The Lost Princess

Reaching Mossca she was whisked off to the castle where she was rushed to a room to clean up after her long journey.

"You have such lovely hair, young miss." A maid said.

"Oh thank you. My mother always brushed it for me and made sure to rub it with a herb mixture after every wash." Loraz said.

"She did a wonderful job on it, miss." The maid said.

"Umm, I don't mean to be rude, but do you all have to be present while I wash, Miss..."

"Oh, I do apologize, my name is Yila. I will be your head servant as of today. We have to get you ready to meet with the king after this, miss. It is very important to make sure the king's special guest is presentable." Yila said

"King?" Loraz asked.

"Yes the king of Mossca, miss, King Fedrick."

Loraz sunk into the water a bit covering her face up to her eye. She pulled her foot away from a different maid and both her hands from two others.

"Miss we have to finish, please come back up," Yila said.

Loraz was confused as to why she had to meet with the king and what would happen to her after she saw the king.

They dressed her in a beautiful yellow gown with gold colored trim, combed her white and black marble colored hair styling it beautifully with braid and pulling it up in a bun. She was then escorted to a room with many chairs around a rather long oddly shaped table.

"His Majesty will be with you shortly, miss," Yila said.

"My name is Lo," Loraz said.

Yila smiled and then bowed.

"Yes, miss Lo." She said and closed the as she exited the room.

Loraz marveled at the expensive painted walls decorated with massive portraits of who she assumed to be the king and the royal family. She looked over the elegant chairs and the wood table that seemed to be polished with extreme care then walked over to one of the many large windows that seemed to overlook the entire northern side of the kingdom.

"It's beautiful is it not?" A male voice said.

"AHHH!" Loraz screamed.

Having not heard anyone enter the room she spun around quickly startled by the voice clutching at her c.h.e.s.t and backing away. When she saw a gentle looking young man in his thirties, from patches of grays in his hair, she stared a bit while she tried to slow her heartbeat and take a few deep breaths.

His salt and pepper hair framed his face nicely and his gray eyes smiled at her. He wasn't very tall for a man and she was a little puzzled as to who he might be; she didn't see him in any of the portraits that hung on the walls among the room.

"Yes it is breathtaking," She answered after she had looked him over thoroughly and was calm again then averting her gaze elsewhere. "The view that is..."

"Did I startle you? I didn't mean to. This view is one of my favorite views; to be honest I'd rather have this room as my private sanctuary then for it to be a meeting room." He said happily and chuckled.

She looked back out the window and nodded softly.

"If I woke up to a view such as this every morning it would be wonderful." She said touching the glass gently.

She could see untouched forest stretching as far as the horizon. The sea of blue, purple, and green was so mesmerizing that it calmed her even more and she became lost in staring at it.

"So if I am correct you are Loraz?" The gentleman said.

"Yes, that is my name. How did you know?"

"You remind of a close...friend; you have her eyes."

Loraz looked at him and raised an eyebrow.

"Sir, may I ask who you might be?"

The gentleman chuckled and shook his head up and down.

"Ah yes, yes. You must be confused. My dear, you will be staying here from now on. Please think of me as a father figure as you are now in my care, I am Fendrick Lecross Dontick, the current king of Mossca, your parents and I go way back."

"King Fendrick..." She whispered slightly shocked.

A knock came to the door, and it slowly opened.

A young boy, maybe a little older than her, walked in and bowed his head slightly. He was a bit taller than her and looked to be a bit winded, he had the same grey eyes that seemed to have years of wisdom as King Fendrick, smooth youthful skin like ivory silk or maybe satin, he held gentleness around him that made her feel at ease in his presence. Graceful in the way he walked he seemed more like a delicate lady than a young man, but you could still tell he was a gentleman. He was dressed for horse riding so his hair was barely visible with his riding cap on, but she could see a pale silver cl.u.s.ter of hair poking out from under it.

She watched him walk up to the king and their eyes met briefly.

"Father you called for me." He said as he took another brief glance at Loraz.

Loraz smiled slightly and looked away. She felt her cheeks get hot and she found herself seeking a peek at him as he waited for his father to speak.

"Oh yes, come my boy. I wanted you to meet someone, she will be staying here from now on, treat her as a brother would a sister." King Fendrick said.

"A sister," The boy whispered. "Father, what are you talking about I have no sisters so how am I to know how to treat her?"

"From now on just think of her as your sister," The king said as he motioned to Loraz. "You must be kind to her and protect her for you are an older brother now."

They looked at each other; His face blushed red and he turned his face away from her gaze.

She smiled and giggled a little as she reached out her had in hopes to shake his.

"It is a p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e to make your acquaintance, please guide me in the years to come, my name is Loraz Worthtin. How may I address you?" She said trying her best to remember the lesson her mother taught her.

"My name is Robert Fendrick III, Second Prince of Mossca. It is a p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e to meet you." He said as he took her hand in his, gently kissed it and quickly released it.

He couldn't help but think of how beautiful his new 'sister' was. His heart was racing, the palms of his hands were beginning to sweat, and his mouth was slightly dry. This was bad he had to make sure not to fall for this girl, it would be dangerous if they became close. He looked at her as she smiled beautifully at him standing there waiting for what would happen next.

"Well I will leave you two now I have other things to attend to. Robert, I expect you to escort Loraz around until supper. Make sure to show her the castle and help her understand the beauty that is Mossca as well as its laws. I leave her in your care." The king said then left the room quickly.

Robert stood there trying not to make eye contact, and it was an awkward silence between them.

"So you will really be my brother? I have to say I have never had a brother before. I am a little sad that I had to leave my home and all my friends, but if I have a brother like you maybe I can get used to this new life." Loraz said trying to be hopeful.

Robert looked at her beautiful cheerful face. His heart tightened a bit, and he clenched his fist at his side. He had to put distance between them.

"Listen here; I have no intentions of being your brother," He said coldly. "I cannot be associated with a dirty cow such as you. Please do not come near me after today and if you wish for an escort have one of the servants do it. I'm much too busy with my lesson to play with children."

"What rude a thing to say," Loraz said a bit shocked at the change in personality. "You look only to be only a few years older than me."

"Well, I'll take my leave first. Find your way around alone if you wish." He said as he waved his hand at her as if to dismiss her and walked out of the room.

"What an awful person," Loraz said and began to cry. "I miss my mother and my friends...Vestin why can't you all be here with me."

He stood to the side of the door and listened to her cry. Clenching his fist tight he put it up to his forehead and closed his eyes as he lightly banged it against his forehead.

"I must make her see me as a loathsome person." He whispered to himself. "This is for the best."