Traditions (S1 Ep.15-14)

Back to the Palace. I finally found Joan ...

Rose: Joan! Where did you go?

Joan: Huh ... To the bathroom!?

Rose: I wanted you to show me the space you were talking about! Like I said I don't remember a Lake here. And as you can see the garden is big, but not that big, you have the fount and there is sealed, as it always is.

Joan: This area is restricted to events. Come on, you're going to see.

Rose: Joan is better if go not!

Joan: Come on.

I looked around and gave in to the will of Joan. Behind the large vessels that protected the passage beyond the fount, it was a little dark, but Joan knew the path perfectly.

When we arrived at the Lake the light, gently bright, made it a charming space. To every word of Joan the scenario was coming to life. Her description created in me the desire to see it come true. The fashion show would have to take place here!

The minutes turned into hours, it was almost midnight. We returned to the Palace. The distribution of champagne glasses was already being made. To the Garden, everyone went to see the show. With the sound of the twelve strikes of the bell, the fireworks began to light up the sky.

(New Moon) Wednesday, January 1

First day of the year. Me and the girls we have our little tradition to celebrate this passage.

Dianne: Everyone brought?

Sofie, Joan, Rose and Monic: Yes!

Dianne: I brought the keys and the flashlight.

Sofie: I brought the tools.

Joan: I brought the candle.

Monic: I brought the lighter.

Rose: I brought the seal.

Dianne: Come on, girls!

A few years ago, by the Easter season, we were playing at the Palace Gardens catching eggs, when we faced a huge gate, sealed with a padlock, which only piqued more our curiosity. The way that opened the gate was short and disappear by dividing in two, but we couldn't see anything else, the vegetation was dense and hiding whatever was on the other side. We're looking for a way to cross it. Climb was the only solution.

We looked at each other, we were scared but curious spoke louder. We went to the end of the road and chose the left. A Botanical Garden kind appeared, all plants identified, as diverse as the colours. With every tree, there was a small bump on the floor in the shape of a circle. Closer we realized that the lid was bolted to the floor and at its top contained the symbol of the tree that housed it.

We were so intrigued by what we just found out. We wanted to learn more! We ran thru the garden, there were so many ... "What would they be?!" To see the old wooden Garden House we turn to it. It was empty, so we thought...

 “Mr Gardener: Hey!

All: AH! – From behind us came a gentleman with a shovel in his hand… It scared us to death.

Mr Gardener: You shouldn't be here!

Dianne: Sorry sir, we didn't mean to. We lost our way.

Mr Gardener: How did you cross the gates?

Dianne: Uh… - Exchanged embarrassed looks. Knowing that we had invaded a punishment was waiting for us for sure.

Mr Gardener: Okay, okay. I get it. Come with me, I will take you to the exit.

All: Thank you.                                                                                

Joan: Sir?!

Mr Gardener: Yes!

Joan: What are those little boxes under the trees?

Mr Gardener: Are the secrets of the ancient kings… - Looked at Joan as if he knew her. - What's your name, child?

Joan: I'm Joan!

Dianne: Is the granddaughter of Mrs Beatrice!

Mr Gardener: Oh, I see! You know, formerly the patrons of these lands collected secrets of past years and wishes for a new year. Close to their favourite plants kept them in capsules.

All: Wow…

Dianne: It would be amazing if we could have one.

Mr Gardener: I have an empty capsule. Want to see?

All: Yes!

Mr Gardener: Here is the area of Iridaceous. These flowers are very special, during the change of the seasons and despite the adversities of the weather their leaves never lose its green colour.

Joan: They are beautiful! Crocus Sativus my favourite flower!

Mr Gardener: So it's decided this will be your capsule…"

And since then we came here after the last strike of the bell, while the others are dazzled with the fireworks spectacle, here we come. The lantern showed us the way. While Dianne illuminates the capsule, each one of us removed a screw. With the opening of the capsule, we removed its content. We read one last time our wishes for the year that it's about to start. And for that year they will be kept here waiting to be revealed what we have achieved in the last 12 months.

Dianne: Rose?

Rose: Hum…

Dianne: Have you read it?

Rose: Yes. I'm sorry! Got distracted.

Joan with Monic’s help lit the candle. And letter by letter was being sealed with the flower symbol that would keep our secrets and our desires. We return to close the capsule and then Dianne distributed the coloured letters, we had removed, assigning to each one our matching colour.

We read and shared it. My two letters could not be more different. As if two people had written them. All previous years I had wanted the same, write about it, school, girls, end hunger in the world… However this year I wrote about someone I didn't know who he was. It would be him who Monic and Dianne referred? No! Couldn't be! They spoke about professor Seth, my letter mentioned Mikhael…

Sofie: Rose, are you okay?

Rose: Yes. - Smiled, didn't want to ruin another moment. I felt my head throbbing but would be strong and endure the pain without complaining.

Joan: Thinking about new wishes?

Monic: Knowing Rose, the new wishes are the old ones!

Rose: Yes it's true, but this year I have one more wish.

Joan: So?!

Rose: Be successful in ...

Monic: Don't tell. We cannot reveal them.

Dianne: We have to go, girls! Please, don't leave anything behind.

In my letter, there were wishes of which I didn't remember writing about. The letter told me to read my diary.

So, when I got home I went straight to my bedroom. Removed the dress, put on the pyjamas and sat on the bed. I removed my diary from the secret compartment on my pillow and opened it.

"When you feel lost I'm the answer, read me! Signed: Rose, Katarina, Anastacia"

Rose: I wrote this!? Why?

End of the 15^th Episode – Can this be the whole truth?