“Did you have fun with Absalom, dearest?” Mother asked as soon as I was walking in the door.
“Yes, Mum,” I replied, still light headed.
“Well we are just about to sup so wash up and come to the table.” I went upstairs to the bathroom door where Joy was just coming out. She had been married to some strange fellow named Egan, which I thought suiting for Joy, because his name means ardent or fiery.
She still smelled heavily of perfume, the fume part being most noticeable. I wondered how she’d been getting so much of the reeking stuff.
I cleansed my hands and gazed a minute out the petite window, loving the beginning of summer. Today was my birthday, I was sixteen, and Absalom had given me an emerald necklace that he said his great, great grandmamma had worn on her wedding, a new, sleek mahogany bow, and two-dozen swift arrows with feathers that had been plucked from Absalom’s cousin’s pet eagle. Mum and Joy had been planning a party, Mum with extra enthusiasm. Mum had been super-exuberant ever since Absalom had begun courting me.
I walked down the stairs and sat at the dining table, tracing the lines in the wood table that told how old the tree had been when it had been cut down. I had counted to twenty-one when Mum asked, “Aren’t you going to eat your dinner?”
I looked up. Mother, Joy, and Egan stared back. “Yes.” I picked up my fork and put food in my mouth. I was still reveling in the memory of Absalom’s kiss.
After we supped, Mum told me to close my eyes, and she led me to the drawing room. Then she told me to open my eyes, and lolling on the couch was a dazzling, deep green evening dress and a striking pair of shoes to match. There was a harmonizing pair of emerald earrings. I thought of how wonderfully that would go with the necklace Absalom had given me. Next to that was an elfin, jade bottle of perfume. I wonder who got me that.
Setting on the table was a homemade cake and a card. I grinned, pleasing Mum, and picked up the card first.
“Dear Aigneis,
I got you the dress and shoes, Joy made the cake and got you the perfume, and Egan bought you those lovely earrings. Happy fifteenth birthday, and many wishes of good fortune.
With love,
Mother.”
I rushed to hug Mother, dealt a briefer embrace to Joy (who still stunk as a skunk stinks), and politely thanked Egan. Then I exclaimed about the extravagant ball gown, fondled the delicate vile of body spray (who knows, it might smell okay, especially since I use my fragrances in limits), marveled over the shoes, and joyously put on the earrings. After some time, we ate the cake, and I complimented Joy for it. Then Joy and Egan left for their dwelling. I thanked Mother again and took my riches to my room.
*
The sun shone down on the chariot that carried me to Absalom’s residence the next day. I was wearing the gown, necklace, earrings, and perfume (which actually did smell nice in adequate quantities). There was to be a celebration for Absalom’s older brother, Evan VII, who would be crowned as his father, King Evan VI, was sixty-five. The bright green trees flaunted their magnificence, waving slightly in the light breeze. Up the curved, dirt road I rode in the chariot, bumping along the way. Then we were on the top of the hill, and the royal palace seemed to leap out of nowhere. It was surrounded with a grand stable, and a practice field where the archers and swordsman improved their skill, where I longed to be.
But the main focus was the palace, whose turrets seemed to touch the sky, and the windows were all as long and wide as three grown man are tall. And there, in the massive doorway, waiting for me, was Absalom, a wicker basket in hand.
He grinned up to me as the chariot came to a halt, and I toppled down into his arms. “Wow,” said he, “you look amazing. Are you ready for the fair?”
“Why else would I come?” I laughed. He smiled. We walked hand in hand to the fairgrounds, where food was selling in stands, art was being shown, plays presented, and music recited. For food there were sandwiches, potatoes, hot cakes, and Irish coffee. We lunched happily, basking in the perfect weather, enjoying the company.
When we finished, Absalom lead me to a quiet corner of this giant bundle of activity and spake, “ever since yesterday, when we kissed, I’ve thought of you even more than usual, which is quite often, indeed. I love you, and I’ve come to a decision that I have longed to make for quite a while now.” Absalom swung onto one knee, into a kneeling position. He drew a small black box from within his shirt pocket, and opened it before I could blink. I gasped.
“Will you marry me?” The diamond ring sparkled at me, beckoning me to try it on.
And the whole world paused. The breeze froze, the birds quieted their call, the fair noises halted, and Absalom and I were alone, suspended in a bubble in a moment of time.
He wants to marry me? We’ve just had our first kiss and he wants to marry me? I’m only sixteen! I’m not even . . . oh wait now, I am of age. And he’s of age, and we’ve been going out for five whole months… and if his kiss can affect me like how it did, it must be real love. His kiss…
“Yes,” I breathed. My stomach twisted in pleasure. I grinned from ear to ear. Absalom beamed. Then the world tipped back in place. The breeze came back to life, and the birds continued their song as if nothing had happened, and yet, their song seemed more blissful, and the wind seemed softer and light. The sun appeared to have brightened, the fair seemed more chipper, and even the grass and trees seemed to have more brilliant color.
“Come,” said my fiancé, lifting me up in his arms, “let us announce our decision at the celebration! When shall we be wed? Shall we tie the knot sooner or later?” he conversed animatedly.
“Um . . . may we have some time to make up our minds?” I said with delight.
“Sure, sure,” said he. He stopped, and his emotional green eyes looked to me with obvious reverence. “When would you like to have our wedding?”
“How about September twenty-first? It's the first day of fall. We can be married when the trees put on their color show.”
“Perfect,” said my love, smiling fondly down on me, making my heart soar. “Come, the festivities have just begun. We’ll announce our engagement after Evan is crowned.”
We flowed toward the massive throne, the distance shedding away faster than I had thought possible. Time just leapt away. A crowd of around one hundred, thousand people thronged in the area, and the old king, Crown Prince Evan VII, and his princes bride from England stood side by side at the front, where the two thrones and all their glory sat.
Absalom’s presence immediately parted a path through the crowd, and he rushed me through it. He told me to wait in the front of the crowd, and then stood on the other side of his father. When he was in place, the king spoke.
“Let it be said that the new king is King Evan the Seventh!” he said, then took from his head the royal crown, and placed it on the rightful king’s head. A fine queen’s crown was put on Mrs. Evan.
“LONG LIVE KING EVAN!
LONG LIVE KING EVAN!
LONG LIVE KING EVAN!” chanted the crowd. The new rulers sat upon their thrones, and a cheer went up. When the noise at length quieted, Absalom spoke.
“And to add to our elation today, I would like to introduce my fiancé, Aigneis Eileen!” As I walked to stand beside Absalom, another cheer broke out, but something intervened.
“Silence!” shouted a coarse voice. An angry crowd turned to its source, near the doors. My heart caught in my throat. Damon stood with five female Stings and the MTGYA flanking him.
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