Hearts of the Moon: Chapter 1

This day seemed to creep up on me. Even though it has been one hundred years, decades flew by like days. All my life, I always dreamed of this day more than anything else. More than the day I took my place on the throne. More than the day I would give birth to my very own children. This was that perfect day where I would spend with my betrothed, we would be officially engaged, and spend the customary time away from the palace until our wedding.

Being the protected princess all my life, the sheltered child hidden from life’s real natural pleasures, there was something about this beginning, this start of a life with someone else that was so delightfully new. The routine of my life so far, living with my parents in the palace, grew so predictable, so boring, that it felt like today I was truly breaking the bonds of royalty—well, as much as was allowed.

Sitting up in the large canopy bed, I looked out of the wide window that stretched out on the wall to the left of my bed. The sun was barely peeking over the top of the mountains. I slid out of from under the silk covers and strode soundlessly over to the delicate, white vanity in the corner of my room.

I picked up the gold brush on top of the vanity and brushed until my silver locks of hair were smooth and straight. There came a knock at the door that moment, and a maid walked in, holding a folded white gown with a few gold pieces placed on the bundle.

“Good morning, Miss Lunette.” The young girl greeted, setting down the golden accessories upon my bed.

“Good morning, Esme. Thank you for bringing this to me. It must be very busy around, what with all the preparations.” I answered kindly.

“Oh yes, Miss Lunette, it is very hectic in the kitchen. The cooks are working extremely hard on the food for the luncheon. I assure you, however, that it will be quite delectable.” She said, bringing the dress over to me as I slipped off my nightgown.

“They never cease to surprise me. It would seem every time they make a dish it tastes different than the last. Oh how I love feasts…” I chuckled. Esme held the gown for me as I stepped in, and she fastened the back. “…But that isn’t the most exciting event I’m looking forward too, today.” My face turned scarlet at the thought of him.

“Indeed. Today must be very special for you. I can’t imagine how you must feel. To at last become a woman after all these years. To be married,” She paused and sighed, smiling, “is the most wonderful thing in the world.”

I smiled back at her timidly, like a child hiding a secret. Of course she knew how it felt to be married to her husband.

But he was different. He was so special to me, and no one else knew what I felt. I don’t think anyone in the whole kingdom could feel as happy as I did. Just picturing him…standing there under a tall, shady tree…holding out his hand for me to take hold, and run off with him…

Esme secured the waist plate around me, as I slid on the separate sleeves and armguards. I placed on my golden collar and scrutinized myself in the mirror. The Nortephian race were beautiful creatures by nature. Their pale lavender skin and silver white hair and eyes made them appear as soft, fragile beings. However, the military was just as powerful and skilled as other races.

Still, seeing myself in the mirror was never enough to make me feel beautiful. It was only when I was happy that I felt good about myself. After a decade, seeing perfect faces everywhere grew tiresome, and it wasn’t enough anymore, just to look beautiful. It was all too common now. Still, I’m always told how amazing I looked, but I really doubted the truth in the words. Anything to please a princess, I suppose.

Esme bid me good luck and left me as I finished applying the faint amount of shimmering make-up and eye shadow. I never could see why it mattered in a race where we were already aesthetically pleasing.  Why couldn’t I just go out without hiding my face? I felt too unnatural.

Upon finishing, I glided out the door and down the hall to reach a staircase then led to the second story. There at the base was a bodyguard that had served by my side ever since my beginning years.

The young-looking man with long, almost unnaturaly dark plum hair, the elegant pointed ears of the Nortephs poking out of the elegant strands, tied back into a ponytail flashed a gorgeous smile. He had on the royal guard’s uniform of black, silver and pale green. His broad shoulders were hidden under shimmering iron shoulder guards, and the same iron armor plated the front of his shins, and his arms.

“Good morning, milady. I trust you slept well?” He purred, holding out his hand as I came down the stairs. I took it as I reached the bottom, and he kissed the top of it, and I placed it back by my side.

“Hardly!” I chuckled. “I was so restless last night. Can you believe it? I think I’m actually scared!”

We laughed together for a moment, but suddenly I turned my head back as we heard hurried footsteps coming up behind us. A man with short, pale gold hair in uniform came up to us.

“Sergeant Jasper!” He called. I saw Jasper’s face slowly grow solemn. The blond man reached us, and laid a hand on his shoulder. I looked to him, and he gave me a quick glance, and whispered something in his ear. He nodded and walked a few meters away from me with the other guard. The guard spoke to him quickly, without a troubled face, but he still seemed uneasy to me about something…

Jasper gave a quick answer back, and soon the man left, and Jasper returned to my side.

“What was that?” I asked curiously.

“Nothing of too much concern, milady. Just a couple spies spotted a few miles north. They were taken care of, of course, so don’t you give it another thought.” He turned to give me a nod and a small smile. I tired to see if he was telling the truth, but he was always so hard to read. I decided to do as he suggested, and forget about it. Nothing would ruin this day.

We reached the top of the grand staircase and stepped gracefully down the steps together. The room was grand, glistening in the early sunlight that bust through the clear windows. It wasn’t a gigantic room, but was still large. A chandelier hung from the top of the two-story room, the jewels tossing about the rays with glee, brightening up the area.

The staircase split into two, the sections wrapping both the walls and came down on either side of the room. Through the middle were huge double doors that led to the throne room and various other rooms used by military officers and guards. Parallel to these doors, across the room where the stairs ended, were another set, but grander, that led to the front of the palace.

Jasper pulled open one of the huge doors for me with ease, and I gave him a nod of gratitude as I walked past him and down the small steps to the driveway where a simple but elegant carriage waited for us. The horseman helped me inside, and Jasper went up to sit next to the driver. I sat on the soft velvet seat unwavering as the wagon rocked from side to side on the rocky path. All the time I could only think about what awaited me at the end of this short trip. I’d stand there smiling lovingly, and he smile back…

My stomach flipped over at the thoughts and I started to feel a little sick. What If I did something stupid, like trip from paying too much attention on his eyes instead of the ground? What if I choked on my words when he asked me a question? My arms wrapped around my waist, and I laid my head on back on the soft velvet. No. I wouldn’t do anything to embarrass myself. Even if I did, he would understand. I’ve known him almost all my life…

…Yet it still seemed, as if in this moment, that I barely knew him at all. I understood why. It was because now, our lives were on course at last. Our paths were now one, and he was no longer just my friend. No longer the boy I admired and teased. He was my betrothed, my beloved, my fiancé.

I knew that nothing would change. We would still be same people as before, the same little boy and girl that played together at childhood. But now, there were no more secrets. I had always kept my secrets from him, my foolish daydreams about him and about our future. Every young girl had them, but I doubted any young boy knew that. But by now, he must know. He must know that all this time, I really did love him, and think about him. I wonder if he ever thought about me…

At that moment the carriage came to a halt, and I could feel the floor of the coach spinning under my feet as I stood up. Climbing out with the help of Jasper, I thanked him. My face must have been red, or he could hear my heart throbbing out of my ribcage, for he smiled with sympathy and encouragement in his eyes.

“Don’t worry, it will be all right.” His voice was like the quiet stream.

I suddenly panicked. “You won’t be with me?” I asked with half terror in my voice.

Jasper chuckled whole-heartedly and laid a hand on my shoulder gently.

“He’s the captain of the guard, and he cares about you. Don’t you worry. You are brave and charming, and will have no trouble at all. You don’t need me."

Jasper nodded and took his hand off my shoulder. My father-figure was setting me free now, like a bird leaving the nest.

“Go.” He gave me a slight nudge and I started walking not-so-gracefully around the carriage. We had stopped at a quiet area full with trees, and I could see beyond a few branches, the golden waters of the lake as the sun climbed the sky. There was no sign of him, and as I stood at the edge of the road and the trees, the carriage pulled away.

Panic entered my breast and it seemed hard to breath. I heard nothing as I stood there for a moment, but it subsided soon as it seemed no one was there. Willing myself to walk to the water’s edge, I stumbled clumsily over a few twigs and almost tripped, but caught myself on a tree in front of me.

Then I heard it.

There was the sound of footsteps, and quickly I moved away from the tree, and continued with new determination forward, until I finally came to the edge of the tree line. There was about four yards of grass covered with purple, white, and yellow wildflowers until it transformed into the rim of the sparkling lake. It was absolutely breathtaking, the way the sun lit up this place, and the vast sapphire lake.

A perfect, soft voice spoke my name from behind. It was as serene and peaceful as a gentle breeze in the summer afternoon. Just hearing one word was enough to make me melt on the inside. It was as breathtaking as the view that lay before me.

“Lunette?”

It was him.