The Seely Realm
POV: Alexandra
As I came out of the other side, I could still feel Apollo’s warmth wrapped around me. It was nice having that sensation looking about Seely. The sky was a light purple color, the plants that would have been green in Vellum and Terre were red here. Oddly the air smelled faintly of fresh chocolate chip cookies. I looked at Nystasia, “Why does it smell like chocolate here?” She smiled, “That’s just the smell in Seely. Everything smells sweet. It’s deceptive though since some of the plants here are very poisonous. You must take care not to eat any of them.” I chuckled, “I don’t plan on it.” She leaned into my face, “You’re nervous.” I nodded, “I haven’t met the Queen yet so naturally I am nervous.” She patted my shoulder, “Well, contrary to belief in Vellum, my mother isn’t a tyrant. She’s actually pretty sweet if she likes you.” I sighed, “There are no guarantees she will like me.” She smiled and shook her head, “You are the daughter of our deity, Aphrodite, she will like you. Come on, look the carriage is over there.” She pointed at something that wasn’t exactly a carriage in Vellum's terms. It was something like an old-style car, like a 1920s roadster type of car. The driver seemed to be an elf based on his pointy ears and bronze skin. He had slanted yellow cat-like eyes. He placed his hand on his chest and bowed at Ny, “Your Highness, it is good to see you home.” He looked at me, “This must be our honored guest and her guard?” Ny nodded at him, “Jheelis, let me introduce Lady Alexandra Batiste of Vellum. The first daughter of House Batiste. Soul daughter of the deity Aphrodite.” He took my hand and kissed it, “It is an honor to meet the daughter of our deity and the honored guest of Her Majesty Queen Reina. Please let me help you with your bag, my lady.”
I didn’t have a crush on Jheelis but he was very beautiful so his small kiss on my hand caused my heart to race. I handed him my bag, “Thank you for your assistance, Jheelis. I hope I said that right.” He smiled, “Almost, my lady. It is pronounced Ja-hee-lees.” I tried it again and he nodded, “Perfection. Just like you, my lady.” Ny giggled, “I see the look on your face but you have to get used to that in Seely. Everyone will flirt with you lightly, you are not only an honored guest but you will be seen as a most beautiful pyrio. Add to that, you are the daughter of our deity. These are our customs but if you feel uncomfortable at any time, please inform my mother and she will order people not to flirt with you. All you have to do is ask.” The ride wasn’t too far and Seely was set up almost similar to how Vellum was except that the portal was in the forest next to the main city. Ny explained the capital city was called Lowsha. Jheelis said he would unload our bags and ensure that they would be taken to our room. He told us that the Queen had expected us to present ourselves in front of her right after we checked in with Sylphia. She greeted us at the doors of the castle, “Come along, Alexandra. We have to prepare you to be presented to my mother.” She led me into a room where a long light green flowing gown had been waiting for me. There were two fairy attendants who dressed me, put the jewelry that was prepared for me on, did my makeup, and pinned my hair up in the style they said fit with my dress. They dressed Jess up like a fae soldier since she was my guard. Sylphia explained that we could not present ourselves in front of the Queen in semsemi-mortalothes for the first time. Their custom was for any visitor to show respect by adapting to their customs for one night. I told her that I understood this since my mother had extensively prepared me to meet her and her sister when they came along.
I was finally finished getting ready and Ny clapped her hands together when she saw me, “If you weren’t firmly into men, I might flirt with you myself. You look gorgeous.” Jess nodded her head, “Heck if I wasn’t firmly into men, I’d flirt with you too.” I wish I had a cell phone to take your picture so Lucien could see you. Ny smirked, “I have something similar to that human instrument.” She pulled out something that looked like a stone tablet, “Stay still so I can get your likeness perfectly.” She swooped her hand across the tablet and a spark floated toward me and outlined my shape and started to trace every part of me from head to toe quickly. The spark flew back to the tablet and Ny smiled at it, “I cannot wait to give this to Lucien. His birthday is soon, you know.” I nodded, “I know. The Queen candidates are supposed to present a gift to him at his birthday banquet but I have no idea what to give him.” Sylphia cleared her throat, “I think I have an idea but we can discuss that later when we are all hanging out later. For now, my mother is expecting us in the throne room. We cannot keep her waiting.” We all left the room with the princesses in front of us. We came to a large gold ornate set of doors. The knobs were made of what looked like rubies. It made me think of Apollo’s castle and I thought that perhaps that was the point since the fae were a very religious people. The guards opened the doors for the princesses, “Presenting Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Sylphia, First daughter of Seely Her Highness Princess Nystasia, Second daughter of Seely.” The two princesses were met with thunderous applause and a few shouts of “Welcome home Your Highness” and “We missed you.”
We stood outside in front of the door and I drew a few deep calming breaths. I felt a rub on my back and I looked over to Jess, “You’ll do just fine Xan. Just remember to be yourself. Well, perhaps not so outspoken.” I nodded at her, “That’s probably wise.” The guard looked at me, “Are you ready to meet Her Majesty, my lady?” I smiled and nodded, “Yes, thank you.” He smiled at me and opened the door, “Presenting Her Majesty’s honored guest Lady Alexandra Batiste of Vellum, First daughter of House Batiste, Soul daughter of deities Aphrodite and Apollo, Future Queen of Vellum.” I looked at Jess but tried my best not to react to the fact that I had not been chosen by the council to be the next Queen. The announcement continued, “Our honored guest is accompanied by Lady Jesslynne Kellen, First daughter of House Kellen, official guard to Lady Alexandra, future Duchess of Chalshin. All eyes turned to me as I walked into the room with my back straight, maintaining a dignified posture. As the gasps and whispers started, I silently thanked my mother for teaching me the customs of the Seely Court not long ago. The whispers suggested that I had earned the approval of the people of Seely or at least the nobles. I walked towards the front of the room where the Queen was sitting on her throne. She had raven hair with magenta-colored eyes, given that her daughters were both blonde, I had figured she would also be blonde. I wondered if their father was blonde then.
I bowed to the Queen as was fae custom, on one knee and with my right fist to my left breast. I was to stay there until the Queen deemed it okay to stand at ease. She rose from her seat on the dais and stepped down and walked a circle around me while she spoke, “I have heard much about you Alexandra of Vellum. My soothsayer says that you are destined to do great things for Vellum but imagine my surprise when he suddenly told me a couple of days ago that you would save my realm as well. Do you know why that might be? You may rise and speak to me.” I rose to my feet but I did not look at her as she had not given me permission, “I do not know, Your Majesty.” She walked up to her throne again, “Has anything significant changed in her life recently?” I knew immediately not to speak since she had not addressed me. Ny’s voice started right next to me, “She has developed a life-saving potion that Apollo taught her to make.” I heard the Queen snap her fingers and a cupbearer came forward. She took a gold chalice from the tray, “You may look at me, Lady Alexandra.” I looked up at the Queen who was pointing to a chair next to her, “You will sit here and we will discuss while my people feed us.” I nodded, “As you will it, Your Majesty.” Ny followed me up and sat in a chair next to me, she folded her hands in her lap but remained silent. The Queen waited until the table was set up in front of us with food before she spoke again, “This potion was developed with sun magic?” I shook my head, “No, Your Majesty. My soul father called it light healing magic.” She took a sip from her chalice, “Interesting. So one must assume that this potion would be needed here. It makes one wonder what it is that would require such powerful magic. Would you be willing to make some of it for us?” I took a sip of the chalice in front of me, it was caramel wine which wasn’t particularly strong but it was deceptively good that you could get yourself in trouble. I wiped my mouth, “Well, I might not be able to make it for you here, Your Majesty. To be completely honest, I do not have the ingredients here that I would need to make it. My aunt has them locked up in her apothecary hatch at home. I would need to bring her here and I am not sure I could be in tune with Seely's nature as I was with Vellum. It isn’t that I don’t want to make this for you, I’m just not sure I can do it from here.” She chuckled, “Relax child, I am not offended that you cannot do this for me at the moment. I am happy you would even consider making this for us. I imagine it is an arduous process.” I nodded, “It is draining to be sure. I can only make some for a few days before Apollo says that I have to rest. I just finished a few days' worth of trial and error and he forbade me from making any more for a few days. Once I return to Vellum, I will make you a couple of batches.” She smiled at me, “How much does a batch make? I am curious how much a couple of batches would yield.” I rubbed my chin trying to remember how much my last cauldron made, “I would say about 150 vials. A little goes a very long way.” She nodded, “Well that takes care of one reason I had asked for you to come here. I will get to the other reason if you aren’t too exhausted to listen.”
I looked at her, “I am perfectly well, Your Majesty. You can discuss what you would like with me.” She took a bite of a vegetable that was on her plate and swallowed it, “It concerns the future relationship between Vellum and Seely. You must have been startled to hear yourself announced as the future Queen of Vellum since it has not been announced that this silly council of Lucien’s has picked amongst the three of you yet.” I nodded, “If I’m honest, yes, it did startle me. I didn’t want to offend you, Your Majesty, by questioning it.” She giggled, “Oh you needn’t be so formal. If something bothers you while you are here, I do hope you will be candid with me. Seely isn’t so formal and stiff as all that. I do expect decorum but I am not so stiff with those who I can consider a friend of the court. I’d say that you even entertaining the idea of putting yourself through the onerous task of creating a potion for a realm that is not your own would be a monumental act of kindness.” The Queen went to say something else but the doors flew open and two men entered the room. One I had recognized immediately and my heart jumped into my throat, “Announcing the arrival of His Majesty King Renier of Seely and his honored guest the deity Loki, God of Trickery and Chaos.”
