Reconciliation

Chapter Four

Sarah was very eager for the arrival of her friends, the next morning.

Queen Safana Ivory, had appeared in Sarah's dream the previous night.

Her beautiful mother was smiling at first, but as Sarah took a step towards her, she backed away with a grim expression on her face.

Sarah extended her hand, as if to ask her to stop, but her mother kept moving behind, her expression growing sullen.

Sarah didn't know how to think, how to even feel when she saw her mother, who she didn't even vividly remember.

Before she could actually contemplate what was happening, the queen vanished in thin air.

It was without a doubt a strange dream, and it invoked a feeling of uneasiness in her, but she forcefully shoved all her thoughts and fears aside for the time being, this was not the time to be dwelling on mere dreams.

Today was a special day for her and her friends and she didn't want anything to get in the way of that.

The moment she saw her friends arriving, she forgot all her anxiety.

She was waiting to receive them, with Beige and Arfina at the foot of the staircase, that led to the entrance inside the prestigious Great Hall.

The first to arrive, was the Jadelight carriage and out came Carroll with her attendant Bethany Fareton.

Carry, as Sarah had nicknamed her, was exceptionally stunning and was the perfect princess.

She was blessed with dusty gold hair, eyes, the colour of orchids and marble pale skin.

She was always very particular, about the way she dressed, walked and talked and kept dictating and correcting Sarah about it often.

She loved that quality of her friend and was always amused, when she was being chided by Carroll.

The moment the Jadelight princess stepped out of the carriage, Sarah bolted towards her and threw her arms around Carry.

"I'm so delighted to see you!" She exclaimed. "Likewise, sweet Sarah." Replied Carroll beaming at her.

Sarah was always excited about something, she always managed to uplift the mood of everyone around her and Carroll admired her lovely friend for it.

The Jadelight princess curtseyed at Beige and Arfina, lifting the skirts of her bottle green gown and then averted her attention back to Sarah, squinting her eyes, judging Sarah's wardrobe choice, dramatically with her chin resting on her knuckles.

Then after a few seconds Carrol smiled brightly, nodding her head in approval.

Sarah was wearing a dusky brown, netted gown, with her raven hair in a loose braid over her shoulder. "Yes Carry, I know you like this color on me." said Sarah.

She looked gratefully at Arfi, who had spent enough time on her dress, knowing Carry would never fail to critique.

Arfina gave her a silent thumbs up.

"All the jazzy welcome only for the princess, or do we get our share?" Asked a familiar impudent voice, from behind Carroll.

It belonged to Ilai Emberknight, who had arrived with Timothy Sapphire, in their respective carriages.

"Ilai, Tim!" Exclaimed Sarah joyously.

"I was expecting, petal showers and tears of gratitude." said Ilai cheekily, walking leisurely towards them.

"We have withered leaves." Offered Sarah in reply, making all of them laugh.

"Alright now princelings, let us head inside the castle." said Beige.

"Aye aye Captain!" said Ilai and Timmy kicked him fondly on his heel, making him stumble forward.

Both Ilai and Timothy were quite tall but then again, most people were taller than the petite Sarah.

"This place hasn't changed." observed Tim, while they were walking through the plush white corridors, laden with a scarlet carpet, towards her room.

Timothy wasn't very expressive and sociable, people who didn't know him would always mistake him for being very proud, but he was the kindest and the most tolerant of persons Sarah knew.

Tim was also very intelligent and an excellent strategist.

He loved imparting knowledge, to everyone around him.

He had fluffy, sandy blonde hair and pale, sharp features and his dark blue eyes, were always analysing something, or the other.

On the opposite end, Ilai was very affable, even though he too, didn't express much emotion, unless required.

He was an exemplary warrior and excelled at handling weaponry.

Possessing a very charming personality, he never missed opportunities of impressing people.

He flaunted, chestnut gold skin, rich brown hair and very unique, amber eyes, which had persevered from the Emberknight ancestry.

"I was so excited for today, that I couldn't sleep a wink yesterday." Carry said, squeezing Sarah's hand.

"We are meeting after quite a long time." Tim admitted.

"I slept more than required because I was excited." Ilai said, they all laughed.

"What do you all think of strange dreams?" Sarah suddenly asked, as they climbed the marble staircase to her room.

"That they are very strange." Ilai replied, very seriously.

"I think, they usually insinuate something, be it a warning or some future prediction," Timothy said, "when you decipher their meaning it could even help you in future." He finished.

"True, strange dreams are actually helpful sometimes, but they needn't always mean something." Carry suggested.

"What if, you don't understand them?" Sarah asked curiously.

"Then you forget about them and think about food." Ilai said.

"About food?" Carry asked confused.

"He's hungry." Sarah explained, as Carroll heaved a sigh.

"Ivory apples, are worth all these glares you're giving me Tim." Ilai smiled radiantly, at his friend.

"He's not wrong." Carroll giggled as they all joined in.

Sarah hoped her dream meant nothing, because if it did, then it was unlikely to be pleasant.