Page 12 of Lost Starlight
“So, Lady Darling, what tale will we begin today?” He tapped the roof of the carriage, and then we began to move.
“I shall not tell you. This one you will discover as I read.”
The prince smiled and leaned back, closing his eyes.
“I am ready.”
Across the misted seas and beneath the fathoms lay a treasure unlike all the treasures ever known to man or magical being. A treasure even the dreaded King Falcon could not claim. A treasure only unlocked by those who have hearts of purity, minds of honor, spirits of compassion, and airs of patience and humility within their souls. Pirates hunted for these gemstones hidden below the waves, but there was never a pirate worthy of those treasures hidden beneath the sea.
“You know,” Prince Peter interrupted, opening his eyes and looking at me. “I have never understood this desire for treasure.”
“You do not?”
“No—these gemstones in this story are merely rocks. We have an entire beach full of them.” He leaned over to move the curtain and pointed to the shoreline and the thousands upon thousands of rocksspread about.
“Yes, well, the gemstones on your crown couldn’t be made from sea rocks,” I said with a smile.
“Could they not? Maybe, I will have to fashion one,” he said with his overly wide grin.
“That would be rather interesting.”
“I guess, I understand. They are beautiful, but todiefortreasure? That seems like such a waste.”
“Indeed, it does, and yet pirates seem willing to do anything for treasures like these gemstones in the story.”
“What is your favorite gem?” he asked.
“What? Me?”
“Yes, I already told you I prefer beach rocks in a crown, but if I were to make a crown for you, what would be your choice for stones?”
“I am not a princess. I am only alady.”
“Just pretend with me, Gwen.”
I thought for a moment. I liked that Prince Peter did not need fancy gemstones. Of course,gemstones are beautiful, I thought, but I also understood what he was saying. I had always been incredibly fascinated by pearls, not merely for their appearance, but by how they came to be.
“Do you know how a pearl is formed, Your Highness?”
“From oysters, of course,” he said, pushing some of his wavy locks from his eyes.
“Yes. However, in order for a pearl to form, a speck of debris must enter the oyster. Once this happens, the oyster creates layer after layer of lacquer to protect itself from thisforeign object. To the oyster, it is protecting itself from something potentially harmful, and by protecting itself, it takes that item and creates a beautiful pearl.”
If only I could be strong enough to protect myself as an oyster does, from my mother, I thought.
“My, that is—I never knew that. I think pearls are, perhaps, even better than sea rocks. Is that what I shall use foryourcrown? A crown of pearls?”
“I am just a lady.”
He leaned back and smiled, looking at me in a way that made me nervous. “Is there some law that says a lady can not wear a crown?”
“I mean, no–but–”
“Then just dream with me a little, no need for rules.”
“But rules keep us safe.”
“Or in a box, a cage—and don’t you wish to spread out those wings and fly?” he asked, wiggling his eyebrows, causing me to smile.
