7. Sweven

Liserli Kaiser

Placing a foot in a shoe, she raised her dress to wear another pair of shoes. Red shoes on her pale legs, seeking from the frills of her silk dress. Straightening her, she exhaled a breath while a maid tightens her corset. Two maids on either side pulled silk red gloves on her hands. The gloves ending at her upper arms aligned along with the strapless red dress. Her black hair parted from the middle with strands of braids forming a crown on her head. A maid brushed her rest of the hair which covered the back of the corset. She smiled at the mirror on her reflected attire when a maid applied red color on her lips with her finger. Lifting her chin, she waved the maids to leave. Bowing her with their heads, they left.

Lifting her dress, she walked to a table were lots of different flowers arranged on its frame and a candle lighted in the center. She picked up a violet flower. Outstretching her hand, she placed the flower above the lighted candle. "By the first of my name, I seek protection for your house. Aphaea the Goddess of fertility, safeguard us from all the chaos." At the end of her recitation, the flower burned and its ashes fell on the plate beneath the candle frame.

"Is that necessary all the time?" Vidarr asked.

Moving away from the table, she walked towards him. Stooping to his height, she pushed his long brown curls over his right ear. Stroking her thumb under his eye, she said. "You know how much important deity is for our family."

Pushing her hand, he turned his head aside. He was not the one to believe in their everyday rituals, neither brave enough to speak against the king. His sister is the only one he speaks with. Wearing his hat, he adjusted his shoulder-length hair.

"Why don't other sisters read these phrases and do these rituals? And why I only have sisters?" He asked.

She gave a gentle laugh to her brother. Lifting his hat, she held his face with her hands. Again pushing back the hair of his face, she looked in his eyes. "Why don't you ask with other sisters? She asked.

"I don't like any of them." He averted his eyes.

"You will be my Knight one day. You cannot always keep on averting your eyes." She said.

"Why would you inherit the realm?" He asked.

"It's the same reason why I perform all the rituals." Lifting the hat further, she kissed his forehead. Pushing her away, he pulled down his hat.

Moving back, she straightened her form. "Soon you will be eight, a ritual will be held and I have a perfect gift for you."

A knock on the wooden door took their attention. "It's time to leave Milady, Milord." A soldier came to inform.

They walked out of her chamber. One of her sisters was already standing in an enormous hall of the castle. The walls of the hall were decorated with contracting flowers. Candle stands were placed in between the painted pots, arranged in a parallel manner along with the walls. Tables were set at certain distances filled with all kinds of foods and drinks. At one end of the hall, three stairs platform was created, on it a throne at the center, exactly to the opposite of the entrance.

Smiling at her older sister who was dressed in shades of pink, Liserli walked towards the entrance. Her second mother, the second queen of the palace was waiting. She was dressed in a long brown dress, fancy flowers decorating around her waist. Her neck was decorated with flower jewelry and brown curls were tied in a neat bun formed inside her crown. Liserli smiled and bowed at the second queen, who outstretched her hand. Taking her hand, she gave a peck on its back in the form of respect. Though she was 13, the youngest among all sisters, she was more respectful than others.

Slowly everyone gathers one by one, her all six sisters and father. Walking to and fro, her father was waiting for the queen. His thick brows knitted in frustration. His huge crown shaking as he took quick steps. His hair stiff and thick, no movement could make a mess. Folding his hands on his fat belly, he was tapping his fingers trapped in rings. He was dress all fancy with silk laced shirt and loose trousers. Pearls around his neck and pointed golden-brown shoe complete his attire.

Finally, the queen came. Her golden attire beaming as she walks. She was a tall woman with sharp features. Her eyes were narrow and long, a sharp nose and thin lips. She walked down the stairs with her back straight. Her long black hair parted from the middle and ending below her waist. A crown perfectly fits on her head with golden strings decorating her neck. Golden bracelets in her hands made a clicking sound as she walked down.

"What took you so long?" Asked the king.

"A queen should be presentable." She said, while everyone bowed and greeted her with a peck on her hand.

The king walked out and everyone followed him. Three horse-drawn carriages were ready in front of the door. Distributing themselves they all sat. The horses whinnied and carriages took up the speed followed by ten more carriages of their luggage.

"How long will it take to reach west?" One of the sisters who was exactly in front of Vidarr asked.

"A week." The queen replied, who was sitting to the right of Liserli. To her left was Vidarr.

"I can't imagine how dirty my clothes could get staying in tents till we reach." Another sister complained

"Are any other kingdoms are invited apart from us?" Vidarr asked Liserli.

She looked at her mother for an answer. "Two other kingdoms are invited." The queen answered.

Way to the west was long and tiring. They halted at the last stop before reaching the destination. It was the night and everyone was sleeping in their tents.

Strange noises awaken Liserli from her sleep. She stood into a sitting position and found Vidarr was missing from the tent. Her two sisters were peacefully sleeping on the other side. Wearing her shoes, she swiftly came out of the tent. Wandering her eyes around, she was searching for her brother. Lifting a burning log from the fire, she walked around calling his name. All she got in return was eerie silence. She didn't know what was going on, it's the first time Vidarr left the castle and now he's missing. She searched all the other tents but, he was nowhere to be found. Again, she heard the same noises that woke her up. Following the source of the sound, she arrived at the shore of a lake. Vidarr was standing in the water; the level of water was low till his knees. His whole form was somehow wet and his hat was floating on the surface. Liserli called him, standing at the shore. Turning his head, he looked at her through his shoulder. His eyes were twinkling bright under the moonlight. And water dripping from his hair.

"Come back," Liserli said.

Pointing his finger to the other end, Vidarr spoke. "They are calling me."

Worried by his words, Liserli gasped and covered her mouth with a hand. Digging the stick in the ground, she lifted her dress and stepped in the water to get him back.

"There's no one." She outstretched her hand towards him.

Turning his head to the front, he was staring at the darkness of the forest at the other end. It looks like he wasn't just blankly staring, he was looking at something. Liserli noticed the strange look in his eyes and walked closer until her hand was reaching him. Bending forward, she stretched her hand further to pull him back. Before she could touch him, he scattered into leaves and flew away.

"No." She said and abruptly woke up from her sleep. She quickly turned to see Vidarr. He was sleeping soundlessly.

Gulping hard, she wiped her forehead. Sweat rolling down her temples. 'A sweven' she thought. Does this mean something? Should I tell father? She was thinking about the possible outcomes. The last time she had one that she remembered was eight years ago, which saved them from a disaster. None of the other sisters could see sweven, even if they had they don't remember. Some of them claimed they had once, but when father asked, they said they didn't remember. Every remembered sweven had a meaning, they had always been taught. With Vidarr involved in this, she was afraid to tell father. He would go to any extent if this means something bad. Lying back, she was staring blankly at the point of the tent, closing her eyes, she thought, 'I'll sleep, I might forget it when the morning occurs'. It took a while for her to get back to sleep. When she woke up in the morning, she stood up and saw an empty tent. Everyone was awake before her. Hugging her legs, she rested her head on her knees. 'I still remember it' she whispered.

The curtain of the tent was lifted, his father entered. She looked up at his father and bowed her head to greet.

"Did you have a sweven?" He asked directly out of blue. She was stunned by his question. She didn't know whether to say yes or no. 'Did father have one? But he never had before' she thought. It was only the first queen and her, who could see and remembers. After giving her birth, she lost her ability as well. Looking at the confused face of her daughter, he was sure she had one.

"What was it?'' He asked.

Now she can't lie that she didn't. Her face was clearly readable. She opened her mouth to speak and closed it again. Taking a deep breath, she stood up to face him.

"I was having a dance with Lycaon Valdemar in his castle."

The moment she said, he dropped the curtain of the tent and walked away. Calming her heart, she sat again. Now that they are visiting the west, to the Valdemar kingdom, this could be a possible sweven to believe. As she was thinking about it, the curtain moved again, this time it was Vidarr.

"Liserli!" He said in a rather high tone.

She looked up at her brother, who was standing safe and sound, close to her. Sitting on her knees, she touched his hand to make sure he was physically present. A genuine smile formed on her lips as she looked up at her brother.

"What did you see?'' He asked the same question.

Standing up, she smoothens the creases of her dress. Straightening her form, she looked down at her brother with a usual smile on her lips and a lordly look on her face. "Why? Didn't father tell you?"

"Do you know the meaning of it?" He asked.

Walking pass by him, she pushed away the curtain of the tent to talk out. "No."

"You should have lied."

She smiled at his words 'I already did.'

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LOCKHART