The Oracle

"You have been waiting for us? We have never come here since..."

"Since your Queen Mother passed away," she cut me short.

"You have grown into such a beautiful Queen, you look just like your mother, my Queen," she continued.

I pulled a chair and sat down facing her at the table.

"What brings you to the Oracle today, Your Majesty?" she smiled.

"Please tell me what I should know right now to make a decision for the next King who will rule beside me," she went straight to the point.

Jeff stood by the side, his face one of excitement and anticipation.

"Is your question more to 'Is Prince Geoffrey that man?', Your Majesty?" Asked the Oracle.

I just managed to nod slightly.

Just then a gust of wind came from no where, blowing the cape of the Oracle off her head, revealing her silver sleekly combed hair that fell down to her waist.

"Well, we made sure to close the door and the windows were not open, where did the draft come from? I wondered out loud.

"That's my assistant Goby. He is invisible unless you wish to see him. He is a faerie. Would you like to see him?"

I nodded vigorously.

"Show yourself Goby. Be polite to Her Majesty," no sooner she said that, a 5 inch tall apparition appeared on the right side of the table on the Oracle's side. It was a faerie with green cap and green robe. On his back were a pair of green wings that sparkled each time they flipped. His face looked mischievous and child-like. He made an exaggerated bow and said in a high pitched voice, "Your Majesty, Goby at your service."

"Nice to meet you, Goby. You are a handsome faerie," I saw Goby's chest puffed up a bit more when he heard my compliment.

"Now to answer Your Majesty's question, Do you really want to know," the Oracle cleared her throat as she looked into my eyes intensely.

"I would not be here if I don't want to know," I confirmed.

"Your heart already knows the answer, and that is the answer."

"That's it?" My eyes were wide open in disbelief.

"I don't do all those drama cliff hanger stuff anymore, Your Majesty," she winked.

I realized my mouth were still agape so I closed it.

"I know that the late Queen loved it when I speak in riddles and inject some drama into my presentation to keep her entertained. I don't do it anymore, my Queen. I say it as it is," she reiterated.

"Okay, will my Kingdom thrive under my rule?" I just needed to know.

There was a poignant pause.

I could hear Jeff's shallow breathing.

My eyes never left the Oracle's face to watch her expression.

"I would rather not say, Your Majesty," the Oracle finally said.

"I command you to speak what you know, what you saw in your vision," I commanded.

"Each kingdom has its rise and fall. Each land sees a change of ruler as that is the cycle of life. No one ruler is immortal or could live on forever," the Oracle started to speak.

"No one King is immortal hence the never ending quest for the Holy Grail, the gift of immortality. But even with the gift of immortality it may not be enough for the desires and greed of one man," the Oracle continued.

"If you wish to make your Kingdom thrive, it is time to start now, Your Majesty. No time to delay. Surround yourself with loyal advisors and council. That is all I can say," she ended.

"That sounds more like a warning than an assurance, will I be betrayed and lose my kingdom?" I demanded for answer.

"That is a possibility for every ruler in every Kingdom, Your Majesty," she calmly answered.

"One last question, will my future husband be loyal to me?"

"I cannot answer that Your Majesty," she shook her head.

"Why not? You are the Oracle."

"You will have more than one husband."

"More than one husband?! What happened to her first husband? Will he die?" Jeff blurred out.

"It is Her Majesty's time with me so I can only answer her question."

"Will I be a widow?" I asked.

"More than once but not all in this lifetime. What I see is a storyline with many small stories on it. It may be difficult for you to grasp, Your Majesty, but we not only have this life and this body to live in. We can stay in many different bodies on different timelines, experiencing life. So yes you had been a widow before and there may be instances where you may be widowed again," she cryptically said.

"How about in this lifetime?" I asked, flustered by the roundabout way the Oracle was speaking in.

"You will find love and glory, and you will leave behind a legacy that is bigger than you can ever imagine," the Oracle said.

"Will my husband that I marry die before me in this lifetime? Will he be loyal to me and stay true to only me?" I asked.

"I suggest your Majesty to ask the man himself," she smiled as she looked at Jeff and back at me.

"How sincere can one be when an entire Kingdom is at stake? How loyal can one be when the power gets into their head?" I remarked to no one in particular.

"I know you doubt me, Your Majesty, you have every right to. Please grant me the chance to prove to you my sincerity and loyalty to you if you would just choose me," Jeff took my hands and I stood up to look up at him.

My heart beat so fast I thought it would jump out from my chest. Jeff smiled as he tightened his grip on my hands.

"Can I dare to ask Your majesty to announce our engagement before your coming of age ceremony to keep the suitors away?" Jeff suggested.

"That would invite war!!!" I exclaimed.