It was a warm spring day, soft and lazy with the fragrance of life filling the air, and yet, it was not the sort of day you would consider for a stroll. A gentle rain fell through the gardens and on the river that ran not far from the log and stone cabin in the woods.

     After lunch the family had gathered on the porch. It was a rare day these days when everyone was home at once. Sorone was home from his duties in Paan Harbor and Kia from her office in New Dunbouri. Anna's and Rune's (the young girl that Kia has brought to the family) studies were suspended for a local holiday and the two had taken a break, and Kelli, the youngest, had been reluctantly relinquished from her doting grandparents' care.

     The broad overhanging porch protected the family from the rain that had fallen steadily since the night before. The soft patter on the roof provided a soothing counterpoint to the whisperings between Anna and Rune, dark silver streaked head nearly touching the pale blonde one while they whispered about school, music and speculations regarding boys they knew in common while incidentally playing a game of chess. Sorone sat next to Kia, the space between them filled with a small lace covered table that was graced with a vase of field flowers their youngest had presented between showers. Next to the vase was a stack of journals the two had been meaning to read for the past several weeks, today seeming a good day to do so. Their chairs moved back and forth in an unconscious matched rhythm while Kelli, their youngest child was stretched out before them on a blanket with a pad of paper and color pencils, drawing.

     Ah, but drawing wasn't enough. Kelli's mind was restless and didn't want to settle on the drawing of a fairy whose wings she couldn't get to look just right. Instead, Kelli wished something more. Her ear caught the rhythmic creak of her mother's rock chair and she smiled, thinking. She rolled over onto her side and looked up at her mother who rocking gently back and forth, and observed that she really wasn't doing anything. and so...

     "Mama, will you tell me a story?"

     The chair paused in mid rock, and the journal was set aside. Kia rested her elbow on the arm of the chair, chin in fist and smiled at her youngest child. "You want a story?"

     She nodded, her brown braids on either side of her face swinging, though one was unbraiding itself having lost its ribbon.

     "Then come here, and let me fix you braid, and lets get some hot chocolate. I bet everyone would like some..." There was instant attention and smiles of approval received from that on all sides, including Kelli. The Lanchester family was well known for its fondness of chocolate.

     Kelli came and stood patiently in front of her mother, while the unwinding braid was woven and the ribbon tied into place. "I can mix in the chocolate!" the child asserted, skipping towards the door, followed by her mother.

    "I would like double chocolate in mine, please." the only male voice on the porch rumbled pleasantly. Sorone attested that living in a household filled with women was many things: Interesting, challenging and delightful.

     "Ok, Papa!" Kelli paused long enough to make her father pay a hug and a kiss for the extra chocolate before slipping through the screen door, her mother on her heels quick enough to keep the door from slamming shut.

     For the next while there was much laughter and giggling heard from the kitchen through the screen door. Three heads shot up when there was a loud bang, but they returned to what they'd been doing when the silence that followed the clatter was followed by whispers and more giggling, and they were assured that all was well, the kitchen was still intact.

     Finally, after what seemed like a very long time, the pair returned with Kelli opening the door for her Mama who carried a tray full of steaming mugs of hot chocolate and a plate of oatmeal raisin cookies, both of which magically vanished before the tray could be set on the table where the chess players paused match and discussion.

     Kia and Kelli set their refreshments on the table next to the neglected journals, Kelli giving her Papa a stern look when he tried to sneak an extra cookie off her napkin. Kia settled into her rocking chair, and took a sip of her chocolate while it was still hot. She knew it would be cold before it and the story were finished. Kelli settled into her mother's lap, was there any better place to hear a story from? and settled back to listen.

     "Well," Kia began. "Once upon a time... there was a duke who had a small daughter...."

     "Was she my age? And was she a princess?" Kelli interrupted, wanting to keep the facts straight.

     Kia hugged her daughter and whispered loudly, "She was not a princess because her father was a duke, and that's a fine enough thing to be, as there are plenty of princesses in the world as it is. And come to think of it, she was just your age when this story started. And so...."

     Merrilee was the only daughter of Duke Anstance of Istancia. She had two older brothers, but they were much older than she was, and so had little time to play with her. They were always busy following their father around, and learning how to take care of their lands for the day when they would be in charge of the castle and all that surrounded it. Merrilee, or Merri as she was called by those who loved her which was nearly everyone, often wandered about the castle, and sometimes with her nurse, into the forest that surrounded the castle. She found all kinds of games to play by herself, but still, it wasn't like having anyone else to play with. Her favorite place to play was an old garden inside the walls. Indeed, it was someplace she could go without her nurse following her, and fussing about her being careful.

      The garden was large, with many secret hiding places where she could take her dolls and play with them, her books and read quietly. It was filled with birds, who liked the quiet of the garden and were willing to share it with one small girl who really didn't make that much noise. There was water from a fountain that still flowed fresh and clean, the gardener took care of that but it was all he attended to since Merit's mother had died and no one had entered the garden since her death. As a result, it was a wild tumble of flowers and weeds run amok, and a perfect place for a child to play in.

     One morning not long after breakfast, but well before her lessons were scheduled to begin, Merri was in the garden playing hopscotch on the flagstones that paved the walkway where the lilies were blooming. She was....

     "Wait, Mama, what does Merri look like?"

     Startled, Kia was drawn out of the story, and twisted her daughter around to look at her. "I didn't say, did I. Well. She was about your size. What color hair do you think she had?"

     "Black with silver!" Kelli grinned at Rune who looked up surprised, then smiled.

     "And her eyes?"

     "Like Anna!"

     "So there you are. You know what she looks like, with hair like Rune's, eyes like Anna's and shaped like you. Shall we continue the story then?" Kelli's dark head nodded, and the story continued.

     "Merri was hopping along when...

     ...A blue ball, blue as the summer's sky rolled along the path past her feet and under a rose bush that was wild with tangles and soft yellow roses. Merri heard a small giggle behind her, and she turned around quickly, but there was no one there.

     Curious she turned back to the rose bush that hid the blue ball, and stooped down to search for it. She knew how to gently reach through the thorns and not get scratched, She felt it under her fingertips, smooth and cool and round, and carefully drew it forth, though not careful enough to avoid getting one small scratch. A droplet of crimson blood formed on her rosy tinted hand, falling on the ball forming a sharp contrast against its blue.

     She stood up, brushing the strands of black hair that was laced with silver from her face, and looked behind herself once more. "I have your ball.... whoever you are." She couldn't imagine who it might be, there were very few children in the castle, and none ever came to play with her.

     There was a silence. Not even the birds sang, or the frogs croaked their garden music. Merri held the ball out. "I won't hurt you. You can have your ball back." To emphasize the fact, in case the owner of the ball were shy, she set the ball down on the ground and backed away.

     There was a stirring of the reeds that grew tall next to the path, and then as slim brown hand reached out and took the ball quickly into the reed fast as the blink of an eye! Merri stood staring at the reeds, hardly daring to breath. She wasn't afraid. You see, she felt safe here, for this was her mother's garden, and when she was here, she felt close to her, safe and protected.

     The reeds were still, except the tops that swayed with the breeze, and then, the brown hand reappeared, and pushed them back. A young boy, no older than Merri stepped out from his hiding place and stood there, looking at her looking at him.

     He was a little taller than she was, with hair bleached white by the sun, his skin a warm tan, and brilliant blue eyes sparkled from his tanned face. He was dressed only in a pair of dark blue shorts, and nothing more, no shoes nor shirt. And in his hands he held the ball with the drop of blood still shining damply on it.

     "Thank you for getting my ball." His voice was soft as the breeze with a touch of music to it. "You hurt yourself doing it."

     Merri noticed the scratch on her hand for the first time, and put it to her mouth, licking the new coppery tasting drop that had formed off and smiling. "Its OK. It doesn't hurt."

    "Doesn't it?" The boy looked surprised, holding out his hand to her. She laid her injured hand in his and he looked at it, and then tucking his ball under an arm, he touched it with a finger, and said something, though Merri didn't hear exactly what it was, and suddenly the hurt was gone as if it had never been!

     Merri was amazed. She'd never seen anything like that before, but more than that, she was amazed to see the boy here. "My names Merri." She paused. It wasn't polite to ask names. Names were offered, not asked for.

     But the boy smiled at her, still holding her hand warm in his. "I'm Riland. Do you play here often?" He looked around the garden, and she followed his eyes.

     "Yes, well whenever I can, Riland. Where did you come from?" The boy shrugged and smiled. "Around. But I can't tell, or I can't come back anymore." Then his expression changed. "But, I'd like to. Come back that is. There's no one to play with where I'm from. No other children."

     "I'd like that!" Merri told him excitedly. "I don't have anyone to play with either! We can be friends!"

     And so they were friends. Everyday Merri would come down after breakfast before her lessons and the two would play. Sometimes they would explore the garden like it had never been explored before. Riland knew a lot about the plants there, their properties and how they could be used. And, to Merri's delight, he knew true magic and from time to time, would teach her a simple spell or cantrip. Merri taught him about the world outside the garden. She would bring books to show her new friend. She first taught him how to read, and later they would read together, stories from history, and stories from fables. They shared their worlds with each other, enjoying their time together.