The meeting day finally arrived for the Robertson to know what was really hidden behind the Queen interest. Many hypothesis were already studied by the US agency that was put in place forseeing a possible case . It was not everyday a Queen of the standard of Katiandra Alistair would request their interest without it being very important for both sides.
Though instead of going all arms out, they choose to be careful by seeing first what she was bargaining.
The weather as predicted was the best Leigh Robertson ever witnessed as long as they have been living in Porys. It was even better when her car entered the North roads. It was like being in a different time zone went they entered the sceneries along with the vibe totally changed.
It was mesmerizing to witness that, it reminded her the image she had seen in Africa of two river connected to each others without mingling their waters, she could see the darkness of one from one side an the muddy color of the other one near. No artificial separation but yet they were separated .
This she had not seen coming. In fact as a researcher, she was used to the other side of the North where researches were made, and as they all thought, poorly neighborhoods were more seen there as far as human were concerned.
Her eyes wandering around her she was completely taken aback by what she was seeing. In fact it was all the contrary of the image she had in mind.
All was organized and constructed like a commercial advertisement. From the road to the palms trees all along. She wondered how she could have not think that what was in Dubai was possible here.
Among all was the feeling of peace she could already feel, all she laid her eyes on gave her that vibe. The rest of her soul. She could almost feel how peaceful it would be to live here.
It was from the outside like a well kept opened garden, the green was not as important than in others side of Porys but the rich houses, the paths of nature surrounding them, certainly kept them green enough to know water was not a problem for them, in a region which was known for the rareness of it.
Looking up she could see large containers of water almost near each house, that mean wells could be found nearby. Which mean a lot of money used to dig so far in the ground.
Shaking her head Leigh mocked herself as she could see the wide parcel of land of Asta Anti musuem from the small hill her car was descending from, in fact the garden was a wide covered building that covered miles of land.
Leaning on her window glass she could only wonder how it looks inside because of how the outside was totally alluring, palms trees were planted outside of it giving the vibe of an oasis for anyone in vacation. It was almost tempting to believe it.
Taking her mobile out of her pocket she was about to take a picture when her drive cleared his throat making her halt half way.
"It is forbidden to take any form of photography here. There is, ah. It is already on, your phone should be off by now."
As he was speaking her mobile was closed by itself, but a message signalled her that it would go back to normal when they will be out of ASTA protected area.
Shaking her head she put the item back in her bag, waiting to be finally let in.
Finally getting out of her car as soon as she was parked Leigh Robertson with the help of the manager of the place entered the covered garden enchanted by it's vibes.
"Welcome to Asta professor Robertson it is a pleasure to have you here. Our Excellency Queen Alistair Zurrow told us of your arrival. We are all at your disposition for whatever you may need."
Smiling at him as she followed him knowing it was not usual for a male to shake a woman hand without the permission of her husband, she just nodded aware her position of and ambassador wife made it even more harder because she could hardly meet his gaze.
Looking around she smiled brightly. Not understanding how something so beautiful, marvelous even could exist in such a terrible place.
Amazed at the sight of the garden from were she stood and heavenly scent she was graced with. Her smile was the only thing the people around her could see.
"Go ahead and if you need any form of assistance we could help you as I previously said." Leaving her be he disappeared knowing she was the Queen guess.
Interrupting her line of thought she smiled at the man who was quickly gone, with him anyone that accompanied him.
Eyes all over the place, she could remember the meaning of beauty, which enabled her to be reminded of the very existence of her host. Queen Katiandra Alister Zurow, The woman belong to another place than this one. But, ironically, she was still the Queen here. Better be queen than peasant Leigh concluded that would have been a killer.
Walking all over the place with a smile that was glue to her face, the woman had with a movement of her hand refused the assistance of the help around. Going farther she kept her eyes on the names tags of the flowers their description and all, most she recognized from the pack she had received from the Queen at home, others she had never seen them, yet they were the most beautiful ones.
She was almost startled when someone presence behind her was known, ten minutes later. Before she could even turn to see who it was, an expensive perfume, the same her clothes was still smelling like even though they were washed, entered her nostrils giving her a moment of extase. It was like sniffing cocaine or another powerful drugs, it went directly to her brain causing a temporary incapacity of moving.
Breathing out slowly to have her senses back, Leigh could not stop herself from thinking that kind of perfume should be made illegal for how addictive it was and not fair for the human body, clearly.
Katiandra, who was in Asta since the morning, stood there not moving for a moment aware of what was going on, for long she had seen the effect she or her perfume had on people of all board, it was amusing most of the time, it was like a game of cat and mouse. Her being the cat that always catch it's prey.
But today she refused to indulge in that case. With Leigh Robertson it was important to stay at her level to give her a best footing in this communication. She knew the woman struggles with self-esteem and was already feeling guilty for bullying her.
The woman was too sensitive. The queen knew it that is why she took her time, knowing the woman had already has hard time because of her action two weeks ago.
" By the way you look at those flowers names I can concluded you know nothing of them."
Chuckling caught off guard by the he woman words, Leigh slightly blushed her cheeks taking the color of the reddish kaftan she was wearing which Katiandra approved after taking her in for a moment. It almost matched hers which was white but near the body.
Seeing the Queen appreciative stare of her efforts to dress properly like one who belong here, Leigh smiled nodding. She knew when to learn from someone what she did not know. The fact was, she was in love with flowers, even knew the names of most of them but here she was lost. She knew nothing of the flowers she had before her eyes.
Glancing at the woman that invited her straight in the eyes for good measure, she was glad to be met with a warm gaze. The Queen eyes were more welcoming than the place in which they stood. Which was a little unsettling, Leigh however knowing what was happening, held herself in time to not move from one leg to the other a bit worry all of a sudden that, the appreciated behavior could vanish to that cold side of hers again.
Taking in the woman body language in front of her without even moving her eyes off hers, Katiandra smiled at her, her smile growing wider as she could see Leigh doubts vanishing in the moment until she breathed out slowly shaking her head like to say she was ready.
They understood each others just good, which put the Queen at ease. She was not happy by how aggressive she had been with her guest, the woman was completely oversensitive. She reminded her of Lorelei, that slightly resemblance had Katiandra trying her best to mend herself in the foreign woman heart.
Looking at the flowers her smile still on, she then met Leigh gaze again.
" How about for your time here, I will be your guide. I know all the species in this place. Yes dear, flowers are a part of my life. So beautiful, they never failed to give my soul and mind a moment of peace in this world that is constantly moving."
Wandering her gaze all over the place, she looked back at Leigh showing her her arm. Surprised by the chivalrous gesture the woman blushed her clear complexion showing it to the Queen who just did the one who saw nothing.
Urging her to take her left arm by taping her right index on it she waited until the woman did. Humming she started moving them to the alley that would allow them to have the proper starting point.
"I know you love flowers too dear. When we will finish out tour, you will be able to choose one of those to go home with. I know most of the people that come here in vacation or for work could die to take those in their homelands."
Freezing for a moment after hearing 'homeland', which was totally forbidden looked up to the woman she still had her arm wrapped around wondering if she was hearing things because she felt completely on cloud nine having her so close, or she really was serious?
" You will- I can?"
"You can and you will. It is my apologies for the -- unceremonious way I treated you."
Mouth agape for a solid minute, Leigh eyes almost popped out when she became aware she had made them stop. Patiently Queen Katiandra only looked at her with patience waiting for her to regain her ability to move.
"Apologies?! I, oh, th-thank you." Amazed she had apologized to her when nothing forced her to do so, Leigh shook her head at this point not minding to appear to be a fool. She was really feeling like one. Like her mind has stopped functioning.
"Shall we?"
Only nodding Leigh just followed trying her best to register all the words coming out of the Queen mouth.
Katiandra took all her time to explain each flower origin. They were all exotic , so different of what the woman was used to see, by her " Ahh!" And " Ohh!" "Is that right?" "It really heal whoa!" The Queen who was taking her task seriously could only thanks the universe for the younger woman bright brain.
They walked around in very serious explanatios until, two hours later they came to the point where they had started closing the learning session.
The permanent smile on Leigh Robertson was enough to warm Katiandra heart. She was a teacher for a reason, to give someone joy with her words was a passion she had mastered throughout the decades. Even if she knew most of that joy came from the fact that it was her, Katiandra Fendrik who had been the teacher. Leigh never hide the fact that she was a sort of hero for her. An innocent infatuation like most of her student, that she could tell.
Looking out, Leigh was almost startled to see that the sun intensity had lower, moving her eyes to the wall clock that was hanging at the entrance she almost yelp. She had not seen the hours passed at all, history had always passionate her. Coming from a fellow professional she actually adored, it was the one thing she did not know she needed.
"We have been at this for too long, how about we sit somewhere to have a rest. I am feeling thirsty." Placing that with a sweet smile Katiandra internally laughed at how Leigh was like a small kitten, it was a good thing she loves Lorelei with all her soul because she was sure Leigh would have had no opposition of that sort.
Meetings her gaze she could see how fragile she was, the woman loved her husband dearly, and Katiandra was really thankful for her to be in her presence and not in some predators claws or she was sure it would have end bad. Smiling brightly at her Leigh nodded innocently.
"That will be lovely. Thanks you." By the smile on her guest lips the Queen gestured for her to turn on the other side understanding how Arthur collected those women that always end in his trap.
Leading the way still holding the smooth arm around hers, Katiandra led them to a patio not far that had two chairs that made it easy for them to be close from each other for the purpose of their meeting.
Raphaelli who was the one playing the server of all the drinks she had made by herself at the museum, hand them each, a very refined leather mug, Leigh could see it was the kind that are insulated a bit longer than an average mug, as she held it she could feel that it was full of a beverage. Removing the bigger leather lid at the top as she saw the Queen do, Leigh nostrils flared at the spicy odor that escaped the small opening when she pushed the straw lid visible up afterwards.
"I made it myself, take a sip it is a sort of tea." In fact it was Queen Katiandra personal property, it was a tea made of a tree that was only found in the garden, in the palace and at the museum no one else knew about this tea.
Moving out of sight after doing his job, the bodyguard took his place back where he stood previously not taking chance with the Queen security. Even if the king was not on their back anymore, it was not a reason to be lenient. Exceptionally he had came with the daughters of general kadesh they were very good in the fields, already hw appreciated the way they had followed them around he was sure none of the woman had seen them doing it.
" Ohh! It is amazingly good! What is it? Ohh excuse me if you do not mind." Blushing furiously this time, Leigh hand covered her mouth pestering herself for not being careful.
" No, I do not. It is ' Peristeria elata'. Originally ..."
"Wait! Excuse me... I can remember --just- Yes! The flower with white and some pink or red spots around yes? Ahh. You said It is also known as the holy ghost orchid."
"Yes. It is good to see you can remember
what I just taught you. It is, as I told you good for the immune system in so many ways most things it is the flower of God, we studied it, and for millennials it had been used as tea here and in some parts of the world before. Two centuries ago it started disappearing, today there are just left a small amount that are protected."
Happy to be given the opportunity to taste it, Leigh felt like flying out of herself. The day was so good it felt like it was a dream, just to be sure she bit her tongue, the taste of blood and pain being confirmation enough she was not dreaming. Reassured, she refocused on the woman that was a model for her.
Leigh was not a giddy girl with not brain, she was a woman. A respected one, she herself wore that presence with herself that frightened many, but to be honest she had learned it all from this woman. She remembered the first time they had met, it was not as her being the ambassador wife.
It was in a convention about endangered species in the world, specifically the case of Porys. She had worked in Porys from time to , most of the people there would overlooked what she would say because she was not firm enough to stop them.
But one day, after they had chosen to listen to her male co-worker than to her, she went in the bathroom to regroup and there this woman had came out of one stall, looked her straight in the eyes and with one phrase had changed the course of her life.
"Awaken the presence that is in you."
Taken aback, Leigh remembered how she had arched her perfectly trimmed brow when she had weakly asked her how. Then without a word had walked away. Coming out of there more frustrated she had then learned the lesson that built who she now appeared to be.
There in the middle of those men, Katiandra Fendrik had stood slightly above them all, speaking like the one who own everything around her. They were all tongues tied. Meeting her gaze at that moment she had said out of the blue for everyone to hear.
" Copy." Making all of them laughed releasing the tension that could be cut with a knife in the conference room. Leigh admitted even her had smiled.
It was ten years ago, one year before her husband was send in the Queen homeland. Porys.
Feeling weird about it, Leigh wondered for a moment if she had something to do with that. Rob, had told her once that everyone coming here was first accepted by the royal couple before diplomatic issues could be in study.
Pushing the thought away she took another sip of her tea feeling how calm her body suddenly was. She could feel all the parts of her body, she felt present.
Really in the moment, breathing in an out she quickly looked at her host the second a disturbing thought crossed her mind, as she did she was met with the Queen gaze already on her.
"It cannot b-"
"Is it what you want? I only have one word dear. Make your choice."
Flabbergasted, Leigh could feel tears ready to spill out of her eyes. Right there she wondered if all of this was not orchestrated by someone. Lately she has been having bad headaches. At the smallest noice, her nerves could become so sensitive in a way that had her stopping all kinds of work. No one knew about it, not even her husband, he thought it was just because she worked to hard.
"You certainly wondered how I know about your headache? I was there you. I have seen how you always touch behind your earlobe. It is the alternative for massage your neck. Work is good but between workalcoholics accept it. I have been drinking it for decades. No side effects nothing, add sport here and there, and you will become immortal. There is a reason why it is the holy ghost in action. One should have faith in something right? But joke apart, it will be good for you."
Shaking her head positively not having the strength to word the required words, Leigh under the woman tender gaze, hid her emotions behind her mug, sipping the beverage slowly, the countenance was large enough to last long.
She felt awaken in a way she had never felt. This she was sure could not be just what they were doing sitting there in silent. There certainly was more involved than them.
Ready to play her part she looked up to the sky that was visible from where they were sitting keeping her gaze on it.
"The moon was terribly present lately." Keeping her gaze away she said analyzing the color of the sky.
It was two in the afternoon and already the yellowish-red of sunset graced the view, in a more clear way like it was maintaining the time in a frozen loop. The way the colors were embroidered up there stirred something in both women who stood silent for more minutes, until the Queen released herself from it to take another sip.
"Around this time that is always how it gets. The only thing you see when you look up is the moon. The sun is scarce, rarely seen. Can we control it? Not quite. Nature does what it please, most humans are submitted to it. And this happens under everyone nose."
Knowing they were talking about the case that reunited them, Leigh knew the suspicions they already had on the fact that the king was involved had to be true.
"Um, Mmm. What else could one do otherwise?"
"Look around you dear. Everything is possible. In fact nothing is impossible. This garden would have never been possible given the climate in the North and the mentalities. Or even the neighborhoods that screamed life. Yet here we are. Ingeniousity, my dear Leigh is the only way to change things, one should first look at the situation then decide on the way to handle it."
Meeting her gaze Leigh lowered the hand holding the mug on her thigh. The woman was death serious. Her request Leigh thought she understood before she even clarified it.
"Frontal attack does not always give the best of results. I firmly believe that if something does not please you, and, you can not change it. There is always a way to change it. Bad things will always exist. Better accommodate your environnement by making it an asset rather than yield under its way. Your answer is, You have to change your reaction to it." Staring deep in Leigh eyes, the Queen then nodded with that one smile she had decided to not depart from.
Breathing in Leigh nodded knowing she was not done yet.
"Passion kill dear - When it has - no patience. The two reunited, can create one beautiful thing that is so rare among human - Peace. Clearly there is no peace without Love. Right now -- that is how you feel here right? Hmmm. Decades ago this place was inexistent, they said impossible, I told them I do not know that word, I believe in transpossibility -- Today, it give hope to many people, not only here but all around the world. Our medicines are made of most of those plants you saw earlier. I want you to understand that - When you Love - You protect - That is why it is well guarded around here, all the habitations in this area belong to those that work here at some exceptions ."
Taking all her words in , Leigh knew what she was intending to say. Looking around her, where she first saw flowers, she could see life. Moving her mug, she breathed out aware that the good it contained was doing wonder to her without indulging in medicines she disliked.
This she gathered was made in place by her love of humans and nature, specifically flowers. If she was able to protect this place like it was, what she was able to do to protect her love ones was something that made Leigh shivered under the Queen intense gaze, seen she had understood her message Queen Katiandra quickly smiled warmly at her knowing she was just an interface that will pass her message.