Chosen

by Shelby Hild

  Not here, she thought. Not now. Vivilyn nodded to acknowledge Colin before she turned her head to hopefully appear like she was staring outside while the storm moved through the garden.

  Her vision showed the medicinal garden in front of her. Princess Elissa, easily recognizable by her hair, but not by her clothes which were worn and dirty, and her husband frantically scoured the little that remained in the garden. With the plants mostly dormant, Vivilyn realized it had to be late winter or early spring.

  “Is there anything left that we can try?” she said, her voice high in an almost panic as she dug around in the dirt.

  “We’ve tried all the teas, all the herbs,” Colin said as he pulled Elissa up into a tight embrace.

  “We can’t give up.” Tears filled the princess’ eyes.

  “We aren’t,” he said. “We just need to think of a new approach.” His eyes were brimming with tears as well. Elissa lifted her hand to wipe her nose and a red streak formed on her hand. “No.” He said lifting her face up to his. “You are fine. It’s just the stress. You’re not sick too.” He pulled her close. “I will not lose my family to this curse.”

  “Lady Vivilyn,” a hand on Vivilyn’s shoulder brought Vivilyn back to reality. “Are you alright?” Prince Aiden asked, his eyes wide with concern.

  “Yes,” she said shaking her head, trying to shake away the vision. “I just… the storm is moving away quickly. It stole my attention, I guess. I’m sorry.”

  “That’s not a good sign,” Prince Ethan stated, one eyebrow raising. “A simple storm is already distracting you from my brother.”

  “I mean, she’s not even supposed to have met the prince yet,” Colin added.

  “It makes sense to meet some of the new women, though, doesn’t it?” Vivilyn said, pulling the corner of her lower lip between her teeth. “You’ve grown up with a few of the Chosen, shouldn’t you at least slightly attempt to even the field by meeting the rest of the women?”

  “That’s not how it’s done,” Prince Ethan said before looking over at Aiden. “Tradition states that you don’t meet…”

  “Tradition,” Aiden said as he looked out the window, then he sighed. “Traditions are meant to hold our culture together. If the traditions no longer reflect what it needs to, why shouldn’t they be altered?” Aiden looked at Vivilyn. He seemed to be searching Vivilyn’s eyes for something, but she wasn’t sure what. She held eye contact with him until he broke it to look away.

  “We are already changing some aspects of the Trials,” Colin said, shrugging.

  “And no one else has dealt with having known some of the Chosen before,” Aiden said as he turned to his brother with a tilted nod. “Perhaps other things should change as well.”

  With one more small rumble of thunder, the crashing of rain against the greenhouse roof ceased.

  “We should be going,” Prince Aiden said with another bow, his eyes shifted to Vivilyn’s hands. She realized she still held her shoes in her left hand. “It was pleasant talking with you, Lady Vivilyn.” He lifted her empty hand to his lips and brushed her knuckles with a kiss. “Until next time.”

  As abruptly as they arrived, just like the storm, the three left again.

  Without stopping to put the shoes back on, Vivilyn returned to the palace, relishing the squish of the wet grass between her toes.

  Before Vivilyn took more than four steps inside, she thankfully ran into one of the guards with a purple armband that Malcolm had pointed out earlier. He led Vivilyn directly to her room.

  Chapter 12

  “And he’s now met with all of the Chosen,” Fiona finished saying as she helped lace Vivilyn into her dress. “All 200 of you. But he made it seem like he just stumbled upon everyone.”

  “Fascinating,” Vivilyn said, half listening. Distracted by the sparkles of the dress she was wearing, Vivilyn subtly moved her shoulders, just enough for the light to continuously flitter like the sun on a running stream of water, only golden instead of blue. It fit snugly all the way down to her knees where it flared out until it hit the floor. She struggled to walk in it because it was so tight around her thighs.

  With her hair in soft ringlets and her make-up adding an extra rosiness to her cheeks and a golden shimmer to her eyelids, she couldn’t remember ever feeling so glamorous.

  Nell walked into the bathroom holding a thick piece of green cloth with emerald beads embroidered within it.

  “I’ve heard it’s because of you running into him in the greenhouse,” Nell said with a wink. “Malcolm says we’re to tie this around your waist.”

  “Where have you and Tia been running off to?” Vivilyn asked as Nell straightened the fabric around her waist before tying it into a large bow.

  “We’ve been exploring,” Nell stated. Tia walked in holding small earrings the same color as the fabric around Vivilyn’s waist.

  “This castle is huge,” Tia said, before she gave Nell the earrings.

  “It’s a palace, not a castle,” Nell said as she set the earrings carefully in Vivilyn’s ears.

  “Eh, same thing,” Tia said as she walked back out of the bathroom.

  “And that’s just what they call it,” Nell continued. “It’s more like an oversized manor. I’d never consider this a palace.”

  “What would you consider a palace?” Vivilyn asked. The two of them moved from the bathroom to join everyone else in the bedroom.

  “Mathilde’s Palace.” Nell said. She smiled back at Vivilyn like she was remembering something bittersweet. “You know, where the members of the PrEtAh alliance reunite every decade to sign the treaties anew?”

  Someone knocked on the door into the bedroom; and before anyone could answer, Darissa walked in, laughing. In the few days Vivilyn had known Darissa, they’d spent a lot of time together. In fact, it almost seemed like Darissa made it her mission in the Trials to make Vivilyn feel included. She hadn’t anticipated anyone being so nice to her.

  “You look so pretty,” Vivilyn said as she took in Darissa’s deep blue ball gown. In Vivilyn’s opinion, Darissa looked the part of a princess. Her hair was circled on the top of her head like a crown while two silver earrings fell like raindrops from her ears. Her silver name sash hung across one shoulder.

  “As do you,” Darissa said, gesturing for Vivilyn to twirl. “This color looks so good on you!”

  “Before you two head out,” Malcolm said with a cameraman at his back, “Vivilyn hasn’t done her interview yet.”

  “Oh,” Darissa said, lifting her hand to her bright red lipstick. “I’m so sorry.” Then she sat down on the bed to wait.

  Malcolm opened his mouth as though to say something, then just shook his head.

  “Alright, Vivilyn,” he said as he moved over with the cameraman to the sitting area of the room. Carefully he moved the easel with the canvas behind Vivilyn. The lighting from the setting sun though the windows played off the different colors Vivilyn was adding to the sunrise painting. It was coming along much better than she had initially thought it would. “Come sit over here.”

  “I’m not sure I can sit,” Vivilyn said as she slowly moved over to the chair. For a few moments she just stared at the chair, but with Fiona’s help, Vivilyn did manage to sit without damaging her dress.

  The cameraman turned the camera on and faced it to Vivilyn.

  “How are you feeling about tonight?” Malcolm asked.

  “To be honest, I’m a little bit nervous,” Vivilyn said, trying to keep her eyes on the camera. “But I am very excited to finally begin this process.”

  “What are you most excited about?”

  “I’m most excited to see what is going to happen next. It has felt like all I’ve been doing recently is waiting here in my room for the next event to happen. Finally, though, it’s here.”

  “What are you most nervous about?”

  Vivilyn froze for a moment and looked down away from the camera.

  I can’t say I am most nervous about my visions being discovered, so w
hat do I say?

  “I was nervous that I’d be an outsider this whole time,” Vivilyn finally said. “I’m from such a different background than many of these other women. I’ve only met a portion of them.” Vivilyn looked over to Darissa. “But I’m no longer so worried about that. I’ve already met a couple of people that help get rid of that fear.”

  Vivilyn pushed a strand of hair behind her ear and looked at the camera again.

  “I am also concerned that I won’t make a good enough impression tonight to stay and get to know Prince Aiden, especially when compared to all of these other women. I am concerned that perhaps everyone is going to see right through all these nice clothes and makeup and remember that I’m just this small-time girl from Treelyn.”

  “You’ve met Prince Aiden now,” Malcolm said. “What do you think of him?”

  “I’ve not spoken much with him yet, but he… he seems proper. He seems like someone willing to listen to people. And… he seems like someone I’d enjoy getting to know better.”

  “Very good,” Malcolm said. “I think that is enough for now.”

  Darissa jumped up and lightly dabbed at her eyes.

  “I hope that part about no longer being worried about people liking you makes it,” Darissa said, running over to hug Vivilyn with a smile brighter than the setting sun streaming in the window. “You’re going to make it far, mark my words. The people love you.”

  Vivilyn smiled back at Darissa.

  As she tried carefully to stand without damaging her dress or wrinkling any part of it, Andrea appeared with another color ribbon and earrings in her hands.

  “Wait a moment,” Andrea said, smiling conspiratorially at both Vivilyn and Darissa. “Let’s switch your green for this.” She lifted a silky blue fabric. It wasn’t as fancy as the green belt, but Vivilyn didn’t mind.

  “We’ll match!” Darissa started giggling excitedly.

  “It was difficult to find a shade of blue so close to yours, but I think I did pretty well. If no one minds.”

  “Of course, I don’t mind,” Vivilyn said, and Darissa nodded in agreement.

  “It’ll make a statement of unity,” Malcolm said. “Accompanied with what Vivilyn just said, I think it’ll do very well. Good thinking, Andrea.” Andrea flashed a quick smile, before replacing Vivilyn’s green with the blue.

  Together, Vivilyn and Darissa left the room. Darissa smiled and laughed and talked incessantly. It was calming.

  “… and I never forgot to bring a brush with me again.” Darissa said as they made their way back to the Hall of Mirrors that Vivilyn initially entered the palace at. “It makes a great defense mechanism too.” She laughed again.

  They exited the palace and there was a black carriage waiting with two pure white horses at the front.

  As was a woman with a red skirt and white shirt.

  “Lady Darissa and Lady Vivilyn,” she said as she checked their names off a clipboard. "You will be in this carriage. Several have gone before. You’ll be taken to the entrance as soon as the carriage is full.”

  The driver stood beside the door and helped the two inside. Vivilyn struggled a bit, still unused to the way her legs were held closer together by the fabric, but she managed to get in without damaging her dress at all. A cameraman got in beside her, careful not to ruffle Vivilyn’s dress.

  “You both look so… pretty,” a voice said as they scooted next to the window.

  “Thank you so much,” Darissa said as she rearranged her skirts like a blue cloud in her lap. Vivilyn looked at the person who spoke. Shadows kept her from being easily visible, but her strawberry blonde hair barely reached her ears. Stones glistened on her dark dress.

  “I am Freya from Adalay,” she said leaning forward slightly, pulling her out of the shadows enough that Vivilyn could see her thin face. “Darissa, it is so nice to see you again. And you—” Freya looked at Vivilyn with eyes that matched the stones in her dress, “—must be Lady Vivilyn.”

  “Yes,” Vivilyn said with a nod, purposefully ignoring the emphasis Freya gave to the word Lady. She understood she wasn’t actually a Lady, she wasn’t of Rank. She knew it, everyone knew it. Vivilyn wished people would stop pointing it out.

  “I hear you got caught out running in the rain,” Freya said, leaning back against the chair once more. “Met the prince with your makeup a mess and hair soaked.” Freya acted as though she was looking at her polished nails. “Some are even saying you purposefully arranged to be in the greenhouse when he was there in order to meet the Prince early.” Freya lifted her gaze to Vivilyn without moving her head.

  “How could I have planned that? It wasn’t even my idea to go for the walk,” Vivilyn countered.

  “That’s exactly what I told them,” Freya said, one thin eyebrow raised. “How would someone from your… background be aware that the prince goes to the greenhouse when his riding is cut short.” Freya’s eyes moved from Vivilyn over to Darissa. “Unlike some who have known the prince since childhood and know his habits.” Darissa winced slightly before covering her mouth as though shocked by the accusation.

  “If that was the case, wouldn’t someone else have been in the greenhouse besides me?” Vivilyn countered. “In any case, everyone has met him now. It doesn’t matter.”

  Freya smirked as though she had proven a point just as the next few people arrived to enter the carriage. Vivilyn didn’t recognize them as they were helped into the carriage.

  When eight women were inside along with three cameramen, the driver took his place at the very front and the horses began moving the carriage along the road. Small talk was made. Darissa spoke the most, and Vivilyn and Freya remained relatively quiet.

  As the carriage moved along the road, Vivilyn hardly recognized the path. They passed the same little cabin with a guard in it Vivilyn had gone by with Malcolm the day she'd arrived at the palace, though, and continued straight to the other side of the palace’s estate.

  “How many of you have seen the palace from the entrance like this?” Darissa asked, looking around, her face in its permanent smile. Most of the women shook their heads. “Oh goody,” Darissa said, clapping her hands a few times. “You’re in for a treat.”

  “If it’s not the grandest thing you’ve ever seen,” Freya said, looking out the window, “then I want to know what is.” She turned her head to look at everyone else in the carriage. “My great-uncle helped sculpt the door after the wooden one burned down all those years ago. He said it was the most difficult thing he’s ever done.”

  “I’ve heard the gardens hold every color of the rainbow,” one of the girls on the other side of the carriage said. “Possibly even more.”

  The carriage continued down the hill and took a sharper turn than Vivilyn expected before finally stopping.

  Someone opened the door on the other side. She stood on the step that led to the ground to bar anyone from exiting yet. It was the same woman that had announced the women at the brunch with Prince Bryton.

  “Welcome, Ladies,” Shareen said, as the driver slid out of his seat in the front. “Everyone has her name sash, correct?” Murmurs of “yes” and “mmhmm” resounded in the carriage. “Good, good. Now, we will let each of you off, one at a time. You will make your way up to the entrance of the palace, meet with the Prince… again, and then enter the palace.

  “From there you will be directed to the ballroom where you can get something to eat and drink while the remaining women arrive. Once everyone is inside, you’ll spend the following few hours conversing with Prince Aiden. The conclusion of the night will be the Choosing Ceremony. Got it?” Everyone nodded. “Good. Now, since we will be taking the cameramen from the carriage, there is to be no more talking until you are inside.”

  “But—” One of the girls on the end began to ask, but Shareen stepped back down.

  “First from this cart is,” Shareen said loudly enough from the ground that all the people in the carriage could hear, “Lady Macy.” The girl who began to argue about not
talking scooted her way out of the carriage. The driver helped her step out.

  Vivilyn saw Shareen lean her head over to say something to the woman. When Macy started walking away from the carriage, Vivilyn watched from the open door until she could no longer see her.

  Freya sighed and looked back out the window in the opposite direction from the palace. When Darissa squeezed Vivilyn’s hand, Vivilyn smiled over at her. It took fifteen minutes before the next person was called.

  This is going to be a very long night.

  Chapter 13

  “Lady Vivilyn,” Shareen called into the carriage. Vivilyn’s head popped up from the side of the carriage where she’d dozed off after Darissa left, third to leave from the carriage. After Freya left, Vivilyn had been left alone.

  Vivilyn exited the carriage, lightly rubbing near her eyes to remove the sleep from them. She hoped that her impromptu nap hadn’t smeared any of her makeup. The driver held his hand for Vivilyn to take as she stepped outside.

  The fresh air filled her nose. Even as the carriage had emptied, it was stuffy. She could hear the branches of trees nearby swaying almost to the beat of her heart.

  “You are to—,” Shareen said, as Vivilyn stepped to the ground. Vivilyn looked back in the direction of the woods, not paying any attention to Shareen.

  I wonder how long it would take me to run home, she thought. I could just slip off the shoes and run. She could almost feel the wind in her hair as she imagined escaping. Vivilyn shook her head, No, stop thinking like that. This is important. Your family would never forgive you for running. It doesn’t even matter. You’re likely going home in a few—

  “Lady Vivilyn, are you even listening to me?” Shareen said, pulling Vivilyn back from her thoughts.

  “Yes,” Vivilyn said. “I mean,” she sighed. “No. I’m sorry, I’m just nervous. And a bit homesick, I guess.” Shareen smiled as though she understood before repeating the instructions to Vivilyn.