Beneath The Oak

"A beautiful soul is never forgotten!"

-Unknown

*****

I had awoken today without the presence of Rosa looming over me. I lay in bed feeling guilty for not getting up sooner as I make my way into my ensuite readying a hot shower.

I stood under the water for so long my mind drifting to the prince and how nice he was, he was so enchanting I was drawn to him in a way I never thought I would to a man.

The booming on my bedroom door woke me from my daydream as I dried myself off emerging from the bathroom in a pair of skinny jeans and a red flowing top.

Fen was standing at my door waiting for me. Even on my days off, I do nothing but spend my time with this pup. "Good morning Fenrir. What are we up to today?"

"That all depends on you my lady." He says giving me an exaggerated bow.

I punch him in the shoulder and push past him down to the dining room "FOOD!" I say exasperated, hungry from the night before.

"Sound good!" Fen says as he walks across the kitchen into the fridge pulling out a carton of milk and drinking it straight. What was I to do with him.

*****

The day moved fast and after lunch Fen and myself found our way to my mother's oak tree. It was a warmer afternoon as we sat beneath the tree on a picnic blanket with a basket of sandwiches and muffins made by the kitchen staff without our request. They had insisted on it not taking no for an answer nor a helping hand.

Fen had this look on his face that I just couldn't place. I just know he was going to start prying any second now.

"Soooo the prince hey!" Fen said with an elbow into my ribs. What did I say I knew it was coming.

"He was just being a gentleman on my birthday he's a prince he is obliged to be nice to the hosts or hostess of events he attends there is nothing." I say laying on my back face up observing the clouds in the blue sky.

"You say that yet he ignored everyone else and only had his eyes set on you for the entirety of the event and don't get me started on the rose Ria." Fen says laying down next to me hands flying as he talked. "He is so into you you're so oblivious to these kinds of thing. You're so lucky to have me to help point the obvious out."

I'm the one to throw my elbow this time, him wincing at the pain though more over-exaggerated then it needed to be.

"What was that for? All I'm saying is that prince Leon seems to have taken a liking to you, not that I blame him. You were beautiful last night to say the least it's no wonder when he wasn't at your side you were all he seemed to pay attention to." I smile kindly at Fens words of kindness for me.

I guess he may be right but I just can't seem to grasp at the fact someone of such high stature would even pay any attention to me.

We lay in silence for a while staring at the clouds together as we did when we where younger. Not an awkward silence it never is really, not with Fen at least. After some time the peace and quiet brings me to sleep from the exhaustion of last night hitting me.

*****

Everything was a tint of orange with the sunset coming from the rolling hills. I'm still laying beneath the tree but Fen is no longer at my side nor any sign of the picnic being set up under the oak.

An angelic glow comes from within the hollow of the tree piquing my curiosity as I get up from the ground where I had been laying down. I swear I can hear a voice calling to me from beyond the glow.

I approached the hollow and reached within pulling out a box of wood with an intricate design of a phoenix on it with words of a language I have yet to learn.

I open the box to a bright light .....

*****

I woke from my dream with all as it should be Fen by my side snoring so loud that would we be inside the whole manor would shake, the blanket beneath me and the basket above our heads where we lay. The sky still a clear blue with soft clouds floating past.

The only thing was that I was still hearing a calling from the tree. A strange angelic sound calling for me to move the next thing I know I'm standing in front of the tree where the hollow is.

I reach into the hollow to find the box from my dream within. Every detail from the dream was correct the intricate carving of the phoenix on a small wooden box with a golden latch with the family crest on it.

I didn't hear him get up or move over to me but I felt Fens presence behind me as he spoke "That's cool as, where did you get that from?"

"It was in the trees hollow. It has the family crest on the latch. Do I take it to father or open it?"

"Just open it I doubt it's anything bad just show Mr Kingsley after you find out what's in it I'm sure he won't mind."

I take one look at Fen over my shoulder I'm sure it'll be ok I have him by my side to defend me if father was to become upset.

I take a deep breath and look back at the box resting in my hands and open the latch a light glow came to me as it was opening and inside the box was a phoenix necklace, a Kingsley family hair ornament and a letter addressing "Ilaria Valaryon". How strange.

I glance at Fen again as he offers me his arm to hold "to the manor my lady?" He questions with a playful wink and we are off to interrogate my father.

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Thanks for reading guys.

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I try to update at least a full chapter each week if not more. Always open to any feedback on my novels.

Ps. This is my unedited draft

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Emily🥰