Unveiled

~ Chapter 2 ~

"Naya?"

She hears her mother's voice and she looks up from the book that she was reading. Naya is bored out of her mind. Not that she is complaining, because she hardly ever get a day off. Who knew that being the princess of kingdom where rarely anything interesting happens would be so exhausting.

Her mother stands in the doorway, as beautiful as ever, with her silver dress, like that of Cinderella. (Well that is if Cinderella's dress looks as beautiful as that.) Her golden blonde hair waving down to her shoulders with the crown rested upon her head.

She walks closer, down the stairs and sits down across from Naya in her sunken lounge. "You look tired" she says, her voice as sweet as honey. She is tired, but she cannot fall asleep. She feels to guilty, thinking that it was her fault for getting Jake into trouble.

"I am, but I cannot fall asleep." she reply's. Her mother nods. "You know, as punishment for you and Jake's actions, Jake is going to stay here next month when we go to Nocturna and Arthur will join him to ensure that he does not get into trouble with the members of the court that are staying behind. And he had to go and apologise to the merchants for stealing his apples and vandalising his cart."

Naya smiles inside. That was quite fun, but the smile quickly fades as she takes in her mother's words. "But it is not fair for him to stay behind." she protests. "Wait, how do you know I was with him. Jake would never sell me out, even though he should, considering it was not entirely his fault."

Her mother smiles a little. "No, Jake would never sell you out, but I know you were with him, considering you left your muddy boots on the carpet next to your bed."

Naya pierces her lips together. Her mother observes her cautiously. "Can I ask mother something?" "Curiosity killed the cat, remember, but go ahead."

"Why does the court want to ally themselves with Nocturna? I mean, Nocturna is a kingdom filled with magic, is it not?" "Exactly, that is why the court wants to ally with them, to make our forces stronger."

"But if people who poses magic does not get executed here, then will our forces not become stronger?" "You are pushing too far. Magic is against the law for the protection of the kingdom. It is not my decision alone, but that of the entire court and they want it so."

Naya realises that she has crossed a line and she pushes no further. Sometimes she just wants to slip it out. Nobody knows, no one. If anybody knew she would be executed for possessing magic, but sometimes it would be easier. A burden lifted off her shoulders, maybe her parents can relate, but she does not know if they poses magic as powerful as hers, or any at all.

They sit in silence for a few minutes and then her mother stands up, comes to Naya and kisses her on the temple. "Try to sleep" she says softly and walks out the door.