5. Quite a surprise

Morning arrived as the sun rose as rays of sunlight shone onto the bedroom window which Elara and her cousin Amelia shared.

Elara was feeling tired as she cried herself to sleep and her eyes were still swollen.

Amelia managed to get up from her bed, arranging her sheets before walking towards the window. She looked outside the window and went straight to wake Elara.

"Elara, wake up, don't you have somewhere to be right now" Amelia said whining as she shoved Elara off the bed.

Elara, surprised at what she'd done, didn't do anything and remained on the floor.

"I'm giving you 10 seconds," Elara said, still laying on the floor threatening Amelia.

"You. Wouldn't. dare " Amelia said glaring at Elara on the ground.

Elara rushed from the ground, shocking Amelia as they began running back and forth in their room.

"MOM...Elara wants to get me" Amelia say s as she runned in circles in the room.

"DON'T WORRY AUNTY ... .it just harmless fun" Elara yelled back into the room.

Amelia finally slipped out of the room escaping Elara.

Amelia Fletcher, the second child of Rowan and Phoebe fletcher. At 16, she carried herself with confidence that sometimes Elara envied to have at that age. Her snowy white skin which she got from her mother and dark curls which she got from her dark always made her stand out.

But beneath all that, I see an annoying sibling who I might wanna sell for a new one, but in all I love her, we get along quite well.

I thought to myself as I began making my bed.

____

Life hasn't been easy for Elara, it was what we could say was a blessing and both a challenge. Elara remembered when they would be in their old place where they live which barely had enough space or room. Not only that the neighborhood was so suffocating and that was one of the last straw before we moved, she didn't want her cousin to be treated badly just because of the way they look.

With her job as a physician, she was able to save up and afford a bigger house within a month. The house was enough for us, that they each had their own shared room.

Mr and Mrs Fletcher in one, Elara and Amelia in one and Anthony in one.

The house is under Elara's name but she prefers to call it her uncle's house even though she bought it.

____

After Elara freshened up, she was at the door putting on her shoes struggling with the ropes.

Mrs Fletcher was passing with a tray and stopped midway before speaking.

"Elara, you didn't eat anything"she questioned, setting the tray down as she looked at Elara.

Elara was still struggling with the laces before looking at her aunt.

"I'm in a rush aunty, I'll get something on the way" Elara said as she stood up .

"Don't worry aunty, I'll be fine"

"But you have always skipped breakfast ever since you started taking care of the queen, that is not healthy. I worry for you"

Phoebe says as she walks towards Elara and places her palm on her shoulder.

"And you only ever eat in the evening, when everyone else is asleep, at least once In a while have breakfast, just to start the day."

"I'm sorry I make you worry aunty, I just want to head up to the palace early today, but I'll make sure to eat something on the way," Elara says reassuring her aunt .

"Ok, then, I'll make your favorite cabbage stew on your way back, I'll tell Rowan to heat it up for you." Phoebe says as she kisses Elara forehead before Elara heads to the door.

As Elara made her way out of the house, she saw the royal carriage outside not too far from the house.

"Why is the royal carriage here so early?" Elara says to herself as she saw Anthony carrying a stack of firewood as he spoke.

"They've been here all morning" Anthony says as he drops the fire wood down by the porch of the house. "I got up early to chop wood when the Carriage arrived, the man in green said he was waiting for you".

Anthony pointed at Jace who wore a forest green vest tagged with medal design.

"I told Amelia through the window to tell you they've arrived, didn't she tell you?" As Anthony spoke, Amelia came out of the house and stood right next to Elara, Elara glared at her fuming with anger.

"Why didn't you tell me the royal guard was here?" Elara asks Amelia, fighting the urge not to strangle her.

"I did. I pushed you off the bed didn't I?" Amelia said, folding her arms with her head turned, looking away from Elara.

"Why you little,I will deal with you later" Elara said pointing at Amelia

"It's ok Elara , I'll handle this one"Anthony spoke as Amelia's expression changed into fear.

"NO, NOOOO, PLEASE DON'T MAKE HIM PUNISH ME, HE'LL MAKE ME DO CHORES" Amelia yelled as she held on to Elara's dress preventing her from going.

"That would be the least of my worries," Elara says, releasing herself from Amelia's grip making her way to the carriage.

"Make her clean our room while you're at it Anthony" Elara says.

"Understood," Anthony said, smiling as he looked at his sister.

Anthony fletcher is quite the opposite of Elara, he may not have gotten his mother's snow white skin like that of his sister, but he still manage to stand out in his appearance, he's like a spitting image of his father when he was younger, I'm pretty sure no one would even believe him if he were to said Phoebe was his real mother. Unlike Amelia, Anthony is hardworking, for some reason only Anthony was able to make Amelia do chores without her complaining, whatever he's doing, he should keep it up.

Elara finally reached the carriage as she spoke.

"Sorry if I made you wait long, but if I may, why are you here so early" Elara said to the guard as he opened the carriage door guiding her in.

"Orders by the queen" Jace replied

"You will have a busy day today tending to the guards and the kind" Jace spoke again

"The king…" Elara replied, but before she could say anything further, Jace shut the door of the carriage leaving himself outside.

Elara heard the coachmen call the guard by his name.

"Jace, come on!" Jace left the entrance of the Carriage as he climbed up to sit next to the coachmen.

"So that's his name, sounds kinda familiar" Elara thought to herself as she thought of the guards name as the carriage made its way to the palace.

____

The carriage had arrived at the palace. Jace had come down from the driver seat opening the door for Elara as he led her inside where the king was waiting.

(There is nothing to worry about, the king is nothing but another patient) Elara thought to herself as she followed Jace behind.

They finally reached a stop before Jace spoke.

"The king is here"

"Thank you," Elara said as he entered the room.

When Elara entered , she saw the king facing the window with his hands behind his back, his presence commanding as the room was silent.

As the door of the room shut, it signaled the king that I was in his room,

He turned to me with his hands still behind his back.but his expression was stern as it exerted power from his kingly demeanor, but when he looked at me, his expression changed to a confused yet thankful one.