Chapter 5: The Sunflower Festival (-46-)

-46-"Was that not exciting Miriel? I am always awed by the sight each year." Elle said.Miriel stared at Elle as they stood within the tent behind the Mound. The tent was spacious and wide, erected to house the performers and their instruments before and after their time above the landing."I only wish we could do it at night. It would be even more splendid that way." She added."Then the sun would be hidden from us. Now let us be with your maids and get you changed, Elle. They should be over there." Miriel said.There were many people gathered within the tent, but enough space in between the people - and their instruments - that Miriel could spot the maids standing near the centre of the tent. An odd ensemble even among the people in the tent."Hold my staff for a moment, would you?" Elle said, as she handed the green staff to Miriel."You need not treat it with such care. It will never break, or dent."Miriel examined the staff as she held it with both her hands in front of her. It was lighter than she expected, and far more intricate when seen so close. The faint markings, the lines, the shadows, all were meticulously etched. She planted it on the ground and the frayed tip almost reached her chin."Hm? Your highness?" Miriel raised her head and turned it left and right, then turned around and scanned the tent.Elle - who was beside her moments ago - was gone. What remained was a white robe on the ground where she stood before."Lady Lerkester, where is her highness?"Miriel turned to Vien who stood before her. The other maids were already picking the robe from the ground and folding it while some were scanning the tent."I apologise. She handed me her staff and slipped while I was unaware." Miriel said.Vien nodded."Allow us to safekeep the staff." Vien said.Miriel handed the staff to Vien who held it beside her.Vien turned around and addressed the maids behind her."Split and search for her highness. She must be nearby. Scour the streets if you do not find her, but do not stray. Her highness comes first, we will enjoy the festivities later." Vien said.The other maids nodded and departed the tent."Should have known she would…", "That must be why underneath she still wore…" , "It's like hide and seek…so exciting…" They whispered as they left.Vien turned to Miriel."We shall take our leave then, Lady Lerkester. Please, enjoy the festival. And please keep an eye out for her highness as well.""I will." Miriel replied.Vien bowed and left the tent, staff in hand.As Miriel watched Vien leave, she felt a tap on her shoulder.She turned around and it was Elle, now covered beneath a dark cloak."Surprised?" Elle said."At this point, I cannot be honest and say yes." Miriel replied."Bore." Elle pouted."Why did you hide from your maids, Elle?" Miriel asked."If I did not, we would be off to the palace and I would be busy as ever," Elle replied, "And of course, what good is the festival to us if we do not join in the festivities?""Now, did you wear the robe over your dress as I directed?" Elle asked."I did, Elle. Though, I understand why now." Miriel replied."Splendid. Now don this and let us be off." Elle handed Miriel another dark cloak.Miriel sighed. She easily slid the garb off her - revealing her dark green dress beneath - and slung the cloak around her."And where shall we keep this, Elle? Or will we bring it with us?" Miriel asked, as she picked up the robe."Hmm…" Elle pondered, with a hand below her chin."You there." Elle pointed to someone standing a distance away.He turned to his sides before pointing at himself, to which Elle nodded."Err, what is it?" The stranger said, scratching his chin as he stepped closer."Keep this with you and hand it to the princess's maids when they return," Elle took the garb from Miriel and handed it to the stranger."Or you may hand it to the soldiers and direct them the same." She added."Uh, I can do that, I guess?" His brows slanted as he stared at the garb while nodding. "Not like I'll be anywhere else today…" He trailed off as he whispered."Now, let us depart." Elle said. Then she paced to leave the tent.Miriel nodded to the stranger, then covered her head with the hood and followed Elle.-They wove through the crowd at the plaza and went down one of the main streets.People abounded everywhere after the officiation at the plaza.Children ran along the streets with friends, some guided with their hands by family. People crowded the streets and the stalls to the sides.Some sold food, confectionaries, flowers, trinkets, garlands, masks, plushies, ornaments and fineries and moreWhile some hosted games; A fish scooping game, a dart throwing game, a hoop throwing game, a scrying game, a spying game, even a treasure hunt game, and many more.There were bards with lutes, singing and recounting stories at some places and puppeteers playing puppet shows at others."You must try these cookies, Miriel. They are wondrous! Why, I should go right now and buy their recipe at once." Elle said, as she bit into another one.Drawing them from a pouch of them hanging from her waist. And in her other hand were sticks with exquisitely prepared meat - pierced through - hanging from the sticks."And these meat sticks! My chefs could learn a thing or two from them." She added."Not their recipe, Elle. You can order more if you so desire." Miriel said.They stopped by any stalls they were interested in and bought food and confectioneries from them.They skipped the games as Miriel was disinterested and Elle was familiar with all they passed so far."Very well, I shall be content with that. Let no one say this princess is a bully." Elle replied.As they walked past doves of people, Miriel turned to Elle."Will I be able to depart for Lerkester today, Elle?" Miriel asked.Elle stopped for a moment and turned to Miriel."I did tell you that you could, did I not? Then I must apologise, I have erred." Elle said."Though more because the situation went beyond what I imagined," She continued,"I did expect that no commoner wagons or merchants would leave the Capitol. That is why I sought to prepare my carriage for you.""But I did not expect the king to curb carriage travel outside.""You need not worry, though," Elle added,"I shall speak with him again and you will be able to leave tomorrow at the latest, if you wish.""Why would he ban travel outside the Capitol now?" Miriel asked.With no commoner wagons leaving the Capitol and carriages banned, the king may well have locked them in the Capitol.Elle pondered for a moment, then turned to Miriel."I have an inkling of the reason, but it is not something I may share, not without certainty at least." Elle replied."Fair enough. Then I shall wait for tomorrow." Miriel replied.

What else was she to do but wait?

"And worry not," Elle said, "I have brought Mark's condition - with an alias, of course - to my healers and they are debating on it already. I expect them to formulate a plan soon.""I am thankful for that, Elle." Miriel said."That can wait for after I show you what I have prepared to make up for my error." Elle replied."Hm?" Miriel stared at Elle, who only giggled and started walking.Miriel shrugged and followed after her.