In part two, Hyakinthos invited Tanya and Alyssa to visit his kingdom after a lengthy conversation. Read on to find out what happens next!
Laurus whistled and clicked his tongue to his left. Two robust horses appeared pulling a strong cart behind them. A dark heavy burlap cloth covered the cart. Laurus pulled the cloth back. He carefully loaded their instruments into the back of the cart. Laurus and Hyakinthos dressed in dark cloaks over their clothes. “You can ride there.” He moaned to Alyssa and Tanya. “How come we gotta ride with the music stuff? Won’t it hit us on the way?” Alyssa asked as she tapped the wooden cart. Laurus rolled his eyes. “Would you rather walk? You would draw attention soon. You may die. Yet, if that is your wish, do not ride with us, I beg you.” Laurus glared at her. Tanya noticed his growing hostility. “Come on Alyssa, we can’t complain. At least we get a ride. We are so grateful to you both for your kindness and mercy.”
“Please wait, I need to do something before we go. May I have a moment?” Tanya asked. “Hurry and do it,” Laurus sighed as he sat in the cart next to Hyakinthos. Tanya pulled out her phone and sent a text to her mother and Alyssa’s parents.
Hi! I won a contest for a cruise! I didn’t know I had won until I checked now. So, I told Alyssa and she decided to come with me. I’m so sorry this is such short notice. So, we’re about to leave. wanted to say we love you! We’ll tell you about our adventures when we get back!
Tanya showed the message to Alyssa and she nodded. Meanwhile, Hyakinthos looked at the device with gleaming eyes. “What is that?” Hyakinthos asked as he pointed. Tanya looked over to Laurus. His constant sighing grew louder by the minute. “I’m sorry we don’t have the time. I will explain it to you later.” Tanya turned to her friend. “Alyssa, let’s get in the cart.” Tanya urged. Alyssa frowned as they both climbed into the cart. Laurus draped the cloth over them.
Alyssa folded her arms in the dark. “This isn’t the way I wanted to get to the kingdom.” She moaned. “Please, Alyssa, be quiet. We don’t want to get them in trouble. I have something else to talk you about.” Tanya whispered. “Huh? What is it?” Alyssa rolled towards Tanya’s voice. “You can’t say whatever you want. I know you do it back home. But, it might be dangerous here.” Tanya held Alyssa’s hand. “I don’t want anything to happen to you. Remember the last time.” That made Alyssa quiet. “I guess you saved my butt a lot, huh.” Alyssa smiled. “You’re my best friend. I’d do anything to protect you.” Tanya grinned and kissed Alyssa on her forehead.
The cart paused. Tanya felt a strong wave of heat wash over them. It overwhelmed her. This feeling reminded Tanya of a scorching summer day. It felt heat stroke hot. By instinct, she wrapped Alyssa in her arms to spare her from burning. “Tanya, why ya holding me that? What’s going on?” Alyssa questioned. “Tell me you felt that,” Tanya insisted. Alyssa paused. “Felt what?” The heat?” Tanya sighed. “What heat?” Alyssa took a soft breath. “It’s nothing,” Tanya said faking a soft laugh.
She hoped Alyssa didn’t notice.
Alyssa worried about what Tanya said. There was an unsteady sound in her voice. Alyssa thought everything had to be fine. Tanya's over-thinking everything, she thought. They were leaving the regular world or something. It was the feeling of starting a new wonderful life among these elves. She wondered. They look kinda like elves to her. Oh well, there wasn’t anything to worry about in Alyssa’s mind.
“We have arrived in the kingdom. I will inform you when it is safe for you to exit the cart.” Laurus whispered. The cart bumped up and down as Tanya and Alyssa listened to the clatter of the large wheels over the road.
Alyssa raised up the dark cloth covering them to see small flicking torches lining the road. Off and on, she could see buildings. Cobblestone lined their path. “Close that down!” Tanya whispered to Alyssa. “Someone might see us!” Alyssa rolled her eyes. “Tanya, why ya gotta worry so much, huh? Look, everyone’s gone to bed.” Alyssa sighed. Laurus cleared his throat. Alyssa and Tanya quieted down.
Tanya and Alyssa could feel the cart coming to a stop. “Wait here a moment,” Laurus whispered. “Hey, ya think we’re in a good spot?” Alyssa asked wide-eyed and grinning. “If you get out of this cart, so help me, Alyssa I will do unspeakable things to you.” Tanya glared. Alyssa groaned. “I’m tired of being in the dark. At least I could see the light in houses earlier. It’s dark here.” Alyssa groaned. Tanya sighed. “Alyssa, please calm down.”
After what seemed like an eternity, someone pulled the rough cloth off Tanya and Alyssa. “Get up,” Laurus whispered. “Hurry and follow me!” Tanya and Alyssa followed behind him. The group sneaked out of the royal stables. They hid through the moonlight. Hyakinthos waved them on at the end of a pathway. “Where are we?” Alyssa questioned Laurus. He placed a finger to her lips. “Don’t make a sound.” Tanya and Alyssa watched Hyakinthos and Laurus have a brief conversation. It was short but heated.
Hyakinthos and Laurus paused. They mumbled something to each other. Laurus walked close to Tanya and Alyssa. “We must make it past the guards. I am going to speak to them, stay here.” Laurus walked to the guards with a grin on his face. They stifled their laughs as they looked towards where Tanya and Alyssa were hiding. “Come on over ladies. It’s fine now.” Laurus smiled. Hyakinthos giggled. Alyssa strode over the group. She felt good to finally be safe. Sneaking around wasn’t fun for Alyssa. Tanya held her face in her hands. She took a deep breath and stepped towards them.
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The guards looked them over. The guards gave them sly smiles. They mentioned something to Laurus while glancing at Tanya and Alyssa. “They’re impressed with my charm,” Alyssa whispered to Tanya. Tanya avoided eye contact. Hyakinthos held his fist to his mouth as he giggled even more. The guards waved them into the palace grounds. As they walked past, the guards pat Laurus on the back with a smirk. The palace was a beautiful and magnificent place. Tanya and Alyssa didn’t get a good look. They had to rush to safety. They make their way to a huge room with exquisite furniture. “Welcome to my bedroom suite, ladies!” Hyakinthos smiled. Laurus shut the door. He guarded the door.
Alyssa giggled while she pranced around pointing at beautiful trinkets. “Ya got a pretty place, here! Are you a prince or something?” Alyssa giggled. She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw a painting of Hyakinthos wearing a crown. Alyssa’s eyes became wider as she looked at the painting. “Yes, I am the crown prince of the East Woodland Kingdom,” Hyakinthos smirked and smiled. Then, he went on to give an elaborate bow. “Wow! What happened to the west one?” Alyssa asked. Tanya shook her head. “A war happened ages ago.” Hyakinthos looks to the side. “Your highness, I’m sorry for worrying you with this idle chatter,” Tanya says with a bow. “Please, do not address me as royalty when it is the four of us. Address me by my name.” Hyakinthos grabs Tanya’s shoulders and looks her in the eye. Tanya nodded in response.
“Now, what do we do?” She looks to Hyakinthos and Laurus. “I know something we could do here,” Hyakinthos whispered to Tanya. Tanya walked a few steps away to create distance between them. “How are you going to explain us being here?” Tanya questioned. Hyakinthos hung his head. “Let me think of a solution,” he muttered. Tanya paced the floor trying to think of something herself. “Does it matter?” Alyssa asked with her hands on her hips. “Of course it does, we could get discovered. Then, what are we going to do?” Tanya took a sharp breath. “Run for it?” Alyssa asked as she shrugged her shoulders.
“I have it!” Hyakinthos lit up with a bright smile. “You are both princesses! You heard of our magnificent kingdom. You became lost while trying to find us. So, Laurus and I invited you here to give you a warm welcome as the first humans in our kingdom in hundreds of years!” Hyakinthos beamed. “Are you sure that will work?” Tanya asked. “It has to work.” Laurus groaned. “You could leave here and return home.” Laurus glanced at the door. “No, please! Ya can’t send us back!” Alyssa pouted.
Tanya let out a deep sigh. “Okay, I guess we can go along with the princess thing.” Hyakinthos folded his arms and nodded. “Well, now we have settled the matter.” He gave them a long careful look. “You need to look like princesses! You need gowns and things." He closed his eyes. "We can borrow them from my sisters. It should not bother them!” He smiled and softly laughed. “Don’t you think other people will notice that?” Tanya asked. “Oh, do not worry. I shall say you lost your belongings trying to find our kingdom.” Hyakinthos gave a nervous laugh.
Tanya sighed as she worried about the danger they would most likely face in this strange kingdom. Meanwhile, Alyssa was beaming with glee. She couldn't believe her awesome luck! She wondered why Tanya was so worried. Everything is fine here. She gets to be a real princess. This was her childhood dream. She wouldn't let anything get in the way of her dreams coming true.
Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed this part of the story, please upvote! Look forward to part three!
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