2 Unexpected Reunion

Emilya was being suffocated as people kept piling up on top of each other, trying to get the best view as they waited for the gates to open. The Drakean Manor only ever opened its gates and admitted civilians onto its grounds during the festivities like the Nights Dance. Though they never let civilians in the Manor itself, most of the Tallavians didn't care. Many of the people crowding the Ritundi streets right now were from the smaller islands. Islands without cities which were mostly consistent of farms and fishing villages, but those that could afford it would come to the city to enjoy the festivities, along with folks from other city islands. Even though city islands tended to throw their own festivities, making it easier for those citizens to stay home and celebrate, most of them enjoyed being in the presence of the Royals themselves. Because it was said that you never truly celebrated the Nights Dance Festival until you celebrated it in Ritundi.

The Tallavian people never cared too much that they were never allowed in the Drakean Manor itself, they were just happy to be on the grounds. The Ritundi citizens never bothered much with that rule either because they weren't ordinary civilians, as many of them were of military ranking or the upper class, and were allowed into the Manor, with permission from King Kimiro.

Kimiro was the General during the war many years ago that helped free Tallava from its oppressing neighbors. After they won and had to set up a new form of government it was unanimously handed over to Kimiro to rule. He was outstanding in battle and many thought of him as the key to their victory, his strategic planning always kept the enemies at bay and focused heavily on keeping his troops unscaved. It was for this that the Tallavians loved him and made him their leader. This was also what lead Kimiro to be called King by civilians and General by military. His days in the service might be long over but those in command of the military fleets still consulted him with many of the bigger plans or issues that they might have had.

The guards at the gates didn't seem to mind the crowd, their orders where to not let anyone in until the ceremony was ready to start. That wouldn't be for another hour, the Ritundi citizens were being allowed entrance but that was through a different gate. Emilya was being pushed into the main gate, her only thoughts were that the ceremony would start soon so she could breathe again. Just as she was getting used to the pressure of the people on her back, something pushed at her from the side. "Oh! Excuse me, there's not much room left. I am sorry." Emilya tried to move to the side for the person but really didn't have much room to go to. She looked over to see who had pushed her, and was shocked. This person was filthy! It seemed like they haven't bathed in weeks, though no scent came from them. It was still enough for her to try and get farther away from them.

Daymeon made his way to the main gate, satisfied that the officers where long lost in the crowd behind him. He had to push his way through the crowd, not caring that he was getting vulgar shouts and grumbles from disapproving people. As he pushed the last person aside he froze as they said 'Excuse me.' He slowly turned his head and was looking into the face of an angel, she was rather small and lean with long dark hair and beautiful amber-green eyes. It was at this point he recognized her. "Hey you are that girl from earlier!"

Emilya wasn't sure if she should be disgusted or scared that some filth like him recognized her. But as she looked at his face she lightened up a bit and let her posture relax. He wasn't actually that bad looking, he just needed a bath and some decent clothes. His current outfit was just some torn up dark brown and black rags that looked like he just threw together. His hair was a greasy mess of brown locks, but it did look like he tried to care for it. And his eyes where a beautiful blue-green that seemed to have some spark of rebellion or freedom in them. The way this guy held himself made her think that he chose this seemingly rogue lifestyle.

"It's the Prince!" Someone from the crowd shouted, this caused an uproar from the rest of them. The pushing and shoving grew worse.

Emilya didn't have any time left to ponder over this seemingly nobody. She was straining her neck and standing on her tippy-toes, as she pressed her face into the gate, trying to see Prince Nykrum. It didn't take long for her to see him as he walked out of the Manor and was making his way over to them.

Daymeon heard someone shout and grumbled under his breath, the angel he had spoken to had lost interest in him and was looking for the Prince. He didn't know why he felt slightly hurt by this, he was used to being unseen. He was always in the shadows and liked it that way. He sighed as he had to let himself except the fact this girl would never be interested in him. It was obvious that she was from one of the small fishing islands from the way she was dressed. Even though she may not have gotten the best pick for a partner it would definitely be better than a thief. He was of the lowest of low according to the Tallavian class system. The only reason he still roamed the streets of Ritundi was because he was good at what he did and had never been caught.

Normally Outcasts and Thieves of his low caste status were arrested in Ritundi. This wasn't the same for all the islands, but on the mainlands they were extremely harsh on them. The mainland was the hub for all of the military bases on Tallava and held the highest population of upper class civilians on them. It was because of this that it ironically became the only hope of work or a living for Daymeon and his lower class brethren. There was always dirt within the upper class, and they loved nothing more than good gosip. Wanting to know their fellow classes deepest darkest secrets. So they would easily buy up the lingering lowest class citizens for this job. No one cared if they were jailed or killed, so they became the perfect spies. The military even had a few themselves, but they never lasted long and if they needed more they would just get them from the jails. There was always an abundance of unwanted anyway.

Daymeon took a step back and let someone from the crowd step in front of him, he held his position though and didn't let anyone else around him. He needed some cover so the Prince and his guards wouldn't see him. Once the gates opened he could easily sneak off and escape. Though he caught his eyes wandering towards that girl again as he saw her trying so hard to keep sight of the prince as he walked from the Manor. This simple girl had him captivated, and he couldn't understand why. "Who is she?" He mumbled under his breath as he watched her.

The guards soon stood at attention as they saw Prince Nykrum make his way over to them. "My lord!" They both bowed as the Prince came up to them.

"What brings you here my lord? The celebration isn't to be announced for another hour?" The first guard, who seemed to be the captain spoke up.

"You are right Willson, the party doesn't start for another hour. But this year my father and I have agreed to do something special. I am sure you and your guards are aware of the new plans, correct?" Prince Nykrum said as he eyed the crowd at the gate.

"Oh yes! Sorry my lord! There must have been a clerical error from the secretary, I will make sure to straighten this out with her personally. I had been on the assumption that this would happen when the celebration was announced. My apologies, lord." The captain bowed again to show his sincerity.

"Oh there is no need to get her involved, she was correct. I just didn't want to wait for another hour and decided that I will do this now." Prince Nykrum gave him a small smile then walked over to the gate as the guard captain had his companions help him quite down the crowd.

Unlike everyone else who was shouting and yelling, even that girl seemed to be in this spirit as well, Daymeon was straining to listen to the conversation between Nykrum and the guards. He knew their tricks, even though the shouting and screaming made it hard to hear, the parts of the conversation he could pick up concerned him. They had never done anything outside of the normal celebration routine for twenty years. They had tried a few new things since the start of the Nights Dance festival, but that all blended into what the festival was now. So what was this new 'special' thing they were adding to the celebrations?

"May I have your attention please!" Prince Nykrum held up his arms as he spoke and the crowd instantly quieted and settled down. No one moved as they stood there captivated. Daymeon was the only one who didn't seem to care that the prince was in his presence.

Emilya was speechless, the prince was right in front of her. She could reach out and touch him if she had the nerve too. He didn't seem to notice her though, which made her feel slightly hurt. But she was just some island girl after all, the only reason she was even noticed on her island was because of her father's lead over their town. He was a retired military captain and married down a caste to be with her mother, but he was still military so the people elected him to be governor for their town. How could the prince of Tallava even bother to notice her. Just because her family was military didn't mean her fathers rank was high enough to even be able to walk in the presence of royalty when they where on base. Her father did his mandatory service and then retired, he never had a higher position than Captain.

"I am so glad you are all here today, and that you have traveled from your homes to celebrate the Nights Dance Festival here with us! Ritundi welcomes you! If you will all be patient the gates will open soon. This is a day of marry! Let us not shove and bark like animals. Patients my friends." Prince Nykrum emphasized the point of staying calm like they where now, it was obvious he didn't like the shouting and behavior they had before. Though as Prince he was used to the easily excited citizens that came from the islands. "This Nights Dance Festival will be a very special and exciting one. And it will start with one special female guest from your crowd here!"

This caused murmurs to start up in the crowd, though they never dare raise their volume higher than that. The prince didn't seem to mind as she scanned the crowd at the front gate and smiled as he saw a young girl standing in awe as she was pressed into the gate. He walked over to stand in front of her.

"Hello my lovely Dragon's leaf, who might you be?" He took the females hand and kissed the back of it, as he bowed slightly to her.

Emilya was blushing profusely as the Prince had walked up to her and kissed her hand as he called her a lovely flower. Dragon's leaf was a rare flower that only grew on three of the islands closer to Tallava's equator. They were practically harvested out of existence, and very temperamental to grow outside their three islands. So the lands were bought by the royals and no one was allowed to live there and no one was allowed to go there without permission. There were still smugglers who sought after the flower. After all the legend behind this mysterious purple-red lavender like flower said that the couple to be able to own and maintain one of these was bound to have everlasting love. Many have tried and that lead to the flowers destruction. Others have used it to make love potions or other seemingly medical poultices, but none of it ever worked. Though it didn't stop people from trying. So being called a Dragon's leaf was pretty much the same as the prince calling her the 'love of his life.'

"My….My… I'm Emilya, my lord." She bowed clumsily as she tried to collect herself, feeling a bit embarrassed about her actions.

The Prince chuckled slightly at her. "There is no need to be bashful my dear. I am a citizen like you. I may be of a higher class but are we not all the same in the end?" He nodded to the guards to open the gates for her. "Would you like to come with me to the Manor?"

Emilya gasped and quickly covered her mouth. "I would really be allowed into the Manor?"

The Prince laughed slightly and nodded as the gates opened for her and the guards stood at the entrance, not admitting anyone else. "Why of course. …. Well that is if you would do at least one thing for me?"

"What would that be my lord?" Emilya asked as she let the guards lead her through the gate.

"Be my wife." The Prince said. "I wanted to announce that I would be picking a wife later, but as I told my guards before I just couldn't wait."

Emilya was frozen to the spot, speechless. This was any Tallavian girl's dream, but now that it happened to her she was too shocked to even speak the words 'yes'.

Daymeon couldn't stand it anymore, after he watched Nykrum walk up to the woman who he looked at as an angel his body filled with rage. He didn't like the way the prince was scanning over the crowd as he spoke to his guards, his eyes always falling to the woman. Emilya, this was the girls name. It was such a beautiful name to him. Daymeon had to snap himself out of his thoughts as he heard the crowd gast and he looked over to see Emilya standing in the gate, frozen. He had missed the question the prince had asked her, but quickly figured it out as the crowd started to murmur and talk under their breaths as they all waited for her response.

Marriage! The prince actually wanted to marry her! This thought still rolled around in her head as she tried to comprehend what was happening. Before she could even say yes, after she had collected herself enough. Someone stepped up to her side and took her hand. "I am sorry but she will have to decline your offer." The person spoke, making the crowd and her gasp in shock. She turned in anger to see who had made her say no to this once in a lifetime offer, and to her bewilderment it was that guy from earlier who pushed his way to the front of the gate.

Daymeon had found himself pushing past the guards to stand at this woman's side. He didn't know why he was speaking up for her when she would never be his, but he knew that whatever the Prince was really planning he didn't want her to be a part of it. So he came out of hiding to proclaim this woman as his, knowing full well that it wouldn't end happily.

The Prince was scowling as he looked over to the filth that decided to speak against him, then laughed as he saw who the guy was. "Well, well. Have you finally found someone you like? You know you can't have her, just let her be with me. I might even spare you the jail sentence for talking back to your prince."

Emilya scowled at the man holding her hand, she was about to rip it away when she heard the prince speak and she froze. She looked back and forth from the two. It was obvious by the tone that there was a history here, making her forget her place in the middle of it.

Daymeon let go of Emilya's hand and stood in front of her, as the guards blocked his way to the prince. "I won't let you use her as well, Nykrum."

The prince sighed, "ohhh Daymeon, you had such potential back in the academy. It was a shame that these lies you were so obsessed with had ruined you, and cost your family their lives."

"Lies! You're the only one lying here!" Daymeon shouted.

"I grow bored of this, guards! Arrest him! He doesn't speak for this woman." Prince Nykrum gave this order with a wave of his wrist. The guards obayed and quickly went to grab him. Leaving everyone in shock from what was happening.