//------------------------------//
// Chapter 5 
// Story: Legacy of Verjaniva 
// by Musketeer 
//------------------------------//

Blauw’s car stopped near one of the outside streets of Stellansk. ‘Thank you very much.’ Octavia said through the car window. ‘Would you mind picking me up some time here again?’ 
‘Not a problem.’ Blauw responded. ‘It was a pleasure to have you stay, Madam.’ 
‘Don’t call me Madam.’ Octavia said. ‘You know my name, so use it.’ Blauw grinned. 
‘As you wish, Madam.’
Blauw reversed and drove away leaving Octavia behind. She had asked him to drop her off here. This was the border of the palace and the outskirts of Stellansk. She of course couldn't let him know who she was or that she lived in the palace. She started walking, until she finally reached the large walls of her home.

She sat down in her room, boots and jacket still on and her eyes closed. She thought about what happened in the past 2 days. The almost end of her life, Blauw taking care of her and that all happening in less than 24 hours. 
The sun was setting despite the time. She wondered. ‘Would he have found the small piece of paper she had left in his car?´ On the note was a time and a date, for when she would be waiting at the drop off point. 
She made up all kinds of ideas while cooking. It might have sounded weird, but yesterday was the worst and best day of her life.
She settled down with her food and grabbed a book she had received from Blauw. ´The Grim Brothers´ was written with golden letters on the back. The book was filled with all kinds of tales she had never read before. They were mostly fairy tales, but who cares. After all, she was bored of the countless books about Verjaniva and it being the greatest country that ever existed.

The rest of the month went by in a flash. She met and stayed the night with Blauw as many times as she could. She had read many books about failed marriages or wrong couples, but she knew this for sure. Blauw, the brown eyed bird with the magical dark gray feathers was hers. It may as well have been love at first sight, she imagined that their feelings were mutual. They read books and danced together. All while the music from his record player was playing.

Blauw had never danced before, but despite that he was a fast learner and inherited the graceful movements of Octavia. Together, they danced till they had no records left and fell to the leather couch exhausted yet delighted. There they laughed and spoke to each other. Since Octavia has never spoken to anyone but her mother, she spoke awkwardly. However, her curiosity had overwhelmed her. She asked him all sorts of questions. And when he asked her how she didn't know the basic stuff, she replied with the excuse that she grew up in a gypsy family, never staying at one place at the time.

Their conversations helped fill Octavia’s curiosity ,but she had still one thing left to ask.
‘What do you think of the Royal House?’ she asked him. 
Blauw looked up from his coffee. ‘The Royal house huh?’ he smiled. ‘They are a bunch of weird and interesting people.’ 
‘Why is that?’ Octavia asked. 
‘Well, their magic is what keeps the country running. They control everything which is interesting and bizarre to think of.’ He took a sip of his coffee. ‘In my opinion,’ he continued. ‘The people should be made more useful. This whole country relies on the magic of the small percentage of ponies who live here. We need to renew our industry, open factories, produce goods and let everyone work.’ 
Octavia laughed. ‘You've got a point there.’ she said. ‘And what about the Royals, what is weird about them?’

‘The weird part, are their secrets.’ Blauw continued. ‘They hold more of those secrets than everyone in the entirety of Verjaniva.’ They laughed about the idea of the queen holding more secrets than anyone else.
‘And what about the princess? Any opinions?’ Octavia’s curiosity got the better of her. 
‘The princess is one of those weird cases.’ Blauw took another sip of his coffee.’ After the king died, the queen became pregnant. The whole country saw this as a miracle, but when the princess got born, no one ever saw her. And till this day, no one knows what she looks like, or who she is.’ 
‘Why do you think the queen is hiding her then?’ Octavia responded. 
‘Well, there is an obvious answer for that, the queen did it with someone else.’ Blauw laughed. ‘The princess is not full of royal blood.’ Blauw stared in his coffee mug. You want me to refill your mug as well?

Octavia laid in bed that night, looking at the wooden ceiling of her room. So that's why she didn't look like her mom. She was a halfblood. Not magical, but like the people they called a waste or poor in the Royal class.
Blauw came in with a glass of water and put it on the night desk. 
‘If there is something going on tonight, wake me ok?’ Octavia nodded and sat right up. She pulled him towards her and kissed him. Her hands went through his dark gray feathers.
Blauw carefully held her in his arms and laid her down in her bed ‘You have to be awake early tomorrow, right?’ 
Octavia sighted. The day after tomorrow her mom would be back, so if she went home tomorrow she had some time to prepare. ‘Yeah I do.’ she said with a defeated tone. 
‘Alright, I will wake you up then. Goodnight Miss.’ he said in a calm and caring voice. ‘Goodnight brown eye.’ Octavia laughed before she switched the lights off.

After resting from the exhausting yet wonderful day. The sun broke through with falling from the soft white clouds. The morning fog hung low in the moors.
‘Wake up, Miss, it is time.’ She opened one of her eyes, and saw Blauw standing next to her bed. 
‘5 more minutes. ‘ she yawned. ‘ And now get here you.’ She grabbed his arms and pulled him in her bed where she held him tight. ‘I don't want to go yet.’ she said while planting her face in his chest. 
‘I know I know.’ Blauw answered.
They laid for an hour like this, until Blauw stood up and carried her out of bed. ‘Come on sleepy head, it's time.’ He carried her in the car, and slowly drove her towards the point they had to say goodbye.

The car stopped. Blauw turned around, and looked into the shining purple eyes of Octavia. ‘Here.’ he said while giving her a necklace. ‘Its for good luck.’ A tear dropped from Octavia’s face when she took it from him. It had a small pocket watch, opened up with a picture of Blauw. 
She looked up, and saw that Blauw had his pocket watch out and opened. In the door of his watch, next to the clock sat a photo of her. They had made that picture outside in Blauw’s garden when she found a blood red rose between all the snow. She kissed him on his cheek and they stepped out of the automobile. 
They gave each other one last goodbye hug. ‘We will meet again.’ Blauw said while holding her. 
‘I hope we will.’ Octavia whispered while keeping her tears in.