After five hundred years, the day finally arrived for a new set of rulers to reign, and the majority of the planet shut down for the “Crown Passing Ceremony”. Television and news reporters were on site at each citadel in order to capture the events on film, and their accounts received payment in full to thank them for services rendered. Since tradition called for the new and old rulers to share a meal together, each continent kept open, one fully-staffed restaurant, and they served only those four elves.
Custom required the previous monarchy to move forward and relocate once the current rulers were sworn-in, but Uleena and Untermeyer had not explored any other options; she was concerned with the way others would respond to the former Avalorian queen living nearby, and the king agreed with his wife.
"Aunt Uleena, I know the rulers before us moved onto other places after their time on the throne ended, but it is not within me as your niece to make y'all leave. Ultimately, it's up to the both of you, but y'all are more than welcome to stay right where you are. To be honest, I will be heart-broken if you go, but I will understand," Maylene said.
"We appreciate the offer, and I don't know about her, but I have no issues with staying. I mean, if there ever comes a time when we find a place or y'all want us to go, let your aunt and I know, and we will," Untermeyer said.
"Or, the two of you could go on vacation, but I don't see either of those things happening. We get along, we love each other, and we're family. I just do not see y'all staying at the citadel with us being a problem, like ever," his niece said.
"How does your husband feel about that?" Uleena asked.
"He has a mouth and a mind of his own, and I suggest you ask him," Maylene said.
"How do you feel about us staying with y'all, indefinitely? The previous queen wanted to know.
"Y'all are family, and I have no problems with the two of you staying with us. No matter how long that may be. Maylene is my wife, and whatever makes her happy is fine with me," Sopher replied.
"There you have it straight from his mouth to your ears," the current queen remarked.
"Alright, I'm sold, we'll stay," her great-aunt replied.
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The following Monday was her first official day as queen, and Maylene awakened with a smile big enough to brighten even the darkest sky. Her maids, Maylin and Rachel entered the royal chambers, they were humming the same tune, and opening the window-coverings. The sun peeked through, but storm clouds held its warmth at bay, which caused many places in the room to remain cold.The citizens worked together in order to move some logs into the middle of the floor where the heater was located, and then they began to search for a way to set them ablaze.
Maylene saw the females' plight, reached into her bedside top drawer, and pulled out an ivory-embossed lighter; it had once belonged to her mother, and came with a firm warning, "Do not allow it out of your sight, and put it back where it belongs whenever I'm not around. Luna gave me that lighter, and it cannot be misplaced, please."
"Yes, ma'am, Missus Russell" Maylin replied.
"No, that is my mother-in-law, however, I am Misses Garrick-Russell," the queen clarified.
"I'll keep that in mind, your majesty," the maid said.
"Do me a favor, please? Just call me 'Maylene', it is meant for us to become friends, and using those terms seems so formal between friends," the queen said.
"I completely understand, to be honest, I wasn't sure how to bring up that particular subject, but thanks for breaking the ice on that, because I'm your head maid," the citizen said.
"Then, you should know that I'm pretty laid-back, and after many years of therapy, am willing to open myself up to make new friends," she said.
"I guess, it's a good thing that I've had my fair share of therapy sessions, and that I, too, am anti-social," Maylin said.
"I'm truly glad you felt comfortable enough with me to share that, and it feels good to have this conversation with you," Queen Maylene said.
"Would you like to know something about myself that actually has a direct link to you, already? The citizen inquired.
"Sure, tell me what it is," the royal one said.
"One of the quirky reasons for my position is because my name is, 'Maylin,'" the maid said.
"Really? I cannot wait until we're in a meeting, and everyone gets confused. What's even more bizarre is that you could pass for my double," she said.
"That's another, and more serious reason I'm in this position," Maylin said.
"I can already tell we're going to be excellent friends. Now, let's get that fire started, I'm freezing," the queen commented.
"You know? I consider myself a very highly intelligent elf, but for the life of me, I cannot figure out this contraption," the maid said holding the lighter up.
"Oh, there's a special trick you must know in order to operate it, and I forgot to tell you. Can you see there is a piece on it which looks a little out of place?" Queen Maylene wanted to know.
"Yes, I see it," the citizen said.
"That piece can be moved, so push it away from you," the royal one replied.
"Oh, alright, I think I've got it," she said.
"There's a lot of learning to be done still,by the time you know it, everyone will not know the difference between us, and won't that be a gaff?" She asked her new friend.
"Oh, it will be absolutely hilarious," the citizen agreed.
"Let me tell you a few things about myself that are not part of the public records department," she suggested.
"Sure, in the process, we can get you ready for your first official day, and as your very first order of business, you'll be working with the kitchen staff to prepare the breakfast menu," Maylin said.
"That sounds like fun, but I hope everyone is aware of the fact that I'll be starting school soon, and I won't have time to make the menu every single day," The royal elf said.
"They know, and that's kind of why the offer was made. That, and because I'm a sentimental elf. I thought you could do that this morning, and you could make a few of the preparations, symbolic," the maid said.
"You think along the same lines I do, and that is an interesting development to have come to light. Let me hear some of your ideas on this, because the idea is not a bad one," Maylene suggested.
"Well, take the act of breaking eggs, for example, that could symbolize 'breaking boundaries for change', which is something you will work towards while you are continental queen. I have heard that it is bad luck to the entire kingdom if the queen sweeps in the kitchen, for the first five years, therefore, do not touch a broom in the kitchen, my friend," she said.
"Good to know, I'm not usually superstitious, however, I don't want to take any chances, since this is my first day," the queen stated.
"You do know you're funny, right? I mean, maybe it's nerves, or perhaps, I'm struck by the fact that you are queen, either way, you make me laugh," Maylin said.
"You're probably stricken by the fact that I'm queen, but don't let that quality die away with time in the same way others will as we're together. It's very nice to know that you think I'm funny, and continue to be the way you are, no matter what. I do not want this job causing you to become jaded," Queen Maylene said.
"One can only hope that things turn out well, but we both know with that, only time will tell," the citizen said.
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“Hello, and good morning, your majesty. My name is, Zelenna, and we’re going to work together to make the breakfast menu. Do you know how to cook?” The elf standing in the kitchen said.
"Good morning, Zelenna, it's a pleasure to meet you, and to answer your question, yes, I do know my way around the kitchen. My mother used to let me help our kitchen staff," the royal elf said.
"That's great, I don't have to give you a crash-course in cooking, and that makes what we're doing, that much easier. So, you have a choice, you can either help prepare the meal or you can tell me what you want to eat for breakfast, and I will cook it," the chef said.
"It has been a while since I've had the opportunity to cook, but I'm sure we can manage together," Maylene said.
"Alright, let's get started. What kind of meat would you like?" She asked.
"I'm not sure what Maylin likes, but I'll have bacon and sausage links. We'll be making breakfast for my maid, although I'd rather call her my friend," the young one said.
"Maylin, what kind of meat do you want? If you know how to operate in here, you're more than welcome to lend a hand," the chef said.
"I definitely don't have a problem with helping out, we just cannot allow this one to do the floors in here for the first five years," the citizen said.
"Really? Why not?" Zelenna asked.
"It's an old wives tale I heard from my grandma before I went to school to hopefully become her maid, and it was like the last piece of advice she gave me about taking care of the queen the day I left home," she said.
"What is it exactly she told you? I happen to be superstitious and I believe in symbolism and I've got a thing about numbers," the chef said.
"My grandma said these words, if you become her maid, do not allow her to sweep in the kitchen for the first five years. If she does, hardships shall befall her kingdom for all the years she sits as queen', and when I started to deny what she said, grandma told me she had been a witness to that very thing happening to Planetary Queen, Mildred," Maylin explained.
"Wait, that was my great-great-grandmother you're talking about, and that is crazy. I'm not saying that I don't believe you, it's definitely excellent there was a witness to it, and certainly answers many questions for me," the queen said.
"Yes, having a witness lends credence to, and helps to substantiate the 'wives tale'. That is certain. I'll do some research about it, and see if there's anything else we need to be aware of," the chef said.
"That's not necessary, my grandma is still alive, and I can talk to her if you want. She used to study things like that when she went to college, and I'm sure she won't mind telling us if there's anything else", the maid said.
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The next morning, when Maylene awoke, there were two maids who were humming the same tune, the window-dressings were pulled open, and the sun was hidden by clouds. This time, the queen lent a hand in placing wood on the small pyre, and she gave the lighter to her friend to set them alight with flames.
"How was your night, your highness? I spoke with Grandma Adelene, last night, and you will be happy to know what sbe told me," Maylin said.
"My night was great, and we'll talk about that in a while. There is something I want to show you after we've eaten," the royal one said.
"Where's our king? I haven't seen him since 'Inheritance Day'", the citizen said.
"Evindal had to report for service, the next day," she said.
"What does that mean? Our king is a servant? How is that possible, for goodness's sakes?" Maylin wanted to know.
"Yes, but he is in the military, so he is technically a servant until he has completed his career", the queen replied.
"That's what I get for thinking," her friend said.
"What do you think about the craft of magix?" Maylene asked.
"With a grandmother like mine, what do you think? I've been studying both sides of the craft since I can remember. Grandma used to take me to the Southern Magix Plateau," Maylin said.
"Your grandma let you dabble in the dark arts?" The queen wanted to know.
"My grandmother believes that if you are going to learn magix, you should learn both the dark, and the light side. She says, 'That is the only way to truly know how to work the craft,''' she replied.
"I would love to meet your grandma, it sounds like she's a very wise elder," the royal said.
8"She is the wisest and sweetest, and I'm not just saying that because she is mine," Maylin said.
"Have you ever met Jasmine Devereux? She's the most powerful elder in the magix community," The queen wanted to know.
"You mean the one who adopted your sister, Ecko? Yes, I've met her, and she is an awesome character," the maid said.
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As the day grew later, the weather became warmer, and Maylene felt it would be the best time to take her new friend to the North-western forest where the queen's secret alcove lay hidden among the Willow trees. It had been a difficult task to accomplish, acquiring the information on its location, but Luna had eventually passed it on before "Inheritance Day". The two elven females set out to find the place designed for the continental queen, they took an in between meals snack, and the queen's advisor covered the homefront; since she would not be gone for an extended period of time, Maylene was able to leave someone other than her husband in charge, and her name was, Andressi.
Maylin followed her majesty out of the side exit of the Avalorian citadel, she moved as rapidly as her short legs would allow, and was capable of staying on course.
Half an hour after their adventure began, the elves stood in front of a large willow tree, and the air shifted its direction. There was something brewing in the atmosphere, though its aura did not seem negative, and then a voice, "Maylene Kaylene Garrick, daughter of 'Stubborn Luna', and current Avalorian queen. Your mother told me you'd be visiting soon, please tell me you did not forget my small gratitude fee, but if you did, you can owe it to me."
"Fersenniana, spiritual guardian of my willow, I have not forgotten you, and leave you my token of appreciation. The citizen whom is with me, her name is, Maylin, and you have my permission to allow her in," the queen said to the ever-changing winds.
"Please leave your gift by the roots of my trunk, watch your step on the way in, and have a very wonderful day," said the tree's spirit.
The royal followed the spirit's directions to a tee, she could not afford to up set the willow guardian, and the elven friends stepped onto the bridge, which had been lowered after the gift was received. Inside, just before the main landing, there was a broken place in the walkway, and they had to leap across it in order to get to the other side. Once they had gotten beyond the obstacle, each one helped the other with locating an anterior torch to light, and safely guide them to their destination.
When they arrived at the main sitting room on the first floor, it had obviously been set up to accommodate two, and both thanked the tree's spirit for the fine furnishings. Maylene sat in the chair facing north, and left the south to her new friend. Their current objective was to acquire a look forward, the queen was aware of the sacrifice she'd one day make, and the vision came through clear; happiness would not much longer reign, there was a darkness coming, and it would see the planet's end.
Maylene thought of the tale she once knew, it was of "Aryllion, Lord of the Underworld, Destroyer of All Things Good", and it only caused her more worry, because if the "legend" were true, the dark and evil on u ine would show his face soon. Both the royal and the citizen bowed their heads, a prayer to the goddesses above seemed appropriate, and they each said their own words.
Maylin could only offer her shoulder, in case it became needed, but there was no room for anything to be spoken. She had not been expecting the answer her all-seeing-orb had shown, there had always been good news before, but the current accolade had given a terrible look forward, leaving the maid speechless.
There came something being carried through the atmosphere, once again, it was Fersenniana, and she broke the silence.
"Your majesty, I never intentionally drop eaves on a conversation, and my duty is to stay out of your business, generally. However, when my spiritual senses are all twisted-up inside, I know there's something amiss, and I'm forced to speak even when I've not been invited. There has been a disturbance in the cosmic balance, it seems we've been at peace for far too long, and the ones who exist underground, are fighting to take control of things, topside. Whenever they have their way, the innocent and the wicked and the pure of heart shall all stand together, to help Aryllion come from underneath, and he shall rule Interraton without fear of anything. The day is coming, and it will be here soon. Be warned and be prepared, and I'll be waiting here, if you need me," the willow's spirit explained.
"Dearest tree guardian, I've only just become queen, and now you tell me that my kingdom will be in jeopardy by year's end time? What am I supposed to do? I'm beyond the emotion of scared," Maylene implored.
"Tell everyone you know to prepare for the inevitable, their impending doom lingers,' Fersenniana warned.

© P. L. Watson-Atwell