw that the children from Alfheim, Nidavellir and Vanaheim were all together and as she walked over to them, she said, "well I'm happy to see you guys".

"Dahlia," they all said and she kneeled down in front of them and open her arms and instantly they all rushed towards her, almost knocking her over if it wasn't for the head of the Vanaheim orphanage shouting, "be careful".

They all pulled away and a little Alfheim girl asked, "Dahlia, is it true you're leaving?"

"Yes but-"

"We don't want you to leave," a Vanaheim boy said.

"YEAH," they all shouted, "STAY".

Dahlia shook her head sadly and said, "I can't. I've got to go back to Midgard, I have school. Remember, I told you all about Hogwarts?"

"Why do they get to keep you?" A Nidavellir girl asked with her lips pressed tightly together. "Who's going to show us magic? Who's going to tell us stories like Cinderella?"

"Or Snow White?"

"And Jack and the Beanstalk?"

"Hansel and Gretel and how they burn the evil witch".

"YEAH," the children said, listing off their favourites then agreeing.

"Listen to me," Dahlia said sternly then smiled, "I'm leaving but it's not forever. I am not the only person in this realm that knows those stories, besides, I've told the book maker to create physical copies of those stories and to send them to your orphanages. I'm sure if you ask one of the adults, they will read them to you".

The adults in the back nodded as the children looked to them. "But it's not the same," one of them said. "You do funny voices and use your magic, it makes it special". They all murmured in agreement.

"I promise, I will not be gone forever. I have to learn how to use my Midgardian power that I got from my mother before I can leave Hogwarts. You want me to be the best witch I can be, right?" They all nodded. "Well then there you go. I will be back and when I do, I'll have all of you come up to the palace and I'll read to you. How about that?" Nodding. "Now I know it's past some of your bedtimes and I don't want to inconvenience the adults any longer. Did you all have fun tonight?"

"Yes".

"Good. Now, am I going to get smiles out of all of you before you leave or am I going back to Midgard sad because you are?" She teased.

They all instantly smiled, not wanting her to be upset, then she opened her arms once again and they all ran into them, this time knocking her over and she laughed. The adults eventually pulled them off of her and helped her up as she was saying goodbye. Those around them, however, couldn't help but smile at her kind nature and knew what was said about the young Princess was true.

As she was saying goodbye, she noticed a middle-aged woman looking at her with a small smile. She saw, from what Dahlia could see, dark eyes, black hair and a sort of hooked nose, wearing a black cloak; the woman looked familiar but Dahlia didn't know where to place her. When the woman noticed her looking, she turned away from the pillar she was leaning on and began to walk against the pathway next to the courtyard. Dahlia immediately followed her, even had to jog a bit, and said loudly, "wait, I want to talk to you".