“Yes dear, that would be fine.” Margie answered, fussing with the dress as she hung it.
Luna walked over to the wardrobe and opened it. She could barely contain a chuckle as she saw that all of the clothes had indeed been pressed and hung. Her pajama pants had a crease from being ironed, they looked pristine. It was almost a shame that Luna was going to wrinkle them up while she slept.
Quickly she dressed herself in her warm pajama pants and an old t-shirt that her mom had packed for her, she wondered what else had been in the school bag.
“Margie?” Luna poked her head out of the wardrobe, “Where are the other things from the bag?” She asked.
“Top drawer.” Margie answered, coming to help, “Some strange stuff you brought too.” She added, her eyes going wide as she pulled open the drawer for Luna.
Luna stared at the contents, some cookies, a few bottles of water, extra shoes and undergarments. And the notebook. Luna reached for the notebook and the pack of cookies.
“This is perfect.” She stared at the book, tucking the cookies under her arm as she walked to the table where Margie had laid out the tea.
“What is it miss?” Margie seemed confused.
“Here.” Luna set the cookies on the table and opened them, “Treats from Earth.” She offered them to Margie with a smile, flipping open the notebook.
It was perfect, with her mom’s notes and Margie there to help. Luna might be able to answer some of her own questions before she met the King in the morning.
She had time to be prepared.
Margie and Luna talked well into the night, and when Luna finally laid down to get some sleep, there were no nightmares waiting behind her closed eyes.
CHAPTER NINE
“Lady Blackwater…” The voice drifted into Luna’s dreams, waking her. She opened her eyes and saw Margie standing beside the bed with a tray in her hands.
“Is it morning already?” Luna rolled over, trying to adjust to the strange surroundings. Light was spilling in through the window, Margie had already pulled back the curtains to invite the morning sun into the room.
“Yes dear.” Margie smiled, “I’ve made you some tea.” She rested the tray on the bedside table, “It’s time to get you ready for breakfast.” Margie pulled back Luna’s blankets and stepped away to prepare her an outfit for the day.
The other servant girls had returned while Luna had been sleeping, she tried not to feel too strange about it, in Eranox that was the custom, and she would have to get used to it if she hoped to be able to help them.
She had a lot to get used to in Eranox.
Luna took a deep breath readying herself for the day and what was to come. She stepped from the bed and walked towards the center of the room, knowing that she was in for another uncomfortable dress.
Much to her surprise, the dress that they brought from behind the changing partition was much less fancy that she had been expecting, it seemed practical in comparison. It didn’t have a corset, and easily slipped over her head after she removed her night clothes.
The fabric was soft and the dress was simple, it draped from her shoulders to the floor with little fussing. Margie had even added pockets into the seam, when Luna found them she couldn’t help but smile. The dress was clearly made for her.
“It’s perfect.” Luna twirled, watching the fabric swirl at her feet. She still would have preferred jeans, but at least they weren’t dressing her up like a Victorian Princess.
“And this.” Margie appeared again from behind the partition, holding out a long cloak with symbols embroidered along the trim. “It’s tradition for High Wizards.” She smiled, helping Luna fasten the cloak over her shoulders with an ornate clasp at the collar.
She let the fabric fall, trailing from her shoulders to the ground. It was warm and comfortable, unlike the outfits she had been made to wear in Eranox previously. Though she wasn’t sure that she could get away with wearing her running shoes under the dress, it wasn’t as puffy as the others had been.
“By the door dear.” Margie pointed, seeming to know what Luna was thinking.
Luna turned and looked, there was a pair of leather flats waiting for her. She crossed the room and slipped her feet in, surprised at how comfortable they felt.
“This is much better.” Luna looked down at herself.
“Now your hair.” Margie nodded her head, pulling Luna towards the mirror to see herself.
Luna’s hair had gone wild while she had slept, the servants rushed in and within a few minutes they had it tamed again into a simple knot at the back of her neck.
Margie stepped back, giving Luna one last look over to be sure she was dressed properly.
“Are you ready Lady Blackwater?” Margie asked, watching Luna through the mirror.
“I think so.” Luna turned plastering a smile on her face as she watched Margie, this is it… she thought to herself, hoping that she was ready for whatever Eranox needed her for.
“Now dear,” Margie tucked her arm in Luna’s while she slowly walked her towards the door, “Remember to be on your best.” She whispered, leaning in so the other girls wouldn’t overhear her, “Eranox needs you.”
Luna turned to Margie, watching her for a moment, there was a pleading look in her eye. She was counting on Luna as much as anyone.
“Do you know someone out there?” Luna leaned in, keeping her voice low.
Margie looked down, shamefully, “Yes Miss.” She whispered.
Luna reached for her hand, giving it a squeeze. “I will do my best.” Luna whispered.
When Margie looked up, her eyes were watery, “Thank you Lady Blackwater, it’s all I could ask.” She bowed her head and opened the door.
Lucas was waiting on the other side.
He was dressed in a ruffled suit, the same embroidery running up his collar. Though Luna had been dressed more casual, she still matched Lucas in a subtle way.
“Breakfast Lady Blackwater.” He tipped his head and held his arm out for her.
Luna looped her arm into his and followed him into the hall, trying to hold back the blind panic that was coursing through her veins. It had just struck her how many people were counting on her, how many families there were that thought she was going to save them and bring back their loved ones. All of Eranox, it was a lot to ask of a stranger from Earth; and she had already promised to do her best.
“Are you okay?” Lucas asked as Luna followed him stiffly down the corridor, suspecting that there was something on her mind.
Luna nodded, she didn’t want Lucas to know how scared she really was, it wouldn’t help anything.
Going back to Eranox was more than she had expected, there was so much that they were counting on her for and she was terrified that she was going to fail. She was one mistake away from letting an entire world down.
Lucas dropped the subject leading Luna through a door, “Breakfast.” He announced taking a seat at a small table in the large castle room.
Luna sat across from Lucas, her stomach in knots as she tried to calm her nerves enough to eat something.
Breakfast that morning was a simple occasion. Luna and Lucas sat at a small table alone, eggs and bacon were brought out to them, or at least what appeared to be eggs and bacon. Luna couldn’t tell and she was afraid to ask in case it was something different, at least it tasted the same to her.
“Did you sleep well?” Lucas asked, making small talk while he ate.
Luna nodded, Lucas stared at her.
“They didn’t keep you up all night?” He sounded surprised.
“Who? Margie?” Luna wasn’t sure what he was talking about, she had stayed up quite late talking to Margie, but she hadn’t heard anyone else and Margie certainly hadn’t kept her up by any means.
“No, no… Maybe your room is farther away…” Lucas shook his head, “They were in the woods last night, outside the castle by my room.” He looked away, afraid to bring it up. “…The cursed…” He muttered, finally explaining what he had hea
rd.
Luna paused, staring at her plate, the small appetite that she had mustered vanishing in an instant, “Was it bad?” She asked quietly.
“I don’t think they got anyone.” Lucas was quick to respond, he could see how guilty Luna must have felt, “But they were howling until dawn…” He added slowly, thoughtful almost.
“Wow, I’m surprised I didn’t hear anything.” Luna admitted, “They aren’t exactly quiet.”
“No they usually aren’t.” Lucas agreed smiling slowly, “I’m glad you were able to sleep, you’ll be more alert when you meet the council.” He added.
“What are they like?” Luna asked carefully, leaning forward in case Lucas thought to lower his voice. The thing about being in a castle, you never knew who was listening.
“Mostly boring.” Lucas rolled his eyes, “I’m not sure what they really do in there to be honest, but nothing spectacular… at least until now.” He tipped his head at Luna, an indication that they expected her to succeed.
“Are they nice though?” Luna imagined a stuffy room filled with teachers expecting her to pass a test, it didn’t exactly seem inviting.
“Yeah, they’re fine.” Lucas got up from the table, “Are you going to be okay?” He asked, reaching for her hand.
“I think so.” Luna answered, preparing herself to meet the council.
“You’ll be great, trust me, it can’t be that bad…” Lucas assured her, sort of, as he led the way back into the hall.
Soon Luna was being led to another chamber for the meeting with the council, two intimidating guards stood outside of the double doors watching as Luna and Lucas approached. She was sure that they were about to be turned away when the guard looked her over and nodded his head, reaching for the handle to open the door for her.
“You too Prince Lucas.” The guard waited as Lucas hesitated outside.
“Really?” Lucas whispered, rushing forward to join Luna before the guard could change his mind. Lucas was surprised that they had allowed him to stay with Luna, though she was thankful that she wouldn’t have to sit through the meeting alone. It was clear that Lucas was not expecting that he would be invited to this meeting and his father was making an exception for Luna’s sake.
“Welcome Lady Blackwater.” The King nodded, standing from his place at the head of the table.
Luna walked towards him into the chamber, the room was large with ornate carved wooden panels on all of the walls. The floor clicked even under her soft soled shoes as she walked. Down the center of the room ran a narrow table lined with high-backed chairs, the King stood at the far end watching as she and Lucas approached.
“I am glad you were able to join us today Lucas.” The King smiled at his son, keeping his voice low, “I thought Lady Blackwater would feel more comfortable if she had some company her own age.” He tipped his head, clearly he had already heard through the castle how Lucas had described the council as boring, though he didn’t seem offended.
Lucas’ cheeks flushed and he looked down at the floor, caught.
“Sorry father.” Lucas mumbled.
“You weren’t wrong.” He chuckled, “Have a seat.” The King turned his attention back to Luna.
Lucas showed her to her seat, at the right hand side of the King’s chair that sat at the head of the table.
“Thanks.” Luna settled herself and waited. The room was still empty, save the three of them, and she was sure that the council comprised of more people than just the King.
It was a short silence while they waited for the rest of the council to join them. Soon the far doors opened again and the room began to fill.
Men and women of Eranox, dressed in the strange attire that was considered the norm, their faces stoic as they prepared for the meeting.
Luna tipped her head to each to each of them as their eyes fell on her, the quiet excitement behind their eyes was apparent; they had a High Wizard again.
Lucas stood at his father’s side as he waited for the table to fill, finally he slid into the last seat, the one across from Luna. He wouldn’t be able to help her with the formalities without drawing too much attention. He tipped his head apologetically, for the meeting with the council she was on her own.
Slowly the council members settled into their seats at the table, their eyes lingering on Luna as they took their places. She could already feel their expectations of her as the new High Wizard weighing on her shoulders and did her best to keep her chin up so they wouldn’t see how unprepared she really felt.
As the room finally fell silent the King leaned forward in his seat to address the council.
“Lady Blackwater, I want to thank you for joining us.” He tipped his head to Luna and the room filled with murmurs of the council greeting her.
Luna tipped her head and looked down at her hands, trying to keep her composure before she looked back up at the King, hoping that he would continue so the room would stop staring at her.
The King smiled at Luna and continued, “It is unfortunate that your father, Sir Alec, was unable to return at this time.” He turned to the rest of the table, “Lucas has informed me of the circumstances…” He shook his head sadly, looking at Luna apologetically.
“And what were the circumstances?” A Lady at the other end of the table inquired nervously, her eyes wide with curiosity.
“Madam Hawthorn,” The King addressed her, “It appears that when Sir Alec departed with his family all of those years ago to find the cure… he was cursed himself before he ever left the Gateway.”
The room filled with surprised gasps. Luna stared at her hands while the information echoed in the room, whispers running down the table just out of her earshot.
She could imagine what they were saying, what they were thinking, Sir Alec was supposed to be finding a cure; and he had been cursed. The notion sucked the hope right out of the room.
No one was coming back to save them.
“He was cursed?” Madam Hawthorn breathed, “This whole time…” She covered her mouth with her hand dramatically and Luna had to stop herself from rolling her eyes.
“How terrible.” The man next to Luna stared at her as though he was waiting for her reaction.
Luna stayed silent, still staring at her hands, not sure if she was supposed to look sad. She had never known her father; to her the news of his curse explained his absence, it was more of a relief than anything.
The King cleared his throat, waiting for the chatter to die down before he carried on, “Despite the fact that we have lost Sir Alec to the curse, there is some good that has come of his prolonged absence.” He watched the table as he spoke, waiting for their next reaction, “His child was protected and raised on Earth,” All eyes turned to Luna, wide with surprise.
Apparently, despite the fact that she had already been introduced as a High Wizard, the notion that her father had been Sir Alec had some pull to it.
“And now Lady Blackwater is of age and has returned in her father’s place.” The King finished, tipping his head to Luna once again.
Luna looked up from her hands and found that the whole table was staring at her, their curiosity about her life on Earth was apparent, though no one dared to ask her what it was like.
“Welcome back Lady Blackwater.” Madam Hawthorn nodded her head at Luna from her end of the table, regarding her as though she suddenly had immense significance.
Luna nodded back, “Thank you.” She smiled politely, glancing to Lucas to see if she had handled the situation correctly. He smiled back at her, and she hoped that she was behaving properly for a council meeting.
“How delightful.” Another woman at the table smiled, clapping her hands together.
“But where has she been this whole time?” Another man asked, watching the King for an answer.
“She has been on Earth.” The King repeated, “and now she is here.” He added, waiting for the chatter to die off again, as the attention turned back to him at his seat at the head of the table.
�
��Oh, how dreadful.” Madam Hawthorn shook her head as though Luna had been trapped in a prison.
The King waited for her to finish, “Of course that is what brings us here today.” He finally spoke again as Madam Hawthorn went silent, “We finally have a High Wizard, and we can try to restore the Kingdom…” He changed the subject swiftly, keeping the meeting going as he steered it towards his point.
“Sir Hawthorn, as many of you know, has devised a plan. Though up until this point we have not had a Wizard with the power required to put it in action.” He gestured to a man at the other end of the table sitting next to Madam Hawthorn, presumably her husband.
“For Lady Blackwater, who has not been privy to our previous meetings, I shall quickly review the details so that we may proceed.” He continued, skimming past the news that Luna had previously had no knowledge of Eranox in its entirety, though perhaps he himself didn’t know how little Luna actually knew about their world and the Magic that she had coursing through her veins.
Luna dared a darting glance towards Lucas, but his face was unreadable. She didn’t know if he had bothered to inform his father of her particular upbringing, and the lack of Eranoxian knowledge that it had contained.
The King turned in his chair slightly so he was facing Luna, though he kept his voice loud enough for the rest of the council to listen in as he brought Luna up to date, “Our Potion Master, Sir Hawthorn,” He gestured to the man near the end of the table, “has spent the better part of the last ten years perfecting a potion that is believed to be able to separate the curse from its host.” The King watched Luna’s face as he spoke, “This potion has been tested with some success on smaller creatures, but thus far no one has been powerful enough to warrant a human test. With the power of a High Wizard, we believe that it will be able to lift the curse.” The King gave Luna a knowing nod, telling her that this was the task they had brought her back for.
Though she was getting tired of all the head nodding and formalities, Luna nodded her head again in response, “That sounds promising.” She replied, hoping that Lucas would have time to explain the potion and what they were expecting of her in more detail before she actually had to try the process. She glanced across the table and caught his eye. He smiled and nodded, reading her thoughts knowingly.
Eranox- Cursed Page 9