~Emily~



'I've never seen this picture before" I looked carefully at the picture. It seemed very old judging from how weak the paper was.


It was their wedding day.


Zayne was so young and very cute! He wore a black tuxedo and a well dressed red dotted tie. His face was fresh as ever and no sign whatsoever of any facial hair.

Maya was a very gorgeous young lady in the picture.


Her eyes were brown in color. Her long dark hair reminiscent of mine.

Looking into the picture was almost as though I was looking in the mirror.


Was this why Zayne had a little bit of an affection for me?

He sees Maya through me.


'Emily!" Rowan yelled out my name as he barged into my room.

He was already well dressed in a well fitted brown suit.

His cufflings attached and a golden watch worn around his wrists.

His hair was well trimmed and his fragrance was even stronger than normal.


'Emily, it's time to get dressed. And I've picked out the best one for you!"

Whilst I was excited on trying out my new dress, all I could think about was this picture in my hand.

'Rowan, can you take a look at this picture"


'What is it?" Rowan asked stepping closer to me. I handed him the picture.


'How did you get this?" Rowan looked at the picture in amazement. His eyes well wide, his lips parted.

His face was a picture of disbelief.

'Where did to see this Emily?" Rowan's voice came again with more urgency.


'In a box buried under some furnitures at the storeroom.

Rowan what is it?"

Rowan's sudden change in reaction on seeing the picture really perplexed me.


'Emily, this was a picture taken almost a decade ago.

It was the wedding day of Zayne and his deceased wife Maya.

They had two samples of it. One was put in a locket and worn around the neck by Maya. But she lost it in battle with the humans where she eventually died.

The other picture haven been stored in a box was lost to the passing time.

Zayne and I searched the ends of the castle for the box but it remained hidden, until now" Rowan narrated a brief tale from the past as I listened carefully.

'Your destiny is definitely crossed with Zayne, there was no way you would have found that picture if the case was otherwise.

So, be out in ten minutes to get dressed" Rowan said before walking out.

His words echoed in my head even after he left.

‘My destiny and Zayne's are crossed'.

Could it be?!


'I got it!!" an idea for Zayne's gift sprug up in my mind.

I'm going to give him a locket and inside this picture.

The picture he thought he lost forever.


After a while, I reached down stairs to the castles wardrobe.

That's where clothes for maids, servants and even warriors are stored for special occasions.

And today was one.


I saw Rowan standing in front of a large mirror, as he admired his dressing.

'Hey!"

He was able to spot me from the door.

'Okay I've picked out the perfect dress for you, and……….. Wala!!"

His hands pointed in the direction of a beautiful red dress. It had diamonds weaves round it, and puffed at the shoulder joint.


'Rowan this is too much, I can't wear this" The quality of that dress, was that worn by princess' and queens, I'm just a maid.

'I can't wear this, I'm just a maid you gave me the right to wear such a dress"


'Come on Emily, don't undermine yourself like that. Dresses people wear aren't decided by their status but rather by the purity of their hearts"

Rowan words sank deep into my soul. He's such a great friend, what would I do without him.

'By the way, it was Zayne who recommended this particular dress for you"

'


'Wait, he did! But why?" I asked a bit surprised. Why would Zayne recommend such a dress for me?


'This was the dress Maya wore to his birthday, the last of his birthday she ever attended"

Rowan lowered his head, my heart sank in despair.


'So try to wear it for Zayne, OK?" Rowan asked, trying to be a bit positive, but I could see the pain very clear in his eyes.


I nodded in approval.

'Get dressed quickly and meet me outside". Rowan handed me the dress and went for the exit to the room.


I took the dress to the inner room and got dressed.

A hairdresser soon joined me, as she carefully made my hair, applying special creams and gels.

Soon after a couple of make up artists were also called to join me.

They dressed my face up till their satisfaction, and after a while they were done. I walked up to the large mirror leant against the wall.

'My gosh!! I've never looked so beautiful in my life".

I'm not the type to brag about anything, but today was an exception.

I look just like a queen, my steps were elegant as though I were royalty.


I exited the castle's wardrobe, and just like he said he was outside the room patiently waiting for me.

I've been in there for more than an hour, yet Rowan stayed and waited for me.

Rowan is such a gentleman, I only wish Steph could see him the way I do.

'Hey, how do I look?" I asked Rowan my voice very feint and shy.

He finally turned in my direction, and on sight of me, he rose to his feet.

His eyes were widened, as he stood speechless.

'Emily you look magnificent, beautiful and elegant"

Rowan's words flattered me as I tured my face away, my cheeks soon turned red.

'You Emily, are a walking work of art. Never have I seen beauty like this before"

Rowan continued his compliments.


'Rowan, that's okay, please" I had to stop him, if not he might carry on all night.


'Let's go to the party, shall we?" Rowan offered me his hand like a proper gentleman and I obliged placing my hand on his.

We walked together to the hall at the top most part of the castle.


'Hey, don't mind me asking is your sister coming?" Rowan whispered to my ear as we walked to the location.

'I don't really know, she was acting strange ever since she visited Luther" I looked up at Rowan as he furrowed his brows in anger.


When the time is right I would really love for Rowan to teach that snake Luther a good lesson.


When we arrived there was already quite a crowd present.

There were loud chatterings coming from every corner of the hall.

My eyes searched round through the crowd but there was no sign of Zayne or Steph.


Rowan and I took a seat at a corner of the room.

'What can I get you two?" Flora approached us, with her usual smile.

'Hey Flora!" I got up and a gave her a light hug.

My relationship with Flora has been going really well.

And now that Steph had been distant from me lately , she has been the only female friend in my life.


'You look gorgeous Emily!" Flora squealed very loudly, causing some unwanted attention on me.

'Thanks Flora, you look good yourself"


'He's here!!!"

A loud scream escaped from the crowd. All the eyes of everyone went in the direction of the door, followed by a loud applause.

And the whole crowd screamed simultaneously

'Happy Birthday Zayne!!"


~Zayne~


I woke up to a different feeling than all other days.

The grief in my heart was heavy than normal. The taste of pain still fresh in my tongue.

Memories of Maya came flooding came to my mind.

My heart was heavy and my mood grey.

Today was my birthday, but it was another birthday without Maya.


Flora served me breakfast quite early, earlier than Emily normally does.


It was noon when a familiar footstep came running to my door.

Her knock was hurried and urgent than usual.

'Yes?"


'It's Emily!"

She soon barge into my room, not even waiting for my word.


She stood for a moment, staring into me, a broad smile on her face.

'Happy Birthday Zayne!"


It warmed my heart to see her so happy for me, and I wish I could be more happier at least for her.

But the grief in my heart was to heavy.

'What's wrong?"

She noticed my dull spirit and my pale face.


I called her over to sit next to me on my bed. As I told her about the how my birthday celebrations has never been the same since I lost Maya to this cruel world.


'Zayne I want you to come for your party tonight, I have a big surprise for you!" Emily said with a certain confidence and vigor, I couldn't help but be intrigued by what Emily had planned for me.

'Okay I will!" I said my spirit a bit uplifted by Emily, as if I needed more evidence that she was the joy in my life.


A couple of hours later, a whole wardrobe of clothes was brought to my room.

They were piles upon piles of my suits, I had so many options to pick from.

But a particular suit caught my attention, it was a red suit, with glitters around it.

This was an exact replica of the suit I wore to my last birthday I celebrated with Maya.


I'll wear this suit today. Because finally after a while I now have a new joy in my life.

'Get me Rowan!" I ordered one of my guards standing outside my door.

After a short while, Rowan entered the room already dressed in a brown suit, looking very sharp.

'Get Emily to wear the red dress stored at the castle's museum" I told Rowan to his surprise. He was amazed by my decision.

The red dress was that worn by Maya on the very day I wore my red suit.

She looked so beautiful in it, that I had to store it up as a precious item of the castle.


'Okay Zayne, I'll get it for her!" Rowan walked out of the room.


Soon I got dressed into my red glittered suit, my hick black tie worn accurately.

My black shoe well polished, as the sun reflected well on its surface.

My hair was well trimmed by some servants at the castle.


I sat patiently in my room anxiously waiting for the time of my arrival.

Today unlike my other recent birthdays had a different feeling.

For the first time in a while, I was really looking forward to my birthday and it was all thanks to Emily.

She really has become the joy of my life. I couldn't wait to see what Emily had plan for me.

KNOCK

KNOCK


'Yes come in!"Cedric walked in.

'Sir, it's time!"

I got up from my couch, and approached the door.

'OK let's go!"

With Cedric by my side we walked up to the hall, my footsteps graced with elegance.

I could hear the loud chatterings from a distance.

'Phew!"

And with a large deep breath I walked into the hall, all the chatterings instantly stopped.

All the eyes fixed in my direction, and soon a large applause rang out from the corners of the room.

'Happy Birthday Zayne!!" The whole crowd screamed simultaneously.

My heart melted at the sight of their gesture. 'Thank you very much!"

I looked around the room, the decorations were all done to perfection.

My people outdone themselves.

'Hey, Zayne!!"

Rowan's voice reached my ears as he approached.

A large grin on his face.

'Want a drink?" he asked handing me a cup of beer.

'Not yet, have you seen Emily?" I asked as my eyes searched round looking for Emily.

'Yes she's over there?"

Rowan pointed in a direction to my left. I turned my head in that direction.


'NO way!! Is that Emily?"