Chapter 33: Give It A Shot

"Fiona? What's with this nonsense?" Alexandria said as she came back from a stroll.

"This child is wearing the dress I have made." Fiona was so sure as she holds the kid's hand.

"How can you be sure? Dresses can be the same with others" Alexandria defended.

"You do not understand! This dress was made by me, I always put marks in my dress and check this out" Fiona said as she find her mark on the dress.

"Crescent moon. This is also a design that is unique as I was the only one who made it. This crescent moon signifies my Erytheia, as she process a crescent moon birthmark on her shoulder" Fiona shared as she was deeply glad about it.

"Fiona, we sh---" Queen Fiona stopped her from talking.

"I ask the child to bring me to his father and w---" Fiona was stopped.

"Linda ~ my dear child. I told you stay with your playmates." A guard said as he hugged his daughter.

"I apologize for bothering you, Your Highnesses" The guard said as he took his daughter behind his back.

"Why did you even take your child in the castle in the first place. As far as I know, nob---" Fiona stopped her from talking rash words again.

"It's okay. I am fascinated by your child's dress" Fiona started.

"I was merely doing my work to burn it as requested but it would be a waste because the dress so beautiful and I took it home as a present to my young Linda" The guard shared as Alexandria was looking at him which makes him a bit intimidated.

"Can I invite you for a cup of tea together with your daughter? If you don't mind" Fiona asked with so much courtesy while Alexandria was signaling him not to accept her offer.

"Linda~ come" Fiona said and the child moves towards her.

"Of course your Majesty. It's a pleasure" The guard said and Linda holds her hand tightly.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

"Can tell me more about how did you get that dress?" Queen Fiona said as she filled the cup with tea.

"We actually found a girl washed up in the shore with a sword, locket and a chest that contains a child's dress and a wet letter inside" The guard shared.

"A girl? Is she still alive?" Queen Fiona asked as she went overly excited and held his hand but the guard immediately took his hand back.

"I--- Unfortunately, she was already dead when we found her your Majesty. All that's left was her chest, locket and sword" He replied as he was trembling.

"I was just task to burn all her things but the dress was beautiful and it fits perfectly to my daughter" The guard said as he can't look at her eyes. Queen Fiona was stunned, heart broken and was sad as soon as she heard his confession. Tears were slowly dropping from her eyes.

"Are you okay your majesty?" The guard said but Linda immediately took her hand.

"I'm okay. Thank you for the useful information" She said as she brushed Linda's hair and imagined her daughter at her age.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

"There you are! You did not even tell me where you were going and you just ran away" Carlyle said as he approach her with a wide smile.

"You were with him?" Alexander said as the people were gathered by the lake with so much tent in the yard and Ayla just nod at him.

"I am looking for a maid who has hazel eyes, fai-- Oh! There you are" Elijah said as he approach her.

"Why is everyone looking for me?" Ayla asked as she looked at them.

"I wonder why are my brothers gathering here?" Clamentine said as she joined the crowd with King Luke. Ayla was confused why is there so much people gathering beside her. They just look at each other but Louis broke the silence.

"Ayla~ Please join me win the archery contest, it was a contest for us children but they said we will take an adult with us." Louis said grabbing her hand.

"You want me to help you win the contest?" Ayla pointed at herself as she was confused because he have his brothers with him.

"Yes!" He demanded.

"What can a mere maid do with bows and arrows?" Clamentine smirked as she was laughing in the inside.

"You are speaking ill of her but you know nothing about her skills, she is far more increadible than you are" Louis said as he gave Clamentine a bad look.

"How can you tell that to your own sister? We are far more related to each other than her" Clamentine said while she was giving Ayla a bad look.

Ayla thought of a way so that theTy will not fight each other. She bent down and whispered something in Louis' ears.

"He doesn't want to do it" Louis said as he looked at every single one of his brothers.

"I can do it for you little prince" King Luke said as Ayla smiled at his sudden volunteerism.

"He is our brother and we will do it for him!" Alexander, Elijah and Carlyle said in the same time. Clamentine was so shocked on how her brothers loosing some manners infront of her.

"Louis? You have a lot of choices" Ayla said as she was happy looking at them.

"Carlyle is the best choice in experience as he went to wars with my father, Elijah is good too, Alexander is hmmmm" Louis stopped as he was thinking deeply.

"I'll choose you then" Louis said as he pulled Alexander.

"He really knows how to choose" Elijah said as we followed them to the archery contest.

The princess of Hradun was looking for someone but she only know Ayla in the midst of the crowd. Her guards was the best choice because they are trained but the rules imply to not let the guards join. Princess Amanda took her and drag her to the field.

"Is she even worth it?" Clamentine asked them.

"Believe me sister but Ayla is worth it than anything else in the world even though it doesn't show but I have the feeling that she is not just an ordinary woman" Elijah said as they looked at them from behind.

Clamentine was a bit jealous because they adored her more than her. She faked her smile and she look saw their genuine smile at her. She looked at the King of Losman and she knew that she will never be just like her who is adored by a lot of people.