corrected, “just most.”
For a moment, she looked into Lucian’s eyes. “I suppose you’re right. Not all things end.”
The music finished and Lucian led Moira back to the group. For the next song Adrian took his sister to the dance floor. “I am sorry, Moira.”
“I’m sorry too, Adrian,” she replied. “I shouldn’t have gotten so mad. You know I love you, right? Even when we fight and disagree and when I’m an emotional wreck.”
“I know, Moira,” he said, spinning her gently. “I love you too. Besides, I’m sure I’ll be back to normal before you know it and then we’ll have a great laugh.”
“Only you would get yourself put under a spell without getting in trouble,” she laughed.
He chuckled, “Yeah, I guess that’s true.”
They enjoyed the rest of the dance and at the end, Adrian kissed Moira’s cheek. “Take care of Allegra for me, baby sister.”
Moira choked back tears and nodded. “You haven’t called me that in a long time, Adrian.”
“I know. It’s been a long time since I felt I needed to. You’re hardly a baby anymore.”
“Neither are you.”
When they arrived back at the group, Adrian pulled Nana out to dance with him. “Don’t you worry about a thing, Adrian,” she said as they danced. “Everything will work out just fine.”
“I hope so.”
“Well, you trust your old grandmother,” she said with a wink. “You’ll see.”
All too swiftly the last dance of the evening came. Before taking Allegra out to the floor, Adrian said, “I need you to turn around and close your eyes.”
“Whatever for?”
“I can’t tell you, you’ll just have to trust me,” he replied.
She turned around and closed her eyes, a smile playing about her lips. Adrian took the necklace from its box and moved Allegra’s hair to the side as he clasped the chain about her neck. “Am I allowed to look now?”
“Yes,” he replied.
Opening her eyes, Allegra looked down at the pendant about her neck. She lifted it so she could see it more clearly. “Adrian,” she gasped, “it’s perfect. Thank you.”
“A little something to have with you when I can’t be,” he said gently, stroking Allegra’s cheek. “And now, we’re going to go enjoy this last dance.”
Smiling brightly, Allegra accepted Adrian’s arm and walked out to the dance floor with him. For much of the dance they were quiet. Midnight was only a few short minutes away. Concentrating on these last few moments being perfect, Adrian took her, spinning and twirling with the music as it floated through the room. As the clock got closer to midnight he held her close. “Allegra?”
“Yes?”
“I need you to know something,” he began.
“What is it, Adrian?” she asked, her brow furrowing with concern. “You look upset.”
“Allegra,” he said softly, just as the minute hand of the grandfather clock moved to midnight, “I love you.”
The clock chimed and in an instant there was a flash of white. When the light cleared, Adrian was gone.
Year 5 Chapter 4
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Calista tried to keep things in order, but there were students screaming, Allegra was having a panic attack followed by a shouting match with her brother, parents were demanding to know what was going on, and Adrian’s entire family was being bombarded with questions. Lavinia was speechless, Moira sullen and Nana refused to answer. Sebastian didn’t help by asking, “What do you think happened to him?”
Just as Calista was about to give up hope of getting things calmed down, Vulcan roared, “Silence!”
In an instant the room became dead quiet. “Thank you, Vulcan,” she said. He nodded. “Will Prince Lucian, Princess Allegra, King Lysander and Queen Alexandra please join me in my office? The rest of you will kindly go to your quarters and get some rest. Many of you have long journeys in the morning and I don’t wish to be up all night answering questions. This matter is between myself, the fairies and the two families involved. No one else has any part in this and therefore is not entitled to any explanations whatsoever. Good night.” She turned and Lucian’s family quietly followed her out of the room.
Queen Alexandra was gently steering Allegra from the room. They could hear the steady buzz of whispering growing as people guessed what had happened. She was grateful when she heard Gelasia’s sweet voice, “Now, now, my dears, this isn’t the first time a prince has disappeared. You’re all making a mountain out of a molehill.”
As soon as they had reached the safety of her office, Calista closed the door and said, “Now, we can discuss what has happened and what this will mean for Allegra.”
“Where is Adrian?” she demanded. “What have you done with him?”
“Where Adrian is, I cannot say. I can tell you that he is perfectly safe and in no danger at present.”
“What does that mean?” Allegra asked.
“Try to be patient, Allegra,” Calista said gently. “I will explain to you all that I can, but you must accept the answers that I can give you. Adrian is, as I said, perfectly safe. His exact location is unknown.”
“He’s been expelled?” she asked, horrified.
“No, not expelled,” Calista assured her. “Adrian is a very good student and there was no need to expel him. However, he has been put under a spell, the nature of which I cannot tell you. You see, Allegra, Adrian was never the one with a quest. You are.”
Her eyes widened in shock. “I have a quest? No, no that’s not right. I’m the princess. I’m supposed to disappear and he’s supposed to save me. That’s the way it works.”
“There is no cookie cutter recipe for a quest, Allegra,” Calista explained. “Each quest is uniquely designed for the prince and princess it involves. Even if Adrian were the one with a quest, you would find yourself challenged too. Your mother did not sit idly in a tower. She had to entertain the dragon holding her prisoner to ensure her safety and survival. She spent time sewing and filling her hope chest for the time when she would be rescued. She also had to execute great patience, which between us was never one of your mother’s strengths.” Alexandra allowed for a tiny smile before she continued, “My point is, Allegra, that this is a unique and wonderful opportunity for you.”
“Wonderful? No, you bring Adrian back. I want my Adrian.”
“That is not going to happen, Allegra, as I’m sure you are aware,” Calista replied. “In the meantime, you will continue your schooling for the next two years.”
“No,” Allegra countered. “If I must rescue Adrian, then I’m doing it right now.”
“Without finishing school you will be unable to complete this quest and neither of you will have a happy ending to this story,” Calista warned. “It is imperative that you finish your last two years. You will receive the knowledge you need to break the enchantment and live out your days happily.”
Lucian had been sitting very quietly during the whole meeting, staring at his lap. Allegra suddenly turned on him. “You knew,” she accused.
“Yes, I knew,” he admitted. “But I wasn’t allowed to say anything.”
Allegra’s eyes, filled with tears and anger, narrowed to slits. “I don’t care,” she said in a voice filled with bitterness and so quiet that it was almost a whisper. “I hate you, Lucian. And I will never, ever forgive you. Never!” She then turned on her heel and ran out of the room.
Lucian stood to follow, but Lysander put a hand on his shoulder. “Let her be, son,” he suggested. “I know you want to make amends, but she needs to come to terms with this.” He then turned to Calista. “I understand there are reasons for this secrecy and also that you cannot tell us everything. But if I’m to help my daughter cope, I need to know everything I can. You’ve hurt her greatly and caused Lucian to be a part of that pain.”
“I know I have, and I wish it could have been done without Lucian’s involvement. What I can tell you is that Adrian is safe. Allegra??
?s schooling, while she will continue to learn the finer arts of being a lady, will also incorporate classes to teach her the skills of questing. She is more than capable of turning this experience into a wonderful story with a happy ending. But a word of caution: she must overcome her anger. She will need to rely on all of you in order to complete this successfully. Particularly, she will need to rely on her brother. His knowledge and guidance will be invaluable to her. When Allegra graduates, she will be given her quest. I believe she will find it less intimidating than it seems right now. That is all that I can tell you. For now, it is very, very late and I’m sure you want to get some rest before your travels tomorrow.”
“I doubt there will be any sleeping tonight,” Alexandra admitted. “But we will not bother you any longer. Good night.” She accepted Lysander’s arm and left the room.
Early the next morning, weary from a restless night, Lucian’s family, Leticia and Kaelen packed their belongings into their large carriage and began the trip to Rendorlin. The ride was awkward and quiet. Kaelen and Leticia both tried to start conversations, but they all ended in awkward silence as Allegra glared out the window. Lucian didn’t try to join any of the conversations either. Anytime he would speak, Allegra would glare at him before returning her gaze outside.
After what seemed an eternity they arrived in Rendorlin. They stopped at The Dancing Fairies as they had the last time they were in the area. Prepared with the news that they would be arriving, the proprietress welcomed