The trip to the Hilgarian palace only took an hour more, but Helen and Richard were exhausted from the journey.
They were greeted by a platoon of soldiers in front of the main gates with their swords held up, their postures straight. Helen soon realized that they were clearing a path for them.
The entire castle was pink. The soldiers’ armor and clothes were pink, even the flag on the top of the castle was bright pink.
Helen liked the color pink, but she thought this was a little too much.
They made their way through the courtyard, royals and other important people walking about. Whenever one passed them, they stopped and stared at Helen and the group, their mouths agape.
‘It’s my clothes,’ Helen thought, although she’d never thought about the way she looked before. She felt like an imposter in this strange new land, with her rags the only clothes on her back.
They finally made it to a big door, which two guards in front of it opened.
The throne room was so stunning Helen gasped. The ceiling was covered with paintings of everything from roses and babies with wings, to heroes slaying dragons. The floor was made of pure gold, and the walls had windows from the floor to the ceiling.
At the end of the long room, Helen saw one big throne and one slightly smaller throne. ‘That must be where His and Her Majesty are,’ Helen thought. They walked up to the throne, and the soldier who had found Helen said, “Your Majesties, we have found someone you would like to see.”
The king sat on his high throne and stared down at them. He had salt and pepper hair and a neatly trimmed beard, his deep blue eyes looking at the soldiers first, then to Richard and Helen.
“Why have you brought these children to me?” he asked.
The soldier now became nervous, scratching the back of his neck and clearing his throat. “S-sir, one of them says her name is Helen…”
Now Helen looked at where the queen sat. She had honey blonde hair and almond-colored eyes. Helen thought she’d seen that face before…but only in a dream. Or at least, it seemed like a dream.
“Child, is this true?” The king asked. Helen avoided his eyes, she didn’t like the sudden attention she was getting.
“Child, look at me.” The king said sternly, but the queen gave the king a look and he added, “Please.”251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OdpUyHaOs
Helen now looked him in the eyes, his black eyebrows knit in concentration. They stared a moment longer, and his eyebrows were no longer knit but flew to the top of his forehead.
“You! You are Helen! You are my daughter!” He jumped out of his chair and rushed toward her, arms spread, and he embraced her. The queen gasped as she too recognized Helen. “Oh, my baby!”
They hugged her, although Helen wasn’t sure how to feel. She’d never met these people before, and yet…
That was when the memories flooded back to her.
…
Helen now remembered a time, years ago, when she was just a baby. She saw flashes, her parents’ kind faces, smiling as she cooed.
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Helen saw herself playing with toys, some blocks with drawings on them, and a rag doll with a crown on it.
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She remembered sitting on her own small throne, made especially for her as one of her maids braided her short hair.
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She remembered being carried by someone riding a horse, the steady bump bump, bump bump as it sprinted for miles. She remembered the feeling of a gruff beard on her cheek, the man’s voice yelling to other men.
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She remembered falling off the horse, to the ground, as the man yelled, “Where is she?” and another man saying, “Leave her! She’s no longer our problem.”
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She remembered being alone for so long, her only thoughts being to get back to her family, but soon enough her mind forgot her family or her life before. She was just a wanderer through the woods.
…
Helen woke up in a pink room, at first not knowing where she was. The bedsheets she was laying on were a baby pink color, the quilt a magenta.
The walls were colored like a rose, with small paintings of flowers. She looked over and saw Richard asleep in a chair beside her. His mouth was open slightly with a little drool coming out. She smiled at him, happy he had gotten some rest.
Helen slowly got up and out of the bed, picking up an extra blanket and laying it across Richard’s body. He flinched a little from the blanket being placed on him but otherwise didn’t move.
Helen then quietly walked out of the room. She needed to explore.
As she walked the many hallways and corridors of the castle, Helen marveled at how many shades of pink there were. Helen always like a baby pink color, but there were so many other shades. Lighter shades, darker shades, brighter shades, you name it.
Helen made her way down flights of stairs until she made her way to a doorway which led outside. As she stepped out, the sun blinded her. After that, though, she realized where she was.
The castle gardens.
And as she looked at all the flowers, tears filled her eyes.
She remembered...
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