Sheng had cried so much in all the days the sun had dawned on her. No, she didn't cry everyday, but she did cry so often that many looked down on her. She never really understood why she cried so much and so frequently, because sometimes she cried for no apparent reason. She always attributed it to her weird, foreign features. Perhaps it was because she was from some distant mysterious land in the Orient, that nobody knew nothing about, they couldn't even pronounce the name. When she was saved from that ruthless land she was brought to her kingdom as a gift to the queen, who was barren.
Sheng wondered also if her tears were because she had never known her real mother, but then she always thought how wicked of a creature she was to the queen to think such things. For her adopted mother, the queen, had always treated Sheng like her own flesh and blood. Sheng was always given the best in life, and everyday a kiss was set on her cheek, warming her to her very spirit. Why that very morning the queen had visited Sheng in the dining hall and given her a gift for her birthday.
"Sheng, my dearest,"the queen, Magdalena called out to her beloved adopted daughter.
"Yes, my queen?" Sheng turned back to her mother. Sheng was about to leave the dining hall, after enjoying a nearly perfectly prepared meal, only to find a wrapped present in the hand of the servant standing next to her mother across the hall. The dining hall was a long rectangular room with a ceiling that stood over 2 stories above them. Light fell in through the glass windows that had been put in after Lady Magdalena was made queen, just before her husband, the King was laid to rest. It was one of his last orders and it created the most colorful and wonderful light for the room, while keeping out some of the cold in the winter, as well as on the colder nights.
"I have a birthday present, for my dearest Sheng. Come here my sweet, let me get a better look at you."
Sheng pressed forward, stopping just in front of the queen. The queen took a step towards Sheng, without warning she slipped her arms around her and pulled Sheng tightly into a hug.
"I love you so much Sheng. I only wish that I could give you the stars if you should ask me."
Sheng wanted to cry, but she held back her tears, for she had made it a rule that she would never again cry in front of her mother. Her mother held her close for a moment then released her and kissed her left cheek. Then she let go.
"Alright open your present." The queen turned to her servant and waved her hand. The servant carried the gift to the long main dining table, which was nearly as long as the hall itself. This was the table where the queen, her entourage, and her honored guests ate at whenever there was a great feast or celebration. When Sheng approached the table she noticed that it had already been set up for a feast and she knew partially what her dinner plans consisted of.
On the table sat a wooden and leather bound box in the shape of a square, with a floral arrangement on the top in simple and light blues and reds. She looked at it and realized how hard of a time the servant must have been having as he carried it. She raised her eyes to him and smiled duly in his direction. He looked up and his eyes shot down to the ground in fear. Sheng was often looked in this manner, which was the reason for her normal temperament. She turned back to the gift, examining it closer. She could tell the queen was still standing watching her. On the side was a latch and ring that was obviously meant to hold a lock. Sheng flipped up the latch and opened the chest, which opened soft of like a big leather bound book.
Inside she found a very fine wool cloak, which was on top of a tunic made of material that Sheng had never felt or seen before. It was the softest material she had ever touched. They were both not darkish blue colors, which was a very abnormal color for her to be given. There was also a locket that she picked up. It was made of gold that remarkably appeared like silver and had some strange markings on it. Sheng realized it was impossible to open. She looked at her mother.
The queen spoke. "That locket was on with you when you in your possession when you given to me. The markings are writing of the Orient."
"Can I wear it mother?"
"Yes, of course, 'tis a beautiful locket. I fancy to see such a thing gracing your neckline."
"Thank you, mother, my queen."
"Would you stop calling me that?"
"Which..."
"Just call me mother, that will do." A tear nearly broke from the queen's eye. She seemed distraught almost over something. Sheng approached her mother and gave her a hug this time.
"Thank you my beloved and beautiful daughter. Even though you are strange to be viewed, I see such beauty in your eyes and your glow that the rest of our kingdom probably does not. You have a beauty that is so much different than the rest. I hope you will never forget that."
"No thank you my beautiful mother and gracious queen."
"Ever so polite." The queen smiled.
"I was raised in the house of the Lady Magdalena, my politeness is a representative of her virtue and glory." Sheng kissed her mother's cheek. "Now I wonder why such a lady a great repute would buy her daughter such clothing. For a princess in her house is normally spectacled in purple and reds, never blues."
"Oh about that. I have been speaking to a fortune teller, who has told me that we should prepare for a long winter. I also spoke to a tailor who told me that these were the warmest of clothing, so I bought both of us pairs of the same thing. Yet, blue was all I could find. So alas we shall appear like peasants, but shall be warm like kings and queens, rather than appearing like kings and queens and freezing like some poor peasants. I shall make an announcement to the kingdom also, to prepare for a long winter. It should pain me to think that any peasant should freeze to death in my kingdom."
"Your grace is beyond that which all the other kings and queens together could not match."
"Your flattery is unnecessary, especially on your birthday. You have yet still one more gift in your chest."
"This heart is no gift."
"Not that chest," the queen waved her hand at Sheng's chest and then waved her hand's toward the chest that was lying open on the dining table, "that chest."
Sheng half-smiled and went back to the table. She looked through the chest and found a small flute with a rope tied to one end so that she could probably tie it to her dress or to whatever she wanted, in that way she could take it along with her wherever she might end up. She then thanked her mother one last time and the queen then left the dining hall. Sheng closed the chest and tried to lift it herself, but found it was really a rather heavy chest. The servant stepped forward and picked it up without Sheng even having to say a word.
"Yes, can you take this to my room?"
"What shall I do with the locket, my lady?"
"Oh I shall hold on to the locket." Sheng examined the locket again, which was still in her hand. The servant left her in the dining hall by herself.
.....Wait to find out what the queen doesn't know.
