章 2: Chapter 2: The Berry Patch
Years and years went by, and Tiqa was able to turn the small abandoned cottage into a working living space. She gave her sister all the love she possibly could while learning how to take care of them both. Driaka turned into a beautiful young girl who loved to adventure and wander off.
7 years later....
Tiqa stood outside and yelled, "Driaka!" She looked in bushes and behind trees yelling, "Driaka, where are you?!" Driaka's laughter echoed in the forest air, and Tiqa said, "Oh Driaka, I can hear you but can't see you." Driaka sat up in a tree that was 20 feet tall hiding in the branches when a little humming bird flapped around her. Driaka whispered, "Quite Song, I don't want her to find me." Song landed on her shoulder, and Tiqa said, "Driaka, where are you, Honey?" Song flapped her wings, scaring Driaka. Driaka gasped so loud that Tiqa could hear her. Tiqa looked up, saw Driaka sitting in a tree, and said, "I found you, Driaka. Now come down from there right now." Driaka said to Song, "Thanks a lot now the games over," and said to Tiqa, "Here I come." Driaka climbed down from the tree while Song flapped around her. Once she made it down, Tiqa kneeled down to her level, and Driaka ran into her arms while saying, "I want to play this game again, Song gave me away." Tiqa picked Driaka up, and Song landed on her shoulder. Tiqa looked over at Song and said, "Hello Song, I see you want to play hide and seek as well." Driaka said, "No, Song just wants to play another game because she doesn't like to play hide and seek." Driaka whispered in Tiqa's ear, "I think it's because she's really bad at it, but don't tell her I said that because she gets angry." Tiqa smiled and whispered back, "I won't." Tiqa put Driaka down and said, "Now Driaka, I have a few chores for you to do." Driaka smiled and said, "What are the chores?" Tiqa said, "We need more berries and some firewood." Driaka asked, "Are the carrots in the garden ready yet? I really need some of your vegetable soup." Tiqa answered, "Yes, they are, and that's why I need more firewood, and I need the berries for pie." Driaka said, "Yum, I love your berry pie." Tiqa went inside, got a basket, handed it over to Driaka, and said, "Do you remember what berries are good to eat?" Driaka replied, "Yes, the blue ones are good, and the green ones are bad." Tiqa asked, "And what do you do if you get lost?" Driaka answered, "Stay put, send Song off, she'll come and find you, and take you to me." Tiqa said, "Good girl, I'll try to meet you down there in a little while, but if you finish before I come, just come back to the house." Driaka said, "Okay Tiqa," and ran off while Song followed. Tiqa yelled, "Don't wander too far off," and Driaka yelled back, "I won't bye Tiqa!" Tiqa said, "Oh God, how much longer do we have to stay like this. I know she's happy now, but one day, she'll be like me and want to find someone to love, someone to be with. I hope that one day she will and someday I will as well. Please, God, you've always provided for me and her. Please send me someone to love."
While Tiqa was talking to God, Driaka was on her way to pick berries. She said, "Song, Tiqa has been so unhappy. I know she loves me, but I can hear her crying every night, Praying for a better life for us both. I just want to find it." Driaka came across a berry bush and said, "Finally, we're here." She started to pick berries while saying, "Okay Song while I pick these berries you go and find another berry bush for me to pick from and remember the green berries are bad and the berries that are blue are good." Song chirped and flew off to find more berry bushes for Driaka to pick from. While filling up her basket with berries, Driaka said, "God, I know I'm really young and don't understand much, but... oh God, Tiqa is so unhappy. She loves me, but she's really unhappy. I try my best to make her laugh, but she's still not really happy. I know she's grateful, God, but she wants us to have a better life. She wants me to be able to grow up and find someone to love, and she desires to be a wife and a mother to her own kids. God, I don't know what lies beyond this forest or how to get out of here, but oh God, if you could make a way, I would be very happy! Thank you for all You've done for us, You saved our lives, but God, please, please help us! Please help my sister... I don't want to hear her cry anymore."
2 miles away from the berry patch was a beige brick castle with an orange roof. The castle had 2 acres of land in the front yard. On those acres was a stone path that led up to the castle's stone staircase that had 70 stairs. Along that path were lilies and daisies, and throughout the acres were roses, bushes, bushes, and wild flowers that were all well kept. There was a brown stable that had 17 horses and a man that stood out in front, and a stone path led up to it. There were also carriages, 20 of them that were silver and white that sat on the side of the castle. The backyard of the castle was 3 acres and had a place to ride horses, a green house full of plants, a garden that had 8 water fountains, a place for target practice and sword fighting, a large tree that had a tire swing hanging off of it, 20 cottages for servants of the castle who couldn't afford to buy they're own homes, and a pond that was only 4 feet deep. The castle was 18 stories high and 20 stories wide. Inside of the castle were servants cleaning, cooking, and decorating the ballroom. In the living room of the castle sat the prince and his parents. The living room had light gray stone walls and off-white furniture such as ottomans, couches, and chairs. There was a gray stone fireplace, and on top of the fireplace mantel was a Cross. There was a glass chandelier that hung in the middle of the ceiling that sparkled when light hit it and a glass table that sat in front of a couch and two chairs that sat on either side of the table. There was a large window that was covered by a white curtain, and there was a self-portrait of the prince and his family on the wall.
The prince sat in a chair, and his parents sat on the couch. The King looked at the Prince, and the Queen said, "Alright, Stephen, who have you chosen to be your wife?" Stephen said, "Oh mom, not this again. I haven't chosen anyone yet." The King said, "How is it that all 7 of your older sisters and 5 of your younger sisters have found princes and dukes to marry, but you still haven't found a wife yet?" Stephen said, "It's because they all found someone to love, and I just haven't yet. I'm holding out for someone." The King said, "Stephen, you're 21 years old now. You've seen countless princesses, from the princess of Dukes Kingdom to the princess of the Rose Kingdom, and yet you still can't find anyone. May, Tina, Emily, etc... All princesses you've seen and turned down! You must have seen 40 princesses, and still you have not chosen a wife." The Queen said, "Stephen, you are the only one out of all of my children who doesn't have someone to marry. Even your 9 year old sister is betrothed. Besides her, all of your sisters are married and moving on with their lives. You're the last one left, the one we've chosen to rule our kingdom. You need a wife." Stephen said, "Every time I see a princess, God keeps telling me that they aren't the one. If God is saying that, He must have someone in particular He wants me to marry, and I'm going to hold out for her. It's important that I do exactly what God says, and He said that they aren't the one. So I will do what He says and marry who He says. I promise I will get married one day, just not yet." The King said, 'I can't force you to go against God; it won't end well if we do. I will welcome this woman with open arms once you find her, but I guess until then, we'll keep looking." Stephen said, "Thank you guys for being so understanding. Now if you please excuse me I'm going for a ride into the forest." The Queen said, "Why do you always run away to that forest?" A girl with dark brown hair and blue eyes ran into the room yelling, "Stephen, Stephen." The girl wore a rose pink bouffant style dress, black flats, a rose gold crown, and held a basket in her hands. Stephen kneeled down to her level as she jumped into his arms. He picked her up and said, "Because me and Suzy love to go berry picking. Don't we Suzy?" Suzy said, "We sure do, but Stephen, I'm not a little girl anymore. You can stop calling me Suzy and start calling me by my real name, Susan." Stephen said, "No way! I'm your big brother! You'll always be Suzy to me." Stephen put her down, and she said, "How is it that I'm old enough to be betrothed to my best friend but not old enough to lose the nickname you gave me?" The Queen said, "You never grow out of childhood nicknames like that." Susan said, "I see that now, Mama." The King asked, "Can I get a hug before you go?" Stephen answered, "Oh well, if you insist." The King chuckled and said, "I was talking to Susan." Stephen smiled and replied, "Wow, my feelings are hurt." The King said, 'You'll get over it." Susan said, "Of course, Papa," and hugged him. Susan said, "Now me and Stephen must be going." The King and Queen said, "Alright goodbye," as Stephen and Susan left for the horse stable. Stephen said, "Alright, Suzy, let's try to actually bring back some berries this time. I'm sure if we do, we can have one of the chefs bake us some berry pie." She said, "Yes, I love berry pie!" Susan and Stephen stood in front of the stables, and the man who sat out front bowed and said, "How many horses will we need your Highness?" Stephen said, "Ah Paul, we'll need one horse," and Susan interrupted, saying, "Two!" Stephen said, "Are you sure? I don't want you getting hurt trying to ride a horse." Susan said,"I won't, I promise! I'm really good now. I've been practicing every day for the past 5 months. I have it down!" Paul said, "Your Highness, if I may?" Stephen replied, "You may," and Paul said, "I've seen her ride, she's very good. I think she'll be fine." Stephen said, "Well, if both of you think so, then okay, we'll take 2 horses." Susan cheered and said, "Thank you, Paul!" Paul smiled and said, "Your welcome, princess." Paul brought out two light brown horses that had saddles on them. Paul helped Susan on her horse while Stephen got on his, and they both rode off to the berry patch.
Half an hour passed, and they were finally at the berry patch. Stephen got off his horse and tied the horse to a tree. He helped Susan off of her horse and asked, "Do you remember what berries are good to eat?" Susan said, "The blue ones are good, and the green ones are bad." Stephen asked, "And what's the number one rule?" She answered, "Never leave the berry patch and stop when you say so, but if I get lost, stay put and yell your name until you find me." Stephen said, "Good girl. Now remember to..." Susan interrupted him, saying, "I know, I know, stay where you can see me." He said, "Good girl, now you can go pick some berries." Susan ran off to pick berries, and Stephen tied her horse to a tree next to his horse. Stephen said, "God help me. My parents want me to find a wife. I know it'll happen on Your perfect timing, but God, I hope I do find her soon. It'll happen when You say so and not a moment sooner." He walked over to the berry patch and began picking berries.
While they were picking berries, Driaka was also picking berries. Driaka said, "An hour and only half of my basket is full. I guess it's because I keep eating them." She giggled and said, "I wonder where Song is. It shouldn't take her this long to find more berries." Driaka yelled "Song! Song, where are you?" While Driaka was calling Song, Susan was picking berries. Susan said, "Oh, Stephen, there are a whole bunch of berries! We can eat as many as we want and still have some left over for pie." Stephen said, "Let's just fill up your basket first before we eat more berries. Okay?" Susan smiled and said, "Okay." While Susan picked berries, Song flew in front of her face. She said, "Stephen, look at this!" He looked at Song flying in front of Susan's face and said "What a beautiful hummingbird." Susan said, "I know, isn't she the prettiest hummingbird you've ever seen?" Stephen said, "She sure is Suzy." Song landed on Susan's shoulder, and he said, "I think she likes you, Suzy." Susan smiled and said, "You think so?" Stephen replied, "Yes, I've never seen a bird do that to anyone." Song flew in front of her face, let out a chirp, and slowly flew away. Susan said, "I think she wants me to follow her." He said, "Go ahead," Susan ran off to follow Song, and he yelled, "But don't go too far and stay in the berry patch." Susan yelled back, "I will!"
While Susan chased Song, Driaka was waiting for Song. Song landed on Driaka's shoulder, Driaka looked at Song and said, "Ah, there you are. Where have you been? I've been waiting for over an hour and you still haven't found me any berries." Susan saw Driaka and Song sitting on her (Driaka's) shoulder. Song let out a chirp, Driaka looked over at Susan and gasped. Susan walked up to Driaka and Song, saying, "Hello." Driaka smiled and said, "Hello." Susan asked, "Is that your bird?" Driaka said, "Yes, this is my bird. Her name is Song, and I'm Driaka. What's your name?" Susan said, "Oh, where are my manners? Im Princess Susan." Driaka said, 'You're a princess?! There are princesses around here?! Do you rule the forest?! Do you have superpowers?! Are you going to take me to a magical kingdom?! Do you speak to animals?! Here, translate Song!" Susan laughed and said, "I'm not a princess from a fairytale book, I'm just a normal princess." Driaka said, "So you're human like me? I always thought princesses had superpowers like out of my storybook." Susan smiled and said, "Yes, just a human like you, but God made us great, didn't He?" Driaka said, "Yes He did. Do you have any brothers or sisters?" Susan said, "Well, of course I do. I have 12 older sisters and 1 older brother. I'm the youngest." Driaka said, "Wow, you have a big family." Susan said, "Yes, I do. Where are you from?" Driaka said, "I'm from here." Susan said, "Well, you're a part of our kingdom. How did you not know about my family? We rule this forest the town the villages, etc..." Driaka said, "Oh, I'm sorry. I've just never been outside this forest. I've been here ever since I can remember. I don't think I've ever been outside this forest." Susan asked, "Where are your parents?" Driaka said, "I don't know, I'm an orphan." Susan said, "An orphan? I don't know what I would do without my parents and out in this forest alone." Driaka said, "Well, I have God, Song, and..." Susan interrupted, saying, "Sorry to interrupt you, but I want you to meet someone." Susan grabbed Driaka's hand and led her back to Stephen. Susan and Driaka stood in front of Stephen. Driaka gasped, and Song flew to his shoulder. Driaka said, "Song, behave!" Song let out a loud chirp, and Stephen asked, "Who's your friend Suzy?" Susan said, "Her name is Driaka, Driaka. This is my brother Prince Stephen." Stephen said, "Hello Driaka." Driaka said, "Hello Prince Stephen." Susan said, "Stephen, we have to talk right away." Stephen said, "Alright, what do we have to talk about?" Susan grabbed Stephen's hand and walked him back over to the horses while yelling, "It'll just be a minute, Driaka, just stay put." While Driaka stood there, she thought, oh, 'God is this our way out? Is the royal family going to save us? Please let it be so.' While Driaka was thinking Susan and Stephen were talking. Stephen said, "Alright, what was so important that we couldn't talk about it in front of your new friend?" Susan said, "We have to take her back home to the castle and to mom and dad." Stephen said, "We have to, or do you want to invite her back?" Susan said, "Stephen, this is serious, Mama and Papa have to see her. We have to take her back." Stephen said, "Alright, slow down. What's going on?" Susan said, "She's an orphan, and she hasn't been outside this forest. She lives here and didn't even know about our family. I think her parents abandoned her. We have to help her." Stephen said, "If she's an orphan, then we must take her back home with us." They walked back over to Driaka, and Susan said, "Me and my brother wanted to know if you would please come back to the castle with us?" Driaka said, "I would love to but only for a little while. I have to be back before it gets dark." Stephen said, "Wonderful and you're just in time, our chefs are making berry pie from the berries we picked." Driaka said, "Berry pie is my favorite." Susan said, "Well, what are we waiting for," grabbed Driaka's hand, said, "Let's go," and ran back to horses while Stephen grabbed the basket of berries and followed. Driaka looked at the horses, saying, "Horses like from my storybook! I've never seen horses in real life before." Stephen helped Susan on her horse, pulled out a large cloth from a pouch on the side of the saddle, tied it around the basket covering the berries so they wouldn't fall out, tied the basket to the saddle with string from the pouch in the saddle, and Susan said, "Well at our castle we have a stable full of horses. Me and Jenessa can give you a tour castle right after you meet our parents, King Mark and Queen Catherine." Driaka asked, "Who's Jenessa?" Susan smiled and said, "My lady in waiting, all princesses have one." Driaka said, "That would be wonderful. Now, how fast are horses?" Susan said, "Super fast. Our house is at least 2 miles away. We'll be there in half an hour by horse." Driaka asked, "Then how am I going to keep up with you when I can't run that fast?" Susan laughed and said, "No silly, you won't be walking," Stephen added."You my dear will be riding with me." Susan said, "My brother is good. You won't fall off with him riding." Stephen put Driaka on the horse, and Driaka said,"Are you sure I won't fall off?" Stephen got on the horse and said, "I won't let you fall off." Song let out a loud chirp, and they rode back to the castle.
After 30 mins of riding, they finally got to the castle. Driaka said, "Wow, it's beautiful. It's just like from my storybook." Susan said, "The real thing is always better than a story." They rode to the front of the castle steps where servants waited for them. A servant helped Susan and Driaka down while Stephen got off. Susan untied the baskets, took it, Song flew away, and Susan said, "Oh no, your bird." Driaka said, "Don't worry about it, Song always comes back. Although I don't know what she's doing." Susan, Stephen, and Driaka entered the castle. When they got inside, a woman wearing a dark green vintage style ballroom gown and a crown stood there. The woman had long blond hair up in a princess bun and brown eyes. Susan ran into the woman's arms and said, "Auntie Ana!" Ana said, "Hello Susan, hello Stephen, and oh a visitor. Hello young one, what's your name?" Driaka curtsied and said, "My name is Driaka." Ana said, "It's nice to meet you. I'm Queen Ana, their aunt." Stephen said, "Aunt Ana, where is mom and dad? I must speak with them at once." Ana said, "They're in the living room." Stephen said, "Thanks, Driaka, I will be right back." Stephen left to talk to his parents, and Susan said, "The chefs are going to make us berry pie." Ana said, "Oh, are they?" Susan said, "Yes, and I have the berries for them to make it." Ana said, "You better give it to the cooks so they can make it." Susan said, "You're right. Driaka, I'll be right back," and Susan left for the kitchen. Ana said, "Well, it's not every day we get visitors to this castle. I'm so happy to see you here." Driaka said, "Well, thank you very much, your Majesty." Ana smiled and said, "You can call me Auntie Ana, little one." Stephen walked over to them, saying, "Driaka,
come along my parents would like to meet you. Wait, where's Susan?" Ana said, "She's giving the cooks berries so they can make berry pie." Stephen smiled and said, "Well, that's Suzy for you. Come along Driaka, they're waiting." Driaka followed Stephen, and Ana said, "God let this be it, let her be my future niece. Let her be the sister of the woman Stephen is going to marry." Stephen and Driaka walked into the living room to see King Mark and Queen Catherine standing there. Queen Catherine was wearing a silver ballroom gown with a white gold crown and had long brown hair and blue eyes. King Mark wore a dark blue suit with a gold crown. He had light brown hair and green eyes. Catherine said, "Oh please, the both of you do sit down." Catherine and Mark sat down on the couch while Stephen and Driaka sat in chairs. Catherine said, "Well child, I heard that you've made friends with Susan." Driaka said, "Yes, Susan is very nice. She said the chefs are going to make berry pie." Mark said, "That they are." Catherine said, "Um, little one, Stephen tells us that you're an orphan. Is this true?" Driaka said, "Yes, but I'm okay, honest. God has helped us." Mark said, "Yes God has." Catherine said, "Honey, would you like to stay here at the castle?" Driaka said, "Like to live?" Mark, Catherine, and Stephen smiled. Catherine said, "Yes to live. You can stay in the rooms here in the castle with Susan." Driaka said, "Why, I would love to." Ana and Susan entered the room, and Susan shouted, "Yay, Driaka is staying!" Cathrine said, "Then it's settled, Driaka will stay here with us." Driaka asked, "But wait, what about my sister?" Ana gasped and said, "You have a sister? How old is she?" Driaka said, "19 she takes care of me in the cottage in the forest. She's the only family I know." Ana smiled and said, "Well, she can live here too, can't she?" Mark said, "Of course, both of you can live right here in the castle with us." Stephen said, "We'll send out our best men to find her and bring her to the castle, " but little did they know Tiqa was getting ready to go to the castle on foot.
週次パワーステータス
-- 推薦
ランキング 
-- 推薦
チケット