Chapter 7

The last family to arrive, the Silver kingdom made the twenty first family. Nothing was to begin without their presence because of them being known as the chief Healers, they held the power to health. That meant they were the makers of the Elixir of Life.

On arrival of the Silver kingdom, the princesses were peeping through the windows of their chambers jumping with excitement. They kept coming to peep and went back almost immediately as if staying in the window so long would have them seen. Each one of them was in her room. They looked down to maybe chance a glance of the Silver prince but was a likely impossibility as he was heavily guarded. The princesses knew that and still tried their luck anyways. 

The Silver family was from North Oakland and their kingdom was as obviously seen, the Silver kingdom. They came by means of five chariots that were ridden by five horsemen and ten horses. Prince Silver was in the fifth carriage but neither the princesses nor the people in the castle apart from Pink-White, knew why the Silver family was treated in such high regard.

The servants in charge of hospitality were directing each family that arrived to the grand area of the palace that had been assigned off as venue for the celebrations. They would have first the outdoor celebrations and proceed indoors for the finale of the day's events, drinking of the Elixir of Life. Since the Silver kingdom had been last to arrive, they were settled into their comfortable seats last. As the prince of the Silver kingdom and his family settled into their seats, Pink-White announced that the princesses, (his daughters) had prepared a dance for the guests in honor of the rare occasion. The dance was organized in such a way that the princesses could be visible to each of the kingdoms. The huge tents were semicircular in shape thus they curved in a way that had every person sitting within saw whatever happened before them.

The melodious union of the music instruments charmed the audience as the girls twirled and shook, their bodies trembling in tune to the beat of the tom-tom drums. The audience was enveloped in the beat and twiddling of the string instruments. At every turn their garments shimmered in the sun, their jewelry golden and silver bangles glimmered in the rays. If there had been a flaw in their choreography, the guests did not notice it. They watched the princesses in awe as enchantment washed all over them. When suddenly the music came to a stop, the crowd still wanted more. 

"There is more where that came from." Pink-White announced when the girls had finished dancing, the smiles on their faces were wide and satisfied, the audience reaction had been beyond their expectation. Their necks glimmered with sweat, their hearts pumping out of their bosoms. The dip between each girl's throat pulsed as adrenaline pumped through their system. It was partly for the dance but mostly for the prince from the Silver kingdom that their BP peaked so high.

Pink-White's comment, had the crowd bursting into laughter amidst their applause. It had taken them a moment to come back from the world they had been transported to during the performance so their reaction had been quite delayed.

While dancing the princesses had caught glimpse of the Silver prince. He was magnificent. His hair was not silver but his eyes were gray, they made a mental note of that to be discussed later. He had the most piercing gaze. His eyes shone with appreciation. He did not clap enthusiastically as all the other guests had done but he was pleased, they could see it in his eyes. 

On their way to the dressing room, the princesses were met by their father who had passed on his role of emceeing the event to a servant so that he could meet his daughters briefly to thank them. 

"Dad, are you not meant to be talking to the guests?" Shimi asked still panting, her eyes shot up in question as she pushed back with her hand the wisps of hair that were sticking at the front of her forehead.

"I will get back to that in a jiffy my dear. I wanted to appreciate you girls for such an outstanding performance."

"You are welcome papa. We enjoyed ourselves the most and also caught a glimpse of the Silver prince," Shimpi told him and winked earning a slap from her little sister Shinja.

"What...? We all saw him. He is so handsome papa. Grandma's tales did him no justice. Wow!" Shimpi's eyes were enthralled so were all the other girls even though they were less vocal about it.

"I see..." Pink-White said in thought about the comment made by Shimpi. "If you girls behave, I will make a formal introduction of you to the prince."

"P-papa... no! You do not have to do that." Shinja shyly put out her slender fingers playing with her bangles. She noticed that her comment had come out quite rushed so she stopped herself wishing that nobody had heard her but it was too late.

Knowing his daughter, Pink-White scratched his chin thoughtfully then said, "Actually on second-thought I already did. You girls are going to serve the Silver kingdoms all the days this banquet is going to happen."

"What?! Papa, that is so awe-inspiring!" Shinka exclaimed.

All the other girls except for Shinja, were jumping up and down hugging each other excited about the news. They forgot their father was there with them and started talking about what each of them was going to do to keep the Silver family entertained during their stay at the Green kingdom. 

They walked away to the dressing room to change into more workable clothes. Their dance attire was not going to do the job. They needed to get into character, that character being charming. Their father noticed this and smiled until he realized that his youngest daughter had not moved an inch from where she stood.