chapter 9 ( back to the palace)

Ellie was still stuck in the forest. She knew she had been in the forest for too long as she looked up at the sky and witnessed the clouds covering the moon. She had ran far from home and she didn't know her way back. She turned to look at the already dead animal.

"There are definitely more where this came from."She muttered to herself.

Then she closed her eyes,as if concentrating to contact something or someone. She opened her eyes which had already turned green and looked downwards. Her night vision had been activated and she could clearly see the outline of her footsteps on the ground.

She smiled because it worked,and then she followed the traces until she got to the entrance into the palace. She watched the guard that stood at the entrance take a walk around and as he turned to the side,she ran to a corner of the palace.

She was able to maneuver the guards and find her way into her room. She got inside, closing the door gently,then she breathed a sigh of relief as she landed like a fallen tree on her bed. She tucked herself inside her sheets laying on her side then her door opened gently.

Ellie pretended to be asleep as she didn't want anyone asking her any questions or starting a conversation with her, not after her near death experience.

Her mother queen Greta walked gently into her room,and on sighting her daughter she went straight to close the curtains then she returned and  kissed her cheek and covered her with the sheets properly whispering the words __ "goodnight" in her ears.

Ellie remained that way until she heard the door close then she opened her eyes and sat up,looking towards her door then she sighed in relief.

"That was close.What if I wasn't here when she came?.Praise be to the moon goddess that she didn't meet my absence. I can't even imagine what would have happened." She said, with a hand placed on her chest as she breathed tensely; still looking towards the door, then she lay back on the bed, then after a while she closed her eyes and slept off.

Valerius and Greta were already seated at the dining table waiting for their breakfast to be served,the servants served them different types of food and they began to eat.

"It is strange for my daughter not to be here by now. Woman, have you checked on your daughter?."He asked as he sliced out a piece of meat from the roasted chicken.

"No my lord. I will go check on her." She said as she wiped her mouth with a piece of cloth and stood up to leave.

Meanwhile in Ellie's room, Alma stood by the side of her bed pleading and urging her to get out of her bed. Ellie shrugged and she turned side to side on her bed with sleepy eyes. 

"Is it morning already?" She asked in a drunken kind of tone.

"Yes my princess. You have to get up now. Your father awaits you at the dining table." Begged Alma.

"Go away! I want to sleep some more." She said, still feeling sleepy and light headed. Alma was just about to approach her when the queen entered the room. She bowed on sighting her but Ellie hadn't noticed her mother's presence so she continued sleeping.

"What is wrong with the princess?" Greta asked, feeling concerned for her daughter." Is she sick?" She asked.

"No, my queen. I think she slept late at night." Alma replied, bowing her head.

Greta approached Ellie's bed and touched her cheek with the back of her palm.

"Ellie..."She called. "Ellie...wake up." She tapped her continuously until Ellie opened her eyes.

"Mother!" She called out in frustration.

"Are you okay child?" She asked as she sat close to her.

"Yes mother, I am fine. I just couldn't sleep early last night. Good morning." Ellie said.

"Good morning sweetie hope you slept well?"

"Yes I did. Where is father?" She asked.

"At the dining table," Greta replied.

"Dining!" Ellie exclaimed in surprise. "Alma how long have I been asleep past my wake time?" She asked.

"Two hours my princess." Alma replied.On hearing that,Ellie jumped out of her bed.

"Father must be upset with me."She said as she separated herself from her sheets, heading straight for her bathroom.

"No he is not. He just wants to know if you are well." Replied Greta as she stood up from the bed."Alma, do well to see that the Princess is prepared on time, then get her to join us downstairs." Greta said refering to Alma.

"Yes my queen." Replied Alma as she bowed before Greta. Greta took her leave while Alma began to dress Ellie's bed and pick out her dress.

Ellie got out of the bathroom dripping wet as Alma dried her up with a towel and helped her to wear her dress. She then sat in front of her mirror and Alma began to brush her hair.

"Just keep it simple."Ellie said as she knew she was already late for breakfast. Alma parted her  hair to the center, and packed it to the back as she held it with a hair pin.

"You are now ready my princess." Alma said and Ellie stood up from her chair.

"Thank you Alma." She greeted, then she left Alma and she walked hastily downstairs.

Ellie got to the dining table where her father and mother were seated. She sat close to her father nervously and greeted as she adjusted her dress to sit properly.

"Good morning father." Ellie greeted rolling her eyes from side to side nervously.

"Is everything okay with you Princess?" Valerius asked.

"Yes father. I am sorry for being late. I just slept late last night but I promise it won't happen again." She said sincerely.

"It is never a crime to sleep. But it is a crime to make us worry over you." He smiled as he pinched her cheek gently.

"It won't happen again, father." She smiled.

"Now eat," He urged. Ellie picked up her fork as she picked a lettuce and stuffed it in her mouth.

"Your mother had told me that you accepted Queen Zelda's request to go spend some time with her in the palace." He said.

m"Yes father. I would like to go. You know that I haven't been on a vacation before and it's my first time visiting the palace so it will be a fun thing for me." Ellie replied.

"Very well then. You will leave tomorrow. I have already had the servants prepare your luggages for your stay." Valerius said.

"How long will I be gone for?" Ellie asked as she put a piece of meat in her mouth.

"For as long as you want," Valerius replied simply.

"Okay father," Ellie said as she continued with her meal.

Alma walked towards the laundry room with Ellie's dirty clothes as she came in contact with Kenan and Elsa. She looked at Kenan closely as if trying to get his attention but got the attention of Elsa instead.

Are you so unfortunate that you admire him even in the presence of his woman?" Elsa blurted scornfully, disgust filled her voice as she spoke. Alma ignored her and tried to pass, but was held back by Elsa forcefully peering into her eyes as if she'd rip out her eyes from it's socket. 

Kenan was displeased with her actions- he didn't want to make a scene. He just dragged Elsa by her arms, pulling her away from Alma.

"Let her be Elsa. She has done nothing wrong," He said.

"You support her now. Didn't you see the way she looked at you lustfully?" Elsa asked.

"Let's go." He dragged her, both walking away from Alma who already felt embarrassed.

Kenan took her to a corner,releasing her hands and he asked "What is wrong with you?"

"What is wrong with me?" A look of surprise paraded her face. "I am trying to protect what is mine."She said fiercely, taking a step forward to meet his face which was just a few inches away.

Kenan scoffed mockingly "yours?" He asked.

"Yes mine." She replied, staring at him in the eyes, not blinking.

He caressed her jawline gently bringing it up to his face,he said, "I don't belong to you Elsa. I belong to no one. Whatever we are having is just for fun and companionship. We don't belong together." Then he gave her a devilish smile and walked away leaving her in utmost embarrassment and disbelief.