bathroom, the tub inviting for a hot bath.
But she walked to the left and entered a large bedroom. There was a massive bed in the center, covered with fluffy blankets and pillows, yellow with pink roses. Across from the bed was another door that led to the closet.
Zayda sat on the bed and lightly touched the bedding, amazed and astonished. There was a knock on the door and an older lady walked in holding a pretty purple dress in her hands. Behind her, two younger girls walked in holding buckets of steaming hot water. The walked directly to the bathroom where Zayda could hear them pouring the water into the tub.
“Ah, there you are!” the older maid said, walking towards Zayda on the bed.
“You can see me?” Zayda asked.
“No, not really,” she replied. “But having worked for the Queen since she was a child and, Prince Enkeli too, I’ve picked up some tips and tricks to find out where you are while invisible. For example, I saw the dip in the bed where you’re sitting. That’s how I knew you were there.”
Zayda was speechless, yet she still chuckled. She wasn’t used to so many people knowing her secret, much less know more about it than her.
“The Queen has asked you wear this gown, tonight, Miss Zayda.” She set it on the bed next to her. “Now let’s wash up!”
Zayda took a bath and changed into the dress. It was a beautiful purple color and simple, and it fit her like a glove. Granted, the maid couldn’t see her in it to ask for an opinion; as soon as the dress went over her head, it became invisible too.
They then walked to the dining area, a huge table sat in the middle of the room, but Zayda noticed that Enkeli, Queen Christine, and King Maurice were sitting at another much smaller table off to the left. They were talking and laughing, the King’s booming laugh bouncing off the walls of the room.
When he saw Zayda, Enkeli stood up and told his parents that she had arrived. The King and Queen remained seated, but looked in the general direction of where Zayda was standing.
“Twenty years and I still look even though I know I won’t see anything,” the King said. They all laughed and Zayda walked towards them, her nervousness slowly slipping away.
“Good evening King Maurice, Queen Christine, and Enkeli,” she said, bowing.
“She’s bowing again right now even though you can’t see her,” Enkeli announced.
“At least we know she’s got good manners!” the King said. Zayda blushed and sat down.
And the feast began. There were so many foods! Zayda began to eat and slowly but surely, she and Enkeli became visible again.
“No matter how many times I see it, I still cannot get used to it,” the Queen said. It was like a glowing, when they became visible again. It started at their stomach and began spreading until all of their body was visible once more.
“There you are my dear!” the Queen exclaimed when Zayda was completely visible, a spoonful of food right in her mouth. “I was right! You look beautiful in that dress!”
“Welcome officially!” the King added.
The rest of dinner passes in easy banter and chatter. Zayda felt oddly comfortable around them. They were nothing like she thought royalty were. They were much more warm and welcoming. Too soon, the night came to an end and everyone went to bed.
Enkeli walked her to the guest quarters and bid her goodnight. Zayda noticed he seemed very pensive, as if he were thinking really hard about something very important. But Zayda was very tired so she went to bed in the big fluffy bed and slept all night like a baby.
The next morning she saw her clothes in a near pile at the foot of the bed, clean and pressed. She dressed and soon a maid walked in and escorted her to eat breakfast.
The king, Queen, and Enkeli were already sitting at the table, talking whilst they waited for her. When she arrived they all began eating breakfast, chatting all the while. When they were done Enkeli looked up at Zayda.
“Are you ready to go back home?” he asked.
“Yes, please, if you wouldn’t mind. My mother must be worried sick!”
“All right, but I pray thee, Zayda, think about this: what if this became your new home? Would you like that? Why don’t you stay here with me?” he knelt on one knee. “Why don’t you stay and become my wife, help me rile this Kingdom one day? I haven’t a ring yet for you,” he apologized, tenderly grabbing her left hand. “But I promise that if you decide to stay with me I will get you one as soon as possible. Stay with me and we can be invisible together.”
Zayda was stunned but all at once she was hit with a ton of emotions: happiness, sadness, joy, pride, some other feelings she had no name for and… love.
“Do you speak to me frankly, Enkeli?” she asked, her voice small.
“I most certainly do! I feel complete when I am with you, Zayda. I have never known another person who is so like me in many different ways, not just the fact that we are both invisible. It’s as if you were made to complement every part of me. Now that I know someone else like me, it makes me so happy. It makes things feel… right. And not lonely. What do you say? Would you like to stay here, with me, or would you like for me to take you home?” He looked at her, his eyes pleading, so vulnerable, waiting.
Zayda couldn’t believe he had said exactly everything as she felt.
“Take me home,” she said. Enkeli’s gaze fell and a frown appeared on his face, quickly hidden to hide his true emotions. “Take me home… so I may tell my mother that I will be staying here permanently.”
Enkeli’s face became radiant with a huge smile. He took her in his arms and hugged her so tightly, Zayda felt her bones might crush, but she didn’t care. The King and Queen, along with all of the maids, servants, and butlers clapped joyously.
Enkeli took Zayda home where she told her mother the good news. Her mother also told her about her father, that he did used to turn invisible, but not after they had Zayda.
Zayda and Enkeli went back to the palace where they lived together, had many invisible babies, and ruled the kingdom of Chatterdom, living happily ever after.
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About the Author:
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Miriam's Fairytales Page 5
