The Summer King's Winter Bride

It was a beautiful day and Princess Caroline chose to explore the gardens that were in full view from the windows in her chambers after the meeting in the Solarium. After all there was no time like the present to finally do something she had the freedom of doing. The moment she stepped foot in the gardens she took in the fresh air scented of roses, apricots, plums and wild berries.

The gardens were truly a work of art, she thought as she admired how the plants seemed to grow wild and free without restraint, yet the grounds were well maintained. The colours of the flowers were of brilliant hues, flowers that she did not seem to recognize as they reached for the rays of sunlight.The long luscious vines curled and wrapped themselves around the stone pillars of the pavilion while the branches of the trees were heavy with ripe fruit such as pears and apples.

Whenever the breeze blew it seemed to tickle and ruffle the leaves and carry the distant sound of the bubbling fountain located in the center of the garden and the song of birds chirping in the trees. In contrast the Winter Gardens were neatly trimmed and designed for symmetry and convenience rather than wonder and enjoyment. 

The gardens seemed to come alive here in the Summerlands and magic hummed in the air, subtle but present. She wandered to the golden apple tree and her fingers touched the tree bark it pulsed beneath her touch as if it had a heartbeat. 

"Magic," she whispered.

How was this possible and sustained with so little water available she wondered. The Summer Court was known to weave it enchantments into the earth but this was a marvel indeed. To thrive in such harsh weather conditions.

"You are not supposed to be here, Your Highness." A voice said soft and hesitant.

Princess Caroline turned to find a young maid kneeling near a bed of delicate white blossoms that shone silver under the sunlight. The girl like she was at the age of sixteen and her blonde hair was pulled back into a simple braid, she had a large basket with her.

"I was not told these gardens were forbidden."

"They say the land does not welcome those from the Winter Court."

"Yet, here I am." Princess Caroline mused aloud taking in her surroundings once more.

"Perhaps, the land does not know what to make of you yet." The maid smiled at her shyly.

"What do you make of me?"

"I do not know, Your Highness," she answered truthfully.

"What is your name?"

"Isla," Your Highness.

"What are you doing?"

The maid hesitated for a moment before pointing to the flowers and saying,"collecting star flowers for the healers they say its petals soothes fevers and the nectar heals wounds.

Princess Caroline knelt next to her ignoring the way her eyes widened, touching the flowers she whispered.

"You are from the Winterlands are you not? How did you get here?"

"Please tell no one, Your Highness if not there will be repercussions for me."

"Speak, I shall tell no one." Princess Caroline assured her.

"My father was a healer back in the Winterlands, but we were captured by the Summerlanders easily because we lived near the borders of the Autumlands too far to reach out for help. They raided his shop and his recipes in herbs and medicine. They discovered the star flower and its healing properties. My father was forced to treat their soldiers to see if the remedies worked. They did, he died a few years ago. My older brother followed in his footsteps."

"Please tell no one, Your Highness for we belong to neither side now, especially during the war and after it, we have lived here peacefully since and have been rewarded for our labor but it has all come at a cost, that is never seeing our homeland ever again." The young girl whispered sadly, tears falling from her eyes. 

"I understand, your position, thank you for sharing this with me."

Princess Caroline got up to leave realizing should anyone find them together it would not be good for the girl.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

"For what?" Princess Caroline turned around asking the girl, wondering what she meant.

"For playing your part in stopping the war."

Princess Caroline quickly turned back and with swift steps left the girl in the garden as she made her way to her private chambers, warning herself sternly not to let the tears that were already gathering, spill from her eyes.