Faustine the Sensible

Chapter 7. The Lunar Festival

"Oh my! I am so sorry. I was so lost in all the rocks" I apologized as I looked up from the table.

"Don't worry," ring a sweet voice, "so was I."

Our eyes met and I saw before me without a doubt a princess. She was about my height, maybe a little taller, with long dark hair that she wore in gentle waves down her back that she had done up in silver ribbon.  Her eyes were dark as the night sky and she wore a Purple, floorlength gown with silver trimming.  Atop her head she wore a tiara cover in tiny starlike diamonds.

After a moment I said, "Hi, I am Princess Faustine of Elysia. Nice to meet you."

"Oh how nice! I am Princess Celeste of the Dale DoveLands."

"DoveLands!" I exclaimed, "I've heard so much about it, but I've  never been there myself. My family really doesn't care too much for the powerful magical rock thing you seem to have going on. "

"Oh right.  I do believe I had heard about that at some point. Magic is band in Elysia, right?"

"Yeah. It's awful if you ask me. That's why I live here now, in the Enchanted Forest."

"Really?! You mean you left Elysia? That sounds exciting."

"Yeah, actually I guess it is. It is kind of a long story, but I'd love to share it.  If you'd like to hear that is."

"That would be wonderful! I love exciting tales."

"OK great! I was thinking of going to eat. If you're hungry as well, we can both go and I can tell you more over the meal?"

"Perfect!"

Celeste and I made our way over to the food booths.  There was plenty to choose from. The booths were filled with an incredible assortment of fluffy, white moon bread, lunar cakes, celestial cookies, waxing pies, waning crescent rolls, and zenith pies. There were Stardust tarts, astroid cakes, and moon water punch as well.  Anxious to try them all, Celeste and I made a selection and sat out under a Silverbell tree to eat.

"So," Celeste said, "tell me your story."

Without hesitation, I regaled my new found friend with all the details of the last few days. It was honestly therapeutic to have someone to talk to about it all.  I realized, that up until that point I hadn't.  For that matter, it was therapy just making a new friend. Back home I didn't have many friends aside from Chester, even he was in many ways more like my ward. My brothers tolerated me, but it wasn't the same thing.  Now, in just one days time, I already had two new friends. It was a nice feeling.

Even better than sharing my own story was listening to hers.

"I guess I have the opposite story to yours in a way," Celeste began. "I am an only child and my parents never stop thinking about me. They do everything they can to show me the world and preparing for rulership, but it can be a lot. Sometimes I need my freedom. That's why I'm here tonight. I needed some space."

"So you don't live in the Enchanted Forest?" I asked.

"No, no. I took the tunnels through the mountains to get here. It's so cool that you get to live out here. Such a dream come true."

"Yeah, the forest is amazing, I admit, but the DoveLands?! All of my favorite anything always comes from your kingdom without exception.  Period point blank"

Celeste laughed humbly, "Don't get me wrong. The Doveland are great, and I love my kingdom. It's just that the thought of living freely and without burdens or... expectation... I wish I had more of that."

"With all of my brothers around I never really had that problem, but I do know what it's like to need to get away. Often times I would sneak away from the palace back home. Usually it was helpful."