‘Five minutes later they were all escorted into the city. TheQueen wished to have a closer view.
When theyarrived in the Queen’s chamber Miranda and Quab moved over to greetthem.
‘They’ve erected a wall of force in front of the Queen.’whispered Quab.
‘Come closer so I can see you.’ said Queen Beatrix toTigerlilly.
Aquitain placedher on the ground and she walked over towards the Queen until shebumped into the wall of force.
‘Hello are you a Queen like my mummy.’ she said. ‘I’m PrincessTigerlilly. Why are you so big?’
‘It’s because I have so many children.’ replied theQueen.
‘Well I’m not going to have many if it makes me that big.’replied Tigerlilly.
The Queenlaughed and asked.
‘How old are you Tigerlilly?’
‘I think about five days.’ she replied.
‘The queen then said. ‘It appears we have two Queen Miranda’scan someone explain.
Miranda changedshape to her Gizel body form.
‘I am the person who you know as Miranda. This is my sisterGizel. We had our spirits swapped by a malign person at birth. Wehave chosen to have our spirits moved back to our birth rightbodies.
‘This is ridiculous.’ said Snowbelle.
‘The child is some type of construct and the idea that theyhave switched bodies is a load of lies. They are trying to foolyou.’
Tigerlillyturned around and said
‘I am not a construct. I am a real Princess and Aquitain is mydaddy and Miranda is my mummy, and Gizel is my nanny. Sothere!’
‘This is crazy.’ said Snowbelle.
‘My new partner Adonis will tell you the truth. Adonis Comehere!’ and Adonis appeared in the room and strutted over toSnowbelle then looked around and spied Aquitain.
If Aquitain hada heart it probably would have stopped but he was in his Zenostructbody, so nothing happened.
Aquitain hearda whisper in his mind.
‘Tell Adonis to go away.’ So he did.
‘Go away Adonis! You’re not welcome!’ and Adonis vanished tothe surprise of everyone including Aquitain.
Snowbelle wasshocked beyond belief.
‘You … you can’t do that to him … he’s a minorpower.’
Suddenly anincredibly beautiful woman wearing a simple hand spun druid gownglowing with light appeared in the room.
‘Do not be afraid.’ She said in a musical voice.
Everyone exceptAquitain, Miranda, Gizel, Tigerlilly, Snowbelle and Queen Beatrixappeared to be standing there asleep.
She looked atSnowbelle and said
‘You have saddened me by choosing another god. Our contracthas ended. You are no longer a druid.’
A piece ofpaper appeared in her hand and it burst in flames then disappeared.Snowbelle went to sleep like the rest.
She looked atAquitain, then smiled at Miranda and Gizel then Tigerlilly sailedthrough the air landing in her arms.
She lookedclosely at Tigerlilly then at Aquitain and said.
‘Crude, very crude. I would do it the normal way next timeMiranda.’ and Tigerlilly floated back to Miranda.
‘Are you another Queen?’ asked Tigerlilly.
‘Something like that.’ replied the Lady.
She smiled atMiranda again then vanished and Miranda felt different, moreconfident of herself and more powerful.
Everyone wokeup.
Rory looked atAquitain and said
‘Was something happening then, Spirit Lord.’
Aquitainreplied using mindspeak.
‘Yes Rori some of us we were blessed by a wonderfulvision.’
Snowbellelooked distressed.
‘I wish to withdraw all charges, Queen Beatrix. I must havemade a mistake. Something strange has happened. I wish to take myleave now to contemplate what has happened and she teleportedaway.’
Queen Beatrixmind linked with Miranda and asked.
‘Was that really who I think it was?’
‘Yes Your Majesty.’ Miranda replied. ‘We have been honouredbeyond imagination.’
‘Today, I will rescind your partner’s banishment from Crinterritory. You and your new family are welcome to visit any time.You will be a marvellous queen, Miranda.’
‘Thank you, Your Majesty. I’m glad we can be friendsagain.’
‘So am I.’ said Queen Beatrix.
Then Mirandahad an idea.
‘Your Majesty, It has become very unstable and dangerous forus all on Mudrun and on Moonmist. Aquitain and I are very worriedabout the safety of our daughter Tigerlilly. I wonder whether sheand my sister Gizel could stay here under your protection for awhile.’
‘Gizel is also our Ambassador for Moonmist and Astaria and canarrange a treaty between us if you wish.’
Queen Beatrixthought about it for a minute or two and agreed.
Miranda thentold Aquitain about her idea and pointed out that it would allowher the freedom to find Allalanllea and give the Crin and Gizel achance to know each other.
She finallytold Gizel that this was a perfect opportunity for Gizel to arrangea treaty between Astaria and the Crin and a safe place for her andTigerlilly to be while war raged outside.
Gizel was stillin a sort of blissful shock. Things were happening so fast it washard to keep track. She just nodded in agreement.
‘It’s very nice to meet you Gizel. Miranda has been here andstayed with us many times. With your body looking like hers it willtake time for us to accept that you are not Miranda. I wouldwelcome some discussions on how we might make some type of treatyarrangements with Gatekeeper Aquitain.’
‘Thank you’ replied Gizel still coming to grips with what hadjust happened. She had seen and heard a goddess. She had seen herreal mother Snowbelle and witnessed her being disowned by thegoddess. She was standing before the Queen Beatrix of the Crin. Shehad witnessed an epic moment in their history and was becoming apart of an epic story.
Miranda waspleased with how things had turned out.
‘Your Majesty, we are interested in finding Allalanllea. Haveyou heard anything about her whereabouts?’
‘Curiously, she was here a couple of days ago. She told methat she was there when you challenged for the Moonmist throne. Shesaid you were magnificent and she was never more proud of you. Shewas afraid for you when the false Queen turned you to stone butbelieved Aquitain would save you.’
‘A lot has happened since then and I would love to tell youthe story but there are many urgent things that need to be done. Doyou know where she went? asked Miranda.
‘She told me that she was going to visit a little peopleshaman that she knew called Kami. That’s all I can tellyou.’
‘Thank you again, your majesty.’ replied Miranda. ‘I will takemy leave.’
‘Well that was interesting!’ said Granddad.
‘I think we should all return to Templewood and inform theHigh Wizard of what has transpired here. We
