Chapter 8: Hope

Charlotte carefully read through the applications she'd already received, trying to sort every wizard where she thought they'd do best according to Alther's notes and instructions.

That afternoon, Ashton had given a rather eloquent speech announcing the plan to hire wizards for a year to the kingdom. As expected, the crowd had had many mixed reactions, but when the time came to open the doors of the castle to welcome the wizards the place had been packed.

Ashton had quickly taken charge, shaking hands, passing out papers and pens to everyone who came in, and leading them all to some tables where they could fill them out at their own pace. However, a problem soon emerged: several of the wizards had never been taught to read or write. Upon hearing this, Alther had quickly volunteered to help anyone with problems, leaving Charlotte alone to decide where everyone would go.

Sighing, Charlotte continued her work. She'd been feeling a bit down recently. Like she wasn't doing enough. Ashton and Alther would bend over backwards to help people and she'd just sit there and look pretty while they did all the work. And though she knew that her mother would expect her to be the perfect image of a princess, she loathed her role. Charlotte wanted to make a difference. She wanted to be someone brave, someone whose words could motivate people, whose actions could create a better life for everyone. Someone like Ashton.

Though she was hesitant to admit it, Ashton was what intimidated her most. He was perfect in every way that mattered. Kind, smart, confident, she could tell he was definitely born to rule. And as his queen, Charlotte knew she would never compare. She was too clumsy, too brusque. Next to him, she'd only be highlighting her own imperfections. Ashton needed someone just as perfect to rule alongside him, and Charlotte knew she wasn't it.

Another wizard approached and handed over their application, and Charlotte tried to refocus her attention to the task at hand.

Several hours later, the last application was turned in and Ashton offered to lead the wizards to their rooms so that she and Alther could rest. Though Charlotte was a little tired, she didn't want to return to her room just yet. She made her way to the gardens, sitting on the grass below a hedge that had been cut in the likeness of King Edward.

"I thought I'd find you around here," a voice cheerfully called and she jumped, turning to face Alther. "You ok?" He took a seat next to her.

"I'm fine, you just startled me," she smiled, moving over to give him more room.

"Are you sure? It's not my place to pry, but you've seemed more serious recently." Alther gave her a look of concern. Sensing her discomfort he quickly backtracked. "Though I suppose I could've imagined it. Please ignore me."

Charlotte felt a small comfort knowing that Alther was concerned for her, and though she didn't want to admit that she hadn't been feeling very well lately, she decided she could trust him.

"It's alright, don't worry," she reassured him. "I just wish I could do more, you know? You and Ashton seem to have everything figured out. You stand up for what's right and make a difference, and I've just been riding on your coattails." She fiddled with her skirt, not wanting to make eye contact with Alther.

"Charlotte, you have made a difference. Your being here made my father free the wizards in the first place!" Alther exclaimed.

"But that wasn't me!" Charlotte countered. "I didn't tell the king to free them. It was just a coincidence that he chose my arrival to announce his decision."

Alther waved it off. "Then what about the parade? You kept it from being called off when everyone else refused to."

"That was just a silly party. I'm sure someone else would've spoken up if I hadn't."

"But it wasn't just a silly party. You said it yourself, it was a way of showing our pride in releasing the wizards. That parade meant everything to a lot of people. Not just the parade either. You mean something to them too, Charlotte," Alther said, and Charlotte could tell he meant every word. "You've brought hope to the wizards when they thought there was none to be found."

Tears sprang into Charlotte's eyes as Alther spoke. The doubts that had been eating away at her seemed far away now, and it was all thanks to him. She wiped the tears away and quietly thanked him.

Trying to lighten the mood, Alther asked, "Have I told you the story of the time I wanted to be a gardener?" Charlotte shook her head. "Three years ago one of the maids brought me here, and I saw the gardeners using magic to keep the flowers beautiful. Since I wasn't allowed to use magic, I thought that being a gardener was the best thing ever and told the maid I wanted to be one."

Charlotte laughed. "What did the maid say?"

"She said it was ridiculous. I'm pretty sure she thought I was an idiot," Alther joked. His eyes lit up suddenly and he shot to his feet. "Wait here, I'll be right back!"

Charlotte watched as he ran inside, wondering what had gotten into him. When he returned a few minutes later he was grinning from ear to ear and there was something cupped in his hands.

"Since we were on the topic of magic," he showed her what was in his hands: a red rose whose petals shifted into violet at the ends. It refracted the light that hit it like diamonds, and it took Charlotte's breath away. "This was the first spell I ever used, three years ago. I want you to have it."

"Are you sure?" Charlotte asked, taking the rose hesitantly. "It's beautiful."

Alther nodded. "Just like the gardeners brought me hope, and like you've brought hope to the wizards, I want you to look at the rose when you're feeling down, and maybe it'll bring you hope."

Charlotte wrapped her arms around Alther, who seemed surprised by her touch, but after a while he embraced her as well.

"Thank you, Alther."