Sam barged into the kitchen so suddenly like someone who was being chased by an army of raging dogs. Luckily for her, Sarah was already in the kitchen but the other chefs weren't there yet. It was still early.
" I am not Alex's family " Sam mumbled
Sarah noticed Samantha's mood and deduced she was angry. Why was what she didn't know yet.
" well, good morning, Princess. What a delight to see you as early as this in the morning. " Sam was mute.
" is everything alright, princess?"
" no, sarah. Everything is not alright. I need you to tell me..." she suddenly broke off
" tell you what, your Highness?"
" about the tree..."
" what tree?" Sarah asked. " the tree of Blessings!" Sarah immediately covered Sam's mouth preventing her from saying anything. She looked around as if there was anyone there. " where did you hear such name from" she looked around again and pulled Samantha. " where are we going Sarah" Sam inquired. " somewhere quiet. The walls have ears" sarah whispered.
" but there's no one here" Sam whispered back, fiercely. " shhhhhhh" Sarah shut her up again and they left the kitchen.
***********************
Sarah took Sam to her room in the maid's quarters. Sarah, after hearing Sam's question, didn't know what to say. She just gaped at sam in wonder. However, she wasn't surprised because deep within her, knowing how meddlesome Samantha, that she would walk up to her one day and ask this question. Now it's happening.
" your Highness, how..." she broke off and then she smiled, " I think it's time for you to know the truth" she lowered her head.
" the truth? You knew about this?" Sam gasped. " i need to know everything, Sarah"
" I have to help Rosella, my kingdom but I won't know how if there are important things that are being kept from me."
" did you sleep on a magical charm because last time I checked you didn't want to have anything to do with the royal affairs" sarah joked.
" not anymore. Vandamore became mine ever since the day I was born..."
" which you're just realising today " sarah cut her off. " come on, sarah, just play along with the moment " Sam rolled her eyes in frustration. " just tell me what it is. I need to know, godmother. What's the Tree of Blessings and what does it have to do with me."
" Very well, Princess. I'll tell you what you need to know"
" a few years ago..." sarah started spreading magic all over the place creating a graphic just to illustrate her story.
SARAH'S FLASHBACK
Lana, Samantha's mother, was pacing the castle restlessly throwing orders here and there. The kingdom was preparing for the festival, the Ritual of The Tree of Blessings. To perform the ritual, the royal family gathered at the base of the tree once in a year while the villagers stayed in the village preparing for the festival. However, the aftermath of the ritual would affect everyone which is the annual enhancement of their magic and the ritual is always done to refuel the magic of the Tree which gave life to the whole of Vandamore.
A ritual dance was to be performed round the ttree and the magic of the Tree will glow and grow much stronger.
However, Lana had another plan going. Her sister, Alexandra had been acting suspicious so Lana had someone watch her. Just yesterday, she got the news that Alex was planning something treacherous with her maid, Martha. Lana was shocked by this although she knew what her sister was capable of but not this.
Alexandra was planning to steal the Tree's magic before the ritual started.
Lana waved her hand at a guard beckoning him towards her. " is everything ready?" She asked him in a low tone. The guard, Gerald, bowed and also whispered, " your plan is intact, your highness"
" good" Lana smiled. " we won't be wanting any casualties during the ritual, would we?"
" no, your highness"
The only way alexandra could claim the power of The Tree for herself was to perform a sorcery, a forbidden sorcery which if not done right could cause something dangerous to the kingdom.
Lana had to stop her but she knew she couldn't do it alone. She had sent a letter to the neighbouring kingdoms whose queen was once her childhood friend, the royal family of Peveril. Lana had invited them three days before the day of the festival so they could carry out their plan together. The Soul of The Treebof Blessings could be brought out of the Tree and it would take the form of a seed. This could be done only by fermonig a sorcery, magic that was forbidden in the kingdom. However, Lana had no other option. She was planning on splitting the seed into two so she could give one half to Queen Emily Douglas, the queen of Peveril so to make it harder for Alex to find it. Then she would keep the other half.
" wait" Sam suddenly interrupted Sarah's story. How come you're not in this story and you know all this.
" patience, princess" sarah smiled. " I am in the story but I just haven't gotten to my part yet"
" okay"
On the noon of the ritual festival, the Douglas's family arrived earlier than should. As expected, Alex and Martha had set put to executive their plan but they had no idea of what Lana was planning.
" no one will dare infiltrate my kingdom under my watch" Lana said to herself.
Then she screamed. " Oh no, it can't be. Why now" she was in pains.
At the time, Lana was pregnant with Samantha. It was close to her due time but she didn't expect it to be today.
" your Highness " Sarah, who was her serving maid at the time rushed to her side.
" no, not now"
" your Highness, is it the baby? I should get the royal doctor. " she quickly rushed out before Lana could stop her.
" little baby, please give a some more time. Mama needs to do something important today." She looked at the sky and realised the Douglas's dmfamuly must be waiting for her by now. She uses her magic to cool off some of her pain. She knew it wouldn't take long before she felt the pains again so she had to be fast. She snuck out of the palace before sarah came back.
A few minutes later, sarah rushed in with the royal doctor, two midwives and a few maids.
" your Highness?" Sarah called
" where did she go?" The doctor asked.
" she was here not long ago. She couldn't have gone anywhere in her condition"
Then they began to search for the runaway queen in distress who was almost in labour.