It was strange, she thought, that two siblings could
possibly be so different from each other. The princess, a few years younger than
herself, obviously enjoyed being around people, was outgoing, friendly,
welcoming. The prince on the other hand… she shifted uncomfortably as she
remembered the force and power she had felt in his gaze. He had been another
story altogether.
'If you would follow me?' said the young princess
cheerfully
'Oh- yes… I mean, of course Princess Relena.' She faltered,
startled out of her silent reflection on the young princess and her elder
brother.
'Please don't be so formal- just call me Relena.'
She
stared at the younger girl. They had only met each other less than half an hour
ago, and the princess was asking her to drop the title that proclaimed her as
royalty? The title that put the princess above practically the entire society in
which she lived in?
She grinned. 'Then please, just call me Noin- my
first name sounds far too formal… Relena'
Relena smiled back. 'Well- lets
go then Noin!'
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
'Its beautiful!'
said Noin quietly as she took in the beauty of her surroundings.
Relena
had led her to one of her favourite parts of the garden. Noin looked around her.
A fountain bubbled and sprayed sparkling droplets into the air as it formed
intricate patterns with spurts of water in a ring around the centre of the
actual fountain, where the statue of a rearing horse made from marble and carved
in perfection stood, as though challenging the very sky.
Noin looked back
the way they had come. Relena had led her through a long arch shaped corridor
formed by the entwining tendrils of plants, she had no idea what they were, on
which flowers of a deep lavender shade bloomed.
A tall hedge closed off
the outside world, keeping the magic of the place isolated. Noin walked over to
one of the huge old trees that grew just beside the hedge, and sat against.
There was a comforting solidity about it, which helped to erase her sense of
uneasiness and shock from before.
It was probably just my imagination,
she thought, I mean, it seems likely enough that I imagined the whole thing.
What with all those dreams I've been having, it's no wonder I'm starting to
imagine happenings that can't be true.
She looked at their grassy
enclosure with the fountain, the trees around the hedge area, the narrow path
that wound its way around the several flowerbeds. There was even a small
sheltered area in which a garden seat had been placed, and next to it, a small
round topped table.
'This place is so perfect that it hardly looks real.
It's… beautiful' she said again
'Yes, I know what you mean. This is one
of my favourite places in the garden, though I don't come out here very often
because its so far away from the palace.'
They both sat there in silent
contemplation of the magical place around them for a moment longer.
'I
guess we should start heading back to the palace.'
'Yeah, I guess so.'
Noin replied as they both reluctantly got up from the ground.
I wish we
could stay here for a while longer, she thought with a sigh as she wrapped her
fingers around her small pendant again.
Relena looked towards Noin as
though startled. Her friend was lost in thought though, and apparently didn't
notice. Relena chose to stay silent rather than mention what she had just felt.
Puzzled, she shook her head slightly. I'm probably just imagining things again,
she thought. It's probably just because I don't want to leave here yet, that I
thought Noin had said so too… with her mind.
Relena dismissed the
thought. No- it must have just been me. I've never been able to sense the
thoughts of anyone but Milliardo- and only when he's wanted me to. Besides, a
link with Milliardo, however strange, is reasonable enough. We are brother and
sister after all. But a link with Noin? I mean- we get along well enough
together, she's friendly, outgoing… but I've never met her before until now.
Milliardo's link to me was probably formed because of how close we are, but
Noin?
'Let's head back' she said to her raven-haired friend.
'Ok-
maybe we can come back here sometime'.
'Definitely! You will come back to
visit again after today, won't you?'
'I hope I can. Why, would you want
me to?' she asked the younger girl teasingly
'Of course I do!' Exclaimed
Relena indignantly
'Well, maybe our parents can arrange something. It's
not going to be easy though… The plane trip over here took ages!'
'But it
was worth it, right?' Relena prompted
'Right!' Noin replied with a
grin.
'Lets go ask then! It’s a ten-minute walk back to the palace you
know!'
'I know, I know. And we have to get back there in time for YOU to
get ready for that ball tonight and-' teased Noin as they started to
walk.
'Don't even remind me. But it looks like you're going to have to do
some preparing too.' Relena interjected, looking mischievously up at
Noin.
'I guess you're right.' Laughed the older girl, as she glanced down
at the grass stains the skirt of her gown.
Relena reached over to pull a
few stray pieces of dead grass off the back of her friend's skirt.
'We'd
better get cleaned up before we go and ask them then. I know my mother isn't
going to be happy that I've managed to ruin ANOTHER dress.' she
grinned
'My mother too. At least we have a couple of hours left till that
ball… I wish I didn't have to go'
'Me too. Well, at least Milliardo will
be there to chase off most of the boys tonight.' Laughed Relena
'So your
brother's going to be there too?' Noin asked falteringly
'Oh yes-
definitely! He wouldn't miss a chance like this to chase off the boys who'll be
there tonight.' Relena continued on talking, not noticing that her companion had
fallen silent.
Author's Note: Well? Did you like it? (chewing on
fingernails again) I know- Relena and Noin are slightly OOC here, but they
should be back to normal next chapter. Ooohhhh… Zechs is gonna be there at the
ball. What is the link Relena was thinking about? Why can she sense Noin's
thoughts? What did their parents mean in the last chapter when Noin's mother
said that she might be staying around for a while?
Well? Did that chapter
really suck? Have I gone off the storyline altogether? Please
R+R!!!!!!
Disclaimer: Look, if you want one of these, just look back on
one of the previous chapters, ok?!
I'm not even gonna bother to write
another one of these, don't have time to do that. Have to get started on the
next chapter!
