The Tides of Fate

My best and only friend, Margot stood outside my home waiting for me. We talked about visiting the baker to get fresh loaves of bread, and I didn't know she would be here this early.

I grabbed my bag from the nail and rushed out of my room forgetting to lock its doors. Well, I don't have to worry. It's just me and my Aunt Kiara, living here.

"Aunt, I'll be in the bakery," I yelled, not waiting for her reply before running out the door to meet an already pissed-off Margot.

"Hey, I'm sorry I woke up late and I had to help my aunt in the garden before leaving. Can you smile now?" I held her face so close to mine and she had no option but to smile.

"I'm still angry at you, what if we get to the bakery late and don't get fresh hot bread?" Margot pulled away from me, and I nodded, her question lingering in my mind. It'd be my fault if that happened.

"Let's look on the bright side, what if we get to the bakery and we are the first to be served? What then?" I smiled at Margot.

"Oh, Oceania, this is not a joke. I want to see James also, it's been a while. Seems he's avoiding me," Margot frowned. Margot loved calling me Oceania, and I was used to that. Well, the only people allowed to call me that were my Aunt, and Margot. To others, I'm Ocean and wouldn't take it lightly with anyone calling me my full name.

"Are you listening to me?" Margot asked, I nodded. We were almost at the bakery and could get the scent and aroma of the already baked fresh bread. But that wasn't my main focus,

Our village had the best bakers in town and so, kingdoms from far and near, came to Lilach to get bread and pastries. As we approached the bakery, Margot spotted James and she left me to meet him.

James and Margot were betrothed to each other as kids. Neither of their families was rich so I figured out, the alliance was perfect. I didn't tell Margot that of course. James worked in the bakery as an assistant, he planned on setting up his bakery once he had enough money. So, he and Margot were saving up for it.

With Margot gone, I was alone now, staring around the bakery. I found a bench to sit on, I had to wait here until Margot came so we'd get our orders and head home.

My name is Oceania and I am a very pretty girl, blonde curls cascading down my body, and I had sparkly blue eyes that shone like the bright sky, or like an Ocean, my aunt had said.

I've never known much about my mum, all I can remember is growing up with my Aunt Kiara in Lilach, our small village. My Aunt told me Mum died while giving birth to me. It's been 19 years, and I don't feel as much pain as I used to when I was younger.

I just take the present into control. I had my beautiful Aunt, and Margot of course, she was 25 and I was 19. But we were best friends and did everything together. Margot was always so mature, while I'm immature according to my Aunt.

I was so immersed in my world, thinking about the past that I didn't notice Margot was already seated by my side.

"What is she thinking about?" Margot's voice brought me back to the present.

"Hey, you scared me," I muttered under my breath. Margot looked happy and I was curious to know the reason behind her sudden smiles.

"You're glowing Margot, tell me... What did James say to you?" I asked her teasingly with a smirk, Margot blushed, and her gaze shifted from me to the bench.

"James has finalized the building of his bakery. And it's a surprise though so don't leak it okay? You're my best friend that's why I'm telling you this." Margot smiled.

"Wow, congratulations Margot. Now I can get free pastries from Margot and James' bakery... Isn't that amazing?" I squealed in excitement.

"What? Free? I never said so," Margot teased and I hit her hands playfully rolling my eyes with a frown on my face. We sat outside the bakery, munching on fresh bread and cheese and watched the villagers bustling about, going about their daily business.

"Did you hear about the new blacksmith in town?" Margot suddenly asked, her eyes sparkling. Margot's eyes always sparkled whenever she got a new gossip.

"No, what's the scope?" I replied, I wasn't even interested but had to act curious to not hurt her feelings.

"He's handsome, single, and from the city!" Margot whispered. "I heard he's looking for a wife."

I giggled. "Well, he's come to the right place. Our village is full of eligible maidens."

Margot playfully rolled her eyes. "You're one of them, Oceania! You should go talk to him."

I blushed. "Margot, I'm not interested in marriage right now. I have too many other things on my mind."

Margot raised an eyebrow. "Like what? You're always so mysterious, Oceania."

I smiled mischievously. "Let's just say I have big dreams, Margot. Big dreams."

"Like getting married to a handsome prince and living in luxury? Oceania, you read too many fantasy novels. A prince can't come to a village searching for a wife. It's only in novels." Margot said to me.

"A miracle can happen," I grinned. Like I've been waiting for my prince charming. I have this dream of sleeping and waking up in a beautiful palace, with maids and servants at my beck and call, getting married to a prince...

"Oceania, you're almost 20, you need to..." As Margot talked, the village elder, Old Man Thorne, walked by and tipped his hat. "Good morning, young ladies. Enjoying the fine day, I see."

Margot and I curtsied. "Good morning, Old Man Thorne. Indeed we are," I replied.

"Back to what I was saying..."

"Margot, it's noon. Aunt Kiara has to pack the eggs so she can get to the market right on time, I'm leaving." I said to Margot and ran off.

As I skipped down the road, waving to kids playing and running, I could hear Margot screaming out my name, asking me to stop. Sighing, I turned backwards.

"I asked you to wait for me," She frowned at me.

"Sorry, I just felt like running," I replied walking into my home, with Margot. We walked into Aunt Kiara setting the table for lunch.

"Auntie," I smiled, kissing her cheeks.

"I was worried sick Oceania, you just left without having your breakfast?" Aunt Kiara ranted on and on. I ignored her, already sitting down on one of the chairs and digging into the delicious lunch.

"Hmm," I moaned, with my eyes closed.

"Margot, how are you?" Aunt Kiara turned to Margot who smiled, nodding in response.

"Aunt, this is amazing... Wish I knew how to cook," I muttered sadly. The crazy truth, at 19, I didn't know how to cook, wash, scrub, or clean. All I knew was how to take my bath. Aunt Kiara made sure of that. She doesn't let me lift a finger at all.

"Eat up, after this... We are going on a trip." Aunt Kiara said, and my spoon fell out of my hands. Trip? Like out of this boring village? Margot smiled at me.

"Where are we going?" I asked, not interested in my lunch anymore. Aunt Kiara looked sad, but she tried to mask the look with a smile. I had seen her for too long to be fooled.

"Auntie, are you okay?" I asked, and she nodded.

"Well, why are we suddenly going on a trip?" I asked again.

"Just eat up, it's a very long journey okay? And remind me to give you your mum's box before we leave." Aunt Kiara said, then she walked into the kitchen, I was left with Margot.

"Something isn't right," I said more to myself than to Margot.

"Why don't you focus on your meal now, and ask her later," Margo suggested, I sighed and continued eating. Stuffing myself with food. Margo left after helping Aunt Kiara bring down my mum's box from her room.

"So, I was asked to give you this. It's for your mother, she wanted you to have it when you turn 19, at your engagement ceremony. It's a gift,"

I shook my head in confusion, what engagement ceremony was Aunt Kiara talking about? I had lots of questions as I stared at her dust the big book and wrap it up.

"Don't ever lose it, you'll need it someday." Aunt Kiara said, I took the book with shaky hands staring at it strangely.

"Aunt, what's going on?" I asked again. We had gotten on her horse. She didn't reply but began riding so fast that I hung on to her so I wouldn't fall off.

It took us seven hours to get out of Lilach, I couldn't sleep even with the wind whipping against my face. I had never gone out of my tiny village, so everything looked so strange to me.

Aunt Kiara had slowed down, stopping in front of a very gigantic gate, with guards in front. She handed a letter to them and they opened the gates wide for us to ride in.

We got down from her horse and I just realized were in a castle. Looking around, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and wonder. I had never seen a place as beautiful as this place.

As I walked with my Aunt through the halls, the sound of our footsteps echoed off the stone floors, leading us to the grand throne room. Aunt Kiara walked in, her head bowed, I didn't bow my head because I didn't see a need to.

The throne room had some people in it, a king I guess seated on the throne and a mean-looking woman, I guessed was the queen. A few old-looking men and some guards flanked about.

"Your majesty," My Aunt bowed looking so nervous. I folded my arms watching the king, in his robes walking down the throne majestically. His eyes were on mine,

"Ocean, bow before your father, the king," I heard my Aunt's voice. I blinked twice, looking so confused. Whose father was this king? I didn't move or make any attempts to bow.

"Ocean," Aunt Kiara almost yelled at me and immediately, I was so angry at her. How dare she yell at me like this? When I don't even understand what's going on.

"Aunt," I called her.

"Bow," She said, her voice demanding and urgent.

"And why should I bow? I don't understand a single thing. Why are we here? You'll have to explain that to me because it's strange," I yelled and I could hear whispers.

"You are a princess, Princess Oceania of Valtoria. Your mother, late queen 'Beatrice' was the first wife of the king. Does it make any sense to you now?"

My head began spinning, as images blurred and I'm sure I passed out because I woke up to find myself in a big bedroom, on a huge and soft mattress.

I got up, looking around maybe to find Margot and Aunt Kiara so they'd confirm I had only been dreaming. But no sign of them, the door opened to reveal two young ladies with their faces bowed.

"My Lady," they both said.

I could not open my mouth to say a word. Just stared at them as they walked to me. "My Lady, we are here to get you ready for the introduction party today." One of the ladies said.

"Who are you?" I asked. They glanced at each other, before nervously replying.

"I am Sydney, your maid, My Lady,"

"I am Rebecca, your inner maid,"

"What maids? Where is my Aunt?" I asked them, frustration evident in my voice.

"We don't know, My Lady,"

"Can you stop calling me that? I am no one's lady, I am Oceania!!!" I screamed out, throwing a plush pillow I held on Sydney.

"I'm sorry My Lady, we have been instructed to teach you everything about being a princess. And this is not very ladylike," Sydney said to me.

"I'm not a princess," I said again.

"You are the daughter of the first queen of Valtoria, that makes you the first princess and the rightful heir to the throne since Queen Eleanor doesn't have a son," Rebecca explained.

This whole idea of the Queen, and kingdoms gave me a headache. Maybe I was exchanged with another baby at birth. I was not a princess, or a Lady as they addressed me. I tried explaining to Sydney and Rebecca but they weren't listening.

"My Lady, it's time for your bath," Rebecca said, I bit my lips staring at her blankly. Getting up from my bed, I reluctantly followed her into a bathroom.

"This is your bathroom, My Lady," Rebecca said, I sighed taking in the view of the bathroom. It looked so big, and a bath filled with flowers had been prepared.

"D... Don't tell me this is mine, like... Just me?" I asked, running my hands through the golden bathtub. Rebecca stifled a laugh, she watched me touch everything in the bathroom.

"My Lady, it's time for your bath," She said again. Turning to her, I frowned.

"Are you going to bathe me now?" I asked. Alright, this wasn't cool at all. How can she help a 19-year-old take a bath? "Rebecca, I know you are a maid, and this may be your job but I'm not going to let you bathe me," I said, my voice firm.

Rebecca stared at me, with an amused look on her face. "It's not in your power to refuse My Lady," She finally said.

"But it's in my power to give you an order right? Are you going to disobey me?" I asked her, I could see her confused and scared expression.

"Rebecca..." I called again.

"Okay My Lady, but no one should know, please. I may get my head cut off." Rebecca pleaded before leaving me to help myself. I was out of the bathroom in a few minutes, a very large towel wrapped around my body.

Sydney and Rebecca seemed to be talking about something but they stopped seeing me. Not like I was interested in whatever they were saying. Right now all I wanted to do was get dressed and find the answers to all the questions in my head.

"What next?" I asked, Sydney motioned for me to have a seat in from of the mirror, where there was a table and a lot of things. Then she began brushing my curls, maybe trying to straighten them or what?

"It won't get straight, no matter what you do," I told her. Sydney shared a look with Rebecca and she smiled, it was a sad smile. "What's funny?" I asked,

"I'm sorry My Lady, I just recalled your late mother Her Highness 'Queen Beatrice,' had the same type of hair." Sydney bowed,

"Wow, I never got to meet her," I said, Sydney held some kind of apologetic smile on her face. She returned her attention to my hair.

"My Lady, which dress do you prefer?" Rebecca held up two beautiful dresses, an olive green off-the-shoulder dress and a white dress with straps on the back. They looked so beautiful, I didn't know which to choose.

"What do you think?" I asked Rebecca. "I think the white dress is perfect My Lady," She replied, her voice a little shaky.

"Then the white dress it is," I smiled. Sydney helped me get up from the chair and also helped me get into the white flowing dress. Then she and Rebecca began tying the straps at the back of the dress.

"My Lady, you can turn now," Sydney said, I nodded and complied, turning very slowly so I could see my reflection in the mirror. I gasped, since when did I get this beautiful? My curls were styled up to fall behind my back, with two strands falling on the side of my face. And Rebecca was right, the white dress suited me so well.

"I... I look perfect, thank you both so much..." I said, my eyes gleaming with gratitude. "My Lady, you don't have to thank us for anything, it's our job to serve you. And we would never turn our backs on you." Rebecca said.

"I can trust you both?" I probed. I had to find out if they were trustworthy. Right now, I needed some kind of confidant or friend since I wasn't sure if I was going to be seeing Margot again.

"We served the late queen for years until her unfortunate demise. And we are most honoured to serve her daughter." Sydney said, and I instantly felt like hugging these two. But I knew deep down, they wouldn't let me. If they had served my late mother, they must know so much about her. I had to ask them later.

"Fine, where did you say I'll be going to after getting dressed?" I asked Sydney in particular. "The introduction party, it's to formally inform the kingdom that they have a new princess. It is time My Lady," Sydney urged and I smiled, a tight knot forming in my chest and butterflies in my stomach.

"My Lady, relax. It's just an introduction party, and all you have to do is bow to His Royal Majesty the king. And then, nothing more."

I sighed, as two guards pushed open the heavy doors. Sydney nodded at me and I stepped into the courtroom, as she had called the place earlier. My heart raced like a wild bird as I looked out at the sea of faces before me.

The room was filled to the brim with people. Well, I didn't know what to call them... Nobles? Guards? I had a lot to learn about this princess stuff. And everyone seated where dressed in the finest attires.

As I made my way down the aisle, I could hear whispers and murmurings from the crowd growing louder with each step I took. I could feel the weight of their stares on me. They had never seen me before, and I could already sense their curiosity and suspicions.

I reached the front of the room and bowed low before the king, just the way Sydney had asked me to. My knees trembled beneath my dress as I kept my head down, waiting for him to speak. The silence was oppressive, like a heavy blanket that suffocated me.

"Rise, Oceania," my father's voice boomed, echoing off the stone walls. I stood, my heart still racing, and met his gaze. His eyes were piercing, like a sword thrust into my very soul.

I swallowed hard and curtsied again, trying to hide my nervousness. I was a stranger in this place, an outsider in the palace of my father.