Thronegarden by Andrew Dickerson (top rated books of all time .txt) 📕

her own royal responsibilities behind in search of a new life. Kimson and Uriel, who was heavily pregnant, were delighted when Damselfly agreed to be a part of their family.

“Our child would be blessed to have a big sister like you,” Kimson had grinned.

“It would not feel like home without you,” Uriel had praised.

Damselfly felt happier in her new home than she had ever been in the castle. For one thing, there were lots of other children her age to play with. They would run around the garden playing games all day while Uriel watched from a chair with both hands on her growing stomach. Kimson who had been a soldier his whole life decided to put aside his sword for a plough and worked tirelessly on keeping the grounds respectable. Kimson also planted a vegetable garden, although his efforts needed a sprinkling of Uriel’s magic to grow, something Uriel and Damselfly kept to themselves so as not to dishearten Kimson. Somedays Damselfly did miss her friends back at the castle, though mostly she was having too much fun to think about it much.

Finally, the day arrived when Uriel gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. Kimson swaddled the infant in a clean towel and held her so Damselfly could take her first look at the latest addition to their family. The baby’s eyes were large despite everything else about her being so small. Damselfly was immediately enchanted with her little sister and the feeling seemed mutual.

The child was named Lorelei, and she brought great joy to the household.

Although Lorelei had to spend most of her time with Uriel during those first few days, she constantly looked for Damselfly and would happily watch her sister’s exploits rather than sleeping as her mother wanted. When the child would get grisly because she was tired, it was often Damselfly that would sing her a lullaby which would send her to sleep.

“I don’t know if there are two sisters closer anywhere than you,” Kimson commented.

Then one morning Damselfly awoke to find her whole family in her bedroom including Lorelei, who was wearing her first dress.

“What’s going on?” Damselfly asked sleepily.

“It’s your birthday and we’re going to celebrate,” Uriel announced.

“There’s going to be cake,” Buttons shared, thinking of his stomach first as usual.

Trigger barked enthusiastically at all the excitement as Kimson led Damselfly into the garden for her present. Standing beside the house was an apple tree and amongst the strongest branches hung a child’s swing.

“I love it.” Damselfly dashed to the swing, eager to test it out.

“Be careful,” Kimson warned.

Damselfly’s father, Handel, came to the birthday celebration, although their relationship was still frosty. He gave her a picture of Etherelle, so she would always remember her mother. They shared a tear and a tender hug, knowing that their shared love for Etherelle would always bind them together. There was little time for being sad as Damselfly opened further gifts, played games with her friends and attempted to eat more cake than Buttons, which turned out to be a mistake.

In all of this excitement, Damselfly did not forget her baby sister, Lorelei, who screamed in protest as the other children played while she was stuck in her cot. Damselfly carried her sister round with her during the afternoon, made sure her high chair was placed next to Damselfly’s own at dinner and even briefly took her on the swing, despite Uriel’s concern. Lorelei loved every second of it because she loved her sister. The bond between the two girls was special and something everyone commented upon. That night Lorelei and Damselfly slept in the same bed because the baby would squeal whenever her mother or father tried to part them.

“Happy birthday, sweetheart.” Uriel kissed her goodnight.

“Thank you for my presents,” Damselfly yawned.

“And my party.”

“Thank you for the cake,” Buttons added.

“Most of all, thank you for my sister.”

Uriel and Kimson watched their daughters sleeping peacefully in a moment of pure contentment. Uriel no longer felt the need to practice magic because she possessed something even greater, love.

Slipping quietly out of the room, Kimson turned out the light before closing the door. A silence prevailed, broken only by a small child’s moan; Lorelei was awake and normally in her room the light was left on. Unwilling to be separated from her sister who was sleeping peacefully, the young baby created a magical spark which kept the darkness at bay and allowed her to drift into a deep sleep.