I don’t know how long I was sagging in Timothy’s arms. He’d carried me inside, and I opened my eyes and saw something unbelievable.
If I’d had time to wonder what Queen Moragana’s palace was like, here’s what I would have pictured: concrete gray or white walls with bright colored woolen tapestries that showed unicorns, dragons, or historical scenes from Faeryland. I would have figured on rich scarlet carpeting in a thickness like velvet. I’d might have imagined thrones of gold, mounted high to provide them with the security of prestige and decorated with gems, of course.
But when I opened my eyes in the royal chamber, that’s not at all what I saw. No gray or white walls. There were only shimmering reflections from wall to wall to wall. Mirrors everywhere except for the ceiling where, I think there was clear glass because I was looking up at a sky with puffy clouds and birds flying overhead. On the sides of the chamber were trees: blooming trees, trees with fruit and some trees just beautifully bountiful in shades of emerald and forest green. Banners of leaves skimmed the blue sky panel, making it look like Christmas garlands dangling down. I’m not sure but I think those plants were encroaching vines, all healthy and plump with green. If one got near them, would they reach out and grab?
Since I’d opened my eyes, Timothy slowly slid me down so that I was standing beside him. “Are you okay, my love?” he asked.
I think at that moment, I was absolutely speechless. Expectations, reservations, worries, and stress. I’d been depleted, but then Queen Moragana shot a glance my way and said, “Take her to your old room, Prince Cardarone. I shall have clothing for you both sent up. As for your people, they will be taken care of as well.”
That perked me up somewhat. A room? A shower? Fresh clothes? I think I smiled, but I couldn’t be sure. I was too badly wilted to recognize such things.
The queen called out to her guard. I watched in awe as he went running over to her, but Timothy had already started us toward a section of the mirror on the left side of the room. He ordered it to open. Nothing fancy. No magic words or anything. A hidden door perfectly followed my husband’s command, folding in on itself to leave us free to walk through. I glanced back at our group, wondering if we should leave them behind, but a gentle push on my back propelled me forward, and the reflective door slowly closed, leaving us in a second huge mirrored chamber.
We kept walking, neither of us speaking. I guess Timothy was tired, too. He had been the one who carried me on his back all the way to the palace, and then he’d had to carry me further in his arms. The poor guy must be even more exhausted than I was. I grabbed onto his arm, not for support, this time, but because I wanted to tell him how appreciative I was for everything.
“Don’t speak in the halls, darling. It is better to wait until we’re in our private chamber,” he said.