“There are clear cut laws forbidding an heir to be brought back to Tamporlea once she has turned down the crown. There’s nothing about asking the heir’s sister if something were to happen to the heir.”
“Ok, so that leads me to my other concern. What happens if I am crowned and I have no magical powers?”
“Queen Holly and I discussed this at length when Lilliana passed away. We both believe that because you two were identical twins and share the same DNA, you must have some powers as well.”
“Sure, makes sense, but what if I don’t?”
“Chances are you will.”
“Orion! What if I don’t?”
“Well, if you don’t then we will have to live with that.”
“Tamporlea’s whole existence is based on magic. Doesn’t it seem a bit absurd that the Queen wouldn’t have any magical powers?”
“If that’s what happens then there is nothing we can do about it. All we can do is cross that bridge when we come to it.”
“Orion! That bridge is right in front of us! Tomorrow as a matter of fact!”
“Jasmine,” Cali spoke. “Something like this has happened in the past.”
“What?” both Orion and I asked.
“Yeah. The fourth Queen of Tamporlea had no magical powers. She was Queen for twenty-seven years.”
“Cali, she did have magic in her blood she just didn’t use her powers. She was too afraid of them.”
“Well, either way, what I mean to point out is that Tamporlea can survive with a Queen who doesn’t use magic.”
“But if I don’t have magic, then none of my descendents will either.”
“Miss Jasmine, we have considered all of this. We’ve had seventeen years to think about it. Although it’s not the ideal situation, it’s something we are prepared for.”
“And what about the other kingdoms? Obviously, we know what Queen Aella thinks but what about King Zane? What are they going to do?”
“To be honest, I don’t know. I think Aella will cause some trouble but there’s not much she can do. King Zane is the last of our worries, besides I think his main concern is whether you will continue to help their kingdom the way the past Queens have.”
“I just wish there was a way of knowing for sure if I have some type of magic in my blood.”
“Miss Jasmine, you have a very long day ahead of you tomorrow. Please put these thoughts aside and get some rest. We don’t know what’s going to happen, but there’s no sense in worrying about it until we know for sure.”
“Okay,” I agreed.
“If you don’t have a single drop of magical blood, please know that you are who we want as our Queen.”
“Thank you Orion.”
“I’ll see you in the morning then.”
Cali offered to stay with me if I still wanted to talk but the only thing I really wanted to do was curl up in bed with my dog and go to sleep. When I headed toward my room I saw Tyran standing outside my door.
“Tyran, please, I can’t talk to you tonight. I know we have to finish our conversation but…”
“Jasmine, relax. I’m here on business. Standing guard.”
“What?”
“After Orion and the Queen’s little display outside, I called a meeting with the Guards. You didn’t think we’d leave you unprotected did you?”
“Oh. I…”
“Until the Queen leaves Tamporlea you will have a Guard nearby.”
“Well, thank you. I didn’t expect this.”
“It’s our job to protect Tamporlea and the Queen. Orion also has a Guard, just in case. You should get some sleep. Big day tomorrow.”
“Thank you Tyran,” I said before going into my room.
Chapter 11
Queen of Deception
The next day was a whirlwind of activity. First thing in the morning Cali brought me to a lady named Jane, a Commoner I remembered seeing at dinners but had never officially met. She greeted us happily and let us into her home.
“Miss Jasmine, please feel no obligations to wear this,” she said nervously as she presented me with a large white box. “I remembered that you were camping before you came here and thought you might like something a bit more formal for today’s occasion.”
“Thank you,” I said sincerely. I hadn’t thought of my attire at all and was very grateful someone else was thinking about it. I lifted the top off the box and Cali had pulled out the most elegant dress I had ever seen. It was emerald green satin with short sleeves and a bit of lace around the neckline. It looked like it was knee length and had buttons going up the back. “Jane, this is gorgeous! Thank you so much.”
She blushed at my thanks and said “You’re very welcome. It’s truly an honor to make a dress for a crowning ceremony. I just hope it fits.”
“Oh Jane, you’re too modest,” Cali said as she placed the dress back in the box. “Jane has been making out clothing for over thirty years and has never gotten any measurements. Closest thing to magic I’ve seen in a Commoner.”
“You’re too kind,” Jane said blushing deeper with the compliment.
“I’m really sorry, we must be going,” Cali said looking at the clock on the wall.
“Thank you again,” I said.
Jane reached out to shake my hand, but that didn’t seem like enough to show my gratitude so I gave her a friendly hug and said goodbye.
When we got back to my room, I put on the dress as Cali dressed in her beautiful red dress. She quickly threw her hair up in a French twist but somehow it still looked professionally done. As I started with my makeup, she was twisting my hair in an intricate fishtail braid and even placed a few flowers along the plates.
“Miss Jasmine?” Orion called from the door. “May I come in?”
“Yes. Come on in.”
“Cali and I must go and greet the guests. Tyran will be here in about fifteen minutes. Will that be enough time?”
“Yes,” I said, suddenly nervous.
“You look quite stunning Miss Jasmine.”
“Thank you,” I said.
Cali gave me a quick hug and told me not to be nervous before she left with Orion. I sat on the couch petting Casper to help ease my nerves. When Tyran came for me, he was dressed in a very formal, sapphire blue suit. His hair was combed back away from his face and I couldn’t help but stare into his eyes.
“You look amazing,” Tyran said.
“So do you,” I said before I could stop myself. “I mean…Thank you Tyran.”
“Jasmine, this is it you know. I mean in about twenty minutes you will have that crown on your head and…” he was suddenly emotional and couldn’t go on.
“Tyran, this isn’t fair to you. I probably shouldn’t tell you this at all, but before I am Queen and it would be inappropriate for me to say so, I have to tell you something. That kiss was the best thing that’s happened to me since arriving here. If things were different…”
“I love you Jasmine. I’ve loved you since the day I took over as your Seer.”
“What?”
“Another time. We must get going.”
“Wait. Tyran, I know this is selfish of me to ask, but will you,” before I could even ask, he pulled me close to him and kissed me so gently. It was so different from the last time so much more emotion and love was in this kiss. “I love you too Tyran,” I whispered in his ear.
“Let’s go,” he said.
“C’mon Casper,” I yelled to my dog who was still lying on the couch.
“You’re bringing the dog?” Tyran teased.
“Of course I am.”
Tyran offered me his arm and as I took it, I stared into his eyes like this was the last time. I was so in love with him and I was twenty minutes away from saying goodbye to any chance of being with him. He led me to the garden with the large gazebo where I took my seat next to Cali.
“You okay?” Cali asked.
“Yes, I am fine. How about you?”
“Nervous.”
Orion smi
led at me and stood up to address the crowd.
“Good afternoon everyone,” Orion began. “I’d like to thank all of you for attending this joyous occasion. A most special thank you to King Zane and Queen Aella for making the long journey to Tamporlea for this celebration. For many centuries, the passing of the crown to the new Queen has been the…”
Orion suddenly stopped speaking as something caught his attention. I followed his gaze to two people I had never seen before.
“Ah,” said Queen Aella loudly, “This is my assistant James and he has brought with him, well…Miss Jasmine, surely you recognize her.”
As James and the girl came closer I realized that I did in fact recognize her, although we had never met. “Lilliana?” I choked out. “My sister? How is this?”
I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Lilliana was dead, how could she be standing right in front of me? Her hair was darker and her skin was fairer than mine, but her face definitely belonged to me.
“Yes, Miss Jasmine,” the Queen continued. “Your twin sister.” There was an obvious upset in the crowd. Cali looked as confused as I felt, and Orion was red with anger. He was shaking and he gripped the podium, white-knuckled with both hands.
“I hate to interrupt your joyous occasion,” she continued. “We can carry on now that the rightful heir to the crown has arrived.” She turned to address Lilliana and said, “Go on up there. Surely Orion knows the crown belongs to you.”
Lilliana took a step toward Orion and he yelled, “Do not come near this crown. Obviously we need to discuss what is going on here. You are all dismissed.” When no one moved from their seats, Orion yelled again. “Go to your homes. Please leave us now!” he urged.
Lilliana stood there, not sure what to do as the crowd glared at her and the Queen as they left to return to the palace. I took a step toward my sister, just wanting to touch her. I was so sure this couldn’t be real and when I took another step, Cali grabbed my hand and said, “No Jasmine.”
“That’s my sister!” I argued. “The sister that was supposed to have been buried before she was a week old! I have to talk to her Cali!”
“I know, but now is not the time. We have to find out what is going on here.”
Orion, who was talking with the King and Queen, walked away from them and said to Cali and I, “Miss Jasmine, Calalilly, we must immediately go to the Gold Room.”
No one spoke as we walked back to the palace. A few people who lingered on the incline, stared at us as we made our way to the Gold Room. I saw Tyran standing at the door.
“Orion,” he said. “I insist to be invited to join this meeting. You know my position here, I should have a say.”
“Yes, I do know your position here Tyran,” Orion said through clenched teeth. “Still, you are not welcome and you must go back to your house for the time being.”
“Jasmine,” Tyran pleaded. “Please tell him to let me in!”
“Tyran! Miss Jasmine is not Queen and is not in charge. I am the one in charge here.”
“Only as a default,” Tyran sneered.
“Be that as it may, I am still in charge and I am ordering you to go!”
Tyran turned and stalked off without taking a second glance at me.
The meeting in the gold room was small with only Orion, Queen Aella, Lilliana, Cali and I. It felt strangely empty with the empty chairs where the rest of the Heads would normally sit. I looked at Tyran’s vacant seat and wished he could be here. I felt safer with him around and if Orion had given me the chance, I would have asked Tyran to stay. As I took my see, I wondered why King Zane was missing. I guess this had little to do with him and his absence was probably decided between him, the Queen and Orion.
“There’s no argument here Orion, you know Lilliana is the rightful Queen,” said Aella.
“What we know is that Lilliana was kidnapped by you. Why is that Aella?”
“To ensure she would have her chance to be Queen. We know how you’ve lost track of the descendants before.”
“How dare you!” Orion yelled angrily.
“What is she talking about?” I insisted.
Calalilly spoke up, “As you know, after the Queen has her daughter and the daughter is in the real world, one Guard is assigned to keep track of her. Well, it’s very easy now with social security numbers, school records and modern technology however three hundred fifty years ago it wasn’t so easy. The Guard had to follow the family and live in their society. When the fifth Queen’s daughter was being watched, the Guard assigned to her was killed in a robbery. Well, it took two months for anyone in Tamporlea to even think anything was wrong. When the Guard didn’t show up in Tamporlea for the quarterly check-in, another Guard was assigned to go find out what happened. He discovered the body of the Seer and also found that the family had moved. It took nearly a year to find them again.”
“But that does not give anyone the right to kidnap the future Queen!” Orion yelled.
I had my eyes locked on Lilliana who was shaking and staring at the table.
“Lilliana,” I whispered. “Lilliana, what is going on here? Haven’t you wanted to know about your family? About your mother and father? About me?”
She raised her eyes, which were filled with tears. When she was about to speak, Queen Aella quickly interrupted and said, “She’s lived a perfectly happy life knowing that she was going to be Queen of your beautiful kingdom.”
“She’s not going to be Queen! What makes you think we would have Lilliana take over as Queen after being raised by you in Pyrencia?” Orion asked.
“Because you don’t have any say. You don’t get to pick and choose between sisters. The laws clearly state that it is the first born daughter who is the heir of Tamporlea. It doesn’t matter where she was raised,” the Queen said with a broad smile.
“She’s right Orion,” Cali said. “Lilliana is the rightful heir.”
“Well, obviously we never expected a situation like this. I do remember another law stating that no other kingdom will interfere with the heir…”
“Being crowned Queen of Tamporlea,” the Queen interrupted. “Nor will any kingdom interfere with the heir’s decision to become Queen or not. Yes, Orion, I read that law book as well. We have broken no laws. We aren’t interfering with Lilliana being crowned. We also are not interfering with Lilliana’s decision to become Queen. Go ahead and give her the customary week of meetings and lessons. I am sure Lilliana will still agree to be your Queen.”
“Queen Aella, you need to leave so that we can discuss this,” I said calmly.
“How dare you!” she shouted back at me.
“This is a matter of Tamporlea’s Queen, not Pyrencia’s. I think we know everything you have to say in this matter.”
“Miss Jasmine is right. You need to leave so that we can discuss this,” Orion said.
“Lilliana has a right to be here!”
“No one said anything about Lilliana leaving,” I said. “She is more than welcome to stay as this does concern her.”
Cali and Orion stared at me wondering what I was thinking. The truth was, I didn’t really have a plan, I just wanted Aella out of my sight.
“Fine. Lilliana, let’s go. She doesn’t need to stay and listen to you three trash talking Pyrencia.”
“We don’t play by your rules Queen Aella,” I said. “You’re the one who likes to trash talk.”
“What the hell do you mean by that?”
“Broadcast any biographies lately?”
She smiled and said, “You have until daybreak to make your decision. Orion, if you don’t make the right decision, there will be hell to pay, believe me.”
Queen Aella slammed the door shut on her way out.
“Now what?” I asked.
“Nothing has changed Miss Jasmine,” Orion said.
“Everything has changed! The real heir is here! There’s no questioning it! She’s your Queen! I’ve said that from the beginning!” I shouted through my tears.
“And I h
ave said since day one that you are our Queen. Unless of course, you want to walk away.”
“Is that what you want?”
“Calm down, please.”
“What’s the plan then?”
“Orion, you know the correct protocol for this situation,” Cali spoke up.
“I do,” he sighed. “We must vote. The King, Queen, myself and the Heads of Tamporlea.”
“A vote?” I asked.
“Yes. We must all be informed of what’s going on and we must decide whether or not we will give Lilliana the crown.”
I was sure I had Orion’s vote as well as Cali’s but I wasn’t sure about the others, I even doubted Tyran. I wondered if he would allow his feelings for me get in the way of voting me as Queen. “What’s going to happen?” I asked.
“We’ll have a meeting and discuss the facts. Then you and Lilliana will both be given an opportunity to say something about wanting to be Queen, then we vote.”
“How do you think the others are going to vote?”
“I won’t lie to you. It’s kind of hard to say. Some of the Heads have expressed concern about you not having magical abilities,” he admitted. “That could push them enough to give Lilliana a chance since she does have magic within her. I am hoping they won’t do that, but it’s hard to tell.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
“Think of what you’re going to say in your speech to us. Speak from your heart Miss Jasmine. Calalilly and I will do our best to persuade them but…”
“No,” I interrupted. “Don’t convince them to vote for me.”
“What are you talking about?” Cali asked.
“Give everyone the facts, don’t campaign for me. The last thing I want is for anyone to feel pressured to vote for me and possibly regret it later.”
“Queen Aella will be campaigning for Lilliana,” Orion stressed.
“Then let her, but that’s not the way I would want to be represented. Please respect that.”
“As you wish Miss Jasmine, but please campaign for yourself when it’s time,” Orion said. “Miss Calalilly, please escort Miss Jasmine back to her room while I call a meeting. Please be back here in five minutes.”
As Cali and I walked to my room, I saw that she was very upset but was trying desperately to hide it. “Cali, it’s going to be okay,” I told her.
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