When Summer Dies
Chapter 2: The Royal Gardens

Maria woke up to someone lighting the candle on her bedside. Although she had already spent more than a moon away from the Human Kingdom, she still mourned the loss of sunlight flickering over her pillow in the mornings.

That was perhaps the most depressing part about staying here, in the Demon Kingdom. It was Winter, and so, the days were half as dark as the nights. She hadn’t seen the sun in weeks!

“Good morning, your Highness.”

…and that was perhaps the least depressing part about staying here.

Maria sat up in her bed and rubbed at her face to wake herself up. “Good morning, Dinna,” she replied drowsily, as the pale Demon moved to light the rest of the candles.

The frigid air seeped through the stone in the walls and made the floors awfully chill to walk on. It was one of the many reasons that Maria was grateful for the thick, dark rugs in her rooms.

Dinna helped her dress – not that she needed help, mind you, but both females were familiar with this routine and, on some deeper level, needed it to feel normal- before Maria sat down on the chair in front of the mirror.

This had become a familiar routine as well. Dinna had informed her on the very first day that she was to be Maria’s personal servant, so Maria was no stranger to the cool hands running through her thick hair. “Dinna,” she said, softly, when she was sure her voice would hold, and not croak like a toad.

Dinna’s hands stilled their movement. “Yes, your Highness?”

Maria’s breath shuddered in a shaky exhale. “Is it true?” she whispered, and Dinna resumed combing her hair. “That six knights have tried, and failed, to rescue me?”

“No,” came Dinna’s reply. “It became seven yesterday.”

Maria closed her eyes. “I’m going to be here for a while, then,” she stated, and opened her eyes again.

“Yes,” Dinna agreed.

“What am I supposed to do with all that time?” Maria wondered, not expecting any answer. But Dinna looked up from braiding Maria’s hair, and their eyes met in the mirror, dark and pale red locking despite all the differences between them.

“You could speak to his Majesty the King,” Dinna suggested, and the moment broke when she continued to braid the dark hair between her fingers. “Get to know him.”

Maria lowered her gaze to look at her own face instead of Dinna’s. On pure instinct, she sought out the features she had inherited from her mom – her facial structure, her slightly pointy nose, and of course, her dark hair. She’d never seen her mom herself, but if there was something her home lacked, it was certainly not paintings of Cesina of the Human Kingdom. Dad had loved her mom greatly – and on that note…

Dad would probably like inside information.

Maria met her own eyes in the mirror. They hadn’t come from her mother. “Yeah,” she said. “Maybe I should.”

Cerron was winning the game of chess against Corel when there was a soft knock on his door. His instinctual thought was that it was Dinna – but no, Dinna had always knocked in a special pattern.

His interest piqued – he had never heard that particular knock before – Cerron stood up from his chair, and walked over to open the door.

Only his two decades of experience kept his eyebrows from shooting up in surprise. That would most likely be the rudest gesture he had made in a moon, and he would rather not embarrass himself in such a way if he could avoid it. “My Lady,” he said, instead, and inclined his head politely.

“Your Majesty,” Maria replied, voice as soft as ever, and gave a bow that, still, was far too low for someone of her status. She shot a look over his shoulder, and, upon seeing Corel and the chessboard, seemed to sink into herself. “Apologies, am I interrupting something?”

Cerron gave a low chuckle. “No,” he reassured her. “I am simply attempting to pass the time.” Should he be blunt? Was that acceptable? Well, there was no reason not to take the chance. “Was there something you needed?”

The Lady started slightly, and snapped her attention back to him. “Yes – or, no, not really,” she rushed. A light blush painted her cheeks when she looked away from him. “I was wondering – could you take me on a walk? I’m – feeling kind of trapped, and would really appreciate some fresh air.” She swallowed thickly, and her hands were worrying the scarf she had around her shoulders. “But I don’t want to be a bother, so if you want me to leave you to your chess, I will go.”

Cerron smiled. “That will not be necessary, my Lady,” he told her, before turning around to Corel. “Corel, could you replace my Winter coat, please?” Corel nodded, and was about to exit the study when Cerron held him back. “And bring one of the special coats for the Princess, too,” he added, and Corel nodded once more.

“What do I need a Winter coat for?” Maria asked, stepping aside to let Corel pass by.

“If you look out of the window, you will replace that the sky is dark and that there is snow on the ground,” Cerron said calmly, holding back a grin when Maria realized what he meant and flushed. “Unfortunately, as much as I wish otherwise, it is still Winter.”

“I - sorry I asked.”

“Not to worry, my Lady.”

A handful of moments later, Corel returned with two coats lined with white fur. Cerron nodded his thanks, and told Maria to follow him to the Royal Gardens.

He wasn’t sure if she would appreciate them. The sky was still dark, but not as dark as one would expect, with it being a Demon Winter and all. In addition, while the paths were clear of snow, most of the plants shimmered with a thin layer of ice.

He needn’t have worried, however, as Maria gasped upon laying eyes on the Gardens for the first time.

To be honest, Cerron would probably have gasped, too, if he wasn’t accustomed to the sight from before. There were trees, hedges, and countless flowers, as well as a wide collection of plants from all across Undera. Some of them were dead or dying by now, but most came from the Hybrid Kingdom, and so they would be able to survive the cold – although it would be a close thing.

“I wasn’t sure what I expected,” Maria breathed, and turned surprised eyes to Cerron. “But it certainly wasn’t this!”

Cerron chuckled, and started walking down the main path, enjoying the chill breeze against his cheeks. It was at times like these he was grateful for his father’s old cloaks; it would be nearly impossible to stay warm without the enchanted furs.

Maria seemed to appreciate them, too, although they were a few sizes too large for her. She pulled it tighter around herself, snuggling into it, and that reassured Cerron that yes, the warming charm expanded to other creatures, too, and not just Demons.

“I hope you are pleasantly surprised,” Cerron remarked, and smiled to himself as Maria hurried to catch up with him. “Although the Gardens are dreadful at this time of the year, they have been described as an explosion of colors and smells during Summer.”

“It’s beautiful,” Maria breathed, and her eyes were wide as she took in all the new sights.

Cerron chuckled, pleased to see yet another creature ensnared by the Gardens of Leron. “Come,” he said, and took a sharp turn to the right. “There is a beautiful fountain this way.”

After walking a few minutes in a comfortable silence, Maria decided to speak up. “So… what do you do, when you’re not being a King?”

Cerron cocked his head. “Read, mostly,” he said cautiously, not quite sure where Maria was going with this.

“So, you do nothing else?” Maria exclaimed, raising her eyebrows. “You must be a very busy King, then.”

Oh, so she was making small talk, then. Well, Cerron could humor her on that part. “Not really,” he admitted. “I do sleep, too.”

Maria looked up at him with wide, surprised eyes, before she realized that he was joking. She very obviously fought a smile, and turned her face away before she could laugh.

“As you saw earlier, I am also quite fond of chess,” Cerron added, before the silence could grow awkward again.

“Yes,” Maria nodded. “You were winning by quite the margin.”

Cerron made a surprised noise. “You play chess?”

“Not very well,” Maria muttered, and looked away from him. “But yes, I know some.”

“I would not deem Morris as someone that would teach his daughter chess,” Cerron remarked.

Maria winced, and hesitated before answering. “He, ah, he didn’t,” she muttered. “I asked a servant to do so. They didn’t like it, but in the end, they surrendered and taught me in secret.”

Instead of answering, Cerron chuckled softly. So, the Human knew how to play chess. This was knowledge he would take advantage off.

“Ah, here we go,” Cerron muttered as they rounded a corner, and a great fountain appeared in front of them.

Built of granite, the figure depicted held the pose of a determined warrior. She was clad in loose clothing, and bore a solemn yet hopeful look on her sharp features. There was no water flowing from her palms now, but Cerron knew that during Summer it was a remarkable sight.

Maria inhaled sharply. “Oh my,” she whispered. “I’m guessing this is a deity?”

“You are quite clever, my Lady,” Cerron said, and walked over to the bench nearby. Maria followed him, and sat down when he gestured for her to do so. “This is Mäti, the Demon Goddess of Hope, Faith, and Future, depicted moments before her death. The legends say that she had the power to manipulate water, which is why the fountain is designed to have the liquid flow from her palms.”

Maria made an intrigued noise. “I didn’t know that.”

“Very few do.”

The Lady by his side took a few moments to look around – and when she laid eyes upon a bush with dark red leaves and white flowers, she gasped loudly. “You have a drewôn?” she whispered harshly, looking for all the world that she wished to run over to the plant and devour it whole.

Cerron blinked. “Pardon?”

“Those are exceptionally rare,” Maria gushed, her eyes wide with awe and disbelief. “They grow only on a few islands in the Merfolk Kingdom,” she continued, talking louder and more animated than Cerron had seen her do ever before. “You can recognize it by the oval shaped, wine colored leaves and the tiny, pale flowers – and although it can be mistaken for the bãsten bush, the sour taste of its roots should remind you that you’re not supposed to eat it.” She took a deep breath, and Cerron watched, mildly amused, as she continued her rambling. “It’s one of the strongest healing plants in the whole of Undera – some even believe it to be able to bring people back from the brink of death! I’ve tried to plant it many times back in my Herb Garden, but our soil is far too dry for the roots to get a good hold-” Suddenly, Maria seemed to sober up. Her eyes darkened slightly, and her cheeks reddened in embarrassment. “Oh, uhm… am I talking too much?” she muttered, looking at her hands as they tightened around the hem of her cloak. “I’m probably irritating you…”

“What?” Cerron said, surprise tainting his voice and causing him to forget his manners. “No, you are not irritating me. I replace your knowledge about gardening – and gardening in general – to be quite interesting,” he announced, and Maria’s eyes brightened ever so slightly.

“-you do?” she said, and it sounded almost like a plea to Cerron’s keen ears. At his insistent nod, Maria smiled softly. “Thank you… most men replace it boring or irritating when I go on about my interests…”

“Is that so?” Cerron muttered, quietly adding it to the growing list of things he knew about his visitor. “What are your interests, then, my Lady?”

“Oh – uhm. Well – gardening is the subject I’m the most passionate about, but I’m also interested in embroidery, sewing, and reading. I love learning new languages, too – I was taught the Ikittä language when I was a mere teen,” Maria confessed, a fond smile on her face.

“The Ikittä language?” Cerron chimed in, raising his eyebrows in surprise. “That is the Merfolk Language, is it not?”

“Yes.”

“It is one of the hardest of the Kingdom Languages to learn. You must have a keen ear,” Cerron praised, although he couldn’t keep the surprise from his voice. He, himself, had tried to learn the language five years ago. However, just a few moons into the studies, he had to give up. He hadn’t been able to form any coherent words beyond polite greetings and asking what the time was.

“Thank you,” Maria said, and smiled. It made Cerron wonder if she had ever received honest praise from someone other than her father before. Before he could open his mouth to ask, however, a crow came out of nowhere to land on his shoulder.

“Kieran!” Cerron exclaimed. “Old friend, I have not seen you in quite a while – where have you been?”

“Apologies, Casper. Some blasted kits caused me injuries on my way back from Miko. An old lady in a village took care of me, so don’t you worry that big head of yours,” the crow replied, in the Demon Language Täk.

Cerron, deciding not to comment, smiled warmly – both at seeing his friend again, and at the usage of the old nickname. “No matter, you are back, and you are whole. It is a pleasure to see you again.”

Kieran crowed, and turned her head to look at Maria. “And whomever is this beauty? Have you gone and gotten married in my absence?”

Cerron scoffed. “I have done no such thing, you foul-mouthed bird! Princess Maria is merely a… visitor, of a kind. Go speak to Dinna, she can explain it.”

“Dinna? Dinna is behind the bush over there,” Kieran said flatly, and tilted her head in the direction they had come from.

Cerron pinched the bridge of his nose. “Sometimes I wonder if I should have refrained from teaching her how to sneak around,” he muttered to himself. “Dinna, come out of hiding,” he called, loud enough for any sneaky servants hiding in bushes to hear.

Dinna stumbled out of the bush.

“Hold on,” Maria suddenly said. “I’m confused. What’s happening?”

Cerron grimaced, and turned to give her an apologetic look. “I must apologize, my Lady,” he said, and stood up. Slowly, as not to startle her, he took her hand and brushed his lips over her knuckles in a faint kiss. “But a dear friend of mine have returned to me after moons of absence, and I fear we have a lot to discuss. Dinna should be able to explain what is happening, and escort you back to the castle.”

Maria’s brows twisted in confusion, but she nodded. “Of course, your Majesty,” she said, and bowed. It was remarkably shorter than the one she had given before their walk.

“Please, my Lady,” Cerron said, and knew his eyes were twinkling with mirth. “Call me Cerron.”

If Maria’s eyes were to widen any more, they would fall out of her head – and surely, if she didn’t close her mouth, she’d catch flies! Before either of those scenarios could happen, however, Maria shook her head and pulled herself together. Taking a more formal path than he had, she curtsied, and declared, “I give you permission to call me by my given name.”

“Thank you, my Lady,” Cerron said, and hid his grin by bowing and making his leave.

“She’s looking quite surprised, Casper,” Kieran noted, before cackling. “Now she’s pouting!”

Cerron ignored the crow, but smiled. The list of things he knew about Maria would be growing even longer, it would seem.

Not that he was complaining.

Maria flipped the page, only for the next chapter’s title to scream up at her from the page. Recent History, it said, and suddenly all her senses strengthened to almost the double – rough paper underneath her fingers, her dress heavy over her knees, warmth from the fireplace against her leg, the smell of burning wood and salvegaroot – as if some part of her instinctively tried to keep herself from thinking.

She realized, with a start, that she didn’t want to read any further in the book. It - somehow it felt like intruding. She was acting stupid – if it was in a book, it was common knowledge! Yet, here she sat, and closed the book before she could read what she already knew.

Someone knocked on the door. Maria looked up from her musings, hid the book History of the Demon Kingdom underneath a pillow, and stood up. “Come in,” she called, as loud as she dared, and a servant – the one that had been playing chess with the King a few days ago - peeked in through a crack in the door.

“His Majesty the King has called for you, your Highness,” he informed Maria, opening the door wider to give a formal bow.

Maria blinked. “Pardon?”

“He wishes to walk with you.”

Maria raised her eyebrows. “He does?” The servant nodded. “Huh. I guess I better replace that Winter coat again, then.”

Some minutes later, and Maria was walking towards where the King was standing, with his arms folded behind his back, at the doors out to the Gardens.

She had to admit, she still found it odd that he had blond hair. Her lessons rarely lingered on how someone looked, rather on how they acted – and so, Maria had foolishly used her imagination to replace out what they looked like. And whenever she imagined him, Maria had imagined the King as a tall, dark-haired and angry man.

And to think, the only time she had seen him truly angry was when he had found out about dad’s plans.

Upon hearing her footsteps, the King – Cerron, his name was Cerron, and he'd given her permission to use it! – turned around to give her a small smile. Maria dipped her head and curtsied. When she was on first-name basis with a King, that was completely acceptable, she reminded herself. It didn’t ease the slight trembling of her heart, but at least it somewhat reassured her mind.

“My Lady,” Cerron greeted, and nodded to her. “I am glad you came.”

Oh – she had had a choice? Well, it didn’t matter. After finishing that book, Maria wouldn’t have had anything else to do, anyway. She’d rather go on a walk than be brooding in her room. “I’m surprised, your – Cerron. I didn’t expect there to be a second walk.”

Cerron opened the doors, and like any true gentleman should, he held them open for her as she walked out. And oh, the Gardens were still as beautiful as ever! The Gardens back at home didn’t have nearly as many different plants as these did – that patch of silvery flowers over there came from the Werefolk Kingdom, and they were some of the toughest flowers known to Creaturekind, which was how they could survive even the harsh Demon Winter. They would grow almost anywhere, but were hard to come by.

Oh, and that tree that was looming over the frozen pond was a native one, with strong roots that could survive any kind of weather, be it storm, rain, snow or sun. The hedges were rosebushes from the Hybrid Kingdom – Maria wondered, briefly, how they managed to keep them alive during Summer, as the bush didn’t tolerate hot temperatures, but she was torn away from mapping her surroundings when Cerron spoke.

“Well, I do not wish for you to feel trapped,” he admitted, and Maria frowned as she tried to remember what he was talking about. Oh, yes! She had said that she hadn’t expected there to be a second walk! “You are but a visitor, after all,” Cerron continued, oblivious to Maria’s mind furiously trying to keep up with everything that was happening at the same time.

Now there was snow crunching underneath her feet! Snow! And every time she inhaled, the chilly air tore at the – wait, what had Cerron said? “Pardon?”

“You are but a visitor,” Cerron repeated, and the blood drained from Maria’s face. “You can leave whenever you wish.”

There was a terrible rushing sound in her ears, and Maria’s world spun. This – this hadn’t been part of the plan. She could leave – whenever she wished? Why would Cerron do that, when he could keep her at his side by force?

The words he had said more than a moon ago made themselves known, like echoes of the past so often did. Women cannot cause any major harm. The part of her that Maria so desperately had hid and covered in dirt so many years ago gnashed its teeth and seethed in anger.

So, she could leave whenever she wished – because she couldn’t harm anyone while doing so? Maria, against all her better judgement, felt anger boil at the bottom of her stomach. In that moment, all she wanted to do was escape and take down as many guards as she could in the process.

But then her shoulders sagged. She couldn’t do that. She could barely navigate around in the castle without getting lost, how would she be able to replace an exit, much less make her way back home? And what would she take down the guards with – a sewing needle? Maria didn’t know how to fight! Besides, she had promised dad that she wouldn’t run away, even if the opportunity showed itself.

No, she would have to wait for a knight to rescue her. Even if it wouldn’t really be a ‘rescue’.

“A few days ago,” Cerron said, and Maria snapped back to reality. “You said that you like learning new languages.”

Maria remembered. How could she forget? She’d gotten permission to use a King’s first name that day! “I remember, Cerron,” she said, just to prove that she could.

His lips twitched. “Indeed,” he drawled. “I was wondering if you would like me to teach you Täk.”

Maria nearly stumbled over her own foot. Cerron made a muffled sound, probably trying to stifle a snort or chuckle. Maria didn’t care. “Täk?” she breathed. “The Demon language?”

“It is, indeed, the Demon language,” Cerron nodded, continuing to walk while Maria gaped at his back.

“Did you say that you want to teach me?” Maria continued, in the same flabbergasted voice, as she hurried to catch up with him again. Cerron hummed his agreement, and Maria’s eyes almost hurt at how wide they were. She spent a lot of time wide-eyed, it seemed. “But – won’t that take a lot of time? I’ve heard the grammar is nearly impossible to learn!”

Cerron chuckled aloud, and stopped walking, before looking down at her. “I will teach you, if you so wish, so that I know you are being taught the important things and to be sure you are not being treated unfairly,” he explained, and grinned. “And time will not be a problem,” he added, before turning around to continue walking. “We do have all the time in the world, after all.”

Time stopped moving.

He knows, Maria thought, and her mind was calm for one wonderful second before everything crashed down on her. Her heart beat wildly in her chest, and she struggled to form coherent thoughts. He knows that I promised dad not to go. He knows that I’m not planning to leave.

He’s not letting any knights through the defenses.

“Fine,” Maria muttered, just loud enough for Cerron’s keen Demon ears to overhear. “Fine,” she repeated, a little louder for the sake of appearances. “I would be pleased to learn Täk.”

Make him think you’re staying willingly, Maria thought, and in her mind, she snarled. Make him think he knows who you are.