Esther2

We spent the next 4 months in the ship. Soon, we arrived in Antar. As we descended, I could see a swarm of people circling the landing site. They were standing as far as 20 miles back. This was my first experience of royal excellency. Kell, one of the guides, told us what to do when we exited the ship. "You will walk down the royal stairs, waving your hands at the people. This will show that you appreciate that they came to see you. Some of these people came from around the planet just to see you arrive. King Max, you must go down the stairs first, so you can touch the ground first. When your feet touch the ground, everyone will bow their heads, sending a blue floresent ball floating above their heads. When they do this, you will wave your hand across the entire field, blessing them. When you do this, you will send a yellow floresent light out to everyone. They will know then, that you have returned. Now, after all that has happened, General Michael, you will be the next to touch the ground. You will repeat what the King did, only you will be sending out a red floresent ball. You do this so they know that their planet is now safe. You are not only the second in command, but also the keeper of peace in warfare. After General Michael has done his wave, the rest of the families will step down. You will all walk over to the hover ship. That will take you to the palace where you live." Now that he had finished explaining, we had landed on the ground. Kell opened the door and Dad walked out. I could feel the presence of many rejoicing hearts. Soon, it was my turn to walk down the stairs. As I looked out, I saw a sea of faces smiling as they watched us coming down. When we all had reached the ground, everyone started clapping. I wanted to stay and meet these people, but mom hurried me into the hover ship. We flew over green mountains that had water cascading down their side. In the distance, I saw a blue ocean. We flew over the ocean and soon arrived at a large island.
I stepped outside and looked up at a large complex that looked like an old castle. We walked inside where a lady in her mid 50's met us. The lady looked at us and her eyes filled up with water. "Oh my dear children. How I've waited for this moment. Max, Isabel. Come here." She said as she walked over to dad and Aunt Isabel. Aunt Isabel started crying as she hugged the lady."Mom. I missed you so much. I never though I'd see you." Mom? What does that mean? That lady was my dad's mom, which meant.............she was my grandmother! "Grandma?" I blurted out in the middle of their reunion. The lady turned around and looked at me. Her mouth formed a smile and she bent down to see me at a better angle. "Mom, that's your granddaughter, Esther. Esther, that's your grandma." Dad introduced us,"And standing next to her is Joshua. He is my eldest son. Tess is holding our baby, Kenton." "You're all so beautiful." Grandma said as she hugged each of us one at a time. Aunt Isabel showed her to her children and grandma hugged them all too.
After all the reunions, we all settled into our rooms. I shared my room with Joshua. I was too scared to stay in my own room. Uncle Michael and Aunt Isabel lived in the castle behind ours.
Two years passed, and in those two years, I learned to adapt to my new life style. I wasn't the average, weird kid anymore. Instead, I was treated with the highest respect and was looked up to by the other kids my age. Dad took me out to meet other kids in Antar when he went on trips around the planet. I got to meet many other girls and boys. They were all very respectful, but no one really treated me equal. I was always referred to as 'Your Highness'. Even so, I tried my hardest to fit in with the normal kids.
I was 6 years old when mom gave birth to my little sister, Jodie. I didn't know exactly what to think of her because she was a girl. I was so used to being mommy's little girl that I was afraid that this new girl would take away my attention. And that she did. Sure, dad still took me around everywhere with him, but I was always with Joshua while he talked with the other men. Kenton and Jodie took up a lot of mom's time.
It was in that hard year when my sister was born, that I met HIM. His father was a general who worked for my father on the other side of Antar.
One day, when Angie and I were playing in the front lobby, I heard dad talking to the general. I peeked around the corner into the parlor. In the middle of the room stood dad, talking to another man. I couldn't help hearing him saying "It's so good to see you again. How is the situation in Gollin? Have the people resided?" "Well, you know the people of Gollin. They are a very impatient people. I still hold onto my suggestion that you go see the people yourself. They would calm down much faster if they saw with their eyes that their king cares for them." the man replied. "Well, I will think it over again. Satisfied?.... Now, who is this young man standing behind you?" Dad asked as he looked into the corner. There was a boy, about 6 or 7 years old. "Oh, this is Talar, my son. He comes with me on business trips every so often. He really wanted to meet the king. So, I agreed that he come along." "Good afternoon, Talar." Dad said to the boy. "Good afternoon, your highness." the boy said with a shy voice. "Did you know that I have a daughter just your age? Wait here, I'll go fetch her." Dad said, as he started to leave the room. I ran into the closet as he walked out of the room. I was too slow, for dad saw my hair slip through the door.
"Esther, come out please. I have someone for you to meet." Dad said. "I don't know...... I'm playing." I said, trying to make up an excuse. "Don't be rude, Esther. That's no way to treat our guests. Now, come out. You must go meet him. He's just like you. He travels with his father on trips." I came out of the closet. I whispered to Angie, "Angie, come with me! I don't want to go alone." She ran the other way. That traitor!
We entered the room and walked up to our guests. "Talar, this is my daughter Esther. She, along with her brother, often travel along with me when I go on trips, just like you do with your father. Esther, why don't you show Talar around. You two can play some games or go outside." "Hello, Princess Esther." Talar said to me. "Hi. Just call me Esther. The princess part is too long. Come on, let's go." I told him as we walked out of the room. We walked upstairs and into my room. "So, where do you live?" I asked, trying to make conversation. "I live in the city of Gollin. Have you ever been there?" He responded as he gently sat down on my bed. "No. I've been everywhere else except Gollin. Maybe we'll go soon, since Gollin needs my dad." I said. "Yeah, that would be cool. Then, I could show you all around." He said back. We sat there in silence for a few minutes. Then an idea popped into my head. "Hey! How bout we go swimming in the river delta?!" I said. I loved going swimming at the delta. It was such a rush to be almost swept away by the current, but swim to the shore just in the knick of time before th current sent you into the sea. "But you have to be a really good swimmer. Can you swim good?" I asked. "Of course! There's a lake right by where I live, and I go swimming there all the time." Talar said to me. Good! It was settled. I found one of Josh's old trunks and gave them to Talar. "Are you sure your brother won't mind?" He seemed a little uneasy about wearing the futur king's old trunks. I didn't blame him. My family WAS of pretty high status. "No problem. He never wears those anymore." I assured him.
"I'M GOING TO SWIM DOWN TO THE DELTA ONCE MORE, THEN I'LL GET OUT!" my way down the river. The water was a lot shallower in the evenings, so I had to be more careful. My feet hit the bottom a couple times, bruising harder each time. Eventually, I could see the open sea just ahead. 'I better start swimming towards shore already' I thought. been watching me and saw the terror in my eyes as I went under. He ran down the bank and jumped in.