Chapter 1
Chapter One
Juniper
There was something strange filtering through the air, a feeling of incandescence and excitement bubbled in the pit of Junipers’ stomach. Her body was full of nervous jitters, she had to sit on her hands to stop from fiddling with anything she could grab.
Finding a large basket stowed on their doorstep early this morning hadn’t helped at all, she had noticed it on the way out when she went to fetch a loaf of bread for her Mother, calling out its arrival before she left but was perplexed to find it still sitting there, flowers wilting in the morning sun when she got back.
It was a beautiful woven basket with large bright yellow sunflowers and a rolled up piece of parchment with what she suspected was the royal seal nestled amongst the large yellow petals – a letter.
After looking left and right, wondering why it hadn’t been touched by passers-by or her Mother for that matter, she picked it up by the handle, it was a lot heavier than she anticipated and she struggled through the narrow doorway into the kitchen wrestling with the loaf under her arm
Her Mother rolled her eyes when she seen it. “Put that cursed thing back will you. Whatever the King wants, it will not be favorable for us.”
“Are you not the least bit curious?” Juniper eyed the parchment again and her Mother sighed.
“Give the blasted thing here.” She dusted her hands on her pinny and broke the deep green seal on the letter, eyes whipping back and forth quickly. Her Mother was very apt at reading, she had taught June how to read when she was small. None of the other kids on her block knew how to read as well as her – you didn’t need to know how to read to know how to breed one of her friends used to say.
After what felt like two lifetimes her Mother sighed again, saddened. Her shoulders slumped and she lowered her head, leaving the room.
Junipers’ eyes followed her and then her hands immediately reached for the parchment cast aside.
Dearest Margret Wilder.
I do hope this letter finds you well and that your period of mourning is not too encumbering.
I, King Fabien, request your presence in my court.
A carriage will be waiting for you tomorrow upon morning light, bring your most treasured belongings and nothing else.
King Fabien
Curious. She thought “The King is kidnapping us.” She muttered out loud.
“Hush your mouth sweet child. There are ears everywhere.” She looked around their tiny kitchen like people were listening in on them.
“Why does he want us there, I don’t understand.”
“Sometimes, the less we understand – the better.”
It was clear that she was in no mood to answer Junipers’ questions, even though she had at least a dozen swirling around in her head. Not to mention that feeling again, burbling away in her stomach like a brook in the Felder Mountains.
See Junipers’ Father had been not long in the ground – one and two days in fact – and she saw the invitation as an insult for this was still a time of deep mourning
How dearly she missed her Father.
His sweet smell of bread and water biscuits as he came to say goodnight each bedtime, only just making it home from closing his bakery. He worked hard for the little money he earnt but he always made it home to say goodnight – except when he hadn’t.
Juniper blinked back tears of the memory, his moustache always tickled her cheek as he kissed her goodnight.
She quickly snapped back to reality, eyes refocusing on her Mother at the bench.
“Go and get some rest, sweet Juniper. Tomorrow is a big day.” Her Mother went back to pottering in the kitchen. “Wear that blue dress. I will tie you in. Go and get ready for bed.” She nodded her head in the direction of the door.
Junes’ legs moved automatically, but not towards her bedroom – it was only mid afternoon at best and she definitely was not tired after reading the Kings’ letter.
She slipped out the front door and down a side alley towards the docks. So many questions swirled around in her head;
Does he want to marry my Mother?
What if he wants to marry ME?!
What will happen to me?
Will I become royalty?
Will I be allowed to see my friends again?
Will I be allowed to see Marcus again? – This thought stung.
One last thought swirled around and around like a fly in her tea;
Are the rumors about the Prince true?
Her legs ran towards the square by the docks where she found her friends playing cards beside several overflowing garbage can.
Lilly looked up, her face paled “June, you look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Juniper gulped and sat beside her, ignoring the putrid air emanating from the garbage. Marcus started to deal her in, his long fingers flicking over each card faster than she could keep up counting.
As she looked up, she was met with four faces staring at her expectantly.
“Well?” Kyle asked. “What’s happened Juney?” Marcus elbowed him, only he called her that.
Juniper cleared her throat and attempted to speak. “My M-Mo.” Her voice cracked. Expectant looks became worried. She tried again, “My Mother received a letter today,” She paused, clearing her throat again. “From the King.”
“The King!” Both Lilly and Olivia exclaimed.
“What did it say?” Olivia asked eagerly.
Juniper took a deep breath and held it, letting it slowly filter out the corners of her mouth, Marcus was eyeing her with a worried look.
“He has requested my Mother at Court.” Through gritted teeth she finished, “Permanently.” The letter did not say this, but nobody who had been called to Court, had left.
Eyebrows shot up on every face, even Kyle who’d been acting casual and counting his cards.
“Old Margret, knew she still had it in her.” Lilly elbowed Kyle hard, ignoring his protest.
“Wow, I guess that means –”
“I will be going as well. Yes” Juniper nodded, both the girls nodded back. Silence.
“When do you leave?” Lilly asked finally.
Juniper looked over at Marcus. He was fiddling with the corner of one of his cards, not willing to look at her even though her eyes begged him to.
“Tomorrow morning.” She said finally, Kyle let out a surprised whistle and finally, Marcus looked at her. Eyeing her, she couldn’t tell what he was thinking. His dark blonde hair flopped over one of his eyes and he shook his head to move it.
Marcus was the son of a local butcher – one that also had his eye on Juniper’s Mother – though he hadn’t of been so bold as to make a move towards her one and two days after the death of her Father. But he was not the King of the Felder.
“So, you’ve come to say goodbye.” He said finally, his voice firm, unemotional.
Juniper gave a quick nod.
Lilly jumped in first, hugging onto the side of her. “We will miss you June, but you’re only up there.” She motioned up towards the hill behind them. “You can still visit, oh! Maybe WE can come visit.” Olivia squealed beside her, they started discussing what they would wear to the court of the King, when they visited their best friend.
Like that would ever be allowed to happen. Juniper thought miserably.
Kyles’ face was unchanged, he couldn’t care less if she wanted him to. Marcus however, his eyes bore into her and he stood abruptly. Juniper stood silently and followed him watching him stalk off towards the now empty docks.
The sun was starting to settle on the edge of the water, its golden, red hue radiating across the once blue waters.
“This was a mistake.” He said simply.
Juniper stood behind him, facing his back with a lump in her throat. “What? No..” She whispered.
“Yes.” He said with certainty and turned to her. “You and I, this was a mistake. It’s probably a good thing you are leaving. It won’t be so hard on you now.” His face remained neutral when the words fell out of his mouth. Surely he didn’t mean them. Surely.
“You don’t mean that.” Juniper echoed her thoughts, pleading with her eyes but his eyes were expressionless, golden brown pools of nothing.
“I really do. I’ve felt this way for a while now.” He whispered, pausing for a minute in thought, like he had something else to say but he remained silent not even giving her one last look before he disappeared from her sight.
She stared out at the water, the sun dipping below now radiating the whole sky with orange light. She felt hands on her back and then the sweet scent of Olivia close to her.
“Sorry June.” She mumbled.
“Please write to us.” Lilly whispered in her other ear giving her another hug.
Juniper held onto them until they were gone, unable to shift her feet still long after they had disappeared.
