The Library
Everything stopped, people stood lifeless all around me, the men, the women, the birds, everything stood inanimate.
A sudden faint glow, of colours rose-pink and gold, lit up from among the people, each one still lifeless.
The light began to brighten as I approached the glare, almost to the point where I lost sight of everything around me. In the bright light, I paused, my eyes beginning to adjust.
As I got closer I tried my best to make out who wore this beautiful gem, walking forward more I could sort of identify the face, but I was in shock.
As my heart sprang back to life after being extinguished by this world, my hands trembled in disbelief, my breaths deepened. After that, she vanished.
I stopped.
Then stood before me, the most alluring thing I’d ever seen, everything in me wanted to touch it, no hesitant muscle in me.
All was still and quiet but for the sound of my heart beat and my subtle breaths.
The dewy grass stroked my ankles and the rays of sun brushes my cheeks, the winds blowing to the east carrying lush green leaves with it.
Everyone and everything once inanimate started to fade, as a lush garden began to emerge from the ground.
My eyes, despite all around me growing dimmer, were fixed on the radiant glow in front of me.
A large stone lay on the ground in the centre of the garden, the glow embossed inside it.
I reached out my hand to hold whatever that glow was.
It seemed to be a golden necklace, pink rose petals lay inside. I lifted it towards the sun to get a better look at all the beautiful details.
The necklace didn’t look man made, it looked like something that occurred out of the soil, the detail of which I believe no man or woman could achieve.
As if by magic, the necklace’s surface began to crack. Each petal was torn off its golden base and was blown away in the cold wind.
The sun was gone, and clouds were stitched across a dark blue sky, the winds blew as if it had been angered or disturbed.
Howls and roars emerged from behind me, the cold, dark air, quivering down my spine.
And all was still, dark, cold, and quiet. -
“Princess?”
“Princess Annora?”
“Morning, Cyra”, Annora greeted whilst rubbing her eyes.
“Good morning, Princess Anna”
“Happy Birthday, was the dream the cause of your sleeping in?”, Annora’s helper, Cyra, asked, whilst pouring Annora’s tea.
“Correct, I have the same dream every year on my birthday.”
“The process of maturation does make me notice more details every year, and it feels more and more real every time”, said Annora, her voice full of enthusiasm.
Annora got out of bed and pulled the curtains open, the bright morning sun brushed her cheeks. She made her way to her closet room, and picked out her favourite outfit to wear for her birthday.
Annora wore a beautiful pastel yellow dress, with lace butterflies and iridescent sequins, the dress which she tailored with her best friend from Edwina, has a butterfly applique and empire waist. A slight opening is present in the back of the top tulle layer.
It is known of only two dresses of this type, one worn by Annora and one by the princess of Edwina, her best friend. It is expected that Matilda, the princess of Edwina, will arrive soon. As it’s Princess Annora’s birthday, she’ll be there to celebrate.
After hearing the doorbell, Annora rushed down the stairs, thinking it was Matilda. Once downstairs she was greeted by her uncle, the current ruler of Lucien, Flint Grey.
He began his reign upon the disappearance of his sister, Queen Astoria, when she left, he seized power over Lucien. According to some, she ran away during the wars, while others claim she was killed. Whatever your theory, Astoria hasn’t been seen since Annora was born. Her magical necklace gone with her.
The kingdom searched for her necklace for months, and months quickly became years. According to legend, she scattered all seven shards of her necklace across many kingdoms, no one knows for sure, and no one is brave enough to search for all seven.
“Morning dear princess, happy 17th birthday, my darling.”, Flint greeted.
“Say good-morning and happy birthday to your cousin, Diora”
“Ugh, happy birthday, Annora.”, Diora said in a rather rude tone.
“Thank you Uncle, thank you cousin.”
“In just one more year, I’ll finally take my place a Queen of Lucien”, She exclaimed in excitement.
Diora and Flint look at each other and begin to laugh.
“It seems to me that I am a little confused, help me to understand what amuses you both,” said Annora in a stern voice.
“No need to get mad Ann, were just joking, now go answer the door.” suggested Flint, giggling again with Diora.
“After all it’s probably your tiny little warrior princess friend, I’ll have Cyra bring snacks to your entertainment room.”
“I would prefer it in my bedroom, my entertainment room gets no sunlight this time of day”, Annora said, whist putting on her shoes.
“I would have allowed you to use my showroom, but I have invited princesses who prefer make-up to sword and dagger.”
“Father, I will be up in my room, I’m going to have a bath before my friends get here.” Diora chuckles, while leaving the foyer, where they were all seated.
“Alright, my love.”
“Annora, I will have Cyra bring it to your bedroom then, you go get the door, your poor friend has been waiting forever.”, Said flint, as he grabs a glass of water from the glass centre table.
Annora braids her hair in a beautiful style, she puts on her crown and leaves towards the front door.
“Hi hi, Ann!”
“I have not seen you since I studied here in your kingdom, the education in Edwina was not the best back then, my sister saw to it that in improved since though.”
“It’s good but that meant I had to study back in Edwina.”
“Anyways, how has life been here in Lucien, I missed you and your beautiful kingdom.”, Matilda spoke, with such excitement. She could not stop herself from talking, as she has no real friends back in Edwina.
“It’s so nice to see you again, Mills!!” ,Annora screams gladly.
“Life in Lucien is great, same as usual though, everyone always busy.”
“Sounds like the Lucien I know.” Matilda giggled.
“Look what I’ve brought with me, my wrist knives.” She says as she pulls up her sleeve revealing her hidden weapon.
“Whoa!!” Annora yells in awe.
“Come, I’ll show you to our room, its the same as when you left last time, although I’m aware of your indecisive nature and I’ve asked Cyra to escort us to the Golden Gates Interior Store, Its the most popular furniture and decorative store in Lucien.”
“Ah, I love you, Annora Rose Hope!!” Matilda screams in excitement.
“Awh, I love you too, Matilda Maye Hunter!” Annora replies.
“I heard that the founder of Golden Gates is from Carlow, everyone there is so cute and charming, very creative too!” Says Matilda.
“Where did you hear about that, you have never been to Carlow, or have you?” Asked Annora.
“No no, I have never been to Carlow although I do dream of going, I was taught about it in history class back in Edwina.” Matilda said.
“Have you not done history, I thought all the kingdoms students have to take classes on the subjects?”
“Yes that is true that all the students must learn history, and I really want to but Flint forbid me from entering any libraries or taking any classes about it in school.” Annora sighed.
“That is really suspicious, we should dig into this more.”
Matilda exclaimed.
“Into what? I’m quite lost.” asked Annora.
“Ann, you want to tell me that not once have you found it suspicious that you are not permitted to go somewhere as subtle as a library and can not take any history classes?”
“Maybe you are correct, Mills.”
“Maybe?!” “I’ll have you know I’m always correct when it comes to mysteries like this one!”
“Sorry, sorry.” “So what do we do?”
“We go to the palace library, and find the history book of your kingdom. We only need to find the modern history, sometime in the last 50-100 years.”
“Fine, but we must not get caught, we can go in the night.” “I’ll have Cyra come with us, she was my mothers helper and became mine when she vanished, she is like a mother to me, she wont tell Flint.”
The girls hurried into Annora’s room, and there they foresaw how they would sneak into the castle library.
