II. A wonderful story, don't you think?

Dedicated to Aniqah Inas

Nä-ræl walked out slowly from father's chambers. She trudged on watching the guards as they stood in their various positions.

She silently wondered what her betrothed looked like. Maybe she could ask Past, but then these supernaturals always answered questions vaguely especially Farah who had answers to everything.

She sighed and walked faster and as she approached her chambers the guards situated there opened the large double wooden doors for her.

'Thank you.' She whispered but the guards only looked forward blankly as if they were out under a spell to be quiet at all times and only to follow orders.

Her personal slave who was the closest thing she had to a female friend stood at the head of the queen sized bed with her hands behind her back.

'Milady.' Äalna greeted with a small curtsey.

'Oh please stop with the formalities.' Nä-ræl said while sitting at the edge of her bed and placing the newly begun knitted fabric beside her.

'I can see you made progress today.' Äalna commented.

Nä-ræl scoffed.

'You had better get ready for the ball tonight.' Äalna said after a few minutes passed in silence.

'Ball? What ball?'

'Your first suitors ball milady. The queen organized a weekly ball for you in case you find an eligible young bachelor to seek your hand in marriage.'

She scoffed once more. 'Or you mean my mother finds one for me. I thought my mother and father just discussed these thing this evening why...'

'It happens that our queen likes to plan things ahead of time.' Äalna said cutting her off.

'Dear me what has gotten into that woman's head. Planning balls in the castle without my father's consent. Soon enough she'll start planning wars without his consent.'

Äalna managed to stifle her laughter by concealing it with a cough.

'Milady you should get prepared. I'll call on your...'

'Suit yourself.' Nä-ræl cut her off.

*+*+*+*+*

Nä-ræl walked out of her room slowly, careful not to make her dress catch on anything.

She wore a blue strapless dress whose crinoline was very huge that it made the dress extra puffy and uncomfortable. In her left hand she carried silver hand fan and in her right hand a small silver beaded purse which contained absolutely nothing save for a handkerchief.

Two of her chambermaids walked behind her quietly, careful not to step on the flowing end of her gown. They trudged on in silence until they reached the grand hall in which the ball was to take place.

*+*+*+*+*

The ball was crowded with dancing maidens who were seeking for eligible bachelor's and a handful of gossiping ladies.

On the table stood assorted foods, drinks, snacks and fruits.

Rapha carried a basket of fruits and refilled the empty baskets on the tables. He moved from table to table doing his bidding - careful not to bump into anyone or spill anything. He knew what happened the last time.

He shuddered at the thought.

Just then the music stopped and the orchestra began playing.

Rapha looked up from what he was doing to see what was going on.

'Presenting the princess of the kingdom - Nä-ræl.' The announcer said in a very formal voice, void of any emotion.

Just then the princess walked in. Beauty radiated from her like the sun shining on new metal.

Her brunette hair was straightened and her tiara rested in her head perfectly. She smiled softly and gave a little gesture with her hand fan.

Rapha never understood this gesture. He never understood the fan language of the nobles or was it girls in general?

He had no idea.

All he knew was that she was a beauty. The most beautiful woman he ever set his eyes on.

He wished for a dance with her, not that he could dance. He just wanted to but he knew that it wasn't possible.

She was a noble and he was a mere servant.

Nä-ræl's eyes swept over the crowd trying to spot Captain Œrlān her very good friend.

Her eyes rested on a servant. His black and white uniform had stains if wine on it. His hair was a little bit messy and rough. She felt like she should run her hands through his hair.

The both realized that they were staring at each other so they looked away immediately, Nä-ræl's cheek turning fifty shades darker with pink.

Rapha had a little tint on pink on his cheekbones.

'Milady.' Captain Œrlan, a man with well built muscles who was in his thirties came forward and kissed the princess's hand bowing a little

'Captain Œrlan.' She curtsied stiffly as the crinoline refused to allow her to bend her knees properly from under the dress.

Just then a Duke's son, for she could tell because of the family's crest seen on his tailcoat, came forward.

'Milady,' he bowed stiffly. 'I am Ærtle (pronounced as arh-l) the son of the Duke of Ɓɍūnia. May I have the honor of having your first dance with you?'

From the corner of her eye she saw mother giving her a look that meant she had better say yes.

Nä-ræl was popularly known for refusing to dance which made her mother Nä-tashâ furious with her always.

'Yes.' She said smiling sweetly.

It's scary what a smile can hide.

Throughout her first dance Nä-ræl managed to keep her smile intact.

She was grateful for the crinoline that out a great distance between them but at the same time she wished it wasn't there so that she'd step on his fine shoes as much as she liked.

She looked impassively ahead. Once more her eyes met those of the servant with a dark neck length hair that almost hit his shoulders once more.

She imagined him in a royal outfit dancing merrily with her. Time passed by slowly and she soon became tired of her seventh dance with Ærtwhat'shisname? She tried as much as she could to imagine the handsome servant in his place.

'....and then the kingdom of Hr̃uɠh was set free. A wonderful story don't you think?' Ærtle asked Nä-ræl whose attention was somewhere else.

'Milady?' he called out.

'Yes.' She looked at him quickly.

Confused she quickly said.

'Oh yes..yes... Indeed.'

But Nä-ræl made up her mind to do one thing.

*+*+*+*+*+*

Rapha stood in the midst of trees and flowers just returning from the palace in the garden he grew up in.

The garden in which he lived in all his life.

The king and queen were nice enough to allow him to live in the little cottage in the princess's garden as far as he cared for the garden and served them well. The garden the princess never visited, or at least he had never seen her there.

His dark prince-like hair fluttered in the evening breeze as he stood observing his hard work.

The garden was indeed beautiful. At the bottom of the garden was a waterfall which flowed down into a crystal clear stream. Fruit trees grew in the garden along side rambler roses and vibes which clung to them like their life depended on it.

He walked towards one of the apple trees and began to inspect. Tiny green apples were forming on one of the trees. His fingers caressed the apples lovingly like they were his children.

Soon enough he'll be plucking these apples to take to the palace alongside other fruits.

The seedless green grapes were already getting fat. The purple ones were just beginning to grow.

He sat down on the ground resting his back on the apple tree taking care not to destroy any if the rambler roses that clung to it.

He ran his head through his hair, a habit he was yet to stop. His fingers created an unknown pattern he was used to drawing in the soil beside him. He stared at the drawing intently trying to remember where he had seen it. He had been drawing it since he had begun living in the garden but couldn't place where with was from or where he learnt it from.

He squinted at it, hoping he will remember. He had asked Farah countless times but all she said was "All in due time.'

When he asked Time the answer was. 'It will soon come together.'

He became completely oblivious to his surroundings as he thought of the ball in the palace, how he wished he could attend one someday but not as a servant, unaware that someone somewhere was watching his every move.

*+*+*+*+*+*